---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-24-038494"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FNWD"
cik: "0000919864"
company_name: "Finward Bancorp"
filed_at: "2024-02-16T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-06T00:35:41.652199+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.15
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Joel Gorelick appointed Chairman of Finward Bancorp, Bochnowski remains CEO

## Summary
- Joel Gorelick elected Chairman effective Feb 15, 2024; succeeds Benjamin Bochnowski.
- Bochnowski steps down as Chairman but continues as CEO of Bancorp and Bank.
- Gorelick has served on the board since 2000 and was President/COO until 2013.
- No other executive changes or compensatory adjustments disclosed.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-24-038494
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FNWD
- cik: 0000919864
- company_name: Finward Bancorp
- filed_at: 2024-02-16T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.15
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000119312524038494/0001193125-24-038494-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000119312524038494/d758278d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-038494
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-038494.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-24-038494.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Benjamin J. Bochnowski changed role as Chairman of the Board at Finward Bancorp.
  - Action: stepped down as Chairman
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: will succeed Benjamin J. Bochnowski, who will continue as Chief Executive Officer of the Bancorp and the Bank and remain on the Board as a director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000119312524038494/0001193125-24-038494-index.htm
- Executive change
  Joel Gorelick was named as Chairman of the Board at Finward Bancorp.
  - Action: named
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) has named Joel Gorelick as the next Chairman of the Board of the Bancorp and the Bank, effective February 15, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000119312524038494/0001193125-24-038494-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.