8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):    August 10, 2011

Northwest Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	1-34582	27-0950358
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 Liberty Street
Warren, Pennsylvania	16365
(Address of principal executive office)	(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:       (814) 726-2140

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))

Item 8.01  Other Events

On August 10, 2011, Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (the “Registrant”) issued a news release announcing the initiation of a stock repurchase program for up to 5% of its outstanding common stock.  A copy of the news release is included as exhibit 99.1 to this report and is being furnished to the SEC and shall not be deemed “filed” for any purpose.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)  Not applicable

(b)  Not applicable

(c)  Not applicable

(d)  Exhibits

ExhibitNo.   99.1  Description   Press release dated August 10, 2011

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

		NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC.
DATE:	August 10, 2011	By:	/s/ William W. Harvey, Jr.
			William W. Harvey, Jr.
			Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE OF NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  William J. Wagner, President and Chief Executive Officer (814) 726-2140 William W. Harvey, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (814) 726-2140

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. Authorizes the Repurchase of an Additional 5% of the Company’s Common Stock

Warren, Pennsylvania August 10, 2011

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (NasdaqGS: NWBI) announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of 5%, or approximately 5,150,000 shares, of the Company’s outstanding common stock.  This repurchase plan is in addition to the previously announced repurchase program whereby the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of 10%, or 11,000,000 shares, of the Company’s common stock, which is nearing completion.  The stock repurchase program may be carried out through open market purchases, block trades, negotiated private transactions and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The stock may be repurchased on an ongoing basis and will be subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company’s financial performance.  Any repurchased shares will be held as authorized but unissued shares and will be available for general corporate purposes.

Headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania, Northwest Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company of Northwest Savings Bank.  Northwest Savings Bank operates 169 community banking offices in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Maryland.  Northwest Savings Bank, founded in 1896, is a full-service financial institution offering a complete line of business and personal banking products as well as benefits and wealth management services.  The Company also operates 52 consumer finance offices in Pennsylvania through its subsidiary, Northwest Consumer Discount Company.  Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.  Additional information regarding Northwest Bancshares, Inc. can be accessed on-line at www.northwestsavingsbank.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements - This press release may contain forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, include among others, the following possibilities: (1) changes in the interest rate environment; (2) competitive pressure among financial services companies; (3) general economic conditions including an increase in non-performing loans that could result from an economic downturn; (4) changes in legislation or regulatory requirements; (5) difficulties in continuing to improve operating efficiencies; (6) difficulties in the integration of acquired businesses; and (7) increased risk associated with an increase in commercial real-estate and business loans and non-performing loans.  Management has no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.