Finward Bancorp (the ?Bancorp? or ?Finward?) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Peoples Bank (the ?Bank? or ?Peoples?), announced the appointment of Benjamin Schmitt as the Senior Vice President, and Treasurer of the Bancorp and the Bank, effective February 20, 2024.

Mr. Schmitt brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, having spent nearly two decades in the investment banking and corporate advisory industry covering financial institutions primarily within the community banking sector. Most recently, he served as President of Rally Consulting LLC, advising on special projects and managing strategic efforts of commercial and community banking clients. Previously, Mr. Schmitt served in various positions within the financial services investment banking group at Piper Sandler Companies (previously Sandler O'Neill + Partners, L.P.) for more than 19 years, most recently as Managing Director, where he advised on capital raising, merger and acquisition transactions, and other strategic advisory assignments.

He began his career as an investment analyst at Mercer Investment Consulting. In his new role as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Mr. Schmitt will be responsible for the finance, accounting, financial reporting, and shareholder services functions of the Bancorp and the Bank. Reporting directly to Benjamin Bochnowski, CEO of the Bancorp and the Bank, Mr. Schmitt will leverage his expertise to foster collaboration across departments, driving the organization toward its strategic objectives.

The addition of Mr. Schmitt to the team aligns with Finward?s strategic plan to drive excellence and strengthen leadership across the board. Mr. Schmitt holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance with Honors from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. An active member of the community, Mr. Schmitt routinely volunteers his time with various local civic and charitable organizations, religious groups, and recreational youth and adult sports activities.

His background and commitment to community engagement align seamlessly with the Bank?s core values.