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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LtCt8Btp31W7x7S20DiZvt5hvNTgUEcNKhUon5pfM+tcMyyku/hPez0+8Kyal5qT
 ucLCFMJm62Q1TrHfecdH4A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893467-08-000036.txt : 20080502
<SEC-HEADER>0000893467-08-000036.hdr.sgml : 20080502
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080502172239
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893467-08-000036
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080501
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080502
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080502

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELLINGSEN DONALD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001225145

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24151
		FILM NUMBER:		08800132

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		421 WEST RIVERSIDE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 113
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5094568888X190
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225145</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELLINGSEN DONALD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>421 WEST RIVERSIDE, SUITE 113</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>2008-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3802</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9623</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spokane eye clinic</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Director Compensation</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Holly Austin, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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