Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Banks - Regional / OceanFirst Financial Corp.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

ocfc · NASDAQ Financial Services
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Ticker ocfc
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Financial Services
Industry Banks - Regional
Employees 975
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FY2023 Annual Report · OceanFirst Financial Corp.
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2023 AN NUAL REPORT

DEPOSITS

($ in billions)

Loans

($ in billions)

Loans

($ in billions)

DEPOSITS

($ in billions)

LOANS RECEIVABLE

(Net of allowance for loan credit losses)

($ in billions)

TOTAL ASSETS

($ in billions)

Deposits:   10.4    9.7  9.7   9.4   6.3   

Loan Receivable :  10.1   9.9  8.6      7.7     6.2   

Total assets :  13.5 

 13.1  11.7    11.4      8.2 

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

20

15

15

12

9

6

3

0

BOOK VALUE PER 

COMMON SHARE

$30

25

20

15

10

5

0

$20

15

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

TANGIBLE BOOK VALUE 
PER COMMON SHARE

$15

12

9

6

3

0

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

$12

10

8

6

4

2

0

FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2023

DEPOSITS
($ in billions)

$12

10

8

6

4

2

0

$12

10

8

6

4

2

0

$12

10

8

6

4

2

0

LOANS RECEIVABLE
(Net of allowance for loan credit losses)

($ in billions)

TOTAL ASSETS
($ in billions)

$15

12

9

6

3

0

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

At or for the year ended December 31,

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

10

10
“OCEANFIRST IS A STRONG FINANCIAL INSTITUTION  
WITH A WELL-ESTABLISHED HISTORY OF OUTSTANDING 
5
ASSET QUALITY, A SOUND CAPITAL FOUNDATION,  
AND SOLID PROFITABILITY.”

0

0

5

Selected Financial Condition Data

Total assets

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan credit losses

Deposits

Total stockholders’ equity

Selected Operating Data

Net interest income

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

Other income(1)

Operating expenses(1)

Net income available to common stockholders(1)

Diluted earnings per share(1)

Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data(1)

Tangible book value per common share(2)

Book value per common share

Cash dividends per common share

Tangible stockholders’ equity to tangible assets(2)

Stockholders’ equity to total assets

Return on average assets(1) (3)

Return on average tangible stockholders’ equity(1) (2) (3)

Return on average stockholders’ equity(1) (3)

Net interest margin

Operating expenses to average assets(1)

Efficiency ratio(1)

Common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio

Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans receivable

$13,538,253

10,136,721

10,434,949

1,661,945

$13,103,896

$11,739,616

$11,448,313  

$8,246,145

9,868,718

8,583,352

7,704,857

6,207,680

9,675,206

9,732,816

9,427,616

6,328,777

1,585,464

1,516,553

1,484,130

1,153,119

369,731

33,624

248,912

100,013

1.70

18.35

27.96

0.80

8.80 %

12.28

0.74

8.97

6.13

3.02

1.85

61.71

10.86

0.29

377,477

59,094

234,881

142,587

2.42

17.08

26.81

0.74

305,338

51,931

226,860

106,060

1.78

15.93

25.63

0.68

8.47 %

8.89 %

12.10

1.15

13.96

9.24

3.37

1.90

53.80

9.93

0.23

12.92

0.91

10.73

7.02

2.93

1.94

63.50

10.26

0.30

312,951  

255,971

73,926

246,431

61,212

1.02

42,165

189,142

88,574

1.75

14.98  

24.57  

0.68

8.79 %

12.96

0.55

6.59

4.20

3.16

2.20

63.70

11.05

0.60

15.13

22.88

0.68

9.71 %

13.98

1.10

11.96

7.84

3.62

2.35

63.44

12.14

0.40

(1)  Performance ratios for 2023 included a net expense related to merger related expenses, net branch consolidation expense, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) special assessment, net loss on sale of 
investments and net gain on equity investments of $6.2 million, or $4.7 million, net of tax benefit. Performance ratios for 2022 included a net benefit related to merger related expenses, net branch consolidation 
expense, and gain on equity investments of $6.2 million, or $4.6 million, net of tax expense. Performance ratios for 2021 include merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, and a net gain on equity 
investments of $6.7 million or $5.1 million, net of tax benefit. Performance ratios for 2020 include a net gain on equity investments, gain on sale of Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans, Federal Home Loan Bank 
(“FHLB”) advance prepayment fees, merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, and Two River Bancorp (“Two River”) and Country Bank Holding Company, Inc. (“Country Bank”) opening credit loss 
expense under the current expected credit losses (“CECL”) model of $14.3 million or $11.0 million, net of tax benefit. Performance ratios for 2019 include merger related expenses, branch consolidation expenses, 
non-recurring professional fees, compensation expense due to the retirement of an executive officer, and the reduction in income tax expense from revaluation of state deferred tax assets as a result of a change in 
the New Jersey tax code of $20.6 million, or $16.3 million, net of tax benefit.

(2)  These are non-GAAP measures; refer to “Explanation of non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” table” in the Company’s Earnings Release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K as filed with the 

SEC on January 18, 2024. 

(3)  Ratios for each period are based on net income available to common stockholders. 

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   1

Christopher D. Maher
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer

$100M

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO 
COMMON STOCKHOLDERS 
(FULL-YEAR 2023)

$276.5M

INCREASE IN TOTAL LOANS 
(YEAR-END 2022-2023)

$759.7M

INCREASE IN DEPOSITS  
(YEAR-END 2022-2023)

DEAR FELLOW STOCKHOLDERS:

WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OCEANFIRST DELIVERED 
PROFITABLE GROWTH IN 2023, WHILE ALSO STRENGTHENING 
OUR FINANCIAL POSITION IN RESPONSE TO A DIFFICULT 
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT.

Among our more noteworthy accomplish-
ments, we produced the third highest  
net income in the Company’s history,  
increased deposits, and prudently grew 
our loan portfolio, while continuing to 
invest in the capabilities needed to serve 
our customers and communities, build 
value for stockholders, and attract and 
retain talented employees.

Significantly, our team achieved these 
accomplishments while also taking 
decisive action to protect our business, 
our customers, and our stockholder 
value against external economic and 
market challenges. The past year saw 
the continuation of an inflationary 
environment, coupled with high interest 
rates stemming from the Federal 
Reserve’s anti-inflationary policies. Early 
in 2023, a small number of banking 
institutions experienced liquidity issues 

that ultimately required regulatory 
intervention. That intervention negatively 
impacted their customers and resulted in 
severe losses to common shareholders at 
those institutions, a reminder of the need 
for a conservative bias when operating 
a leveraged financial institution. More 
recently, questions have been raised 
about some lenders’ exposure to the 
commercial real estate (CRE) sector.

Overall, the U.S. banking system is sound 
and secure, and it is important to note 
that these issues have been limited to a 
few individual institutions. That said, as 
an organization that has navigated many 
economic cycles over our 122-year his-
tory, we know that challenging times call 
for thoughtful and decisive action. The 
environment in 2023 was a case in point, 
and OceanFirst was well prepared. We 
grew our customer deposits by 7.9% and 

at the same time enhanced the stability of 
our deposit mix, including a reduction of 
brokered time deposits. We substantially 
strengthened OceanFirst’s capital base; 
total stockholders’ equity increased to 
$1.66 billion and our common equity Tier 1 
ratio ended the year at 10.86%. Despite 
the impact on operating expenses of 
non-core items such as an industry-wide 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 
(FDIC) special assessment in the current 
year, and merger-related and branch 
consolidation expenses in the prior year, 
we drove core non-interest expenses 
down by $815,000 comparing the fourth 
quarters of 2023 and 2022.

Delivering Profitable Growth

The Company’s performance for the past 
year reflected continued profitability, 
responsible loan growth, and pristine asset 
quality. For full-year 2023, we reported net 
income available to common stockholders 
of $100.0 million, or $1.70 per diluted 
share, compared to $142.6 million, or $2.42 
per diluted share, for the prior year. Our 
results largely reflected a decrease in 
net interest income due to our measured 
loan growth, a shift in our deposit mix, 

and repricing of deposits that outpaced 
the increase in yields on interest-earning 
assets. As noted earlier, we produced  
the third highest earnings performance  
in the Company’s history and delivered  
a return on average assets of 0.74% and  
return on average tangible common 
equity of 9.44%.

Taking a prudent approach to loan 
underwriting, while continuing to serve 
our customers’ credit needs, total loans 
increased by $276.5 million to $10.19 
billion. Deposits increased by $759.7 
million, to reach $10.43 billion. Our 
efforts to achieve a more stable deposit 
mix resulted in an increase in retail time 
deposits of $1.13 billion, while brokered 
time deposits decreased $242.0 million. 
We also were able to reduce Federal 
Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances by 
$362.5 million due to the mix shift in 
funding sources from FHLB advances  
to deposits.

Significantly, at a time when high interest 
rates and rising office vacancies in certain 
markets have posed a challenge to 
some lenders with large, non-diversified 
CRE concentrations, our asset quality 

remained exceptionally strong. Our 
diverse loan portfolio held less than 
1% of assets in loans secured by office 
properties in central business districts, 
and less than 0.30% of total assets 
secured by rent-regulated multi-family 
properties. Non-performing assets at 
year-end remained among the lowest 
we have ever recorded at 0.22% of total 
assets. The Company held no foreclosed 
property for the second year in a row.

We continued our responsible stewardship 
of stockholder value. Book value and 
tangible book value per share at year-
end 2023 were $27.96 and $18.35, 
respectively, growing $1.15 and $1.27 
respectively from the prior year. Tangible 
book value per share increased 7.4% after 
the payment of $0.80 per share in common 
dividends. Following the 2023 fourth 
quarter, the Board of Directors declared 
our 108th consecutive quarterly cash 
dividend on the common stock. While 
the Company did not repurchase any 
common shares during 2023, we believe 
we are in a strong position to resume 
repurchases during 2024 and there are 
more than 2.9 million shares available 
under the existing buyback authorization.

While operating performance for 2023 
was solid, the market value of our shares 
reflected a tumultuous year in the capital 
markets for bank stocks. Our share 
price decreased by 18.3%, reflecting 
industry trends as several sources of 
concern emerged during the year. These 
concerns, which included interest rate 
risk positions, liquidity profiles, and 
concentrated CRE credit exposures, 
have weighed heavily on bank stocks for 
some time. Our Company is positioned 
well in all aspects, but more time – and 
an extended period of stability – will 
be needed for the market to overcome 
these concerns about the financial 
industry. In the meantime, the Board 
and management are highly focused 
on building a business that should be 
substantially more valuable as economic 
conditions in the sector normalize. It  
is important to note that the Board of  
Directors, management, employees, and 
the OceanFirst Foundation own over  
4.4 million shares collectively and we 
are strongly aligned with all common 
stockholders in the desire to create value 
with your investment.

2   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   3

Joseph J. Lebel III
President and
Chief Operating Officer

“WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS  
TO ENHANCE THE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS 
AVAILABLE TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND TO 
EXPAND OUR CAPACITY FOR LONG-TERM 
PROFITABLE GROWTH AND VALUE CREATION.”

Expanding Services and Solutions

While maintaining a robust capital 
position and controlling operating 
expenses were major priorities over 
the past year, given the challenging 
economic environment, OceanFirst 
continued to make investments to 
enhance the services and solutions 
available to our customers and to 
expand our capacity for long-term 
profitable growth and value creation.

To enhance our customer service and 
support future growth, we have invested 
in both talent and technology. For 
example, we added 18 experienced 
bankers to expand our commercial 
lending and residential lending teams 
in the past year. And we implemented 
an advanced digital portal powered by 
an auto decision engine to accelerate 
our approval process for small business 
loans and lines of credit.

We demonstrated our commitment to 
serving the financing needs of small 
businesses within our communities. 
During the past year, we introduced an 
unsecured line of credit product with

accelerated approvals. For credit lines 
of up to $25,000 to qualified borrowers, 
decisions are provided within 48 hours.

At the same time, we have continued 
to optimize our retail branch network to 
better serve our markets and respond 
to customers’ evolving banking needs. 
In December, we opened our first-ever 
retail branch in New Brunswick, NJ, 
and we are very appreciative of the 
warm welcome we have received from 
the community. Plans are underway 
to modernize our branches in Brick 
and Bridgeton, NJ, in the coming 
year, with a completely new building 
constructed to replace the facility 
that has been our home in Brick since 
1961, and a complete renovation at the 
Bridgeton office that will be followed by 
replacement of the existing standalone 
drive-thru with new video teller 
machines offering efficient extended 
banking hours. 

Although home mortgage lending on 
a nationwide scale has recently been 
hampered by higher interest rates and 
limited housing inventory for sale, we 
continue to view residential lending 

as both a long-term opportunity to 
gather quality assets and a vital part of 
OceanFirst’s service portfolio. In 2023, 
we strengthened our offerings in this 
area with the appointment of Stephen 
Adamo as President of Residential and 
Consumer Lending. Steve is responsible 
for making residential and consumer 
lending a center of excellence for the 
Company, with a focus on the growth 
and expansion of all residential home 
lending and consumer lending products, 
as well as our sales, servicing, and 
delivery channels. 

OceanFirst’s initiatives in commercial, 
small business, residential and consumer 
lending, and branch banking are 
consistent with our goal of providing 
a comprehensive range of financial 
services and solutions, delivered with 
the engagement and personal touch 
of a community bank. Our successful 
track record of investing in an enhanced 
customer experience has included the 
NestEgg financial advisory platform, 
our partnership in the Auxilior Capital 
equipment leasing and supply chain 
financing unit, and our majority investment 
in Trident Abstract Title Agency. 

4   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   5

“BY MEETING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS 
AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE CAN SEE 
FIRSTHAND WHAT LOCAL PEOPLE AND 
BUSINESSES WANT AND NEED FROM THEIR 
BANKING PARTNERS.”

Investing in Our Community

Banks play a unique role in the American 
financial services system. As bankers, 
we generate deposits, originate loans, 
and deliver services directly to the 
neighborhoods where our customers live 
and work – helping residents to thrive and 
businesses to grow.

During the past year, we embarked on an 
initiative to “take to the streets” and get 
to know our communities and their needs 
even better. A number of senior OceanFirst 
executives participated in a series of what 
we call “walkabouts” – meeting with local 
organizations and community leaders 
on their own turf, walking around the 
neighborhoods, and seeing firsthand what 
local people and businesses want and 
need from their banking partners. In the 
past year, we visited Asbury Park, Atlantic 
City, Bridgeton, Camden, Neptune, New 
Brunswick, Trenton and Vineland, NJ; Bronx, 
NY; and Philadelphia, PA – with more to 
come in 2024. 

What we’ve seen and learned on our 
walkabouts will help us focus the Bank’s 
resources where our communities need 
them most. That not only applies to banking 
services such as loans, but also grants 
provided by OceanFirst Foundation, and 
volunteer efforts like our CommUNITYFirst 
Day and WaveMakers programs. 

A number of new or enhanced initiatives 
have resulted from the walkabouts. The New 
Brunswick banking center, noted earlier, 
was inspired by our visit to that community. 
Another example is the expansion of our 
NeighborFirst program, launched in 2022, 
which makes mortgages more accessible 
and affordable for first-time homebuyers in 
New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. 
The program currently offers qualified 
applicants a discounted mortgage interest 
rate, lower down payment, and reduced 
fees, among other features. Eligible first-
time homebuyers also may qualify for grants 
towards closing costs. During 2023, we 
originated $42.5 million in loans to over 
150 borrowers through our NeighborFirst 
program. As a result of the insights gained 
from the walkabouts, OceanFirst Foundation 
announced an additional $385,000 for 
grants to several dozen organizations 
that provide housing assistance, food 
pantries, education, job placement 
and other much-needed services in our 
communities, bringing total Foundation 
support for our communities to $2.3 million 
in grants awarded for 2023. Over half ($1.2 
million) of these grants helped nonprofit 
organizations serve low- and moderate-
income communities and individuals.

The walkabouts were just the latest addition 
to our extensive range of initiatives to 
expand access to economic opportunity 

across our communities. OceanFirst Bank 
also provided approximately $21.7 million 
in community development investments, 
and community development loans of $103 
million for a range of projects in 2023. Loans 
to minority-owned and women-owned 
businesses last year amounted to $106 
million. The Bank also provided 332 hours of 
financial literacy program, in partnership with 
local nonprofit organizations and schools, 
helping hundreds of community members to 
learn about healthy financial habits.

Volunteer efforts are another way we 
give back to our communities. For our 
annual CommUNITYFirst Day, held in 
September 2023, more than 730 employees 
volunteered 2,900 hours to work with 
over 90 nonprofit organizations across 
New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, 
Baltimore, and Boston. In addition, our 
employees, whom we call WaveMakers, 
are active all year-round, volunteering 
thousands of hours to local nonprofits. 
OceanFirst Foundation, established in 1996 
in conjunction with our initial public offering, 
has contributed over $48 million since 
inception to support charitable efforts in  
our communities.

6   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   7

Deposits:   10.4    9.7  9.7   9.4   6.3   

Loan Receivable :  10.1   9.9  8.6      7.7     6.2   

Deposits:   10.4    9.7  9.7   9.4   6.3   

Total assets :  13.5 

 13.1  11.7    11.4      8.2 

Loan Receivable :  10.1   9.9  8.6      7.7     6.2   

Total assets :  13.5 

 13.1  11.7    11.4      8.2 

“OCEANFIRST’S INITIATIVES ARE CONSISTENT WITH 
OUR GOAL OF PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE 
RANGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS, 
DELIVERED WITH THE ENGAGEMENT AND 
PERSONAL TOUCH OF A COMMUNITY BANK.”

Strengthening Governance

OceanFirst’s commitment to strong 
governance includes periodically 
refreshing the membership of our Board 
of Directors. In 2023, we welcomed 
three new members to the Board: John 
F. Barros, Managing Principal of Civitas 
Builder – Boston, MA; Robert C. Garrett, 
CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health – 
Morris Township, NJ; and Dalila Wilson-
Scott, EVP and Chief Diversity Officer 
of Comcast Corporation and President, 
Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation – 
Philadelphia, PA. Our new Board members 
bring significant professional experience 
with large and complex organizations, 
a breadth of geographic and industry 
knowledge, and diverse backgrounds. 

Director John Walsh, a Board member 
since 2000, will retire from service when 
his current term expires in 2024. 

In addition to being our longest tenured 
director, John served as Independent Lead 
Director for over 19 years, a role that was 
critical to our success, and we are deeply 
grateful for his leadership and dedication. 

We want to take this opportunity to 
honor the memory of Director Emeritus 
and former President Robert Knemoller, 
who passed away in 2023. Bob held 
several positions at the Bank beginning 
in the 1960s, serving as President from 
1982–1985 and as a member of the Board 
of Directors from 1982 until his retirement 
in 2002, when he was named Director 
Emeritus. Bob’s career spanned a period 
of growth and transformation for the 
Company, including branch expansion, our 
initial public offering, and the transition 
from Ocean Federal to OceanFirst. We 
appreciate his many contributions, which 
provided the foundation for the Company 
as we know it today. 

We also note with sadness the passing 
of John Lloyd, who served on OceanFirst 
Financial Corp. and Bank Boards 
from 2018 through 2022. John built a 
distinguished career in health care, as 
President of Jersey Shore Medical Center, 
and was a leading force in the series 
of mergers that led to the creation of 
Hackensack Meridian Health, where he 
served as co-CEO until 2019. Respected 
throughout the healthcare industry, John 
contributed to the success of OceanFirst 
through his unfailing professionalism, 
wisdom, generosity and compassion.  

DEPOSITS

($ in billions)

DEPOSITS
($ in billions)

12

10

12

8

10

6

8

4

6

2

4

0

2

0

Loans

($ in billions)

Loans
($ in billions)

12

10

12

8

10

6

8

4

6

2

4

0

2

0

30

25

30

+4.8%

25

20

15

20

INCREASE IN TOTAL  
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
(YEAR-END 2022-2023)

15

10

5

10

0

5

0

20

20
15

15
10

+7.4%

10
5

INCREASE IN TANGIBLE BOOK 
VALUE PER COMMON SHARE 
(YEAR-END 2022-2023)

5
0

0

Loans

($ in billions)

Loans
($ in billions)

15

12
15

9
12

6
9

3
6

0
3

0

$12

10
$12

8
10

6
8

4
6

2
4

0
2

0

DEPOSITS

($ in billions)

DEPOSITS
($ in billions)

LOANS RECEIVABLE

(Net of allowance for loan credit losses)

($ in billions)

LOANS RECEIVABLE

(Net of allowance for loan credit losses)

($ in billions)

TOTAL ASSETS

($ in billions)

TOTAL ASSETS

($ in billions)

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

$12

10

$12

8

10

6

8

4

6

2

4

0

2

0

$12

10

$12

8

10

6

8

4

6

2

4

0

2

0

$15

12

$15

9

12

6

9

3

6

0

3

0

$15

12

$15

12

9

6

9

3

6

0

3

0

DEPOSITS
($ in billions)

DEPOSITS
($ in billions)

LOANS RECEIVABLE

(Net of allowance for loan credit losses)

($ in billions)

LOANS RECEIVABLE

(Net of allowance for loan credit losses)

($ in billions)

TOTAL ASSETS

($ in billions)

TOTAL ASSETS

($ in billions)

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

BOOK VALUE PER 
COMMON SHARE

BOOK VALUE PER 
COMMON SHARE

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

TANGIBLE BOOK VALUE 
PER COMMON SHARE

TANGIBLE BOOK VALUE 
PER COMMON SHARE

$12

10

$12
8

10
6

8
4

6
2

4
0

2

0

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

’19

’20

’21

’22

’23

$30

25
$30

20
25

15
20

10
15

5
10

0
5

0

$20

$20
15

15
10

10
5

5
0

0

8   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   9

Moving Forward With Confidence

As a result of our longstanding 
unwavering focus on our customers, 
communities and shareholders, and 
demonstrated admirably by the 
Company’s actions in 2023, we can 
say with confidence that OceanFirst 
is a strong financial institution with a 
history of outstanding asset quality, 
a sound capital foundation, and solid 
profitability, even in turbulent economic 
environments. Our confidence is 
reinforced by a set of differentiating 
strengths – including our team of 
extremely talented and highly motivated 
professionals, our presence in a robust 
Northeast market with a diverse and 
resilient economic base, and a successful 
business model that combines a 
relationship-based community approach  
with a breadth of services competitive 
with much larger banks.

In the years ahead, we will continue 
to pursue the strategies that have 
enabled OceanFirst to grow and thrive 
across more than a century of shifting 
economic cycles. We will meet the 
needs of our customers with a broad 
range of quality financial services and 
solutions, provide a rewarding workplace 
environment that encourages and 
retains talented employees, and support 
the communities in which we live and 
work. Importantly, we will continue to 
maintain a sharp focus on sound credit 
risk management, a stable retail deposit 
base, a solid capital foundation, and 
disciplined expense control. This focus 
should create an increasingly valuable 
business for the benefit of all.

OceanFirst enters 2024 as a dynamic 
community-oriented financial institution 
with a longstanding commitment to 
serving the needs of our stakeholders. 

We deeply appreciate the loyalty of 
our customers and stockholders, the 
dedication of our team members, and 
the guidance of our Board of Directors, 
and we look forward to reporting on  
our future progress.    

Christopher D. Maher
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer

Joseph J. Lebel III
President and
Chief Operating Officer

“ WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE STRATEGIES THAT HAVE  
ENABLED OCEANFIRST TO GROW AND THRIVE ACROSS 
MORE THAN A CENTURY OF SHIFTING ECONOMIC CYCLES.”

10   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   11

OCEANFIRST BANK
SERVING THE  
NORTHEASTERN UNITED  
STATES MEGALOPOLIS
POPULATION OVER 
50 MILLION

“OUR FOCUS IN RECENT YEARS ON EXPANDING 

THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION HAS 

PROVIDED OCEANFIRST WITH A FOOTHOLD IN A 

GROWING AND HISTORICALLY RESILIENT MARKET 

AND GIVEN US ACCESS TO A DIVERSE GROUP OF  

CUSTOMERS ARRAYED ALONG THE NORTHEAST  

CORRIDOR FROM BALTIMORE TO BOSTON.”

MA

NY
NY

NJ

PA

MD

Regional/Market Presidents

R. Thomas Crawford
Baltimore 

Vincent M. D’Alessandro
Community & Retail Banking

George Destafney
New Jersey Region

Bradley J. Fouss
Greater Philadelphia 

Daniel L. Griggs
Boston Region

Daniel J. Harris
New York Region and  
Chief Commercial  
Real Estate Officer

AnnMarie Sorena 
Metropolitan New York

Susanne Svizeny
Mid-Atlantic Region and  
Chief Commercial and  
Industrial Loans Officer

12   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   13

COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITIES: OceanFirst Foundation

FOR MORE THAN 27 YEARS, OCEANFIRST FOUNDATION 
HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE BY HELPING TO  
INSPIRE PROGRESS AND IMPROVE LIVES ACROSS 
OUR MARKET AREA.

DEPOSITS
($ in billions)

$12

10

8

6

4

OceanFirst’s commitment to our 
communities is expressed in many ways – 
from our programs to increase and extend 
access to financial services; to our loans 
and investments supporting affordable 
housing, community revitalization and 
economic development; to efforts of our 
WaveMaker employee volunteers.  
Another important way that we support 
our communities is through the activities 
of OceanFirst Foundation. For more than 
27 years, OceanFirst Foundation has 

played a vital role by partnering with local 
nonprofit organizations and schools, and 
providing the financial resources and 
expertise to help inspire progress and 
improve lives across our market area.

The Foundation was created in 1996 
in connection with OceanFirst’s initial 
public offering. As the first foundation 
ever created as part of a mutual-to-stock 
conversion, this community-spirited 
innovation has inspired at least 85 other 

2

0

’19

’20

banks nationwide to adopt a similar model. 
Since inception, the Foundation has 
provided more than $48 million in grants 
to nonprofit organizations that promote 
’23
access to housing, health and wellness, 
youth development and education, the 
arts and culture, and overall quality of life. 
The Foundation also matches charitable 
donations by OceanFirst Bank employees 
to eligible organizations, up to a total of 

’22

’21

$50,000 annually.

$12

10

8

6

4

2

0

$48M

TOTAL GRANTS 
SINCE INCEPTION

Improving Quality of Life 29.5%

Disaster Response 2.4%

Youth Development/Education 27.7%

Supporting First Responders 2.2%

Health/Wellness  18.6%

Military/Veteran 1.6%

Housing 8.7%

Environment 1.0%

Arts/Culture 8.3%

New Brunswick Tomorrow 

New Brunswick Tomorrow (NBT) is a New 
Jersey-based nonprofit organization 
whose ideas, partnerships and initiatives 
are moving people forward. NBT is 
dedicated to fostering public/private 
networks of agencies, institutions, and 
community organizations that enrich the 
lives of the people of New Brunswick, 
promoting self-sufficiency and personal 
dignity for every individual. The 

LOANS RECEIVABLE
(Net of allowance for loan credit losses)
($ in billions)

TOTAL ASSETS
($ in billions)

$15

12

9

New Brunswick Tomorrow—163 French Street

NHSNYC

6

’19

’19

3

0

’22

’21

’20

’23

IN 2023, THE 
FOUNDATION 
AWARDED 675  
GRANTS TOTALING 
$2.3 MILLION 
TO LOCAL 
ORGANIZATIONS.

organization is focused on improving 
the quality of life for all city residents, 
identifying critical community needs, and 
responding to those needs. They believe 
’20
that a thriving neighborhood must include 
a thriving economy built on the success 
and growth of small businesses.

’21

’23

’22

With a grant from the Foundation, 
NBT will focus on putting into action a 
model for small business incubation and 
acceleration, targeting neighborhood 
and economic development through 
equitable growth strategies in the city. 
A key element of this effort will be 
supporting local businesses and their 
owners and employees along the French 
Street Commercial Corridor. This support 
will include technical assistance in areas 
such as training and coaching to aspiring 
and established entrepreneurs, and 
helping small businesses, particularly 
women- and minority-owned businesses, 
access resources and capital to ensure 
sustainable success. NBT also is taking 
a multi-pronged approach to enrich 
the overall safety and aesthetics of the 
Corridor by implementing physical and 
aesthetic improvements.

Neighborhood Housing 
Services of New York City, Inc. 

Offering a comprehensive continuum of 
services for low- and moderate-income 
individuals and families, Neighborhood 
TOTAL ASSETS
($ in billions)
Housing Services of New York City, Inc. 
(NHSNYC) works to provide low- and 
moderate-income New Yorkers with a 
pathway to purchase affordable homes – 
and to access the financial and personal 
opportunities that come with home 
ownership. Established in 1982, NHSNYC’s 
programs have helped individuals and 
families realize their home ownership 
dreams, while building vital communities. 
Core programs include Community 
Development Financial Institution Lending 
Services; free Homebuyer Orientation 
Seminars, Education and Counseling; 
Financial Education Seminars and 
Coaching; Landlord Training Seminars; 
and Foreclosure Prevention Seminars  
and Counseling.

’20

’23

’19

’22

’21

The Foundation’s grant to NHSNYC will 
help support their general operations, 
sustaining programs and services for 
low- and moderate-income New Yorkers 
in pursuit of lasting homeownership and 
overall financial wellness.

14   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

ANNUAL REPORT 2023   15

Improving Quality of Life                14,197,562.59
Youth Development/Education         13,296,487.8

Heath/Wellness                           8,919,040.10

Housing                                      4,197,121

Arts/Culture                                4,011,907.36

Disaster Response                        1,131,750

Supporting First Responders           1,058,350

Military/Veteran                           782,869.26

Environment                                474,640.00

   
OCEANFIRST HAS BEEN DEEPLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING  
THE COMMUNITIES WHERE OUR COLLEAGUES AND CUSTOMERS 
LIVE AND WORK. 

PIDC Community Capital 

Active throughout Philadelphia, PIDC 
Community Capital finances growing 
businesses of all sizes, across all industry 
sectors, and delivers business support 
services to increase the capacity and 
resilience of diverse entrepreneurs. By 
coupling flexible capital with business 
education, PIDC provides small businesses 
with the capital and knowledge to scale 
and grow. The organization focuses 
on driving investment into historically 
marginalized and underdeveloped areas 
and neighborhoods that stand to benefit 
most from increased access to amenities, 
goods, services for residents, and jobs.

With support from the Foundation, PIDC 
Community Capital expects to provide 
more than $12 million in flexible capital 
in the coming year to approximately 50 
small businesses in Philadelphia, while 
delivering business support services to 
more than 800 small businesses, with 
a focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous 
and people of color) entrepreneurs and 
women-owned businesses.

PIDC Community Capital Client:  
Shannon Maldonado, Founder & Creative Director of YOWIE Hotel & Shop

16   OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.   NASDAQ:OCFC

OceanFirst Bank N.A.  
Executive Officers

Christopher D. Maher 
Chairman of the Board and  
Chief Executive Officer 

Joseph J. Lebel III
President and Chief  
Operating Officer

Patrick S. Barrett 
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer 

David L. Berninger
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Risk Officer

Michele B. Estep
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Administrative Officer

Brian Schaeffer
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Information Officer

Steven J. Tsimbinos
Executive Vice President and  
General Counsel

Corporate Information

Board of Directors

Director Emeritus 

Angelo J. Catania

John W. Chadwick

John R. Garbarino

Donald E. McLaughlin

Diane F. Rhine

James T. Synder

OceanFirst Financial Corp. 
Corporate Officers

Christopher D. Maher 
Chairman of the Board,  
President and Chief  
Executive Officer

Joseph J. Lebel III 
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Operating Officer

Patrick S. Barrett 
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Financial Officer

Steven J. Tsimbinos 
Executive Vice President and  
Corporate Secretary

David Berninger 
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Risk Officer

David R. Howard 
First Senior Vice President  
and Treasurer

Patrick Chong 
Senior Vice President,  
Corporate Controller and  
Principal Accounting Officer 

Alfred Goon 
Senior Vice President,  
Corporate  Development  
and Investor Relations

Angela K. Ho 
Senior Vice President and  
Chief Compliance Officer 

B. Matthew McCue 
Vice President and Assistant  
Corporate Secretary

John F. Barros
Managing Principal 
Civitas Builders

Anthony R. Coscia, Esq.
Partner 
Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP

Michael D. Devlin
Retired 
Cape Bancorp, Inc.

Jack M. Farris
Retired
Verizon Communications, Inc.

Robert C. Garrett
CEO
Hackensack Meridian Health

Kimberly M. Guadagno, Esq. 
President and Executive Director 
Mercy Center

Nicos Katsoulis
Retired
Sun National Bank

Joseph J. Lebel III
President and Chief Operating Officer, 
OceanFirst Bank, N.A.

Christopher D. Maher
Chairman of the Board and Chief 
Executive Officer
OceanFirst Bank, N.A.

Joseph M. Murphy, Jr.
Retired
Country Bank Holding Company, Inc.

Steven M. Scopellite
Consultant
Retired –Goldman Sachs

Grace C. Torres
Trustee
Prudential Retail Mutual Funds

Patricia L. Turner, MD
Executive Director and CEO
American College of Surgeons

John E. Walsh
Senior Vice President 
T&M Associates, Inc.

Dalila Wilson-Scott
Executive Vice President and  
Chief Diversity Officer 
Comcast Corporation

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Headquarters (HQ1)
Operations Center

975 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, NJ 08753

Administrative Offices
(HQ2)

110 West Front Street 
Red Bank, NJ 07701

www.oceanfirst.com

Virtual Annual Meeting  
of Stockholders

Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm

The annual meeting of 
stockholders will be held 
virtually on May 21, 2024 at 
8:00 a.m. ET.  Instructions to 
access the virtual meeting 
are referenced in the proxy 
statement and available at  
www.oceanfirst.com in the 
Investor Relations area.

Investor Relations

Copies of the Company’s 
earnings releases and financial 
publications, including the 
annual report on Form 10-K 
(without exhibits) filed with 
the Securities and Exchange 
Commission are available 
without charge by contacting: 
Alfred Goon, Senior Vice 
President, 1.888.623.2633 
Extension 27516 or 
investorrelations@oceanfirst.com.

Deloitte & Touche LLP
1700 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Stock Transfer and  
Registrar

Shareholders wishing to 
change the name, address 
or ownership of stock, to 
report lost certificates or to 
consolidate accounts are asked 
to contact the Company’s stock 
registrar and transfer agent 
directly:

Broadridge Corporate  
Issuer Solutions
P.O. Box 1342
Brentwood, NY 11717
(877) 724-6454

NASDAQ: OCFC

Equal Opportunity Lender
Equal Housing Lender

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