UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  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 27, 2017

DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
0-27782
 
11-3297463
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

300 Cadman Plaza West, 8 th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11201
 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:           (718) 782-6200

None
(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 240.14d-2(b))
☐
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 240.13e-4(c))
 
Item 5.02.
Appointment of Principal Financial Officer

On April 27, 2017, the Boards of both the Registrant and its wholly owned subsidiary, Dime Community Bank (the “bank”) appointed James L. Rizzo, currently Senior Vice President and Comptroller of both entities, as the Principal Financial Officer of both the Registrant and the bank effective July 31, 2017.  Mr. Rizzo, age 54, was named Comptroller of the Registrant and the bank in 1999, and Senior Vice President of the Registrant and the Bank in 2011. In this role, Mr. Rizzo oversees the finance and accounting activities of both entities. Mr. Rizzo joined the bank in 1986, and served various positions in the accounting department prior to appointment as Comptroller.
 
A copy of the news release announcing Mr. Rizzo’s appointment as Principal Financial Officer is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits .

          (d)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.
 
 
99.1
Press release of the Registrant, dated April 27, 2017, announcing the appointment of James L. Rizzo as Principal Financial Officer.
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Form 8-K Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
   
By:
/s/ MICHAEL PUCELLA
 
Michael Pucella
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
   
Dated:  April 28, 2017
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number

Press release of the Registrant, dated April 27, 2017, announcing the appointment of James L. Rizzo as Principal Financial Officer.
 
 
Exhibit 99.1
 

Dime Community Bancshares Announces Retirement of Michael Pucella
James L. Rizzo named to succeed Pucella

BROOKLYN, NY – April 27, 2017 – Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the "Company" or "Dime"), the parent company of Dime Community Bank (the "bank"), announced Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial Officer) Michael Pucella will retire effective July 31, 2017, after 36 years of service with the bank.
 
Mr. Pucella, who has responsibility for financial reporting, budgeting, real estate development, and tax administration, joined the bank in 1981 and was promoted to Comptroller of the bank in 1989 and of the Company at its inception in 1995, and was subsequently promoted to Executive Vice President of both the Company and the bank in 2009. In 2014, Mr. Pucella was named the Company's Principal Financial Officer.
 
Dime’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Kenneth J. Mahon, stated, "Mike has been a trusted advisor to me for decades and provided strong leadership and guidance not only in our Finance department, but throughout the Company. Mike also leaves behind a Finance department that is significantly stronger, and has developed a cadre of new leaders to lead Dime in our next phase of growth. We wish Mike and his family all the best in his retirement."
 
The Company and bank named James L. Rizzo to succeed Mr. Pucella in the role of Principal Financial Officer. Mr. Rizzo, who currently serves as the Comptroller of both the Company and the bank, joined the bank in 1986 in the Finance department and was promoted to Vice President and Comptroller in 1999 and to Senior Vice President in 2011.
 
"The seamless transition to a strong leader such as Jim shows the deep bench that Mike has built in our Finance department," said Mr. Mahon. "Jim’s strong financial background and long tenure at Dime makes him a perfect fit for this key role."
 
ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
The Company had $6.10 billion in consolidated assets as of March 31, 2017. The bank was founded in 1864, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, and currently has twenty-seven branches located throughout Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Nassau County, New York. More information on the Company and the bank can be found on Dime's website at www.dime.com.
 
Contact: Anthony Rose, Executive Vice President and Director of Investor Relations, 718-782-6200, extension 5260.