• Finward Bancorp’s third-quarter 2026 net income fell 35% from the previous quarter to $1.36 million.
• Net interest income rose 5% quarter-over-quarter to $15.94 million.
• Non-interest expense climbed 14% from the previous quarter to $16.98 million, primarily due to merger-related compensation adjustments and professional services costs.
• The pending merger with First Financial continued toward closing; management reported stable credit quality and core banking business.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Finward Bancorp published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 20261027688364) on October 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.