Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number: 001-31566

 

 

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   42-1547151

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

830 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey   07306-4599
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(201) 333-1000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x    NO  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer  x   

Accelerated Filer  ¨

   Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨    Smaller Reporting Company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x

As of August 1, 2008 there were 83,209,293 shares issued and 60,111,842 shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, including 439,883 shares held by the First Savings Bank Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan not otherwise considered outstanding under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

      Page Number
Item Number   
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    1.    Financial Statements:   
   Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2008 (unaudited) and December 31, 2007    3
   Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)    4
   Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)    5
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)    7
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)    9
    2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    15
    3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    22
    4.    Controls and Procedures    23
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
    1.    Legal Proceedings    23
    1A.    Risk Factors    24
    2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    24
    3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities    24
    4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    24
    5.    Other Information    25
    6.    Exhibits    25
Signatures    27

 

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Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

June 30, 2008 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2007

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

 

     June 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
ASSETS     

Cash and due from banks

   $ 82,652     $ 83,737  

Federal funds sold

     —         18,000  

Short-term investments

     5,003       38,892  
                

Total cash and cash equivalents

     87,655       140,629  
                

Investment securities held to maturity (market value of $352,983 (unaudited) and $359,699 at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively)

     355,020       358,491  

Securities available for sale, at fair value

     868,067       769,615  

Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) stock

     36,689       39,764  

Loans

     4,277,202       4,296,291  

Less allowance for loan losses

     41,118       40,782  
                

Net loans

     4,236,084       4,255,509  
                

Foreclosed assets, net

     5,883       1,041  

Banking premises and equipment, net

     77,280       79,138  

Accrued interest receivable

     24,104       24,665  

Intangible assets

     517,371       520,722  

Bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”)

     124,334       121,674  

Other assets

     52,457       48,143  
                

Total assets

   $ 6,384,944     $ 6,359,391  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Deposits:

    

Demand deposits

   $ 1,696,188     $ 1,553,625  

Savings deposits

     945,951       1,031,725  

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more

     455,633       480,362  

Other time deposits

     1,076,738       1,159,108  
                

Total deposits

     4,174,510       4,224,820  

Mortgage escrow deposits

     20,761       18,075  

Borrowed funds

     1,141,023       1,075,104  

Other liabilities

     38,905       40,598  
                

Total liabilities

     5,375,199       5,358,597  
                

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none issued

    

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 83,209,293 shares issued and 59,674,626 shares outstanding at June 30, 2008, and 59,646,936 shares outstanding at December 31, 2007

     832       832  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,012,265       1,009,120  

Retained earnings

     445,305       437,503  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     1,453       4,335  

Treasury stock, at cost

     (383,891 )     (383,407 )

Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan

    

(“ESOP”)

     (66,219 )     (67,589 )

Common stock acquired by the Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan (“DDFP”)

     (7,713 )     (7,759 )

Deferred compensation – DDFP

     7,713       7,759  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     1,009,745       1,000,794  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 6,384,944     $ 6,359,391  
                

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Income

Three and Six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2008    2007     2008    2007  

Interest income:

          

Real estate secured loans

   $ 40,554    $ 42,322     $ 81,941    $ 82,524  

Commercial loans

     10,621      10,660       21,903      18,333  

Consumer loans

     9,147      9,922       18,826      18,834  

Investment securities

     3,601      3,877       7,254      7,862  

Securities available for sale

     11,315      9,988       21,602      19,196  

Other short-term investments

     77      35       303      78  

Federal funds sold

     16      101       164      105  
                              

Total interest income

     75,331      76,905       151,993      146,932  
                              

Interest expense:

          

Deposits

     22,222      29,229       48,812      53,356  

Borrowed funds

     10,540      7,638       21,423      16,264  
                              

Total interest expense

     32,762      36,867       70,235      69,620  
                              

Net interest income

     42,569      40,038       81,758      77,312  

Provision for loan losses

     1,500      1,200       2,800      1,500  
                              

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     41,069      38,838       78,958      75,812  
                              

Non-interest income:

          

Fees

     4,892      6,738       11,006      12,164  

Gain on insurance settlement

     —        5,947       —        5,947  

BOLI

     1,352      1,355       2,660      2,687  

Net gain (loss) on securities transactions

     305      (63 )     401      (63 )

Other income

     118      225       1,385      1,193  
                              

Total non-interest income

     6,667      14,202       15,452      21,928  
                              

Non-interest expense:

          

Compensation and employee benefits

     17,464      17,772       34,177      33,942  

Net occupancy expense

     5,174      4,970       10,431      9,513  

Data processing expense

     2,244      2,610       4,607      4,664  

Amortization of intangibles

     1,557      1,869       3,333      3,238  

Advertising and promotion expense

     1,312      1,465       1,829      2,252  

Other operating expenses

     5,541      5,450       10,867      9,859  
                              

Total non-interest expense

     33,292      34,136       65,244      63,468  
                              

Income before income tax expense

     14,444      18,904       29,166      34,272  

Income tax expense

     4,091      5,287       8,120      9,847  
                              

Net income

   $ 10,353    $ 13,617     $ 21,046    $ 24,425  
                              

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.18    $ 0.22     $ 0.38    $ 0.41  

Average basic shares outstanding

     56,014,455      61,339,380       55,969,517      60,202,164  

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.18    $ 0.22     $ 0.38    $ 0.41  

Average diluted shares outstanding

     56,014,455      62,339,380       55,969,517      60,202,164  

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

    COMMON
STOCK
  ADDITIONAL
PAID-IN
CAPITAL
  RETAINED
EARNINGS
    ACCUMULATED
OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE
(LOSS) INCOME
    TREASURY
STOCK
    UNALLOCATED
ESOP

SHARES
    COMMON
STOCK
ACQUIRED
BY DDFP
    DEFERRED
COMPENSATION
DDFP
    TOTAL
STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
 

Balance at December 31, 2006

  $ 799   $ 937,616   $ 424,958     $ (7,150 )   $ (266,587 )   $ (70,480 )   $ (13,010 )   $ 13,010     $ 1,019,156  

Comprehensive income:

                 

Net income

    —       —       24,425       —         —         —         —         —         24,425  

Other comprehensive income:

                 

Unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the period (net of tax of ($1,746))

    —           (2,146 )     —         —         —         —         (2,146 )

Reclassification adjustment for losses included in net income (net of tax of ($28))

    —         —         35       —         —         —         —         35  

Amortization related to post- retirement obligations (net of tax of ($81))

    —       —       —         (117 )     —         —         —         —         (117 )
                       

Total comprehensive income

                  $ 22,197  
                       

Common stock issued in connection with the First Morris acquisition, net

    33     61,902     —         —         —         —         —         —         61,935  

Cash dividends declared

    —       —       (12,898 )     —         —         —         —         —         (12,898 )

Distributions from DDFP

    —       47     —         —         —         —         143       (143 )     47  

Purchase of treasury stock

    —       —       —         —         (54,882 )     —         —         —         (54,882 )

Allocation of ESOP shares

    —       24     —         —         —         1,365       —         —         1,389  

Allocation of SAP shares

    —       2,153     —         —         —         —         —         —         2,153  

Allocation of stock options

    —       1,701     —         —         —         —         —         —         1,701  
                                                                   

Balance at June 30, 2007

  $ 832   $ 1,003,443   $ 436,485     $ (9,378 )   $ (321,469 )   $ (69,115 )   $ (12,867 )   $ 12,867     $ 1,040,798  
                                                                   

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited) (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

    COMMON
STOCK
  ADDITIONAL
PAID-IN
CAPITAL
    RETAINED
EARNINGS
    ACCUMULATED
OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
    TREASURY
STOCK
    UNALLOCATED
ESOP

SHARES
    COMMON
STOCK
ACQUIRED
BY DDFP
    DEFERRED
COMPENSATION
DDFP
    TOTAL
STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
 

Balance at December 31, 2007

  $ 832   $ 1,009,120     $ 437,503     $ 4,335     $ (383,407 )   $ (67,589 )   $ (7,759 )   $ 7,759     $ 1,000,794  

Comprehensive income:

                 

Net income

    —       —         21,046       —         —         —         —         —         21,046  

Other comprehensive income:

                 

Unrealized holding losses on securities arising during the period (net of tax of ($1,811))

    —       —         —         (2,823 )     —         —         —         —         (2,823 )

Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income (net of tax of $150)

    —       —         —         (251 )     —         —         —         —         (251 )

Amortization related to post- retirement obligations (net of tax of $132)

    —       —         —         192       —         —         —         —         192  
                       

Total comprehensive income

                  $ 18,164  
                       

Cash dividends declared

    —       —         (13,244 )     —         —         —         —         —         (13,244 )

Distributions from DDFP

    —       (2 )     —         —         —         —         46       (46 )     (2 )

Purchases of treasury stock

    —       —         —         —         (484 )     —         —         —         (484 )

Allocation of ESOP shares

    —       (253 )     —         —         —         1,370       —         —         1,117  

Allocation of SAP shares

    —       1,885       —         —         —         —         —         —         1,885  

Allocation of stock options

    —       1,515       —         —         —         —         —         —         1,515  
                                                                     

Balance at June 30, 2008

  $ 832   $ 1,012,265     $ 445,305     $ 1,453     $ (383,891 )   $ (66,219 )   $ (7,713 )   $ 7,713     $ 1,009,745  
                                                                     

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2008     2007  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 21,046     $ 24,425  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

     7,249       6,874  

Provision for loan losses

     2,800       1,500  

Deferred tax benefit

     (532 )     (1,701 )

Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI

     (2,660 )     (2,687 )

Net amortization of premiums and discounts on securities

     137       653  

Accretion of net deferred loan fees

     (832 )     (859 )

Amortization of premiums on purchased loans, net

     1,379       1,690  

Net increase in loans originated for sale

     (10,512 )     (5,601 )

Proceeds from sales of loans originated for sale

     10,450       5,630  

Proceeds from sales of foreclosed assets, net

     1,155       658  

Allocation of ESOP shares

     1,117       1,389  

Allocation of SAP shares

     1,885       2,153  

Allocation of stock options

     1,515       1,701  

Net loss (gain) on sale of loans

     62       (29 )

Net (gain) loss on securities available for sale

     (401 )     63  

Net gain on sale of premises and equipment

     (85 )     —    

Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable

     561       (189 )

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     (1,145 )     17,041  

Decrease in other liabilities

     (1,693 )     (3,281 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     31,496       49,430  
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns of investment securities

     25,184       20,014  

Purchases of investment securities

     (21,923 )     (1,512 )

Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale

     5,516       43,277  

Proceeds from maturities and paydowns of securities available for sale

     118,895       121,448  

Purchases of securities available for sale

     (171,914 )     (16,643 )

Purchases of loans

     (131,429 )     (17,126 )

Net decrease in loans

     88,607       24,512  

Cash consideration paid to acquire First Morris, net of cash and cash equivalents received

     —         (1,383 )

Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment

     816       —    

Purchases of premises and equipment, net

     (2,789 )     (5,125 )
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (89,037 )     167,462  
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Net (decrease) increase in deposits

     (50,310 )     4,126  

Increase in mortgage escrow deposits

     2,686       1,919  

Purchases of treasury stock

     (484 )     (54,882 )

Cash dividends paid to stockholders

     (13,244 )     (12,898 )

Proceeds from long-term borrowings

     269,600       85,000  

Payments on long-term borrowings

     (226,747 )     (123,565 )

Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

     23,066       (101,913 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     4,567       (202,213 )
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (52,974 )     14,679  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     140,629       92,057  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 87,655     $ 106,736  
                

Cash paid during the period for:

   $       $    

Interest on deposits and borrowings

   $ 70,600     $ 69,179  
                

Income taxes

   $ 6,356     $ 9,747  
                

 

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PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 (Unaudited) (Continued)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Six months ended
June 30,
     2008    2007

Non cash investing activities:

     

Transfer of loans receivable to foreclosed assets

   $ 6,147    $ 362
             

Loan securitizations

     55,217      —  
             

Fair value of assets acquired

   $ —      $ 554,284
             

Goodwill and core deposit intangible

   $ —      $ 96,952
             

Liabilities assumed

   $ —      $ 527,256
             

Common stock issued for First Morris acquisition

   $ —      $ 61,935
             

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Provident Financial Services, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Provident Bank (the “Bank”, together with Provident Financial Services, Inc., the “Company”).

The interim unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and results of operations for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for all of 2008.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K.

B. Earnings Per Share

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations:

 

    For the three months ended June 30,   For the six months ended June 30,
    2008   2007   2008   2007
    Income   Shares   Per
Share
Amount
  Income   Shares   Per
Share
Amount
  Income   Shares   Per
Share
Amount
  Income   Shares   Per
Share
Amount

Net income

  $ 10,353       $ 13,617       $ 21,046       $ 24,425    
                                       

Basic earnings per share:

                       

Income available to common stockholders

  $ 10,353   56,014,455   $ 0.18   $ 13,617   61,339,380   $ 0.22   $ 21,046   55,969,517   $ 0.38   $ 24,425   60,202,164   $ 0.41
                                                               

Diluted earnings per share:

                       

Income available to common stockholders

  $ 10,353   56,014,455   $ 0.18   $ 13,617   61,339,380   $ 0.22   $ 21,046   55,969,517   $ 0.38   $ 24,425   60,202,164   $ 0.41
                                                               

Anti-dilutive stock options and awards totaling 4,425,015 shares at June 30, 2008, were excluded from the earnings per share calculations.

 

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Note 2. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

Loans receivable at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

Mortgage loans:

    

Residential

   $ 1,721,481     $ 1,705,747  

Commercial

     955,758       847,907  

Multi-family

     60,604       67,546  

Construction

     223,458       309,569  
                

Total mortgage loans

     2,961,301       2,930,769  
                

Commercial loans

     685,193       712,062  

Consumer loans

     621,329       644,134  
                

Total other loans

     1,306,522       1,356,196  
                

Premium on purchased loans

     10,323       9,793  

Unearned discounts

     (565 )     (661 )

Net deferred (fees) costs

     (379 )     194  
                
   $ 4,277,202     $ 4,296,291  
                

The activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 40,857     $ 32,678     $ 40,782     $ 32,434  

Provision charged to operations

     1,500       1,200       2,800       1,500  

Allowance for loan losses transferred from First Morris

     —         2,825       —         2,825  

Recoveries of loans previously charged off

     686       889       1,203       1,407  

Loans charged off

     (1,925 )     (828 )     (3,667 )     (1,402 )
                                

Balance at end of period

   $ 41,118     $ 36,764     $ 41,118     $ 36,764  
                                

Note 3. Deposits

Deposits at June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Savings

   $ 945,951    $ 1,031,725

Money market

     665,130      598,344

NOW

     554,776      467,868

Non-interest bearing

     476,282      487,413

Certificates of deposit

     1,532,371      1,639,470
             
   $ 4,174,510    $ 4,224,820
             

 

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Note 4. Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

The Bank has a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”) covering its full-time employees who had attained age 21 with at least one year of service as of April 1, 2003. The Plan was frozen on April 1, 2003. The Plan provides for 100% vesting after five years of service. The Plan’s assets are invested in investment funds and group annuity contracts managed by the Principal Financial Group and Allmerica Financial.

In addition to pension benefits, certain health care and life insurance benefits are currently made available to retired employees. The costs of such benefits are accrued based on actuarial assumptions from the date of hire to the date the employee is fully eligible to receive the benefits. Effective January 1, 2003, eligibility for retiree health care benefits was frozen as to new entrants and benefits were eliminated for employees with less than ten years of service as of December 31, 2002. Effective January 1, 2007, eligibility for retiree life insurance benefits was frozen to new entrants and retiree life insurance benefits were eliminated for employees with less than ten years of service as of December 31, 2006.

Net periodic benefit costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 include the following components (in thousands):

 

     Pension
benefits
    Other post-
retirement benefits
    Pension
benefits
    Other post-
retirement benefits
 
     Three months ended June 30,     Six months ended June 30,  
     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007     2008     2007  

Service cost

   $ —       —       41     47     $ —       —       99     134  

Interest cost

     267     234     252     237       494     490     512     522  

Expected return on plan assets

     (389 )   (413 )   —       —         (779 )   (799 )   —       —    

Amortization of unrecognized

transitional obligation

     —       —       —       59       —       —       —       65  

Amortization of prior service cost

     —       —       (1 )   (2 )     —       —       (2 )   (2 )

Amortization of the net (gain) loss

     —       —       (174 )   (162 )     —       —       (322 )   (261 )
                                                    

Net periodic benefit (increase) cost

   $ (122 )   (179 )   118     179     $ (285 )   (309 )   287     458  
                                                    

The Company previously disclosed in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 that it does not expect to contribute to its defined benefit pension plan in 2008. As of June 30, 2008, no contributions to the defined benefit pension plan have been made.

The net periodic benefit (increase) costs for pension benefits and other post-retirement benefits for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008 were calculated using the results of the January 1, 2008 Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 87 and SFAS No. 106 valuations.

Note 5. Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2008, Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position (“FSP”) EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities,” was issued. FSP EITF 03-6-1 requires unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents to be treated as participating securities as defined in Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 03-6, “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128,” and, therefore, included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share under the two-class method described in SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.” FSP EITF 03-6-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those years. Upon adoption, all previously reported earnings per share data must be retroactively adjusted to conform with the requirements of the FSP. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of FSP EITF 03-6-1 on its calculation of earnings per share.

In March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 161. “Disclosure about Derivative Instruments and Hedging activities, an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133.” The new standard establishes enhanced disclosure requirements about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; (b) how derivative instruments and related

 

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hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations; and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of EITF Issue No. 06-11, “Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards.” EITF 06-11 states that a realized income tax benefit from dividends or dividend equivalents that are charged to retained earnings and are paid to employees for equity classified unvested equity shares, unvested equity share units, and outstanding equity share options should be recognized as an increase in additional paid-in capital. The amount recognized in additional paid-in capital for the realized income tax benefit from dividends on those awards should be included in the pool of excess tax benefits available to absorb potential future tax deficiencies on share-based payment awards. The adoption of EITF 06-11 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In February 2008, FSP No. 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” was issued. FSP No. 157-2 delayed the application of SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities until January 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of FSP No. 157-2 on its financial statement disclosures.

On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115.” SFAS No. 159 permits entities to choose to measure selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 did not impact the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures, as the Company did not elect the fair value option for any assets or liabilities.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141R”), which replaces SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and applies to all transactions and other events in which one entity obtains control over one or more other businesses. SFAS No. 141R requires an acquirer, upon initially obtaining control of another entity, to recognize the assets, liabilities and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at fair value as of the acquisition date. Contingent consideration is required to be recognized and measured at fair value on the date of acquisition rather than at a later date when the amount of that consideration may be determinable beyond a reasonable doubt. This fair value approach replaces the cost-allocation process required under SFAS No. 141 whereby the cost of an acquisition was allocated to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair value. SFAS No. 141R requires acquirers to expense acquisition-related costs as incurred rather than allocating such costs to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as was previously the case under SFAS No. 141. Under SFAS No. 141R, the requirements of SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” would have to be met in order to accrue for a restructuring plan in purchase accounting. Pre-acquisition contingencies are to be recognized at fair value, unless it is a non-contractual contingency that is not likely to materialize, in which case, nothing should be recognized in purchase accounting and, instead, that contingency would be subject to the probable and estimable recognition criteria of SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.” SFAS No. 141R is effective for all business combinations closing on or after January 1, 2009 and could have a significant impact on the Company’s accounting for business combinations on or after such date.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB Statement No. 51.” This standard amends the guidance in Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements.” The new standard establishes accounting and reporting standards for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 clarifies that a non-controlling interest in a subsidiary, which is sometimes referred to as minority interest, is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as a component of equity in the consolidated financial statements. Among other requirements, SFAS No. 160 requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the non-controlling interest. It also requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated income statement, of the amounts of consolidated

 

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net income attributable to the parent and to the non-controlling interest. SFAS No. 160 is effective on January 1, 2009, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

In November 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 109, “Written Loan Commitments Recorded at Fair Value Through Earnings.” SAB No. 109 supersedes SAB No. 105, “Application of Accounting Principles to Loan Commitments,” and indicates that the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan should be included in the measurement of all written loan commitments that are accounted for at fair value through earnings. The guidance in SAB No. 109 is applied on a prospective basis to derivative loan commitments issued or modified in fiscal quarters beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company’s adoption of SAB No. 109 did not have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations or financial statement disclosures.

Note 6. Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities

SFAS No. 157 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of fair value hierarchy under SFAS No. 157 are as follows:

 

  Level 1: Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;

 

  Level 2: Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

 

  Level 3: Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following table presents the assets and liabilities reported on the consolidated statements of financial condition at their fair value as of June 30, 2008 by level within the fair value hierarchy.

 

          Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using:
(Dollars in thousands)    June 30,
2008
   Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)

Securities available for sale

   $ 868,067    $ 102,920    $ 765,147    $ —  

Loans measured for impairment based on the fair value of the underlying collateral in accordance with SFAS No. 114

     6,258      —        —        6,258

The following valuation techniques are based upon the unpaid principal balance only and exclude any accrued interest or dividends at the measurement date. Interest income and expense and dividend income are recorded within the consolidated statements of income depending on the nature of the instrument using the effective interest method based on acquired discount or premium.

The valuation techniques described below were used to measure fair value of financial instruments in the preceding table on a recurring basis during the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.

 

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For securities available for sale, fair value was estimated using a market approach. The majority of the Company’s securities are fixed income instruments that are not quoted on an exchange, but are traded in active markets. Prices for these instruments are obtained through third party data service providers or dealer market participants with which the Company has historically transacted both purchases and sales of securities. Prices obtained from these sources include market quotations and matrix pricing. Matrix pricing, a Level 2 input as defined by SFAS No. 157, is a mathematical technique used principally to value certain securities to benchmark or comparable securities. The Company also holds equity securities and debt instruments issued by the U.S. government and U.S. government-sponsored agencies that are traded in active markets with readily accessible quoted market prices that are considered Level 1 inputs.

The valuation techniques described below were used to measure fair value of financial instruments in the preceding table on a non-recurring basis during the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.

For loans measured for impairment based on the fair value of the underlying collateral in accordance with SFAS No. 114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan,” fair value was estimated using a market approach. The Company measures the fair value of collateral underlying impaired loans primarily through obtaining independent appraisals that rely upon market prices for similar assets in active markets. These appraisals include adjustments to comparable assets based on the appraisers’ market knowledge and experience, and are considered Level 3 inputs. The Company recognized an impairment charge of $864,000 via specific reserves established through the provision for loan losses in connection with loans measured for impairment based on the fair value of the underlying collateral in accordance with SFAS No. 114 during the six months ended June 30, 2008.

There were no changes to the valuation techniques for fair value measurement during the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.

Certain non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include goodwill and other intangible assets and other non-financial long-lived assets. As stated in Note 5, SFAS No. 157 will be applicable to these fair value measurements beginning January 1, 2009.

 

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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the Company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities markets and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity.

The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company wishes to advise that the factors listed above could affect the Company’s financial performance and could cause the Company’s actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements. The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions, which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Critical Accounting Policies

The calculation of the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting policy of the Company. The allowance for loan losses is a valuation account that reflects management’s evaluation of the probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The Company maintains the allowance for loan losses through provisions for loan losses that are charged to income. Charge-offs against the allowance for loan losses are taken on loans where management determines that the collection of loan principal is unlikely. Recoveries made on loans that have been charged-off are credited to the allowance for loan losses.

The Company’s evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses includes a review of all loans on which the collectibility of principal may not be reasonably assured. For residential mortgage and consumer loans, this is determined primarily by delinquency and collateral values. For commercial real estate and commercial loans, an extensive review of financial performance, payment history and collateral values is conducted on a quarterly basis.

As part of the evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, each quarter management prepares a worksheet. This worksheet categorizes the entire loan portfolio by certain risk characteristics such as loan type (residential mortgage, commercial mortgage, construction, commercial, etc.) and loan risk rating.

When assigning a risk rating to a loan, management utilizes a nine point internal risk rating system. Loans deemed to be “acceptable quality” are rated one through four, with a rating of one established for loans with minimal risk. Loans deemed to be of “questionable quality” are rated five (watch) or six (special mention). Loans with adverse classifications (substandard, doubtful or loss) are rated seven, eight or nine, respectively. Commercial mortgage, commercial and construction loans are rated individually and each lending officer is responsible for risk rating loans in his or her portfolio. These risk ratings are then reviewed by the department manager and/or the Chief Lending Officer and the Credit Administration Department. The risk ratings are then confirmed by the Loan Review Department and, for loans requiring Credit Committee approval, they are periodically reviewed by the Credit Committee in the credit renewal or approval process.

Management believes the primary risks inherent in the portfolio are possible increases in interest rates, a decline in the economy, generally, and a decline in real estate market values. Any one or a combination of these events may adversely affect borrowers’ ability to repay the loans, resulting in increased delinquencies, loan losses and future levels of provisions. Accordingly, the Company has provided for loan losses at the current level to address the current risk in its loan portfolio.

 

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Management considers it important to maintain the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans at an acceptable level given current economic conditions, interest rates and the composition of the portfolio.

Although management believes that the Company has established and maintained the allowance for loan losses at adequate levels, additions may be necessary if future economic and other conditions differ substantially from the current operating environment. In addition, various regulatory agencies periodically review the adequacy of the Company’s allowance for loan losses as an integral part of their examination process. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance or additional write-downs based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. Although management uses the best information available, the level of the allowance for loan losses remains an estimate that is subject to significant judgment and short-term change.

Additional critical accounting policies relate to judgments about other asset impairments, including goodwill, investment securities and deferred tax assets. The Company engages an independent third party to perform an annual analysis during the fourth quarter to test the aggregate balance of goodwill for impairment. For purposes of goodwill impairment evaluation, the Bank is identified as the reporting unit. The fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as goodwill recognized in a business combination and uses standard valuation methodologies, including a review of comparable transactions and discounted cash flow analysis. If the carrying amount of goodwill pursuant to this analysis were to exceed the implied fair value of goodwill, an impairment loss would be recognized. No impairment loss was required to be recognized for the three or six months ended June 30, 2008 or 2007.

The Company’s available for sale securities portfolio is carried at estimated fair value, with any unrealized gains or losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in stockholders’ equity. Estimated fair values are based on market quotations or matrix pricing as discussed in Note 6 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Securities which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and carried at amortized cost. The Company conducts a periodic review and evaluation of the securities portfolio to determine if any declines in the fair values of securities are other than temporary. If such a decline were deemed other than temporary, the Company would write down the security to fair value through a charge to current period operations. The market value of the securities portfolio is significantly affected by changes in interest rates. In general, as interest rates rise, the market value of fixed-rate securities decreases and as interest rates fall, the market value of fixed-rate securities increases. The Company evaluates its intent and ability to hold securities for a sufficient time to recover the recorded principal balance. The Company also has investments in common stock issued by several publicly traded financial institutions, the valuation of which is affected by the institutions’ performance and market conditions. No impairment loss was required to be recognized for the three or six months ended June 30, 2008 or 2007.

The determination of whether deferred tax assets will be realizable is predicated on estimates of future taxable income. Such estimates are subject to management’s judgment. A valuation allowance is established when management is unable to conclude that it is more likely than not that it will realize deferred tax assets based on the nature and timing of these items.

COMPARISON OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AT JUNE 30, 2008 AND DECEMBER 31, 2007

Total assets at June 30, 2008 increased $25.6 million, or 0.4%, to $6.38 billion compared to $6.36 billion at December 31, 2007, due primarily to an increase in securities available for sale.

Securities available for sale, at fair value, increased $98.5 million, or 12.8%, to $868.1 million at June 30, 2008, compared to $769.6 million at December 31, 2007. The increase in the securities available for sale portfolio included $55.2 million of residential mortgage loan pools that were securitized by the Company in the first quarter of 2008 and are held as securities available for sale. The investment portfolio consists primarily of Agency-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities and bank-qualified municipal bonds. There are no preferred or trust preferred equity securities in the portfolio. The weighted average life of the Company’s available for sale securities portfolio was 5.2 years at June 30, 2008.

Federal Home Loan Bank stock decreased $3.1 million, or 7.7%, to $36.7 million at June 30, 2008, compared to $39.8 million at December 31, 2007. The Company invests in stock of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB-NY”) as required

 

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under the terms of membership. The level of required stock holdings is dependent, in part, on outstanding borrowings by the Company from the FHLB-NY.

Total net loans at June 30, 2008 decreased $19.4 million, or 0.5%, to $4.24 billion, compared to $4.26 billion at December 31, 2007, largely as a result of the securitization of $55.2 million of conforming one- to four-family 30-year fixed-rate residential mortgage loans during the first quarter. Loan originations totaled $649.8 million and loan purchases totaled $131.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. Compared with December 31, 2007, construction loans decreased $86.1 million, commercial loans decreased $26.9 million, and consumer loans decreased $22.8 million, while commercial mortgage and multi-family loans increased $100.9 million, and residential mortgage loans increased $15.7 million. Commercial loans, consisting of commercial real estate, construction and commercial loans, totaled $1.93 billion, or 45.1% of the loan portfolio at June 30, 2008, compared to $1.94 billion, or 45.2% of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2007. The Company intends to continue to focus on the origination of commercial loans. Retail loans, which consist of residential mortgage loans and consumer loans, such as fixed-rate home equity loans and lines of credit, totaled $2.34 billion and accounted for 54.9% of the loan portfolio at June 30, 2008, compared to $2.35 billion, or 54.8% of the portfolio at December 31, 2007.

At June 30, 2008, the allowance for loan losses totaled $41.1 million, or 0.96% of total loans, compared with $40.8 million, or 0.95% of total loans at December 31, 2007. Total non-performing loans were $36.7 million, or 0.86% of total loans at June 30, 2008, compared to $34.6 million, or 0.81% of total loans at December 31, 2007. Non-performing assets were $42.6 million, or 0.67% of total assets at June 30, 2008, compared to $35.7 million, or 0.56% of total assets at December 31, 2007. At June 30, 2008, non-performing loans included a $16.0 million loan secured by a 64-unit condominium project which was greater than 90 days past due and still accruing interest. Subsequent to June 30, 2008, the borrower closed on the sale of ten units, brought the loan current and reduced the outstanding principal balance by $2.6 million. The loan is now performing in accordance with its original contractual terms.

At June 30, 2008, the Company held $5.9 million of foreclosed assets, compared with $1.0 million at December 31, 2007. The increase in foreclosed assets was primarily attributable to one commercial real estate line of credit secured by a number of properties that was previously classified as impaired. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, the Company obtained title to five properties with a fair value of $4.8 million in connection with this line of credit.

Total deposits decreased $50.3 million to $4.17 billion at June 30, 2008, from $4.22 billion at December 31, 2007. However, core deposits, which consist of all demand and savings deposits, increased $56.8 million, or 2.2%, to $2.64 billion at June 30, 2008, compared to $2.59 billion at December 31, 2007. Within core deposits, NOW checking account balances increased $86.9 million, to $554.8 million at June 30, 2008, and money market account balances increased $66.8 million, to $665.1 million at June 30, 2008. These increases were primarily due to increases in relationship checking and money market account balances, increases in business money market accounts, and a shift in customer deposits out of short-term certificates of deposit and lower-rate savings accounts. Certificates of deposit decreased $107.1 million, or 6.5%, to $1.53 billion at June 30, 2008, compared to $1.64 billion at December 31, 2007. Certain higher-costing maturing certificates of deposit were replaced with borrowed funds at favorable rates, as the Company continued to emphasize relationship banking in its deposit acquisition strategy. Core deposits increased to 63.3% of total deposits at June 30, 2008, from 61.2% of total deposits at December 31, 2007. Borrowed funds increased $65.9 million, or 6.1%, to $1.14 billion at June 30, 2008, from $1.08 billion at December 31, 2007.

Total stockholders’ equity increased $9.0 million, or 0.9%, to $1.01 billion at June 30, 2008, compared to $1.00 billion at December 31, 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to net income of $21.0 million and the allocation of shares to stock-based compensation plans of $4.5 million, partially offset by cash dividends declared totaling $13.2 million, an increase of $2.8 million in unrealized securities losses, net of tax, and common stock repurchases totaling $484,000. At June 30, 2008, book value per share and tangible book value per share were $16.92 and $8.25, respectively, compared with $16.78 and $8.05, respectively, at December 31, 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources. The Company’s primary sources of funds are deposits, FHLB-NY advances, repurchase agreements, loan repayments, maturities of investments and cash flows from mortgage-backed securities. Scheduled loan amortization is a fairly predictable source of funds, while loan and mortgage-backed securities prepayments and deposit flows

 

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are influenced by interest rates, local economic conditions and the competitive marketplace. Additional sources of liquidity that are available to the Company, should the need arise, are a $100.0 million overnight line of credit and a $100.0 million one-month line of credit with the FHLB-NY. As of June 30, 2008, the Company had $86.0 million in outstanding borrowings against these lines of credit.

Cash needs for the six months ended June 30, 2008, were provided for primarily from income and principal payments on loans, investments and mortgage-backed securities, sales of residential mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities and investments, and increases in deposits. The cash was used primarily to fund interest and operating expenses, current loan originations, common stock repurchases, and the repayment of borrowings.

As of June 30, 2008, the Bank exceeded all regulatory capital requirements as follows:

 

     At June 30, 2008  
     Required     Actual  
     Amount    Ratio     Amount    Ratio  
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Regulatory Tier 1 leverage capital

   $ 232,679    4.00 %   $ 373,692    6.42 %

Tier 1 risk-based capital

     158,887    4.00       373,692    9.41  

Total risk-based capital

     317,775    8.00       414,810    10.44  

COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007

General. The Company reported net income of $10.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and $21.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to $13.6 million and $24.4 million for the same periods in 2007. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.18 for the quarter and $0.38 for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.22 for the same quarter in 2007 and $0.41 for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The annualized return on average assets was 0.66% and 0.67% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with 0.88% and 0.83% for the same respective periods in 2007. Annualized return on average equity was 4.13% and 4.20% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with 5.14% and 4.74% for the same respective periods in 2007.

Earnings and per share data for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, reflected severance costs totaling $503,000, net of tax, recognized during the second quarter of 2008. Results for the six months ended June 30, 2008, were also impacted by a $180,000 net after-tax gain recorded in connection with the ownership and mandatory redemption of a portion of the Company’s Class B Visa, Inc. shares as part of Visa’s initial public offering in the first quarter of 2008, and a $175,000 net after-tax gain resulting from the sale of a branch office in the first quarter of 2008.

Earnings and per share data for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, were impacted by the settlement of an insurance claim which resulted in a recovery of $3.5 million, net of tax, related to a fraud loss that occurred and was recognized in 2002, and the April 1, 2007 acquisition of First Morris Bank & Trust (“First Morris”) and related one-time expenses of $246,000, net of tax.

Net Interest Income. Total net interest income increased $2.5 million, or 6.3%, to $42.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $40.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, total net interest income increased $4.4 million, or 5.8%, to $81.8 million, compared to $77.3 million for the same period in 2007. Interest income for the second quarter of 2008 decreased $1.6 million, or 2.0%, to $75.3 million, compared to $76.9 million for the same period in 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, interest income increased $5.1 million, or 3.4%, to $152.0 million, compared to $146.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Interest expense decreased $4.1 million, or 11.1%, to $32.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $36.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, interest expense increased $615,000, or 0.9%, to $70.2 million, compared to $69.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The changes in interest income and expense for the three months ended June 30, 2008, versus the

 

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comparable 2007 period reflected decreased short-term interest rates and a steepening yield curve, as the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank reduced the discount rate by 225 basis points from 4.25% through April of 2008. The changes in interest income and expense for the six months ended June 30, 2008, versus the comparable 2007 period were also impacted by increases in the average volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities attributable to the April 1, 2007 acquisition of First Morris.

The Company’s net interest margin increased 8 basis points to 3.10% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to 3.02% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. The net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, increased 23 basis points from the trailing quarter net interest margin of 2.87%. The net interest margin decreased 4 basis points to 2.98% for the six months ended June 30, 2008, from 3.02% for the same period in 2007. The net interest spread was 2.76% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with 2.58% for the same period in 2007 and 2.49% for the trailing quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the net interest spread was 2.62%, compared with 2.55% for the same period in 2007.

The average yield on interest-earning assets decreased 31 basis points to 5.50% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to 5.81% for the comparable quarter in 2007. Compared to the trailing quarter, the yield on interest-earning assets decreased 13 basis points from 5.63%. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the yield on interest-earning assets decreased 20 basis points to 5.56%, from 5.76% for the same period in 2007.

The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 49 basis points to 2.74% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to 3.23% for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. Compared to the trailing quarter, the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 40 basis points from 3.14%. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 27 basis points to 2.94%, from 3.21% for the same period in 2007.

The average balance of net loans increased $138.5 million, or 3.4%, to $4.20 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $4.07 billion for the same period in 2007. Income on loans secured by real estate decreased $1.8 million, or 4.2%, to $40.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008, compared to $42.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007. Interest income on commercial loans decreased $39,000, or 0.4%, to $10.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $10.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. Consumer loan interest income decreased $775,000, or 7.8%, to $9.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $9.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. The average loan yield for the three months ended June 30, 2008 was 5.76%, compared with 6.20% for the same period in 2007.

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the average balance of net loans increased $317.1 million, or 8.1%, to $4.22 billion, compared to $3.90 billion for the same period in 2007. Income on loans secured by real estate decreased $583,000, or 0.7%, to $81.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to $82.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Interest income on commercial loans increased $3.6 million, or 19.5%, to $21.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to $18.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Consumer loan interest income was stable at $18.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007. The average loan yield for the six months ended June 30, 2008, was 5.83%, compared with 6.16% for the same period in 2007.

Interest income on investment securities held to maturity decreased $276,000, or 7.1%, to $3.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $3.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. Average investment securities held to maturity totaled $354.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with $377.0 million for the same period last year. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, interest income on investment securities held to maturity decreased $608,000, or 7.7%, to $7.3 million, compared to $7.9 million for the same period in 2007. Average investment securities held to maturity totaled $354.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with $381.6 million for the same period last year.

Interest income on securities available for sale increased $1.3 million, or 13.3%, to $11.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $10.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. Average securities available for sale were $887.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2008, compared with $824.5 million for the same period in 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, interest income on securities available for sale increased $2.4 million, or 12.5%, to $21.6 million, compared to $19.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Average securities available for sale were $837.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with $796.4 million for the same period in 2007. The average yield on all securities was

 

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4.66% and 4.67% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with 4.52% and 4.48% for the same respective periods in 2007.

The average balance of interest-bearing core deposit accounts increased $46.1 million, or 2.2%, to $2.14 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $2.10 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, average interest-bearing core deposits increased $182.2 million, or 9.4%, to $2.13 billion, compared with $1.95 billion for the same period in 2007. Average time deposit account balances decreased $153.1 million, or 8.9%, to $1.57 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $1.72 billion for the same period in 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, average time deposits decreased $50.6 million, or 3.1%, to $1.59 billion, compared with $1.64 billion for the same period in 2007. Interest paid on deposit accounts decreased $7.0 million, or 24.0%, to $22.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $29.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, interest paid on deposit accounts decreased $4.5 million, or 8.5%, to $48.8 million, compared to $53.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits was 2.41% and 2.64% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with 3.07% and 3.00% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively.

Average borrowings increased $353.3 million, or 47.1%, to $1.10 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared to $749.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, average borrowings increased $305.2 million, or 38.9%, to $1.09 billion, compared to $785.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Interest paid on borrowed funds increased $2.9 million, or 38.0%, to $10.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, from $7.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, interest paid on borrowed funds increased $5.2 million, or 31.7%, to $21.4 million, from $16.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The average cost of borrowings was 3.84% and 3.95% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared with 4.09% and 4.17% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively.

Provision for Loan Losses. Provisions for loan losses are charged to operations in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level management considers adequate to absorb probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, management considers past and current loss experience, evaluations of real estate collateral, current economic conditions, volume and type of lending, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay the loan and the levels of non-performing and other classified loans. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates, and the ultimate losses may vary from such estimates as more information becomes available or later events change. Management assesses the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis and makes provisions for loan losses in order to maintain the adequacy of the allowance. The Company’s emphasis on continued diversification of the loan portfolio through the origination of commercial mortgage loans, commercial loans and construction loans has been one of the more significant factors management has considered in evaluating the allowance for loan losses and provision for loan losses. In the event the Company further increases the amount of such types of loans in the portfolio, management may determine that additional or increased provisions for loan losses are necessary, which could adversely affect earnings.

The Company recorded provisions for loan losses of $1.5 million and $2.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively. This compares with provisions for loan losses of $1.2 million and $1.5 million recorded for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. The increase in the provision for loan losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the same periods in 2007, was attributable to an increase in non-performing loans, year-over-year growth in the loan portfolio, and an increase in commercial loans as a percentage of the loan portfolio to 45.1% at June 30, 2008, from 43.4% at June 30, 2007, as well as ongoing uncertainty with respect to general economic conditions. Total non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans were 0.86% at June 30, 2008, compared with 0.81% at December 31, 2007, and 0.26% at June 30, 2007. At June 30, 2008, non-performing loans included a $16.0 million loan secured by a 64-unit condominium project which was greater than 90 days past due and still accruing interest. Subsequent to June 30, 2008, the borrower closed on the sale of ten units, brought the loan current and reduced the outstanding principal balance by $2.6 million. The loan is now performing in accordance with its original contractual terms. The Company had net charge-offs of $1.2 million and $2.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively, compared to net recoveries of $61,000 and $5,000 for the same respective periods in 2007. The allowance for loan losses was $41.1 million, or 0.96% of total loans at June 30, 2008, compared to $40.8 million, or 0.95% of total loans at December 31, 2007, and $36.8 million, or 0.89% of total loans at June 30, 2007.

 

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Non-Interest Income. Non-interest income totaled $6.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, a decrease of $7.5 million compared to the same period in 2007. In 2007, the Company recorded a one-time gain on an insurance settlement of $5.9 million, before taxes, related to the resolution of previously disclosed litigation. Fee income for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 decreased $1.8 million, or 27.4%, compared to the same period in 2007, primarily as a result of decreases in the value of equity fund holdings and lower loan prepayment income. Partially offsetting these decreases are net gains on securities transactions totaling $305,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with net losses of $63,000 for the same quarter in 2007.

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, non-interest income totaled $15.5 million, a decrease of $6.5 million, or 29.5%, compared to the same period in 2007. In 2007, the Company recorded a one-time gain on an insurance settlement of $5.9 million, before taxes, related to the resolution of previously disclosed litigation. Fee income decreased $1.2 million, or 9.5%, for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to the same period in 2007, primarily as a result of decreases in the value of equity fund holdings. Partially offsetting these decreases are net gains on securities transactions totaling $401,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with net losses of $63,000 for the same period in 2007.

Non-Interest Expense. For the three months ended June 30, 2008, non-interest expense decreased $844,000, or 2.5%, to $33.3 million, compared to $34.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007. For the three months ended June 30, 2008, compensation and benefits expense decreased $308,000, compared with the same period in 2007, despite the recognition of $773,000 in pre-tax severance costs during the second quarter of 2008, as a result of previous staff reductions and lower stock-based compensation costs. Data processing and advertising costs decreased $366,000 and $153,000, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007, as prior year costs included charges related to the First Morris acquisition. Amortization of intangibles decreased $312,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007, as a result of scheduled reductions in the amortization of core deposit intangibles.

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, non-interest expense increased $1.8 million, or 2.8%, to $65.2 million, compared to $63.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. Other operating expenses increased $1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007, due to increases in several categories, including $356,000 in expense associated with the Company’s proportionate share of a litigation reserve established by Visa, as well as increases in attorney fees and costs associated with foreclosed assets. Net occupancy expense increased $918,000 due primarily to the addition of nine branch locations in connection with the acquisition of First Morris. Compensation and benefits expense increased $235,000, primarily as a result of $773,000 in pre-tax severance costs incurred during the second quarter of 2008. Partially offsetting these increases, advertising and data processing costs decreased $423,000 and $57,000, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared with the same period in 2007, as prior year costs included charges related to the First Morris acquisition.

The Company’s annualized non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets was 2.11% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with 2.21% for the same period in 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets was 2.07%, compared with 2.16% for the same period in 2007. The efficiency ratio (non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income) was 67.62% for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, compared with 62.94% for the same period in 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the efficiency ratio was 67.12%, compared with 63.95% for the same period in 2007.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense decreased $1.2 million, to $4.1 million, on income before taxes of $14.4 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 28.3% for the three months ended June 30, 2008, compared to income tax expense of $5.3 million on income before taxes of $18.9 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 28.0% for the same period in 2007. Income tax expense decreased $1.7 million to $8.1 million, on income before taxes of $29.2 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 27.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2008, compared to income tax expense of $9.8 million on income before taxes of $34.3 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 28.7% for the same period in 2007. The decrease in income tax expense was primarily attributable to reduced income before income taxes.

 

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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Qualitative Analysis. Interest rate risk is the exposure of a bank’s current and future earnings and capital arising from adverse movements in interest rates. The guidelines of the Company’s interest rate risk policy seek to limit the exposure to changes in interest rates that affect the underlying economic value of assets and liabilities, earnings and capital. To minimize interest rate risk, the Company generally sells all 20- and 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loans at origination. Commercial real estate loans generally have interest rates that reset in five years, and other commercial loans such as construction loans and commercial lines of credit reset with changes in the prime rate, the federal funds rate or LIBOR. Investment securities purchases generally have maturities of five years or less, and mortgage-backed securities have weighted average lives between three and five years.

The Asset/Liability Committee meets on a monthly basis to review the impact of interest rate changes on net interest income, net interest margin, net income and the economic value of equity. The Asset/Liability Committee reviews a variety of strategies that project changes in asset or liability mix, various interest rate scenarios and the impact of those changes on projected net interest income and net income.

The Company endeavors to acquire and retain core deposit accounts and expand customer relationships in order to maintain a less interest rate sensitive funding base. The Company’s ability to retain maturing certificate of deposit accounts is the result of its strategy to remain competitively priced within its marketplace, typically within the upper quartile of rates offered by its competitors. Pricing strategy may vary depending upon current funding needs and the ability of the Company to fund operations through alternative sources, primarily by accessing short-term lines of credit with the FHLB-NY during periods of pricing dislocation.

Quantitative Analysis. Current and future sensitivity to changes in interest rates are measured through the use of balance sheet and income simulation models. The analyses capture changes in net interest income using flat rates as a base, a most likely rate forecast and rising and declining interest rate forecasts. Changes in net interest income and net income for the forecast period, generally twelve to twenty-four months, are measured and compared to policy limits for acceptable change. The Company periodically reviews historical deposit re-pricing activity and makes modifications to certain assumptions used in its income simulation model regarding the interest rate sensitivity of deposits without maturity dates. These modifications are made to more precisely reflect most likely results under the various interest rate change scenarios. Since it is inherently difficult to predict the sensitivity of interest-bearing deposits to changes in interest rates, the changes in net interest income due to changes in interest rates cannot be precisely predicted. There are a variety of reasons that may cause actual results to vary considerably from the predictions presented below which include, but are not limited to, the timing, magnitude, and frequency of changes in interest rates, interest rate spreads, prepayments, and actions taken in response to such changes. Specific assumptions used in the simulation model include:

 

   

Parallel yield curve shifts for market rates;

 

   

Current asset and liability spreads to market interest rates are fixed;

 

   

Traditional savings and interest-bearing demand accounts move at 10% of the rate ramp in either direction;

 

   

Money Market accounts move at 10% of the rate ramp in either direction; and

 

   

Higher-balance demand deposit tiers and promotional demand accounts move at 50% of the rate ramp in either direction.

The following table sets forth the results of a twelve-month net interest income projection model as of June 30, 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 

Change in Interest Rates in

Basis Points (Rate Ramp)

   Net Interest Income  
   Dollar
Amount
   Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 

-200

   $ 185,647    $ 2,821     1.5 %

-100

     185,041      2,215     1.2 %

Static

     182,826      —       —    

+100

     180,558      (2,268 )   (1.2 %)

+200

     178,263      (4,563 )   (2.5 %)

 

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The preceding table indicates that as of June 30, 2008, in the event of a 200 basis point increase in interest rates whereby rates ramp up evenly over a twelve-month period, net interest income would decrease 2.5%, or $4.6 million. In the event of a 200 basis point decrease in interest rates, net interest income is projected to increase 1.5%, or $2.8 million.

Another measure of interest rate sensitivity is to model changes in economic value of equity through the use of immediate and sustained interest rate shocks. The following table illustrates the result of the economic value of equity model as of

June 30, 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 

Change in Interest Rates

(Basis Points)

   Present Value of Equity     Present Value of Equity as
Percent of Present Value
of Assets
 
   Dollar
Amount
   Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
    Present Value
Ratio
    Percent
Change
 

-200

   $ 1,351,464    $ 93,015     7.4 %   19.9 %   4.8 %

-100

     1,324,681      66,232     5.3     19.7     3.7  

Flat

     1,258,449      —       —       19.0     —    

+100

     1,178,100      (80,349 )   (6.4 )   18.1     (4.8 )

+200

     1,069,429      (189,020 )   (15.0 )   16.7     (12.0 )

The above table indicates that as of June 30, 2008, in the event of an immediate and sustained 200 basis point increase in interest rates, the present value of equity is projected to decrease 15.0%, or $189.0 million. If rates were to decrease 200 basis points, the model forecasts a 7.4%, or $93.0 million increase in the present value of equity.

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodologies used in the above interest rate risk measurements. Modeling changes in net interest income requires the use of certain assumptions regarding prepayment and deposit decay rates, which may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. While management believes such assumptions are reasonable, there can be no assurance that assumed prepayment rates and decay rates will approximate actual future loan prepayment and deposit withdrawal activity. Moreover, the net interest income table presented assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration to maturity or re-pricing of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although the net interest income table provides an indication of the Company’s interest rate risk exposure at a particular point in time, such measurement is not intended to and does not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on the Company’s net interest income and will differ from actual results.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) were evaluated at the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in various legal actions and claims arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, these legal actions and claims are not expected to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors that were previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Period

   (a) Total Number
of Shares
(or Units)
Purchased
   (b) Average
Price Paid per
Share (or Unit)
   (c) Total Number of Shares
(or Units) Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans

or Programs (1)
   (d) Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value)

of Shares (or Units)
that May Yet Be
Purchased under the
Plans or Programs (1)

April 1, 2008 through April 30, 2008

   —      $ —      —      2,216,541

May 1, 2008 through May 31, 2008

   369      15.15    369    2,216,172

June 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008

   —        —      —      2,216,172

Total

   369    $ 15.15    369   

 

(1) On October 24, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the purchase of up to 3,107,077 shares of its common stock under a seventh general repurchase program which commenced upon completion of the previous program. The repurchase program has no expiration date.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not Applicable

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on April 23, 2008 (the “Annual Meeting”). The matters considered and voted on by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting and the vote of the stockholders were as follows:

Matter 1. The election of five directors, each for a three-year term.

 

Name

  

FOR

  

WITHHELD

Laura L. Brooks

   51,475,155    2,167,314

Carlos Hernandez

   51,007,611    2,634,858

William T. Jackson

   51,108,071    2,534,398

Katharine Laud

   50,976,942    2,665,527

Arthur McConnell

   51,144,339    2,498,130

 

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Matter 2. The approval of the 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan.

 

FOR

  

AGAINST

  

ABSTAIN

31,844,819    10,145,284    813,649

Matter 3. The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2008.

 

FOR

  

AGAINST

  

ABSTAIN

55,267,128    1,065,799    309,542

 

Item 5. Other Information.

None

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 

  3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Provident Financial Services, Inc.*
  3.2    Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Provident Financial Services, Inc.******
  4.1    Form of Common Stock Certificate of Provident Financial Services, Inc. *
10.1    Form of Employment Agreement between Provident Financial Services, Inc. and certain executive officers. *
10.2    Form of Change in Control Agreement between Provident Financial Services, Inc. and certain executive officers. *
10.3    Amended and Restated Employee Savings Incentive Plan, as amended. **
10.4    Employee Stock Ownership Plan* and Amendment No. 1 to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan. **
10.5    Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. **
10.6    Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Savings Plan, as amended. **
10.7    Retirement Plan for the Board of Directors of The Provident Bank, as amended. *
10.8    Amendment No. 1 and Amendment No. 2 to The Provident Bank Amended and Restated Board of Directors Voluntary Fee Deferral Plan. **
10.9    Voluntary Bonus Deferral Plan, as amended. *
10.10    Provident Financial Services, Inc. Board of Directors Voluntary Fee Deferral Plan, as amended. **
10.11    First Savings Bank Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan, as amended. ***
10.12    The Provident Bank 2005 Board of Directors Voluntary Fee Deferral Plan. ****
10.13    The Provident Bank Non-Qualified Supplemental Employee Stock Ownership Plan. ****

 

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Table of Contents
10.14    Provident Financial Services, Inc. 2003 Stock Option Plan. *****
10.15    Provident Financial Services, Inc. 2003 Stock Award Plan. *****
10.16    Provident Financial Services, Inc. 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan. *******
10.17    Separation Agreement by and between Provident Financial Services, Inc., The Provident Bank and Kevin J. Ward dated December 20, 2007. ******
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32    Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

*   Filed as exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, and any amendments thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Registration No. 333-98241).
**   Filed as exhibits to the Company’s June 30, 2004 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 001-31566).
***   Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s September 30, 2004 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 001-31566).
****   Filed as exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 2004 (File No. 001-31566).
*****   Filed as exhibits to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 2003 (File No. 001-31566).
******   Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s December 31, 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2008 (File No. 001-31566).
*******   Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2008 (File No. 001-31566).

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
Date: August 11, 2008   By:  

/s/ Paul M. Pantozzi

    Paul M. Pantozzi
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: August 11, 2008   By:  

/s/ Linda A. Niro

    Linda A. Niro
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer)
Date: August 11, 2008   By:  

/s/ Thomas M. Lyons

    Thomas M. Lyons
    First Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
    (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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