Gail E. D. Brathwaite Joins Bankwell Financial Group Board of Directors

New Canaan, CT – Christopher R. Gruseke, President & CEO of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc., announced that Gail E. D. Brathwaite has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. and Bankwell Bank, effective March 29, 2017.

Ms. Brathwaite joined Bankwell as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2013, bringing over 30 years of experience in the areas of retail banking, mortgage banking operations, IT, human resources and M&A. Following her departure in 2015, she continued to provide consulting services to the company.

Ms. Brathwaite played an instrumental role in Bankwell's transformation and growth as Chief Operating Officer, including the acquisitions/mergers of The Wilton Bank and Quinnipiac Bank & Trust.

Ms. Brathwaite is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of G.E.D.B. Consulting. Prior to her position as COO at Bankwell, Ms. Brathwaite was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NewAlliance Bank from 2002 to 2011. Before joining NewAlliance, Ms. Brathwaite was SVP, Director of Branch Administration and Compliance and Loss Control at The Dime Savings Bank in New York.

Ms. Brathwaite said "I am honored to serve as a Director for Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. and Bankwell Bank".

Christopher Gruseke, Bankwell’s Chief Executive Officer said, “With her extensive experience and expertise in executive and operating roles in banking and her knowledge of Bankwell in particular, Ms. Brathwaite will provide a valuable perspective to the Board. We look forward to further benefitting from her insights and expertise.”

About Bankwell Financial Group

Bankwell is a commercial bank that serves the banking and lending needs of residents and businesses throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, CT. For more information about this press release, interested parties may contact Christopher R. Gruseke, President and Chief Executive Officer or Penko Ivanov, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bankwell Financial Group at (203) 652-0166.

For more information, visit www.mybankwell.com.

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