-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PPuEao/YwpLIxMIBi0TAk8cyr6RAGrmkWvrEYWE9iH8KmtvIQtsyq+1epytCAqHu
 l7/rIEBmAFio/TQNuXGhNA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001244539-05-000001.txt : 20050914
<SEC-HEADER>0001244539-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050914
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050914153847
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001244539-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050913
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050914
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050914

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODWARD WILLIAM J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244539

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23129-33
		FILM NUMBER:		051084412

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORTHWAY FINANCIAL INC
		STREET 2:		9 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			BERLIN
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03570
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244539</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOODWARD WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 232</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BERLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03570</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.9263</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76088</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Average purchase price per share was $35.926333.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Deborah A. Hodgdon, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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