GLK Great Lakes Bancorp New

BUFFALO, N.Y. and LOCKPORT, N.Y., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Great Lakes Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:GLK) and First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:FNFG) today announced that the shareholders of Great Lakes approved at a special meeting held this morning the merger of Great Lakes into First Niagara pursuant to the agreement the parties entered into on September 9, 2007. The merger is expected to close on February 15, 2008. Forward-Looking Statements - This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. and Great Lakes Bancorp, Inc. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, include among others, the following possibilities: (1) changes in the interest rate environment; (2) competitive pressure among financial services companies; (3) general economic conditions including an increase in non-performing loans that could result from an economic downturn; (4) changes in legislation or regulatory requirements; (5) difficulties in continuing to improve operating efficiencies; (6) difficulties in the integration of acquired businesses; and (7) increased risk associated with an increase in commercial real-estate and business loans and non-performing loans. DATASOURCE: Great Lakes Bancorp, Inc. CONTACT: John R. Koelmel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael W. Harrington, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Anthony M. Alessi, Investor Relations Manager, +1-716-625-7692, , Leslie G. Garrity, Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager, +1-716-625-7528, , all of First Niagara Financial Group; Andrew W. Dorn Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, +1-716-961-1920, , Michael J. Rogers, Chief Financial Officer, +1-716-961-1980, , both of Great Lakes Bancorp

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