Finward Bancorp announced that David A. Bochnowski, the Executive Chairman of the Bancorp's Board of Directors, has informed the Board of his decision to retire as Executive Chairman and as a member of the Board, with his retirement to be effective as of June 30, 2023. The Board has appointed Benjamin J. Bochnowski, currently the Bancorp's President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Bancorp's Board of Directors, to succeed David Bochnowski as the Chairman of the Board. The appointment of Benjamin Bochnowski as Chairman is the result of the implementation of the Bancorp's normal succession planning process.

David A. Bochnowski has been the Executive Chairman of the Bancorp since 2016, and prior to that served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Bancorp and Chairman of the Board for 35 years. Mr. Bochnowski has over 43 years of banking experience and has managed the growth and operations of Peoples Bank through numerous business cycles. Mr. Bochnowski is also an attorney with experience in federal laws and regulations applicable to the banking industry, and he has also been actively involved in national and state issues impacting the community banking industry.

He is a former Chairman of America's Community Bankers, the American Bankers Association Government Relations Council, and the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, and a former member of an advisory council to the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies, and the Board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis. He maintains a high profile in business and not for profit community activities throughout Northwest Indiana. His community activities, include among others, former Chairman of One Region and the Legacy Foundation, and a member of the boards of Community Health Care System, Calumet College, and Valparaiso University.

Mr. Bochnowski was inducted into the Northwest Indiana Times Business and Industry Hall of Fame, received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Committee and the Northwest Indiana Urban League, and was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana's highest citizen recognition. Benjamin J. Bochnowski currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bancorp. Mr. Bochnowski joined the Bancorp in 2010, became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bancorp in 2013, was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in 2015, and became the Chief Executive Officer in 2016.

He is a Director and First Vice Chairman of the Indiana Bankers Association and is a member of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions Board. He also serves on the Board of Directors of One Region, a non-profit business organization, and Allies for Community Business, a micro-lending and coaching organization for underserved businesses in the Chicagoland area. Since Benjamin Bochnowski joined the Bancorp in 2010, he has established himself as a forward-thinking leader and has been focused on guiding the Bancorp through the next phases of its growth, expansion, and strategic success.

His leadership experience at Finward in implementing strategic plans and significantly increasing the size and scope of the Bancorp's operations has played a vital role in the Bancorp's success, with the goal of increasing shareholder value.