PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC - Annual Report: 2011 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011

OR

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File No. 1-31566

PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(732) 590-9200

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    YES  x    NO  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    YES  ¨    NO  x

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    YES  x    NO  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    x

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

Large Accelerated Filer  x    Accelerated Filer  ¨    Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨    Smaller Reporting Company  ¨

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

As of February 1, 2012, there were 83,209,285 issued and 60,390,918 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding, including 421,403 shares held by the First Savings Bank Directors’ Deferred Fee Plan not otherwise considered outstanding under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The aggregate value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based on the closing price of the Common Stock as of June 30, 2011, as quoted by the NYSE, was approximately $764.8 million.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

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PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-K

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Forward Looking Statements

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

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

PART I

Provident Financial Services, Inc.

The Company is a Delaware corporation which became the holding company for The Provident Bank (the “Bank”) on January 15, 2003, following the completion of the conversion of the Bank to a stock chartered savings bank. On January 15, 2003, the Company issued an aggregate of 59,618,300 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share in a subscription offering and contributed $4.8 million in cash and 1,920,000 shares of its common stock to The Provident Bank Foundation, a charitable foundation established by the Bank. As a result of the conversion and related stock offering, the Company raised $567.2 million in net proceeds, of which $293.2 million was utilized to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of the Bank. The Company owns all of the outstanding common stock of the Bank, and as such, is a bank holding company subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board.

At December 31, 2011, the Company had total assets of $7.10 billion, net loans of $4.58 billion, total deposits of $5.16 billion, and total stockholders’ equity of $952.5 million. The Company’s mailing address is 239 Washington Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302, and the Company’s telephone number is (732) 590-9200.

Capital Management. The Company paid cash dividends totaling $26.8 million and repurchased 347,753 shares of its common stock at a cost of $4.1 million in 2011. The Company has limited common stock repurchase activity since 2009 to preserve capital in response to the difficult economic environment. The Company and the Bank were “well capitalized” at December 31, 2011 under current regulatory standards.

Available Information. The Company is a public company, and files interim, quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These respective reports are on file and a matter of public record with the SEC and may be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with

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the SEC (http://www.sec.gov). All filed SEC reports and interim filings can also be obtained from the Bank’s website, www.providentnj.com, on the “Investor Relations” page, without charge from the Company.

The Provident Bank

Established in 1839, the Bank is a New Jersey-chartered capital stock savings bank headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey. The Bank is a community- and customer-oriented bank currently operating 82 full-service branch offices in the New Jersey counties of Hudson, Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset and Union, which the Bank considers its primary market area. The Bank emphasizes personal service and customer convenience in serving the financial needs of the individuals, families and businesses residing in its markets. The Bank attracts deposits from the general public and businesses primarily in the areas surrounding its banking offices and uses those funds, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, to originate commercial real estate loans, residential mortgage loans, commercial business loans and consumer loans. The Bank also invests in mortgage-backed securities and other permissible investments.

The following are highlights of The Provident Bank’s operations:

Diversified Loan Portfolio. To improve asset yields and reduce its exposure to interest rate risk, the Bank diversifies its loan portfolio by originating commercial real estate loans and commercial business loans. These loans generally have adjustable rates or shorter fixed terms and interest rates that are higher than the rates applicable to one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. However, these loans generally have a higher risk of loss than one- to four- family residential mortgage loans.

Asset Quality. As of December 31, 2011, non-performing assets were $135.4 million or 1.91% of total assets, compared to $100.1 million or 1.47% of total assets at December 31, 2010. While the Bank’s non-performing asset levels have been adversely impacted by the troubled real estate market and the challenging economic environment, the Bank continues to focus on conservative underwriting criteria and on active and timely collection efforts.

Emphasis on Relationship Banking and Core Deposits. The Bank emphasizes the acquisition and retention of core deposit accounts, such as checking and savings accounts, and expanding customer relationships. Core deposit accounts totaled $4.03 billion at December 31, 2011, representing 78.1% of total deposits, compared with $3.60 billion, or 73.8% of total deposits at December 31, 2010. The Bank also focuses on increasing the number of households and businesses served and the number of bank products per customer.

Non-Interest Income. The Bank’s focus on transaction accounts and expanded products and services has enabled the Bank to generate non-interest income. Fees derived from core deposit accounts are a primary source of non-interest income. The Bank also offers investment products and wealth and asset management services through its subsidiaries to generate non-interest income. Total non-interest income was $32.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $31.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, and fee income was $25.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared with $23.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Managing Interest Rate Risk. The Bank manages its exposure to interest rate risk through the origination and retention of adjustable rate and shorter-term loans. In addition, the Bank uses its investments in securities to manage interest rate risk. At December 31, 2011, 45.2% of the Bank’s loan portfolio had a term to maturity of one year or less, or had adjustable interest rates. Moreover, at December 31, 2011, the Bank’s securities portfolio totaled $1.76 billion and had an expected average life of 3.00 years.

MARKET AREA

The Company and the Bank are headquartered in Jersey City, which is located in Hudson County, New Jersey. At December 31, 2011, the Bank operated a network of 82 full-service banking offices throughout eleven counties in northern and central New Jersey, comprised of 14 offices in Hudson County, 3 in Bergen, 7 in Essex,

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1 in Mercer, 25 in Middlesex, 10 in Monmouth, 10 in Morris, 4 in Ocean, 1 in Passaic, 4 in Somerset and 3 in Union Counties. The Bank also maintains its administrative offices in Iselin, New Jersey and satellite Loan Production offices in Convent Station and Princeton, New Jersey. The Bank’s lending activities, though concentrated in the communities surrounding its offices, extend predominantly throughout the State of New Jersey.

The Bank’s eleven-county primary market area includes a mix of urban and suburban communities and has a diversified mix of industries including pharmaceutical and other manufacturing companies, network communications, insurance and financial services, and retail. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent population data for 2011, the Bank’s eleven-county market area has a population of 6.6 million, which was 74.6% of the state’s total population. Because of the diversity of industries in the Bank’s market area and, to a lesser extent, its proximity to the New York City financial markets, the area’s economy can be significantly affected by changes in national and international economies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in New Jersey remained elevated at 9.1% at December 31, 2011, unchanged from December 31, 2010.

Within its eleven-county market area, the Bank had an approximate 6.29% share of bank deposits as of June 30, 2011, the latest date for which statistics are available, and an approximate 1.96% deposit share of the New Jersey market statewide.

COMPETITION

The Bank faces intense competition both in originating loans and attracting deposits. The northern and central New Jersey market area has a high concentration of financial institutions, including large money center and regional banks, community banks, credit unions, investment brokerage firms and insurance companies. The Bank faces direct competition for loans from each of these institutions as well as from mortgage companies and other loan origination firms operating in its market area. The Bank’s most direct competition for deposits has come from the several commercial banks and savings banks in the market area, especially large regional banks which have obtained a major share of the available deposit market due in part to acquisitions and consolidations. Many of these banks have substantially greater financial resources than the Bank and offer services that the Bank does not provide. In addition, the Bank faces significant competition for deposits from the mutual fund industry and from investors’ direct purchases of short-term money market securities and other corporate and government securities.

The Bank competes in this environment by maintaining a diversified product line, including mutual funds, annuities and other investment services made available through its investment subsidiary. Relationships with customers are built and maintained through the Bank’s branch network, its deployment of branch and off-site ATMs, and its telephone and web-based banking services.

LENDING ACTIVITIES

The Bank originates commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans collateralized by one- to four-family residential real estate and other consumer loans, for borrowers generally located within its primary market area.

Residential mortgage loans are primarily underwritten to standards that allow the sale of the loans to the secondary markets, primarily to the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”). To manage interest rate risk, the Bank generally sells the 20-year and 30-year fixed-rate residential mortgages that it originates. The Bank retains a majority of the originated adjustable rate mortgages for its portfolio.

The Bank originates commercial real estate loans that are secured by income-producing properties such as multi-family apartment buildings, office buildings, and retail and industrial properties. Generally, these loans have terms of either 5 or 10 years.

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The Bank historically provided construction loans for both single family and condominium projects intended for sale and commercial projects that will be retained as investments by the borrower. During 2010 and 2011, the Bank significantly reduced for sale construction loan originations due to adverse market conditions. The Bank underwrites most construction loans for a term of three years or less. The majority of these loans are underwritten on a floating rate basis. The Bank recognizes that there is higher risk in construction lending than permanent lending. As such, the Bank takes certain precautions to mitigate this risk, including the retention of an outside engineering firm to perform plan and cost reviews and to review all construction advances made against work in place and a limitation on how and when loan proceeds are advanced. In most cases, for the single family/condominium projects, the Bank limits its exposure against houses or units that are not under contract. Similarly, commercial construction loans usually have commitments for significant pre-leasing, or funds are held back until the leases are finalized.

The Bank originates consumer loans that are secured, in most cases, by a borrower’s assets. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit that are secured by a first or second mortgage lien on the borrower’s residence comprise the largest category of the Bank’s consumer loan portfolio. The Bank’s consumer loan portfolio also includes marine loans made on an indirect basis that are secured by a first lien on recreational boats. The marine loans were generated via boat dealers located on the East Coast of the United States. The Bank discontinued indirect marine lending in 2010. Marine loans are currently made on a direct, limited accommodation basis to existing customers.

Commercial loans are loans to businesses of varying size and type within the Bank’s market. The Bank lends to established businesses, and the loans are generally secured by business assets such as equipment, receivables, inventory, real estate or marketable securities. On a limited basis, the Bank makes unsecured commercial loans. Most commercial lines of credit are made on a floating interest rate basis and most term loans are made on a fixed interest rate basis, usually with terms of five years or less.

Loan Portfolio Composition. Set forth below is selected information concerning the composition of the loan portfolio in dollar amounts and in percentages (after deductions for deferred fees and costs, unearned discounts and premiums and allowances for losses) as of the dates indicated.

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Loan Maturity Schedule. The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2011, regarding the maturities of loans in the loan portfolio. Demand loans having no stated schedule of repayment and no stated maturity, and overdrafts are reported as due within one year.

Fixed- and Adjustable-Rate Loan Schedule. The following table sets forth at December 31, 2011, the dollar amount of all fixed-rate and adjustable-rate loans due after December 31, 2012.

Residential Mortgage Lending. The Bank originates residential mortgage loans secured by first mortgages on one- to four-family residences, generally located in the State of New Jersey. The Bank originates residential mortgages primarily through commissioned mortgage representatives, the Internet and its branch offices. The Bank originates both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages. As of December 31, 2011, $1.31 billion or 28.6% of the total portfolio consisted of residential real estate loans. Of the one- to four-family loans at that date, 63.9% were fixed-rate and 36.1% were adjustable-rate loans.

The Bank originates fixed-rate fully amortizing residential mortgage loans with the principal and interest due each month, that typically have maturities ranging from 10 to 30 years. The Bank also originates fixed-rate residential mortgage loans with maturities of 15, 20 and 30 years that require the payment of principal and interest on a biweekly basis. Fixed-rate jumbo residential mortgage loans (loans over the maximum that one of the government-sponsored agencies will purchase) are originated with maturities of up to 30 years. The Bank has offered adjustable-rate mortgage loans with a fixed-rate period of 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 years prior to the first annual interest rate adjustment. In October 2009, the Bank discontinued the origination of one- and three-year adjustable

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rate mortgage loans. The standard adjustment formula is the one-year constant maturity Treasury rate plus 2 ³/4%, adjusting annually with a 2% maximum annual adjustment and a 6% maximum adjustment over the life of the loan.

The Company does not originate or purchase sub-prime or option ARM loans. Prior to September 30, 2008, the Company originated on a limited basis “Alt-A” mortgages in the form of stated income loans with a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 50%. The balance of these “Alt-A” loans at December 31, 2011 was $11.3 million.

Residential loans are primarily underwritten to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae standards. The Bank’s standard maximum loan to value ratio is 80%. However, working through mortgage insurance companies, the Bank underwrites loans for sale to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae programs that will finance up to 95% of the value of the residence. Generally all fixed-rate loans with terms of 20 years or more are sold into the secondary market with servicing rights retained. Fixed-rate residential mortgage loans retained in the Bank’s portfolio generally include loans with a term of 15 years or less and biweekly payment residential mortgage loans with a term of 25 years or less. The Bank retains the majority of the originated adjustable-rate mortgages for its portfolio.

Loans are sold without recourse, generally with servicing rights retained by the Bank. The percentage of loans sold into the secondary market will vary depending upon interest rates and the Bank’s strategies for reducing exposure to interest rate risk. In 2011, $12.9 million, or 8.8% of residential real estate loans originated were sold into the secondary market. All of the loans sold in 2011 were long-term, fixed-rate mortgages.

The retention of adjustable-rate mortgages, as opposed to longer-term, fixed-rate residential mortgage loans, helps reduce the Bank’s exposure to interest rate risk. However, adjustable-rate mortgages generally pose credit risks different from the credit risks inherent in fixed-rate loans primarily because as interest rates rise, the underlying debt service payments of the borrowers rise, thereby increasing the potential for default. The Bank believes that these credit risks, which have not had a material adverse effect on the Bank to date, generally are less onerous than the interest rate risk associated with holding 20- and 30-year fixed-rate loans in its loan portfolio.

For many years, the Bank has offered discounted rates on residential mortgage loans to low- to moderate-income individuals. Loans originated in this category over the last five years have totaled $105.7 million. The Bank also offers a special rate program for first-time homebuyers under which originations have totaled over $13.7 million for the past five years.

Commercial Real Estate Loans. The Bank originates loans secured by mortgages on various commercial income producing properties, including office buildings, multi-family apartment buildings and retail and industrial properties. Commercial real estate loans were 27.4% of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2011. A substantial majority of the Bank’s commercial real estate loans are secured by properties located in the State of New Jersey.

The Bank originates commercial real estate loans with adjustable rates and with fixed interest rates for a period that is generally five to ten years or less, which may adjust after the initial period. Typically these loans are written for maturities of ten years or less and generally have an amortization schedule of 20 or 25 years. As a result, the typical amortization schedule will result in a substantial principal payment upon maturity. The Bank generally underwrites commercial real estate loans to a maximum 75% advance against either the appraised value of the property, or its purchase price (for loans to fund the acquisition of real estate), whichever is less. The Bank generally requires minimum debt service coverage of 1.20 times. There is a potential risk that the borrower may be unable to pay off or refinance the outstanding balance at the loan maturity date. The Bank typically lends to experienced owners or developers who have knowledge and contacts in the commercial real estate market.

Among the reasons for the Bank’s continued emphasis on commercial real estate lending is the desire to invest in assets bearing interest rates that are generally higher than interest rates on residential mortgage loans

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and more sensitive to changes in market interest rates. Commercial real estate loans, however, entail significant additional credit risk as compared to one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, as they typically involve larger loan balances concentrated with single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. In addition, the payment experience on commercial real estate loans secured by income-producing properties is typically dependent on the successful operation of the related real estate project and thus may be more significantly impacted by adverse conditions in the real estate market or in the economy generally.

The Bank performs more extensive diligence in underwriting commercial real estate loans than loans secured by owner-occupied one- to four-family residential properties due to the larger loan amounts and the riskier nature of such loans. The Bank attempts to understand and mitigate the risk in several ways, including inspection of all such properties and the review of the overall financial condition of the borrower and guarantors, which may include, for example, the review of the rent rolls and the verification of income. If applicable, a tenant analysis and market analysis are part of the underwriting. For commercial real estate secured loans in excess of $750,000 and for all other commercial real estate loans where it is deemed appropriate, the Bank employs environmental experts to inspect the property and ascertain any potential environmental risks.

The Bank requires a full independent appraisal for commercial real estate. The appraiser must be selected from the Bank’s approved list. The Bank also employs an independent review appraiser to ensure that the appraisal meets the Bank’s standards. The underwriting guidelines generally provide that the loan-to-value ratio shall not exceed 75% of the appraised value and the debt service coverage should be at least 1.20 times. In addition, financial statements are required annually for review. The Bank’s policy also requires that a property inspection of commercial mortgages over $2.5 million be completed at least every 18 months, or more frequently when warranted.

The Bank’s largest commercial mortgage loan as of December 31, 2011 was a $27.6 million loan secured by a first mortgage lien on a mixed-use project located in Jersey City, New Jersey, which consists of retail and residential space, along with a 950 space parking garage. The loan has a risk rating of “4”, (loans rated 1-4 are deemed to be “acceptable quality” —see discussion of the Bank’s 9-point risk rating system for loans under “Allowance for Loan Losses” in the “Asset Quality” section) and was performing in accordance with its terms and conditions as of December 31, 2011.

Multi-family Lending. The Bank underwrites loans secured by apartment buildings that have five or more units. The Bank considers multi-family lending a component of the commercial real estate lending portfolio. The underwriting standards and procedures that are used to underwrite commercial real estate loans are used to underwrite multi-family loans, except the loan-to-value ratio shall not exceed 80% of the appraised value of the property, the debt-service coverage should be a minimum of 1.15 times and an amortization period of up to 30 years.

Construction Loans. The Bank originates commercial construction loans. Commercial construction lending includes both new construction of residential and commercial real estate projects and the reconstruction of existing structures.

The Bank’s commercial construction financing takes two forms: projects for sale (single family/condominiums) and projects that are constructed for investment purposes (rental property). To mitigate the speculative nature of construction loans, the Bank generally requires significant pre-leasing on rental properties and requires that a percentage of the single-family residences or condominiums be under contract to support construction loan advances.

The Bank underwrites construction loans for a term of three years or less. The majority of the Bank’s construction loans are floating-rate loans with a maximum 75% loan-to-value ratio for the completed project. The Bank employs professional engineering firms to assist in the review of construction cost estimates and make site inspections to determine if the work has been completed prior to the advance of funds for the project.

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Construction lending generally involves a greater degree of risk than one- to four-family mortgage lending. Repayment of a construction loan is, to a great degree, dependent upon the successful and timely completion of the construction of the subject project and the successful marketing of the sale or lease of the project. Construction delays, slower than anticipated absorption or the financial impairment of the builder may negatively affect the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

For all construction loans, the Bank requires an independent appraisal, which includes information on market rents and/or comparable sales for competing projects. The Bank also obtains personal guarantees and conducts environmental due diligence as appropriate.

The Bank also employs other means to mitigate the risk of the construction lending process. For single family/condominium financing, the Bank generally requires payment for the release of a unit that exceeds the amount of the loan advance attributable to such unit. On commercial construction projects that the developer maintains for rental, the Bank typically holds back funds for tenant improvements until a lease is executed.

The Bank’s largest construction loan as of December 31, 2011 was a $24.9 million loan secured by a first lien on a new to be built 90,000 square foot student center for a well established college located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The loan had an outstanding balance of $24.9 million at December 31, 2011, as the loan proceeds were fully advanced at closing and placed into an escrow account for disbursement as work is completed. The project is approximately 5% complete. The loan has a risk rating of “4”, (loans rated 1-4 are deemed to be “acceptable quality” —see discussion of the Bank’s 9-point risk rating system for loans under “Allowance for Loan Losses” in the “Asset Quality” section) and was performing in accordance with its terms and conditions as of December 31, 2011. Outstanding construction loans decreased $10.4 million at December 31, 2011, from $125.2 million at December 31, 2010, as the Bank de-emphasized construction lending due to economic conditions.

Commercial Loans. The Bank underwrites commercial loans to corporations, partnerships and other businesses. Commercial loans represented 18.5% of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2011. The majority of the Bank’s commercial loan customers are local businesses with revenues of less than $50.0 million. The Bank offers commercial loans for equipment purchases, lines of credit for working capital purposes, letters of credit and real estate loans where the borrower is the primary occupant of the property. Most commercial loans are originated on a floating-rate basis and the majority of fixed-rate commercial term loans are fully amortized over a five-year period. Owner-occupied commercial real estate loans are generally underwritten to terms consistent with those utilized for commercial real estate, however, the maximum loan-to-value ratio for owner-occupied commercial real estate loans is 80%.

The Bank also underwrites Small Business Administration (“SBA”) guaranteed loans and guaranteed or assisted loans through various state, county and municipal programs. These governmental guarantees are typically used in cases where the borrower requires additional credit support. The Bank has “Preferred Lender” status with the SBA, allowing a more streamlined application and approval process.

The underwriting of a commercial loan is based upon a review of the financial statements of the prospective borrower and guarantors. In most cases the Bank obtains a general lien on accounts receivable and inventory, along with the specific collateral such as real estate or equipment, as appropriate.

Commercial loans generally bear higher interest rates than residential mortgage loans, but they also involve a higher risk of default since their repayment is generally dependent on the cash flow of the borrower’s business. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial loans may be substantially dependent on the success of the business itself and the general economic environment. The Bank’s largest commercial loan was a $38.0 million line of credit to a general contracting company specializing in bridge and highway construction with a risk rating of 3. The line is used primarily for bid bonding and working capital purposes. The Bank sold a participation interest of $10.0 million in the line of credit to another financial institution, which reduced the Bank’s exposure to $28.0 million. As of December 31, 2011, the line of credit had an outstanding balance of $4.0 million.

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Consumer Loans. The Bank offers a variety of consumer loans to individuals. Consumer loans represented 12.3% of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2011. Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit constituted 89.6% of the consumer loan portfolio as of December 31, 2011. Indirect marine loans comprised 9.2% of the consumer loan portfolio. The remainder of the consumer loan portfolio includes personal loans and unsecured lines of credit, direct auto loans and recreational vehicle loans, which represented 1.2% of the consumer loan portfolio. The Bank no longer purchases indirect auto or indirect marine loans and limits its marine lending to direct loans on a limited accommodation basis to existing customers.

Interest rates on home equity loans are fixed for a term not to exceed 20 years and the maximum loan amount is $500,000. A portion of the home equity loan portfolio includes “first lien product loans,” under which the Bank has offered special rates to borrowers who refinance first mortgage loans on the home equity (first lien) basis. The Bank’s home equity lines are made at floating interest rates and the Bank provides lines of credit of up to $500,000. The approved home equity lines and utilization amounts as of December 31, 2011 were $463.8 million and $198.2 million, respectively, representing utilization of 42.7%.

The Bank previously purchased marine loans from established dealers and brokers located on the East Coast of the United States, which were underwritten to the Bank’s pre-established underwriting standards. The maximum marine loan is $500,000. All marine loans are collateralized by a first lien on the vessel. Originations of marine loans have declined significantly as the Bank discontinued indirect marine lending in 2010. Marine loans are currently made only on a direct, limited accommodation basis to existing customers.

Consumer loans generally entail greater credit risk than residential mortgage loans, particularly in the case of consumer loans that are unsecured or that are secured by assets that tend to depreciate, such as automobiles, boats and recreational vehicles. Collateral repossessed by the Bank from a defaulted consumer loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance, and the remaining deficiency may warrant further substantial collection efforts against the borrower. In addition, consumer loan collections are dependent upon the borrower’s continued financial stability, and this is more likely to be adversely affected by job loss, divorce, illness or personal bankruptcy. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount which can be recovered on such loans.

Loan Originations, Purchases, and Repayments. The following table sets forth the Bank’s loan origination, purchase and repayment activities for the periods indicated.

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Loan Approval Procedures and Authority. The Bank’s Board of Directors approves the Lending Policy on an annual basis as well as on an interim basis as modifications are warranted. The Lending Policy sets the Bank’s lending authority for each type of loan. The Bank’s lending officers are assigned dollar authority limits based upon their experience and expertise. All loan approvals require joint lending authority.

The largest individual lending authority is $5.0 million, which is only available to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Lending Officer. Loans in excess of $5.0 million, or which when combined with existing credits of the borrower or related borrowers exceed $5.0 million, are presented to the management Credit Committee for approval. The Credit Committee currently consists of six senior officers including the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Lending Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Credit Officer, and requires a majority vote for credit approval.

The Bank has adopted a risk rating system as part of the risk assessment of its loan portfolio. The Bank’s commercial real estate and commercial lending officers are required to assign a risk rating to each loan in their portfolio at origination. When the lender learns of important financial developments, the risk rating is reviewed accordingly. Similarly, the Credit Committee can adjust a risk rating. Quarterly, management’s Credit Risk Management Committee meets to review all loans rated a “watch” or worse. In addition, a loan review examination is performed by an independent third party which validates the risk ratings. The risk ratings play an important role in the establishment of the loan loss provision and to confirm the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

Loans to One Borrower. The regulatory limit on total loans to any borrower or attributed to any one borrower is 15% of the Bank’s unimpaired capital and surplus. As of December 31, 2011, the regulatory lending limit was $80.1 million. The Bank’s current internal policy limit on total loans to a borrower or related borrowers that constitute a group exposure is up to $55.0 million for loans with a risk rating of 2 or better, $50.0 million for loans with a risk rating of 3 and $45.0 million for loans with a risk rating of 4. The Bank reviews these group exposures on a quarterly basis. The Bank also sets additional limits on size of loans by loan type.

At December 31, 2011, the Bank’s largest group exposure with an individual borrower and its related entities was $71.0 million, consisting of three commercial mortgage loans secured by first liens on three institutional quality multi-family apartment projects with a total of 370 units located in Northern New Jersey. All of these loans have a credit risk rating of 3. The borrower, headquartered in New Jersey, is one of the largest privately held real estate owners and developers in the United States. Management has determined that this

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exception to the internal group exposure policy limit is manageable and is mitigated by the borrower’s diverse revenue mix as well as its reputation and proven successful track record. This lending relationship was approved as an exception to the internal policy limits by the Management Credit Committee and reported to the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors, and conformed to the regulatory limit applicable to the Bank at the time of loan origination. As of December 31, 2011, all of the loans in this lending relationship were performing in accordance with their respective terms and conditions.

As of December 31, 2011, the Bank had $1.3 billion in loans outstanding to its 50 largest borrowers and their related entities.

ASSET QUALITY

General. One of the Bank’s key objectives has been and continues to be to maintain a high level of asset quality. In addition to maintaining sound credit standards for new loan originations, the Bank employs proactive collection and workout processes in dealing with delinquent or problem loans. The Bank actively markets properties that it acquires through foreclosure or otherwise in the loan collection process.

Collection Procedures. In the case of residential mortgage and consumer loans, the collections personnel in the Bank’s Asset Recovery Department are responsible for collection activities from the sixteenth day of delinquency. Collection efforts include automated notices of delinquency, telephone calls, letters and other notices to the delinquent borrower. Foreclosure proceedings and other appropriate collection activities such as repossession of collateral are commenced within at least 90 to 120 days after the loan is delinquent. Periodic inspections of real estate and other collateral are conducted throughout the collection process. The collection procedures for Federal Housing Association (“FHA”) and Veteran’s Administration (“VA”) one- to four-family mortgage loans follow the collection guidelines outlined by those agencies.

Real estate and other assets acquired through foreclosure or in connection with a loan workout are held as foreclosed assets. The Bank carries other real estate owned and other foreclosed assets at the lower of their cost or their fair value less estimated selling costs. The Bank attempts to sell the property at foreclosure sale or as soon as practical after the foreclosure sale through a proactive marketing effort.

The collection procedures for commercial real estate and commercial loans include sending periodic late notices and letters to a borrower once a loan is past due. The Bank attempts to make direct contact with a borrower once a loan is 16 days past due, usually by telephone. The Chief Lending Officer and Chief Credit Officer review all commercial real estate and commercial loan delinquencies on a weekly basis. Generally, delinquent commercial real estate and commercial loans are transferred to the Asset Recovery Department for further action if the delinquency is not cured within a reasonable period of time, typically 60 to 90 days. The Chief Lending Officer and Chief Credit Officer have the authority to transfer performing commercial real estate or commercial loans to the Asset Recovery Department if, in their opinion, a credit problem exists or is likely to occur.

Loans deemed uncollectible are proposed for charge-off on a monthly basis. Any charge-off recommendation of $250,000 or greater is submitted to Executive Management for approval.

Delinquent Loans and Non-performing Loans and Assets. The Bank’s policies require that the Chief Credit Officer continuously monitor the status of the loan portfolios and report to the Board of Directors on a monthly basis. These reports include information on impaired loans, delinquent loans, criticized and classified assets, and foreclosed assets. An impaired loan is defined as a non-homogenous loan greater than $1.0 million for which it is probable, based on current information, that the Bank will not collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans also include all loans modified as troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). A loan is deemed to be a TDR when a modification resulting in a concession is made by the Bank in an effort to mitigate potential loss arising from a borrower’s financial difficulty. Smaller balance homogeneous loans

including residential mortgages and other consumer loans are evaluated collectively for impairment and are

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excluded from the definition of impaired loans, except for modified loans previously discussed. Impaired loans are individually identified and reviewed to determine that each loan’s carrying value is not in excess of the fair value of the related collateral or the present value of the expected future cash flows. As of December 31, 2011, there were 65 impaired loans totaling $103.2 million. Included in this total were 38 TDRs to 36 borrowers totaling $38.9 million that were performing in accordance with their restructured terms and which continued to accrue interest at December 31, 2011.

Interest income stops accruing on loans when interest or principal payments are 90 days in arrears or earlier when the timely collectability of such interest or principal is doubtful. When the accrual of interest on a loan is stopped, the loan is designated as a non-accrual loan and the outstanding unpaid interest previously credited is reversed. A non-accrual loan is returned to accrual status when factors indicating doubtful collection no longer exist, the loan has been brought current and the borrower demonstrates some period (generally six months) of timely contractual payments.

Federal and state regulations as well as the Bank’s policy require the Bank to utilize an internal risk rating system as a means of reporting problem and potential problem assets. Under this system, the Bank classifies problem and potential problem assets as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss” assets. An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the Bank will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified “substandard” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, “highly questionable and improbable.” Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted. Assets which do not currently expose the Bank to sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the aforementioned categories, but possess weaknesses, are designated “special mention.”

General valuation allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent risk associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When the Bank classifies one or more assets, or portions thereof, as “substandard” or “doubtful,” the Bank may establish a specific allowance for loan losses in an amount deemed prudent by management. When the Bank classifies one or more assets, or portions thereof, as “loss,” the Bank is required either to establish a specific allowance for losses equal to 100% of the amount of the asset so classified or to charge-off such amount.

The Bank’s determination as to the classification of assets and the amount of the valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, each of which can require the establishment of additional general or specific loss allowances. The FDIC, in conjunction with the other federal banking agencies, issued an interagency policy statement on the allowance for loan and lease losses. The policy statement provides updated guidance for financial institutions on both the responsibilities of the board of directors and management for the maintenance of adequate allowances, and guidance for banking agency examiners to use in determining the adequacy of general valuation allowances. Generally, the policy statement reaffirms that institutions should have effective loan review systems and controls to identify, monitor and address asset quality problems; that loans deemed uncollectible are promptly charged off; and that the institution’s process for determining an adequate level for its valuation allowance is based on a comprehensive, adequately documented, and consistently applied analysis of the institution’s loan and lease portfolio. While management believes that on the basis of information currently available to it, the allowance for loans losses is adequate as of December 31, 2011, actual losses are dependent upon future events and, as such, further additions to the level of allowances for loan losses may become necessary.

Loans are classified in accordance with the risk rating system described above. At December 31, 2011, $232.3 million of loans were classified as “substandard,” which consisted of $91.0 million in commercial and multi-family mortgage loans, $73.8 million in commercial loans, $40.4 million in residential loans, $18.6 million

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in construction loans and $8.5 million in consumer loans. At that same date, loans classified as “doubtful” totaled $0.1 million, consisting solely of commercial loans. There were no loans classified as “loss” at December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011, $75.1 million of loans were designated “special mention.”

The following table sets forth delinquencies in the loan portfolio as of the dates indicated.

Non-Accrual Loans and Non-Performing Assets. The following table sets forth information regarding non-accrual loans and other non-performing assets. There were ten troubled debt restructured loans which totaled $24.3 million and classified as non-accrual at December 31, 2011; no troubled debt restructurings were non-accrual at any of the prior year periods. Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when they become 90 days or more past due or if they have been identified as presenting uncertainty with respect to the collectability of interest or principal.

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Non-performing commercial mortgage loans increased $13.4 million, to $29.5 million at December 31, 2011, from $16.1 million at December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2011, the Company held 13 non-performing commercial mortgage loans. The largest non-performing commercial mortgage loan was a $13.4 million loan secured by a first mortgage on a 200,000 square foot office/industrial building located in Eatontown, New Jersey, which has been negatively impacted by the loss of a major tenant that relied upon contracts with the Federal Government. The loan has been restructured and payments are current at December 31, 2011. The borrower continues to make efforts to lease the property. There is no contractual commitment to advance additional funds to this borrower.

Non-performing commercial loans increased $8.6 million, to $32.1 million at December 31, 2011, from $23.5 million at December 31, 2010. Non-performing commercial loans at December 31, 2011 consisted of 19 loans. The largest non-performing commercial loan relationship consisted of four loans to a power systems manufacturer with total outstanding balances of $9.1 million at December 31, 2011. All contractual payments on these loans, based upon modified terms, were current at December 31, 2011.

Non-performing construction loans increased $1.6 million, to $11.0 million at December 31, 2011, from $9.4 million at December 31, 2010. At December 31, 2011, non-performing construction loans consisted of two loans to the same borrower secured by a first mortgage on a 77,000 square foot newly constructed Class A office building, a 7,000 square foot fully leased retail building and a parcel of land with approvals for an 110,000 square foot office building located in Parsippany, New Jersey. The office building is completed, except for tenant improvements, but not leased due to weakness in the market. The property is being marketed and the principals are supporting the project. The loan was current as to the payment of principal and interest at December 31, 2011. The Company has an unfunded commitment of $3.6 million on this loan at December 31, 2011.

Non-performing multi-family loans at December 31, 2011, consisted of one loan for $997,000, compared to a $201,000 non-performing multi-family loan at December 31, 2010.

In addition, non-performing consumer loans increased $1.7 million, to $8.5 million at December 31, 2011. The Company attributes the increase in non-performing consumer loans to continued elevated levels of unemployment, decreased property values and increased personal debt levels.

At December 31, 2011, the Company held $12.8 million of foreclosed assets, compared with $2.9 million at December 31, 2010. Foreclosed assets at December 31, 2011 are carried at fair value based on recent appraisals and valuation estimates, less estimated selling costs. Foreclosed assets consisted of $6.6 million of commercial real estate, $5.5 million of residential properties, and $0.7 million of marine vessels at December 31, 2011.

Non-performing assets totaled $135.4 million, or 1.91% of total assets at December 31, 2011, compared to $100.1 million, or 1.47% of total assets at December 31, 2010. If the non-accrual loans had performed in accordance with their original terms, interest income would have increased by $3.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2011.

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is a valuation account that reflects an evaluation of the probable losses in the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses is maintained through provisions for loan losses that are charged to income. Charge-offs against the allowance for loan losses are taken on loans where it is determined the collection of loan principal is unlikely. Recoveries made on loans that have been charged-off are credited to the allowance for loan losses.

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

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As part of the evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, each quarter management prepares an analysis that categorizes the entire loan portfolio by certain risk characteristics such as loan type (residential mortgage, commercial mortgage, construction, commercial, etc.) and loan risk rating. The factors considered in assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses include the following:

When assigning a risk rating to a loan, management utilizes the Bank’s internal nine-point risk rating system. Loans deemed to be “acceptable quality” are rated 1 through 4, with a rating of 1 established for loans with minimal risk. Loans that are deemed to be of “questionable quality” are rated 5 (watch) or 6 (special mention). Loans with adverse classifications (substandard, doubtful or loss) are rated 7, 8 or 9, respectively. Commercial mortgage, commercial, multi-family and construction loans are rated individually, and each lending officer is responsible for risk rating loans in his or her portfolio. These risk ratings are then reviewed by the department manager and/or the Chief Lending Officer and by the Credit Administration Department. The risk ratings for loans requiring Credit Committee approval are periodically reviewed by the Credit Committee in the credit renewal or approval process. The risk ratings are also confirmed through periodic loan review examinations, which are currently performed by an independent third party. Reports by the independent third party are presented directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

Each quarter the lending groups prepare individual Credit Risk Management Reports for the Credit Administration Department. These reports review all commercial loans and commercial mortgage loans that have been determined to involve above-average risk (risk rating of 5 or worse). The Credit Risk Management Reports contain the reason for the risk rating assigned to each loan, status of the loan and any current developments. These reports are submitted to a committee chaired by the Credit Administration Officer. Each loan officer reviews the loan and the corresponding Credit Risk Management Report with the committee and the risk rating is evaluated for appropriateness.

Management assigns general valuation allowance (“GVA”) percentages to each risk rating category for use in allocating the allowance for loan losses, giving consideration to historical loss experience by loan type, as well as qualitative and environmental factors such as:

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The appropriateness of these percentages is evaluated by management at least annually and monitored on a quarterly basis, with changes made when they are required. In the second quarter of 2011, management completed its most recent evaluation of the GVA percentages. As a result of that evaluation, GVA percentages applied to the marine portfolio were increased to reflect an increase in historical loss experience. During the fourth quarter of 2011, a change in methodology was made to the GVA allocation process whereby residential mortgage loans greater than or equal to 120 days past due were segregated from the rest of the residential mortgage loan population and assigned a GVA percentage based upon a review of actual losses recorded at foreclosure. This change was undertaken in recognition of the fact that residential mortgages are charged down to estimated fair value when they are four payments past due. Valuations are subsequently obtained on an annual basis and ultimately at foreclosure, with additional charge-offs recorded if required.

The reserve factors applied to each loan risk rating are inherently subjective in nature. Reserve factors are assigned to each of the risk rating categories. This methodology permits adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in the event that, in management’s judgment, significant conditions impacting the credit quality and collectability of the loan portfolio as of the evaluation date are not otherwise adequately reflected in the analysis.

The provision for loan losses is established after considering the allowance for loan loss analysis, the amount of the allowance for loan losses in relation to the total loan balance, loan portfolio growth, loan portfolio composition, loan delinquency trends and peer group analysis. As a result of this process, management has established an unallocated portion of the allowance for loan losses. The unallocated portion of the allowance for loan losses is warranted based on factors such as the geographic concentration of the loan portfolio, current economic conditions and the losses inherent in commercial lending, as these types of loans are typically riskier than residential mortgages.

Management believes the primary risks inherent in the portfolio are a continued decline in the economy, generally, a continued decline in real estate market values, rising unemployment or a protracted period of unemployment at current elevated levels, increasing vacancy rates in commercial investment properties and possible increases in interest rates in the absence of economic improvement. Any one or a combination of these events may adversely affect borrowers’ ability to repay the loans, resulting in increased delinquencies, loan losses and future levels of provisions. Accordingly, the Company has provided for loan losses at the current level to address the current risk in its loan portfolio. Management considers it important to maintain the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans at an acceptable level given current economic conditions, interest rates and the composition of the portfolio. Management will continue to review the entire loan portfolio to determine the extent, if any, to which further additional loan loss provisions may be deemed necessary. The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level that represents management’s best estimate of probable losses related to specifically identified loans as well as probable losses inherent in the remaining loan portfolio. There can be no assurance that the allowance for loan losses will be adequate to cover all losses that may in fact be realized in the future or that additional provisions for loan losses will not be required.

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Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses. The following table sets forth the analysis of the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated.