Spotlight On: Urich Bowers, Chief Consumer Banking and Strategy Officer, Northwest Bank

October 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Urich Bowers, chief consumer banking and strategy officer at Northwest Bank, said that strategic investment in technology, community presence, and personalized service are driving growth and deepening customer relationships. “That’s why our focus is on being truly omnichannel, offering customers access to banking services whenever, wherever, and however they choose,” Bowers said.

What changes over the last year have impacted Northwest Bank, and in what ways?

It has been a very exciting year for Northwest. We’re undergoing significant transformation, all of it positive. Over the past year, we’ve had additions to our leadership team, bringing in additional bench strength and different perspectives. 

We’ve also made considerable investments in our commercial banking verticals to become a more diversified institution. We’ve been transforming our retail organization to be more sales-enabled and customer-centric, enhancing the overall banking experience for our customers.

Recently, we completed the conversion of Penns Woods Bank, which is based in the northeastern and central parts of Pennsylvania. This acquisition has helped us fill in our regional footprint, and culturally, it’s a great fit. It gives us added scale, which allows us to continue investing in core technologies, commercial verticals, and our retail franchise.

We’ve also started a de novo expansion of our financial center network. We’ve created a new architectural model with an environment that’s welcoming, flexible, and sales-enabled. Its open design represents the evolution of our financial centers into a hub for a more advisory, hospitality-led experience in the heart of the community. It features self-service kiosks for simple transactions, while still offering the option of speaking to a traditional teller for more personalized needs.

Our recent bank conversion and expansion generated stronger employee engagement across all markets, including Pittsburgh. Our employees see the bank investing in its future, which builds excitement and motivation. This renewed energy is translating into real business outcomes, with customer growth and improved performance in our retail banking segment.

Which consumer banking initiatives have helped drive recent growth?

We deliver large-bank capabilities with a personalized, community-oriented approach.

Our team knows our customers by name. I’ve visited local small businesses — like coffee shops or restaurants — owned by our clients. I often hear how we were the bank that helped them get started, supported their growth, and provided impeccable service. That kind of feedback really reinforces why we do what we do.

We’re offering great value for our customers. We provide access to 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs, checking and savings accounts with no monthly fees, and early pay features, among other benefits.

We continue to look for ways to innovate and expand our offerings. In today’s rate-sensitive environment, customers are more aware of the value they’re receiving, and we’ve remained competitive on that front. Our strong rates and excellent customer service have helped us grow both our relationships and our deposit base, especially in Pittsburgh and our other key markets.

How are you attracting top talent and creating meaningful career pathways that make Northwest stand out as an employer?

Pittsburgh is truly a hotbed for talent, thanks to its many highly ranked universities and its status as a financial services hub. Several large and midsized banks are headquartered there, which creates a competitive but rich recruiting environment.

We’re exploring ways to reinvent our development program for new college graduates and early-career professionals. We want to create a structured onboarding and growth path for them within the organization.

Pittsburgh also serves as one of our two hub locations. We have operations in both Bellevue and Downtown, with 19 financial centers and about 200 employees. That proximity to talent and strong networking among employees help significantly with recruiting.

There’s also a unique loyalty in the Pittsburgh population. Recruiters often find that residents are reluctant to leave, and if they do, they tend to return. So having two hubs in the area gives us a real advantage, enabling people to live and work in a place they’re deeply connected to.

What trends are you seeing as most important, and how is Northwest adapting?

Banking continues to be an incredibly competitive space, with digital banks, direct banks, national players, regional banks, and credit unions all in the mix. That’s why our focus is on being truly omnichannel — offering customers access to banking services whenever, wherever, and however they choose.

Interestingly, even as digital usage increases, the importance of physical financial centers remains high. While many customers open their accounts online, research shows that the visibility of a physical branch still influences their choice of bank. Branches also provide a vital space for customers to have personal conversations about financial wellness or to get assistance with more complex issues.

Even among younger, digital-native customers, we see a trend where they’ll open an account in a branch and then manage it entirely online. So having that physical presence is still essential. It supports customer acquisition, even if most of the relationship lives in the digital space.

So we’re investing in both digital platforms and our branch network. Simplicity, speed, and choice are crucial, especially since deposit products tend to be commoditized. What sets us apart is the level of service and hospitality we provide, treating customers the way they want to be treated.

How do you connect with community needs in places like Pittsburgh, specifically in areas like financial education, housing, or access to credit?

Our communities are the lifeblood of our organization — when they thrive, we thrive. That’s why we take a hands-on approach to community involvement. We’re very active in affordable housing initiatives and financial literacy programs. Our employees also volunteer extensively with local nonprofits.

We have a foundation through which we make targeted investments that align with our mission. For example, we pledged $300,000 to the Hilltop Economic Development Corporation, supporting Mount Oliver and Knoxville communities. We also run educational events like “Business and Brews” in Elizabeth — an idea from one of our financial center managers — where we invite customers and potential clients to learn about financial wellness in a casual, approachable setting.

We also partner with institutions like the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. We contributed to the construction of their George B. Duke Engineering and Information Technology Building. These efforts all tie back to our mission to strengthen the communities we serve, whether through direct investment, education, or volunteerism.

What are the top goals and priorities for the bank’s consumer banking strategy over the next two to three years?

We’re going to continue investing in core technologies that support an omnichannel experience and help our employees be more effective. Tools like automation and AI will play a big role, especially in the back office and contact center, streamlining transactions and improving issue resolution.

We also plan to keep expanding our physical footprint. We’ll be opening three new financial centers in the Columbus, Ohio market in 2026. Recently, we opened our first new financial center in six years in Fishers, Indiana, and we’re actively exploring partnerships and potential relocations or renovations in Pittsburgh, which remains a core market for us. 

We’re always evaluating how we can revitalize areas through our financial center investments. It’s not just about putting up a building, it’s about contributing to the community around it and supporting the local economy, which ultimately benefits everyone.

Want more? Read the Invest: Pittsburgh report.