Harleysville National Bank, headquartered in Buffalo New York, may cut 27% of its workforce after an upcoming merger with First Niagara Financial Corporation. Up to 300 jobs will be eliminated. Harleysville National Bank currently employs 1,102.

According to First Niagara spokeswoman Leslie Garrity the affected employees are administrative or back-office personnel whose functions duplicate those of First Niagara employees. None of the lay offs will include customer service personnel. The lay offs will occur at Harleysville main campus in Harleysville, Pennsylvania as well as in Maple Glen, Pennsylvania. First Niagara says it has already begun to work with affected employees to find other roles in the bank. Lay offs will begin after the merger in March 2010.