Sec Form 4 Filing - SMELKO MICHAEL G @ Northwest Bancshares, Inc. - 2014-04-23

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person SMELKO MICHAEL G 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Northwest Bancshares, Inc. [ NWBI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Exec. V.P., Chief Credit Off. (Last) (First) (Middle) 100 LIBERTY STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 04/23/2014 (Street) WARREN, PA16365 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 04/23/2014 04/23/2014 X 2,790 A $ 11.33 45,427 D Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 04/23/2014 04/23/2014 X 1,687 A $ 10.19 47,114 D Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 04/23/2014 04/23/2014 S 3,400 D $ 14.5601 43,714 D Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 1,019 I Wife's IRA Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 4,964.588 ( 1 ) I 401-K Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 6,306.7649 ( 2 ) I ESOP

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 11.33 04/23/2014 04/23/2014 X 2,790 12/15/2005 12/15/2014 Common Stock 2,790 $ 11.33 0 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 10.19 04/23/2014 04/23/2014 X 1,687 01/19/2006 01/19/2015 Common Stock 1,687 $ 10.19 0 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 9.86 01/18/2007 01/18/2016 Common Stock 2,812 2,812 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 11.51 01/17/2008 01/17/2017 Common Stock 10,125 10,125 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 11.12 01/16/2009 01/16/2018 Common Stock 10,125 10,125 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 9.79 11/19/2009 11/19/2018 Common Stock 10,125 10,125 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 7.48 02/18/2010 02/18/2019 Common Stock 10,125 10,125 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 11.49 01/20/2011 01/20/2020 Common Stock 13,000 13,000 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 12.12 01/19/2012 01/19/2021 Common Stock 13,000 13,000 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 12.32 05/18/2012 05/18/2021 Common Stock 52,000 52,000 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 11.7 05/23/2013 05/23/2022 Common Stock 12,480 12,480 D Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 12.44 05/15/2014 05/15/2023 Common Stock 12,480 12,480 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other SMELKO MICHAEL G 100 LIBERTY STREET WARREN, PA16365 Exec. V.P., Chief Credit Off. Signatures Michael G. Smelko 04/24/2014 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Reflects transactions that are not reportable pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. ( 2 )Reflects transactions that are not reportable pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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