Exhibit 3.1

ARTICLES OF RESTATEMENT

OF

FINWARD BANCORP

Finward Bancorp, an Indiana corporation (the “Corporation”), organized and existing pursuant to the Indiana Business Corporation Law, as amended (the “IBCL”), desiring to give notice of corporate action effectuating the amendment and restatement of the Corporation’s articles of incorporation, does hereby certify as follows:

ARTICLE I

AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

Section 1.         Name. The name of the Corporation is “Finward Bancorp.”

Section 2.         Date of Filing of Articles of Incorporation. The Corporation’s articles of incorporation were originally filed with the Indiana Secretary of State on January 31, 1994.

Section 3.         Restatement of Articles of Incorporation.

(a)         Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. The Corporation’s articles of incorporation are hereby amended and restated in their entirety in the form of the exact text attached hereto as Exhibit A.

(b)         Registered Agent. The Corporation’s non-commercial registered agent and registered office address is Leane E. Cerven, 9204 Columbia Avenue, Munster, Indiana 46321. The email address at which the registered agent will accept electronic service of process is [email protected]. The undersigned represents that the registered agent named above has consented to such appointment.

Section 4.         Effective Time. The effective time of the amendment and restatement hereby effected shall be immediately upon the date and time at which these Articles of Restatement are filed with the Indiana Secretary of State.

Section 5.         Manner of Adoption. The restatement does not contain any amendment requiring shareholder approval and the amendment and restatement was duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation at a regular meeting, duly called, on February 25, 2022.

Section 6.         Legal Compliance. The manner of adoption of this amendment and restatement constitutes full legal compliance with the IBCL.

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The undersigned, being the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, executes these Articles of Restatement and verifies, subject to penalties of perjury, that the statements contained herein are true this 28^th day of February, 2022.

EXHIBIT A

RESTATED

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

FINWARD BANCORP

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Finward Bancorp (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

PURPOSES AND POWERS

Section 2.1         Purposes of the Corporation. The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to engage in the transaction of any or all lawful business for which corporations may now or hereafter be incorporated under the Indiana Business Corporation Law, as amended (the “IBCL”).

Section 2.2         Powers of the Corporation. The Corporation shall have (a) all powers now or hereafter authorized by or vested in corporations pursuant to the provisions of the IBCL, (b) all powers now or hereafter vested in corporations by common law or any other statute or act, and (c) all powers authorized by or vested in the Corporation by the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation or by the provisions of its By-Laws as from time to time in effect.

ARTICLE III

TERM OF EXISTENCE

The period during which the Corporation shall continue is perpetual.

ARTICLE IV

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

The street address of the Corporation’s registered office is 9204 Columbia Avenue, Munster, Indiana 46321, and the name of its registered agent at such office is Leane E. Cerven.

ARTICLE V

SHARES

Section 5.1         Authorized Classes and Number of Shares. The total number of shares which the Corporation has authority to issue shall be 20,000,000 shares, consisting of 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock, without par value (the “Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (the “Preferred Stock”).

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Section 5.2         General Terms of All Shares. The Corporation shall have the power to acquire (by purchase, redemption or otherwise), hold, own, pledge, sell, transfer, assign, reissue, cancel or otherwise dispose of the shares of the Corporation in the manner and to the extent now or hereafter permitted by applicable law (but such power shall not imply an obligation on the part of the owner or holder of any share to sell or otherwise transfer such share to the Corporation), including the power to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire the Corporation’s own shares, directly or indirectly, and without pro rata treatment of the owners or holders of any class or series of shares, unless, after giving effect thereto, the Corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business or the Corporation’s total assets would be less than its total liabilities (and without regard to any amounts that would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those of the holders of the shares of the Corporation being purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, unless otherwise expressly provided with respect to a series of Preferred Stock in the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof describing the terms of such series). Shares of the Corporation purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired by it shall constitute authorized but unissued shares, unless prior to any such purchase, redemption or other acquisition, or within 30 days thereafter, the Board of Directors adopts a resolution providing that such shares constitute authorized and issued but not outstanding shares.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation may dispose of, issue and sell shares in accordance with, and in such amounts as may be permitted by, applicable law and these Articles of Incorporation and for such consideration, at such price or prices, at such time or times and upon such terms and conditions (including the privilege of selectively repurchasing the same) as the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall determine, without the authorization or approval by any shareholders of the Corporation. Shares may be disposed of, issued, and sold to such persons, firms or corporations as the Board of Directors may determine, without any preemptive or other right on the part of the owners or holders of other shares of the Corporation of any class or kind to acquire such shares by reason of their ownership of such other shares.

When the Corporation receives the consideration specified in a subscription agreement entered into before incorporation, or for which the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of shares, as the case may be, the shares issued therefor shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

The Corporation shall have the power to declare and pay dividends or other distributions upon the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation, subject to the limitation that a dividend or other distribution may not be made if, after giving it effect, the Corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business or the Corporation’s total assets would be less than its total liabilities (and without regard to any amounts that would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the dividend or other distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those of the holders of shares receiving the dividend or other distribution, unless otherwise expressly provided with respect to a series of Preferred Stock in the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof describing the terms of such series). The Corporation shall have the power to issue shares of one class or series as a share dividend or other distribution in respect of that class or series or one or more other classes or series.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Section 5.3         Voting Rights of Shares.

(a)         Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided by the IBCL and subject to such shareholder disclosure and recognition procedures (which may include voting prohibition sanctions) as the Corporation may by action of its Board of Directors establish, the shares of Common Stock have unlimited voting rights and each outstanding share shall, when validly issued by the Corporation, entitle the record holder thereof to one vote at all shareholders’ meetings on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. Holders of Common Stock do not have the right to cumulate their votes for Directors of the Corporation.

(b)         Preferred Stock. Except as required by the IBCL or by the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof describing the terms of the Preferred Stock or a series thereof, the holders of Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights or powers. Shares of Preferred Stock shall, when validly issued by the Corporation, entitle the record holder thereof to vote as and on such matters, but only as and on such matters, as the holders thereof are entitled to vote under the IBCL or under the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof describing the terms of the Preferred Stock or a series thereof (which provisions may provide for special, conditional, limited or unlimited voting rights, including multiple or fractional votes per share, or for no right to vote, except to the extent required by the IBCL) and subject to such shareholder disclosure and recognition procedures (which may include voting prohibition sanctions) as the Corporation may by action of the Board of Directors establish.

Section 5.4         Other Terms of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock shall be equal in every respect insofar as their relationship to the Corporation is concerned, but such equality of rights shall not imply equality of treatment as to redemption or other acquisition of shares by the Corporation. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding Preferred Stock issued under Section 5.5 hereof, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to share ratably in such dividends or other distributions (other than purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares by the Corporation), if any, as are declared and paid from time to time on the Common Stock at the discretion of the Board of Directors. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, either voluntary or involuntary, after payment shall have been made to the holders of the Preferred Stock of the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Article V, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled, to the exclusion of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any and all series, to share, ratably according to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them, in all remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its shareholders.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Section 5.5         Other Terms of Preferred Stock.

(a)         Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each such series to have such distinctive designation and such preferences, limitations and relative voting and other rights as shall be set forth in these Articles of Incorporation. Subject to the requirements of the IBCL and subject to all other provisions of these Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation may create one or more series of Preferred Stock and may determine the preferences, limitations and relative voting and other rights of one or more series of Preferred Stock before the issuance of any shares of that series by the adoption of an amendment to these Articles of Incorporation that specifies the terms of the series of Preferred Stock. All shares of a series of Preferred Stock must have preferences, limitations and relative voting and other rights identical with those of other shares of the same series and, if the description of the series set forth in these Articles of Incorporation so provides, no series of Preferred Stock need have preferences, limitations or relative voting or other rights identical with those of any other series of Preferred Stock.

Before issuing any shares of a series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors shall adopt an amendment to these Articles of Incorporation, which shall be effective without any shareholder approval or other action, that sets forth the preferences, limitations and relative voting and other rights of the series, and authority is hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors, by such amendment:

(1)         To fix the distinctive designation of such series and the number of shares which shall constitute such series, which number may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time by action of the Board of Directors;

(2)         To fix the voting rights of such series, which may consist of special, conditional, limited or unlimited voting rights, including multiple or fractional votes per share, or no right to vote (except to the extent required by the IBCL);

(3)         To fix the dividend or distribution rights of such series and the manner of calculating the amount and time for payment of dividends or distributions, including, but not limited to:

(A)         the dividend rate, if any, of such series;

(B)         any limitations, restrictions or conditions on the payment of dividends or other distributions, including whether dividends or other distributions shall be noncumulative or cumulative or partially cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates;

(C)         the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends or other distributions on shares of that series in relation to the Common Stock and shares of any other series of Preferred Stock; and

(D)         the form of dividends or other distributions, which may be payable at the option of the Corporation, the shareholder or another person (and in such case to prescribe the terms and conditions of exercising such option), or upon the occurrence of a designated event in cash, indebtedness, stock or other securities or other property, or in any combination thereof;

Restated Articles of Incorporation

and to make provisions, in the case of dividends or other distributions payable in stock or other securities, for adjustment of the dividend or distribution rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine;

(4)         To fix the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of such series may be redeemed or converted, which may be:

(A)         at the option of the Corporation, the shareholder or another person or upon the occurrence of a designated event;

(B)         for cash, indebtedness, securities or other property or any combination thereof; and

(C)         in a designated amount or in an amount determined in accordance with a designated formula or by reference to extrinsic data or events;

(5)         To fix the amount or amounts payable upon the shares of such series in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment upon shares of such series in relation to the Common Stock and shares of any other series of Preferred Stock; and to determine whether or not any such preferential rights upon dissolution need be considered in determining whether or not the Corporation may make dividends, repurchases or other distributions;

(6)         To determine whether or not the shares of such series shall be entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such series and, if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the manner of its application;

(7)         To determine whether or not the issue of any additional shares of such series or of any other series in addition to such series shall be subject to restrictions in addition to restrictions, if any, on the issue of additional shares imposed in the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation fixing the terms of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock theretofore issued pursuant to this Section 5.5 and, if subject to additional restrictions, the extent of such additional restrictions; and

(8)         Generally to fix the other preferences or rights, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights, of such series to the full extent permitted by the IBCL; provided, however, that no such preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions shall be in conflict with these Articles of Incorporation or any amendment hereof.

(b)         Shares of Preferred Stock of any series that have been redeemed (whether through the operation of a sinking fund or otherwise) or purchased by the Corporation, or which, if convertible, have been converted into shares of the Corporation of any other class or series, shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as a part of such series or of any other series of Preferred Stock, subject to such limitations (if any) as may be fixed by the Board of Directors with respect to such series of Preferred Stock in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 5.5.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

ARTICLE VI

DIRECTORS

Section 6.1         Number. The number of Directors comprising the Board of Directors shall be fixed by the By-Laws and may be changed from time to time by amendment to the By-Laws. Whenever the By-Laws provide that the number of Directors shall be two or more, the By-Laws may also provide for staggering the terms of the members of the Board of Directors by dividing the total number of Directors into two or three groups (with each group containing one-half or one-third of the total, as near as may be) whose terms of office expire at different times. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this Section 6.1, any amendment to the By-Laws that would effect (a) any increase or reduction in the number of Directors over or under such number as then in effect, or (b) any elimination or modification of the groups or terms of office of the Directors as the By-Laws then in effect may provide, shall also be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire number of Directors of the Corporation who then qualify as Continuing Directors with respect to all Related Persons (as such terms are defined for purposes of Article VIII hereof).

Section 6.2         Qualifications. Directors need not be shareholders of the Corporation or residents of this or any other state in the United States.

Section 6.3         Vacancies. Vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled in the manner provided in the By-Laws or, if the By-Laws do not provide for the filling of vacancies, in the manner provided by the IBCL. The By-Laws may also provide that in certain circumstances specified therein, vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by vote of the shareholders at a special meeting called for that purpose or at the next annual meeting of shareholders.

Section 6.4         Liability of Directors. A Director’s responsibility to the Corporation shall be limited to discharging his duties as a Director, including his duties as a member of any committee of the Board of Directors upon which he may serve, in good faith, with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, and in a manner the Director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation, all based on the facts then known to the Director.

In discharging his duties, a Director is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by:

(a)         One or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom the Director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;

(b)         Legal counsel, public accountants or other persons as to matters the Director reasonably believes are within such person's professional or expert competence; or

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(c)         A committee of the Board of which the Director is not a member if the Director reasonably believes the Committee merits confidence;

but a Director is not acting in good faith if the Director has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise permitted by this Section 6.4 unwarranted.

A Director shall not be liable for any action taken as a Director, or any failure to take any action, unless (1) the Director has breached or failed to perform the duties of the Director’s office in compliance with this Section 6.4, and (2) the breach or failure to perform constitutes willful misconduct or recklessness.

Section 6.5         Factors to be Considered by Board. In determining whether to take or refrain from taking any action with respect to any matter, including making or declining to make any recommendation to shareholders of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, consider both the short term and long term best interests of the Corporation (including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of the Corporation), taking into account, and weighing as the Directors deem appropriate, the social and economic effects thereof on the Corporation’s present and future employees, suppliers and customers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, the communities in which offices or other facilities of the Corporation are located, and any other factors the Directors consider pertinent.

Section 6.6         Removal of Directors. Any or all of the members of the Board of Directors may be removed, for good cause, only at a meeting of the shareholders called expressly for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of outstanding shares representing at least 80% of all the votes then entitled to be cast at an election of Directors. Directors may not be removed in the absence of good cause.

Section 6.7         Election of Directors by Holders of Preferred Stock. The holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock may be entitled to elect all or a specified number of Directors, but only to the extent and subject to limitations as may be set forth in the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof describing the terms of the series of Preferred Stock.

ARTICLE VII

PROVISIONS FOR REGULATION OF BUSINESS

AND CONDUCT OF AFFAIRS OF CORPORATION

Section 7.1         Meetings of Shareholders. Meetings of the shareholders of the Corporation shall be held at such time and at such place, either within or without the State of Indiana, as may be stated in or fixed in accordance with the By-Laws of the Corporation and specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice of any such meetings.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Section 7.2         Special Meetings of Shareholders. Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by the IBCL, may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or the person or persons authorized to do so by the By-Laws and shall be called by the Board of Directors if the Secretary of the Corporation receives one or more written, dated and signed demands for a special meeting, describing in reasonable detail the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held, from the holders of shares representing at least 25% of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the proposed special meeting; provided, however, that any such demand(s) delivered to the Secretary at any time at which the Corporation has more than 50 shareholders must be properly delivered by the holders of shares representing at least 80% of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at the proposed special meeting. If the Secretary receives one or more proper written demands for a special meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may set a record date for determining shareholders entitled to make such demand.

Section 7.3         Meetings of Directors. Meetings of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Indiana, as may be authorized by the By-Laws and specified in the respective notices or waivers of notice of any such meetings or otherwise specified by the Board of Directors. Unless the By-Laws provide otherwise (a) regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice of the date, time, place or purpose of the meeting and (b) the notice for a special meeting need not describe the purpose or purposes of the special meeting.

Section 7.4         Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or shareholders, or of any committee of such Board, may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board or all shareholders entitled to vote on the action, or by all members of such committee, as the case may be. The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken, signed by each Director, or all the shareholders entitled to vote on the action, or by each member of such committee, as the case may be, and, in the case of action by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records reflecting the action taken or, in the case of action by the shareholders, delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. Action taken under this Section 7.4 is effective when the last Director, shareholder, or committee member, as the case may be, signs the consent, unless the consent specifies a different prior or subsequent effective date, in which case the action is effective on or as of the specified date. Such consent shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote of all members of the Board, or all shareholders, or all members of the committee, as the case may be, and may be described as such in any document.

Section 7.5         By-Laws. The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal, or to waive provisions of, the By-Laws of the Corporation by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire number of Directors at the time, except as expressly provided in Section 6.1 hereof and as provided by the IBCL. All provisions for the regulation of the business and management of the affairs of the Corporation not stated in these Articles of Incorporation shall be stated in the By-Laws. The Board of Directors may adopt Emergency By-Laws of the Corporation and shall have the exclusive power (except as may otherwise be provided therein) to make, alter, amend or repeal, or to waive provisions of, the Emergency By-Laws by the affirmative vote of both (a) a majority of the entire number of Directors at the time and (b) a majority of the entire number of Directors who then qualify as Continuing Directors with respect to all Related Persons (as such terms are defined for purposes for Article VIII hereof).

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Section 7.6         Interest of Directors. (a) A conflict of interest transaction is a transaction with the Corporation in which a Director of the Corporation has a direct or indirect interest. A conflict of interest transaction is not voidable by the Corporation solely because of the Director’s interest in the transaction if any one of the following is true:

(1)         The material facts of the transaction and the Director’s interest were disclosed or known to the Board of Directors or a Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors or committee authorized, approved or ratified the transaction;

(2)         The material facts of the transaction and the Director’s interest were disclosed or known to the shareholders entitled to vote and they authorized, approved or ratified the transaction; or

(3)         The transaction was fair to the Corporation.

(b)         For purposes of this Section 7.6, a Director of the Corporation has an indirect interest in a transaction if:

(1)         Another entity in which the Director has a material financial interest or in which the Director is a general partner is a party to the transaction; or

(2)         Another entity of which the Director is a director, officer or trustee is a party to the transaction and the transaction is, or is required to be, considered by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

(c)         For purposes of Section 7.6(a)(l), a conflict of interest transaction is authorized, approved or ratified if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors on the Board of Directors (or on the committee) who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction, but a transaction may not be authorized, approved or ratified under this section by a single Director. If a majority of the Directors who have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction vote to authorize, approve or ratify the transaction, a quorum shall be deemed present for the purpose of taking action under this Section 7.6. The presence of, or a vote cast by, a Director with a direct or indirect interest in the transaction does not affect the validity of any action taken under Section 7.6(a)(l), if the transaction is otherwise authorized, approved or ratified as provided in such subsection.

(d)         For purposes of Section 7.6(a)(2), a conflict of interest transaction is authorized, approved or ratified if it receives the affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing a majority of the votes entitled to be cast. Shares owned by or voted under the control of a Director who has a direct or indirect interest in the transaction, and shares owned by or voted under the control of an entity described in Section 7.6(b), may be counted in such a vote of shareholders.

Section 7.7         Nonliability of Shareholders. Shareholders of the Corporation are not personally liable for the acts or debts of the Corporation, nor is private property of shareholders subject to the payment of corporate debts.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Section 7.8         Indemnification of Officers, Directors, and Other Eligible Persons.

(a)         To the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, every Eligible Person shall be indemnified by the Corporation against all Liability and reasonable Expense that may be incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any Claim, (1) if such Eligible Person is Wholly Successful with respect to the Claim, or (2) if not Wholly Successful, then if such Eligible Person is determined, as provided in either Section 7.8(f) or 7.8(g), to have acted in good faith, in what he reasonably believed to be the best interests of the Corporation or at least not opposed to its best interests and, in addition, with respect to any criminal claim is determined to have had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any Claim, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval), or conviction or upon a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that an Eligible Person did not meet the standards of conduct set forth in clause (2) of this subsection (a). The actions of an Eligible Person with respect to an employee benefit plan subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 shall be deemed to have been taken in what the Eligible Person reasonably believed to be the best interests of the Corporation or at least not opposed to its best interests if the Eligible Person reasonably believed he was acting in conformity with the requirements of such Act or he reasonably believed his actions to be in the interests of the participants in or beneficiaries of the plan.

(b)         The term “Claim” as used in this Section 7.8 shall include every pending, threatened, or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding and all appeals thereof (whether brought by or in the right of this Corporation or any other corporation or otherwise), civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, formal or informal, in which an Eligible Person may become involved, as a party or otherwise:

(1)         By reason of his being or having been an Eligible Person; or

(2)         By reason of any action taken or not taken by him in his capacity as an Eligible Person, whether or not be continued in such capacity at the time such Liability or Expense shall have been incurred.

(c)         The term “Eligible Person” as used in this Section 7.8 shall mean every person (and the estate, heirs and personal representatives of such person) who is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other organization or entity, whether for profit or not. An Eligible Person shall also be considered to have been serving an employee benefit plan at the request of the Corporation if his duties to the Corporation also imposed duties on, or otherwise involved services by, him to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan.

(d)         The terms “Liability” and “Expense” as used in this Section 7.8 shall include, but shall not be limited to, counsel fees and disbursements and amounts of judgments, fines or penalties against (including excise taxes assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), and amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of, an Eligible Person.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(e)         The term “Wholly Successful” as used in this Section 7.8 shall mean (1) termination of any claim against the Eligible Person in question without any finding of liability or guilt against him, (2) approval by a court, with knowledge of the indemnity herein provided, of a settlement of any Claim, or (3) the expiration of a reasonable period of time after the making or threatened making of any Claim without the institution of the same, without any payment or promise made to induce a settlement.

(f)         Every Eligible Person claiming indemnification hereunder (other than one who has been Wholly Successful with respect to any Claim) shall be entitled to indemnification (1) if special independent legal counsel, which may be regular counsel of the Corporation or other disinterested person or persons, in either case selected by the Board of Directors, whether or not a disinterested quorum exists (such counsel or person or persons being hereinafter called the “Referee”), shall deliver to the Corporation a written finding that such Eligible Person has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 7.8(a)(2), and (2) if the Board of Directors, acting upon such written finding, so determines. The Board of Directors shall, if an Eligible Person is found to be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the preceding sentence, also determine the reasonableness of the Eligible Person’s Expenses. The Eligible Person claiming indemnification shall, if requested, appear before the Referee, answer questions that the Referee deems relevant and shall be given ample opportunity to present to the Referee evidence upon which he relies for indemnification. The Corporation shall, at the request of the Referee, make available facts, opinions or other evidence in any way relevant to the Referee’s findings that are within the possession or control of the Corporation.

(g)         If an Eligible Person claiming indemnification pursuant to Section 7.8(f) is found not to be entitled thereto, or if the Board of Directors fails to select a Referee under Section 7.8(f) within a reasonable amount of time following a written request of an Eligible Person for the selection of a Referee, or if the Referee or the Board of Directors fails to make a determination under Section 7.8(f) within a reasonable amount of time following the selection of a Referee, the Eligible Person may apply for indemnification with respect to a Claim to a court of competent jurisdiction, including a court in which the Claim is pending against the Eligible Person. On receipt of an application, the court, after giving notice to the Corporation and giving the Corporation ample opportunity to present to the court any information or evidence relating to the claim for indemnification that the Corporation deems appropriate, may order indemnification if it determines that the Eligible Person is entitled to indemnification with respect to the Claim because such Eligible Person met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 7.8(a)(2). If the court determines that the Eligible Person is entitled to indemnification, the court shall also determine the reasonableness of the Eligible Person’s Expenses.

(h)         The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 7.8 shall be in addition to any rights to which any Eligible Person may otherwise be entitled. Irrespective of the provisions of this Section 7.8, the Board of Directors may, at any time and from time to time, (1) approve indemnification of any Eligible Person to the full extent permitted by the provisions of applicable law at the time in effect, whether on account of past or future transactions, and (2) authorize the Corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Eligible Person against any Liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(i)         Expenses incurred by an Eligible Person with respect to any Claim, may be advanced by the Corporation (by action of the Board of Directors, whether or not a disinterested quorum exists) prior to the final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Eligible Person to repay such amount unless he is determined to be entitled to indemnification.

(j)         The provisions of this Section 7.8 shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Eligible Person, and an Eligible Person’s rights hereunder shall not be diminished or otherwise adversely affected by any repeal, amendment or modification of this Section 7.8 that occurs subsequent to such person becoming an Eligible Person.

(k)         The provisions of this Section 7.8 shall be applicable to Claims made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after the adoption hereof.

ARTICLE VIII

APPROVAL OF BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Section 8.1         Supermajority Vote. Except as provided in Sections 8.2 and 8.3 hereof, neither the Corporation nor any of its Subsidiaries shall become a party to any Business Combination with a Related Person without the prior affirmative vote at a meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders:

(a)         Of not less than 80% of all the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of all classes of Voting Stock of the Corporation considered for purposes of this Article VIII as a single class; and

(b)         Of an Independent Majority of Shareholders.

Such favorable votes shall be in addition to any shareholder vote which would be required without reference to this Section 8.1 and shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some lesser percentage may be specified by law or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation or otherwise.

Section 8.2         Fair Price Exception. The provisions of Section 8.1 of this Article VIII shall not apply to a Business Combination if all of the conditions set forth in subsections (a) through (d) are satisfied.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(a)         The fair market value of the property, securities or other consideration to be received per share by holders of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation in the Business Combination is not less, as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation Date”), than the higher of the following: (1) the highest per share price (with appropriate adjustments for recapitalizations and for stock splits, stock dividends and like distributions), including brokerage commissions and solicitation fees, paid by the Related Person in acquiring any of its holdings of such class or series of capital stock within the two-year period immediately prior to the first public announcement of the proposed Business Combination (the “Announcement Date”), plus interest compounded annually from the date that the Related Person became a Related Person (the “Determination Date”), or if later from a date two years before the Consummation Date, through the Consummation Date, at the rate publicly announced as the “prime rate” of interest of Citibank, N.A (or of such other major bank headquartered in New York as may be selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors) from time to time in effect, less the aggregate amount of any cash dividends paid and the fair market value of any dividends paid in other than cash on each share of such stock from the date from which interest accrues under the preceding clause through the Consummation Date up to but not exceeding the amount of interest so payable per share; OR (2) the fair market value per share of such class or series on the Announcement Date as determined by the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the Announcement Date if such stock is listed on a securities exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to such stock during the 30-day period preceding the Announcement Date on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or any similar system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value of such stock immediately prior to the Announcement Date as determined by the Continuing Directors in good faith. In the event of a Business Combination upon the consummation of which the Corporation would be the surviving corporation or company or would continue to exist (unless it is provided, contemplated, or intended that as part of such Business Combination or within one year after consummation thereof a plan of liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation will be effected), the term “other consideration to be received” shall include (without limitation) Common Stock and/or the shares of any other class of stock retained by shareholders of the Corporation other than Related Persons who are parties to such Business Combination;

(b)         The consideration to be received in such Business Combination by holders of each class or series of capital stock of the Corporation other than the Related Person involved shall, except to the extent that a shareholder agrees otherwise as to all or part of the shares which he or she owns, be in the same form and of the same kind as the consideration paid by the Related Person in acquiring the majority of the shares of capital stock of such class or series already Beneficially Owned by it;

(c)         After such Related Person became a Related Person and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination: (1) such Related Person shall have taken steps to ensure that the Board of Directors of the Corporation included at all times representation by Continuing Directors proportionate to the ratio that the number of shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation from time to time owned by shareholders who are not Related Persons bears to all shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time in question (with a Continuing Director to occupy any resulting fractional position among the Directors); (2) such Related Person shall not have acquired from the Corporation, directly or indirectly, any shares of the Corporation (except upon conversion of convertible securities acquired by it prior to becoming a Related Person or as a result of a pro rata stock dividend, stock split, or division of shares or in a transaction which satisfied all applicable requirements of this Article VIII); (3) such Related Person shall not have acquired any additional shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Voting Stock except as a part of the transaction which resulted in such Related Person’s becoming a Related Person; and (4) such Related Person shall not have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial assistance or tax credits provided by the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or made any major change in the Corporation’s business or equity capital structure or entered into any contract, arrangement or understanding with the Corporation except any such change, contract, arrangement or understanding as may have been approved by the favorable vote of not less than a majority of the Continuing Directors of the Corporation; and

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(d)         A proxy or information statement complying with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, as then in force for corporations subject to the requirements of Section 14 of such Act (even if the Corporation is not otherwise subject to Section 14 of such Act), shall have been mailed to all holders of shares of the Corporation’s capital stock entitled to vote with respect to such Business Combination. Such proxy or information statement shall contain on the face page thereof, in a prominent place, any recommendations as to the advisability (or inadvisability) of the Business Combination which the Continuing Directors, or any of them, may have furnished in writing and, if deemed advisable by a majority of the Continuing Directors, a fair summary of an opinion of a reputable investment banking firm addressed to the Corporation as to the fairness (or lack of fairness) of the terms of such Business Combination from the point of view of the holders of shares of Voting Stock other than any Related Person (such investment banking firm to be selected by a majority of the Continuing Directors, to be furnished with all information it reasonably requests, and to be paid a reasonable fee for its services upon receipt by the Corporation of such opinion).

Section 8.3         Director Approval Exception. The provisions of Section 8.1 hereof shall not apply to a Business Combination if:

(a)         The Continuing Directors of the Corporation, by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire number of Directors who then qualify as Continuing Directors, (1) have expressly approved a memorandum of understanding with the Related Person with respect to the Business Combination prior to the time that the Related Person became a Related Person and the Business Combination is effected on substantially the same terms and conditions as are provided by the memorandum of understanding, or (2) have otherwise approved the Business Combination; or

(b)         The Business Combination is solely between the Corporation and another corporation, 100% of the Voting Stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation.

Section 8.4         Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII:

(a)         A “Business Combination” means:

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(1)         The sale, exchange, lease, transfer, or other disposition to or with a Related Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Related Person by the Corporation or any Subsidiaries (in a single transaction or a Series of Related Transactions) of all or substantially all, or any Substantial Part, of its or their assets or businesses (including, without limitation, securities issued by a Subsidiary, if any);

(2)         The purchase, exchange, lease, or other acquisition by the Corporation or any Subsidiaries (in a single transaction or a Series of Related Transactions) of all or substantially all, or any Substantial Part, of the assets or business of a Related Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Related Person;

(3)         Any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof into or with a Related Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Related Person or into or with another Person which, after such merger or consolidation, would be an Affiliate or an Associate of a Related Person, in each case irrespective of which Person is the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation;

(4)         Any reclassification of securities, recapitalization, or other transaction (other than a redemption in accordance with the terms of the security redeemed) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate amount of shares of Voting Stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof which are Beneficially Owned by a Related Person, or any partial or complete liquidation, spinoff, splitoff, or splitup of the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof; provided, however, that this Section 8.4(a)(4) shall not relate to any transaction that has been approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors; or

(5)         The acquisition upon the issuance thereof of Beneficial Ownership by a Related Person of shares of Voting Stock or securities convertible into shares of Voting Stock or any voting securities or securities convertible into voting securities of any Subsidiary of the Corporation, or the acquisition upon the issuance thereof of Beneficial Ownership by a Related Person of any rights, warrants or options to acquire any of the foregoing or any combination of the foregoing shares of Voting Stock or voting securities of a Subsidiary, if any.

(b)         A “Series of Related Transactions” shall be deemed to include not only a series of transactions with the same Related Person, but also a series of separate transactions with a Related Person or any Affiliate or Associate of such Related Person.

(c)         A “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity and any partnership, syndicate or other group.

(d)         “Related Person” shall mean any Person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation or the Continuing Directors, singly or as a group) that at any time described in the last sentence of this subsection (d):

(1)         is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock and who has not been the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock for a continuous period of two years prior to the date in question; or

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(2)         is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question (but not continuously during such two-year period) was the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of Voting Stock; or

(3)         is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of the Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by any Related Person, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

A Related Person shall be deemed to have acquired a share of the Corporation at the time when such Related Person became the Beneficial Owner thereof. For the purposes of determining whether a Person is the Beneficial Owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock, the outstanding Voting Stock shall be deemed to include any Voting Stock that may be issuable to such Person pursuant to a right to acquire such Voting Stock and that is therefore deemed to be Beneficially Owned by such Person pursuant to Section 8.4(e)(2)(A). A Person who is a Related Person at (1) the time any definitive agreement relating to a Business Combination is entered into, (2) the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote on a Business Combination, or (3) the time immediately prior to the consummation of a Business Combination shall be deemed a Related Person.

(e)         A Person shall be a “Beneficial Owner” of any shares of Voting Stock:

(1)         Which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns,

directly or indirectly; or

(2)         Which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or

(3)         Which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.

(f)         An “Affiliate” of, or a person Affiliated with, a specific Person means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

(g)         The term “Associate” used to indicate a relationship with any Person, means (1) any corporation or organization (other than this Corporation or a majority owned Subsidiary of this Corporation) of which such Person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the Beneficial Owner of 5% or more of any class of equity securities, (2) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, (3) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as such Person, or (4) any investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for which such Person or any Affiliate of such Person serves as investment adviser.

(h)         “Subsidiary” means any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Related Person set forth in Section 8.4(d) hereof, the term “Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.

(i)         “Continuing Director” means any member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) who is not associated with the Related Person and was a member of the Board prior to the time that the Related Person became a Related Person, and any successor of a Continuing Director who is not associated with the Related Person and is recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by not less than two-thirds of the Continuing Directors then on the Board.

(j)         “Independent Majority of Shareholders” shall mean the holders of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock representing a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of Voting Stock other than shares Beneficially Owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a Related Person.

(k)         “Voting Stock” shall mean all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation or another corporation entitled to vote generally on the election of Directors, and each reference to a proportion of shares of Voting Stock shall refer to such proportion of the votes entitled to be cast by such shares.

(l)         “Substantial Part” means properties and assets involved in any single transaction or a Series of Related Transactions having an aggregate fair market value of more than 25% of the total consolidated assets of the Person in question as determined immediately prior to such transaction or Series of Related Transactions.

Section 8.5         Director Determinations. A majority of the Continuing Directors shall have the power to determine for the purposes of this Article VIII, on the basis of information known to them: (a) the number of shares of Voting Stock of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, (b) whether a Person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (c) whether a Person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the matters referred to in the definition of “Beneficial Owner,” (d) whether the assets subject to any Business Combination constitute a Substantial Part, (e) whether two or more transactions constitute a Series of Related Transactions, and (f) such other matters with respect to which a determination is required under this Article VIII.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Section 8.6         Nonmonetary Factors in Acquisition Proposals. In connection with the exercise of its judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the Corporation and its shareholders when evaluating a proposal by another person or persons to acquire some material part or all of the business or properties of the Corporation (whether by merger, consolidation, purchase of assets, stock reclassification or recapitalization, spinoff, liquidation, or otherwise) or to acquire some material part or all of the stock of the Corporation (whether by a tender or exchange offer or some other means), the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall, in addition to considering the adequacy of the consideration to be paid in connection with any such transaction, consider all of the following factors and any other factors that it deems relevant: (a) the social and economic effects of the transaction on the Corporation and its subsidiaries and their employees, customers, creditors and communities in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries operate or are located; (b) the business and financial condition and earnings prospects of the acquiring person or persons, including, but not limited to, debt service and other existing or likely financial obligations of the acquiring person or persons and their affiliates and associates, and the possible effect of such conditions upon the Corporation and its subsidiaries and the communities in which the Corporation and its subsidiaries operate or are located; and (c) the competence, experience and integrity of the acquiring person or persons and its or their management and affiliates and associates.

Section 8.7         Amendment of Article VIII or Certain Other Provisions. Any amendment, change, or repeal of this Article VIII, or of Sections 6.1, 6.6, 7.2, 7.5, 10.2 or 10.3, or any other amendment of these Articles of Incorporation which would have the effect of modifying or permitting circumvention of this Article VIII or such other provisions of these Articles of Incorporation, shall require the affirmative vote, at a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation:

(a)         Of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of all classes of Voting Stock of the Corporation considered for purposes of this Article VIII as a single class; and

(b)         Of an Independent Majority of Shareholders;

provided, however, that this Section 8.7 shall not apply to, and such vote shall not be required for, any such amendment, change or repeal recommended to shareholders by the favorable vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire number of Directors who then qualify as Continuing Directors with respect to all Related Persons and any such amendment, change or repeal so recommended shall require only the vote, if any, required under the applicable provisions of the IBCL.

Section 8.8         Fiduciary Obligations Unaffected. Nothing in this Article VIII shall be construed to relieve any Related Person from any fiduciary duty imposed by law.

Section 8.9         Article VIII Nonexclusive. The provisions of this Article VIII are nonexclusive and are in addition to any other provisions of law or these Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation relating to Business Combinations, Related Persons or similar matters.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

ARTICLE IX

INCORPORATOR

The name and address of the incorporator of the Corporation are J. Jeffrey Brown, 300 North Meridian Street, Suite 2700, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 10.1         Amendment or Repeal. Except as otherwise expressly provided in these Articles of Incorporation, the Corporation shall be deemed, for all purposes, to have reserved the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in these Articles of Incorporation to the extent and in the manner now or hereafter permitted or prescribed by statute, and all rights herein conferred upon shareholders are granted subject to such reservation.

Section 10.2         Redemption of Shares Acquired in Control Share Acquisitions. If and whenever the provisions of Indiana Code Section 23-1-42 apply to the Corporation, it is authorized to redeem its securities pursuant to Indiana Code Section 23-1-42-10.

Section 10.3         Election To Be Subject To Five-Year Freeze Statute. The Corporation elects to have the provisions of Indiana Code Section 23-1-43 apply to it if and whenever such provisions are permitted to apply to it, regardless of whether or not it has a class of voting securities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Section 10.4         Captions. The captions of the Articles and Sections of these Articles of Incorporation have been inserted for convenience of reference only and do not in any way define, limit, construe, or describe the scope or intent of any Article or Section hereof.

Restated Articles of Incorporation

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

FINWARD BANCORP
2015 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

1.          Plan Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is (i) to align the personal interests of Plan Participants with those of the shareholders of the Company, (ii) to encourage key individuals to accept or continue employment or service with the Company and its subsidiaries, and (iii) to furnish incentives to such key individuals to improve operations and increase profits by providing such key individuals the opportunity to acquire Common Stock of the Company or to receive monetary payments based on the value of such Common Stock. It is intended that certain Awards granted under the Plan will qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, to the extent applicable.

2.          Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to the Plan.

“Affiliate” – means any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” of the Company as such terms are defined in Section 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

“Award” – means the grant by the Committee of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Unrestricted Stock, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Stock Appreciation Rights or any combination thereof, as provided in the Plan.

“Board” – means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Change in Control” – means each of the events specified in the following clauses (i) through (iii): (i) any third “person” (including a group), as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act shall, after the date of the adoption of the Plan by the Board, first become the beneficial owner of shares of the Company with respect to which 25% or more of the total number of votes for the election of the Board of Directors of the Company may be cast, (ii) as a result of, or in connection with, any cash tender offer, exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or combination of the foregoing, the persons who were directors of the Company shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or (iii) the shareholders of the Company shall approve an agreement providing either for a transaction in which the Company will cease to be an independent publicly owned entity or for a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company; provided, however, that the occurrence of any of such events shall not be deemed a Change in Control if, prior to such occurrence, a resolution specifically providing that such occurrence shall not constitute a Change in Control under the Plan shall have been adopted by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Code” – means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Committee” – means the Committee referred to in Section 3 hereof.

“Company” – means Finward Bancorp, an Indiana corporation.

“Continuous Service” – means, in the case of an Employee, the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee of the Company or an Affiliate; and in the case of an individual who is not an Employee, the absence of any interruption or termination of the service relationship between the individual and the Company or an Affiliate. Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave or any other leave of absence approved by the Company or in the case of any transfer between the Company and an Affiliate or any successor to the Company.

“Director” – means any individual who is a member of the Board or a member of the Board of Directors of any Affiliate.

“Disability” – means, with respect to a Participant, a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months and that entitles the Participant to income replacement benefits under the disability plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

“Employee” – means any person, including an officer, who is employed by the Company or any Affiliate.

“Exchange Act” – means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exercise Price” – means the price per Share at which the Shares subject to an Option may be purchased upon exercise of such Option.

“Incentive Stock Option” – means an option to purchase Shares granted by the Committee pursuant to the terms of the Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.

“Market Value” – means the last reported sale price on the date in question (or, if there is no reported sale on such date, on the last preceding date on which any reported sale occurred) of one Share on the principal exchange on which the Shares are listed for trading, or if the Shares are not listed for trading on any exchange, the mean between the closing high bid and low asked quotations of one Share on the date in question as reported by any quotation system on which trading prices for the Shares are quoted, or, if no such quotations are available, the fair market value on such date of one Share as the Committee shall determine.

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” – means an option to purchase Shares granted by the Committee pursuant to the terms of the Plan, which option is not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.

“Option” – means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

“Participant” – means any individual selected by the Committee to receive an Award.

“Performance Criteria” – means any of the following areas of performance of the Company, or any Affiliate, as determined under generally accepted accounting principles or as reported by the Company: (i) earnings per share; (ii) return on equity; (iii) return on assets; (iv) operating income; (v) market value per share; (vi) EBITDA; (vii) cash flow; (viii) net income (before or after taxes); (ix) revenues; (x) cost reduction goals; (xi) market share; (xii) total return to shareholders; (xiii) improvements in the Company’s credit quality as measured by changes to the Company’s allowance for loan losses, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans, net of unearned income, or the ratio of net charge-offs to average loans, net of unearned income; (xiv) fee income; (xv) net interest income; (xvi) growth in loans; and (xvii) growth in deposits.

“Performance Goal” – means if the Performance Shares, Performance Units or Restricted Stock is intended to comply with Code Section 162(m), an objectively determinable performance goal established by the Committee with respect to a given award of Performance Shares, Performance Units or Restricted Stock that is based on one or more Performance Criteria and if the Performance Shares, Performance Units or Restricted Stock are not intended to comply with Code Section 162(m) any performance goal established by the Committee based on any performance criteria.

“Performance Cycle” – means the period of time, designated by the Committee, over which Performance Shares or Performance Units may be earned.

“Performance Shares” – means Shares awarded pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan.

“Performance Unit” – means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan.

“Plan” – means this 2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan of the Company.

“Reorganization” – means the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or any merger, consolidation or combination of the Company (other than a merger, consolidation or combination in which the Company is the continuing entity and which does not result in the outstanding Shares being converted into or exchanged for different securities, cash or other property or any combination thereof).

“Restricted Period” – means the period of time selected by the Committee for the purpose of determining when restrictions are in effect under Section 10 hereof with respect to Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan.

“Restricted Stock” – means Shares which have been contingently awarded to a Participant by the Committee subject to the restrictions referred to in Section 10 hereof, so long as such restrictions are in effect.

“Retirement” – means, with respect to a Participant, the termination of the Participant’s status as an Employee, for any reason other than death, after having attained age 65.

“Securities Act” – means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Shares” – means the Common Stock, without par value, of the Company.

“Stock Appreciation Rights” – means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 11 the Plan.

“Unrestricted Stock” – means Shares awarded to a Participant by the Committee without any restrictions.

3.          Administration. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee consisting of two or more members of the Board, each of whom shall be a “non-employee director” as provided under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act, and an “outside director” as provided under Code Section 162(m). The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board. Except as limited by the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority and discretion to (a) select Participants and grant Awards; (b) determine the number of Shares to be subject to types of Awards generally, as well as to individual Awards granted under the Plan; (c) determine the terms and conditions upon which Awards shall be granted under the Plan; (d) prescribe the form and terms of instruments evidencing such grants; (e) establish from time to time procedures and regulations for the administration of the Plan; (f) interpret the Plan; and (g) make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee shall, without limitation, have authority to accelerate the vesting of Awards made hereunder and to make amendments or modifications of the terms and conditions (including exercisability of the Awards) relating to the effect of termination of employment or services of a Participant.

A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts approved in writing by all members of the Committee without a meeting, shall be acts of the Committee. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive, and binding on all persons, and shall be given the maximum deference permitted by law.

4.          Participants. The Committee may select from time to time Participants in the Plan from those Directors, Employees or consultants of the Company or its Affiliates who, in the opinion of the Committee, have the capacity for contributing in a substantial measure to the successful performance of the Company or its Affiliates.

5.          Substitute Options. In the event the Company or an Affiliate consummates a transaction described in Code Section 424(a), persons who become Employees or Directors on account of such transaction may be granted Options in substitution for Options granted by the former employer. The Committee, in its sole discretion and consistent with Code Section 424(a) shall determine the Exercise Price of the substitute Options.

6.          Shares Subject to Plan. Subject to adjustment by the operation of Section 13 hereof, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan is 250,000 Shares, all of which may be subject to grants of Incentive Stock Options. The number of Shares which may be granted under the Plan to any Participant during any calendar year of the Plan under all forms of Awards shall not exceed 50,000 Shares. The Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan may either be authorized and unissued shares or unissued shares heretofore or hereafter reacquired and held as treasury shares. Any Award that expires, terminates or is surrendered for cancellation, or with respect to Restricted Shares, which is forfeited (so long as any cash dividends paid on such Shares are also forfeited), may be subject to new Awards under the Plan with respect to the number of Shares as to which an expiration, termination, cancellation or forfeiture has occurred. Additionally, Shares that are withheld by the Company or delivered by the Participant to the Company in order to satisfy payment of the Exercise Price or any tax withholding obligation and Shares granted pursuant to an Award which is subsequently settled in cash rather than Shares, may be subject to new Awards under the Plan.

7.          General Terms and Conditions of Options. The Committee shall have full and complete authority and discretion, except as expressly limited by the Plan, to grant Options and to provide the terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) thereof. In particular, the Committee shall prescribe the following terms and conditions: (a) the Exercise Price, which shall not be less than the Market Value per Share on the date the Option is granted, (b) the number of Shares subject to, and the expiration date of, any Option, (c) the manner, time and rate (cumulative or otherwise) of exercise of such Option, (d) the restrictions, if any, to be placed upon such Option or upon Shares which may be issued upon exercise of such Option, (e) the conditions, if any, under which a Participant may transfer or assign Options, and (f) any other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine. The Committee may, as a condition of granting any Option, require that a Participant agree to surrender for cancellation one or more Options previously granted to such Participant.

8.          Exercise of Options.

(a)          Except as provided in Section 16, an Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant to whom such Option was granted only by such Participant, and except as provided in paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 8, no such Option may be exercised unless at the time such Participant exercises such Option, such Participant has maintained Continuous Service since the date of the grant of such Option.

(b)          To exercise an Option under the Plan, the Participant must give written notice to the Company (which shall specify the number of Shares with respect to which such Participant elects to exercise such Option) together with full payment of the Exercise Price. The date of exercise shall be the date on which such notice is received by the Company. Payment shall be made either (i) in cash (including by check, bank draft or money order), (ii) by delivering Shares already owned by the Participant for at least six (6) months prior to the date of exercise and having a Market Value on the date of exercise equal to part or all of the Exercise Price, (iii) a combination of cash and such Shares, or (iv) by any other means determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(c)          If the Continuous Service of a Participant is terminated for cause, or voluntarily by the Participant for any reason other than death, Disability or Retirement, all rights under any Option of such Participant shall terminate immediately upon such cessation of Continuous Service. If the Continuous Service of a Participant is terminated by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, such Participant may exercise such Option, but only to the extent such Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such cessation, at any time during the remaining term of such Option, or, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, during such shorter period as the Committee may determine and so provide in the applicable instrument or instruments evidencing the grant of such Option. If a Participant shall cease to maintain Continuous Service for any reason other than those set forth above in this paragraph (c) of this Section 8, such Participant may exercise such Option to the extent that such Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of such cessation but only within the period of three months immediately succeeding such cessation of Continuous Service, and in no event after the expiration date of the subject Option; provided, however, that such right of exercise after cessation of Continuous Service shall not be available to a Participant if the Company otherwise determines and so provides in the applicable instrument or instruments evidencing the grant of such Option.

(d)          In the event of the death of a Participant while in the Continuous Service of the Company or an Affiliate, the person to whom any Option held by the Participant at the time of his death is transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution may exercise such Option on the same terms and conditions that such Participant was entitled to exercise such Option. Following the death of any Participant to whom an Option was granted under the Plan, the Committee, as an alternative means of settlement of such Option, may elect to pay to the person to whom such Option is transferred the amount by which the Market Value per Share on the date of exercise of such Option shall exceed the Exercise Price of such Option, multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which such Option is properly exercised. Any such settlement of an Option shall be considered an exercise of such Option for all purposes of the Plan.

(e)          Notwithstanding the provisions of the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 8, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish different terms and conditions pertaining to the effect of the cessation of Continuous Service, to the extent permitted by applicable federal and state law.

9.          Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Participants who are Employees. Any provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted more than ten years after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted, (b) the Exercise Price of any Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than the Market Value per Share on the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted, (c) any Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable by the Participant to whom such Incentive Stock Option is granted other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during such Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant, (d) no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted which would permit a Participant to acquire, through the exercise of Incentive Stock Options in any calendar year, Shares or shares of any capital stock of the Company or any Affiliate thereof having an aggregate Market Value (determined as of the time any Incentive Stock Option is granted) in excess of $100,000, and (e) no Incentive Stock Option may be exercised more than three months after the Participant’s cessation of Continuous Service for any reason other than death or Disability. The foregoing limitation shall be determined by assuming that the Participant will exercise each Incentive Stock Option on the date that such Option first becomes exercisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any Participant who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company or any Affiliate, the Exercise Price of any Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Market Value per Share on the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted and such Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable more than five years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, if for any reason any Option granted under the Plan that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall fail to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, such Option shall be deemed to be a Non-Qualified Stock Option, and such Option shall be deemed to be fully authorized and validly issued under the Plan.

10.         Terms and Conditions of Unrestricted Stock and Restricted Stock. The Committee shall have full and complete authority, subject to the limitations of the Plan, to grant Awards of Unrestricted Stock and Restricted Stock and, in addition to the terms and conditions contained in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this Section 10, to provide such other terms and conditions (which need not be identical among Participants) in respect of such Awards, and the vesting thereof, as the Committee shall determine and provide in the agreement referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 10. Unless the Committee otherwise specifically provides in the applicable instrument evidencing the grant of Restricted Stock, an Award of Restricted Stock will be subject to the following provisions:

(a)          At the time of an award of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall establish for each Participant a Restricted Period during which or at the expiration of which, the Shares of Restricted Stock shall vest. The vesting of Restricted Stock may also be conditioned upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals (as defined in Section 12) within specified Performance Cycles. The Committee may also restrict or prohibit the sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or other encumbrance of the Shares of Restricted Stock by the Participant during the Restricted Period. Except for such restrictions, and subject to paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 10 and Section 13 hereof, the Participant as owner of such Shares shall have all the rights of a shareholder, including, but not limited to, the right to receive all dividends paid on such Shares and the right to vote such Shares. The Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion, to accelerate the time at which any or all of the restrictions shall lapse with respect to any Shares of Restricted Stock prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect thereto, or to remove any or all of such restrictions, whenever it may determine that such action is appropriate by reason of changes in applicable tax or other laws or other changes in circumstances occurring after the commencement of such Restricted Period.

(b)          Except as provided in Section 15 hereof, if a Participant ceases to maintain Continuous Service for any reason (other than death, Disability or Retirement) unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, all Shares of Restricted Stock theretofore awarded to such Participant and which at the time of such termination of Continuous Service are subject to the restrictions imposed by paragraph (a) of this Section 10 shall upon such termination of Continuous Service be forfeited and returned to the Company. If a Participant ceases to maintain Continuous Service by reason of death, Disability, or Retirement, then, unless the Committee shall determine otherwise, the restrictions with respect to the Ratable Portion (as hereinafter defined) of the Shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse and such Shares shall be free of restrictions and shall not be forfeited. The “Ratable Portion” shall be determined with respect to each separate Award of Restricted Stock issued and shall be equal to (i) the number of Shares of Restricted Stock awarded to the Participant multiplied by the portion of the Restricted Period that expired at the date of the Participant’s death, Disability, or Retirement reduced by (ii) the number of Shares of Restricted Stock awarded with respect to which the restrictions had lapsed as of the date of the death, Disability, or Retirement of the Participant.

(c)          Each certificate issued in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant and deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company and shall bear the following (or a similar) legend:

“The transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) contained in the 2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan of the Corporation, and an Agreement entered into between the registered owner and the Corporation. Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file in the office of the Secretary of the Corporation.”

At the expiration of the restrictions imposed by paragraph (a) of this Section 10, the Company shall redeliver to the Participant (or where the relevant provision of paragraph (b) of this Section 10 applies in the case of a deceased Participant, to his legal representative, beneficiary or heir) the certificate(s) and stock power deposited with it and the Shares represented by such certificate(s) shall be free of the restrictions referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 10.

(d)          At the time of an award of Shares of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall enter into an agreement with the Company in a form specified by the Committee, agreeing to the terms and conditions of the award and containing such other matters as the Committee shall in its sole discretion determine.

11.         Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may, in its discretion, grant Stock Appreciation Rights independently of or in connection with all or any part of an Option granted under the Plan. Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine from time to time and as may be set forth in an Award Agreement, including the following:

(a)          A Stock Appreciation Right may be made part of an Option at the time of its grant.

(b)          Each Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the holder to elect to receive an amount in Shares (or, to the extent permitted under Section 24, in cash or in Shares, or a combination thereof, all in the sole discretion of the Committee) equal to 100% of the excess of:

(i)          the Market Value per Share of the Common Stock on the date of exercise of such right, multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which the right is being exercised, over

(ii)         the aggregate Market Value for such number of Shares as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right was granted.

(c)          Each Stock Appreciation Right connected to an Option will be exercisable at the time, in the manner and to the extent the Option to which it relates is exercisable. Each independent Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable according to the terms and conditions established by the Committee in the instrument evidencing the Award.

(d)          Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right connected to an Option, the Option (or portion thereof) with respect to which such right is exercised shall be surrendered and shall not thereafter be exercisable. Exercise of such a Stock Appreciation Right will reduce the number of Shares purchasable pursuant to the related Option and available for issuance under the Plan to the extent of the number of Shares with respect to which the right is exercised, whether or not any portion of the payment made upon exercise of such right is made in Common Stock.

12.         Performance Shares and Performance Units.

(a)          The Committee, in its sole discretion, may from time to time authorize the grant of Performance Shares and Performance Units upon the achievement of any one or combination of Performance Goals (which may be cumulative and/or alternative) within a designated Performance Cycle as may be established, in writing, by the Committee.

(b)          In the case of Performance Units, the Committee shall determine the value of Performance Units under each Award.

(c)          As determined in the discretion of the Committee, Performance Goals may differ among Participants and/or relate to performance on a Company-wide or divisional basis.

(d)          At such time as it is certified, in writing, by the Committee that the Performance Goals established by the Committee have been attained or otherwise satisfied within the Performance Cycle, the Committee will authorize the payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units in the form of cash or Shares registered in the name of the Participant, or a combination of cash and Shares, equal to the value of the Performance Shares or Performance Units at the end of the Performance Cycle. Payment shall be made in a lump sum following the close of the applicable Performance Cycle. Individuals must be employed on the payment date to receive payment; otherwise such payment will be forfeited.

(e)          The grant of an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units will be evidenced by an instrument containing the terms and conditions of the Award as determined by the Committee. To the extent required under Code section 162(m), the business criteria under which Performance Goals are determined by the Committee will be resubmitted to shareholders for reapproval no later than the first shareholder meeting that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which shareholders previously approved the Plan.

(f)          If the Participant ceases Continuous Service before the end of a Performance Cycle for any reason other than Disability, death or Retirement, the Participant will forfeit all rights with respect to any Performance Shares or Performance Units that were being earned during the Performance Cycle. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may establish guidelines providing that if a Participant ceases Continuous Service before the end of a Performance Cycle by reason of Disability, death or Retirement, the Participant will be entitled to a prorated payment with respect to any Performance Shares or Performance Units that were being earned during the Performance Cycle.

(g)          If the Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units are intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall take such additional actions, within the time periods, specified therein.

13.         Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares subsequent to the effective date of the Plan by reason of any reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or any change in the corporate structure or Shares of the Company, the maximum aggregate number and class of shares as to which Awards may be granted under the Plan and the number and class of shares, and the exercise price of Options, with respect to which Awards theretofore have been granted under the Plan shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive. Any shares of stock or other securities received, as a result of any of the foregoing, by a Participant with respect to Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same restrictions and the certificate(s) or other instruments representing or evidencing such shares or securities shall be legended and deposited with the Company in the manner provided in Section 10 hereof.

14.         Effect of Reorganization. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the instrument evidencing an Award, Awards will be affected by a Reorganization as follows:

(a)          If the Reorganization is a dissolution or liquidation of the Company then (i) the restrictions of Section 10(a) on Shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse and (ii) each outstanding Option shall terminate, but each Participant to whom an Option was granted shall have the right, immediately prior to such dissolution or liquidation to exercise the Option in full, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9, and the Company shall notify each Participant of such right within a reasonable period of time prior to any such dissolution or liquidation.

(b)          If the Reorganization is a merger or consolidation, upon the effective date of such Reorganization (i) each Participant shall be entitled, upon exercise of an Option in accordance with all of the terms and conditions of the Plan, to receive in lieu of Shares, shares of such stock or other securities or consideration as the holders of Shares shall be entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of the Reorganization (the “Acquisition Consideration”); (ii) each holder of Restricted Stock shall receive shares of such stock or other securities as the holders of Shares received, which shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 10(a) unless the Committee accelerates the lapse of such restrictions and the certificate(s) or other instruments representing or evidencing such shares or securities shall be legended and deposited with the Company in the manner provided in Section 10 hereof; (iii) each Participant will be entitled, upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right in accordance with all the terms and conditions of the Plan, to receive the difference between (A) the aggregate fair market value, on the applicable date, of the Acquisition Consideration receivable upon such Reorganization by a holder of the number of Shares which might have been obtained upon exercise of the Option to which the Stock Appreciation Right relates ( or any portion thereof) immediately prior to such Reorganization and (B) the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option (or portion thereof); and (iv) each holder of Performance Shares or Performance Units (with respect to Shares, if any, covered by such Award) will be entitled to receive on the date set forth in such Award, the Acquisition Consideration receivable upon such Reorganization by a holder of the number of Shares which are covered by such Award.

15.         Effect of Change in Control.

(a)          If the Continuous Service of any Participant is involuntarily terminated, for whatever reason, at any time within 18 months after a Change in Control, unless the Committee shall have otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the Award, (i) any Restricted Period with respect to Restricted Stock theretofore awarded to such Participant shall lapse upon such termination and all Shares awarded as Restricted Stock shall become fully vested in the Participant to whom such Shares were awarded; and (ii) with respect to Performance Shares and Performance Units, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a pro rata payment to the same extent as if the Participant ceases Continuous Service by reason of death, Disability or Retirement under Section 12 of the Plan.

(b)          If a tender offer or exchange offer for Shares (other than such an offer by the Company) is commenced, or if an event specified in clause (ii) or clause (iii) of the definition of a Change in Control contained in Section 2 shall occur, unless the Committee shall have otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing the grant of an Option, all Options theretofore granted and not fully exercisable shall become exercisable in full upon the happening of such event and shall remain so exercisable in accordance with their terms; provided, however, that no Option which has previously been exercised or otherwise terminated shall become exercisable.

16.         Assignments and Transfers. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, neither any Award nor any right or interest of a Participant under the Plan in any instrument evidencing any Award under the Plan may be assigned, encumbered or transferred except, in the event of the death of a Participant, by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

17.         No Implied Rights. No officer, Director, Employee or other person shall have a right to be selected as a Participant or, having been so selected, to be selected again as a Participant and no officer, Director, Employee or other person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan or under any other incentive or similar plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate.

18.         Delivery and Registration of Stock. The Company’s obligation to deliver Shares with respect to an Award shall, if the Committee so requests, be conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment intention of the Participant to whom such Shares are to be delivered, in such form as the Company shall determine to be necessary or advisable to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act or any other applicable federal or state securities law. It may be provided that any such representation requirement shall become inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or other action eliminating the necessity of such representation under the Securities Act or other securities law. The Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares under the Plan prior to (a) the admission of such shares to listing on any stock exchange or quotation system on which Shares may then be listed or quoted, and (b) the completion of such registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law, rule or regulation, as the Company shall determine to be necessary or advisable.

19.         Withholding Tax. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award, the Company has the right and power to deduct or withhold, or require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable tax withholding requirements. The Committee, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or part of the tax withholding obligations in connection with an Award by (a) having the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares, or (b) delivering to the Company Shares already owned for a period of at least six months and having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount that the Committee determines, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state and local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined for these purposes. For these purposes, the value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be equal to the Market Value as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

20.         Termination, Amendment and Modification of Plan. The Board may at any time terminate, and may at any time and from time to time and in any respect amend or modify, the Plan; provided, however, that to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or Section 422 of the Code (or any other applicable law or regulation, including requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares are listed or quoted), shareholder approval of any Plan amendment shall be obtained in such a manner and to such a degree as is required by the applicable law or regulation; and provided further, that no termination, amendment or modification of the Plan shall in any manner adversely affect the rights of any Participant who has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan without the consent of the Participant to whom the Award was granted. To the extent a modification of a stock right causes it to be subject to the deferred compensation rules, it will be further modified to comply with such rules (e.g., by requiring the stock right to be exercised in a particular calendar year). To the extent any awards under the plan are subject to the deferred compensation rules, such awards will not be paid as a result of the termination of the plan except as permitted by the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder. To the extent an extension of a stock right causes it to be in violation of Section 409A of the Code such extension shall be prohibited.

21.         Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall remain effective beginning upon its original adoption by the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company and shall continue in effect for a term of ten years after the date of original adoption unless sooner terminated under Section 20 hereof.

22.         Governing Law. The Plan and Award Agreements will be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Indiana.

23.         Shareholder Rights. Except to the extent provided with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock in accordance with Section 10, no Participant shall have any of the rights or privileges of a shareholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable pursuant to an Award unless and until certificates representing the Shares shall have been issued and delivered to the Participant.

24.         Code Section 409A Standards. To the extent that any terms of the Plan, an instrument evidencing an Award, or an Award would subject any Participant to gross income inclusion, interest, or additional tax pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, those terms are to that extent superseded by the applicable Section 409A Standards.

As originally adopted by the Board of Directors of Finward Bancorp on February 27, 2015, approved by the shareholders of Finward Bancorp on April 24, 2015, and amended and restated effective as of February 25, 2022.

Exhibit 99.1

FINWARD BANCORP ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF

ANTHONY M. PUNTILLO AS LEAD DIRECTOR

Munster, Indiana – Finward Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWD) (the “Bancorp” or “Finward”), the holding company for Peoples Bank (the “Bank” or “Peoples”), today announced the independent directors of the Bancorp’s Board of Directors have appointed Dr. Anthony M. Puntillo, D.D.S., M.S.D., to the newly created position of Lead Independent Director, effective as of February 25, 2022.

Dr. Puntillo was selected unanimously by the independent directors of the Board in recognition of his leadership skills, integrity, in-depth knowledge of the Bancorp and the Bank, and his commitment to good governance and the lead independent director role. As Lead Independent Director, Dr. Puntillo will have various responsibilities, such as presiding at all meetings at which the Executive Chairman of the Board is not present, serving as liaison between the Executive Chairman and CEO and non-management directors, and working with the Executive Chairman on meeting agendas and schedules for the Board. The Lead Independent Director also has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors.

Dr. Puntillo was elected to the Finward Board in 2004. In addition to his role as Lead Independent Director, Dr. Puntillo will serve as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and of the Board’s Executive Committee.

“Finward’s independent directors unanimously chose Tony Puntillo to serve as the Lead Independent Director in recognition of his nearly two decades of outstanding board leadership. During his tenure, Dr. Puntillo served on almost every board committee, including the Executive Committee as well as chairing our Risk, Governance, and Strategic Planning committees. He understands the need to apply best banking practices to relevant products and services that offer value to our customers while enhancing shareholder value. In his new position, Dr. Puntillo will have the opportunity to increase his impact on Finward’s performance,” said David A. Bochnowski, Executive Chairman. Dr. Puntillo said, “I am humbled and honored to have been selected by my fellow independent directors for this important new position. Finward is committed to exceeding our stakeholders fast changing banking expectations. It is exciting for me to assume the additional responsibilities and challenges associated with meeting that commitment as the Lead Independent Director.”

Dr. Puntillo founded Puntillo and Crane Orthodontics, PC, a dental specialty practice with multiple locations in Northwest Indiana, in 1994. He is the co-owner and senior partner of the practice. He also serves as a Director of the American Board of Orthodontics, is the immediate past President of the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, and is a member of various other orthodontics associations. He is professionally active in Peoples Bank’s communities.

About Finward Bancorp

Finward Bancorp is a locally managed and independent financial holding company headquartered in Munster, Indiana, whose activities are primarily limited to holding the stock of Peoples Bank. Peoples Bank provides a wide range of personal, business, electronic and wealth management financial services from its 30 locations in Lake and Porter Counties in Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area. Finward Bancorp’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol FNWD. The website ibankpeoples.com provides information on Peoples Bank’s products and services, and Finward Bancorp’s investor relations.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding the financial performance, business prospects, growth, and operating strategies of Finward. For these statements, Finward claims the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this communication should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about Finward, including the information in the filings Finward makes with the SEC. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer acceptance of Finward’s products and services; customer borrowing, repayment, investment, and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success, and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent, and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Finward’s reports (such as the Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K) filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Internet website (www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Finward or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Except as required by law, Finward does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statement is made.