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[8-K] Finward Bancorp Reports Material Event

Filing Impact
(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Finward Bancorp (FNWD) disclosed forward-looking cautionary language and identified a previously announced memorandum of understanding with the FDIC and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions that affects the Bank. The company notes it has agreed under that memorandum to refrain from paying cash dividends without prior regulatory approval. The filing lists a broad set of risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including trade policy shifts, AI risks, asset quality and credit risk changes, interest-rate and liquidity pressures that may reduce net interest margins, declines in investment securities values, customer adoption and behavior risks, challenges from mergers and integrations, regulatory actions, and economic and technological changes. The company also states it may not repurchase shares or pay dividends and that any such actions depend on capital, performance, regulatory and other factors.

Finward Bancorp (FNWD) ha indicato un linguaggio cautelatorio orientato al futuro e ha citato un memorandum d'intesa già annunciato con la FDIC e il Dipartimento degli Istituti Finanziari dell'Indiana che riguarda la banca. L'azienda segnala di aver concordato, secondo quel memorandum, di astenersi dal pagamento di dividendi in contanti senza previa approvazione regolamentare. La comunicazione elenca una serie ampia di rischi che potrebbero far sì che i risultati effettivi differiscano in modo sostanziale dalle previsioni, tra cui cambiamenti nella politica commerciale, rischi legati all'IA, variazioni della qualità degli asset e del credito, pressioni sui tassi di interesse e sulla liquidità che possono ridurre i margini di interesse netto, cali nei valori dei titoli di investimento, rischi legati all'adozione e al comportamento dei clienti, difficoltà derivanti da fusioni e integrazioni, azioni regolatorie e cambiamenti economici e tecnologici. L'azienda afferma anche che potrebbe non riacquistare azioni né pagare dividendi e che tali azioni dipendono da capitale, performance, regolamentazione e altri fattori.
Finward Bancorp (FNWD) comunicó un lenguaje cautelar orientado al futuro e identificó un memorando de entendimiento previamente anunciado con la FDIC y el Departamento de Instituciones Financieras de Indiana que afecta al banco. La empresa señala que, conforme a ese memorando, se compromete a no pagar dividendos en efectivo sin la aprobación regulatoria previa. La presentación enumera un amplio conjunto de riesgos que podrían hacer que los resultados reales difieran substantialmente de las expectativas, incluyendo cambios en políticas comerciales, riesgos de IA, variaciones en la calidad de activos y el riesgo crediticio, presiones de tasas de interés y liquidez que pueden reducir los márgenes de interés neto, caídas en los valores de valores de inversión, riesgos de adopción y comportamiento de los clientes, desafíos por fusiones e integraciones, acciones regulatorias y cambios económicos y tecnológicos. La empresa también indica que podría no recomprar acciones ni pagar dividendos, y que cualquier acción depende de capital, rendimiento, regulación y otros factores.
Finward Bancorp(FNWD)은 향후 주의 공지를 포함하고 은행에 영향을 미치는 FDIC 및 인디애나 금융기관부와의 이미 발표된 양해각서를 확인했습니다. 회사는 그 양해각서에 따라 사전 규제 승인을 받지 없이 현금 배당금을 지급하지 않기로 합의했다고 밝힙니다. 제출서는 실제 결과가 기대치와 실질적으로 다를 수 있는 광범위한 위험을 열거합니다. 무역정책 변화, 인공지능 관련 위험, 자산 품질과 신용 위험의 변화, 이자율 및 유동성 압력으로 순이자마진이 감소할 수 있음, 투자증권 가치 하락, 고객 채택 및 행동 위험, 합병 및 통합의 도전, 규제 조치, 경제 및 기술 변화 등이 포함됩니다. 또한 회사는 주식을 재매입하거나 배당금을 지급하지 않을 수 있으며, 이러한 조치는 자본, 성과, 규제 및 기타 요인에 따라 달라진다고 밝힙니다.
Finward Bancorp (FNWD) a communiqué un langage prudentiel prospectif et a identifié un protocole d’entente préalablement annoncé avec la FDIC et le Department of Financial Institutions de l’Indiana qui affecte la banque. La société indique qu’en vertu de ce protocole, elle s’est engagée à s’abstenir de verser des dividendes en espèces sans l’approbation réglementaire préalable. Le document de dépôt répertorie un ensemble large de risques susceptibles d’amener les résultats réels à différer notablement des attentes, notamment des changements de politique commerciale, des risques liés à l’IA, des variations de la qualité des actifs et du crédit, des pressions sur les taux d’intérêt et la liquidité pouvant réduire les marges d’intérêt nettes, des baisses de la valeur des valeurs d’investissement, des risques d’adoption et de comportement des clients, des défis issus des fusions et des intégrations, des actions réglementaires et des changements économiques et technologiques. La société précise aussi qu’elle pourrait ne pas racheter des actions ni payer des dividendes et que ces actions dépendent du capital, de la performance, de la réglementation et d’autres facteurs.
Finward Bancorp (FNWD) hat zukunftsgerichtete Vorsichtsinformationen veröffentlicht und ein zuvor angekündigtes Absichtserklärung mit der FDIC und dem Indiana Department of Financial Institutions identifiziert, das die Bank betrifft. Das Unternehmen gibt an, gemäß dieser Absichtserklärung darauf verzichtet zu haben, Barausschüttungen ohne vorherige behördliche Genehmigung vorzunehmen. Die Einreichung listet eine breite Reihe von Risiken auf, die dazu führen könnten, dass die tatsächlichen Ergebnisse wesentlich von den Erwartungen abweichen, einschließlich Veränderungen in der Handelspolitik, Risiken durch KI, Veränderungen bei Vermögenswertqualität und Kreditrisiken, Belastungen durch Zins- und Liquiditätssorgen, die Nettozinsmargen senken können, Wertminderungen von Investitionswerten, Risiken bei der Kundenakzeptanz und dem Verhalten, Herausforderungen durch Fusionen und Integrationen, regulatorische Maßnahmen sowie wirtschaftliche und technologische Veränderungen. Das Unternehmen stellt außerdem fest, dass es Aktien möglicherweise nicht zurückkaufen oder Dividenden zahlen wird und dass solche Maßnahmen von Kapital, Leistung, Regulierung und anderen Faktoren abhängen.
أعلنت شركة Finward Bancorp (FNWD) عن لغة تحذيرية مستقبلية وحددت مذكرة تفاهم مُعلنة سابقاً مع FDIC ووزارة المؤسسات المالية بولاية إنديانا التي تؤثر على البنك. وتذكر الشركة أنها وفقاً لتلك المذكرة وافقت على الامتناع عن دفع توزيعات نقدية بدون موافقة تنظيمية سابقة. يسرد الملف مجموعة واسعة من المخاطر التي قد تجعل النتائج الفعلية تختلف عن التوقعات بشكل جوهري، بما فيها تغيّرات سياسات التجارة، مخاطر الذكاء الاصطناعي، تغيّرات في جودة الأصول ومخاطر الائتمان، ضغوط أسعار الفائدة والسيولة التي قد تقلل الهوامش الصافية للفوائد، انخفاض قيم الأوراق الاستثمارية، مخاطر تبني العملاء وسلوكهم، تحديات من الاندماجات والدمج، إجراءات تنظيمية، وتغيّرات اقتصادية وتكنولوجية. كما تقول الشركة إنها قد لا تعود شراء الأسهم أو دفع توزيعات وأن أي إجراء من هذا القبيل يعتمد على رأس المال والأداء والتنظيم وغيرها من العوامل.
Finward Bancorp(FNWD)披露了面向未来的审慎性语言,并确认了与美联储银行管理局(FDIC)及印第安纳州金融机构部先前宣布的谅解备忘录,该备忘录影响该银行。公司指出,依据该备忘录已同意在未经监管机构事先批准的情况下不支付现金股息。 filing列出了一系列广泛的风险,可能使实际结果与预期存在重大差异,包括贸易政策变化、人工智能风险、资产质量和信贷风险变化、利率与流动性压力可能削弱净利差、投资证券价值下滑、客户采用与行为风险、并购整合的挑战、监管行动,以及经济与技术变化。公司还表示,可能不会回购股票或派发股息,任何此类行动均取决于资本、业绩、监管及其他因素。
Positive
  • Transparent disclosure of regulatory engagement with the FDIC and Indiana DFI, including the dividend restriction
  • Comprehensive risk listing that informs investors of the range of factors affecting future performance
Negative
  • Memorandum of understanding with FDIC and DFI that requires compliance and limits cash dividends without prior approval
  • Dividend and share repurchase uncertainty—the company states there can be no assurance of future repurchases or dividends
  • Material risk exposures identified including asset quality, credit risk, interest-rate and liquidity pressures, and potential declines in investment securities value

Insights

TL;DR: The FDIC/DFI memorandum and dividend restriction are material regulatory constraints that limit capital distributions until regulators are satisfied.

The filing explicitly highlights a memorandum of understanding with the FDIC and Indiana DFI requiring the Bank to demonstrate compliance within prescribed time frames and to refrain from paying cash dividends without prior regulatory approval. That agreement is a substantive regulatory action that constrains management's flexibility on capital returns and signals regulatory concerns that could affect strategic execution. The broad list of forward-looking risks underscores exposure to interest-rate movements, asset-quality deterioration, securities valuation declines, and operational/AI risks. For investors, the key operational implication is constrained capital distribution and increased compliance oversight; for management, priorities will include remediation, capital preservation, and regulatory dialogue.

TL;DR: The disclosure flags elevated credit and market risks plus regulatory limits on dividends—factors that can weigh on capitalization and stakeholder returns.

The document lists potential changes in asset quality and credit risk and warns that interest-rate and market liquidity changes could reduce net interest margins. It also calls out possible further deterioration in the market value of investment securities. Together with the MOU-imposed dividend restriction, these items are relevant to capital management and credit metrics. Absent additional remedial details or quantified reserve/asset impacts in this filing, the credit outlook is uncertain and contingent on the Bank's ability to remedy the issues noted to regulators and to manage rate and credit cycles.

Finward Bancorp (FNWD) ha indicato un linguaggio cautelatorio orientato al futuro e ha citato un memorandum d'intesa già annunciato con la FDIC e il Dipartimento degli Istituti Finanziari dell'Indiana che riguarda la banca. L'azienda segnala di aver concordato, secondo quel memorandum, di astenersi dal pagamento di dividendi in contanti senza previa approvazione regolamentare. La comunicazione elenca una serie ampia di rischi che potrebbero far sì che i risultati effettivi differiscano in modo sostanziale dalle previsioni, tra cui cambiamenti nella politica commerciale, rischi legati all'IA, variazioni della qualità degli asset e del credito, pressioni sui tassi di interesse e sulla liquidità che possono ridurre i margini di interesse netto, cali nei valori dei titoli di investimento, rischi legati all'adozione e al comportamento dei clienti, difficoltà derivanti da fusioni e integrazioni, azioni regolatorie e cambiamenti economici e tecnologici. L'azienda afferma anche che potrebbe non riacquistare azioni né pagare dividendi e che tali azioni dipendono da capitale, performance, regolamentazione e altri fattori.
Finward Bancorp (FNWD) comunicó un lenguaje cautelar orientado al futuro e identificó un memorando de entendimiento previamente anunciado con la FDIC y el Departamento de Instituciones Financieras de Indiana que afecta al banco. La empresa señala que, conforme a ese memorando, se compromete a no pagar dividendos en efectivo sin la aprobación regulatoria previa. La presentación enumera un amplio conjunto de riesgos que podrían hacer que los resultados reales difieran substantialmente de las expectativas, incluyendo cambios en políticas comerciales, riesgos de IA, variaciones en la calidad de activos y el riesgo crediticio, presiones de tasas de interés y liquidez que pueden reducir los márgenes de interés neto, caídas en los valores de valores de inversión, riesgos de adopción y comportamiento de los clientes, desafíos por fusiones e integraciones, acciones regulatorias y cambios económicos y tecnológicos. La empresa también indica que podría no recomprar acciones ni pagar dividendos, y que cualquier acción depende de capital, rendimiento, regulación y otros factores.
Finward Bancorp(FNWD)은 향후 주의 공지를 포함하고 은행에 영향을 미치는 FDIC 및 인디애나 금융기관부와의 이미 발표된 양해각서를 확인했습니다. 회사는 그 양해각서에 따라 사전 규제 승인을 받지 없이 현금 배당금을 지급하지 않기로 합의했다고 밝힙니다. 제출서는 실제 결과가 기대치와 실질적으로 다를 수 있는 광범위한 위험을 열거합니다. 무역정책 변화, 인공지능 관련 위험, 자산 품질과 신용 위험의 변화, 이자율 및 유동성 압력으로 순이자마진이 감소할 수 있음, 투자증권 가치 하락, 고객 채택 및 행동 위험, 합병 및 통합의 도전, 규제 조치, 경제 및 기술 변화 등이 포함됩니다. 또한 회사는 주식을 재매입하거나 배당금을 지급하지 않을 수 있으며, 이러한 조치는 자본, 성과, 규제 및 기타 요인에 따라 달라진다고 밝힙니다.
Finward Bancorp (FNWD) a communiqué un langage prudentiel prospectif et a identifié un protocole d’entente préalablement annoncé avec la FDIC et le Department of Financial Institutions de l’Indiana qui affecte la banque. La société indique qu’en vertu de ce protocole, elle s’est engagée à s’abstenir de verser des dividendes en espèces sans l’approbation réglementaire préalable. Le document de dépôt répertorie un ensemble large de risques susceptibles d’amener les résultats réels à différer notablement des attentes, notamment des changements de politique commerciale, des risques liés à l’IA, des variations de la qualité des actifs et du crédit, des pressions sur les taux d’intérêt et la liquidité pouvant réduire les marges d’intérêt nettes, des baisses de la valeur des valeurs d’investissement, des risques d’adoption et de comportement des clients, des défis issus des fusions et des intégrations, des actions réglementaires et des changements économiques et technologiques. La société précise aussi qu’elle pourrait ne pas racheter des actions ni payer des dividendes et que ces actions dépendent du capital, de la performance, de la réglementation et d’autres facteurs.
Finward Bancorp (FNWD) hat zukunftsgerichtete Vorsichtsinformationen veröffentlicht und ein zuvor angekündigtes Absichtserklärung mit der FDIC und dem Indiana Department of Financial Institutions identifiziert, das die Bank betrifft. Das Unternehmen gibt an, gemäß dieser Absichtserklärung darauf verzichtet zu haben, Barausschüttungen ohne vorherige behördliche Genehmigung vorzunehmen. Die Einreichung listet eine breite Reihe von Risiken auf, die dazu führen könnten, dass die tatsächlichen Ergebnisse wesentlich von den Erwartungen abweichen, einschließlich Veränderungen in der Handelspolitik, Risiken durch KI, Veränderungen bei Vermögenswertqualität und Kreditrisiken, Belastungen durch Zins- und Liquiditätssorgen, die Nettozinsmargen senken können, Wertminderungen von Investitionswerten, Risiken bei der Kundenakzeptanz und dem Verhalten, Herausforderungen durch Fusionen und Integrationen, regulatorische Maßnahmen sowie wirtschaftliche und technologische Veränderungen. Das Unternehmen stellt außerdem fest, dass es Aktien möglicherweise nicht zurückkaufen oder Dividenden zahlen wird und dass solche Maßnahmen von Kapital, Leistung, Regulierung und anderen Faktoren abhängen.
false000091986400009198642025-09-172025-09-17

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): September 17, 2025
FINWARD BANCORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Indiana001-4099935-1927981
(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 is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o 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 classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, no par valueFNWDThe 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          o
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.          o



Item 7.01.         Regulation FD Disclosure
Finward Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) will present financial and other information to investors at the 2025 Stephens Banking Forum in Little Rock, Arkansas. The slides for the presentation are attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and are incorporated by reference into this Item 7.01. This information is furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The filing of this report shall not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in the report that is required to be disclosed solely by reason of Regulation FD.

Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth and operating strategies of Finward Bancorp ("FNWD'). For these statements, FNWD claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this communication should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about FNWD, including the information in the filings FNWD makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: changes in domestic and international trade policies, including tariffs and other non-tariff barriers, and the effects of such changes on Peoples Bank (the "Bank") and its customers; risks related to the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI); the Bank's ability to demonstrate compliance with the terms of the previously disclosed memorandum of understanding entered into between the Bank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”), or to demonstrate compliance to the satisfaction of the FDIC and/or DFI within prescribed time frames; the Bank’s agreement under the memorandum of understanding to refrain from paying cash dividends without prior regulatory approval; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates, market liquidity, and capital markets, as well as the magnitude of such changes, which may reduce net interest margins; inflation; further deterioration in the market value of securities held in FNWD’s investment securities portfolio, whether as a result of macroeconomic factors or otherwise; customer acceptance of FNWD’s products and services; customer borrowing, repayment, investment, and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success, and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent, and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, regulatory actions by the FDIC and DFI and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in FNWD’s reports (such as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Internet website (www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning FNWD or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Except as required by law, FNWD does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statement is made.

In addition to the above factors, we also caution that the actual amounts and timing of any future common stock dividends or share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including our capital position, financial performance, capital impacts of strategic initiatives, market conditions, and regulatory and accounting considerations, as well as any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant in making such a determination. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares or pay any dividends to the holders of our common stock, or as to the amount of any such repurchases or dividends.



Item 9.01.         Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
99.1
Slide presentation for the Stephens Banking Forum on September 17, 2025.
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)



SIGNATURE
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.
Date: September 17, 2025
FINWARD BANCORP
By:/s/ Benjamin L. Schmitt
Name: Benjamin L. Schmitt
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

FAQ

What regulatory action involving FNWD is disclosed in the 8-K?

The filing discloses a previously announced memorandum of understanding with the FDIC and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions that requires the Bank to demonstrate compliance within prescribed time frames.

Does FNWD currently plan to pay cash dividends?

Under the memorandum of understanding, the Bank agreed to refrain from paying cash dividends without prior regulatory approval; the filing states there is no assurance of future dividends.

What risks did FNWD highlight in the filing?

The company lists risks including trade policy changes, AI-related risks, asset quality and credit risk changes, interest-rate and liquidity impacts on net interest margins, declines in investment securities value, customer behavior risks, integration and M&A risks, and regulatory or legislative actions.

Will FNWD repurchase shares according to this filing?

The filing states the amounts and timing of any future share repurchases are uncertain and will depend on capital position, financial performance, regulatory considerations, and Board decisions.

Does the filing quantify financial impacts or remediation steps?

No specific financial amounts, reserves, or detailed remediation steps are provided in the text supplied.
Finward Bancorp

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139.35M
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4.06%
Banks - Regional
Savings Institution, Federally Chartered
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United States
MUNSTER