Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Brunner Steven H 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. [BWFG] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP & Chief Risk Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC, 258 ELM STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 04/30/2025 (Street) NEW CANAAN, CT 06840 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 04/30/2025 S 807 D $33.36 1,548 D Common Stock 1,493 D(1) Common Stock 249 D(2) Common Stock 498 D(3) Common Stock 3,262 D(4) Common Stock 666 D(5) Common Stock 536 D(6) Common Stock 533 D(7)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Brunner Steven H C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC 258 ELM STREET NEW CANAAN, CT 06840			EVP & Chief Risk Officer

Signatures

/s/ Steven H. Brunner		05/01/2025
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	1,493 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 746 of those shares are restricted stock that will vest in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first installment to vest on February 7, 2026 and the second and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. 746 of those shares are performance restricted stock with a three year cliff vesting on February 7, 2028 if the performance goals are achieved.
(2)	249 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. These shares are performance restricted stock with a one year cliff vesting on February 7, 2026 if the performance goals are achieved.
(3)	498 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. These shares are performance restricted stock with a two year cliff vesting on February 7, 2027 if the performance goals are achieved.
(4)	4,894 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 2,447 of those shares are restricted stock that will vest in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first installment vested on February 7, 2025 and the second and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. 2,447 of those shares are performance restricted stock and may vest when and if the performance goal is achieved. As of the filing date, 1,090 shares have vested and 542 performance shares have been forfeited.
(5)	2,000 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. The shares are restricted stock that will vest in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first installment vested on August 31 , 2023 and the second, and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. As of the filing date, 1,334 shares have vested.
(6)	1,604 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. The shares are restricted stock that will vest in three substantially equal annual installments, with the first installment vested on February 7 , 2024 and the second, and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. As of the filing date, 1,068 shares have vested.
(7)	1,603 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2022 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 1,603 of those shares are performance restricted stock and may vest when and if the performance goal is achieved, with the first installment vested on February 7, 2024 and the second and third installments to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. As of the filing date, 535 shares have vested and 535 performance shares have been forfeited.

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