Daniel E. Cantara Executive Vice President Commercial Services Group Western New York Regional PresidentFirst Niagara Bank

Professional

Daniel Cantara is Executive Vice President of the Commercial Services Group and serves as Western New York Regional President for First Niagara Bank and its parent, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., one of the leading community banks in Upstate New York with $9.1 billion of assets, $6.2 billion of deposits, 115 branch locations and 4 regional market centers across upstate New York. He is responsible for First Niagara’s portfolio of products and services focused on serving commercial and business customers. This includes traditional commercial business lending, risk management and insurance services, employee benefits offerings, fiduciary trust, and specialty lending services (equipment finance and premium finance).

Prior to joining First Niagara, Mr. Cantara was with Chiampou, Cantara, Travis & Dansa, LLP, a Buffalo area regional public accounting firm, where he served as managing partner. Prior to that, he was with Price Waterhouse Coopers providing audit, accounting, tax, and consulting services to middle-market companies.

Education

BA, Accounting, State University of New York at Buffalo
MBA, State University of New York at Buffalo

Memberships & Affiliations

• Member, Dean’s International Council, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago
• Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants
• Treasurer, Board, Darwin Martin House Restoration Corp
• Treasurer, Board, Sisters Hospital Foundation
• Board Member, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
• Board Member, Niagara USA Chamber
• Former Chair, Artpark & Company

Personal

Mr. Cantara currently resides in Buffalo, N.Y., with his wife, Lori, and their two children.