Northwest Savings Bank enjoyed another successful year in 2013 and continued to expand its market presence, improve products and services, make loans to families and local businesses and support its communities.

Improving products and services

In 2013, Northwest launched new products and services to simplify banking and provide greater access and convenience to its customers.

Northwest upgraded its mobile banking apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Android Tablet and Blackberry. The updates included enhanced features, improved search and a streamlined interface. With Northwest’s mobile app, customers can view balances, pay bills, transfer funds, locate Northwest offices and ATMs, customize account preferences, connect through social media, contact customer service and manage business Online Banking transactions.

Northwest upgraded its automated teller machines (ATMs) in Warren County to accept cash and check deposits. The new service allows customers to make deposits through the ATM, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without envelopes or deposit slips. Deposits made at Northwest ATMs before 8 p.m. are credited on the same business day.

“We are extremely excited about our mobile app upgrades and to bring new depository ATMs to Warren County. This technology gives our customers even more flexibility to bank when and where they want,” said Paul Schultz, area manager of the bank.

Advances in drilling have opened up the Marcellus, Utica and other unconventional natural gas fields throughout much of Pennsylvania and Ohio. To help landowners as they contract with oil and gas companies, Northwest launched a new service, Royalty Manager. Royalty Manager is a new financial service, unique to Northwest Savings Bank, designed to manage royalties from oil or gas production. The service allows royalty owners to verify their royalty dollars. Royalty Manager receives royalty payments on behalf of customers in a convenient, private and secure manner. It verifies the amount of each payment and audits the production calculations based on recent pricing, production data and relevant lease documents. The service then automatically distributes funds according to customers’ instructions to checking, savings, tax reserve or investment accounts, among others. Northwest Advisors oversee the service and provide investment, tax and estate planning advice, every step of the way.

Expanding market area

Over the past year, Northwest expanded and improved its presence and broadened the bank’s scope of services.

The bank opened a new full-service community banking office in Zelienople in Butler County, expanding its community banking network to 165 locations across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Maryland.

Northwest acquired the Bert Insurance Group, an employee benefits and property and casualty insurance firm specializing in commercial and personal insurance as well as employee benefits plans. Recently, Northwest integrated Bert with its other insurance subsidiary, Veracity Benefits, to become Northwest Insurance Services.

The company announced the acquisition of Evans Capital Management, Inc., an Erie-based financial advisory firm. Gregory C. LaRocca, executive vice president of Northwest, said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to partner with ECM and its staff. This combination will bring the expanded services of a larger organization to ECM’s customers and it significantly enhances Northwest’s wealth management activities in western Pennsylvania.”

Finally, Northwest Advisors, Inc. was notified that its application to move from a state registered investment advisory firm to an SEC regulated firm was approved. John Beard, Northwest Advisors president, stated that with the new registration, Northwest Advisors can now serve customers in all 50 states.

Supporting communities

Northwest completed the construction of a 58,000 square foot building in downtown Warren. “Northwest takes great pride in its hometown and understands the importance of maintaining aesthetics and historic character. We took great measures to design and construct our building to fit into the fabric of our community,” said Mr. Schultz.

In addition to the fundraising and volunteer efforts of our offices and employees in Warren County in 2013, Northwest donated money to support the initiatives of the United Fund of Warren County, CASA of Warren and Forest Counties, Crary Art Gallery, Inc, Jefferson DeFrees Family Center, Second Harvest Food bank of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Warren County Historical Society, Warren Forest Higher Education Council, Warren Library Association, Family Services of Warren County, Warren General Hospital and many more charitable organizations.

Serving all of your financial needs

With six offices serving Warren County-in Sheffield, Tidioute, Youngsville, Warren Commons, downtown Warren, and on Warren’s west side-Northwest looks forward to continuing a tradition of service to the area.

“We are continuing a banking tradition that has been rooted in Warren County for more than a century,” said Mr. Schultz. “We are proud of our hometown and look forward to serving the residents and businesses of Warren County for many years to come.”

Northwest is a full-service financial institution that offers a wide range of products and services to make banking easy and convenient, including checking and savings accounts, loans and lines of credit, employee benefits, investment management and insurance.