Bankwell (NASDAQ: BWFG) director granted 1,455 restricted shares with multi-year vesting

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Bankwell Financial Group director granted restricted stock

Bankwell Financial Group director Kevin D. Leitao received a grant of 1,455 shares of common stock on February 9, 2026 under the company’s 2022 stock plan. The award vests in three equal installments of 485 shares on February 7, 2027, 2028, and 2029.

A prior restricted stock grant of 1,800 shares from February 7, 2025 is also outstanding, with 600 shares vested on February 7, 2026 and another 600 shares scheduled to vest on February 7, 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Insider Trade Summary

4 transactions reported

Mixed 4 txns

Insider Leitao Kevin D

Role Director

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Common Stock	1,455	$0.00	--
holding	Common Stock	--	--	--
holding	Common Stock	--	--	--
holding	Common Stock	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 1,455 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 4,500 shares (Indirect, IRA)

Footnotes (1)

1. 1,455 shares of restricted stock granted on February 9, 2026, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 485 to vest on February 7, 2027. 485 will vest on February 7, 2028 and 485 will vest on February 7, 2029. 1,800 shares of restricted stock granted on February 7, 2025, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 600 vested on February 7, 2026. 600 will vest on February 7, 2027 and 600 will vest on February 7, 2028. As of the filing date, 600 shares have vested.

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Leitao Kevin D

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC

258 ELM STREET

(Street)

NEW CANAAN CT 06840

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. [ BWFG ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/09/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/09/2026		A		1,455	A	$0	1,455	D(1)
Common Stock								1,200	D(2)
Common Stock								4,500	I	IRA
Common Stock								700	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. 1,455 shares of restricted stock granted on February 9, 2026, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 485 to vest on February 7, 2027. 485 will vest on February 7, 2028 and 485 will vest on February 7, 2029.

2. 1,800 shares of restricted stock granted on February 7, 2025, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 600 vested on February 7, 2026. 600 will vest on February 7, 2027 and 600 will vest on February 7, 2028. As of the filing date, 600 shares have vested.

Remarks:

	/s/ Angelo G. Fusaro, Attorney-in-Fact for Kevin D. Leitao	02/10/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) report for Kevin D. Leitao?

Bankwell Financial Group reported that director Kevin D. Leitao received 1,455 shares of restricted common stock on February 9, 2026. The grant was made under the 2022 stock plan and represents equity-based compensation rather than an open‑market purchase.

How do the new 1,455 restricted shares for BWFG’s director vest over time?

The 1,455 restricted shares granted to director Kevin D. Leitao vest in three equal tranches of 485 shares. Vesting dates are February 7, 2027, February 7, 2028, and February 7, 2029, aligning the award with multi‑year board service and retention objectives.

What earlier restricted stock grant to Kevin D. Leitao does BWFG disclose?

Bankwell Financial Group discloses an earlier grant of 1,800 restricted shares to Kevin D. Leitao on February 7, 2025. Of this award, 600 shares vested on February 7, 2026, with 600 more scheduled to vest on February 7, 2027 and 600 on February 7, 2028.

Is the February 9, 2026 BWFG restricted stock grant an open‑market purchase?

No, the February 9, 2026 transaction is a grant of 1,455 restricted shares at a stated price of $0. It is equity compensation issued under Bankwell Financial Group’s 2022 stock plan, not a market purchase by director Kevin D. Leitao.

What direct and indirect BWFG share holdings are reported for Kevin D. Leitao?

The filing shows 1,455 restricted shares directly held following the new grant, additional direct holdings of 1,200 and 700 common shares, and 4,500 shares held indirectly through an IRA. These figures reflect beneficial ownership categories as of the reported date.

Under which equity plan were Kevin D. Leitao’s BWFG restricted shares granted?

Both the 1,455‑share grant dated February 9, 2026 and the earlier 1,800‑share grant dated February 7, 2025 were awarded under Bankwell Financial Group’s 2022 Stock Plan, which governs director and executive equity compensation awards.