8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 24, 2024

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Connecticut	001-36448	20-8251355
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

258 Elm Street

New Canaan, Connecticut 06840

(203) 652-0166

(Address of Principal Executive Officers and Telephone Number)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, no par value per share	BWFG	NASDAQ Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company	☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.	☐

Item 5.02	Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers
	On January 24, 2024, the Board of Directors of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) designated Angelo Fusaro, CPA, as principal accounting officer of both the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bankwell Bank (the “Bank”). Mr. Fusaro, age 38, has served as Director of Accounting and Financial Planning & Analysis for the Company and the Bank since January 2023. Prior thereto, from 2018 to through 2022, he served as the Company’s Director of Audit. From 2013 to 2018 he was Director of Accounting for Transamerica Leasing. He began his career at KPMG in 2007, serving in various positions during his six-year tenure, including Audit Manager. There are no family relationships between Mr. Fusaro and any director or executive officer, or any arrangements or understandings between Mr. Fusaro and the Company or any other person, pursuant to which he was appointed principal accounting officer. Mr. Fusaro is not a party to any related party transactions with the Company or the Bank that would be required to be disclosed under Regulation S-K, Item 404(a). Neither the Company nor the Bank entered into any new contract or arrangement with Mr. Fusaro in connection with his designation as principal accounting officer.
Item 9.01	Financial Statements and Exhibits
	(d) Exhibits                         None

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
	BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
	Registrant
January 26, 2024	By:  /s/ Courtney E. Sacchetti
	Courtney E. Sacchetti
	Executive Vice President
	and Chief Financial Officer

XML

Cover	Jan. 24, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 24, 2024
Entity Registrant Name	Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State	CT
Entity File Number	001-36448
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-8251355
Entity Address, Street Name	258 Elm Street
Entity Address, City	New Canaan
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06840
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	652-0166
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of Each Class	Common Stock, no par value pershare
Trading Symbol(s)	BWFG
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001505732
Amendment Flag	false