First Niagara receives regulatory approval for HSBC branch acquisition

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has approved First Niagara Bank N.A.'s acquisition of Upstate N.Y. and Conn. branches from HSBC Bank USA, N.A. "We are very pleased to have received the OCC's approval which was the final requirement to completing the transaction on May 18th," said First Niagara president and CEO John Koelmel. "We have begun communicating with our customers as to what they can expect in the weeks ahead and I am fully confident that our team will again deliver a smooth transition. Once complete, our more than 200 locations across Upstate New York will provide customers with even greater access and convenience to the First Niagara team as well as our products and services," said Koelmel.