Company: NWBI
Filing Date: 2025-02-24
Form Type: 424B3
Source: 0001193125-25-033488
Chunk: 22

Company: Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-02-24
Form: 424B3
Chunk 22
---
” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). Both Northwest and Penns Woods intend that each will be a “party to the reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. If treated as a reorganization, for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i) no gain or loss will be recognized by Northwest or Penns Woods as a result of the Merger, and (ii) U.S. resident Penns Woods shareholders will not recognize any gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes if they exchange their Penns Woods common stock solely for Northwest common stock in the Merger, except with respect to cash received in lieu of fractional shares of Northwest common stock. All Penns Woods shareholders should read carefully the description under the section captioned “ THE MERGER —Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” beginning on page 57 of this proxy statement/prospectus and are strongly encouraged to consult their own tax advisors concerning these matters. All Penns Woods shareholders should consult their tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences of the Merger to them, including, without limitation, the applicability and effect of the alternative minimum tax and any state, local, foreign, and other tax laws, your basis in any Northwest common stock received in the Merger, your holding period with respect to any Northwest common stock received in the Merger, your tax return reporting requirements, or the applicability and effect of any proposed changes in any tax laws. Interests of directors and executive officers of Penns Woods (page 55) The directors, and some of the executive officers of Penns Woods, have interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of Penns Woods’ shareholders generally. These include:

| • |     | continued indemnification and continued insurance for directors and officers of Penns Woods for events occurring 
 before the Merger;                                                                                               |

| • |     | Richard A. Grafmyre, a current Penns Woods director, will be appointed to serve on the board of directors of 
 Northwest, to fill a vacancy in the 2026 class of director slate, or otherwise increase the                  |

12

| size of the board of Northwest by one to effectuate Mr. Grafmyre’s inclusion in the 2026 class of directors slate, subject to Northwest standard corporate governance practices and