Finward Bancorp and Peoples Bank announced that on December 1, 2023, Peymon S. Torabi, Chief Financial Officer of Finward Bancorp and its Indiana-chartered commercial bank subsidiary Peoples Bank, informed the Bancorp and the Bank of his intention to resign from his positions with the Bancorp and the Bank, effective as of December 31, 2023, to pursue other business opportunities. In conjunction with Mr. Torabi?s resignation, on December 6, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Bancorp and the Bank appointed Robert T. Lowry, the current Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Bancorp and the Bank, to serve as the Bancorp?s and Bank?s interim Chief Financial Officer, effective as of January 1, 2024. Mr. Lowry will serve in this capacity until a permanent Chief Financial Officer is appointed.

Mr. Lowry also will continue to serve in his current positions as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Lowry, who is 62 years old, has served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of the Bancorp and the Bank since October 2020. Mr. Lowry has been with the Bank since 1985 and has previously served as the Bancorp?s and Bank?s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Assistant Controller, Internal Auditor and Controller.

Mr. Lowry is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in Indiana and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Mr. Lowry holds a Master?s of Business Administration Degree from Indiana University and is a graduate of America?s Community Bankers National School of Banking.