Director adds 10,000 Bankwell (BWFG) shares in open-market buys

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Bankwell Financial Group director Lawrence B. Seidman, through several affiliated entities, reported open-market purchases totaling 10,000 shares of Bankwell common stock on March 11, 2026 at prices between $46.64 and $46.67 per share. The buying was executed by entities including Seidman and Associates, Seidman Investment Partnership entities, LSBK06-08, Broad Park Investors and Chewy Gooey Cookies.

The filing also updates Seidman’s equity-based compensation. It describes multiple restricted stock awards under Bankwell’s 2012 and 2022 stock plans, with portions already vested and additional tranches scheduled to vest annually from February 2026 through February 2029, reinforcing his ongoing equity exposure to the company.

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

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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^*

SEIDMAN LAWRENCE B

(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)
03/11/2026

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	03/11/2026		P		4,085	A	$46.64	208,734	I	By Seidman and Associates, L.L.C.
Common Stock	03/11/2026		P		1,259	A	$46.65	137,785	I	By Seidman Investment Partnership, L.P.
Common Stock	03/11/2026		P		754	A	$46.66	174,913	I	By Seidman Investment Partnership II, L.P.
Common Stock	03/11/2026		P		2,460	A	$46.64	122,765	I	By LSBK06-08, L.L.C.
Common Stock	03/11/2026		P		911	A	$46.66	132,911	I	By Broad Park Investors, L.L.C.
Common Stock	03/11/2026		P		531	A	$46.67	23,355	I	By Chewy Gooey Cookies, L.P.
Common Stock								1,455	D(1)
Common Stock								1,200	D(2)
Common Stock								534	D(3)
Common Stock								400	D(4)
Common Stock								4,521	I	Deferred Compensation Plan
Common Stock								17,382	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 to vest 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.

3. 1,600 shares of restricted stock granted on December 29, 2023, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 533 vested on February 7, 2025, 533 will vest on February 7, 2026 and 534 will vest on February 7, 2027. As of the filing date, 1,066 shares have vested.

4. 1,600 shares of restricted stock granted on December 30, 2022, pursuant to the 2012 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan and will vest in four equal annual installments of 25%, with the first installment vesting on January 2, 2024 and an additional 25% to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. As of the filing date, 1,200 shares have vested.

Remarks:

	/s/ Angelo G. Fusaro, Attorney-in-Fact for Lawrence B. Seidman	03/12/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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FAQ

What insider activity did Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) report on this Form 4?

The Form 4 reports entities associated with director Lawrence B. Seidman buying a total of 10,000 Bankwell common shares on March 11, 2026. These were open-market purchases at prices in the $46.64–$46.67 range, increasing his indirect ownership stakes.

At what prices were the 10,000 Bankwell (BWFG) shares purchased on March 11, 2026?

The 10,000 Bankwell shares were bought in several trades at prices between $46.64 and $46.67 per share. Each trade was coded as a P transaction, meaning a purchase in the open market or a private transaction, according to the Form 4 disclosure.

Were the Bankwell (BWFG) share purchases made directly by Lawrence B. Seidman or through entities?

The purchases were made indirectly through entities tied to Lawrence B. Seidman, including Seidman and Associates, L.L.C., Seidman Investment Partnership vehicles, LSBK06-08, L.L.C., Broad Park Investors, L.L.C., and Chewy Gooey Cookies, L.P., as indicated in the ownership descriptions.

Does this Bankwell (BWFG) Form 4 show any insider sales of common stock?

No insider sales are shown. The transaction summary lists six buy transactions totaling 10,000 shares and zero sell transactions. Additional entries reflect updated holdings, but there are no reported dispositions of Bankwell common stock in this Form 4 filing.

What restricted stock grants for Lawrence B. Seidman are detailed in the Bankwell (BWFG) filing?

Footnotes describe several restricted stock grants, including 1,455 shares granted February 9, 2026, 1,800 shares granted February 7, 2025, and two 1,600-share grants from December 2023 and December 2022, with portions already vested and remaining shares vesting annually through 2029.

How do the restricted stock awards for Bankwell (BWFG) vest over time for Lawrence B. Seidman?

The awards vest in tranches. One 2026 grant vests 485 shares each in 2027, 2028 and 2029. Earlier 2025 and 2023 grants vest in equal annual installments, with footnotes noting that 600, 1,066 and 1,200 shares from different awards have already vested.