Northwest Bancshares, Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant ☑

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

Dear Shareholder:

We cordially invite you to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Northwest Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of Northwest Bank. The Annual Meeting will be held virtually at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on May 20, 2026. You will be able to access the Annual Meeting, vote and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NWBI2026.

The enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement describe the formal business to be transacted. Our directors and officers, as well as a representative from our independent registered public accounting firm, will be available to respond to any questions that shareholders may have.

The business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting includes the election of three directors, the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, the consideration of an advisory, non-binding resolution to approve the executive compensation described in the Proxy Statement, the approval of the Northwest Bancshares, Inc. 2026 Equity Incentive Plan and the approval of the Northwest Bancshares, Inc. Discounted Stock Purchase Plan.

Our Board of Directors has determined that the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting are in the best interests of Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and its shareholders. For the reasons set forth in the Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each matter to be considered.

Under rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we sent the majority of those shareholders who are eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting a notice that explains how to access their proxy materials, including our 2025 Annual Report, online, rather than in traditional printed form. The notice also explains the steps our eligible shareholders can follow in order to vote their shares via the Internet, mobile or by phone. If you are among the shareholders who received the notice explaining this process and would prefer to receive your proxy materials in printed format, the notice also explains how to arrange to have the printed materials sent to you in the mail. If you are among those who received their proxy materials in printed form, rather than the notice, please note that you may still access these materials and vote your shares online by going to the following website: www.proxyvote.com.

Please take a moment now to cast your vote via the Internet, mobile or by phone as described on your Proxy Card or your voting instruction card, or alternatively, complete, sign, date and return the Proxy Card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Voting in advance of the Annual Meeting will not prevent you from voting virtually during the Annual Meeting, but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the Annual Meeting virtually.

Sincerely,

Louis J. Torchio

President and Chief Executive Officer

3 Easton Oval, Suite 500

(800) 859-1000

NOTICE OF

2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held On May 20, 2026

Notice is hereby given that the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Northwest Bancshares, Inc. will be held virtually on May 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. You will be able to access the Annual Meeting, vote and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NWBI2026.

A Proxy Card and a Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting are enclosed.

The Annual Meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon:

such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come before the Annual Meeting.

Any action may be taken on the foregoing proposals at the Annual Meeting on the date specified above or on any date or dates to which the Annual Meeting may be adjourned. Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2026, are the shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, and any adjournments thereof.

EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING VIRTUALLY, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO VOTE YOUR SHARES USING THE INTERNET, MOBILE OR PHONE VOTING OPTIONS EXPLAINED ON YOUR PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD OR BY SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD WITHOUT DELAY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE. ANY PROXY THAT YOU GIVE MAY BE REVOKED AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS EXERCISED. YOU MAY REVOKE A PROXY BY FILING WITH THE CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE SECRETARY OF NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC. A WRITTEN REVOCATION OR A DULY EXECUTED PROXY BEARING A LATER DATE. IF YOU ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING VIRTUALLY, YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE ON EACH MATTER BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING. HOWEVER, IF YOUR SHARES ARE NOT REGISTERED IN YOUR NAME, YOU WILL NEED ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION FROM YOUR RECORD HOLDER TO VOTE VIRTUALLY DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 20, 2026

The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 20, 2026, the accompanying Proxy Statement and Proxy Card and the Company’s 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available, free of charge, at www.proxyvote.com. Shareholders who wish to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials available on this web site may request copies in any of the following ways: (i) via the Internet, at www.proxyvote.com; (ii) by phone, at 1-800-579-1639; or (iii) by sending ane-mail to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Erin F. Siegfried

Chief Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Columbus, Ohio