FINWARD BANCORP ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF DAVID BOCHNOWSKI AS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MUNSTER, Ind., Jan. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Finward Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWD) (the “Bancorp” or “Finward”), the holding company for Peoples Bank, today announced that David A. Bochnowski, the Executive Chairman of the Bancorp’s Board of Directors, has informed the Board of his decision to retire as Executive Chairman and as a member of the Board, with his retirement to be effective as of June 30, 2023. The Board has appointed Benjamin J. Bochnowski, currently the Bancorp’s President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Bancorp’s Board of Directors, to succeed David Bochnowski as the Chairman of the Board. The appointment of Benjamin Bochnowski as Chairman is the result of the implementation of the Bancorp’s normal succession planning process.

“Since 1981, it has been my honor to serve our customers, communities, and the Peoples team, as we utilize the resources entrusted to us to build the regional economies of Northwest Indiana and more recently Chicagoland,” said David Bochnowski, the Bancorp’s Executive Chairman. “From our roots as a savings and loan to our current charter as a publicly traded bank, we have provided hundreds of millions of lending dollars for home buying, consumer needs, and small business development. In addition, our wealth management services continue to provide exceptional investment advice to a growing customer base. Throughout the many challenges of rapidly changing customer preferences and the ups and downs of numerous business cycles, a Great Recession, and a pandemic, Peoples Bank has remained faithful to our one hundred thirteen-year legacy of community banking excellence. I shall always be grateful for this opportunity and thank our customers and the dedicated Peoples team for their support in all my endeavors.”

“David Bochnowski has worked tirelessly for the shareholders, employees, customers, and communities of Peoples Bank and Finward Bancorp over the past four decades,” said Benjamin Bochnowski, the Bancorp’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “He had the vision and courage to raise capital at a small savings and loan during a tumultuous time and forge the path for the company we have become today. His unwavering commitment to this company has been an example to all of us at Peoples Bank, and we would not be where we are without him. It has been a pleasure to work side by side with him over the past decade, and his support and guidance along the way have given us what we need to continue the work he started when he joined Peoples Bank.”