Dan Cantara, executive vice president of Commercial Services for First Niagara Financial Group Inc., Buffalo, NY, recently spoke with MDM about current banking conditions. First Niagara, with locations in New York and Pennsylvania, has benefited from the turmoil in the banking industry. While competitors big and small may be struggling, First Niagara has a healthy balance sheet and is looking for new customers. In fact, it will nearly double its assets when its second acquisition this year closes early 2010.

Here's what Cantara says about banking in a difficult credit environment.

MDM: What do you want to see from a potential new customer?

DC: The key point is we're looking for relationships, not …