Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) director Seidman awarded 1,455 restricted shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Bankwell Financial Group director Lawrence B. Seidman received a new equity grant in the company. On February 9, 2026, he was awarded 1,455 shares of Bankwell common stock as restricted stock at a price of $0 under the 2022 Stock Plan.

The grant vests in three equal installments of 485 shares on February 7, 2027, February 7, 2028, and February 7, 2029, aligning his compensation with longer-term performance. The filing also lists his existing direct holdings and substantial indirect ownership through several investment entities and plans.

Insider Trade Summary

12 transactions reported

Mixed 12 txns

Insider SEIDMAN LAWRENCE B

Role Director

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

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 1,455 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 194,509 shares (Indirect, By Seidman and Associates, L.L.C.)

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. 1,600 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. 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. 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.

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^*

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)
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								400	D(2)
Common Stock								534	D(3)
Common Stock								1,200	D(4)
Common Stock								194,509	I	By Seidman and Associates, L.L.C.
Common Stock								133,370	I	By Seidman Investment Partnership, L.P.
Common Stock								172,234	I	By Seidman Investment Partnership II, L.P.
Common Stock								114,199	I	By LSBK06-08, L.L.C.
Common Stock								129,711	I	By Broad Park Investors, L.L.C.
Common Stock								21,419	I	By Chewy Gooey Cookies, L.P.
Common Stock								4,151	I	Deferred Compensation Plan
Common Stock								17,346	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. 1,600 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.

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. 1,800 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.

Remarks:

	/s/ Angelo G. Fusaro, Attorney-in-Fact for Lawrence B. Seidman	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 Lawrence B. Seidman report at Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG)?

Lawrence B. Seidman reported receiving 1,455 shares of Bankwell Financial Group common stock as a restricted stock grant on February 9, 2026. The award was granted at $0 per share as part of the company’s stock-based director compensation program.

How do the 1,455 restricted shares granted to Lawrence B. Seidman vest at Bankwell (BWFG)?

The 1,455 restricted shares vest in three equal installments of 485 shares each. Vesting dates are February 7, 2027, February 7, 2028, and February 7, 2029, creating a multi-year incentive that encourages continued board service and alignment with shareholder interests.

What other restricted stock awards to Lawrence B. Seidman are disclosed in this Bankwell (BWFG) filing?

The filing notes earlier restricted stock grants of 1,600 shares each from December 30, 2022, December 29, 2023, and 1,800 shares from February 7, 2025. Portions of these awards have already vested, with remaining shares scheduled to vest annually on specified February dates.

Does this Bankwell (BWFG) Form 4 show stock sales by Lawrence B. Seidman?

No stock sales are reported. The only transaction coded is an “A” for acquisition of 1,455 restricted shares. The rest of the entries show updated beneficial ownership positions, both direct and indirect, after this grant rather than new sales or purchases.

What indirect Bankwell (BWFG) holdings are associated with Lawrence B. Seidman?

Indirect holdings are reported through several entities, including Seidman and Associates, L.L.C., Seidman Investment Partnerships, LSBK06-08, L.L.C., Broad Park Investors, L.L.C., Chewy Gooey Cookies, L.P., and a Deferred Compensation Plan. Each line shows Bankwell common shares beneficially owned through that vehicle.

What direct Bankwell (BWFG) share ownership does Lawrence B. Seidman report after this grant?

The filing lists multiple direct positions, including the newly granted 1,455 restricted shares and other common stock amounts such as 400, 534, 1,200, and 17,346 shares. These entries together reflect his direct beneficial ownership in Bankwell common stock following the reported transaction.