(Stafford Springs, CT)---First Niagara Bank has signed on with Stafford Motor Speedway to become the newest member of the SMS family of sponsors. First Niagara will be the title sponsor of the track's July 1st First Niagara Independence Day Celebration, and they will also maintain a billboard presence at the track.

"We think that Stafford Speedway represents one of the finest family establishments in Connecticut," said First Niagara Stafford Branch Manager Jonathan Knight. "We want to reach out to the Stafford community and reestablish a link between the bank and the community and we thought this was a great step to take to support the community of Stafford."

As of April 25th, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., has $30 billion in assets, 346 branches and $18 billion in deposits. First Niagara Bank, N.A. is a multi-state community-oriented bank providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

"We are a full service financial organization, and take a customer-focused approach to meeting consumers' and businesses' needs with personalized financial solutions," said Knight. "We believe in putting our capital to work to support our communities and local economy, and all credit and investment decisions are made locally."

First Niagara recently merged with New Alliance Bank and all the former New Alliance branches in Connecticut and Massachusetts were rebranded as First Niagara branches. The Stafford First Niagara branch is located at 34 West Stafford Road. Branch hours are from 9am-4pm Monday-Wednesday, 9am-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and 9am-12pm on Saturday. The office is closed on Sundays. First Niagara's drive-thru is open from 8:30am-4pm from Mon.-Wed., 8:30am-6pm on Thurs. and Fri., and 9am-12pm on Sat. The drive-thru is closed on Sundays.

For more information about First Niagara Bank, please visit them online at www.fnfg.com.

The July 1st First Niagara Independence Day Celebration will feature Stafford's five NASCAR Whelen All-Ameican Series divisions as well as an Independence Day themed fireworks celebration. Tickets for the July 1st First Niagara Independence Day Celebration are on sale now at the Speedway Box Office and are priced at $15.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, and children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. Reserved seating is priced at $18.00 for all ages. As always, Stafford Motor Speedway offers free parking with overnight parking available.

For more information, or to order tickets, please contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.

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