Bankwell Financial Group Reports Operating Results for the First Quarter, Declares Second Quarter Dividend

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BWFG) reported GAAP net income of $11.3 million, or $1.41 per share for the first quarter of 2026, versus $9.1 million, or $1.15 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.20 per share cash dividend, payable May 19, 2026 to shareholders of record on May 8, 2026.

Discussion of Outlook; Bankwell Financial Group Chief Executive Officer, Christopher R. Gruseke:

"We generated outstanding first quarter results while advancing our strategic priorities. Profitability increased during the quarter, reflected in a return on average assets of 1.35%, and the Company grew core deposits by $113 million sequentially. Our SBA division continues to execute measured, profitable growth, with originations this quarter of $34 million, and we have continued to improve our asset and liability mix as floating rate loans now comprise 42% of the loan portfolio.

Results for the quarter include a sequential increase to the Company's non-interest expense of approximately $1.4 million. This increase reflects the timing of some expense recognition, and we believe current trends support our non-interest expense guidance previously provided of $64 to $65 million for the full year. We also affirm prior guidance regarding Net Interest Income and loan growth for 2026. Due to an improved outlook for SBA gains on sale and other commercial fees, however, we are increasing our guidance for Non-Interest Income to a range of $12 to $13 million.

As we enter the remainder of the year, we are confident in our credit quality and are well positioned to reduce NPAs in the quarters ahead."

Key Points for First Quarter and Bankwell's Outlook

Core Deposit Growth Funds Loan Growth and Reduces Wholesale Reliance.

• Core deposit growth of $113 million during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, including $39.0 million growth in low‑cost deposits, when compared to December 31, 2025.
• Brokered deposits and FHLB borrowings declined by $44.5 million and $50.0 million, respectively, lowering the Wholesale Ratio to 18.1%⁽¹⁾ as of March 31, 2026.
• Since the peak brokered deposit balance of $1,026.6 million at December 31, 2022, the Company has successfully reduced brokered deposits by $512.4 million, or 49.9%, as of March 31, 2026.
• $27.1 million net loan growth during the quarter ended March 31, 2026, driven by $190 million of originations, including $34 million of SBA originations.

Funding Improvements Partially Offset Lower Portfolio Yields in Net Interest Margin.

• Reported Net Interest Margin was 3.28% for the first quarter of 2026, compared to 3.40% for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. Of the 12 basis-point decline versus the fourth quarter of 2025 Net Interest Margin, approximately 7 basis points relate to the previous quarter's longer day count.
• Total deposit costs of 3.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, represent a 5 basis point improvement compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2025. During the quarter, $270 million of time deposits repriced 44 basis points lower.
• Approximately $1,128 million of time deposits are scheduled to mature over the next 12 months at a weighted average rate of 3.99%; assuming repricing at current market levels and with no additional Fed action, these maturities represent an estimated annualized funding cost savings opportunity of approximately $1.6 million.
• Yield on new loan production averaged 7.53% for the quarter ended March 31, 2026; however, the overall portfolio yield declined 7 basis points from the previous quarter, to 6.56%.

Advancing Strategic Priorities.

• SBA loan sale gains increased to $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $2.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2025.
• On February 20, 2026, the Company opened its first full service branch in New York State, located in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. This addition supports the Bank's continued focus on serving closely held businesses, their owners, and professionals in key markets. The Brooklyn office is home to an experienced private client banking team and provides businesses and individuals with a dedicated single point of contact, along with tailored commercial banking, lending, and treasury management services.

First Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Pre-Tax, Pre-Provision Net Revenue⁽¹⁾ ("PPNR")

PPNR for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2026 was $13.3 million, a decrease of 10.2% from $14.9 million recognized for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025.

• Revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 were $30.2 million, compared with $30.3 million in the previous quarter.
• Noninterest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 was $16.9 million, compared with $15.5 million in the previous quarter. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits resulting from incremental new hires in support of strategic initiatives, as well as seasonal compensation-related costs recognized in the first quarter.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans ("ACL-Loans")

The ACL-Loans was $29.6 million as of March 31, 2026 compared to $30.7 million as of December 31, 2025. The ACL-Loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.03% as of March 31, 2026 compared to 1.08% as of December 31, 2025. The credit for credit losses - loans was $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Total nonperforming loans increased $2.7 million to $19.0 million as of March 31, 2026, when compared to the previous quarter. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased to 0.56% at March 31, 2026, compared to the previous quarter's ratio of 0.49%. As of March 31, 2026, the ACL-Loans provided 155.39% coverage of total nonperforming loans.

Financial Condition & Capital

Assets totaled $3.4 billion at March 31, 2026, an increase of $14.0 million, or 0.4% compared to December 31, 2025. Gross loans totaled $2.9 billion at March 31, 2026, an increase of $26.5 million, or 0.9% compared to December 31, 2025. Deposits totaled $2.9 billion at March 31, 2026, an increase of $55.8 million, or 2.0% compared to December 31, 2025. Brokered deposits have decreased $44.5 million or 8.0%, when compared to December 31, 2025.

Shareholders' equity totaled $311.9 million as of March 31, 2026, an increase of $10.4 million compared to December 31, 2025, primarily a result of year-to-date net income of $11.3 million. The increase was partially offset by dividends paid of $1.6 million.

As of March 31, 2026, the Bank's regulatory capital ratios were all above 'well capitalized' values, with total risk-based capital, common-equity tier 1 capital and leverage ratios at 12.99%, 11.96%, and 10.31%, respectively.

We recommend reading this earnings release in conjunction with the First Quarter 2026 Investor Presentation, located at https://investor.mybankwell.com/events-and-presentations/ and included as an exhibit to our April 22, 2026 Current Report on Form 8-K.

Conference Call

Bankwell will host a conference call to discuss the Company's financial results and business outlook on April 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. E.T. The call will be accessible by telephone and webcast using https://investor.mybankwell.com/events-and-presentations/. A supplementary slide presentation will be posted to the website prior to the event, and a replay will be available for 12 months following the event.

About Bankwell Financial Group

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. is the holding company for Bankwell Bank ("Bankwell"), a full-service commercial bank headquartered in New Canaan, CT. Bankwell provides businesses and professionals with a range of commercial financing solutions, including working capital lines of credit, SBA loans, acquisition financing, and commercial mortgages, along with treasury management and deposit services. Bankwell emphasizes accessibility, expertise, and responsiveness through experienced local banking teams serving its markets.

For more information about this press release, interested parties may contact Christopher R. Gruseke, Chief Executive Officer or Courtney E. Sacchetti, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. at (203) 652-0166 or at [email protected].

For more information, visit www.mybankwell.com.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements about the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding anticipated future events and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, general economic conditions or conditions within the banking industry or securities markets, and legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to evaluating the Company's financial performance in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), management may evaluate certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as the efficiency ratio. A computation and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures used for these purposes is contained in the accompanying Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures tables. We believe that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends and financial position. For example, the Company believes that the efficiency ratio is useful in the assessment of financial performance, including noninterest expense control. The Company believes that tangible common equity, tangible assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible common shareholders' equity, fully diluted tangible book value per common share, efficiency ratio, noninterest expense to average assets, average tangible common equity, annualized return on average tangible shareholders' equity, return on average shareholders' equity, return on average tangible shareholders' equity, pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue, net interest margin, net loan charge-offs as a percentage of average loans, pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue on average assets, wholesale ratio, and the dividend payout ratio are useful to evaluate the relative strength of the Company's performance and capital position. We utilize these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. See "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures (unaudited)".