William C. Tarpenning has been named senior vice president, Mortgage Banking of Northwest Savings Bank. David E. Westerburg, executive vice president and chief operations officer, made the announcement.

In his new role, Mr. Tarpenning will oversee retail mortgage and equity operations and wholesale mortgage origination, secondary marketing and Northwest Settlement Services.

Mr. Tarpenning joined Northwest in 1985 as a management trainee, in charge of the bank’s Pittsburgh Loan Production office. In 1991, he was named originations manager and, in 2003, vice president of mortgage banking.

Mr. Tarpenning received his bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University and an MBA from Gannon University.

Active in the industry, Mr. Tarpenning is a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

He has completed numerous courses and seminars sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association, American Bankers Association, Federal Housing Administration, New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade.

He is a member of the Warren City Planning and Zoning Commission and Warren’s Music in the Park committee.

He and his wife, Elaine, live in Warren with their daughter, Sarah, and son, Nick.

Headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania, Northwest Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company of Northwest Savings Bank. Founded in 1896, Northwest Savings Bank is a full-service financial institution offering a complete line of business and personal banking products, employee benefits, investment management services, trust and insurance. Northwest operates 161 community banking offices in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Maryland and 51 consumer finance offices through its subsidiary, Northwest Consumer Discount Company. Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as NWBI. More information about Northwest Bancshares, Inc. can be found at www.northwestsavingsbank.com.