2010-670. Formations of, Acquisitions by, and Mergers of Bank Holding Companies

The companies listed in this notice have applied to the Board for approval, pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.) (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR Part 225), and all other applicable statutes and regulations to become a bank holding company and/or to acquire the assets or the ownership of, control of, or the power to vote shares of a bank or bank holding company and all of the banks and nonbanking companies owned by the bank holding company, including the companies listed below.

The applications listed below, as well as other related filings required by the Board, are available for immediate inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank indicated. The applications also will be available for inspection at the offices of the Board of Governors. Interested persons may express their views in writing on the standards enumerated in the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the proposal also involves the acquisition of a nonbanking company, the review also includes whether the acquisition of the nonbanking company complies with the standards in section 4 of the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1843). Unless otherwise noted, nonbanking activities will be conducted throughout the United States. Additional information on all bank holding companies may be obtained from the National Information Center website at www.ffiec.gov/​nic/​.

Unless otherwise noted, comments regarding each of these applications must be received at the Reserve Bank indicated or the offices of the Board of Governors not later than February 12, 2010.

A. Federal Reserve Bank of New York (Ivan Hurwitz, Bank Applications Officer) 33 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10045-0001:

1. First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., Buffalo, New York; to become a bank holding company by acquiring 100 percent of the voting shares of Harleysville National Corporation, and thereby acquire The Harleysville National Bank and Trust Company, both of Harleysville, Pennsylvania.

In connection with this application, Applicant also has applied retain First Niagara Bank, Buffalo, New York, and First Niagara Commercial Bank, Lockport, New York, and thereby engage in operating a savings association, pursuant to section 225.28(b)(4); in extending credit and servicing loans, pursuant to section 225.28(b)(1); in leasing personal and real propoerty, pursuant to section 225.28(b)(3); and in the sale of credit related insurance, pursuant to section 225.28(b)(11), all of Regulation Y. Applicant also has applied to retain First Niagara Bank upon its conversion to a National Bank.

B. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (Steve Foley, Vice President) 1000 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30309:

1. State Bank Financial Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia; to become a bank holding company by acquiring 100 percent of the voting shares of State Bank and Trust Company, Macon (Pinehurst), Georgia.

C. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (Jacqueline G. King, Community Affairs Officer) 90 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55480-0291:

1. Lake Central Financial, Inc., Annandale, Minnesota; to become a bank holding company by acquiring 100 percent of the voting shares of Annandale State Bank, Annandale, Minnesota.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, January 12, 2010.

Robert deV. Frierson,

Deputy Secretary of the Board.