Northwest Bancshares : Freddie Mac Salutes Northwest Bank for Outstanding Work With Home Possible® Mortgages for Very Low- to Low-Income Homebuyers

Freddie Mac Salutes Northwest Bank for Outstanding Work With Home Possible® Mortgages for Very Low- to Low-Income Homebuyers

WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA, MAY 17, 2021-- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) announced the winners of its Home Possible RISE Awards® . The annual program, RISE (Recognizing Individuals for Sustained Excellence), salutes Freddie Mac's top clients across multiple categories for excellence with the Home Possible® mortgage - Freddie Mac's affordable lending solution for very low- to low-income homebuyers.

Northwest Bank earned the Home Possible RISE Award in the Home Possible RISE Award for New Originator.

"It is truly an honor to have received the prestigious Home Possible RISE Award for our work to help people across Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana and Ohio enjoy the benefits of homeownership," said Lou Torchio, SEVP, Retail Lending. "It is a joy to see the smile on a homeowner's face when they learn that their home awaits their arrival. Changing a family's future by creating sustainable homeownership for people living across our footprint is our focus and mission."

In 2020, Northwest Bank made homeownership possible for more than 195 families across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Indiana through the Home Possible mortgage.

The Home Possible RISE Awards combined volume from national Home Possible and Home Possible Advantage mortgage options. Lenders must be active Freddie Mac Seller/Servicers, and correspondent lenders and brokers must originate through those Seller/Servicers. Freddie Mac reviewed 2020 data and awarded the top organizations among several categories.

The complete list of the award winners is available at FreddieMac.com/HomePossible/RISE.

About Northwest Bank

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company of Northwest Bank, which is headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1896, Northwest Bank is a full-service financial institution offering a complete line of business and personal banking products, as well as employee benefits and wealth management services. As of March 31, 2021, Northwest operated 162 full-service community banking offices and eight free standing drive-through facilities in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Indiana. Northwest Bancshares, Inc.'s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market ("NWBI"). You can find more information about Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Northwest Bank at www.northwest.com.

About Freddie Mac

Freddie Mac makes home possible for millions of families and individuals by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Since our creation by Congress in 1970, we've made housing more accessible and affordable for homebuyers and renters in communities nationwide. We are building a better housing finance

system for homebuyers, renters, lenders, investors, and taxpayers. Learn more at FreddieMac.com, Twitter @FreddieMac, and Freddie Mac's blog FreddieMac.com/blog.

###