Pros
At the smaller locations a strong bond can be formed with customers that go well beyond basic banking needs. The company as a whole is very active in charity and volunteer work. If you are lucky enough to work at a branch with great people then your time at First Niagara will be very enjoyable.
Cons
as of April 2015 the company is in the latter stages of a fundamental overhaul changing the focus and mission. technology upgrades have been abundant and not always successful, staffing model in in flux, and sales goals are an ever moving target with success seemingly always being dangled just out of reach. Pay is very inconsistent from one employee to the next, those promoted from within have significantly lower salaries than those in equal positions hired from outside the company