8-K

UNITED STATES

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): August 6, 2025

Finward Bancorp

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indiana

001-40999

35-1927981

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

9204 Columbia Avenue

Munster, Indiana

46321

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(219) 836-4400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐

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, without par value

FNWD

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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

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 8.01 Other Events.

On August 7, 2025, Finward Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) announced that on August 6, 2025 the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions terminated the Consent Order issued to Peoples Bank, the wholly-owned Indiana state-chartered commercial bank subsidiary of the Bancorp (the “Bank”), that was effective on November 7, 2023 relating to the Bank’s compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations (collectively, the “BSA”). The termination of the Consent Order follows the Bank’s successful resolution of the deficiencies in the Bank’s BSA compliance and anti-money laundering compliance program, which was the subject of the Consent Order.

On August 7, 2025, the Bancorp issued a press release announcing the termination of the Consent Order. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are being furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K.


Exhibit No.		Exhibit

99.1		Press Release dated August 7, 2025.

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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.


	Finward Bancorp

Date: August 7, 2025

	By:	/s/ Benjamin L. Schmitt
		Printed Name: Benjamin L. Schmitt
		Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer