Form 8-K

8-K — Finward Bancorp

Accession: 0001628280-26-038070

Filed: 2026-05-26

Period: 2026-05-26

CIK: 0000919864

SIC: 6035 (SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED)

Item: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

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8-K — fnwd-20260526.htm (Primary)

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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): May 26, 2026

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 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 class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock, no 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 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 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On May 22, 2026, Finward Bancorp (the “Bancorp”) held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), as a virtual-only meeting, pursuant to due notice. Only holders of record of the Bancorp’s common stock at the close of business on March 20, 2026 (the “Record Date”) were entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 4,330,486 shares of the Bancorp’s common stock issued and outstanding. Holders of a total of 3,284,619 shares of common stock were present virtually or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, constituting a quorum.

The Bancorp’s shareholders voted on three proposals at the Annual Meeting. The proposals are described in detail in the Bancorp’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2026. The final results of the vote regarding the proposals are set forth below.

Proposal 1: Election of Directors. The Bancorp’s shareholders elected three directors to serve three-year terms expiring in 2029. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

Director Expiration of

Term Votes For Votes Withheld Broker Non-Votes

Benjamin J. Bochnowski 2029 2,486,625 418,023 379,971

Robert E. Johnson, III 2029 2,572,074 332,574 379,971

Martin P. Alwin 2029 2,659,517 245,131 379,971

Proposal 2: Ratification of Auditors. The proposal described below, having received a vote virtually or by proxy of more favorable votes than votes cast against the proposal, was declared to be duly adopted by the shareholders of the Bancorp. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes

Ratification of the appointment of Forvis Mazars, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. 3,218,420 57,910 8,289 —

Proposal 3: Advisory Vote on Compensation. The proposal described below, having received an advisory vote virtually or by proxy of more favorable votes than votes cast against the proposal, was declared to be duly adopted by the shareholders of the Bancorp. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows:

For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes

Approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the executive compensation of the named executive officers included in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting. 2,720,043 169,928 14,677 379,971

No other matters were considered or voted upon at the Annual Meeting.

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: May 26, 2026

FINWARD BANCORP

By: /s/ Benjamin L. Schmitt

Name: Benjamin L. Schmitt

Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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May 26, 2026

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FINWARD BANCORP

Document Type

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Document Period End Date

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Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code

Entity File Number

001-40999

Entity Tax Identification Number

35-1927981

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