J.D. Power Ranks Northwest Bank "Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Mid-Atlantic Region"

WARREN, Pa., May 9, 2016

The study, conducted quarterly from April 2015 to January 2016, analyzes the overall satisfaction customers have with their retail banking experience based on channel activities, account information, facility, fees, problem resolution and product offerings.  Northwest received the highest satisfaction score in the Mid-Atlantic Region, which includes Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.  This is the fifth time in seven years Northwest has received this honor.

"Receiving our fifth award in seven years from J.D. Power for being highest ranked in our six-state region is an incredible honor," said Steven G. Fisher, senior executive vice president, production and revenue officer of Northwest.  "Today, customers are better educated than ever and have higher expectations of service providers.  Banks that can connect with customers at a personal level and provide proactive guidance and clear advice have a competitive advantage.  It is our goal to continue to exceed expectations in this area and build our brand as leaders in customer experience, serving our customers and communities as trusted financial advisors.  This award again demonstrates we are on the right path."

William J. Wagner, president and CEO of Northwest, added, "We are pleased with the significant recognition Northwest has received over the last decade as it demonstrates our company's commitment to building loyalty, trust and value among our employees, customers, communities and shareholders. We thank our employees for their dedication and our customers for their continued support."

To read the announcement from J.D. Power, please visit http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2016-us-retail-banking-satisfaction-study

About Northwest Bank
Northwest Bank operates 150 full-service offices and 7 free-standing drive throughs. Founded in 1896, Northwest offers a complete line of personal and business banking products including employee benefits, investment management services, insurance and trust. Northwest Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company of Northwest Bank and is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as NWBI. More information about Northwest can be found online at www.northwest.com.

About J.D. Power
Headquartered in Westlake Village, California, J.D. Power is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence, and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com.  J.D. Power is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.