First Niagara Financial Group Inc.

John R. Koelmel, 55, has been a director since 2007. He was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in December 2006. Upon joining the Company in January 2004, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, he served for two years as the Chief Administrative Officer of Financial Institutions, Inc.

Patrick C. Burke is the Rochester Regional President of First Niagara, an $8 billion financial services company with a presence across New York State. In his role as Regional President, Mr. Burke oversees the development of this market and coordinates initiatives to expand First Niagara's retail, business banking, insurance, and wealth management activity. In addition to his responsibilities at First Niagara, Mr. Burke serves as President and CEO of Burke Group, Inc., an employee benefits, actuarial, and executive compensation consulting firm in Western and Central New York. Burke Group specializes in defined contribution, defined benefit, executive compensation, and benefit outsourcing consulting. Prior to founding Burke Group in 1989, he was a benefits consultant for an international benefit-consulting firm in New York City. Mr. Burke is a frequent speaker to professional and industry groups and is active with several charity organizations in Rochester.

Michael W. Harrington, 44, has been Chief Financial Officer since December 2006. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the Company since April 2003. Before joining the Company in 2003, he served for one year as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Equity Bank, now called Susquehanna Patriot Bank.

Frank J. Polino, 48, has been Executive Vice President, Operations since February 2008. Prior to that, he served as Interim Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking since May 2007 and Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer since February 2001.

Lanny Little was named Executive Vice President of First Niagara's Consumer Banking Group on Febvruary 4, 2008. Little brings more than 35 years of banking experience to the position. He joins First Niagara from Wells Fargo in Milwaukee, WI, where he had direct management responsibility for Wells Fargo's community banking operations in three states as regional president, for the Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan Region. In his new role, Little will be responsible for the oversight of Consumer Banking operations, which includes retail branch banking, residential mortgage, consumer lending, municipal banking, and alternative delivery channel management. While at Wells Fargo, Little served as a member of a number of company-wide committees, including the Business Lending Policy Committee, the Consumer Deposits Product Advisory Committee, the Home Equity Product Group Advisory Committee, and Group Level ALCO. Little earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Central College in Pella, IA and also completed graduate coursework at Rutgers University, Stonier Graduate School of Banking in New Brunswick, NJ.

Elizabeth (“Beth”) Bauman joined First Niagara Bank as senior vice president, human resources in May of 2008. As a member of First Niagara’s Senior Leadership Team, Bauman will lead the human resources team at First Niagara, which includes recruitment, employee relations, learning and development, compensation, benefits and payroll. Bauman brings more than 20 years of banking experience to the position, including extensive work in both human resources and finance. She joins First Niagara from HSBC Bank in Buffalo, NY where she was the HR business partner for the chief operating officer, supporting the retail and commercial banking group with more than 7,000 employees in New York, Florida and California. She also served as first vice president, recruitment and employee relations, where she managed all recruiting and employee relations activities for the upstate retail banking network, supporting 4,000 employees state-wide. Most recently, Bauman was business chief financial officer for Personal Financial Services responsible for overseeing all financial planning, analysis and control for the bank’s retail banking business, including its almost 450 branches. Active in the community, Bauman has been a human resources committee board member of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County. Currently, she serves as secretary of the board of trustees as well as a nominating committee member for the Irish Classical Theatre. Bauman earned an MBA from the State University at Buffalo with a concentration in Finance and Accounting and was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

Charles R. Rice is currently a Vice President of First Niagara Risk Management. He joined his father in the insurance business as a salesman and purchased the family agency in 1974. Chuck brought Rice & Company to First Niagara Risk Management (formerly Warren-Hoffman) in 1995. Chuck specializes in commercial insurance for large accounts. He also works in the specialty areas of professional sports, ice and roller skating rinks and family fun centers.

David currently works for First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (FNFG) as its VP Strategic Systems. In this role, David is responsible for the organization’s Business Intelligence initiatives as well as organization wide operational reporting. Additional responsibilities within FNFG include CRM/SFA applications and KPI/metrics reporting. Prior to returning to WNY, David worked in the telecommunications and manufacturing industries where he held various IT roles including Director of Data Integration and VP of System Integration at such firms as Coach Leather, GlobalOne Communications and Bolt Industries. He spent over 10 years outside WNY, his time being split between New York City and Washington DC. David has an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and an MBA from SUNY at Buffalo. He enjoys actively participating in both alumni associations. He currently makes his home in North Buffalo with his wife Joyce.

Janet is well versed in all aspects of commercial insurance, with her primary focus being Large and Specialty Accounts and the rink programs. She is available to assist you with questions, changes in coverage or problems you may experience with your insurance program.

Joan manages First Niagara Risk Management's Specialty Division called Rice Specialty Risk. Rice Specialty Risk was created in 1995 to more effectively serve our sports- related clients. Joan is dedicated to solving the insurance issues of her specialty clients by constantly searching for and providing the best coverage alternatives available in today's marketplace. She has over 10 years experience in the industry, including training in the specialty areas.

John joined First Niagara in May of 2005 as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He joins the Company with over 19 years of legal experience. Most recently, he was the Vice President, General Counsel for Tops Markets and Giant Food Stores.

Maryann is responsible for handling all Commercial General Liability claims. She will assist you with each step of the claim process from the initial report to staying in contact with the insurance company to make sure your claim is handled in a manner that meets our high standards. Marge is well trained in the specialized handling of sports-related claims, and works as a liaison with the insurance companies to ensure fair, prompt, and proper settlements.

G. Thomas Bowers, 64, has been a director since 2003. He has been Chairman of the Board since October 2007. He was elected to the Board in January 2003 upon completion of the merger between the Company and Finger Lakes Bancorp, Inc. where he had been Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

Daniel W. Judge, 65, has been a director since 1992. He is the President of NetPlus Alliance Inc., a purchasing and marketing group of industrial and contractor supplies distributors.

David M. Zebro, 57, has been a director since 2002. He was elected Vice Chairman of the Board, effective October 2007. He is a Principal of Strategic Investments & Holdings, Inc., a holding company that purchases operating companies.

George M. Philip, 60, has been a director since 2007. He recently retired as Executive Director of the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System where he continues to serve as an investment advisor. He is the Interim President of the State University of New York at Albany and is a member of the Board of Directors of US Airways Group, Inc.

Mr. Baker, 65, is the former President and is a Director of The John R. Oishei Foundation, since 1998. From 1998 to 2007, Mr. Baker was the Executive Director/President and Director of the Foundation. Mr. Baker joined Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) in 1965 where he held various positions and was appointed the Buffalo, New York Office Managing Partner in 1992. After 20 years as an audit partner, Mr. Baker retired from Price Waterhouse in 1998. Mr. Baker accepted the appointment as the Chairman of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority in July 2003 and served through January 2005. Mr. Baker is a Director of First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. Mr. Baker has been a Director of CTG since 2004.

William H. (Tony) Jones, 65, has been a director since 2005. He is the President of Roe Jan Independent Publishing Co., Inc., a consultant for community newspapers and similar publications. Upon completion of the merger between the Company and Hudson River Bancorp, Inc., where he had been Chairman, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Board in January 2005 and served in that role through September 2007.