Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / NorthWest Indiana Bancorp

NorthWest Indiana Bancorp

nwin · OTC Financial Services
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Ticker nwin
Exchange OTC
Sector Financial Services
Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 51-200
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FY2020 Annual Report · NorthWest Indiana Bancorp
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BETTER BANKING
KEEPS
MOVING FORWARD

(Subsidiary of NorthWest Indiana Bancorp)

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
9204 Columbia Avenue, Munster, IN 46321

Member FDIC

ibankpeoples.com   |   219.836.4400

2020 
ANNUAL 
REPORT

On March 3, The Bancorp’s shareholders voted on and approved a proposal to change the name of the Bancorp from “NorthWest 
Indiana Bancorp” to “Finward Bancorp.” The Bancorp has filed the appropriate documents with the Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) to effectuate the name change for purposes of trading on the OTC Pink Marketplace. The Bancorp also has 
requested that FINRA approve a new trading symbol reflecting the Bancorp’s new name. FINRA has not yet declared an effective 
date of the name change, and we are awaiting notification from FINRA as to the effective date of the name change and approval of 
the new trading symbol. The Bancorp will provide such information in a future filing or press release. The Bancorp’s common stock 
will remain quoted on the OTC Pink Marketplace under the current symbol “NWIN” until the new symbol is assigned by FINRA.

MOVING FORWARD
and keeping what makes us great.

As NorthWest Indiana Bancorp looked forward in 
2020, our focus was to remain competitive with today’s 
financial institutions and to commit to the future of 
banking. With that in mind, NWIN made the decision  
to undergo a full rebrand, including a new name and 
logo. This decision sparked many different ideas, and  
a few key concepts became apparent: the new name 
should stand out against competing brands as modern 
and unique, and represent best-in-class, forward-
thinking financial services. From these core ideas, 
Finward Bancorp was born.  

Finward remains true to the core values and mission 
of Peoples Bank. We are guided by our mission to help 
our customers and communities be more successful, 
and grounded in the shared values of Stability, 
Integrity, Community, and Excellence. These values are 
encompassed in both the new brand name and logo.  
The new chevron logo exemplifies Finward Bancorp  
as a financial institution that is always moving forward. 
The name is a combination of two ideas: financial 
services and forward. Together, these two essential 
ideas combine to create something stronger: Finward. 

Finward is a financial institution that stays ahead of 
the curve and works with its stakeholders to achieve 
greater collective success. Taking financial services 
forward is also a key part of how we create value  
for the shareholders that invest in us. It also reflects 
the company’s commitment to invest in technology  
that enhances the customer experience and drives 
operating efficiency. 

The new name also reflects that the operating company, 
Peoples Bank, has expanded beyond its original core 
markets in Northwest Indiana. Peoples Bank now serves 
customers in both Indiana and Illinois, and continues 
to look toward further growth in both markets. The 
change underscores the company’s decision to grow 
in the greater Chicagoland market. Finward instills 
confidence that our company is continually striving to 
meet the needs of its customers, remain relevant in the 
financial services landscape, and to create value for its 
shareholders. 

1

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

STABILITY

COMMUNITY

TO NORTHWEST INDIANA 
BANCORP SHAREHOLDERS 

Benjamin Bochnowski
President, CEO

David A. Bochnowski
Executive Chairman

As we transitioned into 2020, Peoples Bank was excited for the year ahead. We were 
coming off the back of another successful merger integration, and the economy looked 
bright. Our strategic plans had positioned us to take advantage of the great economic 
conditions we all foresaw for the year. As we wrote this letter last year, there were 
clouds on the horizon, but no one could have foretold the impact of COVID-19 on our 
company, our industry, and our nation. At the time, we made mention that our company 
was built to weather whatever came our way; we believe that we proved that over the 
course of 2020, and emerged a stronger company for it as we look toward a post-
COVID future.  

When the pandemic hit, we took action. Operations and strategy had to pivot in real 
time. We navigated the crisis grounded in our values: Stability, Integrity, Community, 
and Excellence. Three simple concepts guided management as we made our way 
through the uncertainty:

• Maintain the health of our team, our community, and our customers 

• Ensure stability of operations

• Manage risk for future stability

Our response exemplified our resilience and further strengthened how we do business. 
Through our commitment to our customers and our team, we emerged a more capable 
financial institution and are ready to face the new and exciting opportunities that lie ahead. 

A YEAR OF CHALLENGES  

COVID-19 has impacted all of us in some way over the past year. As governors began issuing stay-at-home orders, 
we rapidly transitioned to a remote operating environment like many businesses across the country. We rethought 
how we delivered banking services, retooled to leverage electronic banking and collaboration software, and 
remained open and available for our customers and community at a time when they needed us most. 

The macroeconomic environment left in the wake of the pandemic created unprecedented challenges. By the 
spring of 2020, unemployment rates dwarfed the Great Recession and interest rates plummeted. Pressure came 
from all sides, and we acted to stabilize our margin. As our customers struggled to understand the impacts of 
COVID-19 on their lives and businesses, we worked with them in order to ensure their success. 

SUCCESS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY

Peoples Bank had a record year, and simultaneously built capital for future growth and reserves to prepare for 
continued economic uncertainty. We expanded our customer base during the pandemic, and posted 37.3% earnings 
growth. We met customer demands and continued to create value by effectively capitalizing on opportunities in the 
local market. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a great success, originating $91.5 million in loans and 
bringing in 201 new business customers. Our mortgage platform is built for scale, and we were able to act as 
demand increased, seen by our increased gain on sale of mortgage loans of 266.4%. Wealth Management income 
was likewise up 12% in a difficult year. We stayed true to our values and focused on success. Every measure of  
profitability was improved from the previous year. Those results gave us the confidence and track record to announce 
our intent to list on the NASDAQ, as well as the exciting rebranding of the holding company to Finward Bancorp. 

Over the past year, we accomplished our strategic objectives and more. Peoples Bank finalized its transition from a 
savings bank to a commercial bank, and began implementing key technologies that will unlock potential for our 
business. Executive Management is well positioned to carry out our strategic plans for growth, efficiency, technology, 
and talent.  

STRONGER TOGETHER  

As COVID-19 threatened our communities, emotions were charged by a nationwide call for social change. In the 
midst of political discord and social unrest, we listened, reflected, and challenged ourselves to do better. Guided 
by our core values, we made a commitment to unite against racism, inequality, and injustice. We established a 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team to embrace the diversity of our workforce and identify internal barriers 
to success. From the customers, communities, and shareholders we serve to our dedicated employees who serve 
them, we are all connected in our mission, and will continue to embrace our diverse backgrounds as we grow 
stronger together.   

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE  

2021 started with forward momentum stemming from the strength of character and hard work of the previous 
year. We are incredibly proud of the Peoples Bank family and the tremendous efforts that went into making 2020 
a success. Actions big and small – too many to count or recount – lifted our company. Technology investments and 
efficiency improvements over the past year will pave the way for continued growth.  

We would be remiss if we did not also recognize the numerous external partners that helped us in our success last 
year. While many challenges remain from the pandemic, our company is optimistic for 2021. We will continue to 
draw on the strength of our past and we remain confident that NorthWest Indiana Bancorp is well positioned for 
the future of financial services.    

2020 was a year unlike any other. As the coronavirus 
swept across our nation, life was put on hold for many.  
At Peoples Bank, we were prepared and ready to make 
sure we were there for our customers and communities 
when they needed us most. Faced with a constantly 
changing operating environment, we had to balance 
our priorities amid heightened concerns for everyone’s 
physical health and well-being. 

The pandemic increased demand for remote and at-home 
services for both customers and staff. We invested 
time and resources in our digital and mobile banking 
products, and re-engineered our daily operations in order 
to meet the needs of our customers. Our IT department 

worked tirelessly to equip our workforce for remote work 
in order to reduce in-person interactions. Employee 
health and safety continues to be our top priority as  
we get “back to business.” 

In the end, our Business Continuity Plan was tested  
and worked. We were skilled at making decisions  
on-the-fly because we trusted in the process and each 
other. Our tenacious team was armed with a solid plan, 
technology solutions, and we made good on our promise 
of stability. We kept our customers and employees 
healthy and connected, and delivered a consistent 
banking experience every step of the way.  

At Peoples Bank, our commitment to excellence 
is demonstrated through leadership within our 
communities and building strong, supportive 
relationships by building strong, supportive 
relationships to ensure everyone’s success.  

Through participation in the Small Business 
Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, our 
Business Banking team approved 782 applications 
totaling $91.5 million, with an average loan size of 
approximately $117,000 in the first round. These loans 
helped local business owners retain more than 10,000 
employees at a time when they needed it most.  

We were able to continue executing our strategic 
plan, even in the face of the pandemic. Earnings were 
up 37.3% over 2019, and several areas outperformed 
expectations: mortgage lending originations were up 
288%, wealth management income was up 12%, and 
income from banking services was up 9%.

As a result of our continual commitment to excellence, 
we were named a Top 200 Community Bank for the 15th 
year in a row, and a Best Bank to Work For the 5th year 
in a row by American Banker Magazine. 

During times of uncertainty, our customers and 
communities must be able to trust in the partnerships 
that we have built over the course of decades. That 
trust and reputation are key elements in our ability 
to do our part in the recovery from the pandemic. 
Our strong sense of ethics likewise guided us as we 
navigated the pandemic, acting with transparency 
and accountability to our customers, communities, 
employees, and shareholders. 

Our values are the foundation of our business, and we 
are committed to those values in the good times and 
in times of uncertainty. That moral compass grounded 
us and connected our workforce as we transitioned to 
a decentralized work environment. As more work was 
done in more places, we also stepped up efforts to 
ensure quality and accuracy. The pandemic changed 
many things, but for us, we remained true to our  
values throughout. 

2

3

4

INTEGRITYSTABILITYA LETTEREXCELLENCE 
 
 
SUMMER LOVE

Each summer, the Bank 
has a picnic to celebrate 
the employees and their 
families, and have a fun 
night out together. This 
year, due to COVID-19, 
the event was canceled. 
In place of the picnic, 
the employee organizing 
committee recommended 
donating the funds allocated 
to the picnic – a total of 
$20,000 – to three local 
organizations in need.

• $10,000 donated to My 

Block, My Hood, My City; 

• $5,000 donated to Urban 

League NWI; 

• $5,000 donated to NWI 
Reinvestment Alliance.

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT

Community First raised over 
$70,000, donated directly to the 
communities that the Bank serves.

2020 COMMUNITY SUPPORT
At Peoples Bank, our sense of camaraderie and genuine 
concern for our customers, employees, and community  
is embedded in every bank initiative. Our business model  
is rooted in our commitment to the local community. 

In addition to the Bank’s direct community support, 
Community First – the Bank’s employee philanthropic 
committee – raises money through employee generated 
donations. With the Bank’s matching of funds,  
the committee is able to donate to local non-profit 
organizations in Northwest Indiana and Chicago.

PPP SUPPORT

After the first round of PPP 
approved loans were fully 
processed, Peoples Bank’s PPP 
efforts resulted in a total of 
782 business loans to small 
businesses averaging 14 
employees in size, and lending 
over $90,000,000 in the 
process. These loans helped 
local business owners retain 
over 10,000 employees in 
our community and primarily 
supported small businesses 
whose success is a key factor in 
keeping local economies thriving. 

15%
HEALTH & 
WELLNESS

34%
FINANCIAL 
LITERACY & 
EDUCATION

21% 
ECONOMIC 
DEVELOPMENT

A LEG UP

Throughout the year, Community 
First organized “casual weeks” where 
employees could donate $10 a week 
and wear jeans every day. While 
more than half of our employees 
were working from home, it didn’t 
stop them from stepping up and 
contributing. The fundraiser—called 
Casual for a Cause—resulted 
in a total of $29,500 that was 
distributed to local non-profits in 
need during the pandemic.

SUPPORT IN NUMBERS

30%
HOME 
OWNERSHIP  
& HOUSEHOLD 
STABILITY

1% 
OTHER

Percentages do not add up to 
100% due to rounding.

COMMUNITYNORTHWEST INDIANA BANCORP 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

MARKET INFORMATION

The Bancorp’s Common Stock is not listed on 
any national securities exchange, but rather is 
quoted in the over-the-market on the OTC Pink 
Marketplace, which is maintained by OTC Markets 
Group, Inc., under the symbol “NWIN.”  
The Bancorp’s stock is not actively traded.  
As of March 1, 2021, the Bancorp had 3,478,921 
shares of common stock outstanding and 636 
stockholders of record. This does not reflect 
the number of persons or entities who may hold 
their stock in nominee or “street” name through 
brokerage firms. Any over-the-counter market 
quotations reflect inter-dealer prices without retail 
$29.41
mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not 
necessarily represent actual transactions.

$33.50

$38.85

$44.16

$32.14

Book Value per Share

Book Value per Share

Basic Earnings per Share

Assets (in millions)

$44.16

$38.85

$32.14

$33.50

$29.41

$3.20

$3.13

$3.17

$3.53

$913.6

$927.2

$1,096.1

$4.80

$1,497.5

$1,328.7

Dividends per Share

$1.11

$1.15

$1.19

$1.23

$1.24

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Basic Earnings per Share

Assets (in millions)

$4.80

$1,497.5

$1,328.7

Dividends per Share

$1.11

$1.15

$1.19

$1.23

$1.24

$3.20

$3.13

$3.17

$3.53

$913.6

$927.2

$1,096.1

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

(Dollars in thousands, except for per share ratios and data)

December 31, 
2020

December 31, 
2019

Earnings:
Net revenue (a)
Noninterest expense
Pre-provision profit
Provision for loan losses
Net income

Earnings per common share data:
Net income per share:
Basic
Diluted
Cash dividends declared
Book value

Selected balance sheet data (period-end):
Total assets
Loans
Deposits
Total stockholders’ equity

Selected ratios:
Return on Equity
Return on Assets
Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
Tier 1 capital to adjusted average assets

Book value per share
Basic earnings per share
Dividends per share

Book Value per Share

$44.16

$38.85

$32.14

$33.50

$29.41

64,029 
40,846 
23,183
3,687 
16,604

4.80
4.80 
 1.24
 $44.16 

53,828 
37,388 
16,440 
2,584 
12,097 

3.53 
3.53 
 1.23 
 $38.85

1,497,525 
966,578
1,302,339
152,922 

1,328,722 
906,869 
1,154,370 
134,103 

Book Value per Share

$32.14

9.54%
0.94%
11.8%
11.8%
12.7%
8.5%

2017

$29.41

2016

11.51%
1.16%
12.8%
12.8%
14.0%
8.5%

$44.16
4.80
1.24

(a) Net revenue represents the Bancorp’s net interest income, plus non-interest income.

$44.16

$38.85

$33.50

Year ended
Basic Earnings per Share
December 31, 2020

Per Share Prices

High

Low

1st Quarter

$

46.20

$3.20
2nd Quarter

$3.13

$3.17
34.00

30.72

$
$3.53

28.01

3rd Quarter

32.80

30.00

4th Quarter

36.95

30.65

Dividends 
Declared Per 
Common Share

$4.80
$

0.31

0.31

0.31

0.31

2020

Dividends 
Declared Per 
Common Share

Year ended
December 31, 2019

Assets (in millions)

Per Share Prices

High

Low

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter
$913.6
3rd Quarter

$

44.40

$

40.25

$1,328.7

$927.2

44.00

$1,096.1

41.30

45.40

43.55

4th Quarter

46.00

44.45

$1,497.5
0.30
$

0.31

0.31

0.31

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

Basic Earnings per Share

$38.85
3.53
1.23

$3.20

$3.13

$3.17

$3.53

$4.80

Assets (in millions)

$1,497.5

$1,328.7

Dividends per Share

$1.11

$1.15

$1.19

$1.23

$1.24

$913.6

$927.2

$1,096.1

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Dividends per Share

$1.11

$1.15

$1.19

$1.23

$1.24

8

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

9

2020 Board of Directors
David A. Bochnowski, Director since 1977
Executive Chairman of the Bancorp
Former President and Chief Executive Officer 
of Peoples Bank

James L. Wieser, J.D., Director since 1999
Attorney, Wieser & Wyllie, LLP

Edward J. Furticella, Director since 2000
Former Executive Vice President and CFO of the Bancorp, 
Purdue University Northwest Professor Emeritus of 
Accounting, Florida Gulf Coast University, Adjunct Instructor 
of Accounting

Joel Gorelick, Director since 2000
Former President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bancorp, 
Charter Chairman Emeritus of the Lake County Economic 
Alliance, Inc., and Director and Chairman of the Audit 
Committee of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation  

Kenneth V. Krupinski, Director since 2003
Retired Certified Public Accountant;  
past President of Swartz Retson & Co., P.C.

Anthony M. Puntillo, D.D.S., M.S.D., Director since 2004
Orthodontist, CEO of Puntillo and Crane Orthodontics, P.C. 

Donald P. Fesko, O.D., FACHE, Director since 2005
President, Chief Executive Officer, Community Foundation  
of Northwest Indiana

Amy W. Han, Ph.D., Director since 2008
Director for Clinical Affairs and Education of Indiana 
University School of Medicine – Northwest

Danette Garza, J.D., CPA, Director since 2013
Attorney and Certified Public Accountant,  
CEO of Jack Gray Logistics Network, Inc.

Benjamin Bochnowski, Director since 2014
President, Chief Executive Officer of the Bancorp  
and Peoples Bank

Robert E. Johnson III, Director since 2016
President and Chief Executive Officer, Cimcor Inc.

Leroy F. Cataldi, P.D., Director Emeritus
Lourdes M. Dennison, Director Emeritus  
Martin A. Dybel, Director Emeritus  
Stanley E. Mize, Director Emeritus
Gloria C. Gray Weissman, Director Emeritus

2020 Board Committees
Compensation and Benefits
Donald P. Fesko,  
Chair

Amy Han

James L. Wieser

Anthony M. Puntillo, 
Vice-Chair

Executive Committee
David A. Bochnowski, 
Chair

Joel Gorelick,  
Vice-Chair

Benjamin  
Bochnowski

Edward J. Furticella

Amy Han

Kenneth V. Krupinski

Anthony M. Puntillo

James L. Wieser

Nominating and Corporate Governance
Kenneth V. Krupinski, 
Chair

Donald P. Fesko

James L. Wieser

Amy Han,  
Vice-Chair

Risk Management and Audit Committee
Edward J. Furticella
Robert E. Johnson III, 
Chair

Kenneth V. Krupinski

Danette Garza,  
Vice-Chair

Strategic Planning
Anthony M. Puntillo, 
Chair

Donald P. Fesko,  
Vice-Chair

Edward J. Furticella

Wealth Management
Amy Han,  
Chair

James L. Wieser,  
Vice-Chair

Credit Committee
Joel Gorelick,  
Chair

Kenneth V. Krupinski,  
Vice-Chair

Anthony M. Puntillo

Danette Garza

Joel Gorelick

Robert E. Johnson III

Danette Garza

Kenneth V. Krupinski

Danette Garza

James L. Wieser

Executive Team
David A. Bochnowski
Executive Chairman 

Benjamin Bochnowski
President, Chief Executive Officer

Robert T. Lowry
Executive Vice President, 
Chief Operating Officer 

10

Leane E. Cerven
Executive Vice President, Chief 
Risk Officer, General Counsel and 
Corporate Secretary

Tanya A. Leetz
Executive Vice President, Chief 
Information and Technology Officer

Todd M. Scheub
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Banking Officer

Peymon S. Torabi
Executive Vice President,  
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Annual Stockholders Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of NorthWest Indiana Bancorp will be 
held virtually at 8:00 am CDT on Friday, 
May 21, 2021

Stock Transfer Agent
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions

Independent Auditors
Plante & Moran, PLLC
10 S. Riverside Plaza, 9th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3564

Special Legal Counsel
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
11 S. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Annual Report on Form 10-K
A copy of the Annual Report on Form
10-K, for the NorthWest Indiana 
Bancorp, as filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission, will 
be furnished without charge to 
stockholders as of the record date  
upon written request to the:

Corporate Secretary
NorthWest Indiana Bancorp
9204 Columbia Avenue
Munster, Indiana 46321