FORM 4
☐ Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
                                                                                  
 OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response... 0.5
                      
Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
                      

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *

Gruseke Christopher R		 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. [ BWFG ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

_____ Director                    _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below)    _____ Other (specify below)
President & CEO
(Last)          (First)          (Middle)

C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., 258 ELM STREET		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY)

5/11/2023
(Street)

NEW CANAAN, CT 06840		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)

 
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

_X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)        (State)        (Zip)
Rule 10b5-1(c) Transaction Indication
☐ Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3) 		2. Trans. Date 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any 3. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8) 		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 		5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4) 		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 5/11/2023  P  2500 A$21.88 151473 D (1) 
Common Stock 5/11/2023  P  2500 A$21.84 12500 I IRA 
Common Stock         15543 D (2) 
Common Stock         8221 D (3) 
Common Stock         3578 D (4) 
Common Stock         6400 D (5) 

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security
(Instr. 3)		2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security3. Trans. Date3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any4. Trans. Code
(Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Explanation of Responses:
(1) 64,787 shares reported are owned jointly with spouse.
(2) 15,543 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 7,772 of those shares are restricted stock that will vest in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first installment to vest on February 7, 2024 and the second and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. 7,771 of those shares are performance restricted stock and may vest when and if the performance goal is achieved.
(3) 12,333 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2012 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 6,167 of those shares are restricted stock that will vest in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first installment to vest on February 7, 2023 and the second and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. 6,166 of those shares are performance restricted stock and may vest when and if the performance goal is achieved. As of the transaction date, 4,112 shares have vested.
(4) 10,742 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2012 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 5,371 of those shares are restricted stock that will vest in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first installment to vest on January 2, 2022 and the second and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. 5,371 of those shares are performance restricted stock and may vest when and if the performance goal is achieved. As of the transaction date, 7,164 shares have vested.
(5) 32,000 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2012 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 16,000 of those shares are restricted stock that will vest as follows: 40% on December 15, 2020, 20% on December 15, 2021, 20% on December 15, 2022 and 20% on December 15, 2023. 16,000 of those shares are performance restricted stock subject to the same vesting schedule above if performance goals are met. As of the transaction date, 19,200 shares have vested. An additional 1,280 performance based shares were granted and vested on December 15, 2021 as a result of meeting performance metrics.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director10% OwnerOfficerOther
Gruseke Christopher R
C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
258 ELM STREET
NEW CANAAN, CT 06840

President & CEO
Signatures
/s/ Courtney E. Sacchetti, Attorney-in-Fact for Christopher R. Gruseke5/15/2023
**Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
*If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note:File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Bankwell Financial (NASDAQ:BWFG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Bankwell Financial Charts.
Bankwell Financial (NASDAQ:BWFG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Bankwell Financial Charts.