-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ierp7b6hIVsI6AZRuRmq32UmAYAgvjTUnx9pZWXcnZ/+L5DWJ6y0A71kZU6NrkKZ
 lIw6S6Z6KB5jY7SqnQ7QHA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893467-04-000044.txt : 20040528
<SEC-HEADER>0000893467-04-000044.hdr.sgml : 20040528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040528203716
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893467-04-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040503
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040528

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETERSON RICHARD H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228403

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24151
		FILM NUMBER:		04839553

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		421 W RIVERSIDE
		STREET 2:		STE 113
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5094568888

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHWEST BANCORPORATION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000893467
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				911574174
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PAULSEN CENTER 421 WEST RIVERSIDE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 113
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201-0403
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5094568888

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		421 WEST RIVERSIDE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 113
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201-0403

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INLAND NORTHWEST BANCORPORATION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980428
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-05-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000893467</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHWEST BANCORPORATION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>nbct</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228403</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETERSON RICHARD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>524 W RIVERSIDE 2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30280</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received stock as director compensation</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Holly Austin, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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