Bankwell Financial Group Inc

Officer and Director Trading Arrangements

In the fourth quarter of 2023, directors Eric J. Dale, Jeffrey R. Dunne, Carl M. Porto, and Lawrence B. Seidman, elected to participate in the Company’s Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DCP”), pursuant to which all (but not less than all) retainer fees and any meeting fees (or other cash compensation) payable to such director for service on the Board of Directors is deferred. The election is effective for calendar year 2024 and each subsequent calendar year until the director revokes the election, which revocation will be effective for the following calendar year. Amounts deferred under the DCP are credited to a book account and deemed invested in the Company’s common stock. The DCP is indirectly funded by the Company through a so-called “Rabbi Trust,” which is administered by an independent third party trustee. The Company deposits deferred amounts into the Rabbi Trust, which funds are invested in our common stock through open market purchases by the trustee. A director’s deferred compensation is paid in our common stock following retirement, except under certain specified circumstances that permit earlier payment, including a severe financial hardship resulting from illness or accident, loss of property or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances.