8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 23, 2014

OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-11713	22-3412577
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

975 HOOPER AVENUE, TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY 08753

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(732)240-4500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 140.13e-4(c))

ITEM 2.02 RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

On April 24, 2014, OceanFirst Financial Corp. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. That press release is attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.1

ITEM 5.02 DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS

On April 24, 2014, the Company announced that, upon the expiration of Chief Executive Officer John R. Garbarino’s current employment agreements on December 31, 2014, President and Chief Operating Officer Christopher D. Maher will succeed him as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and its banking subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank (the “Bank”). Mr. Garbarino will remain on the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank, on which he currently serves as Chairman.

The press release making such announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

On April 23, 2014, Mr. Maher entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with each of the Company and the Bank to amend certain terms of the existing employment agreements between him and the Company and the Bank. The following is a summary of the amendments set forth in the amended and restated employment agreements, which are attached as Exhibits 10.30 and 10.31, respectively, and this summary is qualified by reference to those agreements. The remainder of Mr. Maher’s employment agreements with the Company and the Bank remain unchanged.

The employment agreements provide that Mr. Maher will be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2015. Mr. Maher’s Base Salary will remain at $375,000 per annum until July 1, 2014, when it will increase to $425,000. Effective January 1, 2015, Base Salary will increase to $550,000. Thereafter Base Salary may be increased but not decreased. In addition, Mr. Maher will be entitled to receive an annual cash bonus depending on the Company’s performance against certain metrics established by the Compensation Committee from time to time. The cash bonus target will be $250,000 for 2014 and $350,000 for 2015, each with a threshold bonus of 50% of the target bonus and a maximum bonus equal to 150% of the target bonus, as more fully set forth in a separate award agreement.

Under the Company’s employment agreement, by March 31, 2015 Mr. Maher will be granted equity compensation (in the form of stock options or restricted stock awards) with a compensation expense equal to $350,000. Such restricted shares and options will vest in five equal annual installments with the first installment vesting no later than the first anniversary of the award date. In addition, under the Company’s employment agreement with Mr. Maher, Mr. Maher will be entitled to reimbursement for annual country club dues.

Each employment agreement has a term ending June 30, 2017 and provides that the agreement shall be automatically extended on July 1, 2015 and each July 1 thereafter, for an additional one year, unless written notice of non-renewal is given by the applicable Board of Directors, after conducting an annual performance evaluation, to Mr. Maher by the renewal date.

ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

In the press release described in Item 2.02, the Company announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on the Company’s outstanding common stock. The cash dividend will be in the amount of $0.12 per share and will be payable on May 16, 2014 to the stockholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2014.

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d) EXHIBITS

10.30	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Christopher D. Maher and OceanFirst Financial Corp. dated April 23, 2014.
10.31	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Christopher D. Maher and OceanFirst Bank dated April 23, 2014.
99.1	Press Release dated April 24, 2014

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 hereunto duly authorized.

OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

/s/ Michael Fitzpatrick

Michael Fitzpatrick

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

Dated: April 25, 2014

Exhibit Index

Exhibit	Description
10.30	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Christopher D. Maher and OceanFirst Financial Corp. dated April 23, 2014.
10.31	Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Christopher D. Maher and OceanFirst Bank dated April 23, 2014.
99.1	Press Release dated April 24, 2014.

EX-10.30

EXHIBIT 10.30

OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of April 23, 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by and between OceanFirst Financial Corp. (the “Holding Company”), a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, with its principal administrative office at 975 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, New Jersey 08753, and Christopher D. Maher (“Executive”). The term “Bank” refers to OceanFirst Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Holding Company or any successor thereto.

WHEREAS, Executive and the Holding Company previously entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated February 22, 2013 (the “Original Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, Executive and the Holding Company wish to amend certain terms of the Original Agreement and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety, and the Holding Company wishes to assure itself of the services of Executive on the terms set forth herein and Executive is willing to serve the Holding Company upon such terms.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

The Holding Company shall employ Executive, and Executive agrees to serve, until December 31, 2014 as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Holding Company, and, for the remainder of his employment hereunder, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Holding Company. Executive shall render administrative and management services to the Holding Company such as are customarily performed by persons situated in similar executive capacities to such positions. During said period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as director of the Holding Company and an officer and director of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Holding Company.

2. TERMS AND DUTIES.

(a) The term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall continue through June 30, 2017. Effective as of July 1, 2015, and continuing each July 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended by one year such that the remaining term on such date of extension is three (3) years, unless the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Holding Company (the “Board”) elects not to extend the term of this Agreement by giving written notice to Executive prior to such automatic extension. The Board shall review the Agreement and Executive’s performance annually for purposes of determining whether to give Executive such notice and the rationale and results thereof shall be included in the minutes of the Board’s meeting. The Board shall give notice to Executive as soon as possible after such review.

(b) During the period of Executive’s employment hereunder, except for periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his business time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder including activities and services related to the organization, operation and management of the Holding Company and its direct or indirect subsidiaries (“Subsidiaries”) and participation in community and civic organizations; provided, however, that, with the approval of the Board, as evidenced by a resolution of such Board, from time to time, Executive may serve, or continue to serve, on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices or positions in, companies or organizations, which, in such Board’s judgment, will not present any conflict of interest with the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, or materially affect the performance of Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive’s employment with the Holding Company may be terminated by the Holding Company or Executive during the term of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Moreover, in the event Executive is terminated or suspended from his position with the Bank, Executive shall not perform, in any respect, directly or indirectly, during the pendency of his temporary or permanent suspension or termination from the Bank, duties and responsibilities formerly performed at the Bank as part of his duties and responsibilities to the Holding Company.

3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

(a) Executive shall be entitled to a salary from the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries of $375,000 per year (“Base Salary”) until July 1, 2014 when Base Salary shall increase to an annual rate of $425,000, which rate shall remain in effect until January 1, 2015 when it shall increase to $550,000 per year. Base Salary shall include any amounts of compensation deferred by Executive under any qualified or unqualified plan maintained by the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries. Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the payroll practices of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries applicable to all employees. The Holding Company’s Compensation Committee or the Board may increase Executive’s Base Salary and any increased Base Salary shall become the “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement. In addition to the Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Holding Company shall also provide Executive, at no premium cost to Executive, with all such other benefits as provided uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries.

(b) Executive shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit plans, arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries will not, without Executive’s prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements or perquisites which would materially adversely affect Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder, except to the extent that such changes are made applicable to all Holding Company and Bank employees eligible to participate in such plans, arrangements and perquisites on a non-discriminatory basis. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Subsection (b), Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under any employee benefit plans including, but not limited to, retirement plans, supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plans,

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health-and-accident plans, medical coverage or any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries in the future to its senior executives and key management employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements. Executive shall be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in any plan of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries in which Executive is eligible to participate. Nothing paid to Executive under any such plan or arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement.

(c) During the term of this Agreement, the Holding Company will purchase or lease for Executive a mutually agreed upon automobile for Executive’s business and ancillary personal use subject to the Holding Company’s vehicle policy. The Holding Company shall cover all repairs and operating expenses of such vehicle, including the cost of liability, comprehensive and collision insurance in such amounts as the Holding Company deems appropriate. Executive acknowledges that he may recognize taxable income in connection with this use of such vehicle and that these amounts will be reflected on Executive’s W-2 as required by law.

(d) Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Holding Company’s annual incentive program under the OceanFirst Financial Corp. 2011 Cash Incentive Compensation Plan with targets tied to varying performance levels of the Holding Company, the Bank and Executive, all as determined by the Compensation Committee. Executive shall have a bonus target of $250,000 for 2014 (notwithstanding any lower amount set forth in the Award Agreement previously executed by the Holding Company and Executive) and $350,000 for 2015, for each such year with a threshold bonus of 50% of the target bonus and a maximum bonus equal to 150% of the target bonus.

(e) By March 31, 2015, Executive shall be granted awards of nonqualified stock options and/or shares of restricted stock under the OceanFirst Financial Corp. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan with an aggregate compensation expense of no less than $350,000. Any such awards shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the OceanFirst Financial Corp. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan and such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreements as determined by the Compensation Committee. Such restricted shares and/or options described shall vest in five equal annual installments with the first installment vesting no later than the first anniversary of the award date.

(f) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this Section 3 and other compensation provided for by this Section 3, the Holding Company shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form and such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine. Recognizing that membership in a country club is integral to Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder, the Holding Company shall pay, or reimburse Executive, for Executive’s golf/country club annual dues and/or membership fees.

(g) The Holding Company (or any Subsidiary making payments required hereunder) may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all Federal, state, city or other taxes and all other deductions as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling or pursuant to any contributory benefit plan maintained by or on behalf of the Holding Company or a Subsidiary.

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(h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any clawback or forfeiture provisions required by law and applicable to the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the compensation provided under this Agreement or under any incentive compensation plan in which Executive participates shall be subject to the terms of: (i) the Holding Company’s recoupment policy as in effect on the Effective Date or any other policy adopted thereafter by the Board of Directors of the Holding Company or the Compensation Committee thereof in order to comply with any applicable law, regulation, order, stock exchange listing requirement, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations thereunder (or any policy of the Holding Company adopted pursuant to any such law, government regulation, order or stock exchange listing requirement); and (ii) any clawback or forfeiture provisions in the Holding Company’s incentive compensation plans in which Executive participates or the award agreements with respect to Executive’s awards thereunder.

4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined) during Executive’s term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an “Event of Termination” shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the termination by the Holding Company of Executive’s full-time employment hereunder for any reason other than termination governed by Section 5(a) hereof, or for Cause, as defined in Section 7 hereof; or (ii) Executive’s resignation from the Holding Company’s employ for “Good Reason,” which shall mean without Executive’s consent (A) a material reduction of Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities with respect to the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, including the failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive as President and Chief Operating Officer or, after December 31, 2014, President and Chief Executive Officer (rather than President and Chief Operating Officer); (B) a material reduction of Executive’s salary; or (C) a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must perform his services to the Holding Company; or (D) a material breach of this Agreement. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A) through (D) above constituting “Good Reason,” Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment by resignation within six months after initial existence of the event giving rise to said right to resign; provided that within 30 days after the initial existence of the basis for resignation Executive has provided the Holding Company written notice of the circumstances providing the basis for resigning on account of “Good Reason” and the Holding Company has failed to remedy such circumstances within 30 days after receiving such notice. A resignation by Executive without complying with the notice and opportunity to remedy provisions in this Agreement shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” for any purpose of this Agreement.

(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of Termination, as defined in Section 8, the Holding Company shall be obligated to pay Executive, or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, an amount equal to the greater of: (i) the amount of the remaining payments that Executive would have earned if he had continued his employment with the Holding Company during the

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remaining term of this Agreement at Executive’s Base Salary at the Date of Termination (or, if the Event of Termination is attributable to a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary, then the Base Salary in effect before such reduction); or (ii) Executive’s annual Base Salary at the Date of Termination. Such payment shall be made in a lump sum within five business days of the Date of Termination, subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 22 hereof, if applicable. Such payment shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following termination of employment.

(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Holding Company will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially equivalent to the coverage maintained by the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries for Executive prior to his termination at no premium cost to Executive. Such coverage shall cease upon the later of (i) the expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement or (ii) the end of the month of the first anniversary of Executive’s Date of Termination. If the provision of any of the benefits covered by this Section 4(c) would trigger the 20% excise tax and interest penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the benefit(s) that would trigger such tax and interest penalties shall not be provided (collectively the “Excluded Benefits”), and in lieu of the Excluded Benefits the Holding Company will pay to Executive, in a lump sum within thirty business days following termination of employment or thirty business days after such determination, should it occur after termination of employment, a cash amount equal to the cost to the Holding Company of providing the Excluded Benefits. Such lump sum payment will be subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 22 hereof, if applicable.

5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” of the Holding Company or the Bank shall mean an event of a nature that; (i) would be required to be reported in response to Item 5.01 of the current report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the Bank or the Holding Company within the meaning of the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933, as amended, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or the Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or its predecessor agency (collectively, the “OCC”), as in effect on the date hereof (provided, that in applying the definition of change in control as set forth under the rules and regulations of the OCC, the Board shall substitute its judgment for that of the OCC); or (iii) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (A) any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Bank or the Holding Company representing 20% or more of the Bank’s or the Holding Company’s outstanding voting securities or right to acquire such securities except for any voting securities of the Bank purchased by the Holding Company and any voting securities purchased by any employee benefit plan of the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries; or (B) individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Holding Company’s stockholders was approved by a Nominating Committee solely composed of members which are

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Incumbent Board members, shall be, for purposes of this clause (B), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (C) a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Bank or the Holding Company or similar transaction occurs or is effectuated in which the Bank or Holding Company is not the resulting entity; provided, however, that such an event listed above will be deemed to have occurred or to have been effectuated upon the receipt of all required federal regulatory approvals not including the lapse of any statutory waiting periods; or (D) a proxy statement has been distributed soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Holding Company, by someone other than the current management of the Holding Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Holding Company or Bank with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the class of securities then subject to such plan or transaction are exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the Bank or the Holding Company shall be distributed; or (E) a tender offer is made for 20% or more of the voting securities of the Bank or Holding Company then outstanding.

(b) If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Section 5(a) or the Board has determined that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in paragraphs (c) and, (d), of this Section 5 upon his subsequent termination of employment at any time during the term of this Agreement due to (i) Executive’s dismissal unless such termination is because of his death or Termination for Cause, or (ii) Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” as defined in Section 4(a).

(c) Upon Executive’s entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), the Holding Company shall pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal to the greater of: (i) the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement; or (ii) three (3) times Executive’s average annual compensation for the five (5) taxable years preceding the taxable year in which the Date of Termination occurs or such lesser number of years in the event that Executive shall have been employed by the Holding Company for less than five (5) years. Such annual compensation shall include Base Salary, commissions; bonuses, contributions on behalf of Executive to any pension and profit sharing plan, severance payments, directors or committee fees and fringe benefits paid or to be paid to Executive during such years. Such payment shall be made in a lump sum within five business days of the date Executive becomes entitled to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 22 hereof if applicable. Any such payment may also be delayed where the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law; provided that the payment is made at the earliest date at which the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such violation. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following termination of employment.

(d) Upon Executive’s entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), the Holding Company will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially equivalent to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive at no premium cost to Executive prior to his severance. Such coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) months following the Change in Control. If the provision of any of the benefits covered by this Section 5(d) would trigger the 20% excise tax and interest penalties under

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Section 409A of the Code, then the benefit(s) that would trigger such tax and interest penalties shall not be provided (collectively the “Excluded Benefits”), and in lieu of the Excluded Benefits the Holding Company will pay to Executive, in a lump sum within thirty business days following termination of employment or thirty business days after such determination, should it occur after termination of employment, a cash amount equal to the cost to the Holding Company of providing the Excluded Benefits. Such cash payment will be subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 22 hereof, if applicable.

6. CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5, in the event that:

(a) the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to Executive, which are deemed to be parachute payments as defined in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or any successor thereof, (the “Termination Benefits”) would be deemed to include an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code; and

(b) if such Termination Benefits were reduced to an amount (the “Non-Triggering Amount”), the value of which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal to three (3) times Executive’s “base amount,” as determined in accordance with said Section 280G and the Non-Triggering Amount less the product of the marginal rate of any applicable state and federal income tax and the Non Triggering Amount would be greater than the aggregate value of the Termination Benefits (without such reduction) minus (i) the amount of tax required to be paid by Executive thereon by Section 4999 of the Code and further minus (ii) the product of the Termination Benefits and the marginal rate of any applicable state and federal income tax,

then the Termination Benefits shall be reduced to the Non-Triggering Amount. The allocation of the reduction required hereby among the Termination Benefits shall be determined by the Holding Company.

7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.

The term “Termination for Cause” shall mean termination because of a material loss to the Holding Company or one of its Subsidiaries caused by Executive’s intentional failure to perform stated duties, personal dishonesty, willful violation of any law, rule, regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses), final cease and desist order or material breach of any provision of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section, no act, or the failure to act, on Executive’s part shall be “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the best interest of the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a Notice of Termination which shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for

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any period after Termination for Cause. During the period beginning on the date of the Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 8 hereof through the Date of Termination, stock options and related limited rights granted to Executive under any stock option plan shall not be exercisable nor shall any unvested awards granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan of the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries vest. At the Date of Termination, such stock options and related limited rights and such unvested awards shall become null and void and shall not be exercisable by or delivered to Executive at any time subsequent to such Date of Termination for Cause.

8. NOTICE.

(a) Any purported termination by the Holding Company or by Executive shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s. employment under the provision so indicated.

(b) “Date of Termination” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).

(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, except upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and voluntary termination by Executive in which case the Date of Termination shall be the date specified in the Notice, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected) and provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, the Holding Company will continue to pay Executive his full compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to, Base Salary) and continue him as a participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which he was participating when the notice of dispute was given, until the dispute is finally resolved in accordance with this Agreement. Amounts paid under this Section are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

9. POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS.

All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be subject to Executive’s compliance with this Section 9 for one (1) full year after the earlier of the expiration of this Agreement or termination of Executive’s employment with the Holding Company. Executive shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information and assistance to the Holding Company as may reasonably be required by the Holding Company in connection with any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a party.

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10. NON-COMPETITION, NON-DISCLOSURE AND NON-SOLICITATION.

(a) Upon any termination of Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to Section 4 hereof, Executive agrees not to compete with the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries for a period of one (1) year following such termination in any city, town or county in which Executive’s normal business office is located and the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries has an office or has filed an application for regulatory approval to establish an office, determined as of the effective date of such termination, except as agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board. Executive agrees that during such period and within said cities, towns and counties, Executive shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise serve with, directly or indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with the depository, lending or other business activities of the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries. The parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will result to the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, its business and property in the event of Executive’s breach of this Subsection 10(a) agree that in the event of any such breach by Executive, the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and damages available, to an injunction to restrain the violation hereof by Executive, Executive’s partners, agents, servants, employees and all persons acting for or under the direction of Executive. Executive represents and admits that in the event of the termination of his employment pursuant to Section 7 hereof, Executive’s experience and capabilities are such that Executive can obtain employment in a business engaged in other lines and/or of a different nature than the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries, and that the enforcement of a remedy by way of injunction will not prevent Executive from earning a livelihood. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries from pursuing any other remedies available to the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

(b) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the business activities and plans for business activities of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique asset of the business of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries. Executive will not, during or after the term of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries thereof to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever unless expressly authorized by the Board of Directors or required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking, financial and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively derived from the business plans and- activities of the Holding Company. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of this Section, the Holding Company will be entitled to an injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or in part, the knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries or from rendering any services to any person, firm, corporation, other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Holding Company from pursuing any other remedies available to the Holding Company for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

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(c) During the term of this Agreement and for a period of twelve (12) months from and after the date that Executive is (for any reason) no longer employed by the Holding Company or for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment enforcing this covenant in the event of a breach by Executive, whichever is longer, Executive covenants and agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, stockholder, co-partner or in any other individual or representative capacity whatsoever: (i) solicit, or assist any other person or business entity in soliciting, any depositors, borrowers or other customers of the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries to make deposits in or to become customers of any other financial institution offering banking and financial products and services substantially similar to those offered by the Holding Company or its Subsidiaries on any date on which the conduct at issue occurs; or (ii) induce any individuals to terminate their employment with the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries if those individuals provide, or have provided during all or part of the covenant period described in this Section 10, accounting, credit, lending, information technology, account management or personal banking services for the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other types of services that give those individuals significant contact with or knowledge of the customer base of the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

11. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.

(a) All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or check from the general funds of the Holding Company subject to Section 11(b).

(b) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, to the extent that payments and benefits, as provided by this Agreement, are paid to or received by Executive under the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 23, 2014 between Executive and the Bank (the “Bank Agreement”), such compensation payments and benefits paid by the Bank will be subtracted from any amount due simultaneously to Executive under similar provisions of this Agreement. Payments pursuant to this Agreement and the Bank Agreement shall be allocated in proportion to the level of activity and the time expended on such activities by Executive as determined by the Holding Company and the Bank on a quarterly basis.

12. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.

This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Holding Company or any predecessor of the Holding Company and Executive, including the Original Agreement, except that this Agreement shall not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to Executive of a kind elsewhere provided, including without limitation the Supplemental Executive Retirement Account Agreement, dated June 18, 2013, by and among Executive, the Holding Company and the Bank. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits provided under any other agreement or plan with the Holding Company or the Bank than those available to him without reference to this Agreement.

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13. NO ATTACHMENT.

(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null, void, and of no effect.

(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, Executive and the Holding Company and their respective successors and assigns.

14. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.

(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically waived.

15. SEVERABILITY.

If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect, and it is the intention and desire of the parties that the court treat any provisions of this Agreement which are not fully enforceable as having been modified to the extent deemed necessary by the court to render them reasonable and enforceable and that the court enforce them to such extent.

16. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

17. GOVERNING LAW.

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, unless otherwise specified herein.

18. ARBITRATION.

Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three arbitrators sitting in a

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location selected by Executive within fifty (50) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with Executive’s termination is resolved in favor of Executive, whether by judgment, arbitration or settlement, Executive shall be entitled to the payment of all back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation, fringe benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive under this Agreement.

19. PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES.

All reasonable costs and legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed by the Holding Company, if Executive is successful pursuant to a legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.

20. INDEMNIFICATION.

The Holding Company shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and administrators) with coverage under a standard directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy at its expense, and shall indemnify Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the Holding Company (whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time of incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs and attorneys’ fees and the cost of reasonable settlements.

21. SUCCESSOR TO THE HOLDING COMPANY.

The Holding Company shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all the business or assets of the Bank or the Holding Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Holding Company’s obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Holding Company would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.

22. APPLICATION OF SECTION 409A OF THE CODE.

(a) To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so as to prevent inclusion in gross income of any amounts payable or benefits provided hereunder in a taxable year that is prior to the taxable year or years in which such amounts or benefits would otherwise actually be distributed, provided or otherwise made available to Executive. This Agreement shall be construed, administered, and governed in a manner consistent with this intent and the following provisions of this Section shall control over any contrary provisions of this Agreement.

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(b) In the event Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and delayed payment of any amount or commencement of any benefit under this Agreement is required to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code, then (i) amounts payable in connection with Executive’s termination of employment will be delayed and paid, with interest at the short term applicable federal rate as in effect as of the termination date, in a single lump sum six months thereafter (or if earlier, the date of Executive’s death) and (ii) with respect to medical and welfare benefits, Executive shall be entitled to bear the cost of such benefits for six months following such termination date, after which time the Holding Company shall continue to provide such benefits for the period they would otherwise have been provided, commencing from the six month anniversary of Executive’s termination date.

(c) Payments and benefits hereunder upon Executive’s termination or severance of employment with the Holding Company that constitute deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable shall be paid or provided only at the time of a termination of Executive’s employment which constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A (subject to a possible six-month delay pursuant to Subsection (b) above).

(d) For purposes of Code Section 409A, the right to a series of payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments so that each payment hereunder is designated as a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.

(e) All reimbursements and in kind benefits provided under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, payments under Sections 3, 19 and 20, shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executive’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(f) References in this Agreement to Code Section 409A include both that section of the Code itself and any guidance promulgated thereunder.

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, OceanFirst Financial Corp. has caused this Agreement to be executed and its seal to be affixed hereunto by its duly authorized officer and its directors, and Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 23rd day of April, 2014.

ATTEST:	OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos	By:	/s/ John R. Garbarino
Secretary	For Entire Board of Directors
[SEAL]
WITNESS:
/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos	/s/ Christopher D. Maher
	Executive

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EX-10.31

EXHIBIT 10.31

OCEANFIRST BANK

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of April 23, 2014 (the “Effective Date”), by and among OceanFirst Bank (the “Bank”), a federally chartered savings institution, with its principal administrative office at 975 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, New Jersey 08753, OceanFirst Financial Corp., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, the holding company for the Bank (the “Holding Company”), and Christopher D. Maher (“Executive”).

WHEREAS, Executive and the Bank previously entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated February 22, 2013 (the “Original Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, Executive and the Bank wish to amend certain terms of the Original Agreement and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety, and the Bank wishes to assure itself of the services of Executive on the terms set forth herein and Executive is willing to serve the Bank upon such terms.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

The Bank shall employ Executive, and Executive agrees to serve, until December 31, 2014 as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank, and for the remainder of his employment hereunder, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. Executive shall render administrative and management services to the Bank such as are customarily performed by persons situated in similar executive capacities to such positions. During said period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an officer and director of the Holding Company, or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Holding Company.

2. TERMS AND DUTIES.

(a) The term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall continue through June 30, 2017. Effective as of July 1, 2015, and continuing each July 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended by one year such that the remaining term on such date of extension is three (3) years, unless the disinterested members of the board of directors of the Bank (the “Board”) elects not to extend the term of this Agreement by giving written notice to Executive prior to such automatic extension. The Board shall review the Agreement and Executive’s performance annually for purposes of determining whether to give Executive such notice and the rationale and results thereof shall be included in the minutes of the Board’s meeting. The Board shall give notice to Executive as soon as possible after such review.

(b) During the period of Executive’s employment hereunder, except for periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his business time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder including activities and services related to the organization, operation and management of the Bank and participation in community and civic organizations; provided, however, that, with the approval of the Board, as evidenced by a resolution of such Board, from time to time, Executive may serve, or continue to serve, on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices or positions in, companies or organizations, which, in such Board’s judgment, will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank, or materially affect the performance of Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive’s employment with the Bank may be terminated by the Bank or Executive during the term of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

(a) The Bank shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of $375,000 per year (“Base Salary”) until July 1, 2014 when Base Salary shall increase to an annual rate of $425,000, which rate shall remain in effect until January 1, 2015 when it shall increase to $550,000 per year. Base Salary shall include any amounts of compensation deferred by Executive under any qualified or unqualified plan maintained by the Holding Company or the Bank. Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the payroll practices of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries applicable to all employees. The Bank’s Compensation Committee or the Board may increase Executive’s Base Salary and any increased Base Salary shall become the “Base Salary” for purposes of this Agreement. In addition to the Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall also provide Executive, at no premium cost to Executive, with all such other benefits as are provided uniformly to permanent full-time employees of the Bank.

(b) Executive shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit plans, arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Bank will not, without Executive’s prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements or perquisites which would materially adversely affect Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder; except to the extent such changes are made applicable to all Bank employees eligible to participate in such plans, arrangements and perquisites on a non-discriminatory basis. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Subsection (b), Executive shall be entitled to participate in or receive benefits under any employee benefit plans including but not limited to, retirement plans, supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing-plans, health-and-accident plans, medical coverage or any other employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Bank in the future to its senior executives and key management employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements. Executive shall be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in any plan of the Bank in which Executive is eligible to participate. Nothing paid to Executive under any such plan or arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement.

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(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this Section 3 and other compensation provided for by paragraph (b) of this Section 3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of Executive’s obligations under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form and such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any clawback or forfeiture provisions required by law and applicable to the Bank or any of its subsidiaries, the compensation provided under this Agreement or under any incentive compensation plan in which Executive participates shall be subject to the terms of: (i) the Bank’s recoupment policy as in effect on the Effective Date or any other policy adopted thereafter by the Board of Directors of the Bank or the Compensation Committee thereof in order to comply with any applicable law, regulation, order, stock exchange listing requirement, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations thereunder (or any policy of the Bank adopted pursuant to any such law, government regulation, order or stock exchange listing requirement); and (ii) any clawback or forfeiture provisions in the Bank’s incentive compensation plans in which Executive participates or the award agreements with respect to Executive’s awards thereunder.

(e) The Bank may directly or indirectly withhold from any payments made under this Agreement all Federal, state, city or other taxes and all other deductions as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling or pursuant to any contributory benefit plan maintained by or on behalf of the Bank.

4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.

(a) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein defined) during Executive’s term of employment under this Agreement, the provisions of this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an “Event of Termination” shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the termination by the Bank of Executive’s full-time employment hereunder for any reason other than a termination governed by Section 5(a) hereof, or Termination for Cause, as defined in Section 7 hereof; (ii) Executive’s resignation from the Bank’s employ for “Good Reason,” which shall mean without Executive’s consent (A) a material reduction of Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities with respect to the Bank, including the failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive as President or Chief Operating Officer or after December 31, 2014 President and Chief Executive Officer (rather than President and Chief Operating Officer); (B) a material reduction of Executive’s salary; (C) a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must perform his services to the Bank; (D) a material breach of this Agreement. Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (A) through (D) above constituting “Good Reason,” Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment by resignation within six months after initial existence of the event giving rise to said right to resign; provided that within 30 days after the initial existence of the basis for resignation Executive has provided the Bank written notice of the circumstances providing the basis for resigning on account of “Good Reason” and the Bank has failed to remedy such circumstances within 30 days after receiving such notice. A resignation by Executive without complying with the notice and opportunity to remedy provisions in this Agreement shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” for any purpose of this Agreement.

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(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of Termination, as defined in Section 8, the Bank shall be obligated to pay Executive, or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be an amount equal to the greater of (i) the amount of the remaining payments that Executive would have earned if he had continued his employment with the Bank during the remaining term of this Agreement at Executive’s Base Salary at the Date of Termination (or, if the Event of Termination is attributable to a reduction in Executive’s Base Salary, then the Base Salary in effect before such reduction); or (ii) Executive’s annual Base Salary at the Date of Termination; provided, however, that any payments pursuant to this subsection and subsection 4(c) below, shall not, in the aggregate, exceed three times Executive’s average annual compensation for the five most recent taxable years that Executive has been employed by the Bank or such lesser number of years in the event that Executive shall have been employed by the Bank for less than five years. Such payments shall be made in a lump sum within five business days of Executive’s Date of Termination, subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 24 hereof, if applicable. Any such payment may also be delayed where the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law; provided that the payment is made at the earliest date at which the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such violation. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following termination of employment.

(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank or the Holding Company for Executive prior to his termination at no premium cost to Executive, except to the extent such coverage may be changed in its application to all Bank or Holding Company employees. Such coverage shall cease upon the later of (i) the expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement or (ii) the end of the month of the first anniversary of Executive’s Date of Termination. If the provision of any of the benefits covered by this Section 4(c) would trigger the 20% excise tax and interest penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the benefit(s) that would trigger such tax and interest penalties shall not be provided (collectively the “Excluded Benefits”), and in lieu of the Excluded Benefits the Bank will pay to Executive, in a lump sum within thirty business days following termination of employment or thirty business days after such determination, should it occur after termination of employment, a cash amount equal to the cost to the Bank of providing the Excluded Benefits. Such lump sum payment will be subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 24 hereof, if applicable.

5. CHANGE IN CONTROL.

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” of the Bank or Holding Company shall mean an event of a nature that: (i) would be required to be reported in response to Item 5.01 of the current report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the Bank or the Holding Company within the meaning of the Home Owners’ Loan Act of 1933, as amended, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or the Rules

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and Regulations promulgated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or its predecessor agency (collectively, the “OCC” or the “Comptroller”), as in effect on the date hereof (provided, that in applying the definition of change in control as set forth under the rules and regulations of the OCC, the Board shall substitute its judgment for that of the OCC); or (iii) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (A) any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of the Bank or the Holding Company representing 25% or more of the Bank’s or the Holding Company’s outstanding voting securities or right to acquire such securities except for any voting securities of the Bank purchased by the Holding Company and any voting securities purchased by any employee benefit plan of the Bank or the Holding Company, or (B) individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Holding Company’s stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (B), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board, or (C) a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Bank or the Holding Company or similar transaction occurs in which the Bank or Holding Company is not the resulting entity; provided, however, that such an event listed above will be deemed to have occurred or to have been effectuated upon the receipt of all required regulatory approvals not including the lapse of any statutory waiting periods.

(b) If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Section 5(a) or the Board has determined that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in paragraphs (c), and (d) of this Section 5 upon his subsequent termination of employment at any time during the term of this Agreement due to: (i) Executive’s dismissal other than a Termination for Cause, as defined herein, or (ii) Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” as defined in Section 4(a).

(c) Upon Executive’s entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), the Bank shall pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, a sum equal to the greater of: (i) the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement; or (ii) three (3) times Executive’s average annual compensation for the five (5) taxable years preceding the taxable year in which the Date of Termination occurs or such lesser number of years in the event that Executive shall have been employed by the Bank for less than five (5) years. Such average annual compensation shall include Base Salary, commissions, bonuses, contributions on Executive’s behalf to any pension and/or profit sharing plan, severance payments, retirement payments, directors or committee fees, fringe benefits paid or to be paid to Executive in any such year, and payment of expense items without accountability or business purpose or that do not meet the IRS requirements for deductibility by the Institution; provided however, that any payment under this provision and subsection 5(d) below shall not exceed three (3) times Executive’s average annual compensation. Such payment shall be made in a lump sum within five business days of the date Executive becomes entitled to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 24 hereof, if applicable. Any such payment may also be delayed where the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law; provided that the payment is made at the

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earliest date at which the Bank reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such violation. Such payment shall not be reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following termination of employment.

(d) Upon Executive’s entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section 5(b), the Bank will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his severance at no premium cost to Executive, except to the extent that such coverage may be changed in its application for all Bank employees on a non-discriminatory basis. Such coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration of thirty-six (36) months following the Date of Termination. If the provision of any of the benefits covered by this Section 5(d) would trigger the 20% excise tax and interest penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the benefit(s) that would trigger such tax and interest penalties shall not be provided (collectively the “Excluded Benefits”), and in lieu of the Excluded Benefits the Bank will pay to Executive, in a lump sum within thirty business days following termination of employment or thirty business days after such determination, should it occur after termination of employment, a cash amount equal to the cost to the Bank of providing the Excluded Benefits. Such cash payment will be subject to delayed payment pursuant to Section 24 hereof, if applicable.

6. CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5, in no event shall the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to Executive under said paragraphs (the “Termination Benefits”) constitute an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereto, and in order to avoid such a result, Termination Benefits will be reduced, if necessary, to an amount (the “Non-Triggering Amount”), the value of which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal to three (3) times Executive’s “base amount”, as determined in accordance with said Section 280G. The allocation of the reduction required hereby among the Termination Benefits provided by Section 5 shall be determined by the Bank.

7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.

The term “Termination for Cause” shall mean termination because of Executive’s personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, any breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order or material breach of any provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a Notice of Termination which shall include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after Termination for Cause. During the period beginning on the date of the Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 8 hereof through the Date of Termination for Cause, stock options and related limited rights granted to

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Executive under any stock option plan shall not be exercisable, nor shall any unvested awards granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan of the Bank, the Holding Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest. At the Date of Termination for Cause, such stock options and related limited rights and such unvested awards shall become null and void and shall not be exercisable by or delivered to Executive at any time subsequent to such Termination for Cause.

8. NOTICE.

(a) Any purported termination by the Bank or by Executive shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” shall mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated.

(b) “Date of Termination” shall mean the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).

(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected) and provided further that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, in the event Executive is terminated for reasons other than Termination for Cause the Bank will continue to pay Executive his Base Salary in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given until the earlier of: 1) the resolution of the dispute in accordance with this Agreement or 2) the expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement as determined as of the Date of Termination. Amounts paid under this Section are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.

9. POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS.

All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be subject to Executive’s compliance with this Section 9 for one (1) full year after the earlier of the expiration of this Agreement or termination of Executive’s employment with the Bank. Executive shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information and assistance to the Bank as may reasonably be required by the Bank in connection with any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a party.

10. NON-COMPETITION, NON-DISCLOSURE AND NON-SOLICITATION.

(a) Upon any termination of Executive’s employment hereunder pursuant to Section 4 hereof, Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank for a period of one (1) year following

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such termination in any city, town or county in which Executive’s normal business office is located and the Bank has an office or has filed an application for regulatory approval to establish an office, determined as of the effective date of such termination, except as agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board. Executive agrees that during such period and within said cities, towns and counties, Executive shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise serve with, directly or indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with the depository, lending or other business activities of the Bank. The parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will result to the Bank, its business and property in the event of Executive’s breach of this Subsection 10(a) agree that in the event of any such breach by Executive, the Bank will be entitled, in addition to any other remedies and damages available, to an injunction to restrain the violation hereof by Executive, Executive’s partners, agents, servants, employees and all persons acting for or under the direction of Executive. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

(b) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the business activities and plans for business activities of the Bank and affiliates thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique asset of the business of the Bank. Executive will not, during or after the term of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking, financial and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively derived from the business plans and activities of the Bank. Further, Executive may disclose information regarding the business activities of the Bank to the OCC and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) pursuant to a formal regulatory request. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of this Section, the Bank will be entitled to an injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or in part, the knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof, or from rendering any services to any person, firm, corporation, other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

(c) During the term of this Agreement and for a period of twelve (12) months from and after the date that Executive is (for any reason) no longer employed by the Bank or for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment enforcing this covenant in the event of a breach by Executive, whichever is longer, Executive covenants and agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, stockholder, co-partner or in any other individual or representative capacity whatsoever: (i) solicit, or assist any other person or business entity in soliciting, any depositors, borrowers or other customers of the Bank or its subsidiaries to make deposits in or to become customers of any other financial institution offering banking and financial products and services substantially similar to those offered by the Bank or its subsidiaries on any date on which the conduct at issue occurs; or (ii) induce any individuals to terminate their employment with the Bank or any of its subsidiaries if those individuals provide, or have provided during all or part of the covenant period described in this Section 10,

8

accounting, credit, lending, information technology, account management or personal banking services for the Bank or any of its subsidiaries or any other types of services that give those individuals significant contact with or knowledge of the customer base of the Bank or any of its subsidiaries.

11. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.

(a) All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or check from the general funds of the Bank. The Holding Company, however, unconditionally guarantees payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to Executive and, if such amounts and benefits due from the Bank are not timely paid or provided by the Bank, such amounts and benefits shall be paid or provided by the Holding Company.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, to the extent that payments and benefits, as provided by this Agreement, are paid to or received by Executive under the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated April 23, 2014, between Executive and the Holding Company (the “Holding Company Agreement”), such compensation payments and benefits paid by the Holding Company will be subtracted from any amounts due simultaneously to Executive under similar provisions of this Agreement. Payments pursuant to this Agreement and the Holding Company Agreement shall be allocated in proportion to the services rendered and time expended on such activities by Executive as determined by the Holding Company and the Bank on a quarterly basis.

12. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.

This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any predecessor of the Bank and Executive, including the Original Agreement, except that this Agreement shall not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to Executive of a kind elsewhere provided, including without limitation the Supplemental Executive Retirement Account Agreement, dated June 18, 2013, by and among Executive, the Holding Company and the Bank. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits provided under any other agreement or plan with the Bank or the Holding Company than those available to him without reference to this Agreement.

13. NO ATTACHMENT.

(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution, attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null, void, and of no effect.

(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, Executive and the Bank and their respective successors and assigns.

9

14. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.

(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically waived.

15. REQUIRED PROVISIONS.

(a) The Bank’s Board of Directors may terminate Executive’s employment at any time, but any termination by the Bank’s Board of Directors, other than Termination for Cause, shall not prejudice Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after Termination for Cause as defined in Section 7 hereinabove.

(b) If Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in. the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(3) or (g)(1); the Bank’s obligations under this contract shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Bank may in its discretion: (i) pay Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while their contract obligations were suspended; and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of the obligations which were suspended.

(c) If Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), all obligations of the Bank under this contract shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.

(d) If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1813(x)(1) all obligations of the Bank under this contract shall terminate as of the date of default, but this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.

(e) All obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of the Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Bank: (i) by the Comptroller (or his designee), at the time the FDIC enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1823(c); or (ii) by the Comptroller (or his designee) at the time the Comptroller (or his designee) approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the operations of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the Comptroller to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.

(f) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. §1828(k), 12 C.F.R. §145.121 and 12 C.F.R. Part 359 and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

10

16. REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS UNDER SECTION 15(b).

In the event Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by a notice described in Section 15(b) hereof (the “Notice”) during the term of this Agreement, the Bank will assume its obligation to pay and Executive will be entitled to receive all of the termination benefits provided for under Section 5 of this Agreement upon the Bank’s receipt of a dismissal of charges in the Notice.

17. SEVERABILITY.

If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement or any .part of such provision not held so invalid, and each such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect, and it is the intention and desire of the parties that the court treat any provisions of this Agreement which are not fully enforceable as having been modified to the extent deemed necessary by the court to render them reasonable and enforceable and that the court enforce them to such extent.

18. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

19. GOVERNING LAW.

The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, but only to the extent not superseded by federal law.

20. ARBITRATION.

Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by Executive within fifty (50) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

11

In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with Executive’s termination is resolved in favor of Executive, whether by judgment, arbitration or settlement, Executive shall be entitled to the payment of all back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation, fringe benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive under this Agreement.

21. PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES.

All reasonable costs and legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed by the Bank if Executive is successful on the merits pursuant to a legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.

22. INDEMNIFICATION.

(a) The Bank shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and administrators) with coverage under a standard directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy at its expense, and shall indemnify Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) as permitted under federal law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the Bank (whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time of incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs and attorneys’ fees and the cost of reasonable settlements.

(b) Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Section are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 C.F.R.§§145.121 and 359.5 and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

23. SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK.

The Bank shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or substantially all the business or assets of the Bank or the Holding Company, expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank’s obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Bank would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.

24. APPLICATION OF SECTION 409A OF THE CODE.

(a) To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so as to prevent inclusion in gross income of any amounts payable or benefits provided hereunder in a taxable year that is prior to the taxable year or years in which such amounts or benefits would otherwise actually be distributed, provided or otherwise made available to Executive. This Agreement shall be construed, administered, and governed in a manner consistent with this intent and the following provisions of this Section shall control over any contrary provisions of this Agreement.

(b) In the event Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and delayed payment of any amount or commencement of any

12

benefit under this Agreement is required to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2) of the Code, then (i) amounts payable in connection with Executive’s termination of employment will be delayed and paid, with interest at the short term applicable federal rate as in effect as of the termination date, in a single lump sum six months thereafter (or if earlier, the date of Executive’s death) and (ii) with respect to medical and welfare benefits, Executive shall be entitled to bear the cost of such benefits for six months following such termination date, after which time the Bank shall continue to provide such benefits for the period they would otherwise have been provided, commencing from the six month anniversary of Executive’s termination date.

(c) Payments and benefits hereunder upon Executive’s termination or severance of employment with the Bank that constitute deferred compensation under Code Section 409A payable shall be paid or provided only at the time of a termination of Executive’s employment which constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A (subject to a possible six-month delay pursuant to Subsection (b) above).

(d) For purposes of Code Section 409A, the right to a series of payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments so that each payment hereunder is designated as a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.

(e) All reimbursements and in kind benefits provided under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, payments under Sections 3, 21 and 22, shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during Executive’s lifetime (or during a shorter period of time specified in this Agreement), (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

(f) References in this Agreement to Code Section 409A include both that section of the Code itself and any guidance promulgated thereunder.

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, OceanFirst Bank and OceanFirst Financial Corp. have caused this Agreement to be executed and seals to be affixed hereunto by their duly authorized officers and directors, and Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 23rd day of April, 2014.

ATTEST:	OCEANFIRST BANK
/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos	By:	/s/ John R. Garbarino
Secretary	For Entire Board of Directors
[SEAL]
ATTEST:	OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.
	(Guarantor)
/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos	By:	/s/ John R. Garbarino
Secretary	For Entire Board of Directors
[SEAL]
WITNESS:
	/s/ Christopher D. Maher
/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos	Executive

14

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Company Contact:

Michael J. Fitzpatrick

Chief Financial Officer

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

Tel: (732) 240-4500, ext. 7506

Fax: (732) 349-5070

Email: Mfitzpatrick@oceanfirst.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP.

ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS

AND ADVANCEMENT OF CEO SUCCESSION PLAN

TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY, April 24, 2014…OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:“OCFC”), (the “Company”), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank (the “Bank”), today announced diluted earnings per share of $0.28 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $0.26 for the corresponding prior year quarter.

Highlights for the quarter included:

• Commercial loans outstanding increased $27.5 million, an annualized growth rate of 18.7%, the third consecutive quarter of double digit growth.

• The net interest margin remains strong at 3.36%.

• Tangible common equity also remains strong at 9.47%.

The Company announced that the Board of Directors declared its sixty-ninth consecutive quarterly cash dividend on common stock. The dividend for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 of $0.12 per share will be paid on May 16, 2014 to shareholders of record on May 5, 2014.

The next step in the Company Executive Management Succession Plan was also disclosed. Upon the expiration of CEO John R. Garbarino’s current employment agreement on

1

December 31, 2014, President and COO Christopher D. Maher will succeed him as CEO. Mr. Maher’s amended employment agreement will continue through June 30, 2017. Mr. Garbarino will remain on the Board of Directors where he currently serves as Chairman. “I am pleased we are able to plan an orderly transition of my CEO responsibilities to such a highly qualified executive as Chris Maher,” said Garbarino. Maher also commented, “During John’s 43 year career with the Bank and 18 year tenure as CEO of the Company, OceanFirst has demonstrated an enviable record of developing value for shareholders. Together we are now working closely on a strategic plan delivering more robust growth.”

Results of Operations

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $4.7 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $4.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted share for the corresponding prior year period.

Net interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 increased to $18.1 million as compared to $17.2 million for the same prior year period, reflecting an increase in the net interest margin partly offset by lower interest-earning assets. The net interest margin increased to 3.36% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 from 3.16% for the same prior year period. The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased to 3.68% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to 3.69% for the same prior year period. Despite the one basis point decline, the asset yield benefited from a shift in the mix of earning assets as average loans receivable, net increased $33.1 million while average interest-earning deposits and short-term investments decreased $56.6 million, as compared to the same prior year period. The cost of average interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 0.37% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as

2

compared to 0.61% for the same prior year period. The decrease was partly due to the prepayment of $159.0 million of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances with a weighted average cost of 2.31% early in the fourth quarter of 2013. Average interest-earning assets decreased $26.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the same prior year period, as excess liquidity was allowed to run-off.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the provision for loan losses was $530,000, as compared to $1.1 million for the corresponding prior year period. The decrease for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was primarily due to a reduction of $590,000 in net charge-offs, as compared to the same prior year period. Non-performing loans decreased $39,000 at March 31, 2014, as compared to December 31, 2013, and by $2.1 million, as compared to March 31, 2013.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, other income increased to $4.0 million, as compared to $3.4 million in the same prior year period. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, wealth management revenue increased $113,000 as compared to the same prior year period, partly due to an increase in assets under administration to $216.5 million at March 31, 2014 from $176.8 million at March 31, 2013. Fees and service charges increased $144,000, as compared to the same prior year period due to higher retail and commercial checking account fees. For the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the net gain on the sale of loans amounted to $132,000, as compared to a loss of $174,000 in the same prior year period. The net loss on the sale of loans for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 was adversely impacted by a provision of $975,000 added to the reserve for repurchased loans and loss sharing obligations, as compared to no provision in the current quarter. The prior year provision was related to loans sold to the Federal Home Loan Bank as part of its Mortgage Partnership Finance program. Excluding the provision for repurchased loans, the gain on sale of loans was adversely impacted by a decrease in the gain-on-sale

3

margin and a reduction in loans sold to $10.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $36.8 million for the corresponding prior year quarter, as increasing longer-term interest rates reduced one-to-four family refinance activity.

Operating expenses amounted to $14.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $12.7 million in the same prior year period. Compensation and employee benefits expense increased $1.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the same prior year period due to personnel additions in revenue producing areas. Marketing expenses increased $282,000, as compared to the same prior year period, primarily due to a promotional campaign to attract retail checking accounts and incent bankcard usage. The promotion resulted in the acquisition of 1,200 new checking relationships in the first quarter. Occupancy expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 include $180,000 in snow removal costs, a $130,000 increase over the same prior year period. Excluding non-recurring expenses relating to the prepayment of FHLB advances and the consolidation of two branches, operating expenses decreased $504,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to a reduction of $401,000 in professional fees.

The provision for income taxes was $2.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $2.4 million for the same prior year period. The effective tax rate was 35.3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to 35.1% in the same prior year period.

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Financial Condition

Total assets increased by $32.0 million to $2,281.7 million at March 31, 2014, from $2,249.7 million at December 31, 2013. Loans receivable, net, increased by $29.5 million, to $1,571.0 million at March 31, 2014 from $1,541.5 million at December 31, 2013, primarily due to growth in commercial loans of $27.5 million and in residential construction loans, net of loans in process, which increased $5.8 million.

Deposits decreased by $26.6 million, to $1,720.1 million at March 31, 2014, from $1,746.8 million at December 31, 2013, despite strong growth in retail and business checking accounts. To fund loan growth and deposit outflows, Federal Home Loan Bank advances increased $57.3 million, to $232.3 million at March 31, 2014, from $175.0 million at December 31, 2013. Stockholders’ equity increased to $216.2 million at March 31, 2014, as compared to $214.4 million at December 31, 2013. Net income for the period was offset by the repurchase of 88,000 shares of common stock for $1.5 million (average cost per share of $17.29) and the cash dividend on common stock. At March 31, 2014, 213,766 shares were available for repurchase under the stock repurchase program adopted in the fourth quarter of 2012. Tangible stockholders’ equity per common share was $12.45 at March 31, 2014, as compared to $12.33 at December 31, 2013.

Asset Quality

The Company’s non-performing loans totaled $45.3 million at March 31, 2014, a $39,000 decrease from December 31, 2013. Net loan charge-offs decreased to $526,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, as compared to $1.1 million for the corresponding prior year quarter.

5

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will host an earnings conference call on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. The direct dial number for the call is (888) 317-6016. For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, dial (877) 344-7529, Replay Conference Number 10043132 from one hour after the end of the call until July 25, 2014. The conference call, as well as the replay, are also available (listen-only) by internet webcast at www.oceanfirst.com in the Investor Relations section.

*  *  *

OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902, is a federally-chartered savings bank with $2.3 billion in assets and twenty-three branches located in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey. The Bank is the largest and oldest community-based financial institution headquartered in Ocean County, New Jersey.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.’s press releases are available by visiting us at www.oceanfirst.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “view,” “opportunity,” “potential,” or similar expressions or expressions of confidence. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to: changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, levels of unemployment in the Bank’s lending area, real estate market values in the Bank’s lending area, future natural disasters and increases to flood insurance premiums, the level of prepayments on loans and mortgage-backed securities, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company’s market area and accounting principles and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims 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.

6

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	March 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	36,746		$	33,958
Securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value		39,261			43,836
Securities held-to-maturity, net (estimated fair value of $498,383 and $495,082 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)		496,111			495,599
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost		17,011			14,518
Loans receivable, net		1,570,969			1,541,460
Mortgage loans held for sale		1,153			785
Interest and dividends receivable		5,361			5,380
Other real estate owned		4,457			4,345
Premises and equipment, net		23,963			23,684
Servicing asset		3,965			4,178
Bank Owned Life Insurance		54,909			54,571
Deferred tax asset		15,191			15,239
Other assets		12,614			12,158
Total assets	$	2,281,711		$	2,249,711
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits	$	1,720,131		$	1,746,763
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase with retail customers		66,226			68,304
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		232,300			175,000
Other borrowings		27,500			27,500
Due to brokers		1,522			—
Advances by borrowers for taxes and insurance		6,892			6,471
Other liabilities		10,950			11,323
Total liabilities		2,065,521			2,035,361
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, $1,000 liquidation preference, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued		—			—
Common stock, $.01 par value, 55,000,000 shares authorized, 33,566,772 shares issued and 17,358,459 and 17,387,049 shares outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively		336			336
Additional paid-in capital		264,289			263,319
Retained earnings		208,732			206,201
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(6,575	)		(6,619	)
Less: Unallocated common stock held by Employee Stock Ownership Plan		(3,544	)		(3,616	)
Treasury stock, 16,208,313 and 16,179,723 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively		(247,048	)		(245,271	)
Common stock acquired by Deferred Compensation Plan		(324	)		(665	)
Deferred Compensation Plan Liability		324			665
Total stockholders’ equity		216,190			214,350
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,281,711		$	2,249,711

7

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	For the Three Months Ended,
	March 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			March 31, 2013
	(unaudited)
Interest income:
Loans	$	17,246		$	17,368		$	17,664
Mortgage-backed securities		1,763			1,863			1,648
Investment securities and other		736			729			740
Total interest income		19,745			19,960			20,052
Interest expense:
Deposits		1,096			1,102			1,325
Borrowed funds		584			607			1,538
Total interest expense		1,680			1,709			2,863
Net interest income		18,065			18,251			17,189
Provision for loan losses		530			200			1,100
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		17,535			18,051			16,089
Other income:
Bankcard services revenue		791			909			810
Wealth management revenue		540			591			427
Fees and service charges		2,000			1,954			1,856
Loan servicing income		228			220			156
Net gain (loss) on sales of loans available for sale		132			287			(174	)
Net gain on sales of investment securities available for sale		—			4			—
Net (loss) gain from other real estate operations		(32	)		(49	)		2
Income from Bank Owned Life Insurance		338			338			316
Other		1			29			16
Total other income		3,998			4,283			3,409
Operating expenses:
Compensation and employee benefits		7,685			7,747			6,578
Occupancy		1,464			1,458			1,363
Equipment		756			721			638
Marketing		532			490			250
Federal deposit insurance		546			543			524
Data processing		1,070			994			973
Check card processing		446			480			411
Professional fees		375			776			611
Other operating expense		1,389			1,558			1,317
Federal Home Loan Bank advance prepayment fee		—			4,265			—
Branch consolidation expense		—			579			—
Total operating expenses		14,263			19,611			12,665
Income before provision for income taxes		7,270			2,723			6,833
Provision for income taxes		2,563			784			2,397
Net income	$	4,707		$	1,939		$	4,436
Basic earnings per share	$	0.28		$	0.12		$	0.26
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.28		$	0.11		$	0.26
Average basic shares outstanding		16,884			16,855			17,285
Average diluted shares outstanding		17,050			17,056			17,324

8

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

	At March 31,			At December 31,
	2014			2013
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Stockholders’ equity to total assets		9.47	%		9.53	%
Common shares outstanding (in thousands)		17,358			17,387
Stockholders’ equity per common share	$	12.45		$	12.33
Tangible stockholders’ equity per common share		12.45			12.33
ASSET QUALITY
Non-performing loans:
Real estate – one-to-four family	$	27,486		$	28,213
Commercial real estate		12,010			12,304
Consumer		3,731			4,328
Commercial and industrial		2,094			515
Total non-performing loans		45,321			45,360
Other real estate owned		4,457			4,345
Total non-performing assets	$	49,778		$	49,705
Delinquent loans 30 to 89 days	$	9,137		$	9,147
Troubled debt restructurings:
Non-performing (included in total non- performing loans above)	$	10,217		$	9,663
Performing		21,435			21,456
Total troubled debt restructurings	$	31,652		$	31,119
Allowance for loan losses	$	20,934		$	20,930
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans receivable		1.31	%		1.33	%
Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total non-performing loans		46.19			46.14
Non-performing loans as a percent of total loans receivable		2.83			2.88
Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets		2.18			2.21
WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Assets under administration	$	216,508		$	216,144

	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			March 31, 2013
PERFORMANCE RATIOS (ANNUALIZED)
Return on average assets		0.83	%		0.34	%(1)		0.77	%
Return on average stockholders’ equity		8.72			3.64	(1)		8.06
Interest rate spread		3.31			3.33			3.08
Interest rate margin		3.36			3.38			3.16
Operating expenses to average assets		2.52			3.43	(1)		2.21
Efficiency ratio		64.65			87.03	(1)		61.49

⁽¹⁾  Performance ratios for the fourth quarter of 2013 include non-recurring expenses relating to the prepayment of Federal Home Loan Bank advances of $4.3 million and the consolidation of two branches into newer in-market facilities at a cost of $579,000. The total after-tax cost was $3.1 million.

9

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

SELECTED LOAN AND DEPOSIT DATA

(in thousands)

LOANS RECEIVABLE

		At March 31, 2014			At December 31, 2013
Real estate:
One-to-four family		$	748,647		$	751,370
Commercial real estate, multi-family and land			550,808			528,945
Residential construction			37,852			30,821
Consumer			199,926			200,683
Commercial and industrial			66,196			60,545
Total loans			1,603,429			1,572,364
Loans in process			(13,991	)		(12,715	)
Deferred origination costs, net			3,618			3,526
Allowance for loan losses			(20,934	)		(20,930	)
Total loans, net			1,572,122			1,542,245
Less: mortgage loans held for sale			1,153			785
Loans receivable, net		$	1,570,969		$	1,541,460
Mortgage loans serviced for others		$	794,530		$	806,810
	Average Yield
Loan pipeline:
Commercial	4.24%	$	46,813		$	58,992
Construction/permanent	4.02%		9,753			9,955
One-to-four family	4.26%		19,729			18,827
Consumer	4.04%		7,118			5,496
		$	83,413		$	93,270

	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014		December 31, 2013		March 31, 2013
Loan originations:
Commercial	$	52,482	$	53,700	$	18,438
Construction/permanent		10,416		16,209		3,590
One-to-four family		27,738		31,706		53,685
Consumer		13,379		12,059		11,130
Total	$	104,015	$	113,674	$	86,843
Loans sold	$	10,270	$	18,222	$	36,791
Net charge-offs		526		157		1,116

DEPOSITS

	At March 31, 2014		At December 31, 2013
Type of Account
Non-interest-bearing	$	218,124	$	207,608
Interest-bearing checking		865,023		913,753
Money market deposit		123,701		116,947
Savings		297,739		290,512
Time deposits		215,544		217,943
	$	1,720,131	$	1,746,763

10

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST INCOME

	FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
	MARCH 31, 2014							DECEMBER 31, 2013							MARCH 31, 2013
	AVERAGE BALANCE		INTEREST		AVERAGE YIELD/ COST			AVERAGE BALANCE		INTEREST		AVERAGE YIELD/ COST			AVERAGE BALANCE		INTEREST		AVERAGE YIELD/ COST
	(dollars in thousands)
Assets
Interest-earning assets:
Interest-earning deposits and short-term investments	$	29,332	$	6		0.08	%	$	34,566	$	8		0.09	%	$	85,951	$	26		0.12	%
Securities (1) and FHLB stock		562,350		2,493		1.77			595,859		2,584		1.73			565,197		2,362		1.67
Loans receivable, net (2)		1,557,281		17,246		4.43			1,528,956		17,368		4.54			1,524,156		17,664		4.64
Total interest-earning assets		2,148,963		19,745		3.68			2,159,381		19,960		3.70			2,175,304		20,052		3.69
Non-interest-earning assets		115,855							127,852							118,148
Total assets	$	2,264,818						$	2,287,233						$	2,293,452
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Transaction deposits	$	1,322,358		363		0.11		$	1,345,106		371		0.11		$	1,330,639		563		0.17
Time deposits		215,710		733		1.36			213,337		731		1.37			221,200		762		1.38
Total		1,538,068		1,096		0.29			1,558,443		1,102		0.28			1,551,839		1,325		0.34
Borrowed funds		283,256		584		0.82			289,434		607		0.84			319,645		1,538		1.92
Total interest-bearing liabilities		1,821,324		1,680		0.37			1,847,877		1,709		0.37			1,871,484		2,863		0.61
Non-interest-bearing deposits		210,867							209,715							185,066
Non-interest-bearing liabilities		16,690							16,489							16,845
Total liabilities		2,048,881							2,074,081							2,073,395
Stockholders’ equity		215,937							213,152							220,057
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,264,818						$	2,287,233						$	2,293,452
Net interest income			$	18,065						$	18,251						$	17,189
Net interest rate spread (3)						3.31	%						3.33	%						3.08	%
Net interest margin (4)						3.36	%						3.38	%						3.16	%

(1) Amounts are recorded at average amortized cost.

(2) Amount is net of deferred loan fees, undisbursed loan funds, discounts and premiums and estimated loss allowances and includes loans held for sale and non-performing loans.

(3) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

(4) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.