<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001982685</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>


    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001505732</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>Bankwell Financial Group, Inc.</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-36448</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>208 ELM STREET</com:street1>
        <com:city>NEW CANAAN</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CT</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>06840</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>(203) 972-3838</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Hildebrand Ryan Jason</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>GEORGESON SECURITIES CORPORATION</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>144 FERNWOOD AVE</com:street1>
          <com:city>EDISON</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>08837</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>1885</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>66540.50</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>7873387</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>06/11/2025</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/11/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK VESTING</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>BANKWELL FINANCIAL GROUP INC</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1885</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/11/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATION</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>UNDER SECURITIES TO BE SOLD DATE ACQUIRED ARE VARIOUS DATES
UNDER SECTION 3D INDICATIVE MARKET PRICE WAS 35.30</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>06/11/2025</noticeDate>
      <signature>CONFORMED SIGNATURE ON FILE</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
