BUFFALO, N.Y., April 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FNFG) announced that the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of eight cents ($0.08) per share on outstanding FNFG common stock.

The Company's Board of Directors also declared a quarterly preferred stock dividend of $0.539063 per share on its fixed-to-floating rate perpetual non-cumulative preferred stock, Series B. 

Both dividends will be payable on May 15, 2013 to shareholders of record on May 3, 2013.  

About First Niagara

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with approximately 430 branches, approximately $37 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits, and approximately 6,000 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com.

CONTACT: First Niagara Contacts
         
         Investors:
         Ram Shankar
         Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
         (716) 270-8623
         ram.shankar@fnfg.com
         
         News Media:
         David Lanzillo
         Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
         (716) 819-5780
         david.lanzillo@fnfg.com