EXHIBIT 99.1

PRESS RELEASE OF NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC.

EARNINGS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2015 Earnings and Quarterly Dividend

Warren, Pennsylvania — April 20, 2015

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (NasdaqGS: NWBI) announced net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 of $16.2 million, or $0.18 per diluted share. This represents an increase of $1.6 million, or 10.7%, compared to the same quarter last year when net income was $14.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share.  The annualized returns on average shareholders’ equity and average assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 were 6.17% and 0.83% compared to 5.15% and 0.75% for the same quarter last year.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share payable on May 14, 2015, to shareholders of record as of April 30, 2015.  This represents the 82nd consecutive quarter in which the Company has paid a cash dividend.

In making this announcement, William J. Wagner, President and CEO, noted, “The first quarter of 2015 was highlighted by solid loan growth of $75 million, further improvement in asset quality and continued consistency in our interest rate spread and margin. We also continued to demonstrate success in increasing checking and fee-based products while controlling operating costs through enhanced efficiency. The management of capital remains a focal point, and we were pleased this quarter to utilize excess capital by paying an attractive regular dividend and repurchasing 318,000 of our shares at an average share price of $11.92.”

Net interest income increased by $732,000, or 1.2%, to $61.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, from $60.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. This increase was due primarily to an increase in interest income on loans receivable of $1.4 million and a decrease in interest paid on deposit accounts of $724,000.  Partially offsetting these factors was a decrease in interest received on investment securities of $901,000 and an increase in interest paid on borrowed funds of $419,000.  The favorable changes from the previous year were due primarily to loan growth of more than $200.0 million and continued success in increasing low-cost deposits.

The provision for loan losses decreased by $6.6 million, or 88.0%, to $900,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, from $7.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. The minimal provision for loan losses reflects continued improvements in asset quality as loans 90 days or more delinquent decreased $18.5 million, or 36.0%, compared to a year ago while total nonaccrual loans decreased $35.8 million, or 32.8%.

Noninterest income decreased by $3.7 million, or 18.5%, to $16.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, from $19.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.  This decrease is due primarily to decreases in gain on sale of investments of $3.3 million and an increase in loss on real estate owned of $911,000. The prior year gain on sale of investments resulted from the sale of $6.1 million of bank stocks while the loss on real estate owned was due primarily to the write-down of one commercial property. Partially offsetting these factors was an increase in other operating income of $788,000, due primarily to a special dividend of $1.0 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

Noninterest expense increased by $548,000, or 1.0%, to $53.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, from $53.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Processing expenses increased by $616,000 due primarily to amortization of software upgrades made during the past two years. Marketing expenses increased by $339,000 due primarily to the timing of various campaign costs. Additionally, expenses totaling $347,000 were incurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2015 which related to the proposed acquisition of LNB Bancorp, Inc.

On December 15, 2014, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire LNB Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lorain National Bank which operates 20 community banking offices in northeast Ohio and, as of December 31, 2014, had assets of approximately $1.2 billion.  The acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of 2015.

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 and wealth management services, as well as the fulfillment of business and personal insurance needs. Northwest operates 161 community banking offices in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Maryland and 51 consumer finance offices in Pennsylvania through its subsidiary, Northwest Consumer Discount Company.  Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NWBI”). Additional information regarding Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Northwest Bank can be accessed on-line at www.northwestsavingsbank.com.

#                              #                              #

Forward-Looking Statements - This release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition and results of operations of Northwest Bancshares, Inc. including, without limitations, statements relating to the earnings outlook of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, include among others, the following possibilities: (1) changes in the interest rate environment; (2) competitive pressure among financial services companies; (3) general economic conditions including an increase in non-performing loans; (4) changes in legislation or regulatory requirements; (5) difficulties in continuing to improve operating efficiencies; (6) difficulties in the integration of acquired businesses; and (7) increased risk associated with commercial real-estate and business loans.  Management has no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed acquisition of LNB Bancorp, Inc. on March 9, 2015 the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that includes a preliminary Proxy Statement of LNB Bancorp, Inc. and a preliminary Prospectus of Northwest Bancshares, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. SHAREHOLDERS OF LNB BANCORP ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE MERGER AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

A free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Northwest Bancshares and LNB Bancorp, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from Northwest Bancshares at www.northwestsavingsbank.com under the heading “Investor Relations” and then under “SEC Filings” or from LNB Bancorp by accessing LNB Bancorp’s website at www.4lnb.com under the heading “Investor Relations” and then under “SEC Filings.” Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to Northwest Bancshares, Inc., 100 Liberty Street, Warren, Pennsylvania 16365, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone: (814) 726-2140 or to LNB Bancorp, Inc., 457 Broadway, Lorain, Ohio 44052, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone: (440) 244-7317.

LNB Bancorp and Northwest Bancshares and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of LNB Bancorp in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of LNB Bancorp and their ownership of LNB Bancorp common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for LNB Bancorp’s 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 11, 2014. Information about the directors and executive officers of Northwest Bancshares is set forth in the proxy statement for Northwest Bancshares’ 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on March 4, 2015.  Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed merger. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Asset quality

(Dollars in thousands)

* Amounts included in nonperforming loans above.

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Delinquency

(Dollars in thousands)

Loan delinquency schedule

(Number of loans and dollar amount of loans)

* - Represents delinquency, in dollars, divided by the respective total amount of that type of loan outstanding.

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Loans by credit quality indicators as of March 31, 2015

(Dollars in thousands)

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Loans by credit quality indicators as of December 31, 2014

(Dollars in thousands)