By ALLISSA KLINE
akline@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1612

Base salaries for most executive officers of First Niagara Financial Group Inc. are set to rise this year, a regulatory filing shows.

John Koelmel, president and CEO, is set to earn $955,000 in base pay in 2011, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, his salary totaled $832,692, part of his total compensation package of $3.1 million for the year.

The bank's decision to increase pay is tied to "significant growth during 2010" that involved expansion into eastern Pennsylvania, as well as anticipated growth into New England this spring with the anticipated acquisitions of NewAlliance Bancshares Inc. in New Haven, Conn. Post-acquisition, the bank expects to be a $30 billion financial institution, it said.

Koelmel is one of four named executives who will see a bump in base salary this year. Gary Crosby, executive vice president, is set to earn $575,000, up from $416,346 in 2010. Crosby's total compensation for the year was $1.2 million.

Daniel Cantara III, also an executive vice president, will receive $500,000 in base pay, up from $388,077 in 2010. His total compensation for 2010 was $1.1 million.

A third executive vice president, Oliver Sommer, will earn $500,000 in base pay, up from $261,539 in 2010. Sommer, who was hired in April 2010, received a total of $921,709 in compensation last year.

CFO Michael Harrington is the only named executive whose base salary will not rise in 2011. He is set to receive $380,000 in base pay, the same amount approved last year when his total pay package was $913,972.

The bank said the 2011 salaries are "consistent with our compensation philosophy of paying plus or minus 20 percent of market median, allowing for recognition of each executive's role, contribution, performance and experience."