Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
VERRICO ERNEST J SR
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. [BWFG] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP & CFO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., 220 ELM STREET		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2015
(Street)


NEW CANAAN, CT 06840		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock (1)             1,000 D  
Common Stock (2)             1,600 D  
Common Stock (3)             3,250 D  
Common Stock (4)             4,620 D  
Common Stock (4)             10,725 D  
Common Stock (5)             16,805 I Joint with Wife

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
VERRICO ERNEST J SR
C/O BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
220 ELM STREET
NEW CANAAN, CT 06840		       EVP & CFO  

Signatures

/s/ Ernest J. Verrico 01/29/2016
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) 5,000 shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to the 2007 Bank of New Canaan Stock Option Equity Award Plan and will vest in five equal annual installments of 20%, the first installment of 1,000 shares vested on March 22, 2012 and an additional 20% to vest on each annual anniversary of the grant date thereafter. As of 12/31/15 4,000 Shares have fully vested and been transferred to Joint Ownership with Wife.
(2) 4,000 shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to the 2007 Bank of New Canaan Stock Option Equity Award Plan and will vest in five equal annual installments of 20%, the first installment of 800 shares vested on March 21, 2013 and an additional 20% to vest on each annual anniversary of the grant date thereafter. As of 12/31/15 2,400 Shares have fully vested and been transferred to Joint Ownership with Wife.
(3) 6,500 shares of restricted stock granted pursuant to the 2012 BNC Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan and will vest in four equal annual installments of 25%, with the first installment to vest on November 5, 2014 and an additional 25% to vest on each annual anniversary of the grant date thereafter. As of 12/31/15 3,250 Shares have fully vested and been transferred to Joint Ownership with Wife.
(4) 16,500 shares of Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. stock granted pursuant to the 2012 Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. Stock Plan. 5,775 of those shares are restricted stock that will vest in five equal annual installments of 20%, with the first installment to vest on December 1, 2015 and an additional 20% to vest on each annual anniversary of the vesting date thereafter. As of 12/31/15 1,155 Shares have fully vested and been transferred to Joint Ownership with Wife. 10,725 of those shares are performance restricted stock and may vest when and if the performance goals are achieved, but in any event no earlier than December 1, 2017 and no later than December 1, 2019.
(5) This Form 5 is being filed to clarify the Reporting Person's ownership. On December 31, 2014 2,000 Shares were held Joint with Wife. Of the 5,000 shares granted on March 22, 2011 - 4,000 Shares have fully vested and were transferred to Joint Ownership with Wife. Of the 4,000 Shares granted on March 21, 2012 - 2,400 Shares have fully vested and were transferred to Joint Ownership with Wife. Of the 6,500 Shares granted on November 5, 2013 - 3,250 Shares have fully vested and were transfered to Joint Ownership with Wife. Of the 5,775 Shares granted on December 9, 2014 - 1,155 Shares have fully vested and were transfered to Joint Ownership with Wife. The 4,000 Shares exercised from Stock Options on November 2, 2015 were transferred to Joint Ownership with Wife for a total of 16,805 Shares owned Jointly.

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