---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-23-000661"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FNWD"
cik: "0000919864"
company_name: "Finward Bancorp"
filed_at: "2023-01-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T19:11:48.381004+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Finward Bancorp Chief Risk Officer/General Counsel Cerven to retire May 2023; Klemm named interim

## Summary
- Leane E. Cerven will retire as EVP, CRO, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary effective May 5, 2023.
- Retirement is not related to any disagreement with the Bancorp regarding financial or accounting matters.
- Lynette M. Klemm, current Director of Audit, appointed Interim Chief Risk Officer pending a permanent replacement.
- Bridget Stout, Senior Auditor, will serve as Interim Director of Audit.
- Ms. Klemm brings 34 years of internal audit experience and holds multiple industry certifications.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-23-000661
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FNWD
- cik: 0000919864
- company_name: Finward Bancorp
- filed_at: 2023-01-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923000661/0001437749-23-000661-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923000661/fnwd20230106_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-000661
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-000661.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-000661.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Leane E. Cerven departed as Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Finward Bancorp.
  - Action: retiring
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary
  source text: Leane E. Cerven, Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, will be retiring from her role at the Bancorp and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Peoples Bank (the “ Bank ”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923000661/0001437749-23-000661-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lynette M. Klemm was appointed as Interim Chief Risk Officer at Finward Bancorp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Chief Risk Officer
  source text: Effective upon Ms. Cerven’s retirement, Lynette M. Klemm, the current Director of Audit for the Bank, will replace Ms. Cerven as the Interim Chief Risk Officer for the Bancorp and the Bank, until such time as a permanent appointment may be made.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923000661/0001437749-23-000661-index.htm

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