<?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>0001665699</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>Chivily Christine</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Raymond James &amp; Associates</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>880 Carillon Parkway</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Petersburg</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33716</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>4321</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>225210.52</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>7976788</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>05/01/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/03/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>9</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/03/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2019</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>157</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2019</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common	</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>175</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>431</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/15/2014</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>250</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/15/2014</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>479</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>513</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/04/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>316</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/04/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>463</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>516</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>517</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/08/2021</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RSU</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>539</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/08/2021</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>05/01/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>Rashida Mitchell, as duly authorized representative of Raymond James &amp; Associates, Inc., as attorney-in-fact for Christine Chivily</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
