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Jessica Gabriel has been named assistant vice president of Northwest Savings Bank. James Swanson, vice president, Deposit Operations, made the announcement. In her role, Ms. Gabriel will continue to manage the IRA/HSA, Deposit Services, Reporting Services, Research and Returned Mail departments of the bank. She will also assume responsibility of Deposit Administration. Ms. Gabriel will continue to oversee employees in the Operations Department’s management trainee program. Ms. Gabriel joined Northwest in June 2002 as a management trainee in the Investment Management and Trust Department. She served as a Trust Officer until her move to the Operations Department in 2008. She earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Penn State University Erie, The Behrend College. Ms. Gabriel recently completed, with honors, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s Advanced School of Banking. Active in her community, Ms. Gabriel serves on the board of the Kane Area United Fund. ...

Northwest Savings Bank has made a $25,000 contribution to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to provide tuition support for high school students in the region who are taking classes through the university’s Bridges and College in the High School dual enrollment programs. The contribution comes through a tax credit program offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This is the third year Northwest has taken advantage of the program to support Pitt-Bradford. “We’re pleased to be able to support Pitt-Bradford and local students through this tax credit program,” said Bill Pantuso, senior vice president, district manager – Warren, McKean, Potter and Tioga counties. “Northwest and Pitt-Bradford both have deep roots in the region, and we look forward to future partnerships that help meet the educational needs of students and employers.” Pitt-Bradford has two kinds of programs in which students can e...

Yesterday we told you on the air that the United Way of the Bradford Area was at 53 percent of its campaign goal. Well, that news is outdated already. Bradford Area School District, Zippo Manufacturing Co., American Refining Group Inc. and Northwest Savings Bank have so far been the champions of the United Way of the Bradford Area’s latest campaign. Officials announced Friday that, just more than a month into its 2014 Be a Champion campaign, they have already raised 60 percent of the $345,000 goal. School district staff members increased their contributions by nearly 50 percent, while both Zippo and ARG also recorded significant increases in their employee campaigns. The campaign has been structured differently this year under the leadership of co-chairs Lisa Minich and Jeannine Schoenecker, who have stressed the importance of having plenty of volunteers and making more-personal appeals. “Our goal with this year’s campaign was to re-energize the volunteer base and bring bac...

Northwest Savings Bank recently gave $7,500 to the United Way of the Bradford Area. The donation will be added to the United Way’s funds, which are distributed to local community organizations for the purpose of community building and enhancing the quality of life in the greater Bradford area. Twenty-nine agencies and 51 programs and services receive funding from the organization’s annual appeal, which runs from August 15 through December 15. This year’s goal is to raise $345,000. In presenting the donation, Steve Cottillion, manager of the Bradford West Washington Street Office of Northwest Savings Bank and member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Bradford Area, said, “We (Northwest) recognize the importance of supporting the United Way because it helps to build a stronger community. It’s a great way to support our town and give back because everyone in the Bradford area has benefited in some way from United Way funds. We’re honored to be able to support the...

The 2014 United Way campaign begins today, and officials are approaching this appeal aggressively, beginning with a goal of $345,000. “We’ve increased the goal this year to accommodate the increase in requests from the local agencies to meet the needs of our community,” said Executive Director Mandi Wilton Davis. “We are currently funding the highest number of agencies and programs we’ve ever done with 29 and 51, respectively. “We’re very confident that this is an attainable goal – although a lot of effort and commitment will be put into it – and we’re looking forward to celebrating with the community at the end of the year,” said Davis. This year’s promotional theme – “Be A Champion” – is a call to action for donors, but also a fitting tie for the campaign co-chairs, Lisa Minich and Jeannine Schoenecker, who say it (theme) represents their personal passion for giving back to a community they’re proud to call home. “Our hope this year is to not only reach the monetary goal, but to...

A man who robbed six banks – including a Northwest Savings Bank in Falconer – will spend the next 11 years in prison. 59-year-old Robert Stevenson of Rochester also robbed banks in the Rochester suburb or Irondequoit, Kenmore, Syracuse, Utica and New Hartford. Stevenson was also order to pay more than $16,000 in restitution. The FBI worked with local police departments in the investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WARREN — William J. Wagner, president and CEO of Northwest, and Steven G. Fisher, executive vice president of Banking Services of Northwest, accepted a trophy on behalf of the bank to commemorate the 2014 J.D. Power Award for highest in customer satisfaction in retail banking in the Mid-Atlantic Region. This is the fourth trophy presented to Northwest in the last five years. The bank received the award in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Congratulating the crowd, Mr. Fisher said, “I am very proud of our company. This award is a testament to our talented team and our desire to provide quality and value to the customers we serve. Our goal is to continue to push for excellence in consistent, superior service.” J.D. Power Director of Financial Services Daniel Murphy said, “I’m happy to bring the J.D. Power Award back to its rightful place in Warren, PA. Once again, Northwest proved its commitment to the customer. This award confirms that Northwest is the bank where people make the d...

Northwest Savings Bank (NASDAQ: NWBI) ranks highest in customer satisfaction in the Mid-Atlantic Region, according to the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. The study, conducted quarterly from April 2013 to January 2014, analyzes the overall satisfaction customers have with their retail banking experience based on account activities, account information, facility, fees, problem resolution and product offering. Northwest received the highest satisfaction score in the Mid-Atlantic Region, which includes Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Northwest Savings Bank was also ranked highest from 2010-2012. “Receiving our fourth award in five years from J.D. Power for being highest ranked in our six-state region is an incredible honor,” said Steven G. Fisher, executive vice president, Banking Services of Northwest Savings Bank. “Today, customers have higher expectations of service providers. It is our goal to ...

Northwest Savings Bank will sponsor a 5K run and walk to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and LIVESTRONG at the YMCA. The race is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2014 in downtown Warren. Check in will take place at the Northwest Community Room on Second Avenue from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. The race starts at 10 a.m. in front of Northwest’s downtown Warren Office at Liberty Street and Second Avenue. Participants can register online or by mail. The cost of the race is $15.00 if registered by March 27, and $20.00 if registered after March 27. To register online, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/WARREN/NORTHWESTSAVINGSBANK5K. To register by mail, pick up a copy of the race registration form at all Northwest Savings Bank locations in Warren, the Warren YMCA, Jefferson Davis DeFrees Family Center and the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry. Mail the completed form with a check payable to “Northwest Savings Bank” to: Northwest Savings Bank...

Norman M. Strotman has been promoted to senior vice president and regional commercial lender for Northwest Savings Bank. Neil Hoffman, senior vice president, Commercial Lending manager, made the announcement. In his new role, Mr. Strotman will be responsible for business development, extending client relationships and serving existing customers in Warren, McKean and western Forest counties and the city of Corry in Erie County. Mr. Strotman will be located at the Bradford Main Street Office, 33 Main Street in Bradford. Mr. Strotman began his career with Northwest in 2010 as a loan review officer. In 2012, he was promoted to commercial lending officer for McKean County. Mr. Strotman received his MBA and bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. Bonaventure University. Active in his community, Mr. Strotman is a member of the St. Bonaventure Athletics Department advisory board, Foster Township Zoning Hearing board, North Central Loan Review Committee and the Bradford ...

Northwest Savings Bank upgraded Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Bradford and Kane to accept cash and check deposits. The new service will allow Northwest customers to make a deposit through the ATM, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without envelopes or deposit slips. “We are extremely excited to bring our new depository ATMs to Bradford (and Kane). The upgrade will give our customers the ability to make deposits 24/7. This is just one more way Northwest makes banking more convenient,” said Joe Schwind, the electronic funds transfer manager of the bank. Deposits made before 8 p.m. on a business day using the new full service ATMs will credit to the account on the same day. Customers may deposit up to 30 checks or 50 bills at one time without an envelope and will receive a receipt with optional check images for detailed record keeping. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

(News Release) WARREN -- The Northwest Charitable Foundation donated $10,000 to the Education Consortium of the Upper Allegheny (ECUA) to help the Consortium meet its mission of providing affordable, accessible associate degree programming to northwestern Pennsylvanians. Duane Vicini, president of ECUA, and Amanda Hetrick, ECUA board member and Superintendent of the Forest Area School District, accepted the donation on behalf of the organization. In presenting the donation, Stephanie Freitag, manager of Northwest Savings Bank’s Warren Commons Office said, “I am extremely happy to make this award, which will help support the delivery of quality secondary education programming throughout northwestern Pennsylvania. Without the Education Consortium, our region would not have local access to the opportunities that are now available through the Consortium’s collaboration with Gannon University, school districts and other partners.” ECUA partnered with Gannon University to offer...

(News Release) WARREN -- Northwest Savings Bank has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Evans Capital Management, Inc. (ECM), an Erie, Pennsylvania based financial advisory firm that manages or administers over $240 million in assets. The transaction is expected to close on January 1, 2014. After that date, ECM will continue to operate under the management of its founder, Jeffrey W. Evans and current Partners Arthur A. Laneve and Steven T. Erhartic as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northwest Savings Bank from its current location at 4740 Peach Street in Erie. The company’s ten staff members will continue to serve their clients in western Pennsylvania as they have in the past. Mr. Evans stated: “We are pleased to affiliate with Northwest Savings Bank. We look forward to introducing new bank services to our valued clients and to helping to expand the bank’s wealth management and financial planning activities throughout its footprint.” Speaking for Northwest, Gregory C. LaRocc...

BRIDGEVILLE -- Winners of the “Hunt with the Black and Gold” drawing, sponsored by Northwest Savings Bank, met on Tuesday for an exclusive hunt with members of the Pittsburgh football team. The winners are: Brandon Cellela, Bethel Park Eric Driscoll, Pittsburgh Stan Hasselman, Johnsonburg Randy Holt, Bradford Mary Kennedy, Cochranton Roy Maines, Williamsport Rob Radnich, Meadville Ryan Schwingel, Canonsburg Jacob Smith, Greenville Tom Wakefield, West Aliquippa The winners, their guests and representatives of the bank met the players at the Alpine Club in Bridgeville, south of Pittsburgh, for an afternoon of fun. The winners joined Pittsburgh Steelers Matt Spaeth, Mike Palmer, Will Allen, Kion Wilson, Brett Keisel, Gregg Warren, Cody Wallace, Lawrence Timmons, Bruce Gradkowski and Joe Long in a guided bird hunt, followed by lunch and an autograph and photo session with the players. Northwest Savings Bank offered the opportunity to enter the contest, which ran from ear...

Northwest Savings Bank has made a $25,000 contribution to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to provide tuition support for high school students in the region who are taking classes through the university’s Bridges and College in the High School dual enrollment programs. The contribution comes through a tax credit program offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This is the second year Northwest has taken advantage of the program. “Northwest is pleased to be able to continue providing funds through opportunities made available through tax credit programs,” said Bill Pantuso, senior vice president, district manager – Warren, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties. “Northwest and Pitt-Bradford have deep roots in the region, and we look forward to future partnerships with them to help high school students in the region take classes at the university.” Pitt-Bradford has two kinds of programs in which...

Northwest Savings Bank has contributed $7,500 to the Potter County Education Council in support of educational programs for youth in Potter, McKean, and Cameron Counties. The money will be used to support career exploration camps scheduled for Summer 2014. These camps focus on high demand occupations for the region, with a goal of introducing area youth to career fields they may not currently be considering. This year's camp programs will focus on technical, health care, and information technology careers and will be offered in partnership with area schools, the Seneca Highlands IU9, and local industries. Thanks to the support of organizations like Northwest Savings Bank these camps can be offered free of charge to local students. Once finalized, information on summer camp programs will be available on the Potter County Education Council website, through local media, and distributed to students through area schools. Pictured, Steve Erway and Mary Davis from Northwest Savin...

A limited number of seats remain for the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s 50th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Oct. 4. Proceeds from the evening, which will feature dinner, entertainment and a silent auction, will benefit the Marilyn Horne Archive Collection Project. The gala, which is expected to sell out, will be hosted by the Office of the President and co-hosted by the Pitt-Bradford Advisory Board and the Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association Board at the university. Seats are $125 and may be purchased by calling the Office of Institutional Advancement at Pitt-Bradford at 814-362-5091. “Undertaking a project of this magnitude is quite a challenge for our campus and our relatively sparsely populated region,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford president. “However, what has seemingly occurred throughout our campus’s history has occurred once again: Bradford and surrounding communities have rallied to support the effort to establish a Mari...

Former Tuna Valley Trail Association president Mike Glesk, Bradford Mayor Tom Riel, state Department of Community and Economic Development deputy secretary Clyde "Champ" Holman and Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development executive director Sara Andrews get ready to cut the ribbon on the Pine Street Bridge this afternoon. Not pictured is Julie Marasco, a president of Northwest Saving Bank, which was instrumental in completing the project. WESB photo To see more photos, go to our Facebook page, Facebook.com/1490wesb . To hear the remarks made during the ceremony, click here . The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Kimberly Johnson, corporate AVP, Online and Mobile Banking manager of Northwest Savings Bank, presented a check for $5,000 from the Northwest Charitable Foundation to Lisa Thompson, director of CASA of Warren and Forest Counties on Monday, September 16th. Ms. Johnson is a member of CASA’s board of directors. In June 2012, the Northwest Charitable Foundation approved a grant to CASA in the amount of $25,000 to be given in $5,000 increments over a five-year period. The check presented this year marked the second donation as part of this grant. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many children, their CASA volunteer will be th...

Brandon Means has been named manager of the Bradford Foster Brook office of Northwest Savings Bank located at 950 East Main Street in Bradford. William Pantuso, district manager, made the announcement. As manager of the Bradford Fosterbrook office, Mr. Means will be responsible for customer service, administration, lending and business development. He will work with the commercial lending, business services and investment management areas of the bank to provide customers a full-range of financial services. He will also oversee the bank’s involvement in community activities. Mr. Means joined Northwest Savings Bank in February 2010 as a management trainee. Upon successful completion of the management program in March 2011, he became the assistant manager of the Bradford Fosterbrook office. A 2009 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Means received his bachelor’s degree in political science. He graduated with top honors from the Pennsylvania Banker’s Associatio...