Northwest Bank Breaks Ground on First Financial Center in Columbus Market

COLUMBUS, OH (October 27, 2025) - Northwest Bank officially broke ground today on its first financial center in the Columbus market, marking a major milestone in the bank's strategic expansion across central Ohio. The ceremony took place at 5756 N. Hamilton Road in New Albany, with remarks from Northwest Bank leadership and New Albany city officials.

The groundbreaking event welcomed representatives from the New Albany Chamber of Commerce and the Mayor of New Albany. Attendees heard from Lou Torchio, president and CEO of Northwest Bank, who emphasized the significance of the moment.

"Today's groundbreaking is more than the start of construction, it's the first step in Northwest truly becoming a hometown bank in central Ohio," said Torchio. "We're proud to bring our values of hospitality, trust, and personalized service to New Albany and the surrounding areas."

The new financial center is designed to create an inviting environment and provide a sense of hospitality to customers. Urich Bowers, chief consumer banking and strategy officer, shared insights into the vision behind the new financial centers.

"We know financial conversations can be intimidating, so we've designed our centers to feel welcoming and comfortable," said Bowers. "Our universal banking model and private meeting spaces reflect our commitment to making banking more human and more helpful and that's what customers will find right here in New Albany when we open our doors next year."

Ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony, Northwest joined the New Albany Chamber of Commerce in order to understand local needs better. Mayor Sloan Spalding of New Albany celebrated the partnership between the city and Northwest.

"Northwest Bank's investment in New Albany is a testament to our city's continued growth and appeal," said Spalding. "We're excited to welcome a financial institution that shares our values and is committed to serving our residents and businesses."

Northwest is already partnering with the New Albany Community Foundation, supporting its vision of creating a community where everyone can be connected, engaged, and inspired.

The New Albany location is the first of three full-service financial centers Northwest Bank plans to open in the Columbus area in 2026. More information about the Columbus expansion plans is available at northwest.bank/columbus. The two other financial centers are slated to open in Gahanna and Westerville. These locations were selected based on population growth, traffic patterns, and proximity to high-traffic retail areas. All three centers will feature a modern, hospitality-driven design, advanced selfservice options, and private meeting spaces to support personalized financial conversations.

This expansion strengthens Northwest's footprint between its core markets in Pittsburgh, PA and Indianapolis, IN, and reflects the bank's commitment to building strong community relationships.