Item 4.01 Change in Registrant's Certifying Accountant.

a. Dismissal of Registrant's Registered Public Accounting Firm

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP ("CLA"), Waterstone Financial, Inc.'s ("the Company") current independent public accountant, informed the Company that CLA would decline to stand for re-appointment after completion of the audit for the year ended December 31, 2022, as a result of CLA's determination to cease providing certain audit services to SEC registrants upon completion of the 2022 audit cycle.

CLA's audit report on the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 and the subsequent interim period through January 17, 2023, there were no: (1) disagreements with CLA on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to their satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement, or (2) reportable events under Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided CLA with a copy of the disclosures it is making in this Current Report on Form 8-K and requested from CLA a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission indicating whether it agrees with such disclosures. A copy of CLA's letter dated January 17, 2023 is attached as Exhibit 16.1 hereto.

b. Newly Engaged Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On January 17, 2023, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Waterstone Financial, Inc. approved the appointment of FORVIS, LLP ("FORVIS") to serve as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023 after a competitive request for proposal process. The appointment of FORVIS is effective upon completion of the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 by CLA. Prior to retaining FORVIS, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with FORVIS with respect to: (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either contemplated or proposed, (ii) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements, (iii) any report or oral advice provided to the Company that FORVIS concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (iv) any matter that was either the subject of a "disagreement" or a "reportable event" (as those terms are defined in Item 304(a)(1) (iv) and (v) of Regulation S-K, respectively).

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.



(d) Exhibits


Exhibit No. Description



  16          Letter regarding change in certifying accountant  .

104         Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL
            document)




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