Finward Bancorp Announces Fourth Quarter 2025 Results

1 Exhibit 99.1 January 27, 2026 Finward Bancorp Announces Fourth Quarter 2025 Results Munster, Indiana - Finward Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWD) (the “Bancorp”), the holding company for Peoples Bank (the “Bank”), today announced that net income available to common stockholders was $2.0 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to $3.5 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Selected performance metrics are as follows for the periods presented: Performance Ratios Quarter ended 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 Return on equity 4.66% 8.96% 5.66% 1.17% 5.39% Return on assets 0.39% 0.68% 0.42% 0.09% 0.41% Net interest margin, tax-equivalent (non-GAAP) 3.32% 3.18% 3.11% 2.95% 2.79% Non-interest income/average assets 0.29% 0.57% 0.53% 0.43% 0.72% Non-interest expense/average assets 2.90% 2.74% 2.90% 2.81% 2.75% Efficiency ratio 89.50% 81.22% 88.92% 93.11% 87.20% “Operational results were significantly stronger in 2025 than 2024, reflecting the execution of successful strategic initiatives that have strengthened our organization over that time. While we continue to aim higher, these results reflect the hard work our team has put in throughout the year, " said Benjamin Bochnowski, CEO. "Actions taken in the fourth quarter are expected to further enhance our financial position, including steps to optimize our balance sheet, reduce risk, increase net interest margin, and improve efficiency. This included a small securities repositioning, where the Bank sold $26.6 million in primarily municipal securities, generating a $1.6 million pre-tax reduction to our posted fourth quarter results. Credit quality also remains stable, and the current rate environment remains supportive of continued progress in operational results in 2026." Highlights of the current period include: •Net Interest Margin - The net interest margin for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 was 3.18% compared to 3.04% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis (a non-GAAP measure) for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 was 3.32%, as compared to 3.18% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The increased net interest margin from the prior quarter is primarily the result of increased loan yields from loan repricing, as well as reduced deposit costs as a result of the Federal Reserve's continued reduction of federal funds rates during the quarter. •Funding - As of December 31, 2025, deposits totaled $1.7 billion, a decrease of $23.7 million, or 1.4% compared with September 30, 2025 balances, which totaled $1.8 billion. As of December 31, 2025, non-interest-bearing deposits totaled $267.4 million, a decrease of $12.9 million. Core deposits totaled $1.2 billion at both December 31, 2025 and September 30, 2025. Core deposits include checking, savings, and money market accounts and represented 71.1% of the Bancorp’s total deposits at December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, balances for certificates of deposit totaled $499.6 million, compared to $536.7 million on September 30, 2025, a decrease of $37.1 million or 6.9%. As of December 31, 2025, the Bank has no remaining brokered deposits. The decrease in total portfolio deposits is primarily related to cyclical flows, maturity of $20 million in brokered deposits, and continued adjustments to deposit pricing. In addition, as of December 31, 2025, borrowings and repurchase agreements totaled $84.7 million, a decrease of $18.7 million or 18.1%, compared to September 30, 2025. The decrease in borrowings was the result of certain called putable FHLB advances occurring during the quarter. As of December 31, 2025, 71.8% of our deposits are fully FDIC insured, and another 7.3% are further backed by the Indiana Public Deposit Insurance Fund. The Bancorp’s liquidity position remains strong with solid core deposit 2 Exhibit 99.1 customer relationships, excess cash, debt securities, contractual loan repayments, and access to diversified borrowing sources. As of December 31, 2025, the Bancorp had available liquidity of $674 million including borrowing capacity from the FHLB and Federal Reserve facilities. •Securities Portfolio - Securities available for sale balances decreased by $18.9 million to $316.2 million as of December 31, 2025, compared to $335.2 million as of September 30, 2025. The yield on the securities portfolio decreased to 2.29% for the three months ended December 31, 2025 from 2.40% for the three months ended September 30, 2025. During the fourth quarter, the Bank incurred $1.6 million in securities losses, attributable to the execution of securities repositioning transactions where the Bank sold securities with a market value of $26.6 million and an unadjusted book yield of 2.59%. •Lending - The Bank’s aggregate loan portfolio totaled $1.45 billion on December 31, 2025 and $1.47 billion on September 30, 2025. During the three months ended December 31, 2025, the Bank originated $68.9 million in new commercial loans, compared to $62.6 million during the three months ended September 30, 2025. At December 31, 2025, the Bancorp’s portfolio loan balances in commercial real estate owner occupied properties totaled $253.5 million or 17.4% of total loan balances and commercial real estate non-owner occupied properties totaled $302.1 million or 20.9% of total loan balances. Of the $302.1 million in commercial real estate non-owner occupied properties balances, loans collateralized by office buildings represented $42.1 million or 2.9% of total loan balances. The decrease in total portfolio loans is primarily due to customer loan payoffs experienced during the quarter. •Asset Quality - At December 31, 2025, non-performing loans totaled $11.9 million, compared to $13.9 million at September 30, 2025, a decrease of $2.0 million or 14.3%. The Bank’s ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.82% at December 31, 2025, compared to 0.94% at September 30, 2025. The Bank’s ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was 0.68% at December 31, 2025 and 0.76% at September 30, 2025. Management maintains a vigilant oversight of nonperforming loans through proactive relationship management. The Bank has no known credit exposures to non-depositary financial institutions at this time. The allowance for credit losses (ACL) on loans totaled $17.5 million at December 31, 2025, or 1.21% of total loans receivable, compared to $18.0 million at September 30, 2025, or 1.22% of total loans receivable, a decrease of $471 thousand or 2.62%. The Bank's unused commitment reserve, included in other liabilities, totaled $1.8 million at December 31, 2025, compared to $1.7 million at September 30, 2025, an increase of $86 thousand or 5.2%. For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, the Bank recorded a net benefit from credit loss totaling $84 thousand based on lower loan impairments, reduction of certain loan segment balances, and other factors within the Bank's ACL modeling. The fourth quarter's benefit consisted of a $170 thousand reversal for credit losses on loans, and a $86 thousand provision of credit losses on unused commitments. For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, net loan charge-offs totaled $301 thousand, compared to net loan charge-offs of $268 thousand for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of non-performing loans, or coverage ratio, was 147.1% at December 31, 2025, compared to 129.4% at September 30, 2025. •Operating Income and Expenses - Non-interest income as percentage of average assets was 0.29% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to 0.57% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The decrease in non- interest income quarter over quarter was primarily attributable to the realized losses on the sale of investment securities partially offset by bank owned life insurance death claim benefits. Non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets was 2.90% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, as compared to 2.74% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The increase in non-interest expenses quarter over quarter was primarily attributable to higher compensation and benefits and data processing expense as well as higher occupancy and equipment expenses. The Bank remains focused on identifying additional operating efficiencies and third-party expense reductions. •Capital Adequacy - The Bank’s tier 1 leverage ratio was 8.93% as of December 31, 2025 and 8.77% as of September 30, 2025. The Bank’s capital continues to exceed all applicable regulatory capital requirements as set forth in 12 C.F.R. § 324. The Bancorp’s tangible book value per share (non-GAAP) was $34.92 at December 31, 2025, up from $32.77 as of September 30, 2025. Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP) was 7.56% at December 31, 2025, up from 6.99% as of September 30, 2025. Excluding accumulated other comprehensive losses, tangible book value per share (non-GAAP) increased to $44.55 as of December 31, 2025, from $44.16 as of September 30, 2025. 3 Exhibit 99.1 Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reported amounts are presented in accordance with GAAP. In this press release, the Bancorp also provides certain financial measures identified as non-GAAP. The Bancorp’s management believes that the non-GAAP information, which consists of tangible common equity, tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive losses, tangible book value per share, tangible book value per share adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive losses, tangible common equity/tangible assets, tangible common equity adjusted for other comprehensive loss/tangible assets, net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis, and efficiency ratio which can vary from period to period, provides a better comparison of period to period operating performance. The net interest income and net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis measures recognize the income tax savings when comparing taxable and tax-exempt assets. Interest income and yields on tax-exempt securities and loans are presented using the current federal corporate income tax rate of 21%. Management believes that it is standard practice in the banking industry to present net interest income and net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis and that it may enhance comparability for peer comparison purposes. Additionally, the Bancorp believes this information is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company’s financial condition and, therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other companies. Refer to the "Reconciliation of non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for more information. 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 26 locations in Lake and Porter Counties in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. Finward Bancorp’s common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC 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 the Bancorp. For these statements, the Bancorp 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 the Bancorp, including the information in the filings the Bancorp 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 domestic and international trade policies, including tariffs and other non-tariff barriers, and the effects of such changes on the Bank and its customers; risks related to the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI); the Bank’s ability to demonstrate compliance with the terms of the previously disclosed memorandum of understanding entered into between the Bank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”), or to demonstrate compliance to the satisfaction of the FDIC and/or DFI within prescribed time frames; the Bank’s agreement under the memorandum of understanding to refrain from paying cash dividends without prior regulatory approval; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates, market liquidity, and capital markets, as well as the magnitude of such changes, which may reduce net interest margins; inflation; further deterioration in the market value of securities held in the Bancorp’s investment securities portfolio, whether as a result of macroeconomic factors or otherwise; customer acceptance of the Bancorp’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, regulatory actions by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, 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 the Bancorp’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 4 Exhibit 99.1 (www.sec.gov). All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning matters attributable to the Bancorp or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Except as required by law, The Bancorp 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. In addition to the above factors, we also caution that the actual amounts and timing of any future common stock dividends or share repurchases will be subject to various factors, including our capital position, financial performance, capital impacts of strategic initiatives, market conditions, and regulatory and accounting considerations, as well as any other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant in making such a determination. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares or pay any dividends to holders of our common stock, or as to the amount of any such repurchases or dividends. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT SHAREHOLDER SERVICES (219) 853-7575 5 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Performance Ratios Quarter Ended Year Ended 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 12/31/2025 12/31/2024 Return on equity 4.66% 8.96% 5.66% 1.17% 5.39% 5.10% 8.06% Return on assets 0.39% 0.68% 0.42% 0.09% 0.41% 0.39% 0.58% Yield on loans 5.64% 5.49% 5.36% 5.25% 5.27% 5.43% 5.15% Yield on security investments 2.29% 2.40% 2.42% 2.38% 2.34% 2.41% 2.38% Total yield on earning assets 4.96% 4.91% 4.82% 4.71% 4.74% 4.85% 4.67% Cost of interest-bearing deposits 2.09% 2.16% 2.12% 2.17% 2.41% 2.13% 2.40% Cost of repurchase agreements 3.10% 3.37% 3.32% 3.35% 3.65% 3.29% 3.85% Cost of borrowed funds 3.73% 3.64% 3.91% 4.12% 4.31% 3.86% 4.62% Total cost of interest-bearing liabilities 2.16% 2.25% 2.22% 2.28% 2.53% 2.23% 2.56% Net interest margin 3.18% 3.04% 2.97% 2.81% 2.65% 3.00% 2.54% Net interest margin, tax-equivalent (non-GAAP) (1) 3.32% 3.18% 3.11% 2.95% 2.79% 3.14% 2.68% Non-interest income/average assets 0.29% 0.57% 0.53% 0.43% 0.72% 0.45% 1.09% Non-interest expense/average assets 2.90% 2.74% 2.90% 2.81% 2.75% 2.84% 2.80% Efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) (1) 89.50% 81.22% 88.92% 93.11% 87.20% 88.03% 81.78% Non-performing assets to total assets 0.68% 0.76% 0.74% 0.69% 0.74% 0.68% 0.74% Non-performing loans to total loans 0.82% 0.94% 0.91% 0.84% 0.91% 0.82% 0.91% Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans 147.12% 129.41% 133.01% 143.84% 123.10% 147.12% 123.10% Allowance for credit losses to loans receivable 1.21% 1.22% 1.22% 1.20% 1.12% 1.21% 1.12% Net charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage of average loans receivable 0.08% 0.07% (0.11%) 0.01% 0.59% 0.01% 0.14% Basic earnings per share $0.46 $0.82 $0.50 $0.11 $0.49 $1.89 $2.85 Diluted earnings per share $0.46 $0.81 $0.50 $0.11 $0.49 $1.88 $2.84 Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic 4,273,421 4,273,022 4,271,952 4,266,976 4,261,079 4,271,350 4,259,570 Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted 4,301,462 4,299,007 4,291,319 4,284,496 4,286,742 4,292,058 4,274,633 Stockholders' equity to total assets 8.64% 8.06% 7.48% 7.44% 7.35% 8.64% 7.35% Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non- GAAP) (1) 7.56% 6.99% 6.41% 6.34% 6.24% 7.56% 6.24% Tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss to tangible assets (non- GAAP) (1) 9.65% 9.42% 9.24% 9.23% 9.10% 9.65% 9.10% Book value per share $40.37 $38.24 $35.67 $35.10 $35.10 $40.37 $35.10 Tangible common book value per share (non-GAAP) (1) $34.92 $32.77 $30.16 $29.55 $29.48 $34.92 $29.48 Tangible common book value per share adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss (non-GAAP) (1) $44.55 $44.16 $43.47 $43.02 $42.94 $44.55 $42.94 Closing stock price $35.19 $32.09 $27.62 $29.10 $28.11 $35.19 $28.11 Dividends declared per common share $0.12 $0.12 $0.12 $— $0.12 $0.36 $0.48 (1)See the reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures on pg 13. 6 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Average Balances, Interest, Rates Quarter Ended December 31, 2025 September 30, 2025 June 30, 2025 (Dollars in thousands) Average Balance Interest Yield/ Rate Average Balance Interest Yield/ Rate Average Balance Interest Yield/Rate ASSETS Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions $100,035 $903 3.61% $90,880 $991 4.36% $57,749 $614 4.25% Federal funds sold 1,113 10 3.59% 1,285 12 3.74% 868 8 3.69% Securities available-for-sale 327,747 1,877 2.29% 327,030 1,965 2.40% 327,867 1,980 2.42% Loans receivable 1,454,174 20,496 5.64% 1,474,324 20,246 5.49% 1,486,861 19,940 5.36% Federal Home Loan Bank stock 6,547 126 7.70% 6,547 126 7.70% 6,547 128 7.82% Total interest earning assets 1,889,616 $23,412 4.96% 1,900,066 $23,340 4.91% 1,879,892 $22,670 4.82% Cash and non-interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions 23,385 24,882 27,192 Allowance for credit losses (18,049) (18,243) (18,028) Other non-interest bearing assets 146,675 152,135 152,880 Total assets $2,041,627 $2,058,840 $2,041,936 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Interest-bearing deposits $1,458,748 $7,605 2.09% $1,478,543 $7,996 2.16% $1,470,225 $7,780 2.12% Repurchase agreements 40,968 317 3.10% 46,498 392 3.37% 44,401 370 3.33% Borrowed funds 48,089 448 3.73% 55,904 509 3.64% 58,995 575 3.90% Total interest bearing liabilities 1,547,805 $8,370 2.16% 1,580,945 $8,897 2.25% 1,573,621 $8,725 2.22% Non-interest bearing deposits 288,073 285,347 278,620 Other non-interest bearing liabilities 35,588 36,397 37,703 Total liabilities 1,871,466 1,902,689 1,889,944 Total stockholders' equity 170,161 156,151 151,992 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $2,041,627 $2,058,840 $2,041,936 Net interest income $15,042 $14,443 $13,945 Return on average assets 0.39% 0.68% 0.42% Return on average equity 4.66% 8.96% 5.66% Net interest margin 3.18% 3.04% 2.97% Net interest margin, tax-equivalent (non-GAAP)(1) 3.32% 3.18% 3.11% Net interest spread 2.80% 2.66% 2.60% Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities 1.22x 1.20x 1.19x (1)See the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures on pg 13. 7 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Consolidated Balance Sheets As of (Dollars in thousands) 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 ASSETS Cash and non-interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions $18,265 $19,458 $23,027 $18,563 $17,883 Interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions 101,382 84,157 79,976 52,829 52,047 Federal funds sold - 563 411 975 654 Total cash and cash equivalents 119,647 104,178 103,414 72,367 70,584 Securities available-for-sale 316,227 335,150 327,845 330,127 333,554 Loans held-for-sale 1,096 2,641 834 2,849 1,253 Loans receivable, net of deferred fees and costs 1,450,387 1,473,774 1,484,278 1,491,696 1,508,976 Less: allowance for credit losses (17,506) (17,977) (18,184) (17,955) (16,911) Net loans receivable 1,432,881 1,455,797 1,466,094 1,473,741 1,492,065 Federal Home Loan Bank stock 6,547 6,547 6,547 6,547 6,547 Accrued interest receivable 7,781 7,585 7,651 7,821 7,721 Premises and equipment 44,976 45,544 46,179 46,680 47,259 Cash value of bank owned life insurance 33,586 33,843 33,932 33,712 33,514 Goodwill 22,395 22,395 22,395 22,395 22,395 Other intangible assets 1,172 1,273 1,414 1,635 1,860 Other assets 34,873 37,771 41,606 41,840 43,947 Total assets $2,021,181 $2,052,724 $2,057,911 $2,039,714 $2,060,699 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Deposits: Non-interest bearing $267,441 $280,296 $271,172 $281,461 $263,324 Interest bearing 1,459,530 1,470,350 1,483,678 1,468,923 1,497,242 Total 1,726,971 1,750,646 1,754,850 1,750,384 1,760,566 Repurchase agreements 39,152 48,426 48,331 45,053 40,116 Borrowed funds 45,551 55,000 65,000 56,657 65,000 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 34,844 33,157 35,477 35,813 43,603 Total liabilities 1,846,518 1,887,229 1,903,658 1,887,907 1,909,285 Stockholders' Equity: Preferred stock, no par or stated value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding - - - - - Common stock, no par or stated value; 10,000,000 shares authorized(1) - - - - - Additional paid-in capital 70,331 70,233 70,263 70,132 70,034 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (41,662) (49,266) (57,560) (58,244) (58,084) Retained earnings 145,994 144,528 141,550 139,919 139,464 Total stockholders' equity 174,663 165,495 154,253 151,807 151,414 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $2,021,181 $2,052,724 $2,057,911 $2,039,714 $2,060,699 (1) Shares of common stock issued and outstanding were 4,326,747 at 12/31/2025; 4,327,511 at 9/30/2025; 4,324,889 at 6/30/2025; 4,324,485 at 3/31/2025; and 4,313,698 at 12/31/24. 8 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Income Quarter Ended (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 Interest income: Loans $20,496 $20,246 $19,940 $19,655 $19,802 Securities & short-term investments 2,916 3,094 2,730 2,686 2,793 Total interest income 23,412 23,340 22,670 22,341 22,595 Interest expense: Deposits 7,605 7,996 7,780 8,045 8,812 Borrowings 765 901 945 983 1,176 Total interest expense 8,370 8,897 8,725 9,028 9,988 Net interest income 15,042 14,443 13,945 13,313 12,607 Provision for (benefit from) credit losses (84) (301) (274) 454 (579) Net interest income after provision for credit losses 15,126 14,744 14,219 12,859 13,186 Non-interest income: Fees and service charges 1,485 1,463 1,330 1,109 1,439 Wealth management operations 659 759 696 619 728 Gain on tax credit investment - 23 - 67 1,236 Gain on sale of loans held-for-sale, net 346 265 378 230 328 Bank owned life insurance 522 439 220 198 202 Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment 1 (56) - - (212) Loss on sale of securities, net (1,577) - - - - Other 37 20 59 6 11 Total non-interest income 1,473 2,913 2,683 2,229 3,732 Non-interest expense: Compensation and benefits 7,573 7,330 7,313 7,372 6,628 Occupancy and equipment 2,111 2,004 1,935 2,111 2,045 Data processing 1,465 1,116 1,341 1,039 1,202 Federal deposit insurance premiums 417 399 471 433 457 Marketing 230 257 214 86 220 Professional and outside services 906 945 1,115 1,260 1,341 Technology 521 549 545 454 509 Other 1,558 1,497 1,852 1,717 1,845 Total non-interest expense 14,781 14,097 14,786 14,472 14,247 Income before income taxes 1,818 3,560 2,116 616 2,671 Income tax expenses (benefit) (166) 63 (35) 161 569 Net income $1,984 $3,497 $2,151 $455 $2,102 Earnings per common share: Basic $0.46 $0.82 $0.50 $0.11 $0.49 Diluted $0.46 $0.81 $0.50 $0.11 $0.49 9 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Income (cont'd) Year Ended (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) 12/31/2025 12/31/2024 Interest income: Loans $80,337 $77,515 Securities & short-term investments 11,426 11,663 Total interest income 91,763 89,178 Interest expense: Deposits 31,426 35,162 Borrowings 3,594 5,569 Total interest expense 35,020 40,731 Net interest income 56,743 48,447 Provision for (benefit from) credit losses (205) (503) Net interest income after provision for credit losses 56,948 48,950 Non-interest income: Fees and service charges 5,387 5,312 Wealth management operations 2,733 2,855 Gain on tax credit investment 90 1,236 Gain on sale of loans held-for-sale, net 1,219 1,138 Bank owned life insurance 1,379 812 Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment (55) 11,661 Loss on sale of securities, net (1,577) (531) Other 122 164 Total non-interest income 9,298 22,647 Non-interest expense: Compensation and benefits 29,588 27,737 Occupancy and equipment 8,161 8,250 Data processing 4,961 4,672 Federal deposit insurance premiums 1,720 1,790 Marketing 787 799 Professional and outside services 4,226 5,405 Technology 2,069 2,243 Other 6,624 7,246 Total non-interest expense 58,136 58,142 Income before income taxes 8,110 13,455 Income tax expenses 23 1,325 Net income $8,087 $12,130 Earnings per common share: Basic $1.89 $2.85 Diluted $1.88 $2.84 10 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Loans As of (Dollars in thousands) 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 12/31/2025 vs 9/30/2025 12/31/2025 vs 12/31/2024 Residential real estate $442,443 $450,007 $457,248 $458,424 $467,293 $(7,564) (1.7)% $(24,850) (5.3)% Home equity 53,497 51,813 51,112 49,752 49,758 1,684 3.3% 3,739 7.5% Commercial real estate 555,594 564,558 551,091 554,866 551,674 (8,964) (1.6)% 3,920 0.7% Construction and land development 77,208 79,678 74,795 86,728 82,874 (2,470) (3.1)% (5,666) (6.8)% Multifamily 183,902 192,698 200,440 204,964 212,455 (8,796) (4.6)% (28,553) (13.4)% Commercial business 99,304 96,192 105,636 99,519 104,246 3,112 3.2% (4,942) (4.7)% Consumer 870 348 2,347 504 551 522 150.0% 319 57.9% Manufactured homes 23,708 24,372 25,146 25,762 26,708 (664) (2.7)% (3,000) (11.2)% Government 12,298 12,298 14,628 9,279 11,024 — —% 1,274 11.6% Loans receivable 1,448,824 1,471,964 1,482,443 1,489,798 1,506,583 (23,140) (1.6)% (57,759) (3.8)% Net deferred loan origination costs 1,606 1,719 2,012 2,209 2,439 (113) (6.6)% (833) (34.2)% Loan clearing funds (43) 91 (177) (311) (46) (134) (147.3)% 3 (6.5)% Loans receivable, net $1,450,387 $1,473,774 $1,484,278 $1,491,696 $1,508,976 $(23,387) (1.6)% $(58,589) (3.9)% Deposits As of (Dollars in thousands) 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 12/31/2025 vs 9/30/2025 12/31/2025 vs 12/31/2024 Checking $592,214 $579,760 $593,471 $589,403 $591,487 $12,454 2.1% $727 0.1% Savings 254,055 257,058 266,070 274,028 275,121 (3,003) (1.2)% (21,066) (7.7)% Money market 381,111 377,155 352,616 342,106 333,705 3,956 1.0% 47,406 14.2% Certificates of deposit 499,591 536,673 542,693 544,847 560,253 (37,082) (6.9)% (60,662) (10.8)% Total deposits $1,726,971 $1,750,646 $1,754,850 $1,750,384 $1,760,566 $(23,675) (1.4)% $(33,595) (1.9)% 11 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Asset Quality As of and for the Quarter Ended (Dollars in thousands) 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 Non-accruing loans $11,899 $13,892 $13,526 $12,483 $13,738 Accruing loans delinquent more than 90 days - - 145 - - Securities in non-accrual 1,882 1,616 1,616 1,630 1,419 Total nonperforming assets $13,781 $15,508 $15,287 $14,113 $15,157 Allowance for credit losses (ACL): ACL specific allowances for collateral dependent loans $263 $912 $570 $259 $284 ACL general allowances for loan portfolio 17,243 17,065 17,614 17,696 16,627 Total ACL $17,506 $17,977 $18,184 $17,955 $16,911 Allowance for Credit Losses As of and for the Quarter Ended (Dollars in thousands) 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 Beginning allowance for credit losses $17,977 $18,184 $17,955 $16,911 $18,516 Provision for (benefit from) loan losses (170) 61 (185) 1,077 597 Net (charge-offs) recoveries (301) (268) 414 (33) (2,202) Ending allowance for credit losses $17,506 $17,977 $18,184 $17,955 $16,911 12 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Bank-Level Regulatory Capital Requirements December 31, 2025 Actual (1) Minimum Required For Capital Adequacy Purposes Minimum Required To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations (Dollars in thousands) Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Common equity tier 1 capital to risk- weighted assets $186,214 11.86% $70,626 4.50% $102,016 6.50% Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets $186,214 11.86% $94,168 6.00% $125,558 8.00% Total capital to risk-weighted assets $205,472 13.09% $125,558 8.00% $156,947 10.00% Tier 1 leverage ratio $186,214 8.93% $83,379 4.00% $104,223 5.00% (1) Current quarter ratios are estimated. 13 Finward Bancorp Exhibit 99.1 Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results (unaudited) Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Performance Measures Quarter Ended (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 12/31/2025 9/30/2025 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 Tangible Common Ratios Stockholder's equity (GAAP) $174,663 $165,495 $154,253 $151,807 $151,414 Less: Goodwill (GAAP) (22,395) (22,395) (22,395) (22,395) (22,395) Less: Other intangibles (GAAP) (1,172) (1,273) (1,414) (1,635) (1,860) Tangible common equity (non-GAAP) $151,096 $141,827 $130,444 $127,777 $127,159 Add: Accumulated other comprehensive loss (GAAP) 41,662 49,266 57,560 58,244 58,084 Tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss (non-GAAP) (1) $192,758 $191,093 $188,004 $186,021 $185,243 Total assets (GAAP) $2,021,181 $2,052,724 $2,057,911 $2,039,714 $2,060,699 Less: Goodwill (GAAP) (22,395) (22,395) (22,395) (22,395) (22,395) Less: Other intangibles (GAAP) (1,172) (1,273) (1,414) (1,635) (1,860) Tangible assets (non-GAAP) $1,997,614 $2,029,056 $2,034,102 $2,015,684 $2,036,444 Shares outstanding - end of quarter 4,327,511 4,327,511 4,324,889 4,324,485 4,313,698 Common book value per share (GAAP) $40.36 $38.24 $35.67 $35.10 $35.10 Tangible common book value per share (non-GAAP) $34.92 $32.77 $30.16 $29.55 $29.48 Tangible common book value per share adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss (non-GAAP) $44.54 $44.16 $43.47 $43.02 $42.94 Total equity to total assets (GAAP) 8.64% 8.06% 7.50% 7.44% 7.35% Tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP) 7.56% 6.99% 6.41% 6.34% 6.24% Tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss to tangible assets (non-GAAP) 9.65% 9.42% 9.24% 9.23% 9.10% Calculation of net interest margin, taxable-equivalent basis Net interest income (GAAP) $15,042 $14,443 $13,945 $13,313 $12,607 Tax-equivalent adjustment on securities and loans (2) 629 663 674 670 674 Net interest income (tax-equivalent basis) $15,671 $15,106 $14,619 $13,983 $13,281 Total average earning assets $1,889,616 $1,900,066 $1,879,892 $1,895,847 $1,905,333 Net interest margin 3.18% 3.04% 2.97% 2.81% 2.65% Net interest margin (tax-equivalent basis) 3.32% 3.18% 3.11% 2.95% 2.79% Efficiency ratio Total non-interest expense $14,781 $14,097 $14,786 $14,472 $14,247 Total revenue 16,515 17,356 16,628 15,542 16,339 Efficiency ratio 89.50% 81.22% 88.92% 93.11% 87.20% (1) Tangible common equity adjusted for accumulated other comprehensive loss is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management to evaluate the Company's capital position without the impact of unrealized losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. This measure adjusts tangible common equity by adding back unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss. (2) The tax equivalent adjustment represents the increase in net interest income needed to reflect the tax-exempt income from certain investment securities and loans on tax-equivalent basis using a federal statutory corporate rate of 21%.