 MUNSTER, Ind. and CHICAGO, July 29, 2021 GLOBE NEWSWIRE -- Finward Bancorp OTC Pink: FNWD FNWD, the parent of Peoples Bank, and Royal Financial, Inc. OTCQX: RYFL RYFL announced today they have executed a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which FNWD will acquire RYFL and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Royal Savings Bank, of Chicago, Illinois, in a stock and cash transaction. A copy of the definitive agreement is available as Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 8-K filed by FNWD today with the Securities Exchange Commission the SEC at the SECs internet site 