Edgar Filing: Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________to________

Commission File Number: 001-36448

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Connecticut		20-8251355
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

220 Elm Street

New Canaan, Connecticut 06840

(203) 652-0166

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. þ Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). þ Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ¨	Accelerated filer þ
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company ¨
Emerging growth company þ

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

¨ Yes þ No

As of April 30, 2018, there were 7,833,804 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Form 10-Q

Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)	3
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017	3
Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	5
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017	7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	9

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	42

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	58

Item 4. Controls and Procedures	58

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings	59

Item 1A. Risk Factors	59

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	59

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities	59

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures	59

Item 5. Other Information	59

Item 6. Exhibits	59

Signatures	60

Certifications	62

PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets - (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017

ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	81,249	$	70,545
Federal funds sold		2,121		186
Cash and cash equivalents		83,370		70,731

Available for sale investment securities, at fair value		99,050		92,188
Held to maturity investment securities, at amortized cost		21,546		21,579
Loans receivable (net of allowance for loan losses of $18,801 at March 31, 2018 and $18,904 at December 31, 2017)		1,534,565		1,520,879
Foreclosed real estate		487		-
Accrued interest receivable		5,331		5,910
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost		9,310		9,183
Premises and equipment, net		19,207		18,196
Bank-owned life insurance		39,880		39,618
Goodwill		2,589		2,589
Other intangible assets		358		382
Deferred income taxes, net		4,716		4,904
Other assets		10,834		10,448
Total assets	$	1,831,243	$	1,796,607

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities
Deposits
Noninterest bearing deposits	$	161,641	$	172,638
Interest bearing deposits		1,264,886		1,225,767
Total deposits		1,426,527		1,398,405

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank		199,000		199,000
Subordinated debentures		25,116		25,103
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		14,653		13,072
Total liabilities		1,665,296		1,635,580

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 7,831,804 and 7,751,424 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively		119,363		118,301
Retained earnings		44,695		41,032
Accumulated other comprehensive income		1,889		1,694
Total shareholders' equity		165,947		161,027

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,831,243	$	1,796,607

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income – (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017

Interest and dividend income
Interest and fees on loans	$	17,418	$	15,513
Interest and dividends on securities		935		809
Interest on cash and cash equivalents		254		114
Total interest income		18,607		16,436

Interest expense
Interest expense on deposits		3,656		2,581
Interest on borrowings		1,246		907
Total interest expense		4,902		3,488

Net interest income		13,705		12,948

Provision for loan losses		13		543

Net interest income after provision for loan losses		13,692		12,405

Noninterest income
Gains and fees from sales of loans		370		324
Bank owned life insurance		263		291
Service charges and fees		256		240
Net gain on sale of available for sale securities		222		165
Other		222		246
Total noninterest income		1,333		1,266

Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits		5,028		3,929
Occupancy and equipment		1,617		1,692
Professional services		775		412
Data processing		525		445
Marketing		297		266
Director fees		215		233
FDIC insurance		214		383
Amortization of intangibles		24		31
Foreclosed real estate		-		7
Other		508		836
Total noninterest expense		9,203		8,234
Income before income tax expense		5,822		5,437
Income tax expense		1,222		1,735
Net income	$	4,600	$	3,702

Earnings Per Common Share:
Basic	$	0.59	$	0.49
Diluted	$	0.59	$	0.48

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic		7,676,813		7,525,268
Diluted		7,722,120		7,632,123
Dividends per common share	$	0.12	$	0.07

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – (unaudited)

(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017

Net income	$	4,600		$	3,702
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized losses on securities:
Unrealized holding (losses) gains on available for sale securities		(1,534	)		160
Reclassification adjustment for gain realized in net income		(222	)		(165	)
Net change in unrealized losses		(1,756	)		(5	)
Income tax benefit		369			2
Unrealized losses on securities, net of tax		(1,387	)		(3	)
Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps:
Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges		2,003			218
Income tax expense		(421	)		(76	)
Unrealized gains on interest rate swaps, net of tax		1,582			142
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax		195			139
Comprehensive income	$	4,795		$	3,841

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity – (unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)

									Accumulated
	Number of								Other
	Outstanding			Common		Retained			Comprehensive
	Shares			Stock		Earnings			Income		Total
Balance at December 31, 2017		7,751,424		$	118,301	$	41,032		$	1,694	$	161,027
Net income		-			-		4,600			-		4,600
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		-			-		-			195		195
Cash dividends declared ($0.12 per share)		-			-		(937	)		-		(937	)
Stock-based compensation expense		-			280		-			-		280
Forfeitures of restricted stock		(400	)		-		-			-		-
Warrants exercised		22,400			400		-			-		400
Issuance of restricted stock		39,550			-		-			-		-
Stock options exercised		18,830			382		-			-		382
Balance at March 31, 2018		7,831,804		$	119,363	$	44,695		$	1,889	$	165,947

									Accumulated
	Number of								Other
	Outstanding			Common		Retained			Comprehensive
	Shares			Stock		Earnings			Income		Total
Balance at December 31, 2016		7,620,663		$	115,353	$	29,652		$	890	$	145,895
Net income		-			-		3,702			-		3,702
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		-			-		-			139		139
Cash dividends declared ($0.07 per share)		-			-		(534	)		-		(534	)
Stock-based compensation expense		-			216		-			-		216
Forfeitures of restricted stock		(10,518	)		-		-			-		-
Issuance of restricted stock		15,000			-		-			-		-
Stock options exercised		13,561			254		-			-		254
Balance at March 31, 2017		7,638,706		$	115,823	$	32,820		$	1,029	$	149,672

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – (unaudited)

(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	4,600		$	3,702
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net accretion of premiums and discounts on investment securities		(2	)		(12	)
Provision for loan losses		13			543
Provision for deferred taxes		137			56
Net gain on sales of available for sale securities		(222	)		(165	)
Depreciation and amortization		364			412
Amortization of debt issuance costs		13			13
Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance		(263	)		(291	)
Loan principal sold from loans originated for sale		-			(632	)
Proceeds from sales of loans originated for sale		-			895
Net gain on sales of loans		(370	)		(324	)
Stock-based compensation		280			216
Net amortization (accretion) of purchase accounting adjustments		332			(32	)
Net change in:
Deferred loan fees		(191	)		(249	)
Accrued interest receivable		579			(222	)
Other assets		1,640			1,671
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,581			1,110
Net cash provided by operating activities		8,491			6,691

Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from principal repayments on available for sale securities		2,179			902
Proceeds from principal repayments on held to maturity securities		38			52
Net proceeds from sales and calls of available for sale securities		7,734			49,556
Purchases of available for sale securities		(18,312	)		(49,969	)
Purchase of bank-owned life insurance		-			(5,000	)
Net increase in loans		(14,326	)		(62,820	)
Loan principal sold from loans not originated for sale		(3,209	)		(3,911	)
Proceeds from sales of loans not originated for sale		3,579			4,226
Purchases of premises and equipment		(1,375	)		(195	)
Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank stock		(127	)		(90	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(23,819	)		(67,249	)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - (Continued)

(In thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
Cash flows from financing activities
Net change in time certificates of deposit	$	(981	)	$	13,329
Net change in other deposits		29,103			25,109
Proceeds from exercise of warrants		400			-
Proceeds from exercise of options		382			254
Dividends paid on common stock		(937	)		(534	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		27,967			38,158
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		12,639			(22,400	)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of year		70,731			96,355
End of period	$	83,370		$	73,955
Supplemental disclosures of cash flows information:
Cash paid for:
Interest	$	4,957		$	3,447
Income taxes		60			-
Noncash investing and financing activities
Loans transferred to foreclosed real estate		487			-
Net change in unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities		(1,756	)		(6	)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited)

1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company” or “Bankwell”) is a bank holding company headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut. The Company offers a broad range of financial services through its banking subsidiary, Bankwell Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank is a Connecticut state chartered commercial bank, founded in 2002, whose deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance Fund administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). The Bank provides a full range of banking services to commercial and consumer customers, primarily concentrated in the New York metropolitan area and throughout Connecticut, with the majority of our loans in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut, with branch locations in New Canaan, Stamford, Fairfield, Wilton, Norwalk, Hamden and North Haven Connecticut.

Many of the Company’s activities are with customers located in the New York Metropolitan area and throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties and the surrounding region of Connecticut, and declines in property values in these areas could significantly impact the Company. The Company has significant concentrations in commercial real estate loans. Management does not believe they present any special risk. The Company does not have any significant concentrations in any one industry or customer.

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the Bank, including its wholly owned passive investment company subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of estimates

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and general practices within the banking industry. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated balance sheet and revenue and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the allowance for loan losses, stock-based compensation, derivative instrument valuation, investment securities valuation, evaluation of investment securities for other than temporary impairment and deferred income taxes valuation.

Basis of consolidated financial statement presentation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-1 of Regulation S-X and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) and disclosures considered necessary for the fair presentation of the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been included. Interim results are not necessarily reflective of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Significant concentrations of credit risk

Most of the Company's activities are with customers located within the New York metropolitan area and throughout Connecticut, with the majority of our loans in the Fairfield and New Haven County regions of Connecticut, and declines in property values in these areas could significantly impact the Company. The Company has significant concentrations in commercial real estate loans. Management does not believe they present any special risk. The Company does not have any significant concentrations in any one industry or customer.

Reclassification

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 financial statement presentation. These reclassifications only changed the reporting categories and did not affect the consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.

Recent accounting pronouncements

The following section includes changes in accounting principles and potential effects of new accounting guidance and pronouncements.

ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): This ASU clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue. The guidance notes that an entity should apply the following steps when recognizing revenue: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. In 2016, the FASB issued further implementation guidance regarding revenue recognition. This additional guidance included clarification on certain principal versus agent considerations within the implementation of the guidance as well as clarification related to identifying performance obligations and licensing. The guidance also requires new qualitative and quantitative disclosures, including disaggregation of revenues and descriptions of performance obligations. The guidance along with its updates is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted the guidance on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. In evaluating this standard, management has determined that the majority of revenue earned by the Company is from revenue streams not included in the scope of this standard and for in-scope revenue streams management determined that a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as a result of adopting this standard is not needed.

ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” The ASU has been issued to improve the recognition and measurement of financial instruments by requiring 1) equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; 2) separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; 3) the use of the exit price notion when measuring fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; and 4) separate presentation by the reporting organization in other comprehensive income for the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from the change in the instrument-specific credit risk (also referred to as “own credit”) when the organization has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments. The standard is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842): The amendments in this ASU require lessees to recognize, on the balance sheet, assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases. Accounting by lessors will remain largely unchanged. The guidance will be effective for the Company, on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Adoption will require a modified retrospective transition where the lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The ASU changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments. For trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and other instruments, entities will be required to use a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that will replace today’s “incurred loss” model and can result in the earlier recognition of credit losses. For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, entities will measure credit losses in a manner similar to current practice, except that the losses will be recognized as an allowance. The amendments in this update will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2020, including interim periods within that fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of this guidance on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): “Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” This ASU changes how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. The amendments address the classification of the following eight items in the statement of cash flows; debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investees, beneficial interests in securitization transactions and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the Predominance Principle. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): “Restricted Cash.” This ASU provide guidance on the presentation of restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): “Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” This ASU simplifies the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity was required to perform procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) following the procedure that would be required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, under the amendments in this update, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. In addition, this ASU also eliminated the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Therefore, the same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units. An entity is required to disclose the amount of goodwill allocated to each reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount of net assets. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The amendments will be effective for the Company for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (subtopic 310-20): “Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities.” The amendments in this update shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. The amendments will be effective for the Company for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): The amendments in this update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The amendments in this update are effective for all entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: “Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities” (Topic 815): The purpose of this updated guidance is to better align a company’s financial reporting for hedging activities with the economic objectives of those activities. ASU 2017-12 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption, including adoption in an interim period, permitted. This ASU requires a modified retrospective transition method in which the Company will recognize the cumulative effect of the change on the opening balance of each affected component of equity in the statement of financial position as of the date of adoption. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): This update requires a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the newly enacted federal corporate tax rate. The amount of the reclassification would be the difference between the historical 35% corporate income tax rate and the newly enacted 21% corporate tax rate. The amendments would be effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the amendments would be permitted including adoption in any interim period, for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued and all other entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been made available for issuance. An entity would apply the amendments in the update retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is recognized. The Company elected to adopt this update and recorded a $301 thousand reduction to retained earnings and increase to accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2017.

ASU No. 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): The purpose of this update is clarify certain aspects of the guidance in ASU No. 2016-01 regarding equity securities without a readily determinable fair value, forward contracts and purchased options, presentation requirements for certain fair value option liabilities, fair value option liabilities denominated in a foreign currency, and transition guidance for equity securities without a readily determinable fair value. Public business entities with fiscal years beginning between December 15, 2017 and June 15, 2018, are not required to adopt these amendments until the interim period beginning after June 15, 2018 and public business entities with fiscal years beginning between June 15, 2018 and December 15, 2018 are not required to adopt these amendments before adopting the amendments in update 2016-01. The Company does not expect the application of this guidance to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

2. Investment Securities

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of available for sale and held to maturity securities at March 31, 2018 were as follows:

	March 31, 2018
	Amortized		Gross Unrealized					Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
	(In thousands)
Available for sale securities:
U.S. Government and agency obligations
Due from one through five years	$	13,006	$	-	$	(222	)	$	12,784
Due from five through ten years		100		-		(5	)		95
Due after ten years		76,114		47		(1,405	)		74,756
		89,220		47		(1,632	)		87,635

State agency and municipal obligations
Due from one through five years		2,195		15		-			2,210
Due from five through ten years		1,563		21		-			1,584
Due after ten years		632		-		(42	)		590
		4,390		36		(42	)		4,384

Corporate bonds
Due from one through five years		7,087		-		(56	)		7,031
		7,087		-		(56	)		7,031

Total available for sale securities	$	100,697	$	83	$	(1,730	)	$	99,050

Held to maturity securities:

State agency and municipal obligations
Due from one through five years	$	3,883	$	17	$	-		$	3,900
Due after ten years		16,556		645		(190	)		17,011
		20,439		662		(190	)		20,911

Corporate bonds
Due from one through five years		1,000		-		(5	)		995

Government-sponsored mortgage backed securities
No contractual maturity		107		8		-			115
Total held to maturity securities	$	21,546	$	670	$	(195	)	$	22,021

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of available for sale and held to maturity securities at December 31, 2017 were as follows:

	December 31, 2017
	Amortized		Gross Unrealized					Fair
	Cost		Gains		Losses			Value
	(In thousands)
Available for sale securities:
U.S. Government and agency obligations
Due from one through five years	$	13,000	$	-	$	(82	)	$	12,918
Due from five through ten years		100		-		(4	)		96
Due after ten years		59,924		10		(174	)		59,760
		73,024		10		(260	)		72,774

State agency and municipal obligations
Due from one through five years		2,873		84		-			2,957
Due from five through ten years		7,386		228		-			7,614
Due after ten years		1,700		33		(27	)		1,706
		11,959		345		(27	)		12,277

Corporate bonds
Due from one through five years		7,096		41		-			7,137
		7,096		41		-			7,137

Total available for sale securities	$	92,079	$	396	$	(287	)	$	92,188

Held to maturity securities:

State agency and municipal obligations
Less Than 1 Year	$	198	$	5	$	-		$	203
Due from one through five years		3,880		20		-			3,900
Due after ten years		16,387		1,227		-			17,614
		20,465		1,252		-			21,717

Corporate bonds
Due from one through five years		1,000		-		(5	)		995

Government-sponsored mortgage backed securities
No contractual maturity		114		10		-			124
Total held to maturity securities	$	21,579	$	1,262	$	(5	)	$	22,836

The gross realized gains on the sale of investment securities totaled $224 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The gross realized losses on the sale of investment securities totaled $2 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Total sales proceeds were $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The gross realized gains on the sale of investment securities totaled $165 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2017. There were no gross realized losses on the sale of investment securities for the three months ended March 31, 2017. Total sales proceeds were $49.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 there were no securities pledged as collateral with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB).

The following table provides information regarding investment securities with unrealized losses, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities had been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	Length of Time in Continuous Unrealized Loss Position
	Less Than 12 Months								12 Months or More								Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss			Percent Decline from Amortized Cost			Fair Value		Unrealized Loss			Percent Decline from Amortized Cost			Fair Value		Unrealized Loss			Percent Decline from Amortized Cost
	(In thousands)
March 31, 2018
U.S. Government and agency obligations	$	77,383	$	(1,587	)		2.01	%	$	2,054	$	(45	)		2.17	%	$	79,437	$	(1,632	)		2.01	%
State agency and municipal obligations		11,691		(190	)		1.60	%		590		(42	)		6.64	%		12,281		(232	)		1.86	%
Corporate bonds		7,031		(56	)		0.79	%		995		(5	)		0.50	%		8,026		(61	)		0.75	%
Total investment securities	$	96,105	$	(1,833	)		1.87	%	$	3,639	$	(92	)		2.48	%	$	99,744	$	(1,925	)		1.89	%

December 31, 2017
U.S. Government and agency obligations	$	70,419	$	(225	)		0.32	%	$	2,064	$	(35	)		1.67	%	$	72,483	$	(260	)		0.36	%
State agency and municipal obligations		92		-			0.16	%		656		(27	)		3.95	%		748		(27	)		3.50	%
Corporate bonds		-		-			-			995		(5	)		0.50	%		995		(5	)		0.50	%
Total investment securities	$	70,511	$	(225	)		0.32	%	$	3,715	$	(67	)		1.77	%	$	74,226	$	(292	)		0.39	%

There were twenty-six and fifteen investment securities as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, in which the fair value of the security was less than the amortized cost of the security.

The U.S. Government and agency obligations owned are either direct obligations of the U.S. Government or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, therefore the contractual cash flows are guaranteed and as a result the unrealized losses in this portfolio are not considered other than temporarily impaired.

The Company continually monitors its state agency, municipal and corporate bond portfolios and at this time these portfolios have minimal default risk because state agency, municipal and corporate bonds are all rated investment grade or deemed to be of investment grade quality.

The Company has the intent and ability to retain its investment securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2018 until the decline in value has recovered.

3. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses

The following table sets forth a summary of the loan portfolio at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

(In thousands)	March 31, 2018			December 31, 2017
Real estate loans:
Residential	$	195,638		$	193,524
Commercial		1,005,962			987,242
Construction		87,309			101,636
		1,288,909			1,282,402

Commercial business		267,052			259,995

Consumer		446			619
Total loans		1,556,407			1,543,016

Allowance for loan losses		(18,801	)		(18,904	)
Deferred loan origination fees, net		(3,050	)		(3,242	)
Unamortized loan premiums		9			9
Loans receivable, net	$	1,534,565		$	1,520,879

Lending activities are conducted principally in the New York metropolitan area, including the Fairfield and New Haven County regions of Connecticut, and consist of residential and commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans and a variety of consumer loans. Loans may also be granted for the construction of residential homes and commercial properties. The majority of residential and commercial mortgage loans are collateralized by first or second mortgages on real estate.

Risk management

The Company has established credit policies applicable to each type of lending activity in which it engages. The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of each customer and extends credit of up to 80% of the market value of the collateral, depending on the borrowers’ creditworthiness and the type of collateral. The borrower’s ability to service the debt is monitored on an ongoing basis. Real estate is the primary form of collateral. Other important forms of collateral are business assets, time deposits and marketable securities. While collateral provides assurance as a secondary source of repayment, the Company ordinarily requires the primary source of repayment for commercial loans, to be based on the borrower’s ability to generate continuing cash flows. In the fourth quarter of 2017 management made the strategic decision to no longer originate residential mortgage loans. The Company’s policy for residential lending allowed that, generally, the amount of the loan may not exceed 80% of the original appraised value of the property. In certain situations, the amount may have exceeded 80% LTV either with private mortgage insurance being required for that portion of the residential loan in excess of 80% of the appraised value of the property or where secondary financing is provided by a housing authority program second mortgage, a community’s low/moderate income housing program, or a religious or civic organization.

Credit quality of loans and the allowance for loan losses

Management segregates the loan portfolio into portfolio segments which is defined as the level at which the Company develops and documents a systematic method for determining its allowance for loan losses. The portfolio segments are segregated based on loan types and the underlying risk factors present in each loan type. Such risk factors are periodically reviewed by management and revised as deemed appropriate.

The Company's loan portfolio is segregated into the following portfolio segments:

Residential Real Estate: This portfolio segment consists of the origination of first mortgage loans secured by one-to-four family owner occupied residential properties for personal use located in our market area. This segment also includes home equity loans and home equity lines of credit secured by owner occupied one-to-four family residential properties. Loans of this type are written at a combined maximum of 80% of the appraised value of the property and the Company requires a first or second lien position on the property. These loans can be affected by economic conditions and the values of the underlying properties.

Commercial Real Estate: This portfolio segment includes loans secured by commercial real estate, multi-family dwellings and investor-owned one-to-four family dwellings. Loans secured by commercial real estate generally have larger loan balances and more credit risk than owner occupied one-to-four family mortgage loans.

Construction: This portfolio segment includes commercial construction loans for commercial development projects, including condominiums, apartment buildings, and single family subdivisions as well as office buildings, retail and other income producing properties and land loans, which are loans made with land as collateral. In addition, this portfolio includes residential construction loans to individuals to finance the construction of residential dwellings for personal use located in our market area. Construction and land development financing generally involves greater credit risk than long-term financing on improved, owner-occupied or leased real estate. Risk of loss on a construction loan depends largely upon the accuracy of the initial estimate of the value of the property at completion of construction compared to the estimated cost (including interest) of construction and other assumptions. If the estimate of construction cost proves to be inaccurate, the Company may be required to advance additional funds beyond the amount originally committed in order to protect the value of the property. Moreover, if the estimated value of the completed project proves to be inaccurate, the borrower may hold a property with a value that is insufficient to assure full repayment through sale or refinance. Construction loans also expose the Company to the risks that improvements will not be completed on time in accordance with specifications and projected costs and that repayment will depend on the successful operation or sale of the properties, which may cause some borrowers to be unable to continue with debt service which exposes the Company to greater risk of non-payment and loss.

Commercial Business: This portfolio segment includes commercial business loans secured by assignments of corporate assets and personal guarantees of the business owners. Commercial business loans generally have higher interest rates and shorter terms than other loans, but they also have increased difficulty of loan monitoring and a higher risk of default since their repayment generally depends on the successful operation of the borrower’s business.

Consumer: This portfolio segment includes loans secured by savings or certificate accounts, or automobiles, as well as unsecured personal loans and overdraft lines of credit. This type of loan entails greater risk than residential mortgage loans, particularly in the case of loans that are unsecured or secured by assets that depreciate rapidly.

Allowance for loan losses

As of December 31, 2017 the Company has changed its methodology to estimate its allowance for loan losses. The change in methodology resulted in an update to the underlying loan loss assumptions, incorporating the most recent industry, peer and product loss trends. This resulted in a non-recurring, pretax $1.3 million reduction in the reserve for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The following tables set forth the activity in the Company’s allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, by portfolio segment:

	Residential			Commercial						Commercial
	Real Estate			Real Estate			Construction			Business			Consumer			Total
	(In thousands)
March 31, 2018
Beginning balance	$	1,721		$	12,777		$	907		$	3,498		$	1		$	18,904
Charge-offs		-			(18	)		-			(96	)		(3	)		(117	)
Recoveries		-			-			-			-			1			1
(Credits) Provisions		(26	)		(114	)		(140	)		290			3			13
Ending balance	$	1,695		$	12,645		$	767		$	3,692		$	2		$	18,801

	Residential			Commercial					Commercial
	Real Estate			Real Estate			Construction		Business		Consumer			Total
	(In thousands)
March 31, 2017
Beginning balance	$	1,654		$	9,563		$	2,105	$	4,283	$	377		$	17,982
Charge-offs		-			-			-		-		(15	)		(15	)
Recoveries		-			-			-		-		1			1
(Credits) Provisions		(7	)		(14	)		17		538		9			543
Ending balance	$	1,647		$	9,549		$	2,122	$	4,821	$	372		$	18,511

Loans evaluated for impairment and the related allowance for loan losses as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:

	Portfolio		Allowance
	(In thousands)
March 31, 2018
Loans individually evaluated for impairment:
Residential real estate	$	7,202	$	14
Commercial real estate		22,100		708
Construction		1,546		2
Commercial business		3,381		45
Consumer		6		-
Subtotal		34,235		769
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment:
Residential real estate		188,436		1,681
Commercial real estate		983,862		11,937
Construction		85,763		765
Commercial business		263,671		3,647
Consumer		440		2
Subtotal		1,522,172		18,032

Total	$	1,556,407	$	18,801

	Portfolio		Allowance
	(In thousands)
December 31, 2017
Loans individually evaluated for impairment:
Residential real estate	$	4,607	$	8
Commercial real estate		7,586		876
Commercial business		2,660		71
Subtotal		14,853		955
Loans collectively evaluated for impairment:
Residential real estate		188,917		1,713
Commercial real estate		979,656		11,901
Construction		101,636		907
Commercial business		257,335		3,427
Consumer		619		1
Subtotal		1,528,163		17,949

Total	$	1,543,016	$	18,904

Credit quality indicators

To measure credit risk for the loan portfolios, the Company employs a credit risk rating system. This risk rating represents an assessed level of the loan’s risk based on the character and creditworthiness of the borrower/guarantor, the capacity of the borrower to adequately service the debt, any credit enhancements or additional sources of repayment, and the quality, value and coverage of the collateral, if any.

The objectives of the Company’s risk rating system are to provide the Board of Directors and senior management with an objective assessment of the overall quality of the loan portfolio, to promptly and accurately identify loans with well-defined credit weaknesses so that timely action can be taken to minimize credit loss, to identify relevant trends affecting the collectability of the loan portfolio and to isolate potential problem areas and to provide essential information for determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. The Company’s credit risk rating system has nine grades, with each grade corresponding to a progressively greater risk of default. Risk ratings of 1 through 5 are Pass categories and risk ratings of 6 through 9 are criticized asset categories as defined by the regulatory agencies.

A “Special Mention” (6) credit has a potential weakness which, if uncorrected, may result in a deterioration of the repayment prospects or inadequately protect the Company’s credit position at some time in the future. “Substandard” loans (7) are credits that have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the full repayment of the debt. An asset rated “Doubtful” (8) has all the weaknesses inherent in a substandard asset and which, in addition, make collection or liquidation in full highly questionable and improbable, when considering existing facts, conditions, and values. Loans classified as “Loss” (9) are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as bankable assets is not warranted. This classification does not mean that the loan has absolutely no recovery or salvage value; rather, it is not practical or desirable to defer writing-off this basically worthless asset even though partial recovery may be made in the future.

Risk ratings are assigned as necessary to differentiate risk within the portfolio. They are reviewed on an ongoing basis through the annual loan review process performed by Company personnel, normal renewal activity and the quarterly watchlist and watched asset report process. They are revised to reflect changes in the borrowers’ financial condition and outlook, debt service coverage capability, repayment performance, collateral value and coverage as well as other considerations. In addition to internal review at multiple points, outsourced loan review opines on risk ratings with regard to the sample of loans their review covers.

The following table presents credit risk ratings by loan segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	Commercial Credit Quality Indicators
	At March 31, 2018								At December 31, 2017
	Commercial Real Estate		Construction		Commercial Business		Total		Commercial Real Estate		Construction		Commercial Business		Total
	(In thousands)
Pass	$	980,699	$	85,763	$	259,491	$	1,325,953	$	960,902	$	101,636	$	252,570	$	1,315,108
Special mention		3,162		-		3,345		6,507		9,371		-		4,019		13,390
Substandard		21,975		1,546		4,021		27,542		16,969		-		3,297		20,266
Doubtful		126		-		195		321		-		-		109		109
Total loans	$	1,005,962	$	87,309	$	267,052	$	1,360,323	$	987,242	$	101,636	$	259,995	$	1,348,873

	Residential and Consumer Credit Quality Indicators
	At March 31, 2018						At December 31, 2017
	Residential						Residential
	Real Estate		Consumer		Total		Real Estate		Consumer		Total
	(In thousands)
Pass	$	188,239	$	440	$	188,679	$	188,917	$	619	$	189,536
Special mention		197		-		197		-		-		-
Substandard		7,202		6		7,208		4,607		-		4,607
Loss		-		-		-		-		-		-
Total loans	$	195,638	$	446	$	196,084	$	193,524	$	619	$	194,143

Loan portfolio aging analysis

When a loan is 15 days past due, the Company sends the borrower a late notice. The Company also contacts the borrower by phone if the delinquency is not corrected promptly after the notice has been sent.

When the loan is 30 days past due, the Company mails the borrower a letter reminding the borrower of the delinquency, and attempts to contact the borrower personally to determine the reason for the delinquency and ensure the borrower understands the terms of the loan. If necessary, on the subsequent 90th day of delinquency, the Company may take other appropriate legal action. A summary report of all loans 30 days or more past due is provided to the Board of Directors of the Company each month. Loans greater than 90 days past due are generally put on nonaccrual status. A nonaccrual loan is restored to accrual status when it is no longer delinquent and collectability of interest and principal is no longer in doubt. A loan is considered to be no longer delinquent when timely payments are made for a period of at least six months (one year for loans providing for quarterly or semi-annual payments) by the borrower in accordance with the contractual terms.

The following tables set forth certain information with respect to our loan portfolio delinquencies by portfolio segment and amount as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	As of March 31, 2018

	31-60 Days		61-90 Days		Greater Than		Total Past
	Past Due		Past Due		90 Days		Due		Current		Total Loans
	(In thousands)
Real estate loans:
Residential real estate	$	3,096	$	-	$	1,160	$	4,256	$	191,382	$	195,638
Commercial real estate		564		9,501		5,069		15,134		990,828		1,005,962
Construction		-		-		-		-		87,309		87,309
Commercial business		341		1,098		154		1,593		265,459		267,052
Consumer		1		-		-		1		445		446
Total loans	$	4,002	$	10,599	$	6,383	$	20,984	$	1,535,423	$	1,556,407

	As of December 31, 2017

	31-60 Days		61-90 Days		Greater Than		Total Past
	Past Due		Past Due		90 Days		Due		Current		Total Loans
	(In thousands)
Real estate loans:
Residential real estate	$	1,248	$	2,244	$	1,161	$	4,653	$	188,871	$	193,524
Commercial real estate		10,028		4,116		2,074		16,218		971,024		987,242
Construction		-		-		-		-		101,636		101,636
Commercial business		4,318		162		481		4,961		255,034		259,995
Consumer		3		-		2		5		614		619
Total loans	$	15,597	$	6,522	$	3,718	$	25,837	$	1,517,179	$	1,543,016

There were no loans delinquent greater than 90 days and still accruing as of March 31, 2018 and there were no loans delinquent greater than 90 days and still accruing as of December 31, 2017.

Loans on nonaccrual status

The following is a summary of nonaccrual loans by portfolio segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Residential real estate	$	3,498	$	1,590
Commercial real estate		15,641		3,371
Commercial business		1,235		520
Total	$	20,374	$	5,481

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were no commitments to lend additional funds to any borrower on nonaccrual status.

Impaired loans

An impaired loan generally is one for which it is probable, based on current information, the Company will not collect all the amounts due in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan. Loans are individually evaluated for impairment. When the Company classifies a problem loan as impaired, it provides a specific valuation allowance for that portion of the asset that is estimated to be impaired.

The following table summarizes impaired loans by portfolio segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	Carrying Amount				Unpaid Principal Balance				Associated Allowance
	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017		March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017		March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Impaired loans without a valuation allowance:
Residential real estate	$	6,261	$	3,515	$	6,295	$	3,556	$	-	$	-
Commercial real estate		8,393		1,841		8,502		1,915		-		-
Commercial business		872		1,950		1,013		2,024		-		-
Consumer		6		-		6		-		-		-
Total impaired loans without a valuation allowance		15,532		7,306		15,816		7,495		-		-

Impaired loans with a valuation allowance:
Residential real estate	$	941	$	1,092	$	950	$	1,092	$	14	$	8
Commercial real estate		13,707		5,745		13,707		5,745		708		876
Construction		1,546		-		1,546		-		2		-
Commercial business		2,509		710		2,509		712		45		71
Total impaired loans with a valuation allowance		18,703		7,547		18,712		7,549		769		955
Total impaired loans	$	34,235	$	14,853	$	34,528	$	15,044	$	769	$	955

The following table summarizes the average carrying amount of impaired loans and interest income recognized on impaired loans by portfolio segment as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

	Average Carrying Amount				Interest Income Recognized
	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017		March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(In thousands)
Impaired loans without a valuation allowance:
Residential real estate	$	6,268	$	3,530	$	48	$	-
Commercial real estate		8,445		1,916		74		21
Commercial business		916		2,109		8		89
Consumer		6		-		-		-
Total impaired loans without a valuation allowance		15,635		7,555		130		110
Impaired loans with a valuation allowance:
Residential real estate	$	942	$	1,100	$	-	$	-
Commercial real estate		13,715		5,854		38		261
Construction		1,546		-		16		-
Commercial business		2,530		873		92		47
Total impaired loans with a valuation allowance		18,733		7,827		146		308
Total impaired loans	$	34,368	$	15,382	$	276	$	418

Troubled debt restructurings (TDRs)

Modifications to a loan are considered to be a troubled debt restructuring when one or both of the following conditions is met: 1) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and/or 2) the modification constitutes a concession that is not in line with market rates and/or terms. Modified terms are dependent upon the financial position and needs of the individual borrower. Troubled debt restructurings are classified as impaired loans.

If a performing loan is restructured into a TDR it remains in performing status. If a nonperforming loan is restructured into a TDR, it continues to be carried in nonaccrual status. Nonaccrual classification may be removed if the borrower demonstrates compliance with the modified terms for a minimum of six months.

Loans classified as TDRs totaled $7.5 million at March 31, 2018 and $4.9 million at December 31, 2017. There were no loans modified as TDRs during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

					Outstanding Recorded Investment
	Number of Loans				Pre-Modification				Post-Modification
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017		2018		2017		2018		2017
Three Months Ended March 31,
Residential real estate		2		-	$	2,826	$	-	$	2,822	$	-
Commercial business		1		-		37		-		29		-
Total		3		-	$	2,863	$	-	$	2,851	$	-

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 there were six non-accrual loans identified as TDRs totaling $2.6 million and four non-accrual loans identified as TDRs totaling $553 thousand, respectively.

The following table provides information on how loans were modified as a TDR during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018		2017
	(In thousands)
Maturity and payment concession	$	750	$	-
Payment concession		2,101		-
Total	$	2,851	$	-

There were two loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring, for which there was a payment default during the three months ended March 31, 2018. The total recorded investment in these loans was $2.1 million at March 31, 2018.

4. Shareholders' Equity

Common stock

On May 15, 2014, the Company priced 2,702,703 common shares in its initial public offering (“IPO”) at $18.00 per share and Bankwell common shares began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The Company issued a total of 2,702,703 common shares in its IPO, which closed on May 20, 2014. The net proceeds from the IPO were approximately $44.7 million, after deducting the underwriting discount of approximately $2.5 million and approximately $1.3 million of expenses.

Prior to the public offering, the Company issued shares in various offerings.

Warrants

As a result of the acquisition of Quinnipiac on October 1, 2014 the Company issued 68,600 warrants to former Quinnipiac warrant holders in accordance with the merger agreement. Each warrant was automatically converted into a warrant to purchase 0.56 shares of the Company’s common stock for an exercise price of $17.86. As of March 31, 2018 all warrants have been exercised. The Company does not have any warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2018.

Dividends

The Company’s shareholders are entitled to dividends when and if declared by the board of directors, out of funds legally available. The ability of the Company to pay dividends depends, in part, on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Company. In accordance with Connecticut statutes, regulatory approval is required to pay dividends in excess of the Bank’s profits retained in the current year plus retained profits from the previous two years. The Bank is also prohibited from paying dividends that would reduce its capital ratios below minimum regulatory requirements.

The Company did not repurchase any of its common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or during the year ended December 31, 2017.

5. Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income represents the sum of net income and items of other comprehensive income or loss, including net unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale and net unrealized gains or losses on derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges. The Company’s total comprehensive income or loss for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is reported in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The following tables present the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component, net of tax for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

	Net Unrealized Gain			Net Unrealized Gain
	(Loss) on Available			on Interest
	for Sale Securities			Rate Swap		Total
	(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	85		$	1,609	$	1,694
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications, net of tax		(1,212	)		1,582		370
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		(175	)		-		(175	)
Net other comprehensive (loss) income		(1,387	)		1,582		195
Balance at March 31, 2018	$	(1,302	)	$	3,191	$	1,889

	Net Unrealized Gain			Net Unrealized Gain
	(Loss) on Available			on Interest
	for Sale Securities			Rate Swap		Total
	(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	409		$	481	$	890
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax		105			142		247
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax		(108	)		-		(108	)
Net other comprehensive (loss) income		(3	)		142		139
Balance at March 31, 2017	$	406		$	623	$	1,029

The following table provides information for the items reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income or loss:

Accumulated Other Comprehensive	For the Quarters Ended March 31,						Associated Line Item in the Consolidated
Income Components	2018			2017			Statements Of Income
	(In thousands)
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains on investments	$	222		$	165		Gain on sale of available for sale securities, net
Tax expense		(47	)		(57	)	Income tax expense
Net of tax	$	175		$	108

6. Earnings per Share

Unvested restricted stock awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends, are participating securities, and are included in the computation of EPS pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company’s unvested restricted stock awards qualify as participating securities.

Net income is allocated between the common stock and participating securities pursuant to the two-class method. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding participating unvested restricted stock awards.

Diluted EPS is computed in a similar manner, except that the denominator includes the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares were issued using the treasury stock method.

The following is a reconciliation of earnings available to common shareholders and basic weighted average common shares outstanding to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, reflecting the application of the two-class method:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018			2017
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Net income	$	4,600		$	3,702
Dividends to participating securities⁽¹⁾		(13	)		(7	)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities⁽¹⁾		(46	)		(43	)
Net income for earnings per share calculation	$	4,541		$	3,652

Weighted average shares outstanding, basic		7,677			7,525
Effect of dilutive equity-based awards⁽²⁾		45			107
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted		7,722			7,632
Net earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.59		$	0.49
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.59		$	0.48

(1) Represents dividends paid and undistributed earnings allocated to unvested stock-based awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends.

(2) Represents the effect of the assumed exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted shares, as applicable, utilizing the treasury stock method.

7. Regulatory Matters

The Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the other federal and state bank regulatory agencies establish regulatory capital guidelines for U.S. banking organizations.

As of January 1, 2015, the Company and the Bank became subject to new capital rules set forth by the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the other federal and state bank regulatory agencies. The capital rules revise the banking agencies’ leverage and risk-based capital requirements and the method for calculating risk weighted assets to make them consistent with agreements that were reached by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act (the Basel III Capital Rules).

The Basel III Capital Rules establish a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital requirement of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets; set the minimum leverage ratio at 4% of total assets; increased the minimum Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets requirement from 4% to 6%; and retained the minimum total capital to risk weighted assets requirement at 8.0%. A “well-capitalized” institution must generally maintain capital ratios 100-200 basis points higher than the minimum guidelines.

The Basel III Capital Rules also change the risk weights assigned to certain assets. The Basel III Capital Rules assigned a higher risk weight (150%) to loans that are more than 90 days past due or are on nonaccrual status and to certain commercial real estate facilities that finance the acquisition, development or construction of real property. The Basel III Capital Rules also alter the risk weighting for other assets, including marketable equity securities that are risk weighted generally at 300%. The Basel III Capital Rules require certain components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to be included for purposes of calculating regulatory capital requirements unless a one-time opt-out is exercised. The Bank did exercise its opt-out option and will exclude the unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) from regulatory capital.

The Basel III Capital Rules limit a banking organization’s capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to executive officers if the banking organization does not hold a “capital conservation buffer” consisting of 2.5% of regulatory risk based capital ratios in addition to the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements. The required minimum conservation buffer began to be phased in incrementally, starting at 0.625% on January 1, 2016, increased to 1.25% on January 1, 2017, increased to 1.875% on January 1, 2018 and will continue to increase to 2.5% on January 1, 2019.

Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

As of March 31, 2018, the Bank and Company has met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject. There are no conditions or events since then that management believes have changed this conclusion.

The capital amounts and ratios for the Bank and the Company at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:

						Minimum Regulatory					Minimum Regulatory
						Capital Required for					Capital to be Well
						Capital Adequacy					Capitalized Under
						plus Capital					Prompt Corrective
	Actual Capital					Conservation Buffer					Action Provisions
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio
Bankwell Bank
March 31, 2018
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets	$	179,579		11.18	%	$	102,425		6.38	%	$	104,433		6.50	%
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		198,380		12.35	%		158,658		9.88	%		160,667		10.00	%
Tier I Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		179,579		11.18	%		126,525		7.88	%		128,533		8.00	%
Tier I Capital to Average Assets		179,579		9.90	%		72,547		4.00	%		90,683		5.00	%

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.
March 31, 2018
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets	$	161,078		10.00	%	$	102,698		6.38	%		N/A		N/A
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		204,995		12.73	%		159,081		9.88	%		N/A		N/A
Tier I Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		161,078		10.00	%		126,862		7.88	%		N/A		N/A
Tier I Capital to Average Assets		161,078		8.84	%		72,901		4.00	%		N/A		N/A

						Minimum Regulatory					Minimum Regulatory
						Capital Required for					Capital to be Well
						Capital Adequacy					Capitalized Under
						plus Capital					Prompt Corrective
	Actual Capital					Conservation Buffer					Action Provisions
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio			Amount		Ratio
Bankwell Bank
December 31, 2017
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets	$	173,728		10.99	%	$	90,858		5.75	%	$	102,709		6.50	%
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		192,632		12.19	%		146,162		9.25	%		158,014		10.00	%
Tier I Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		173,728		10.99	%		114,560		7.25	%		126,411		8.00	%
Tier I Capital to Average Assets		173,728		9.61	%		72,349		4.00	%		90,437		5.00	%

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.
December 31, 2017
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets	$	155,977		9.83	%	$	91,194		5.75	%		N/A		N/A
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		199,984		12.61	%		146,703		9.25	%		N/A		N/A
Tier I Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets		155,977		9.83	%		114,983		7.25	%		N/A		N/A
Tier I Capital to Average Assets		155,977		8.59	%		72,663		4.00	%		N/A		N/A

Regulatory Restrictions on Dividends

The ability of the Company to pay dividends depends, in part, on the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to the Company. In accordance with Connecticut statutes, regulatory approval is required to pay dividends in excess of the Bank’s profits retained in the current year plus retained profits from the previous two years. The Bank is also prohibited from paying dividends that would reduce its capital ratios below minimum regulatory requirements.

Reserve Requirements on Cash

The Bank is required to maintain a minimum reserve balance of $10.7 million and $11.1 million in the Federal Reserve Bank at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The Bank is also required to maintain a minimum reserve balance of $7.5 million at Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (formerly Bankers’ Bank Northeast) at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. These balances are maintained for clearing purposes in the ordinary course of business and do not represent restricted cash.

8. Stock-Based Compensation

Equity award plans

The Company has five equity award plans, which are collectively referred to as the “Plan”. The current plan under which any future issuances of equity awards will be made is the 2012 BNC Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan, or the “2012 Plan,” amended on June 26, 2013. All equity awards made under the 2012 Plan are made by means of an award agreement, which contains the specific terms and conditions of the grant. To date, all equity awards have been in the form of share options or restricted stock. At March 31, 2018, there were 426,112 shares reserved for future issuance under the 2012 Plan.

Stock Options: The Company accounts for stock options based on the fair value at the date of grant and records option related expense over the vesting period of such awards on a straight line basis. All stock options have been fully expensed as of December 31, 2016.

There were no options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

A summary of the status of outstanding share options as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is presented below:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
				Weighted
	Number			Average
	of			Exercise
	Shares			Price

Options outstanding at beginning of period		47,050		$	17.83
Exercised		(18,830	)		20.32
Options outstanding at end of period		28,220			16.18

Options exercisable at end of period		28,220			16.18

Intrinsic value is the amount by which the fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of an option on the exercise date. The total intrinsic value of share options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $238 thousand.

Restricted Stock: Restricted stock provides grantees with rights to shares of common stock upon completion of a service period. Shares of unvested restricted stock are considered participating securities. Restricted stock awards generally vest over one to five years.

The following table presents the activity for restricted stock for the three months ended March 31, 2018:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
				Weighted
	Number			Average
	of			Grant Date
	Shares			Fair Value

Unvested at beginning of period		75,186		$	26.39
Granted		39,550	⁽¹⁾		33.01
Forfeited		(400	)		21.87
Unvested at end of period		114,336			28.70
⁽¹⁾ Includes 11,250 shares of performance based restricted stock

The Company's restricted stock expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $280 thousand and $216 thousand, respectively. At March 31, 2018 there was $2.5 million of unrecognized stock compensation expense for restricted stock, expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.

Performance Based Restricted Stock: On February 20, 2018 the Company issued 11,250 shares of restricted stock with performance and service conditions pursuant to the Company’s 2012 Stock Plan. The awards vest over a 3 year service period provided certain performance metrics are met. The share quantity, that can range between 0% and 200% of the grant is dependent on the degree to which the performance metric is met. The Company records an expense over the vesting period based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock at the date of the grant.

9. Derivative Instruments

The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its funding along with the use of interest rate derivative financial instruments, namely interest rate swaps. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. As of March 31, 2018, the Bank was a party to six interest rate swaps to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. The notional amount for each swap is $25 million and in each case, the Bank has entered into pay-fixed Libor interest rate swaps to convert rolling 90 day Federal Home Loan Bank advances to fixed rates.

The Company accounts for its interest rate swaps as effective cash flow hedges. None of the interest rate swap agreements contain any credit risk related contingent features. A hedging instrument is expected at inception to be highly effective at offsetting changes in the hedged transactions attributable to the changes in the hedged risk.

Interest Rate Swaps with a positive fair value are recorded as other assets and interest rate swaps with a negative fair value are recorded as other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

Information about derivative instruments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 is as follows:

March 31, 2018:

(Dollars in thousands)	Notional Amount		Original Maturity	Received		Paid		Fair Value Asset (Liability)

Cash flow hedge:
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance	$	25,000	4.7 years		3-month LIBOR		1.62%	$	135
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	5.0 years		3-month LIBOR		1.83%		291
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	5.0 years		3-month LIBOR		1.48%		626
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	5.0 years		3-month LIBOR		1.22%		1,099
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	7.0 years		3-month LIBOR		2.04%		947
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	7.0 years		3-month LIBOR		2.04%		939
	$	150,000						$	4,037

December 31, 2017:

(Dollars in thousands)	Notional Amount		Original Maturity	Received		Paid		Fair Value Asset (Liability)

Cash flow hedge:
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance	$	25,000	4.7 years		3-month LIBOR		1.62%	$	62
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	5.0 years		3-month LIBOR		1.83%		105
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	5.0 years		3-month LIBOR		1.48%		398
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	5.0 years		3-month LIBOR		1.22%		793
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	7.0 years		3-month LIBOR		2.04%		342
Interest rate swap on FHLB advance		25,000	7.0 years		3-month LIBOR		2.04%		334
	$	150,000						$	2,034

The effective portion of unrealized changes in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges is reported in other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified to earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in cash flows of the designated hedged item or transaction. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. The interest rate swap assets are presented in other assets and the interest rate swap liabilities are presented in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company's cash flow hedge positions consist of interest rate swap transactions as detailed in the table below:

(Dollars in thousands)	Notional Amount		Original Effective Date of Hedged Borrowing	Duration of Borrowing	Counterparty

Type of borrowing:
FHLB 90-day advance	$	25,000	April 1, 2014	4.7 years	Bank of Montreal
FHLB 90-day advance		25,000	January 2, 2015	5.0 years	Bank of Montreal
FHLB 90-day advance		25,000	August 26, 2015	5.0 years	Bank of Montreal
FHLB 90-day advance		25,000	July 1, 2016	5.0 years	Bank of Montreal
FHLB 90-day advance		25,000	August 25, 2017	7.0 years	Bank of Montreal
FHLB 90-day advance		25,000	August 25, 2017	7.0 years	FTN Financial Capital Markets
	$	150,000

This hedge strategy converts the floating rate of interest on short term FHLB advances to fixed interest rates, thereby protecting the Bank from floating interest rate variability.

Changes in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income related to interest rate derivatives designated as hedges of cash flows were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017

Interest rate swap on FHLB advance:
Unrealized gains recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	$	2,003		$	218
Income tax expense on items recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income		(421	)		(76	)
Other comprehensive income	$	1,582		$	142
Interest expense recognized on hedged FHLB advance	$	639		$	384

10. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the statements of condition, for which it is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rates and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparisons to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument.

Management uses its best judgment in estimating the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments; however, there are inherent limitations in any estimation technique. Therefore, for substantially all financial instruments, the fair value estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could have realized in a sales transaction. The estimated fair value amounts have been measured as of the respective period-ends, and have not been reevaluated or updated for purposes of these consolidated financial statements subsequent to those respective dates. As such, the estimated fair values of these financial instruments subsequent to the respective reporting dates may be different than the amounts reported at each period-end.

The Company assumes interest rate risk (the risk that general interest rate levels will change) as a result of its normal operations. As a result, the fair values of the Company’s financial instruments will change when interest rate levels change and that change may be either favorable or unfavorable to the Company. Management attempts to match maturities of assets and liabilities to the extent believed necessary to minimize interest rate risk. However, borrowers with fixed rate obligations are less likely to prepay in a rising rate environment and more likely to prepay in a falling rate environment. Conversely, depositors who are receiving fixed rates are more likely to withdraw funds before maturity in a rising rate environment and less likely to do so in a falling rate environment. Management monitors rates and maturities of assets and liabilities and attempts to minimize interest rate risk.

The carrying values, fair values and placement in the fair value hierarchy of the Company's financial instruments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:

	March 31, 2018
	Carrying		Fair
	Value		Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Financial Assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	81,249	$	81,249	$	81,249	$	-	$	-
Federal funds sold		2,121		2,121		2,121		-		-
Available for sale securities		99,050		99,050		-		99,050		-
Held to maturity securities		21,546		22,021		-		1,110		20,911
Loans receivable, net		1,534,565		1,477,811		-		-		1,477,811
Accrued interest receivable		5,331		5,331		-		5,331		-
FHLB stock		9,310		9,310		-		9,310		-
Servicing asset		1,147		1,147		-		-		1,147
Derivative asset		4,037		4,037		-		4,037		-

Financial Liabilities:
Demand deposits	$	161,641	$	161,641	$	-	$	161,641	$	-
NOW and money market		537,940		537,940		-		537,940		-
Savings		96,664		96,664		-		96,664		-
Time deposits		630,282		627,169		-		-		627,169
Accrued interest payable		1,037		1,037		-		1,037		-
Advances from the FHLB		199,000		198,683		-		-		198,683
Subordinated debentures		25,116		24,824		-		-		24,824
Servicing liability		80		80		-		-		80

	December 31, 2017
	Carrying		Fair
	Value		Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Financial Assets:
Cash and due from banks	$	70,545	$	70,545	$	70,545	$	-	$	-
Federal funds sold		186		186		186		-		-
Available for sale securities		92,188		92,188		-		92,188		-
Held to maturity securities		21,579		22,836		-		1,119		21,717
Loans receivable, net		1,520,879		1,494,599		-		-		1,494,599
Accrued interest receivable		5,910		5,910		-		5,910		-
FHLB stock		9,183		9,183		-		9,183		-
Servicing asset		1,113		1,113		-		-		1,113
Derivative asset, net		2,034		2,034		-		2,034		-

Financial Liabilities:
Demand deposits	$	172,638	$	172,638	$	-	$	172,638	$	-
NOW and money market		510,746		510,746		-		510,746		-
Savings		83,758		83,758		-		83,758		-
Time deposits		631,263		629,532		-		-		629,532
Accrued interest payable		1,092		1,092		-		1,092		-
Advances from the FHLB		199,000		198,932		-		-		198,932
Subordinated debentures		25,103		25,547		-		-		25,547
Servicing Liability		83		83		-		-		83

The following methods and assumptions were used by management in estimating the fair value of its financial instruments:

Cash and due from banks, federal funds sold, accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable: The carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Available for sale and held to maturity securities: Fair values are based on quoted market prices or dealer quotes, if available. If a quoted market price is not available, fair value is estimated using quoted market prices for similar securities. Level 3 held to maturity securities represent private placement municipal housing authority bonds for which no quoted market price is available. The fair value for these securities is estimated using a discounted cash flow model, using discount rates ranging from 4.9% to 5.2% as of March 31, 2018 and 4.5% to 4.8% as of December 31, 2017. These securities are CRA eligible investments.

FHLB stock: The carrying value of FHLB stock approximates fair value based on the most recent redemption provisions of the FHLB.

Loans receivable: For variable rate loans which reprice frequently and have no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values. The fair value of fixed rate loans are estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities. In connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-01 on January 1, 2018, we refined our methodology to estimate the fair value of our loan portfolio using an exit price notion resulting in prior-periods no longer being comparable.

Derivative asset (liability): The valuation of the Company’s interest rate swaps is obtained from a third-party pricing service and is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. The pricing analysis is based on observable inputs for the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity and interest rate curves. The Bank also considers the creditworthiness of the counterparty for assets and the creditworthiness of the Bank for liabilities.

Servicing asset (liability): Servicing assets and liabilities do not trade in an active, open market with readily observable prices. The Company estimates the fair value of servicing assets and liabilities using discounted cash flow models incorporating numerous assumptions from the perspective of a market participant including market discount rates.

Deposits: The fair value of demand deposits, regular savings and certain money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of certificates of deposit and other time deposits is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities to a schedule of aggregated expected maturities on such deposits.

Borrowings and Subordinated Debentures: The fair value of the Company’s borrowings and subordinated debentures is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies discount rates currently offered based on similar maturities. The Bank also considers its own creditworthiness in determining the fair value of its borrowings and subordinated debt.

Off-balance-sheet instruments: Loan commitments on which the committed interest rate is less than the current market rate are insignificant at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

11. Fair Value Measurements

The Company is required to account for certain assets at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis. The Company determines fair value in accordance with GAAP, which defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:

Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

Level 2 — Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

Valuation techniques based on unobservable inputs are highly subjective and require judgments regarding significant matters such as the amount and timing of future cash flows and the selection of discount rates that may appropriately reflect market and credit risks. Changes in these judgments often have a material impact on the fair value estimates. In addition, since these estimates are as of a specific point in time they are susceptible to material near-term changes.

Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis

The following tables detail the financial instruments carried at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine the fair value. The Company had no transfers into or out of Levels 1, 2 or 3 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017.

	Fair Value
(In thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
March 31, 2018:
Available for sale investment securities:
U.S. Government and agency obligations	$	-	$	87,635	$	-
State agency and municipal obligations		-		4,384		-
Corporate bonds		-		7,031		-
Derivative asset, net		-		4,037		-

December 31, 2017:
Available for sale investment securities:
U.S. Government and agency obligations	$	-	$	72,774	$	-
State agency and municipal obligations		-		12,277		-
Corporate bonds		-		7,137		-
Derivative asset, net		-		2,034		-

Available for sale investment securities: The fair value of the Company’s investment securities are estimated by using pricing models or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics (i.e. matrix pricing) and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. The pricing is primarily sourced from third party pricing services, overseen by management.

Derivative assets and liabilities: The Company’s derivative assets and liabilities consist of transactions as part of management’s strategy to manage interest rate risk. The valuation of the Company’s interest rate swaps is obtained from a third-party pricing service and is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. The pricing analysis is based on observable inputs for the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity and interest rate curves. The Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Financial instruments measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis in accordance with GAAP. These include assets that are measured at the-lower-of-cost-or market that were recognized at fair value below cost at the end of the period as well as assets that are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment.

The following table details the financial instruments measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine the fair value:

	Fair Value
(In thousands)	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
March 31, 2018:
Impaired loans	$	-	$	-	$	33,466
Foreclosed real estate		-		-		487
Servicing asset, net		-		-		1,067

December 31, 2017:
Impaired loans	$	-	$	-	$	13,898
Servicing asset, net		-		-		1,030

The following table presents information about quantitative inputs and assumptions for Level 3 financial instruments carried at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

(Dollars in thousands)	Valuation Methodology	Unobservable Input	Range
March 31, 2018:

Impaired loans	Appraisals	Discount to appraised value		8.00 - 30.00%
	Discounted cash flows	Discount rate		3.25 - 7.25%

Foreclosed real estate	Appraisals	Discount to appraised value		8.00%

Servicing asset, net	Discounted cash flows	Discount rate		7.00 - 12.00%
		Prepayment rate		7.00 - 9.00%
December 31, 2017:

Impaired loans	Appraisals	Discount to appraised value		8.00 - 24.00%
	Discounted cash flows	Discount rate		3.25 - 6.75%

Servicing asset, net	Discounted cash flows	Discount rate		7.00 - 12.00%
		Prepayment rate		7.00 - 9.00%

Impaired loans: Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Periodically, the Company records nonrecurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans. Nonrecurring adjustments also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated in accordance with ASC 310-10 when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan. Collateral is typically valued using appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or other assumptions. Estimates of fair value based on collateral are generally based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and therefore such valuations have been classified as Level 3. For those loans where the primary source of repayment is cash flow from operations, adjustments include impairment amounts calculated based on the perceived collectability of interest payments on the basis of a discounted cash flow analysis utilizing a discount rate equivalent to the original note rate.

Foreclosed real estate: The Company classifies property acquired through foreclosure or acceptance of deed-in-lieu of foreclosure as foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets in its financial statements. Upon foreclosure, the property securing the loan is written down to fair value less selling costs. The write-down is based upon differences between the appraised value and the book value. Appraisals are based on observable market data such as comparable sales, however assumptions made in determining comparability are unobservable and therefore these assets are classified as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy.

Servicing assets and liabilities: When loans are sold, on a servicing retained basis, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized. The fair value of servicing assets and liabilities are not measured on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments when and if the assets are deemed to be impaired.

12. Subordinated debentures

On August 19, 2015 the Company completed a private placement of $25.5 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate subordinated notes (the “Notes”) to certain institutional investors. The Notes are non-callable for five years, have a stated maturity of August 15, 2025, and bear interest at a quarterly pay fixed rate of 5.75% per annum to the maturity date or the early redemption date.

The Notes have been structured to qualify for the Company as Tier 2 capital under regulatory guidelines. We used the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which included maintaining liquidity at the holding company, providing equity capital to the Bank to fund balance sheet growth and our working capital needs. The Notes were assigned an investment grade rating of BBB by Kroll Bond Rating Agency, which was reaffirmed in the third quarter of 2017.

13. Income Taxes

The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes at the statutory rates and makes several adjustments to arrive at the effective tax rate. The Company adjusts for non-deductible meals and entertainment, interest earned on municipal bonds, income earned on our investment in bank owned life insurance, windfall tax benefits resulting from restricted stock vesting and reductions in Connecticut state income tax from the establishment of a passive investment company.

Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 totaled $1.2 million and $1.7 million, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were 21.0%, and 31.9%, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is driven by a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% as a result of tax reform coming from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This section presents management’s perspective on our financial condition and results of operations. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this report on Form 10-Q. To the extent that this discussion describes prior performance, the descriptions relate only to the periods listed, which may not be indicative of future financial outcomes. In addition to historical information, this discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause results to differ materially from management’s expectations. Factors that could cause such differences are discussed in the Company’s Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2017 in the sections titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

General

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in New Canaan, Connecticut. Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Bankwell Bank, or the Bank, we serve small and medium-sized businesses and retail customers in the New York metropolitan area and throughout Connecticut with the majority of our loans in Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut. We have a history of building long-term customer relationships and attracting new customers through what we believe is our strong customer service and our ability to deliver a diverse product offering.

The following discussion and analysis presents our results of operations and financial condition on a consolidated basis. However, because we conduct all of our material business operations through the Bank, the discussion and analysis relates to activities primarily conducted at the Bank.

We generate most of our revenue from interest on loans and investments and fee-based revenues. Our primary source of funding for our loans is deposits. Our largest expenses are interest on these deposits and salaries and related employee benefits. We measure our performance primarily through our net interest margin, efficiency ratio, ratio of allowance for loan losses to total loans, return on average assets and return on average equity, among other metrics, while maintaining appropriate regulatory leverage and risk-based capital ratios.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from our current estimates, as a result of changing conditions and future events.

We believe that accounting estimates related to the measurement of the allowance for loan losses, stock-based compensation, derivative instrument valuation, investment securities valuation, evaluation of investment securities for other than temporary impairment and deferred income taxes valuation are particularly critical and susceptible to significant near-term change.

Executive Overview

We are focused on being the “Hometown” bank and the banking provider of choice in our highly attractive market area, and to serve as a locally based alternative to our larger competitors. We aim to do this through:

Responsive, customer-centric products and services and a community focus;

Strategic acquisitions;

Utilization of efficient and scalable infrastructure and;

Disciplined focus on risk management.

On November 5, 2013 we completed the merger of Wilton Bank into Bankwell Bank. The Wilton Bank had one branch located in Wilton, Connecticut.

On October 1, 2014 we completed the merger of Quinnipiac Bank and Trust Company into Bankwell Bank. Quinnipiac had one branch located in Hamden, Connecticut and a second branch located in the neighboring town of North Haven, Connecticut.

On November 20, 2015 the Company redeemed $10.98 million (10,980 shares) of preferred stock issued pursuant to the United States Department of Treasury ("Treasury") under the Small Business Lending Fund Program (the "SBLF"). The shares were redeemed at their liquidation value of $1,000 per share plus accrued dividends through November 20, 2015. The redemption was approved by the Company's primary federal regulator and was funded with the Company's surplus capital. With this redemption, the Company has redeemed all of its outstanding SBLF stock.

On January 31, 2018 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a $0.12 per share cash dividend, payable March 8, 2018 to shareholders of record on February 26, 2018.

Earnings Overview

Net income available to common shareholders was $4.6 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, and $3.7 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Returns on average equity and average assets for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were 11.35% and 1.03%, respectively, compared to 10.12% and 0.93%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, we had net interest income of $13.7 million, an increase of $0.8 million, or 5.8%, over the three months ended March 31, 2017. Our net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was 3.15% and 3.35%, respectively. We experienced a slight increase in our non-interest income, which totaled $1.33 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 representing 8.9% of our total revenue, up from $1.27 million, or 8.9% of total revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between interest earned on loans and securities and interest paid on deposits and other borrowings, and is the primary source of our operating income. Net interest income is affected by the level of interest rates, changes in interest rates and changes in the amount and composition of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Included in interest income are certain loan fees, such as deferred origination fees and late charges. We convert tax-exempt income to a FTE basis using the statutory federal income tax rate adjusted for applicable state income taxes net of the related federal tax benefit. The average balances are principally daily averages. Interest income on loans includes the effect of deferred loan fees and costs accounted for as yield adjustments. Premium amortization and discount accretion are included in the respective interest income and interest expense amounts.

FTE net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $13.8 million and $13.1 million, respectively. Net interest income was favorably impacted by higher average balances, offset by lower margins. Our net interest margin decreased 20 basis points to 3.15% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in the net interest margin was primarily due to higher rates on interest bearing deposits driven by rate increases to remain competitive in the marketplace.

FTE basis interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased by $2.1 million, or 12.7%, to $18.7 million, compared to FTE basis interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due primarily to loan growth in our commercial real estate and commercial business portfolios. Average interest-earning assets were $1.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2018, up by $184.6 million or 11.8% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. The average yield on interest earning assets increased slightly from 4.24% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to 4.28% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 due mainly to higher yields on construction and commercial business loans.

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018, increased by $1.4 million, or 40.6%, compared to interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 due to a $181.7 million increase in the average balances of interest-bearing liabilities due to higher average balances in money market accounts, time accounts and borrowed money, and increased rates on deposits, primarily due to increased rates on certificates of deposits and money market accounts to remain competitive in the marketplace.

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differential

The following tables present the average balances and yields earned on interest-earning assets and average balances and weighted average rates paid on our funding liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2018							2017
	Average				Yield /			Average				Yield /
(Dollars in thousands)	Balance		Interest		Rate ⁽⁵⁾			Balance		Interest		Rate ⁽⁵⁾
Assets:
Cash and Fed funds sold	$	69,164	$	254		1.49	%	$	68,416	$	114		0.68	%
Securities (1)		117,084		888		3.04			101,857		861		3.38
Loans:
Commercial real estate		976,294		10,868		4.45			854,733		9,684		4.53
Residential real estate		197,897		1,799		3.64			193,500		1,740		3.60
Construction (2)		95,384		1,146		4.81			105,320		1,249		4.74
Commercial business		280,812		3,597		5.12			228,422		2,826		4.95
Consumer		637		8		4.97			1,690		14		3.47
Total loans		1,551,024		17,418		4.49			1,383,665		15,513		4.48
Federal Home Loan Bank stock		9,306		118		5.12			8,020		79		3.98
Total earning assets		1,746,578	$	18,678		4.28	%		1,561,958	$	16,567		4.24	%
Other assets		66,794							59,681
Total assets	$	1,813,372						$	1,621,639

Liabilities and shareholders' equity:
Interest -bearing liabilities:
NOW	$	58,329	$	19		0.13	%	$	54,593	$	27		0.20	%
Money market		466,653		1,162		1.01			343,992		566		0.67
Savings		93,947		196		0.85			111,012		185		0.68
Time		625,728		2,279		1.48			595,452		1,803		1.23
Total interest-bearing deposits		1,244,657		3,656		1.19			1,105,049		2,581		0.95
Borrowed money		224,108		1,246		2.22			182,053		907		1.99
Total interest bearing liabilities		1,468,765		4,902		1.35	%		1,287,102		3,488		1.10	%
Noninterest-bearing deposits		166,289							174,795
Other liabilities		13,949							11,393
Total Liabilities		1,649,003							1,473,290
Shareholders' equity		164,369							148,349
Total liabilities and shareholders'
equity	$	1,813,372						$	1,621,639
Net interest income (3)			$	13,776						$	13,079
Interest rate spread						2.93	%						3.14	%
Net interest margin (4)						3.15	%						3.35	%

(1)

Average balances and yields for securities are based on amortized cost.

(2)

Includes commercial and residential real estate construction.

(3)

The adjustment for securities and loans taxable equivalency amounted to $71 thousand and $131 thousand, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

(4)

Annualized net interest income as a percentage of earning assets.

(5)

Yields are calculated using the contractual day count convention for each respective product type.

Effect of changes in interest rates and volume of average earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities

The following table shows the extent to which changes in interest rates and changes in the volume of average earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities have affected net interest income. For each category of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided relating to: changes in volume (changes in average balances multiplied by the prior year’s average interest rates); changes in rates (changes in average interest rates multiplied by the prior year’s average balances); and the total change. Changes attributable to both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately based on the relationship of the absolute dollar amount of change in each.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2018 vs 2017
	Increase (Decrease)
(In thousands)	Volume			Rate			Total
Interest and dividend income:
Cash and Fed funds sold	$	1		$	139		$	140
Securities		121			(94	)		27
Loans:
Commercial real estate		1,356			(172	)		1,184
Residential real estate		39			20			59
Construction		(119	)		16			(103	)
Commercial business		668			103			771
Consumer		(11	)		5			(6	)
Total loans		1,933			(28	)		1,905
Federal Home Loan Bank stock		14			25			39
Total change in interest and dividend income		2,069			42			2,111
Interest expense:
Deposits:
NOW		2			(10	)		(8	)
Money market		244			352			596
Savings		(31	)		42			11
Time		95			381			476
Total deposits		310			765			1,075
Borrowed money		226			113			339
Total change in interest expense		536			878			1,414
Change in net interest income	$	1,533		$	(836	)	$	697

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses is based on management’s periodic assessment of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses which, in turn, is based on such interrelated factors as the composition of our loan portfolio and its inherent risk characteristics, the level of nonperforming loans and net charge-offs, both current and historic, local economic and credit conditions, the direction of real estate values, and regulatory guidelines. The provision for loan losses is charged against earnings in order to maintain our allowance for loan losses and reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio at the balance sheet date.

The provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $13 thousand compared to $543 thousand provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For further information, see sections titled Asset Quality and Allowance for Loan Losses. The large decrease in the provision for loan losses was due to an update in our ALLL methodology as of December 31, 2017, as discussed in footnote 3.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income is a component of our revenue and is comprised primarily of fees generated from loan and deposit relationships with our customers, fees generated from sales and referrals of loans, income earned on bank-owned life insurance and gains on sales of investment securities.

The following table compares noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,				Change
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017		$			%
Gains and fees from sales of loans	$	370	$	324	$	46			14	%
Bank owned life insurance		263		291		(28	)		(10	)
Service charges and fees		256		240		16			7
Net gain on sale of available for sale securities		222		165		57			35
Other		222		246		(24	)		(10	)
Total noninterest income	$	1,333	$	1,266	$	67			5	%

Noninterest income increased $67 thousand or 5% to $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in noninterest income was primarily driven by an increase in gains and fees from the sales of loans and a gain on sale of available for sale securities. Gain and fees from the sale of loans totaled $370 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to $324 thousand for the same period in 2017, an increase of $46 thousand. The gain on sale of available for sale securities totaled $222 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to a $165 thousand gain on the sale of available for sale securities for the same period in 2017.

Noninterest Expense

The following table compares noninterest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and 2017:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,				Change
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017		$			%
Salaries and employee benefits	$	5,028	$	3,929	$	1,099			28	%
Occupancy and equipment		1,617		1,692		(75	)		(4	)
Professional services		775		412		363			88
Data processing		525		445		80			18
Marketing		297		266		31			12
Director fees		215		233		(18	)		(8	)
FDIC insurance		214		383		(169	)		(44	)
Amortization of intangibles		24		31		(7	)		(23	)
Foreclosed real estate		-		7		(7	)		(100	)
Other		508		836		(328	)		(39	)
Total noninterest expense	$	9,203	$	8,234	$	969			12	%

Noninterest expense increased $969 thousand or 12% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in salaries and employee benefits and an increase in professional services. Salaries and employee benefits totaled $5.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to $3.9 million for the same period in 2017, an increase of $1.1 million. The increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily driven by an increase in full time equivalent employees. The increase in full time equivalent employees is in line with year over year business growth and to a lesser degree, buildup of staffing for the three new branch locations expected to open in the second quarter of 2018. Full time equivalent employees totaled 144 at March 31, 2018 compared to 127 at March 31, 2017. Professional services totaled $775 thousand for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to $412 thousand for the same period in 2017, an increase of $363 thousand. The increase in professional services was primarily driven by increases in audit related expenses.

Income Taxes

Financial Condition

Summary

At March 31, 2018, total assets were $1.8 billion, a $34.6 million, or 1.9%, increase over December 31, 2017. Total loans and deposits were $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively at March 31, 2018. Total shareholders’ equity at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $165.9 million and $161.0 million, respectively. Tangible book value was $21.12 per share at March 31, 2018 compared to $20.59 per share at December 31, 2017.

Loan Portfolio

We originate commercial real estate loans, including construction loans, commercial business loans and other consumer loans. Lending activities are primarily conducted within our market of the New York metropolitan area, including the Fairfield and New Haven County regions of Connecticut. Our loan portfolio is the largest category of our earning assets.

Total loans before deferred loan fees and the allowance for loan losses were $1.6 billion at March 31, 2018, up by $13.4 million, or 0.9%, from December 31, 2017. Loan growth was primarily driven by growth in commercial real estate loans totaling $18.7 million, offset by a reduction in construction loans totaling $14.3 million.

The following table compares the composition of our loan portfolio for the dates indicated:

(In thousands)	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017		Change
Real estate loans:
Residential	$	195,638	$	193,524	$	2,114
Commercial		1,005,962		987,242		18,720
Construction		87,309		101,636		(14,327	)
		1,288,909		1,282,402		6,507
Commercial business		267,052		259,995		7,057
Consumer		446		619		(173	)
Total loans	$	1,556,407	$	1,543,016	$	13,391

Asset Quality

We actively manage asset quality through our underwriting practices and collection operations. Our board of directors monitors credit risk management through two committees, the Directors Loan Committee (DLC) and the Audit Committee. The DLC has primary oversight responsibility for the credit granting function including approval authority for credit granting policies, review of management’s credit granting activities and approval of large exposure credit requests. The Audit Committee oversees management’s systems and procedures to monitor the credit quality of our loan portfolio and the loan review program. These committees report the results of their respective oversight functions to our Board of Directors. In addition, our Board of Directors receives information concerning asset quality measurements and trends on a monthly basis. While we continue to adhere to prudent underwriting standards, our loan portfolio is not immune to potential negative consequences arising as a result of general economic weakness such as, a prolonged downturn in the housing market on a national scale. Decreases in real estate values could adversely affect the value of property used as collateral for loans. In addition, adverse changes in the economy could have a negative effect on the ability of borrowers to make scheduled loan payments, which would likely have an adverse impact on earnings.

The Company has established credit policies applicable to each type of lending activity in which it engages. The Company evaluates the creditworthiness of each customer and extends credit of up to 80% of the market value of the collateral, depending on the borrowers’ creditworthiness and the type of collateral. The borrower’s ability to service the debt is monitored on an ongoing basis. Real estate is the primary form of collateral. Other important forms of collateral are business assets, time deposits and marketable securities. While collateral provides assurance as a secondary source of repayment, the Company ordinarily requires the primary source of repayment to be based on the borrower’s ability to generate continuing cash flows. In the fourth quarter of 2017 management made the strategic decision to no longer originate residential mortgage loans. The Company’s policy for residential lending allowed that, generally, the amount of the loan may not exceed 80% of the original appraised value of the property. In certain situations, the amount may have exceeded 80% LTV either with private mortgage insurance being required for that portion of the residential loan in excess of 80% of the appraised value of the property or where secondary financing is provided by a housing authority program second mortgage, a community’s low/moderate income housing program, a religious or civic organization.

Credit risk management involves a partnership between our relationship managers and our credit approval, portfolio management, credit administration and collections personnel. Disciplined underwriting, portfolio monitoring and early problem recognition are important aspects of maintaining our high credit quality standards and low levels of nonperforming assets since our inception in 2002.

Nonperforming assets totaled $20.9 million and represented 1.14% of total assets at March 31, 2018, compared to $5.5 million and 0.31% of total assets at December 31, 2017. Nonaccrual loans totaled $20.4 million at March 31, 2018, an increase of $14.9 million compared to December 31, 2017. The increase in nonaccrual loans is primarily driven by two recently impaired commercial real estate loans. The allowance for loan losses was $18.8 million, representing 1.21% of total loans and $18.9 million, representing 1.23% of total loans at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The balance of foreclosed real estate totaled $487 thousand at March 31, 2018. There was no foreclosed real estate at December 31, 2017.

Nonperforming assets. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans and property acquired through foreclosures or repossession. The following table presents nonperforming assets and additional asset quality data for the dates indicated:

*(In thousands)*	At March 31, 2018			At December 31, 2017
Nonaccrual loans:
Real estate loans:
Residential	$	3,498		$	1,590
Commercial		15,641			3,371
Commercial business		1,235			520
Total non accrual loans		20,374			5,481
Property acquired through foreclosure or repossession, net		487			-
Total nonperforming assets	$	20,861		$	5,481

Nonperforming assets to total assets		1.14	%		0.31	%
Nonaccrual loans to total loans		1.31	%		0.36	%
Total past due loans to total loans		1.35	%		1.67	%

Allowance for Loan Losses

We evaluate the adequacy of the allowance at least quarterly, and in determining our allowance for loan losses, we estimate losses on specific loans, or groups of loans, where the probable loss can be identified and reasonably determined. The balance of our allowance for loan losses is based on internally assigned risk classifications of loans, the Bank’s and peer banks’ historical loss experience, changes in the nature of the loan portfolio, overall portfolio quality, industry concentrations, delinquency trends, current economic factors and the estimated impact of current economic conditions on certain historical loan loss rates.

Our general practice is to identify problem credits early and recognize full or partial charge-offs as promptly as practicable when it is determined that it is probable that the loan will not be repaid according to its original contractual terms, including principal and interest. Full or partial charge-offs on collateral dependent impaired loans are recognized when the collateral is deemed to be insufficient to support the carrying value of the loan. We do not recognize a recovery when an updated appraisal indicates a subsequent increase in value of the collateral.

Our charge-off policies, which comply with standards established by our banking regulators, are consistently applied from period to period. Charge-offs are recorded on a monthly basis, as incurred. Partially charged-off loans continue to be evaluated on a monthly basis and additional charge-offs or loan loss provisions may be recorded on the remaining loan balance based on the same criteria.

The following tables present the activity in our allowance for loan losses and related ratios for the dates indicated, and include both originated and acquired allowance activity:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2018			2017
Balance at beginning of period	$	18,904		$	17,982
Charge-offs:
Commercial real estate		(18	)		-
Commercial business		(96	)		-
Consumer		(3	)		(15	)
Total charge-offs		(117	)		(15	)
Recoveries:
Consumer		1			1
Total recoveries		1			1
Net charge-offs		(116	)		(14	)
Provision charged to earnings		13			543
Balance at end of period	$	18,801		$	18,511
Net charge-offs to average loans		0.01	%		0.00	%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans		1.21	%		1.30	%

At March 31, 2018, our allowance for loan losses was $18.8 million and represented 1.21% of total loans, compared to $18.9 million, or 1.23% of total loans, at December 31, 2017. The net decrease in the allowance was primarily a result of updating our allowance for loan loss methodology in the fourth quarter of 2017, offset by an increase in reserves due to loan growth.

The following tables present the allocation of the allowance for loan losses and the percentage of these loans to total loans for the dates indicated:

	At March 31,					At December 31,
	2018					2017
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Percent of Loan Portfolio			Amount		Percent of Loan Portfolio
Residential real estate	$	1,695		12.57	%	$	1,721		12.54	%
Commercial real estate		12,645		64.63			12,777		63.98
Construction		767		5.61			907		6.59
Commercial business		3,692		17.16			3,498		16.85
Consumer		2		0.03			1		0.04
Total allowance for loan losses	$	18,801		100.00	%	$	18,904		100.00	%

The allocation of the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2018 reflects our assessment of credit risk and probable loss within each portfolio. We believe that the level of the allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2018 is appropriate to cover probable losses.

Reserve for Unfunded Commitments

The reserve for unfunded commitments provides for probable losses inherent with funding the unused portion of legal commitments to lend. The unfunded reserve calculation is primarily based on our ALLL methodology for funded loans, adjusted for utilization expectations. The reserve for unfunded credit commitments is included within other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, and changes in the reserve are reported as a component of other expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Investment Securities

At March 31, 2018, the carrying value of our investment securities portfolio totaled $120.6 million and represented 6.6% of total assets, compared to $113.8 million and represented 6.3% of total assets at December 31, 2017. The increase of $6.8 million primarily reflects purchases of U.S Government and agency obligations. We purchase investment grade securities with a focus on earnings and duration exposure.

The net unrealized loss position on our investment portfolio at March 31, 2018 was $1.2 million and included gross unrealized losses of $1.9 million. The net unrealized gain on our investment portfolio at December 31, 2017 was $1.4 million and included gross unrealized losses of $292 thousand. The gross unrealized losses were concentrated in U.S. government and agency obligations. The U.S. Government and agency obligations owned are either direct obligations of the U.S. Government or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, therefore the contractual cash flows are guaranteed and as a result the unrealized losses in this portfolio are not considered other than temporarily impaired.

Deposit Activities and Other Sources of Funds

	At March 31,								At December 31,
	2018								2017
(Dollars in thousands)	Amount		Percent			Weighted Average Rate			Amount		Percent			Weighted Average Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand	$	161,641		11.33	%		-	%	$	172,638		12.35	%		-	%
NOW		58,416		4.09			0.13			58,942		4.21			0.16
Money market		479,524		33.62			1.01			451,804		32.31			0.85
Savings		96,664		6.78			0.85			83,758		5.99			0.74
Time		630,282		44.18			1.48			631,263		45.14			1.33
Total deposits	$	1,426,527		100.00	%		1.19	%	$	1,398,405		100.00	%		1.06	%

Total deposits were $1.4 billion at March 31, 2018, an increase of $28.1 million, from the balance at December 31, 2017, primarily reflecting increases in money market accounts. Money markets increased $27.7 million from $451.8 million at December 31, 2017 to $479.5 million at March 31, 2018. Brokered deposits totaled $41.9 million at March 31, 2018 and represent brokered certificates of deposit, brokered money market accounts, one way CDARS and reciprocal deposits for customers that desire FDIC protection. Brokered deposits are utilized as an additional source of funding.

Time deposits, excluding CDARS and brokered deposits, increased by $1.4 million, or 0.2%, from December 31, 2017. Time deposits, excluding CDARS and brokered deposits were $588.4 million at March 31, 2018 compared to the December 31, 2017 balance of $586.9 million. CDARS and brokered deposits were $41.9 million at March 31, 2018 compared to $44.3 million at December 31, 2017. Noninterest bearing demand deposits decreased $11.0 million, or 6%, and NOW accounts decreased $0.5 million, or 1%. Savings accounts were $96.7 million at March 31, 2018, up by $12.9 million, or 15%, from December 31, 2017.

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, time deposits, excluding CDARS and brokered deposits, with a denomination of $100 thousand or more totaled $463.9 million and $463.3 million, respectively, maturing during the periods indicated in the table below:

	March 31,		December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)	2018		2017
Maturing:
Within 3 months	$	98,547	$	45,263
After 3 but within 6 months		60,870		95,989
After 6 months but within 1 year		132,471		142,380
After 1 year		172,015		179,655
Total	$	463,903	$	463,287

We utilize advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, or FHLB, as part of our overall funding strategy and to meet short-term liquidity needs and to a lesser degree manage interest rate risk arising from the difference in asset and liability maturities. Total FHLB advances were $199.0 million at both March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

The Bank has additional borrowing capacity at the FHLB up to a certain percentage of the value of qualified collateral. In accordance with agreements with the FHLB, the qualified collateral must be free and clear of liens, pledges and encumbrances. At March 31, 2018, the Company has pledged $769.9 million of eligible loans as collateral to support borrowing capacity at the FHLB of Boston. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had immediate availability to borrow an additional $253.4 million based on qualified collateral.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity Management

Liquidity is defined as the ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet all present and future funding requirements at reasonable costs. Our primary source of liquidity is deposits. While our generally preferred funding strategy is to attract and retain low cost deposits, our ability to do so is affected by competitive interest rates and terms in the marketplace. Other sources of funding include discretionary use of purchased liabilities (e.g., FHLB term advances and other borrowings), cash flows from our investment securities portfolios, loan sales, loan repayments and earnings. Investment securities designated as available for sale may also be sold in response to short-term or long-term liquidity needs.

The Company’s liquidity positions are monitored daily by management. The Asset Liability Committee or ALCO establishes guidelines to ensure maintenance of prudent levels of liquidity. ALCO reports to the Company’s board of directors.

The Bank has a detailed liquidity funding policy and a contingency funding plan that provide for the prompt and comprehensive response to unexpected demands for liquidity. We employ a stress testing methodology to estimate needs for contingent funding that could result from unexpected outflows of funds in excess of “business as usual” cash flows. The Bank has established unsecured borrowing capacity with the Atlantic Community Bankers Bank (ACBB) (formerly Bankers’ Bank Northeast) and Zion’s Bank and also maintains additional collateralized borrowing capacity with the FHLB in excess of levels used in the ordinary course of business. Our sources of liquidity include cash, unpledged investment securities, borrowings from the FHLB, lines of credit from Zion’s Bank and ACBB, and the brokered deposit market.

The Company anticipates that it will have sufficient funds available to meet its current loan and other commitments. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $83.4 million and available-for-sale securities of $99.1 million. At March 31, 2018, outstanding commitments to originate loans totaled $35.2 million and undisbursed funds from approved lines of credit, home equity lines of credit and secured commercial lines of credit totaled $177.7 million.

Capital Resources

Total shareholders’ equity was $165.9 million at March 31, 2018 compared to $161.0 million at December 31, 2017. The increase of $4.9 million primarily reflected net income of $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The ratio of total equity to total assets was 9.06% at March 31, 2018, which compares to 8.96% at December 31, 2017. Tangible book value per common share at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 was $21.12 and $20.59, respectively.

The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. At March 31, 2018, the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which it was subject and exceeded the regulatory minimum capital levels to be considered well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. At March 31, 2018, the Bank’s ratio of total common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets was 11.18%, total capital to risk-weighted assets was 12.35%, Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets was 11.18% and Tier 1 capital to average assets was 9.90%.

In July 2013, the Federal Reserve published Basel III rules establishing a new comprehensive capital framework of U.S. banking organizations. Under the rules, effective January 1, 2015 for the Company and Bank, the minimum capital ratios became a) 4.5% “Common Equity Tier 1” to risk-weighted assets, b) 6.0% Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets and c) 8.0% total capital to risk-weighted assets. In addition, the new regulations imposed certain limitations on dividends, share buy-backs, discretionary payments on Tier 1 instruments and discretionary bonuses to executive officers if the organization does not maintain a capital conservation buffer for regulatory risk based capital ratios in an amount greater than 2.5% of its risk-weighted assets, in addition to the amount needed to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements, phased in over a 5 year period until January 1, 2019. The conservation buffer will be phased in incrementally, starting at 0.625% on January 1, 2016 and increased to 1.25% on January 1, 2017, 1.875% on January 1, 2018 and 2.5% on January 1, 2019. Accordingly, while these rules started to be phased in on January 1, 2015 (and the capital conservation buffer on January 1, 2016), the Company believes it is well positioned to meet the requirements as they become effective.

On January 31, 2018 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a $0.12 per share cash dividend, payable March 8, 2018 to shareholders of record on February 26, 2018.

Asset/Liability Management and Interest Rate Risk

We measure interest rate risk using simulation analysis to calculate earnings and equity at risk. These risk measures are quantified using simulation software from one of the leading firms in the field of asset/liability modeling. Key assumptions relate to the behavior of interest rates and spreads, prepayment speeds and the run-off of deposits. From such simulations, interest rate risk, or IRR, is quantified and appropriate strategies are formulated and implemented. We model IRR by using two primary risk measurement techniques: simulation of net interest income and simulation of economic value of equity. These two measurements are complementary and provide both short-term and long-term risk profiles for the Company. Because both base line simulations assume that our balance sheet will remain static over the simulation horizon, the results do not reflect adjustments in strategy that ALCO could implement in response to rate shifts. The simulation analyses are updated quarterly based on data obtained one month prior to quarter end. The Company believes the one month lag has no material impact to the sensitivities presented.

We use net interest income at risk simulation to measure the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market rates. This simulation captures underlying product behaviors, such as asset and liability repricing dates, balloon dates, interest rate indices and spreads, rate caps and floors, as well as other behavioral attributes. The simulation of net interest income also requires a number of key assumptions such as: (i) prepayment projections for loans and securities that are projected under each interest rate scenario using internal and external mortgage analytics; (ii) new business loan rates that are based on recent new business origination experience; and (iii) deposit pricing assumptions for non-maturity deposits reflecting the Bank’s limited history, management judgment and core deposit studies. Combined, these assumptions can be inherently uncertain, and as a result, actual results may differ from simulation forecasts due to the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate changes, future business conditions, as well as unanticipated changes in management strategies.

We use two sets of standard scenarios to measure net interest income at risk. For the “core” scenario, rate changes are ramped over a twelve-month horizon based upon a parallel yield curve shift and then maintained at those levels over the remainder of the simulation horizon. Parallel shock scenarios assume instantaneous parallel movements in the yield curve compared to a flat yield curve scenario. Simulation analysis involves projecting a future balance sheet structure and interest income and expense under the various rate scenarios. Internal policy regarding internal rate risk simulations currently specifies that for instantaneous parallel shifts of the yield curve, estimated net interest income at risk for the subsequent one-year period should not decline by more than: 6% for a 100 basis point shift; 12% for a 200 basis point shift; and 18% for a 300 basis point shift.

The following tables set forth the estimated percentage change in our net interest income at risk over one-year simulation periods beginning March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

Parallel Ramp	Estimated Percent Change
	in Net Interest Income
	March 31,			December 31,
Rate Changes (basis points)	2018			2017
-100		(1.50	)%		(2.00	)%
+200		(5.90	)		(4.30	)

Parallel Shock	Estimated Percent Change
	in Net Interest Income
	March 31,			December 31,
Rate Changes (basis points)	2018			2017
-100		(3.40	)%		(4.70	)%
+100		(5.50	)		(3.40	)
+200		(11.60	)		(7.30	)
+300		(17.50	)		(11.50	)

The net interest income at risk simulation results indicate that as of March 31, 2018, we remain liability sensitive. The liability sensitivity is due to the fact that there are more liabilities than assets subject to repricing as market rates change.

We conduct economic value of equity at risk simulation in tandem with net interest income simulations, to ascertain a longer term view of our interest rate risk position by capturing longer-term re-pricing risk and options risk embedded in the balance sheet. It measures the sensitivity of economic value of equity to changes in interest rates. Economic value of equity at risk simulation values only the current balance sheet and does not incorporate the growth assumptions used in one of the income simulations. As with the net interest income simulation, this simulation captures product characteristics such as loan resets, repricing terms, maturity dates, rate caps and floors. Key assumptions include loan prepayment speeds, deposit pricing elasticity and non-maturity deposit attrition rates. These assumptions can have significant impacts on valuation results as the assumptions remain in effect for the entire life of each asset and liability. All key assumptions are subject to a periodic review.

Base case economic value of equity at risk is calculated by estimating the net present value of all future cash flows from existing assets and liabilities using current interest rates. The base case scenario assumes that future interest rates remain unchanged.

The following table sets forth the estimated percentage change in our economic value of equity at risk, assuming various shifts in interest rates:

	Estimated Percent Change
	in Economic Value of Equity
	March 31,			December 31,
Rate Changes (basis points)	2018			2017
-100		0.60	%		(1.60	)%
+100		(12.10	)		(10.10	)
+200		(26.60	)		(22.90	)
+300		(37.40	)		(32.80	)

While ALCO reviews and updates simulation assumptions and also periodically back-tests the simulation results to ensure that the assumptions are reasonable and current, income simulation may not always prove to be an accurate indicator of interest rate risk or future net interest margin. Over time, the repricing, maturity and prepayment characteristics of financial instruments and the composition of our balance sheet may change to a different degree than estimated. Due to the low current level of market interest rates, the banking industry has experienced relatively strong growth in low-cost FDIC insured core deposits over the past several years. ALCO recognizes that a portion of these increased levels of low-cost balances could shift into higher yielding alternatives in the future, particularly if interest rates rise and as confidence in financial markets strengthens, and has modeled increased amounts of deposit shifts out of these low-cost categories into higher-cost alternatives in the rising rate simulation scenarios presented above.

It should be noted that the static balance sheet assumption does not necessarily reflect our expectation for future balance sheet growth, which is a function of the business environment and customer behavior. Another significant simulation assumption is the sensitivity of core deposits to fluctuations in interest rates. Income simulation results assume that changes in both core savings deposit rates and balances are related to changes in short-term interest rates. Lastly, mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans involve a level of risk that unforeseen changes in prepayment speeds may cause related cash flows to vary significantly in differing rate environments. Such changes could affect the level of reinvestment risk associated with cash flow from these instruments, as well as their market value. Changes in prepayment speeds could also increase or decrease the amortization of premium or accretion of discounts related to such instruments, thereby affecting interest income.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk Management

Interest rate risk management is our primary market risk. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis” herein for a discussion of our management of our interest rate risk.

Impact of Inflation

Our financial statements and related data contained in this annual report have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, which require the measure of financial position and operating results in terms of historic dollars, without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation.

Inflation generally increases the costs of funds and operating overhead, and to the extent loans and other assets bear variable rates, the yields on such assets. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates generally have a more significant effect on the performance of a financial institution than the effects of general levels of inflation. In addition, inflation affects a financial institution’s cost of goods and services purchased, the cost of salaries and benefits, occupancy expense and similar items. Inflation and related increases in interest rates generally decrease the market value of investments and loans held and may adversely affect liquidity, earnings and shareholders’ equity.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of March 31, 2018, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our disclosure controls, procedures and internal control over financial reporting were not effective as of March 31, 2018 as a result of an identified material weakness, as described in the Company's 2017 Form 10-K, resulting from the aggregation of control deficiencies in management’s review of the allowance for loan losses, including certain process level controls to ensure the completeness and accuracy of loan reports used in the classification of loans as well as the precision of management’s review over the calculation of the allowance for loan losses balance. This material weakness did not result in any misstatement of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, including the allowance for loan losses, for any period presented. The Company's remediation efforts related to this material weakness are ongoing. Excluding the changes outlined below, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Remediation Plan for Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In response to the material weakness identified above, the Company has hired an internal audit manager to supplement internal and external resources dedicated to the documentation and testing of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and has implemented additional controls to increase the precision in the review of the calculation of the allowance for loan losses. As of the date of this filing, the Company has concluded that the material weakness has not been fully remediated.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company and the Bank are periodically involved in various legal proceedings as normal incident to their businesses. In the opinion of management, no material loss is expected from any such pending lawsuit.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

31.1		Certification of Christopher R. Gruseke pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)

31.2		Certification of Penko Ivanov pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)

32		Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101		The following materials from Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.
Date: May 10, 2018		/s/ Christopher R. Gruseke
		Christopher R. Gruseke
		President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 10, 2018		/s/ Penko Ivanov
		Penko Ivanov
		Executive Vice President and Chief
		Financial Officer
		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)