---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-23-013318"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FNWD"
cik: "0000919864"
company_name: "Finward Bancorp"
filed_at: "2023-05-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-15T11:34:46.209023+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.3
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Finward Bancorp shareholders elect four directors, ratify auditors, approve executive compensation at annual meeting

## Summary
- Elected Benjamin J. Bochnowski, Donald P. Fesko, Danette Garza, and Robert E. Johnson III as directors for three-year terms expiring 2026.
- Ratified FORVIS LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2023 with 3,233,340 votes for, 25,516 against.
- Advisory vote on executive compensation approved with 2,545,328 for, 101,909 against, and 570,876 broker non-votes.
- Annual meeting held virtually on May 5, 2023; 3,259,611 shares represented a quorum out of 4,304,916 outstanding.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-23-013318
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FNWD
- cik: 0000919864
- company_name: Finward Bancorp
- filed_at: 2023-05-09T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.3
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.15
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.07
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923013318/0001437749-23-013318-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923013318/fnwd20230508_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-013318
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-013318.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-013318.txt

## Key facts
- Shareholder Votes
  Finward Bancorp shareholders approved Election of four directors to serve three-year terms expiring in 2026 at the 2023-05-05 meeting.
  - Proposal: director election
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-05
  source text: Proposal 1: Election of Directors . The Bancorp’s shareholders elected four directors to serve three-year terms expiring in 2026. The votes regarding this proposal were as follows: Director Expiration of Term Votes For Votes Withheld Broker Non- Votes Benjamin J. Bochnowski 2026 2,611,720 77,015 0 Donald P. Fesko, O.D., FACHE 2026 2,394,003 294,732 0 Danette Garza, J.D., CPA 2026 2,616,306 72,429 0 Robert E. Johnson, III 2026 2,623,434 65,301 0
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923013318/0001437749-23-013318-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  Finward Bancorp shareholders approved Ratification of the appointment of FORVIS, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 at the 2023-05-05 meeting.
  - Proposal: auditor ratification
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-05
  source text: 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, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. 3,233,340 25,516 755 0
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923013318/0001437749-23-013318-index.htm
- Shareholder Votes
  Finward Bancorp shareholders approved 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 at the 2023-05-05 meeting.
  - Proposal: say on pay
  - Outcome: passed
  - Meeting: 2023-05-05
  source text: 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. 2,545,328 101,909 41,498 570,876
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/919864/000143774923013318/0001437749-23-013318-index.htm

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