Northwest Consumer Discounts Co. has announced it will be closing all 44 of its stores in Pennsylvania.

WARREN, Pa., — Northwest Bancshares announced that it intends to close all 44 of its Northwest Consumer Discounts Co. locations throughout Pennsylvania by July 14.

The announcement of the closures, which would affect four Butler County branches: two in Butler, one in Zelienople and one in Saxonburg, was included in the company's press release for first quarter earnings and quarterly dividends.

Although the future of the employees has not been announced, all loans will be transferred to the Northwest Bank for servicing and collections.

The release stated that closing the company is meant to improve efficiency, which also relates to the statement made by William J. Wagner, president and CEO, regarding the parent company's $238,000 decrease in net income this quarter.

“Given our current metrics, we recognize the area most in need of improvement is efficiency, which can best be addressed by reducing the ratio of expenses to assets,” Wagner said. “This challenge will receive considerable focus throughout 2017, as we strive to improve earnings each quarter and achieve our annual target for shareholder return.”