AT&T Wins Multi-Year Networking Contract from Northwest Savings Bank

March 7, 2005; 01:06 PM

March 7, 2005 - WARREN, Pa. - AT&T announced today it has won a multimillion-dollar contract from Northwest Savings Bank for a wide-area networking solution that integrates the bank's 152 full-service community banking locations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and New York. 

The three-year contract extends and expands an existing agreement. AT&T's networking solution provides bank associates with secure, high-speed access to online databases and applications that help provide more efficient teller transactions, faster loan processing and approvals, and improved branch-to-branch communications.

AT&T will also integrate Northwest Savings Bank's corporate headquarters with its new data center and provide business continuity capabilities.

"To meet our customers' needs, we require a networking solution that enables us to provide fast, accurate service," said Northwest Savings Bank executive Steven G. Fisher, Senior Vice President, Operations. "AT&T will provide us with network reliability and the flexibility to support our current needs as well as our future plans to migrate to a next generation Internet Protocol-enabled networking platform."
 
Through the secure AT&T BusinessDirect portal, Northwest Savings Bank gains around-the-clock online access to real-time reports on network performance and direct connection to electronic billing and trouble management systems.

About AT&T
For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE "T") has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications.  Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services.

About Northwest Savings Bank
Northwest Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ "NWSB") is headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania and operates 132 banking locations in Pennsylvania, five banking locations in Ohio and two banking locations in Maryland through its subsidiary, Northwest Savings Bank. In addition, the Company operates ten banking locations in New York through its subsidiary, Jamestown Savings Bank. The Company also operates 47 consumer finances offices in Pennsylvania and two consumer finance offices in New York through its subsidiary, Northwest Consumer Discount Company. Additional information regarding Northwest Bancorp, Inc. can be accessed on-line at www.northwestsavingsbank.com.