First Niagara Expands Commercial Banking Team in Hudson Valley

Announcing new hires to the Corporate and Business Banking teams serving Westchester County and other areas of the Tri-State Region

NYACK, N.Y. – July 14, 2014 – Tri-State Regional President for First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. Cathie A. Schaffer, announced today the addition of three commercial lenders to First Niagara’s middle market and business banking teams serving the Westchester, Connecticut, Hudson Valley, and metro New York markets.  Michael M. Dwyer and Daniel J. Fosina have joined the bank each in the role of Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking, with focus on generating middle market financing opportunities with area companies of $25 million or higher in gross annual revenues.  They report to Robert A. Cerminaro, Senior Vice President and Market Executive of Corporate Banking for the tri-state region.  In addition, Matthew M. Farrell has joined as Vice President, Business Banking, reporting to Sara Tucker, First Vice President, Business Banking Team Leader, and is responsible for building banking relationships with customers and prospects in the $3 million to $25 million range.  These key talent acquisitions reflect First Niagara’s keen focus on the tri-state market and its strong commitment to expanding commercial resources that cover the region’s footprint.

“Mike, Dan and Matt are extremely accomplished lending professionals with proven track records and deep roots in the tri-state market,” said Schaffer. “First Niagara’s ability to recruit such high-caliber commercial talent to join our team is testament to our exceptional client focus and growing reputation as a commercial lending leader in this key marketplace.”

Michael M. Dwyer has 28 years of middle market and mid-corporate commercial banking experience in the tri-state area. He joined First Niagara after 10 years with JPMorganChase as SVP, Senior Banker, Middle Market, serving Westchester and Connecticut markets.  Prior to that, Mr. Dwyer spent 18 years with Bank of America, serving the middle market lending needs of companies in New York City, Westchester and Connecticut.  He holds an M.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from SUNY Albany.  He resides with his wife and two children in Katonah, NY. 

Daniel J. Fosina has more than 18 years of experience in the financial services industry.  Prior to joining First Niagara, he was Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking for KeyBank in New York City, covering the tri-state region.  Prior to joining KeyBank, Mr. Fosina was Vice President, Leasing and Financial Services, for LaSalle Bank. He has also worked as a senior district manager for Mellon Bank in New York City and as an account executive for GE Capital.  He earned his B.A. from the University of Maryland, and resides in New Rochelle, NY.   

Matthew M. Farrell brings more than 20 years of retail and commercial banking experience to First Niagara.  He joins from Wells Fargo Bank in White Plains, where he most recently served as Vice President/Senior Business Relationship Manager, specializing in C&I and medical industry lending.  Prior to that, he spent six years in a similar role at HSBC Bank in New York, NY.  The first half of his career was spent in various retail banking positions throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley with Webster Bank, Wachovia, and The Bank of New York. He lives in Somers, N.Y. with his wife and two daughters.

About First Niagara

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with approximately 410 branches, $38 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits, and approximately 5,800 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com.For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com.