<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908834-24-000090.txt : 20240227
<SEC-HEADER>0000908834-24-000090.hdr.sgml : 20240227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240227093906
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908834-24-000090
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20240220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20240227
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240227

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Schmitt Benjamin Louis
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0002012759
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-40999
		FILM NUMBER:		24682725

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

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Finward Bancorp
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000919864
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	02 Finance
		IRS NUMBER:				351927981
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form3.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-02-20</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000919864</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Finward Bancorp</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FNWD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0002012759</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Schmitt Benjamin Louis</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9204 COLUMBIA AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MUNSTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46321</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP, CFO &amp; Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <remarks>Exhibit List:  Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Benjamin Louis Schmitt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa_schmitt.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>
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  <div>
    <div style="text-align: right; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Exhibit 24</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">POWER OF ATTORNEY</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints David J. Kwait, with full power of
      substitution, as the undersigned&#8217;s true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
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          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; font-size: 12pt;">(1)</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">prepare, execute in the undersigned&#8217;s name and on the undersigned&#8217;s behalf, and submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;<u>SEC</u>&#8221;) a Form ID, including amendments thereto, and any other documents necessary or appropriate to obtain codes and passwords enabling the undersigned to make electronic
              filings with the SEC of reports required by Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;<u>Exchange Act</u>&#8221;), or any rule or
              regulation of the SEC;</div>
          </td>
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; font-size: 12pt;">(2)</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned&#8217;s capacity as an officer of Finward Bancorp (the &#8220;<u>Company</u>&#8221;), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zcf26816ff64c4f82ac66289894ef0deb" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">

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          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; font-size: 12pt;">(3)</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete and
              execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and timely file such form with the SEC and any stock exchange or similar authority; and</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
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          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; font-size: 12pt;">(4)</td>
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            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest
              of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
              conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact&#8217;s discretion.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">The undersigned hereby grants to such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever
      requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
      hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact&#8217;s substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.&#160; The undersigned
      acknowledges that the foregoing attorney&#8209;in&#8209;fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, is not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned&#8217;s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.&#160;
      This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned&#8217;s holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier
      revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorney&#8209;in&#8209;fact.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 27th day of February, 2024.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
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            <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">/s/ Benjamin L. Schmitt</div>
          </td>
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top; border-top: #000000 2px solid;">
            <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">Signature</div>
          </td>
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          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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            <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">Benjamin L. Schmitt</div>
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            <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">Printed Name</div>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
