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 *
WAGNER WILLIAM J
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Northwest Bancshares, Inc. [NWBI]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
President & CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

100 LIBERTY STREET
3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2015
(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.             254,978.56 D  
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             170,991.61 I Wife
Northwest Bancshares, Inc             4,762 I IRA
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             5,840 I Wife's IRA
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             0 (1) I By Trust for Daughter
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             3,406.92 I By Trust for Son
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             197,282.15 I By 401-K
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.             37,217.94 I By 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) $ 11.51           01/17/2008 01/17/2017 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
21,374
  21,374
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.12           01/16/2008 01/16/2018 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
21,375
  21,375
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 9.79           11/19/2009 11/19/2018 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
21,374
  21,374
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy $ 7.48           02/18/2010 02/18/2019 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
21,374
  21,374
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.49           01/20/2011 01/20/2020 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
19,000
  19,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.12           01/19/2012 01/19/2021 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
19,000
  19,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.32           05/18/2012 05/18/2021 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
100,000
  100,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 11.7           05/23/2013 05/23/2022 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
24,000
  24,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.44           05/15/2014 05/15/2023 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
24,000
  24,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 13.15           05/21/2014 05/21/2024 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
24,000
  24,000
D
 
Option Plan (Right to Buy) $ 12.37           05/20/2015 05/20/2025 Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
24,000
  24,000
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
WAGNER WILLIAM J
100 LIBERTY STREET
WARREN, PA 16365
  X     President & CEO  

Signatures

William J. Wagner 01/29/2016
**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) Ownership reflects minor child reaching age of majority and no longer living in reporting person's household.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.