BUFFALO, N.Y., March 9, 2010 -- First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FNFG) announced that customers can expect all 83 Harleysville National and East Penn bank locations to open as First Niagara branches on Monday, April 12.
First Niagara’s previously announced acquisition of the Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley banks’ parent company, Harleysville National Corporation (NASDAQ: HNBC), is expected to receive regulatory approval and legally close before April 12.
“Integration initiatives are on track and our systems and procedures are ready to go,” First Niagara President and Chief Executive Officer John R. Koelmel said. “Our more than 3,000 employees are ready to welcome more than 800 new Eastern Pennsylvania colleagues to our team, and we’re very excited to help Harleysville and East Penn branch and customer service employees welcome their customers to First Niagara.”
First Niagara awaits completion of the required regulatory approval process, which it had previously anticipated for mid-March. Harleysville National and East Penn customers have been advised of the new April 12 conversion date. Customers with questions about timing may call 1-800-421-0004 (select option 2), weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Harleysville National and East Penn customers may also submit questions via e-mail to paquestions@fnfg.com or visit www.fnfg.com/welcomehnb/.
About First Niagara Financial Group: First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, will have $19.7 billion in assets, 254 branches and $13.7 billion in deposits upon approval and the close of its acquisition of Harleysville National Corporation. First Niagara Bank is a community-oriented bank providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York and Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.fnfg.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the proposed offering of common stock by First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the fact that the closing of the merger between First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. and Harleysville National Corporation is dependent upon the receipt of all required regulatory approvals. You should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, among others, (1) adverse developments in the capital markets in general or in the markets for financial institutions stock in particular; (2) changes in legislation or regulatory requirements affecting financial institutions, including the current debate in Congress as to restructuring the financial services industry; (3) changes in the interest rate environment; and (4) adverse changes in general economic conditions.
