Bankwell Appoints Brian Merritt as Chief Technology Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Bankwell Financial Group (NASDAQ: BWFG) has appointed Brian Merritt as Chief Technology Officer. Merritt brings significant experience in banking, fintech, and engineering leadership to the company. His previous roles include serving as SVP, Head of Product at Cross River, CEO of Seed (an online business bank), and VP of Engineering at Simple, where he helped scale the company to over 100,000 customers.

According to President and CEO Christopher R. Gruseke, Merritt's expertise in banking technology, product development, and system architecture will be important in advancing Bankwell's digital capabilities and technology infrastructure to deliver innovative solutions to customers.

Positive

• Appointment of experienced fintech executive with proven track record in scaling digital banking operations
• Strategic move to enhance digital banking capabilities and technology infrastructure
• Addition of leadership expertise from successful fintech companies (Cross River, Seed, Simple)

Negative

• None.

NEW CANAAN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWFG), the parent company of Bankwell Bank, has announced the appointment of Brian Merritt as Chief Technology Officer.

Mr. Merritt brings extensive experience in banking, fintech, and engineering leadership to Bankwell. Prior to joining the company, he served as SVP, Head of Product at Cross River and was previously CEO of Seed, an online business bank. He also held the role of VP of Engineering at Simple, where he helped scale the company from its early stages to over 100,000 customers.

Christopher R. Gruseke, President and CEO of Bankwell, stated, “We are pleased to welcome Brian to the team. His deep expertise in banking technology, product development, and system architecture will be instrumental in advancing Bankwell’s digital capabilities. Brian’s leadership will help us enhance our technology infrastructure and deliver innovative solutions to our customers.”

Mr. Merritt expressed his enthusiasm for joining Bankwell, stating, “I’m excited to join a team committed to delivering exceptional banking experiences. I look forward to leveraging technology to support Bankwell’s growth and enhance the services we provide to our customers.”

About Bankwell Financial Group

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. is the holding company for Bankwell Bank (“Bankwell”), a full-service commercial bank headquartered in New Canaan, CT. Bankwell offers its customers unmatched accessibility, expertise, and responsiveness through a range of commercial financing products including working capital lines of credit, SBA loans, business acquisition loans, and commercial mortgages as well as treasury management and deposit services. More about Bankwell can be found at www.mybankwell.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250320316473/en/

Adam Moskowitz

amoskowitz@mybankwell.com

Source: Bankwell Financial Group, Inc

FAQ

What experience does Brian Merritt bring to his new CTO role at Bankwell (BWFG)?

Brian Merritt brings experience as SVP at Cross River, CEO of Seed online bank, and VP of Engineering at Simple, where he scaled operations to over 100,000 customers.

How will Brian Merritt's appointment impact Bankwell's (BWFG) technology strategy?

Merritt will focus on advancing Bankwell's digital capabilities, enhancing technology infrastructure, and delivering innovative banking solutions to customers.

What were Brian Merritt's key achievements at Simple before joining Bankwell (BWFG)?

As VP of Engineering at Simple, Merritt helped scale the company from its early stages to serving over 100,000 customers.

What is the strategic importance of the new CTO appointment for Bankwell (BWFG)?

The appointment aims to strengthen Bankwell's technology leadership and enhance its digital banking capabilities to improve customer service delivery.