Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

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 *
Ritzert Gerald J
 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)
Senior V.P. Controller
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

100 LIBERTY STREET		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2011
(Street)


WARREN, PA 16365		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(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 (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             21,422.079 (1) D  
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             678 (2) I Wife's IRA
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             5,844.098 (3) I 401-K
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             1,732.688 (4) I ESOP

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

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 (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 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
(Month/Day/Year)		 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 at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.33           12/15/2004 12/15/2014 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
2,790
  2,790
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 10.19           01/19/2006 01/19/2015 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
3,937
  3,937
D
 
Option Plan ( Right to Buy) $ 9.86           01/18/2007 01/18/2016 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
3,937
  3,937
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.26           06/09/2006 08/20/2013 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
1,095
  1,095
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.51           01/17/2008 01/17/2017 Northwest Bancshares, Inc,
3,937
  3,937
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.29           04/25/2007 08/20/2013 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
333
  333
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.92           08/22/2007 08/20/2013 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
317
  317
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.12           01/16/2009 01/16/2018 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
10,125
  10,125
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 9.79           11/19/2009 11/19/2018 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
10,125
  10,125
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 7.48           02/18/2010 02/18/2019 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
10,125
  10,125
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.49           01/20/2011 01/20/2020 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
9,000
  9,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.12           01/19/2012 01/19/2018 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
9,000
  9,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.32           05/18/2011 05/18/2020 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
34,000
  34,000
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Ritzert Gerald J
100 LIBERTY STREET
WARREN, PA 16365		       Senior V.P. Controller  

Signatures

Gerald J. Ritzert 01/30/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* 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).
(1) Includes 32.540 shares acquired through dividend reinvestment since December 31, 2010.
(2) Includes 13.00 shares acquired through dividend reinvestment since December 31, 2010
(3) Includes 1447.52 shares acquired through payroll deduction into the company's 401-K Plan since December 31, 2010
(4) Includes 340.66 shares acquired through the company's ESOP distributions since December 31, 2010.

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