ALBANY — A bullish First Niagara Financial Group headed into the second half emboldened by a 16 percent increase in net income during the second quarter.

The parent of First Niagara Bank posted Thursday a quarterly net income of $23.1 million, compared to $16.6 million a year earlier.

The Lockport bank holding company’s financial results were boosted by its February acquisition of the Greater Buffalo Savings Bank. But executives said First Niagara made strong gains minus that deal — especially in the Capital Region.

“We can assure you there’s nothing quirky about our performance. We’re doing it the good old-fashioned way: strong loan growth, solid balance sheet management and firm credit discipline,” First Niagara President and Chief Executive Officer John Koelmel said in a Thursday conference call with analysts.

First Niagara ended the second quarter with $6.16 billion in deposits, up 7 percent from a year earlier. During the same period, its loans and leases grew by 14.6 percent to $6.36 billion.

Since early 2007, the bank has become increasingly aggressive in the Capital Region. It has pushed harder for securing new business clients, and at the Patroon Creek Office Park in Albany, it is building a regional headquarters, which should open in October.

In the 11-county region around Albany, First Niagara saw its commercial and industrial loans grow over the quarter by 29 percent, or $59 million. Municipal deposits increased by 6 percent, or $40 million.