-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PBUhzJyvC+BfRJx97bce/yNski3RGfNS9yZqS3GlgCbqgoD7ctmvfH5M2c/u/nbC
 kvcLcEUoxrbBomtmY01u+w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001244535-05-000002.txt : 20050308
<SEC-HEADER>0001244535-05-000002.hdr.sgml : 20050308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050308162444
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001244535-05-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050308
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050308

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOYES JOHN H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244535

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23129-33
		FILM NUMBER:		05667074

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORTHWAY FINANCIAL INC
		STREET 2:		9 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			BERLIN
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03570

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHWAY FINANCIAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041753
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				043368379
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9 MAIN ST
		CITY:			BERLIN
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03750
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6037521171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9 MAIN ST
		CITY:			BERLIN
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03750
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-03-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041753</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHWAY FINANCIAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NWFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244535</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NOYES JOHN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 420</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLYMOUTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03264</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>L</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10523</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10523</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Anyce B. Noyes Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12185</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Deborah A. Hodgdon by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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