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Northwest Bancshares, Inc.

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Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 1001-5000
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FY2012 Annual Report · Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
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Building for the Future

2012 Summary Annual Report 

“Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking  
  in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Three Years in a Row”
	 Northwest	J.D.	Power	and	Associates	Celebration,	Warren,	Pennsylvania	•	June	27,	2012

Building Loyalty, Trust, and Value 
among our Employees, Customers, 
Communities, and Shareholders

Dear Shareholder,

It is my pleasure to report another year of significant progress at Northwest 
Bancshares, Inc. As we began the 2012 year, our company established the 
following specific goals that we believed were key to our success:

•  Achieving record earnings

•  Enhancing shareholder value through effective capital management

•  Attaining significant growth in loans

•  Strengthening our lending and credit functions

•  Strengthening our Compliance Management System and

being released from the existing regulatory enforcement action

• 

Improving the overall credit quality of our company

•  Continuing to be recognized for industry excellence

Message to Stockholders

Although we fell slightly short of achieving 
the first goal of record earnings, we are pleased 
to report considerable success in achieving all 
the other goals established for 2012. 

EarningS PErformancE

Net income for the year ended December 31, 
2012 was $63.6 million, down $591,000, or 
less than 1%, from 2011. However, because 
there were fewer shares outstanding in 2012, 
earnings per share increased to $0.68 in 2012 
from $0.64 in 2011.

Most notable about this year’s operating 
performance was our ability to maintain a 
consistent net interest margin despite the 
challenge of historically low levels of interest 
rates. As a result, net interest income was 
$264.0 million in 2012, down slightly from 
$267.3 million the previous year. 

Negatively impacting this year’s earnings was 
a $2.4 million increase in losses on foreclosed 
real estate properties. Most of these losses 
were incurred on Florida properties as we 
continue to address the limited remnants of 
our discontinued Florida operation.

Also negatively impacting earnings was a $6.0 
million, or 3.0%, increase in operating expense 
as we significantly increased our staffing 
levels in response to regulatory requirements. 
Much of the increase in staffing related to 
our initiatives to strengthen our Compliance 
Management System and the lending and 
credit functions. Although costly, we believe 
these enhancements will greatly assist in 
avoiding future regulatory and credit issues. 

On a positive note, the provision for loan 
losses decreased $7.8 million, or 22.9%, over 
the previous year as credit quality improved 
and recoveries of prior year losses accelerated. 
Also positively impacting this year’s earnings 
was a $3.8 million increase in mortgage 
banking revenues as the sale of mortgage loans 
to Freddie Mac yielded record levels of profits.

Enhancing SharEholDEr ValuE

Enhancing shareholder value remains the 
primary goal of our company. Given our 
robust capital position and temporary 
restrictions on acquiring other banks, it is 
essential that we pursue the best opportunities 
available to return excess capital to our 
shareholders. To that end, we were pleased this 

year to repurchase 4.2 million shares of our 
common stock at an average price of $11.81. 
We currently view stock buybacks at these 
levels as a better alternative for the return of 
capital than paying special dividends. 

As we approached the end of 2012, our 
Board determined that we should pay the 
dividend we would normally pay in the first 
quarter of 2013 prior to the end of 2012. This 
decision was prompted by the anticipation of 
future increases in the tax rates for dividends. 
We acknowledge that this action may be 
confusing for our shareholders, as they 
received five dividend payments in 2012 
while we anticipate only three payments in 
2013. However, we believe the potential tax 
savings justifies any confusion that may result. 
Given that five dividend payments of $0.12 
were made in 2012, the dividend yield to our 
shareholders was approximately 5%. 

At the time we reported the decision to 
prepay the fourth quarter dividend, we also 
announced an increase of 5.0 million shares 
to our existing share repurchase program. 
As of December 31, 2012, there were 6.5 
million shares remaining to be repurchased 

Five dividend payments of $0.12 were made in 2012 and the dividend yield to our shareholders was approximately 5%. 

2

under this plan. Since completing our second 
step offering in December of 2009, we have 
repurchased 19.4 million shares at a total cost 
of $231.2 million and an average per share 
price of $11.92. Although these purchases 
were completed at a price in excess of tangible 
book value, we estimate that the resulting 
dilution will be recovered in less than three 
years through increases in earnings per share. 

In an effort to enhance shareholder value, we 
will continue to monitor our capital position, 
the market value of our shares, the tax rates for 
dividends and the opportunities to grow our 
company when assessing future alternatives for 
the utilization of capital.

loan growth

For several years we have recognized that 
the growth of our loan portfolio is a mission 
critical issue for Northwest. With a significant 
amount of cash invested in overnight deposits 
earning less than 0.25%, any deployment of 
cash to fund loan growth provides a significant 
increase in interest income. In this regard, we 
were pleased to grow loans by $151 million, 
or 2.7%, in a year when economic activity 
was measured and American businesses 

were reluctant to borrow. We commend our 
business development teams for their success 
in addressing this strategic goal.

StrEngthEning lEnDing anD  

crEDit functionS

Over the past ten years, we have made great 
strides in lowering our dependency on 
residential mortgage loans while building a 
diversified commercial loan portfolio. While 
that portfolio was growing, we remained 
vigilant in enhancing credit oversight. During 
2012, we completed another transformational 
step in our lending and credit evolution. 
Recognizing that our lenders were 
significantly burdened with administrative 
responsibilities, we moved many of their 
administrative tasks to our independent credit 
administration group, thereby providing 
additional time for business development. An 
additional benefit of this realignment is that 
it will provide more consistent administration 
of credit and further enhancements in credit 
quality. 

StrEngthEning our  

comPliancE managEmEnt SyStEm

We began 2012 operating under a formal 
“Consent Order,” which was issued by the 
FDIC on August 8, 2011 and required 
Northwest to strengthen our Compliance 
Management System. A strong Compliance 
Management System provides assurance 
that all governmental regulations are 
properly addressed. The Dodd-Frank Act, 
which established the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau, significantly increased the 
expectations of federal banking regulators 
with regard to regulatory compliance, with an 
emphasis on enhancing consumer protection. 

Northwest’s management team reacted 
quickly, decisively and aggressively to the 
requirements of the Consent Order and it was 
removed by the FDIC on July 2, 2012. The 
Consent Order was later replaced by a less 
severe agreement known as a “Memorandum 
of Understanding” which requires additional 
assurance from Northwest that our 
strengthened compliance management system 
is functioning properly and is sustainable. We 
continue to work diligently to further address 

Loans grew by $151 million in a year when economic activity was measured and businesses were reluctant to borrow.

3

Message to Stockholders

these requirements and to be relieved of all 
regulatory restrictions. However, until such 
time as our regulators lift these restrictions, 
we will not be permitted to acquire another 
banking institution.

Our efforts to meet the enhanced compliance 
expectations have come at a great cost to our 
institution and its shareholders. The ongoing 
annual expense associated with this additional 
regulatory burden now exceeds $4 million. 

imProVing crEDit Quality

The sustained economic downturn of the past 
five years has taken its toll on our nation’s 
borrowers and we began the year with 
persistently high levels of non-performing 
assets. Our goal on January 1, 2012 was to 
significantly reduce the volume of delinquent 
borrowers and troubled assets. Much progress 
has been made. Loans delinquent ninety 
days or more decreased from $95.8 million 
to $68.3 million while total delinquent loans 
decreased from $174.9 million to $157.4 
million. Non-performing assets, which include 
loans delinquent 90 days or more, restructured 
loans and foreclosed real estate, decreased 
from $131.1 million to $118.7 million. 

Our lending and credit personnel are to be 
commended for their efforts in improving 
asset quality. 

As a result of this improvement, loans charged 
off in 2012 were $30.5 million compared to 
$42.4 million in 2011. In addition, the amount 
that was set aside in 2012 for future loan losses 
was $26.3 million, down significantly from 
$34.2 million the previous year. 

We continue to work diligently at improving the 
credit culture at Northwest and we believe the 
changes we have made to our lending and credit 
areas will greatly improve both credit quality and 
credit consistency in the years ahead. 

rEcognition

We were pleased for the third consecutive year 
to be ranked “Highest Customer Satisfaction 
with Retail Banking in the Mid-Atlantic 
Region” by J.D. Power and Associates. Our 
staff continues to take great pride in the 
level of service they provide to all Northwest 
customers.

We were also honored to learn that Forbes 
named Northwest to its list of “America’s 

Most Trustworthy Companies” for the second 
time. Creating a high level of trust with our 
customers and shareholders is a core value of 
our company and this recognition validates 
the strength of that commitment. 

For the second time, Keefe, Bruyette & 
Woods recognized Northwest as one of 
the top 50 banks in the country for our 
ten-year operating performance. Given our 
commitment to provide consistent returns 
through continuous improvement, this 
award also has a very special meaning to our 
company.

Finally, Bank Director magazine named 
Northwest in 2012 to its “Nifty 50,” a 
prestigious list of top performing banks as 
assessed by strategy, business model, and the 
operating skill of its management team. These 
rankings highlight banks that excel both in 
deploying their capital and getting a return on 
that capital.

othEr notablE EVEntS

Although we were not permitted to acquire 
another depository institution during 
2012, we pursued opportunities to enhance 

In December, we acquired The Bert Agency, a provider of employee benefit plans and property and casualty insurance.

4

our franchise through other acquisition 
opportunities. On December 31, 2012, we 
acquired The Bert Agency, a provider of 
employee benefit plans and property and 
casualty insurance. We are excited about 
this additional opportunity to expand our 
insurance offerings and we look forward to 
continued growth in this area. 

In an effort to improve efficiency, we 
consolidated customers’ accounts from 
our offices in Glen Burnie, Maryland and 
Johnsonburg and Weedville, Pennsylvania 
with Northwest offices in the same geographic 
vicinities. As customers increasingly choose 
to transact business using alternative 
delivery channels, we continue to seek office 
consolidation opportunities as a method to 
improve our efficiency. 

looking ahEaD

We believe the financial industry will 
continue to face tremendous challenges in 
the years ahead. Our Board of Directors and 
management team continuously assess our 
strategy as circumstances change and new 
opportunities emerge. Our primary area of 

focus going forward will be the improvement 
of earnings as measured by our return-on-
average assets. We believe this ratio is the best 
assessment of how effectively we are managing 
our company. Return-on-average-assets 
was 0.79% in 2012. Reaching a level that 
approaches 1.00% is a strategic target we must 
achieve to keep Northwest competitive with 
our peers in providing attractive shareholder 
returns. Given the current economic, interest-
rate and regulatory environment, this will 
not be an easy task. However, if we can 
deploy more excess cash to our loan portfolio, 
normalize loan loss provisions, increase 
noninterest income, and squeeze more 
efficiencies from our operations, we believe 
this target is within reach.

We also remain devoted stewards of our 
capital and recognize that it must be actively 
managed to maximize shareholder returns. 
Given this commitment, we will pursue 
opportunities to leverage capital by acquiring 
other banks when such acquisitions are not 
excessively dilutive to tangible equity and 
when such dilution can be recovered within 
a reasonable period of time. If acceptable 
leverage opportunities do not materialize, 

we will continue to return capital to our 
shareholders by actively pursuing share 
buybacks while giving full consideration to the 
payment of special dividends.

concluSion

On behalf of the Directors, officers and 
employees of Northwest Bancshares, Inc., 
I thank you for your continued confidence 
in our company. We remain committed 
to managing Northwest in a manner that 
enhances the value of your investment. 

Sincerely,

William J. Wagner 
Chairman, President and CEO

We remain devoted stewards of our capital and recognize that it must be actively managed to maximize shareholder returns.

5

NEW YORK

OHIO

PENNSYLVANIA

Market Coverage

Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s  
network of offices serves 
communities in Pennsylvania,  
New York, Ohio, and Maryland.

 NORTHWEST SAVINGS BANK 

   NORTHWEST CONSUMER DISCOUNT COMPANY

MARYLAND

NEW YORK

OHIO

PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

6

 NORTHWEST SAVINGS BANK 

   NORTHWEST CONSUMER DISCOUNT COMPANY

Financial Highlights

northwESt bancSharES, inc. anD SubSiDiariES
in thousands, except per share and other data

at yEar EnD DEcEmbEr 31,

Total assets
Loans receivable, net
Deposits 
Shareholders’ equity
Book value per share
Closing market price per share

for thE yEar EnDED DEcEmbEr 31,

Net interest income
Net income
Diluted earnings per share
Dividends per share (1)

kEy financial ratioS for thE yEar EnDED DEcEmbEr 31,

Return on average shareholders’ equity
Return on average assets
Tangible common equity
Average interest rate spread
Nonperforming assets to total assets at end of period
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans at end of period
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans receivable

othEr Data at DEcEmbEr 31,

Number of:
Community banking locations
Consumer finance offices
Full time equivalent employees
Registered shareholders(2)

(1) Includes acceleration of first quarter 2013 dividend paid on December 24, 2012
(2) Excludes shareholders who own their stock in “street name.”

2012

$7,942,600
$5,629,261
$5,764,600
$1,128,469
$12.05
$12.14

$263,976
$63,560
$0.68
$0.60

5.48%
0.79%
12.23%
3.41%
1.84%
0.43%
60.91%
1.28%

165
52
2,042
14,486

2011

$7,957,705
$5,480,381
$5,780,325
$1,154,904
$11.85
$12.44

$267,269
$64,151
$0.64
$0.43

5.24%
0.80%
12.59%
3.39%
1.99%
0.72%
54.26%
1.28%

168
52
1,950
14,914

2010

$8,148,155
$5,457,593
$5,764,336
$1,307,450
$11.85
$11.78

$257,641
$57,523
$0.53
$0.40

4.40%
0.71%
14.19%
3.19%
2.08%
0.63%
51.49%
1.38%

171
52
1,881
14,693

7

Growth & Performance

Northwest has demonstrated the ability to safely grow our balance sheet...

while increasing income commensurate with that growth...

aSSEtS 
in billions of dollars

$6.33

$6.45

$6.53

$6.66

$6.93

$5.68

$8.03

$8.15

$7.96

$7.94

10

8

6

4

2

0

annual nEt incomE
in millions of dollars

$56.8

$52.4

$51.5

$49.1

$48.2

$42.8

$32.7

$64.2

$63.6

$57.5

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

which the market has  
rewarded in the exceptional 
performance of our stock.

NWBI (+507.00%)

S&P 500 (+208.51%)

SNL U.S. Bank (+98.54%)

Stock PricE PErformancE SincE iPo
in total return %

600

400

200

0

-200

8

4
9
9
1

5
9
9
1

6
9
9
1

7
9
9
1

8
9
9
1

9
9
9
1

0
0
0
2

1
0
0
2

2
0
0
2

3
0
0
2

4
0
0
2

5
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

9
0
0
2

0
1
0
2

1
1
0
2

2
1
0
2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Profile

northwESt bancSharES, inc., a savings 

Our Business Solutions offering includes 

and loan holding company, owns and operates 

commercial loans, business deposit accounts,  

Northwest Savings Bank, a Pennsylvania-chartered 

cash management services, and benefits 

savings bank headquartered in Warren, 

management services featuring personal  

Pennsylvania.

attention and local decision making. 

As of December 31, 2012, we held assets of $7.94 

Our Personal Banking offering includes  

billion and operated 165 community banking 

mortgage, home equity, and consumer loans, 

locations and 267 Automated Teller Machines 

and checking and other deposit products with a 

(ATMs) throughout our markets in central, 

personal touch and a complete menu of delivery 

eastern, and western Pennsylvania, western  

channels. We also provide comprehensive 

New York, eastern Ohio, and Maryland. 

brokerage, trust, and investment management 

Our primary business involves gathering funds 

from deposits and borrowings and investing those 

services, and personal insurance products to  

meet all of our customers’ financial needs.

funds in loans and investment securities.

We also operate Northwest Consumer Discount 

For 116 years, we have served our communities 

with an ever-expanding array of banking and 

investment products that meet the needs of both 

business and personal customers. 

Company, a consumer finance company that 

specializes in helping customers meet their 

consumer credit needs. As of December 31, 2012, 

Northwest Consumer had loans outstanding of 

$108.7 million at 52 offices across Pennsylvania.

SourcES of funDS

Subordinated Debt
1%

Money Market Deposit 
Accounts
17%

Certificates of
Deposit
28% 

Savings 
Accounts
17%

Borrowed 
Funds
13%

Checking 
Accounts
24%

inVEStmEnt of funDS

Consumer Loans
3%

Commercial Loans
5%

Other Assets
7%

Home Equity
Loans
14%

Commercial
Real Estate loans
20%

Mortgage
Loans
30%

Cash &
Investments
21% 

9

Strategic Focus

10

Looking ahead, Northwest is positioned  

to be a premier provider of financial services  

in all of our markets. As displayed in the 

sections that follow, we have demonstrated 

significant success in delivering:

•  buSinESS SolutionS  including 

business loans and deposits as well as 

assisting businesses with their employee 

benefit plans.

•  PErSonal banking products and 

services, including checking and  

deposit accounts and loans to fill all  

personal needs.

Business Solutions

wE SPEcializE in DEVEloPing laSting 

rElationShiPS baSED on cuStom-tailorED 

ProDuctS anD SErVicES, local DEciSion 

making, anD PErSonal attEntion. 

Northwest’s goal is to provide a wide array of financial 

solutions to businesses utilizing products and services 

that are competitively priced and of the highest quality. 

•  Business Checking

•  Retirement Plans

•  Merchant Services

•  Commercial Lending

•  Small Business Loans

•  Employee Benefits

•  Insurance

•  Express Deposit

•  Business Online Banking and Bill Pay

•  Business Mobile Banking

•  Business Credit Cards

11

Business Solutions 

Building a strategic process with our business customers

loanS

Northwest’s commercial loans have grown 
substantially over the past four years...

while yields have remained at attractive levels 
despite the low interest rate environment....

and loan losses have been much lower than 
the industry average.

commErcial loanS
in millions of dollars

commErcial loan yiElDS VS. 
3-yEar trEaSury yiElD at DEcEmbEr 31

loan loSSES VS. inDuStry aVEragE loSSES 
as a % of loans

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

$1,886.0 $1,889.6

$2,048.6

$1,695.7

$1,487.4

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

6.05%

5.82%

5.73%

5.63%

5.25%

1.70%

1.00%

1.02%

0.36%

0.36%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

2.50%

2.55%

1.55%

1.29%

0.19%

0.51%

0.63%

0.72%

0.88%

0.43%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Northwest commercial loan yields

3-year Treasury yield

Northwest losses

Industry average losses

DEPoSitS

Balances of business deposits have 
increased substantially...

while the average cost of such 
deposits has decreased.

Northwest’s mix of business deposits is  
diversified due to our focus on meeting 
the needs of all types of businesses.

buSinESS DEPoSit balancES 
in millions of dollars

$1,017.6

$784.5

$808.6

$855.3

$691.2

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

12

coSt of buSinESS DEPoSitS

0.81%

0.56%

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Interest 
Checking
Accounts
15%

Business
Money Market 
Accounts
28%

Municipal 
Accounts
17%

0.28%

0.17%

0.12%

Non-Interest 
Checking Accounts
40%

Business Solutions

EmPloyEE bEnEfitS

Northwest has increased assets under 
management in recent years...

along with the number of  
benefit plans administered...

which has driven an increase in 
fee income from these business lines.

bEnEfit Plan aSSEtS unDEr managEmEnt
in millions of dollars

# of bEnEfit PlanS aDminiStErED

bEnEfit Plan managEmEnt rEVEnuE
in millions of dollars

$808.9

$718.7

$651.3

$542.8

$375.1

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

1,798

1,828

1,538

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

822

864

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

10

8

6

4

2

0

$8.8

$8.1

$7.3

$4.0

$4.1

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

aSSEt miX
as a % of total assets

bEnEfit PlanS aDminiStErED 
as a % of total plans

buSinESS rEVEnuE 
as a % of total revenue

Investment
Management
9%

Investment
Management

6%

Investment
Management
14%

Benefits
86%

Employee
Benefit
46%

Retirement
Benefit
45%

Employee
Benefit
43%

Retirement
Benefit
51%

13

Personal Banking

northwESt haS a comPrEhEnSiVE 

array of financial toolS to  

SatiSfy our cuStomErS’ nEEDS aS  

thEy liVE, work, anD Play.

Our company’s goal is to deliver the  

highest quality personal banking  

products and services with maximum  

convenience and competitive pricing. 

•  Checking, Savings, and CDs

•  Loans and Lines of Credit

•  Mobile Banking

•  Online Banking and Bill Pay

•  50,000+ Free ATMs

•  eStatementsplus

•  Debit and Credit Cards

•  Telephone Banking

14

Personal Banking 

DEEPEning rElationShiPS

Our strategy of increasing the 
number of services per household...

and decreasing the number of  
single service households...

creates meaningful customer relationships, 
reduces attrition, and improves  
operating performance.

SErVicES PEr houSEholD

# of SinglE SErVicE houSEholDS

# of houSEholDS

2.711

2.629

2.547

3.00

2.75

2.50

2.25

2.00

2.908

2.846

100,000

96,659

94,213

88,991

84,641

81,319

90,000

80,000

70,000

60,000

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

300,000

275,000

250,000

225,000

200,000

295,051

297,957

295,596 292,397

288,502

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

incrEaSing chEcking balancES

Northwest has had great success in recent 
years in procuring new checking accounts...

while checking account balances have also 
increased significantly...

and provided significant levels of  
checking-related fee income.

# of chEcking accountS

250,000

200,000

189,424

203,354

213,359

218,420

222,427

150,000

100,000

50,000

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

chEcking account balancES 
in millions of dollars

$935.0

$867.9

$725.6

$779.3

$616.6

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

chEcking account fEES 
in millions of dollars

$30.0

$31.5

$34.8

$32.3

$31.5

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

15

Personal Banking

Building quality personal relationships emphasizing service, convenience, and value

rEmaining a PrEfErrED ProViDEr of conSumEr crEDit

The mortgage and home equity portfolios have provided an attractive and stable yield during a period of low interest rates while losses remain relatively 
low during the recent economic downturn due to our conservative lending practices and low average balances.

mortgagE Portfolio yiElD VS.  
10-yEar trEaSury yiElD at DEcEmbEr 31

Mortgage yield

10-year Treasury yield

5.96%

5.78%

5.54%

5.27%

4.83%

3.85%

3.30%

2.25%

1.89%

1.78%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

homE EQuity Portfolio yiElD  VS.  
3-yEar trEaSury yiElD at DEcEmbEr 31
Yield on home equity loans

3-year Treasury yield

mortgagE & homE EQuity loanS loSSES 
as a % of total mortgages and home equities

6.54%

6.15%

5.89%

5.64%

5.27%

1.70%

1.00%

1.02%

0.36%

0.36%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

0.24%

0.24%

0.24%

0.08%

0.05%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

conSumEr loanS

We continue to retain much of our consumer loan 
portfolio during the recent cycle of low demand.

While losses have remained  
at manageable levels...

and yields have remained attractive  
during a period of low interest rates.

conSumEr loanS
in millions of dollars

$267.5

$273.9

$255.8

$245.7

$235.4

conSumEr loan loSSES  
as a % of consumer loans

1.95%

1.94%

1.81%

1.64%

2.20%

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

yiElD on conSumEr loanS  VS.  
3-yEar trEaSury yiElD at DEcEmbEr 31

10.45%

10.60%

11.30%

11.57%

11.98%

1.00%

1.70%

1.02%

0.36%

0.36%

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Yield on consumer loans

3-year Treasury yield

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

16

Investment Management and Insurance

northwESt iS DEDicatED to turning 

our cuStomErS’ financial SuccESS 

into financial SEcurity.

We have achieved significant growth in 

both personal assets under management 

and number of clients as we leverage the 

opportunities to develop such relationships  

with customers who also use our banking 

services.

•  Investments

•  Planning and Management

•  Trust and Estate Services

•  Employee Benefits

•  Insurance

•  Retirement Plans

•  Oil and Gas Lease Income

17

Investment Management

Assets under management have  
increased significantly in recent years...

while we have had success 
with customer retention...

which has provided a growing source  
of fee income.

PErSonal aSSEtS unDEr managEmEnt 
in millions of dollars

# of cliEntS

inVEStmEnt managEmEnt rEVEnuE 
in millions of dollars

750

625

500

375

250

$703

$639

$558

$508

$415

7,714

6,905

8,607

7,526

7,787

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

5

4

3

2

1

0

$4.6

$4.7

$4.0

$3.5

$3.0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

PErSonal aSSEt miX
as a % of total assets under management

PErSonal cliEnt miX 
as a % of total clients

PErSonal rEVEnuE miX 
as a % of total Investment Management revenue

Trust
56%

Brokerage
34%

18

Investment Management
10%

Investment Management
10%

Trust
16%

Brokerage
74%

Brokerage
26%

Trust
62%

Investment Management
12%

Financial Data and Investor Information

19

Financial Data

conDEnSED conSoliDatED balancE ShEEt 
(in thousands, except share data) 

aSSEtS
Cash and cash equivalents   
Marketable securities available-for-sale
Marketable securities held-to-maturity
Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of $73,219 and $71,138
Accrued interest receivable
Real estate owned, net
Bank-owned life insurance
Premises and equipment
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost
Other assets

total aSSEtS

liabilitiES anD SharEholDErS’ EQuity

Deposits
Borrowed funds
Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance
Accrued interest payable
Other liabilities
Trust preferred securities
total liabilitiES

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; 93,652,960 and 97,493,046  

shares issued and outstanding, respectively

Paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Unallocated common stock of Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
total SharEholDErS’ EQuity
total liabilitiES anD SharEholDErS’ EQuity

20

      aS of DEcEmbEr 31,

     2012

     2011

$ 

451,704
1,079,074
155,081
5,629,261
23,313
26,165
137,044
138,824
177,990
46,834
77,310
$    7,942,600

$    5,764,600
860,047
23,325
888
62,177
103,094
6,814,131
—

937
613,249
550,296
(24,525)
(11,488)
1,128,469
$    7,942,600

$ 

688,297
908,349
231,389
5,480,381
24,599
26,887
133,524
132,152
174,005
48,935
109,187
$    7,957,705

$    5,780,325
827,925
23,571
1,104
66,782
103,094
6,802,801
—

975
659,523
543,598
(25,966)
(23,226)
1,154,904
$    7,957,705

conDEnSED conSoliDatED StatEmEntS of incomE 
(in thousands, except share data) 

intErESt incomE:
Loans
Investments and interest-earning cash
total intErESt incomE

intErESt EXPEnSE:
Deposits
Borrowed funds

total intErESt EXPEnSE

Net interest income
Provision for loan losses
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
nonintErESt incomE:
Service charges and fees
Trust and other financial services income
Gain/(loss) on securities
Insurance commission income
Income from bank-owned life insurance
Other

total nonintErESt incomE

nonintErESt EXPEnSE:
Compensation and employee benefits
Premises and occupancy costs
Office operations
Processing expenses
Amortization of intangibles
Marketing expenses
Federal deposit insurance premiums
Other

total nonintErESt EXPEnSE

Income before income taxes
Income tax expense
nEt incomE

Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

yEarS EnDED DEcEmbEr 31,

2012

2011

2010

$ 

309,391
29,784
339,175

$ 

320,942
39,128
360,070

$ 

328,948
41,620
370,568

43,377
31,822
75,199
263,976
26,338
237,638

34,486
8,544
323
6,264
4,961
3,189
57,767

111,727
22,409
13,224
25,000
1,012
7,829
5,554
18,722
205,477
89,928
26,368
 63,560

0.68
0.68

$ 

$ 
$ 

60,721
32,080
92,801
267,269
34,170
233,099

35,378
8,125
(579)
6,548
6,019
2,645
58,136

106,595
23,055
12,850
23,332
1,819
9,953
7,101
15,522
200,227
91,008
26,857
 64,151

0.64
0.64

$ 

$ 
$ 

75,174
37,753
112,927
257,641
40,486
217,155

37,921
7,252
660
5,190
5,080
4,295
60,398

100,709
22,665
13,864
23,152
2,784
9,875
9,054
14,405
196,508
81,045
23,522
 57,523

0.53
0.53

$ 

$ 
$ 

21

Directors and Officers

board of Directors
northwest bancshares, inc. 
and northwest Savings bank

corporate officers
northwest bancshares, inc.  
and northwest Savings bank

william J. wagner
Chairman, President, and  
Chief Executive Officer
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.

John m. bauer
Co-Chairman,  
Contact Technologies, Inc.

richard l. carr
Retired Superintendent,
Titusville Area School District

Deborah J. chadsey
Attorney and Partner, 
Kavinoky Cook LLP

Dr. a. Paul king
Retired President, 
Oral Surgery of Erie

Joseph f. long
Retired Partner, KPMG LLP 
Treasurer, Passavant Hospital 
Foundation

Dr. richard E. mcDowell
President Emeritus,
The University of Pittsburgh  
at Bradford

John P. meegan
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Operating Officer,
Hefren-Tillotson, Inc.

Sonia m. Probst
Retired Chief Executive Officer,  
Rouse Estate

Philip m. tredway
President and  
Chief Executive Officer,  
Erie Molded Plastics, Inc.

william J. wagner
President and  
Chief  Executive 
Officer

Steven g. fisher
Executive Vice President,  
Banking Services

william w. harvey, Jr.
Executive Vice President,  
Finance and  
Chief  Financial Officer

timothy a. huber
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Lending Officer

gregory c. larocca
Executive Vice President,  
Wealth Management,  
Trust & Insurance Services and 
Corporate Secretary

Julia w. mctavish
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Human Resources Officer

michael g. Smelko
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Credit Officer

ronald b. andzelik
Senior Vice President,  
Compliance and Community 
Reinvestment Act Officer

robert bablak, Jr.
Senior Vice President,  
Community Banking

John k. beard
Senior Vice President,  
Retail Investment Services

22

Douglas bert
Senior Vice President, 
Senior Executive,
Insurance Services

william m. guthrie
Senior Vice President,
Senior Executive,
Wealth Management

John E. hall
Senior Vice President,  
Consumer Lending

neil r. hoffman
Senior Vice President,  
Commercial Lending

gerald J. ritzert
Senior Vice President,  
Finance and Controller

richard f. Seibel
Senior Vice President,  
Risk Management 

Vicki l. Stec
Senior Vice President,  
Compliance and  
Bank Secrecy Officer

David E. westerburg
Senior Vice President,  
Marketing and Operations,
Chief Marketing Officer

andrew c. young
Senior Vice President,  
Chief Information Officer

Stephen m. bell
Vice President,  
Facilities

thomas k. creal
Vice President,  
Credit Administration

michael r. DelPrince
Vice President,
Finance

barbara l. Demontier
Vice President,  
Human Resources

michael a. Doherty
Vice President,  
Credit Administration

w. norman Ewing
Vice President,  
Systems and Programming

James g. holding
Vice President,  
Communications

Dean c. huya
Vice President,  
Loss Mitigation

Paul c. lindberg
Vice President,  
Loan Review

Dorothy E. lobdell
Vice President,  
Mortgage Lending

Edward a. martone
Vice President,  
Human Resources

kevin g. mizak
Vice President,  
Chief Auditor

Donald E. reed
Vice President,  
Finance and Treasurer

David c. Stevenson
Vice President,  
Computer Operations

Eric D. Stoever
Vice President,  
Chief Technology Officer

James m. Swanson
Vice President,  
Retail Deposit Products

william c. tarpenning
Vice President,  
Mortgage Banking

Deborah a. Vecellio
Vice President,  
Mortgage Servicing

Shawn o. walker
Vice President,  
Marketing

region Presidents
northwest Savings bank

Richard J. Oppitz  
Maryland

Nancy J. May 
Eastern Pennsylvania

Julie A. Marasco  
Northwest Pennsylvania, Ohio

Christopher A. Martin  
Southwest Pennsylvania

James E. Martin  
Erie, Pennsylvania

Jonathan E. Rockey  
Central Pennsylvania

Jonathan P. Scalise  
New York

 
 
 
 
 
Investor Information

corporate headquarters:

online Shareholder access:

common Stock information:

100 Liberty Street
P.O. Box 128
Warren, Pennsylvania 16365
Telephone : (814) 726-2140
Fax : (814) 728-7716
www.northwestsavingsbank.com

annual meeting:

April 17, 2013, 11:00 a.m.
The Struthers Library Theatre
302 West Third Avenue
Warren, Pennsylvania 16365

Stock listing:

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. common stock 
is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select 
Market under the symbol “NWBI.”

Registered shareholders may access their 
account(s) online through American Stock 
Transfer & Trust Company, LLC at www.
amstock.com. Here you can easily initiate 
a number of transactions and inquiries 
as well as obtain important details about 
your holdings and general stock transfer 
information.

•   Update your mailing address
•   Access account information
•   Print a duplicate 1099 tax form
•   Combine/consolidate accounts
•   Request a replacement  

dividend check

•   Download stock transfer  
instructions and forms
•   Enroll in direct deposit of 

dividends

Stock transfer, registrar, and  
Dividend Disbursing agent:

financial information:

Shareholder communications regarding 
change of address, change in registration 
of certificates, reporting of lost certificates 
and dividend checks should be directed to:

American Stock Transfer and Trust 
Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11219
Toll Free : (800) 937-5449
Toll Free : (877) 777-0800
Fax : (718) 236-2641
Email : info@amstock.com
Web Site : www.amstock.com

The Annual Report on Form 10-K is 
filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC). Copies of this 
document and other filings, including 
exhibits thereto, may be obtained 
electronically at the SEC home page at 
www.sec.gov or through the Company’s 
website www.northwestsavingsbank.com. 
Copies may also be obtained, without 
charge, upon request by writing to the 
Company’s corporate headquarters.

independent auditors:

KPMG LLP 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Securities counsel:

Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C.
Washington, D.C.

	 Year	Ended	December	31,	2012		 High		
$13.08  
  First quarter  
 13.00  
  Second quarter  
12.70  
  Third quarter  
12.50 
  Fourth quarter  

	 Year	Ended	December	31,	2011		 High		
$12.59  
  First quarter  
 12.67  
  Second quarter  
13.36  
  Third quarter  
12.93 
  Fourth quarter  

Low		
$12.14  
 11.03   
 11.22   
 11.11  

Low		
$11.47  
 11.90   
 10.74   
 11.33  

Cash	Dividends	Declared
 $ 0.12
0.12
0.12
     0.24 (1)

Cash	Dividends	Declared
 $ 0.10
0.11
0.11
0.11

(1) Includes acceleration of first quarter 2013 dividend paid on December 24, 2012

Dividend reinvestment &  
Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan:

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. is pleased  
to offer a Dividend Reinvestment  
and Direct Stock Purchase and Sale  
Plan through American Stock  
Transfer & Trust Company, LLC  
(the “Plan Administrator”). 

The plan provides both existing 
registered shareholders and interested 
new investors with a convenient method 
to purchase shares of Northwest 
Bancshares, Inc. common stock. 

If you are already a registered share-
holder or are interested in becoming 
one, you may access the plan material 
and enroll online at www.amstock.com 
by clicking on “Invest Online”  
under “Shareholder Services” or via  
our investor relations website at  
www.northwestsavingsbank.com. 

Alternatively, you may request a  
plan prospectus and enrollment 
application by calling American Stock 
Transfer & Trust Company, toll-free, at 
(877) 715-0499 or Northwest, toll-free, 
at (800) 859-1000 or (814) 728-7263.

Direct Deposit of Dividends:

Shareholders who do not reinvest 
their dividends may elect to have cash 
dividends directly deposited into their 
savings or checking account, thereby 
providing immediate access to funds 
and eliminating mail delays and lost or 
stolen checks. You may enroll online by 
accessing your shareholder account(s) 
at www.amstock.com or, to obtain 
an enrollment card, by calling the 
Company’s transfer agent, toll-free, at  
(800) 937-5449 or Northwest, toll-free, 
at (800) 859-1000.

investor relations:

William J. Wagner
President and Chief Executive Officer

William W. Harvey, Jr.
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer 

Shareholder relations:

Ian R. Scott
Assistant Vice President,
Shareholder Relations and
Assistant Corporate Secretary
(800) 859-1000

23

Notes

In addition to historical information, this report may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions and information currently available to management, including 
assumptions as to changes in market interest rates. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, economic, regulatory, competitive, 
legislative, and other factors affecting the company and its operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as actual results may differ materially 
from those expressed or implied. Management has no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the release of this report.

24

“Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in  
the Mid-Atlantic Region, Three Years in a Row”

50

keeFe, BRuYette & WOOdS

Bank Director 
Magazine
2012

Northwest Savings Bank received the highest numerical score among retail banks in the Mid-Atlantic region in the proprietary J.d. Power and Associates 2010-2012 
Retail Banking Satisfaction Studies.SM Study based on 51,498 total responses measuring 31 providers in the Mid-Atlantic region (de, Md, NJ, NY, PA, VA & Wash., 
d.C.) and measures opinions of consumers with their primary banking provider. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers 
surveyed January-February, 2012. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

100 Liberty Street
PO Box 128
Warren, Pennsylvania 16365
(814) 726-2140
www.northwestsavingsbank.com