Exhibit 32.1

                           CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                            18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                 SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Northway
Financial, Inc. (the "Company") for the year ended December 31, 2003 , as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
the undersigned President and Chief Executive Officer for the Company,
certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.

         This certification is provided solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350 and Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K ("Item 601(b)(32)") promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"). In accordance with clause (ii) of
Item 601(b)(32), this certification (A) shall not be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the
liability of that section, and (B) shall not be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except
to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.


                                            /s/ WILLIAM J. WOODWARD
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            William J. Woodward
                                            Chairman of the Board, President
                                            and Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 23, 2004