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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
                                                                                  
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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 *

SEIDMAN LAWRENCE B		 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

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

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

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

2/27/2026
(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)

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 2/27/2026  P  1,025 A$46.77 200,244 I By Seidman and Associates, L.L.C. 
Common Stock 2/27/2026  P  318 A$46.81 135,167 I By Seidman Investment Partnership, L.P. 
Common Stock 2/27/2026  P  191 A$46.85 173,305 I By Seidman Investment Partnership II, L.P. 
Common Stock 2/27/2026  P  619 A$46.78 117,664 I By LSBK06-08, L.L.C. 
Common Stock 2/27/2026  P  231 A$46.83 130,989 I By Broad Park Investors, L.L.C. 
Common Stock 2/27/2026  P  136 A$46.9 22,193 I By Chewy Gooey Cookies, L.P. 
Common Stock         1,455 D (1) 
Common Stock         1,200 D (2) 
Common Stock         534 D (3) 
Common Stock         400 D (4) 
Common Stock         4,151 I Deferred Compensation Plan 
Common Stock         17,346 D  

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) 1,455 shares of restricted stock granted on February 9, 2026, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 485 to vest on February 7, 2027. 485 will vest on February 7, 2028 and 485 will vest on February 7, 2029.
(2) 1,800 shares of restricted stock granted on February 7, 2025, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 600 to vest on February 7, 2026. 600 will vest on February 7, 2027 and 600 will vest on February 7, 2028. As of the filing date, 600 shares have vested.
(3) 1,600 shares of restricted stock granted on December 29, 2023, pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan with 533 vested on February 7, 2025, 533 will vest on February 7, 2026 and 534 will vest on February 7, 2027. As of the filing date, 1,066 shares have vested.
(4) 1,600 shares of restricted stock granted on December 30, 2022, pursuant to the 2012 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan and will vest in four equal annual installments of 25%, with the first installment vesting on January 2, 2024 and an additional 25% to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. As of the filing date, 1,200 shares have vested.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address
Relationships
Director10% OwnerOfficerOther
SEIDMAN LAWRENCE B
C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
258 ELM STREET
NEW CANAAN, CT 06840		X
Signatures
/s/ Angelo G. Fusaro, Attorney-in-Fact for Lawrence B. Seidman3/2/2026
**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).
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