<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-21-036215.txt : 20211102
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-21-036215.hdr.sgml : 20211102
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20211102083039
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-21-036215
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-A12B
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20211102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20211102

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Finward Bancorp
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919864
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				351927981
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-A12B
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-40999
		FILM NUMBER:		211369389

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9204 COLUMBIA AVE
		CITY:			MUNSTER
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46321
		BUSINESS PHONE:		219 836-9690

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9204 COLUMBIA AVE
		CITY:			MUNSTER
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46321

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTHWEST INDIANA BANCORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940307
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-A12B
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ny20000551x2_8a12b.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-A12B
<TEXT>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold;">
      <hr style="border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid black; border-top: 4px solid black; height: 10px; color: #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" align="center"><font style="font-size: 14pt;">UNITED
        STATES</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold;">FORM 8-A</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold;">FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold;">PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold;">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <table style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: left; color: #000000;" id="z98d755fd153c4c20855841de73288df0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 100%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 24pt;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Finward Bancorp</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 100%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: left; color: #000000;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Indiana</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">35-1927981</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">9204 Columbia Avenue</div>
            <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Munster, Indiana</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</div>
            <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">46321</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(Address of principal executive offices)</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(Zip Code)</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <table style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: left; color: #000000;" id="z5af29d95898d4d708fd3a4da043497d3" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

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            <div>
              <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Title of each class to be so registered</div>
            </div>
          </td>
          <td colspan="1" style="width: 2%; vertical-align: bottom; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; padding-bottom: 2px;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 49%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div>
              <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Name of each exchange on which each class is to be registered</div>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 49%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div>Common Stock, without par value</div>
          </td>
          <td colspan="1" style="width: 2%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 49%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
      Instruction A.(c) or (e), check the following box.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#9746;</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
      Instruction A.(d) or (e), check the following box.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; &#9744;</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities concurrently with a Regulation A offering, check the following box.&#160; &#9744;</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>Securities Act registration statement or Regulation A offering statement file number to which this form relates: Not applicable.</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
      <hr style="border: none; border-bottom: 4px solid black; border-top: 1px solid black; height: 10px; color: #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" align="center"></div>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">EXPLANATORY NOTE</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">This Registration Statement on Form 8-A is being filed by Finward Bancorp, an Indiana corporation (the &#8220;<u>Company</u>&#8221;), with the
      Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the listing of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock, without par value (the &#8220;<u>Common Stock</u>&#8221;), on The Nasdaq Capital Market.</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;">Item 1.&#160; Description of Registrant&#8217;s Securities to be Registered.</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The following is a description of the general terms, provisions, and rights of the Company&#8217;s Common Stock and related provisions of the
        Company&#8217;s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the &#8220;<u>Articles of Incorporation</u>&#8221;), Amended and Restated By-Laws (the &#8220;<u>By-Laws</u>&#8221;), and applicable Indiana law.&#160; This description is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in
        conjunction with, the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, and applicable Indiana law.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Title and Class</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The title and class of the capital stock of the Company to be registered is Common Stock, without par value.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Authorized Shares</div>
    </div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
      <div><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The Company is authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 3,479,139 shares were outstanding as of November 2, 2021.</div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Dividend Rights</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The Company may pay dividends and make other distributions at such times, in such amounts, to such persons, for such consideration, and
        upon such terms and conditions as the Company&#8217;s board of directors may determine, subject to all statutory restrictions, including certain banking law restrictions.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The Company&#8217;s declaration of dividends is subject to Indiana law, which generally prohibits the payment of dividends to amounts that will
        not affect the ability of the corporation, after the dividend has been distributed, to pay its debts in the ordinary course of business.&#160; Moreover, such dividends may not exceed the difference between the Company&#8217;s total assets and total
        liabilities plus preferential amounts payable to shareholders with rights superior to those of the holders of Common Stock.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">In addition, the Federal Reserve Board may prohibit the Company&#8217;s payment of dividends if it concludes such payment would raise safety
        and soundness concerns for either the Company or its wholly-owned Indiana commercial bank subsidiary, Peoples Bank.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Voting Rights</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">Each holder of Common Stock generally has the right to cast one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record on all matters
        submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Company.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">Indiana law provides that shareholders may not cumulate their votes in the election of directors unless the corporation&#8217;s articles of
        incorporation so provide.&#160; The Articles of Incorporation do not grant cumulative voting rights to the Company&#8217;s shareholders.</div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
        <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">1</font></div>
        <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after: always;">
          <hr style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000;" noshade="noshade"></div>
      </div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Number of Directors; Classification of the Board</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The By-Laws state that the Company&#8217;s board of directors will consist of three or more members, with the number thereof to be determined from time to time by resolution of the board of directors.&#160; The
        Company&#8217;s board of directors is divided into three classes, with each class containing directors as nearly equal in number as possible, with the term of office of one class expiring each year.&#160; Each director holds office for the term for which he
        or she was elected and until his or her successor is elected and has qualified, or until his or her death, resignation, disqualification, or removal, or until there is a decrease in the number of directors.</div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Liquidation Rights</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">In the event of the liquidation, dissolution, and/or winding-up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, after payment is made to
        the holders of preferred stock, if any, of the full amount to which they may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation, the holders of Common Stock are entitled, to the exclusion of the holders of preferred stock, to share ratably, according
        to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them, in all the remaining assets of the Company available for distribution to its shareholders.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Amendment of Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">Except as otherwise provided below, amendments to the Articles of Incorporation must be approved by a majority vote of the Company&#8217;s
        board of directors and also by a vote of shareholders entitled to vote on the matter in which more votes are cast in favor of the amendment than against the amendment.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">Any amendment or repeal of Article VIII of the Articles of Incorporation (regarding approval of business combinations), or of Sections
        6.1 (regarding the number of members on the board of directors), 6.6&#160;(regarding removal of directors), 7.2 (regarding special meetings of shareholders), 7.5 (regarding the By-Laws), 10.2 (regarding the redemption of shares acquired in control share
        acquisitions), or 10.3 (regarding election to be subject to Chapter 43 of the Indiana Business Corporation Law (the &#8220;<u>IBCL</u>&#8221;), the Indiana Business Combinations Statute), or any other amendment of the Articles of Incorporation which would have
        the effect of modifying or permitting circumvention of Article VIII or such other provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, requires the affirmative vote (i)&#160;of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding
        shares of all classes of the Company&#8217;s voting stock, acting as a single class; and (ii)&#160;a majority of the Company&#8217;s independent shareholders (which is generally defined in the Articles of Incorporation as shares beneficially owned by persons other
        than certain related persons of the Company).&#160; Notwithstanding the foregoing, the voting thresholds described in the preceding sentence will not be required for any amendment to or repeal of the Articles of Incorporation if such amendment or repeal
        was approved by a favorable vote of at least two-thirds of the entire number of directors who qualify as &#8220;continuing directors&#8221; (as defined in the Articles of Incorporation) with respect to all related persons, in which case the amendment or repeal
        will only require more votes to be cast in favor of the amendment or repeal than cast against it.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The Articles of Incorporation also may be amended by the Company&#8217;s board of directors without shareholder approval to designate a new
        series of preferred shares.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The By-Laws may be amended only by a majority vote of the entire number of directors of the Company&#8217;s board at the time of the vote.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Anti-Takeover Effects of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">General.&#160; </font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Articles of Incorporation include several provisions that may have the effect of rendering the Company less attractive to potential acquirors, thereby discouraging
          future takeover attempts that certain shareholders might deem to be in their best interests, or pursuant to which shareholders might receive a substantial premium for their shares over then-current market prices, but would not be approved by the
          Company&#8217;s board of directors.&#160; These provisions also have the effect of rendering the removal of management and the incumbent board of directors more difficult.&#160; However, the Company&#8217;s board has concluded that the potential benefits of these
          restrictive provisions outweigh the possible disadvantages.</font></div>
      <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
        <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">2</font></div>
        <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after: always;">
          <hr style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000;" noshade="noshade"></div>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">Directors.</font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160; Certain provisions in the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws impede changes in the majority&#160;control of the Company&#8217;s board of directors.&#160; The By-Laws provide that
          the board will be divided into&#160;three classes, with directors in each class elected for staggered three-year terms.&#160; As a result, it would take&#160;two&#160;annual elections to replace a majority of the Company&#8217;s board.&#160; Further, the By-Laws impose notice
          and&#160;information requirements in connection with the nomination by shareholders of candidates for election to the&#160;board of directors or the proposal by shareholders of business to be acted upon at an annual meeting of&#160;shareholders.</font></div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The By-Laws provide that any vacancy occurring in the board, including a vacancy created by resignation, death, incapacity, or an
        increase in the number of directors, will be filled by selection of a successor, to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the board;&#160;<font style="font-style: italic;">provided that</font>, if
        such vacancy or vacancies leaves the board with no members or if the remaining members of the board are unable to agree upon a successor or determine not to select a successor, such vacancy may be filled by a vote of the shareholders at a special
        meeting called for that purpose or at the next annual meeting of shareholders.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">Under the Articles of Incorporation, any or all of the members of the board may be removed, for good cause, only at a meeting of the
        Company&#8217;s shareholders called expressly for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of outstanding shares representing at least 80% of all the votes entitled to be cast at an election of directors.&#160; Directors may not be removed in the
        absence of good cause.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">Restrictions on Call of Special
          Meetings.&#160; </font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The By-Laws state that special shareholders&#8217; meetings may&#160;be called at any time by the board of directors or the President, and shall be
          called by the board if the Secretary&#160;of the Company receives written, dated, and signed demands for a special meeting from the holders of shares&#160;representing at least 80% of all votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at
          the proposed&#160;special meeting.</font></div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">No Cumulative Voting.&#160; </font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting rights in the election of&#160;directors.</font></div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">Authorization of Preferred Stock. &#160;</font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The Company is authorized to issue preferred stock from time to time in one or&#160;more series subject to applicable provisions of law, and the board of directors is
          authorized to fix the&#160;designations, powers, preferences, and relative participating, optional, and other special rights of such shares,&#160;including voting rights, if any.&#160; In the event of a proposed merger, tender offer, or other attempt to gain
          control of&#160;the Company not approved by the board of directors, it might be possible for the board to authorize the&#160;issuance of a series of preferred stock with rights and preferences that would impede the completion of such a&#160;transaction.&#160; An
          effect of the possible issuance of preferred stock, therefore, may be to deter a future takeover&#160;attempt.</font></div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">Evaluation of Offers</font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">. The IBCL specifically authorizes directors, in considering the best interests of a&#160;corporation, to consider the effects of any action on shareholders, employees,
          suppliers, and customers of the&#160;corporation, the communities in which offices or other facilities of the corporation are located, and any other&#160;factors the directors consider pertinent.&#160; The Articles of Incorporation provide that the board, in
          determining&#160;whether to take or refrain from taking any action with respect to any matter, including the evaluation of a&#160;business combination or tender or exchange offer, and including making or declining to make any&#160;recommendation to shareholders
          of the Company, may consider both the short term and long term best interests of&#160;the Company (including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of&#160;the Company), taking into account, and weighing as
          the board deems appropriate, the social and economic effects&#160;thereof on the Company&#8217;s present and future employees, suppliers, and customers and its subsidiaries, the&#160;communities in which offices or other facilities of the Company are located,
          and any other factors the directors&#160;consider pertinent.</font></div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">Procedures for Certain Business
          Combinations</font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">.&#160; The Articles of Incorporation require the affirmative vote of 80% of&#160;the outstanding shares of all classes of voting stock (subject to
          certain &#8220;fair price&#8221; and supermajority director&#160;approval exceptions), and an independent majority of shareholders, to approve certain business combinations with&#160;holders of more than 10% of the Company&#8217;s voting shares or their affiliates.</font></div>
      <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
        <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">3</font></div>
        <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after: always;">
          <hr style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000;" noshade="noshade"></div>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">Amendments to Articles of Incorporation
          and By-Laws</font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">.&#160; As noted above, except for certain exceptions, amendments to the&#160;Articles of Incorporation must be approved by a majority vote of the
          Company&#8217;s board and also by a vote of shareholders&#160;in which more votes are cast in favor of the amendment than against the amendment.&#160; Additionally, any&#160;amendment or repeal of Article VIII of the Articles of Incorporation (regarding approval of
          business combinations), or of&#160;Sections 6.1 (regarding the number of members on the board of directors), 6.6 (regarding removal of&#160;directors), 7.2 (regarding special meetings of shareholders), 7.5 (regarding the By-Laws), 10.2 (regarding&#160;the
          redemption of shares acquired in control share acquisitions), or 10.3 (regarding election to be subject to&#160;Chapter 43 of the IBCL, the Indiana Business Combinations Statute), or any other amendment of the Articles of Incorporation which would
          have the effect of modifying or permitting circumvention of Article VIII or such other&#160;provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, requires the affirmative vote (i)&#160;of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast&#160;by the holders of the
          outstanding shares of all classes of the Company&#8217;s voting stock, acting as a single class; and (ii)&#160;a&#160;majority of the Company&#8217;s independent shareholders.</font></div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The Articles of Incorporation may be amended by the board without shareholder approval to designate a new series of preferred shares.</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The By-Laws may be amended only by a majority vote of the entire number of directors of the Company&#8217;s board at the time of the vote.</div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Absence of Other Rights</div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">The Company&#8217;s Common Stock has no sinking fund or redemption provisions or preemptive, conversion, or exchange rights.</div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="font-weight: bold;">Item 2.&#160; Exhibits.</div>
    </div>
    <div>
      <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">Pursuant to the Instructions as to Exhibits with respect to Form 8-A, no exhibits are required to be filed because no other securities of
        the Company are registered on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and the securities registered hereby are not being registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</div>
    </div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">4</font></div>
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after: always;">
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    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">SIGNATURE</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-indent: 36pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration
      statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.</div>
    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
    </div>
    <table style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: left; color: #000000;" id="z140ff0425cba4f0ca961432b63525db6" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
          <td colspan="2" style="vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div style="font-weight: bold;">FINWARD BANCORP</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 45%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div>By:</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 45%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div>/s/ Peymon S. Torabi</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">
            <div>Date: November 2, 2021</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5%; vertical-align: top; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 45%; vertical-align: top; border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div>Peymon S. Torabi</div>
            <div>Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
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    </div>
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  <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">5</font>
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