Here are three stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, December 23:Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (NWBI) : This bank holding company for Northwest Bank has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 8.4% the last 60 days.This Zacks Rank #1 company has a dividend yield of 6.0%, compared with the industry average of 3.0%.Peoples Financial Services Corp. (PFIS) : This bank holding company has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate ...