UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017
OR

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

For the transition period from                 to

Commission file number 0-27782
 

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

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

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
11-3297463
(I.R.S. employer identification number)
     
300 Cadman Plaza West, 8 th Floor, Brooklyn, NY
 ( Address of principal executive offices)
 
11201
(Zip Code)
 
(718) 782-6200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all the reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 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   ☒
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  ☒
NO 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" "smaller reporting company" and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

LARGE ACCELERATED FILER 
ACCELERATED FILER 
   
NON -ACCELERATED FILER 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
   
 
SMALLER REPORTING COMPANY 
   
 
EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

YES  ☐
NO 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Classes of Common Stock
Number of Shares Outstanding at August 7, 2017
$.01 Par Value
37,446,742
 


   
Page
 
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.
 
 
3
 
4
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7-29
Item 2.
30-43
Item 3.
43-44
Item 4.
44
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.
45
Item 1A.
45
Item 2.
45
Item 3.
45
Item 5.
45
Item 6.
45-48
 
49
 
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").  These statements may be identified by use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," “continue,” "could," "estimate," "expect," “impact,” "intend," "seek," "may," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions.

Forward-looking statements are based upon various assumptions and analyses made by Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the "Holding Company," and together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, the "Company") in light of management’s experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors it believes appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond the Company’s control) that could cause actual conditions or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following:

·
the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events may be subject to circumstances beyond the Company’s control;
·
there may be increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions;
·
the net interest margin is subject to material short-term fluctuation based upon market rates;
·
changes in deposit flows, loan demand or real estate values may adversely affect the business of Dime Community Bank  (the "Bank");
·
changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines may cause the Company’s financial condition to be perceived differently;
·
changes in corporate and/or individual income tax laws may adversely affect the Company's business or financial condition;
·
general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which the Company conducts business, or conditions in the securities markets or the banking industry may be less favorable than the Company currently anticipates;
·
legislative or regulatory changes may adversely affect the Company’s business;
·
technological changes may be more difficult or expensive than the Company  anticipates;
·
our ability to successfully integrate acquired entities, if any;
·
breaches, failures and interruptions in IT systems and IT security;
·
ability to retain key employees/executive management team;
·
success or consummation of new business initiatives may be more difficult or expensive than the Company anticipates;
·
litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, may delay the occurrence or non-occurrence of events longer than the Company anticipates; and
·
the risks referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.
 
2

Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands except share amounts)

   
June 30,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
 
ASSETS:
           
Cash and due from banks
 
$
110,044
   
$
113,503
 
Investment securities held-to-maturity (estimated fair value of $8,385 and $7,296 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively) (Fully unencumbered)
   
5,315
     
5,378
 
Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value (Fully unencumbered)
   
4,049
     
3,895
 
Mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) available-for-sale, at fair value (Fully unencumbered)
   
3,496
     
3,558
 
Trading securities
   
2,687
     
6,953
 
Loans:
               
Real estate, net
   
5,806,933
     
5,633,007
 
Commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans
   
68,199
     
2,058
 
Other loans
   
1,749
     
1,357
 
Less allowance for loan losses
   
(21,985
)
   
(20,536
)
Total loans, net
   
5,854,896
     
5,615,886
 
Premises and fixed assets, net
   
22,315
     
18,405
 
Premises held for sale
   
1,379
     
1,379
 
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York ("FHLBNY") capital stock
   
50,961
     
44,444
 
Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”)
   
87,424
     
86,328
 
Goodwill
   
55,638
     
55,638
 
Other assets
   
59,980
     
50,063
 
Total Assets
 
$
6,258,184
   
$
6,005,430
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
Due to depositors:
               
Interest bearing deposits
 
$
4,105,129
   
$
4,097,992
 
Non-interest bearing deposits
   
313,351
     
297,434
 
Total deposits
   
4,418,480
     
4,395,426
 
Escrow and other deposits
   
91,196
     
103,001
 
FHLBNY advances
   
944,575
     
831,125
 
Subordinated notes payable
   
113,545
     
-
 
Trust Preferred securities payable
   
70,680
     
70,680
 
Other liabilities
   
39,260
     
39,330
 
Total Liabilities
   
5,677,736
     
5,439,562
 
                 
Stockholders' Equity:
               
Preferred stock ($0.01 par, 9,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016)
   
-
     
-
 
Common stock ($0.01 par, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 53,614,924 shares and 53,572,745 shares issued at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and 37,675,379 shares and 37,455,853 shares outstanding at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)
   
536
     
536
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
280,453
     
278,356
 
Retained earnings
   
516,165
     
503,539
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of deferred taxes
   
(5,647
)
   
(5,939
)
Unearned stock award common stock
   
(4,433
)
   
(1,932
)
Holding Company common stock held by Benefit Maintenance Plan ("BMP")
   
(7,029
)
   
(6,859
)
Treasury stock, at cost (15,939,545 shares and 16,116,892 shares at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)
   
(199,597
)
   
(201,833
)
Total Stockholders' Equity
   
580,448
     
565,868
 
Total Liabilities And Stockholders' Equity
 
$
6,258,184
   
$
6,005,430
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Interest income:
                       
Loans secured by real estate
 
$
51,137
   
$
47,358
   
$
101,612
   
$
93,009
 
C&I loans
   
474
     
6
     
515
     
11
 
Other loans
   
18
     
18
     
36
     
37
 
MBS
   
14
     
2
     
28
     
4
 
Investment securities
   
164
     
265
     
354
     
438
 
Other short-term investments
   
611
     
721
     
1,328
     
1,382
 
Total interest  income
   
52,418
     
48,370
     
103,873
     
94,881
 
Interest expense:
                               
Deposits and escrow
   
9,509
     
7,597
     
19,016
     
14,391
 
Borrowed funds
   
4,856
     
5,163
     
9,317
     
10,249
 
Total interest expense
   
14,365
     
12,760
     
28,333
     
24,640
 
Net interest income
   
38,053
     
35,610
     
75,540
     
70,241
 
Provision for loan losses
   
1,047
     
442
     
1,497
     
421
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
   
37,006
     
35,168
     
74,043
     
69,820
 
Non-interest income:
                               
Service charges and other fees
   
919
     
758
     
1,713
     
1,443
 
Net mortgage banking income
   
65
     
27
     
81
     
55
 
Net gain on securities and other assets
   
59
     
33
     
134
     
79
 
Net (loss) gain on the sale of premises held for sale
   
-
     
(4
)
   
-
     
68,183
 
Income from BOLI
   
551
     
1,043
     
1,096
     
1,603
 
Other
   
153
     
448
     
501
     
683
 
Total non-interest income
   
1,747
     
2,305
     
3,525
     
72,046
 
Non-interest expense:
                               
Salaries and employee benefits
   
9,341
     
9,532
     
19,661
     
19,240
 
Occupancy and equipment
   
3,500
     
3,115
     
7,128
     
5,742
 
Data processing costs
   
1,503
     
1,256
     
3,110
     
2,451
 
Marketing
   
1,466
     
1,178
     
2,932
     
2,355
 
Federal deposit insurance premiums
   
712
     
581
     
1,367
     
1,320
 
Other
   
2,947
     
2,430
     
6,040
     
4,853
 
Total non-interest expense
   
19,469
     
18,092
     
40,238
     
35,961
 
Income before income taxes
   
19,284
     
19,381
     
37,330
     
105,905
 
Income tax expense
   
7,295
     
8,173
     
14,184
     
44,660
 
Net income
 
$
11,989
   
$
11,208
   
$
23,146
   
$
61,245
 
                                 
Earnings per Share:
                               
Basic
 
$
0.32
   
$
0.30
   
$
0.62
   
$
1.67
 
Diluted
 
$
0.32
   
$
0.30
   
$
0.61
   
$
1.67
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net Income
 
$
11,989
   
$
11,208
   
$
23,146
   
$
61,245
 
Other comprehensive income:
                               
Change in unrealized holding loss on securities held-to-maturity and transferred securities
   
30
     
22
     
64
     
41
 
Change in unrealized holding loss on securities available-for-sale
   
104
     
47
     
224
     
62
 
Change in pension and other postretirement obligations
   
355
     
425
     
657
     
850
 
Change in unrealized gain on derivatives
   
(733
)
   
(957
)
   
(418
)
   
(957
)
Other comprehensive gain before income taxes
   
(244
)
   
(463
)
   
527
     
(4
)
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
   
(111
)
   
(209
)
   
235
     
(2
)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
   
(133
)
   
(254
)
   
292
     
(2
)
Total comprehensive income
   
11,856
     
10,954
     
23,438
     
61,243
 
 
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
  (Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Six Months ended June 30, 2017
 
 
Number of
Shares
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss, Net of
Deferred Taxes
 
Unallocated
Common
Stock of
ESOP
 
Unearned
Stock
Award
Common
Stock
 
Common
Stock
Held by
BMP
 
Treasury
Stock, at
cost
 
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
                                         
Beginning balance as of January 1, 2017
   
37,455,853
   
$
536
   
$
278,356
   
$
503,539
   
$
(5,939
)
 
$
-
   
$
(1,932
)
 
$
(6,859
)
 
$
(201,833
)
 
$
565,868
 
Net Income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
23,146
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
23,146
 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
292
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
292
 
Exercise of stock options
   
42,179
     
-
     
626
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
626
 
Release of shares, net of forfeitures
   
177,347
     
-
     
1,471
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(3,339
)
   
(170
)
   
2,236
     
198
 
Stock-based compensation
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
838
     
-
     
-
     
838
 
Cash dividends declared and paid
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(10,520
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(10,520
)
Ending balance as of June 30, 2017
   
37,675,379
   
$
536
   
$
280,453
   
$
516,165
   
$
(5,647
)
 
$
-
   
$
(4,433
)
 
$
(7,029
)
 
$
(199,597
)
 
$
580,448
 
     
 
Six Months ended June 30, 2016
 
 
Number of
Shares
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss, Net of
Deferred Taxes
 
Unallocated
Common
Stock of
ESOP
 
Unearned
Stock
Award
Common
Stock
 
Common
Stock
Held by
BMP
 
Treasury
Stock, at
cost
 
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
                                                                                 
Beginning balance as of January 1, 2016
   
37,371,992
   
$
533
   
$
262,798
   
$
451,606
   
$
(8,801
)
 
$
(2,313
)
 
$
(2,271
)
 
$
(9,354
)
 
$
(198,251
)
 
$
493,947
 
Net Income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
61,245
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
61,245
 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(2
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(2
)
Exercise of stock options
   
193,828
     
2
     
2,898
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
2,900
 
Release of shares, net of forfeitures
   
88,951
     
-
     
727
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(1,311
)
   
(222
)
   
1,105
     
299
 
Stock-based compensation
   
-
     
-
     
561
     
-
     
-
     
115
     
828
     
-
     
-
     
1,504
 
Cash dividends declared and paid
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(10,282
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(10,282
)
Ending balance as of June 30, 2016
   
37,654,771
   
$
535
   
$
266,984
   
$
502,569
   
$
(8,803
)
 
$
(2,198
)
 
$
(2,754
)
 
$
(9,576
)
 
$
(197,146
)
 
$
549,611
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net Income
 
$
23,146
   
$
61,245
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Net gain recognized on trading securities
   
(134
)
   
(39
)
Net gain on the sale of other real estate owned (“OREO”)
   
-
     
(40
)
Net gain on sale of premises held for sale
   
-
     
(68,183
)
Net depreciation, amortization and accretion
   
1,836
     
1,086
 
Stock plan compensation [excluding Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)]
   
838
     
943
 
ESOP compensation expense
   
-
     
561
 
Provision for loan losses
   
1,497
     
421
 
Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI
   
(1,096
)
   
(1,119
)
Income recognized from mortality benefit on BOLI
   
-
     
(484
)
Deferred income tax  provision
   
6
     
615
 
Reduction in credit related other than temporary impairment (“OTTI”) amortized through interest income
   
(52
)
   
(52
)
Excess tax benefit from stock benefit plans
   
-
     
(142
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Increase in other assets
   
(10,488
)
   
(4,094
)
Increase in other liabilities
   
499
     
6,038
 
Net cash provided by (used in) Operating activities
   
16,052
     
(3,244
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale
   
101
     
-
 
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale
   
(37
)
   
(19
)
Proceeds from the sales of trading securities
   
4,544
     
3,648
 
Purchases of trading securities
   
(144
)
   
(222
)
Proceeds from calls and principal repayments of MBS available-for-sale
   
28
     
25
 
Proceeds from the sale of loans
   
393
     
-
 
Purchases of loans
   
-
     
(152,637
)
Loans originated, net of repayments
   
(240,900
)
   
(359,730
)
Proceeds from sale of OREO
   
-
     
170
 
Proceeds from surrender of cash surrender value of BOLI
   
-
     
1,425
 
Net proceeds from the sale of premises held for sale
   
-
     
75,899
 
Net purchases of fixed assets
   
(5,527
)
   
(16
)
Redemption of FHLBNY capital stock, net
   
(6,517
)
   
5,899
 
Net cash used in Investing Activities
   
(248,059
)
   
(425,558
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Increase in due to depositors
   
23,054
     
595,956
 
Increase (decrease) in escrow and other deposits
   
(11,805
)
   
15,160
 
Repayments of FHLBNY advances
   
(1,359,500
)
   
(2,402,500
)
Proceeds from FHLBNY advances
   
1,472,950
     
2,252,900
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
626
     
2,900
 
Excess tax benefit from stock benefit plans
   
-
     
142
 
Release of stock for benefit plan awards
   
198
     
299
 
Cash dividends paid to stockholders
   
(10,520
)
   
(10,282
)
Proceeds from Subordinated debt issuance, net
   
113,545
     
-
 
Net cash provided by Financing Activities
   
228,548
     
454,575
 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
(3,459
)
   
25,773
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
113,503
     
64,154
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
 
$
110,044
   
$
89,927
 
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid for income taxes
 
$
20,912
   
$
29,100
 
Cash paid for interest
   
28,124
     
11,770
 
Transfer of premises to held for sale
   
-
     
1,379
 
Amortization of unrealized loss on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity
   
47
     
25
 
Net decrease in non-credit component of OTTI
   
17
     
16
 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

1.   NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Dime Community Bancshares (the “Company”), is a Delaware corporation headquartered in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The Company was organized in 1996 and is registered as a savings and loan holding company with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to section 10(l) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended. As of June 30, 2017, t he Holding Company's direct subsidiaries were Dime Community Bank, 842 Manhattan Avenue Corp., and Dime Community Capital Trust 1. The Company engages in commercial banking and financial services through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Dime Community Bank. In 2004, the Company formed Dime Community Capital Trust I as a subsidiary, which issued $72.2 million of 7.0% trust preferred securities, $70.7 million of which remained outstanding at June 30, 2017. The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “DCOM.”
 
Dime Community Bank, a New York-chartered stock savings bank formerly known as The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, was founded in 1864 and operates 27 full service retail banking offices located in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, and in Nassau County, New York. The Bank’s principal business is gathering deposits from customers within its market area and via the internet, and investing them primarily in multifamily residential, commercial real estate, mixed use, and, to a lesser extent, commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of the U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises, and corporate debt and equity securities. The substantial majority of the Bank’s lending occurs in the greater New York City metropolitan area. The Bank has four active subsidiaries, including two real estate investment trusts that hold one- to four-family and multifamily residential and commercial real estate loans; Dime Insurance Agency, which engages in general insurance agency activities; and Boulevard Funding Corporation, which holds and manages real estate.

2.   SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company's financial condition as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the results of operations and statements of comprehensive income for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.  The results of operations for the three-month and six-month period ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2017.  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC').

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Please see "Part I - Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies" for a discussion of areas in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements utilizing significant estimates.

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016 and notes thereto.
 
3.   RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) .  ASU 2014-09 impacts any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services, or that enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards ( e.g., insurance or lease contracts).  Under ASU 2014-09, an entity is required to recognize revenue for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  ASU 2014-09 also requires disclosure of sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, as well as qualitative and quantitative disclosure related to contracts with certain customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract.  In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal Versus Agent Consideration - Reporting Revenue Gross Versus Net . The objective of the ASU is to align the recognition of revenue with the transfer of promised goods or services provided to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendments in this ASU affect the guidance in ASU 2014-09, which is not yet effective.  Both ASU 2014-09 and the amendment are effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2014-09 and the amendment on its consolidated financial statements, however, it is not presently expected to have a material impact.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, an amendment to Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (Subtopic 825-10) . The objectives of the ASU are to: (1) require equity investments to be measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognized in net income, (2) simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values, (3) eliminate the requirement to disclose methods and significant assumptions used to estimate fair value for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet, (4) require the use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments, and (5) clarify the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public business entities for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2016-01 on its consolidated financial statements, however, it is not presently expected to have a material impact.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) . ASU 2016-02 requires companies that lease valuable assets to recognize on their balance sheets the assets and liabilities generated by contracts longer than a year. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, however, early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) , which requires that the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date be based on historical experience, current condition, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Financial institutions and other organizations will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. This guidance also amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. For the Company, this guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 31, 2019. The Company has established a committee that is assessing system requirements, gathering data, and evaluating the impact of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements. The Company expects to recognize a one-time cumulative effect increase to the allowance for loan losses as of the beginning of the reporting period in which the ASU takes effect, however, cannot yet determine the magnitude of the impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) . ASU 2017-07 requires companies that offer employee defined pension plans, other postretirement benefit plans, or other types of benefit plans accounted for under Topic 715 to report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented.  The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, however, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-07 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities . ASU 2017-08 shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018, however, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-08 will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting . The amendments in ASU 2017-09 provide guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, however, early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 is currently not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

4.   OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Activity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, was as follows:

   
Securities Held-
to-Maturity and
Transferred
Securities
   
Securities
Available-for-
Sale
   
Defined Benefit
Plans
   
Derivative
Asset
   
Total
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Gain (Loss)
 
Balance as of January 1, 2017
 
$
(713
)
 
$
(92
)
 
$
(6,910
)
 
$
1,776
   
$
(5,939
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
   
36
     
125
     
(7
)
   
(331
)
   
(177
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
-
     
-
     
372
     
97
     
469
 
Net other comprehensive income during the period
   
36
     
125
     
365
     
(234
)
   
292
 
Balance as of June 30, 2017
 
$
(677
)
 
$
33
   
$
(6,545
)
 
$
1,542
   
$
(5,647
)
                                         
Balance as of January 1, 2016
 
$
(760
)
 
$
(122
)
 
$
(7,919
)
 
$
-
   
$
(8,801
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
   
22
     
34
     
-
     
(526
)
   
(470
)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
-
     
-
     
468
     
-
     
468
 
Net other comprehensive income during the period
   
22
     
34
     
468
     
(526
)
   
(2
)
Balance as of June 30, 2016
 
$
(738
)
 
$
(88
)
 
$
(7,451
)
 
$
(526
)
 
$
(8,803
)
 
The before and after tax amounts allocated to each component of other comprehensive income (loss) are presented in the table below.  Reclassification adjustments related to securities available-for-sale are included in the line entitled net gain (loss) on securities and other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Reclassification adjustments related to the defined benefit plan are included in the line entitled salaries and employee benefits.

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Change in unrealized holding loss on securities held-to-maturity and transferred securities:
                       
Accretion of previously recognized non-credit component of OTTI
 
$
8
   
$
8
   
$
17
   
$
16
 
Change in unrealized loss on securities transferred to held-to-maturity
   
22
     
14
     
47
     
25
 
Net change
   
30
     
22
     
64
     
41
 
Tax expense
   
12
     
10
     
28
     
19
 
Net change in unrealized holding loss on securities held-to-maturity and transferred securities
   
18
     
12
     
36
     
22
 
Change in unrealized holding gain on securities available-for-sale:
                               
Change in net unrealized gain during the period
   
104
     
47
     
224
     
62
 
Tax expense
   
44
     
21
     
99
     
28
 
Net change in unrealized holding gain on securities available-for-sale
   
60
     
26
     
125
     
34
 
Change in pension and other postretirement obligations:
                               
Reclassification adjustment for expense included in salaries and employee benefits expense
   
355
     
425
     
657
     
850
 
Tax expense
   
161
     
191
     
292
     
382
 
Net change in pension and other postretirement obligations
   
194
     
234
     
365
     
468
 
Change in unrealized loss on derivative liability:
                               
Change in net unrealized loss during the period
   
(825
)
   
(998
)
   
(597
)
   
(998
)
Reclassification adjustment for expense included in interest expense
   
92
     
41
     
179
     
41
 
Net change
   
(733
)
   
(957
)
   
(418
)
   
(957
)
Tax benefit
   
(328
)
   
(431
)
   
(184
)
   
(431
)
Net change in unrealized loss on derivative liability
   
(405
)
   
(526
)
   
(234
)
   
(526
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
(133
)  
$
(254
)
 
$
292
   
$
(2
)

5.   EARNINGS PER SHARE ("EPS")

Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the reporting period.  Diluted EPS is computed using the same method as basic EPS, but reflects the potential dilution that would occur if "in the money" stock options were exercised and converted into common stock, and likely aggregate Long-term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) share payout.  In determining the weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted EPS, treasury shares, and (until the period ended September 30, 2016) unallocated ESOP shares, are excluded.  Vested restricted stock award (“RSA”) shares are included in the calculation of the weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted EPS.  Unvested RSA shares and LTIP shares not yet awarded are recognized as a special class of participating securities under ASC 260.

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of basic and diluted EPS for the periods presented:

   
Three Months Ended
June 30,
   
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net income per the Consolidated Statements of Income
 
$
11,989
   
$
11,208
   
$
23,146
   
$
61,245
 
Less: Dividends paid and earnings allocated to participating securities
   
(38
)
   
(24
)
   
(63
)
   
(55
)
Income attributable to common stock
 
$
11,951
   
$
11,184
   
$
23,083
   
$
61,190
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding, including participating securities
   
37,733,956
     
36,946,082
     
37,670,585
     
36,874,535
 
Less: weighted average participating securities
   
(179,346
)
   
(192,525
)
   
(166,398
)
   
(202,885
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
37,554,610
     
36,753,557
     
37,504,187
     
36,671,650
 
Basic EPS
 
$
0.32
   
$
0.30
   
$
0.62
   
$
1.67
 
Income attributable to common stock
 
$
11,951
   
$
11,184
   
$
23,083
   
$
61,190
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
37,554,610
     
36,753,557
     
37,504,187
     
36,671,650
 
Weighted average common equivalent shares outstanding
   
81,188
     
65,028
     
86,011
     
69,420
 
Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding
   
37,635,798
     
36,818,585
     
37,590,198
     
36,741,070
 
Diluted EPS
 
$
0.32
   
$
0.30
   
$
0.61
   
$
1.67
 
 
Common and equivalent shares resulting from the dilutive effect of "in-the-money" outstanding stock options are calculated based upon the excess of the average market value of the common stock over the exercise price of outstanding in-the-money   stock options during the period.

There were no “out-of-the-money” stock options during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017. There were 80,000 weighted-average stock options outstanding for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 which were not considered in the calculation of diluted EPS since their exercise prices exceeded the average market price during the period.

For information about the calculation of likely aggregate LTIP share payout, see Note 6.

6.   ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

The Company maintains the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees, the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan (“2013 Equity Plan”) (collectively, the "Stock Plans"), which are discussed more fully in Note 15 to the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016, and which are subject to the accounting requirements of ASC 505-50 and ASC 718.

Stock Option Awards

The following table presents a summary of activity related to stock options granted under the Stock Plans, and changes during the six-month period then ended:

   
Number of
Options
   
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
   
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Years
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Options outstanding at January 1, 2017
   
209,254
   
$
15.48
             
Options granted
   
-
     
-
             
Options exercised
   
(42,179
)
   
14.87
             
Options outstanding at June 30, 2017
   
167,075
   
$
15.64
     
2.1
   
$
662
 
Options vested and exercisable at June 30, 2017
   
167,075
   
$
15.64
     
2.1
   
$
662
 

Information related to stock options during each period is as follows:

   
At or for the Three Months
Ended June 30,
   
At or for the Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Cash received for option exercise cost
 
$
2
   
$
2,900
   
$
626
   
$
2,900
 
Income tax benefit recognized on stock option exercises (1)
   
-
     
64
     
69
     
64
 
Intrinsic value of options exercised
   
1
     
732
     
276
     
732
 
(1)
Effective January 1, 2017, income tax benefits were recognized as discrete items in income tax expense in accordance to ASU 2016-09. Prior to January, 1, 2017, income tax benefits were recognized through additional paid in capital.

There were no grants of stock options during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 or 2016. All stock options are fully vested at both June 30, 2017 and 2016.

Restricted Stock Awards

The Company has made RSA grants to outside Directors and certain officers under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan. Typically, awards to outside Directors fully vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, while awards to officers may vest in equal annual installments over a four-year period or at the end of the four-year requisite period.
 
The following table presents a summary of activity related to the RSAs granted, and changes during the three-month period then ended:

   
Number of Shares
   
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair
Value
 
Unvested allocated shares outstanding at January 1, 2017
   
152,409
   
$
16.56
 
Shares granted
   
121,857
     
19.60
 
Shares vested
   
(82,520
)
   
16.34
 
Shares forfeited
   
(16,448
)
   
17.24
 
Unvested allocated shares at June 30, 2017
   
175,298
   
$
18.71
 

All awards were made at the fair value of the Holding Company’s common stock ( i.e. , the closing price on the NASDAQ market as of the close of business) on the award date. Compensation expense is based upon the fair value of the shares on the respective dates of the grant.

Information related to RSAs during each period is as follows:

   
At or for the Three Months
Ended June 30,
   
At or for the Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Compensation expense recognized
 
$
370
   
$
390
   
$
666
   
$
828
 
Income tax benefit recognized on vesting of RSA (1)
   
114
     
77
     
116
     
78
 
(1)
Effective January 1, 2017, income tax benefits were recognized as discrete items in income tax expense in accordance to ASU 2016-09. Prior to January, 1, 2017, income tax benefits were recognized through additional paid in capital.

As of June 30, 2017, unrecognized compensation cost relating to unvested restricted shares totaled $2,998. This amount will be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 2.89 years.

Performance Based Equity Awards

The Company established the LTIP, a long term incentive award program for certain officers, that meets the criteria for equity-based accounting.  For each award, threshold (50% of target), target (100% of target) and maximum (150% of target) opportunities are eligible to be earned over a three-year performance period based on the Company's relative performance on certain goals that were established at the onset of the performance period and cannot be altered subsequently.  Shares of the Holding Company’s common stock are issued on the grant date and held as unvested stock awards until the end of the performance period. They are issued at the maximum opportunity in order to ensure that an adequate number of shares are allocated for shares expected to vest at the end of the performance period.

The following table presents a summary of activity related to performance based equity awards, and changes during the three-month period then ended:

   
Number of
Shares
   
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
 
Maximum aggregate share payout at January 1, 2017
   
24,730
   
$
17.35
 
Shares granted
   
71,976
     
19.75
 
Shares forfeited
   
(10,010
)
   
18.73
 
Maximum aggregate share payout at June 30, 2017
   
86,696
   
$
19.18
 
Minimum aggregate share payout
   
-
     
-
 
Likely aggregate share payout
   
49,974
   
$
19.47
 

Compensation expense recorded for performance based equity awards was $76 and $21 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Compensation expense recorded for performance based equity awards was $172 and $48 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
 
7.   LOANS RECEIVABLE AND CREDIT QUALITY

Loans are reported at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned fees or costs and the allowance for loan losses.  Interest income on loans is recorded using the level yield method.  Under this method, discount accretion and premium amortization are included in interest income.  Loan origination fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred and amortized as yield adjustments over the contractual loan terms.

Credit Quality Indicators:

On a quarterly basis, the Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company analyzes loans individually by classifying them as to credit risk.  This analysis includes all loans, such as multifamily residential, mixed use residential ( i.e., loans in which the aggregate rental income of the underlying collateral property is generated from both residential and commercial units, but the majority of such income is generated from the residential units), mixed use commercial real estate ( i.e. ,   loans in which the aggregate rental income of the underlying collateral property is generated from both residential and commercial units, but the majority of such income is generated from the commercial units), commercial real estate loans, acquisition, development, and construction (“ADC”) loans (which includes land loans), C&I loans, as well as one-to-four family residential and cooperative and condominium apartment loans. Prior to April 1, 2016, the analysis of one-to-four family residential and cooperative and condominium apartment loans included only loans with balances in excess of the Fannie Mae (“FNMA”) conforming loan limits for high-cost areas such as the Bank’s primary lending area (“FNMA Limits”) that were deemed to meet the definition of impaired.  Prior to December 31, 2016, the analysis of C&I loans was included in the consumer loan credit quality analysis, which is based on payment activity due to the nature and volume of the C&I loan balance.

The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings:

Special Mention.   Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management's close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Bank's credit position at some future date.

Substandard.   Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful.   Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of then existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

The Bank had no loans classified as doubtful as of June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016. All real estate and C&I loans not classified as Special Mention or Substandard were deemed pass loans at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

The following is a summary of the credit risk profile of real estate and C&I loans (including deferred costs) by internally assigned grade as of the dates indicated:

   
Balance at June 30, 2017
 
   
Pass
   
Special
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
Real Estate:
                             
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment
 
$
69,688
   
$
182
   
$
1,112
   
$
-
   
$
70,982
 
Multifamily residential and residential mixed use
   
4,747,233
     
3,432
     
5,515
     
-
     
4,756,180
 
Commercial mixed use real estate
   
399,960
     
-
     
4,966
     
-
     
404,926
 
Commercial real estate
   
563,513
     
864
     
6,468
     
-
     
570,845
 
ADC
   
4,000
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
4,000
 
Total real estate
   
5,784,394
     
4,478
     
18,061
     
-
     
5,806,933
 
C&I
   
68,199
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
68,199
 
Total
 
$
5,852,593
   
$
4,478
   
$
18,061
   
$
-
   
$
5,875,132
 
 
   
Balance at December 31, 2016
 
   
Pass
   
Special
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
Real Estate:
                             
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment
 
$
72,325
   
$
212
   
$
1,485
   
$
-
   
$
74,022
 
Multifamily residential and residential mixed use
   
4,589,838
     
3,488
     
7,200
     
-
     
4,600,526
 
Commercial mixed use real estate
   
398,139
     
535
     
5,465
     
-
     
404,139
 
Commercial real estate
   
546,568
     
525
     
7,227
     
-
     
554,320
 
Total Real Estate
 
$
5,606,870
   
$
4,760
   
$
21,377
   
$
-
   
$
5,633,007
 

For consumer loans, the Company evaluates credit quality based on payment activity.  Consumer loans that are 90 days or more past due are placed on non-accrual status, while all remaining consumer loans are classified and evaluated as performing.

The following is a summary of the credit risk profile of consumer loans by internally assigned grade:

Grade
 
Balance at
June 30,
2017
   
Balance at
December 31,
2016 (1)
 
Performing
 
$
1,748
   
$
3,414
 
Non-accrual
   
1
     
1
 
Total
 
$
1,749
   
$
3,415
 
(1)
Included in the balance of consumer loans at December 31, 2016 are $2,058 of C&I loans. Subsequent to December 31, 2016, C&I loans were evaluated based on risk ratings and included in the preceding credit risk profile table.

The following is a breakdown of the past due status of the Company's investment in loans (excluding accrued interest) as of the dates indicated:

   
At June 30, 2017
 
   
30 to 59 Days
Past Due
   
60 to 89 Days
Past Due
   
Loans 90
Days or More
Past Due and
Still Accruing
Interest
   
Non-accrual (1)
   
Total Past
Due
   
Current
   
Total Loans
 
Real Estate:
                                         
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment
 
$
84
   
$
74
   
$
373
   
$
654
   
$
1,185
   
$
69,797
   
$
70,982
 
Multifamily residential and residential mixed use
   
-
     
-
     
98
     
2,618
     
2,716
     
4,753,464
     
4,756,180
 
Commercial mixed use real estate
   
-
     
-
     
793
     
101
     
894
     
404,032
     
404,926
 
Commercial real estate
   
1,713
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,713
     
569,132
     
570,845
 
ADC
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
4,000
     
4,000
 
Total real estate
 
$
1,797
   
$
74
   
$
1,264
   
$
3,373
   
$
6,508
   
$
5,800,425
   
$
5,806,933
 
C&I
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
68,199
   
$
68,199
 
Consumer
 
$
2
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
1
   
$
3
   
$
1,746
   
$
1,749
 
(1) Includes all loans on non-accrual status regardless of the number of days such loans were delinquent as of June 30, 2017.

   
At December 31, 2016
 
   
30 to 59 Days
Past Due
   
60 to 89 Days
Past Due
   
Loans 90
Days or More
Past Due and
Still Accruing
Interest
   
Non-accrual (1)
   
Total Past
Due
   
Current
   
Total Loans
 
Real Estate:
                                         
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment
 
$
188
   
$
-
   
$
1,513
   
$
1,012
   
$
2,712
   
$
71,309
   
$
74,022
 
Multifamily residential and residential mixed use
   
-
     
-
     
1,557
     
2,675
     
4,232
     
4,596,294
     
4,600,526
 
Commercial mixed use real estate
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
549
     
549
     
403,590
     
404,139
 
Commercial real estate
   
1,732
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,732
     
552,588
     
554,320
 
Total real estate
 
$
1,920
   
$
-
   
$
3,070
   
$
4,236
   
$
9,226
   
$
5,623,781
   
$
5,633,007
 
C&I
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
2,058
   
$
2,058
 
Consumer
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
1
   
$
1
   
$
1,356
   
$
1,357
 
(1) Includes all loans on non-accrual status regardless of the number of days such loans were delinquent as of December 31, 2016.
 
Accruing Loans 90 Days or More Past Due

The Bank continued accruing interest on five real estate loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $1,265 at June 30, 2017, and four real estate loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of $3,070 at December 31, 2016, all of which were 90 days or more past due on their respective contractual maturity dates. These loans continued to make monthly payments consistent with their initial contractual amortization schedule exclusive of the balloon payments due at maturity.  These loans were well secured and were expected to be refinanced, and, therefore, remained on accrual status and were deemed performing assets at the dates indicated above.

Troubled Debt Restructurings ("TDRs")

The following table summarizes outstanding TDRs by underlying collateral types as of the dates indicated:

   
As of June 30, 2017
   
As of December 31, 2016
 
   
No. of Loans
   
Balance
   
No. of Loans
   
Balance
 
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment
   
2
   
$
399
     
2
   
$
407
 
Multifamily residential and residential mixed use
   
3
     
639
     
3
     
658
 
Commercial mixed use real estate
   
1
     
4,218
     
1
     
4,261
 
Commercial real estate
   
1
     
3,330
     
1
     
3,363
 
Total real estate
   
7
   
$
8,586
     
7
   
$
8,689
 

Accrual status for TDRs is determined separately for each TDR in accordance with the Bank’s policies for determining accrual or non-accrual status.  At the time an agreement is entered into between the Bank and the borrower that results in the Bank's determination that a TDR has been created, the loan can be on either accrual or non-accrual status.  If a loan is on non-accrual status at the time it is restructured, it continues to be classified as non-accrual until the borrower has demonstrated compliance with the modified loan terms for a period of at least six months.  Conversely, if at the time of restructuring the loan is performing (and accruing), it will remain accruing throughout its restructured period, unless the loan subsequently meets any of the criteria for non-accrual status under the Bank’s policy and agency regulations.  There were no TDRs on non-accrual status at June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

The Company has not restructured troubled consumer loans, as its consumer loan portfolio has not experienced any problem issues warranting restructuring.  Therefore, all TDRs were collateralized by real estate at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

There were no loans modified in a manner that met the criteria of a TDR during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017.  The Company modified one one-to-four family residential loan in a manner that met the criteria of a TDR during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016.

The Bank's allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 did not reflect any allocated reserve associated with TDRs.

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Bank had no loan commitments to borrowers with outstanding TDRs.

A TDR is considered to be in payment default once it is 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms. All TDRs are considered impaired loans and are evaluated individually for measurable impairment, if any.

There were no TDRs which defaulted within twelve months following the modification during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 or 2016 (thus no impact to the allowance for loan losses during those periods).

Impaired Loans

A loan is considered impaired when, based on then current information and events, it is probable that all contractual amounts due will not be collected in accordance with the terms of the loan.  Factors considered by management in determining impairment include payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and interest payments when due.  Loans that experience insignificant payment delays or shortfalls generally are not classified as impaired.  Management determines the significance of payment delays and shortfalls on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration all of the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower’s prior payment record, and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed.
 
The Bank considers TDRs and non-accrual multifamily residential, commercial real estate, and C&I loans, along with non-accrual one-to-four family loans in excess of the FNMA Limits, to be impaired.  Non-accrual one-to-four family loans equal to or less than the FNMA Limits, as well as all consumer loans, are considered homogeneous loan pools and are not required to be evaluated individually for impairment unless considered a TDR.

Impairment is typically measured using the difference between the outstanding loan principal balance and either: 1) the likely realizable value of a note sale; 2) the fair value of the underlying collateral, net of likely disposal costs, if repayment is expected to come from liquidation of the collateral; or 3) the present value of estimated future cash flows (using the loan’s pre-modification rate for some of the performing TDRs).  If a TDR is substantially performing in accordance with its restructured terms, management will look to either the potential net liquidation proceeds of the underlying collateral or the present value of the expected cash flows from the debt service in measuring impairment (whichever is deemed most appropriate under the circumstances).  If a TDR has re-defaulted, generally the likely realizable net proceeds from either a note sale or the liquidation of the collateral is considered when measuring impairment.  Measured impairment is either charged off immediately or, in limited instances, recognized as an allocated reserve within the allowance for loan losses.

Please refer to Note 8 for tabular information related to impaired loans.

8.   ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

The allowance for loan losses may consist of specific and general components.  At June 30, 2017, the Bank’s periodic evaluation of its allowance for loan losses (specific or general) was comprised of two primary components: (1) impaired loans and (2) pass graded loans. Within these components, the Company has identified the following portfolio segments for purposes of assessing its allowance for loan losses: (1) real estate loans; (2) C&I loans; and (3) consumer loans.  Within these segments, the Bank analyzes the allowance for loan losses based upon the underlying collateral type (classes). Due to their small homogeneous balances, consumer loans were not individually evaluated for impairment as of either June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

Impaired Loan Component

All multifamily residential, mixed use, commercial real estate, ADC and C&I loans that are deemed to meet the definition of impaired are individually evaluated for impairment.  In addition, all condominium or cooperative apartment and one-to-four family residential real estate loans in excess of the FNMA Limits are individually evaluated for impairment.  Impairment is typically measured using the difference between the outstanding loan principal balance and either: (1) the likely realizable value of a note sale; (2) the fair value of the underlying collateral, net of likely disposal costs, if repayment is expected to come from liquidation of the collateral; or (3) the present value of estimated future cash flows (using the loan's pre-modification rate in the case of some performing TDRs).  For impaired loans on non-accrual status, either of the initial two measurements is utilized.

All TDRs are considered impaired loans and are evaluated individually for measurable impairment, if any.  If a TDR is substantially performing in accordance with its restructured terms, management will look to either the present value of the expected cash flows from the debt service or the potential net liquidation proceeds of the underlying collateral in measuring impairment (whichever is deemed most appropriate under the circumstances). If a TDR has re-defaulted, the likely realizable net proceeds from either a note sale or the liquidation of the collateral are generally considered when measuring impairment.  While measured impairment is generally charged off immediately, impairment attributed to a reduction in the present value of expected cash flows of a performing TDR is generally reflected as an allocated reserve within the allowance for loan losses. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no allocated reserves related to TDRs within the allowance for loan losses.

Smaller balance homogeneous real estate loans, such as condominium or cooperative apartment and one-to four-family residential real estate loans with balances equal to or less than the FNMA Limits, are collectively evaluated for impairment, and accordingly, are not separately identified for impairment disclosures.

Non-Impaired Loan Component

During the three month period ended June 30, 2016, the Bank refined the calculation of the allowance for loan losses associated with non-impaired loans using third party software purchased by the Bank. The software model is substantially similar to the previous model used by the Bank whereby the primary drivers of the calculation are historical charge-offs by loan type and certain qualitative elements. The historical loss look-back period for Substandard and Special Mention non-impaired loans was expanded from the previous twelve month period to a forty-eight month period, which is aligned with the same historical loss look-back period used for all Pass-graded loans.  Management has evaluated the impact of these changes and concluded that they are not material to the overall allowance for non-impaired loans.
 
The Bank initially looks to the underlying collateral type when determining the allowance for loan losses associated with non-impaired real estate loans.  The following underlying collateral types are analyzed separately: 1) one-to-four family residential and condominium or cooperative apartment; 2) multifamily residential and residential mixed use; 3) commercial mixed use real estate, 4) commercial real estate; 5) ADC; and 6) C&I.  Within the analysis of each underlying collateral type, the following elements are additionally considered and provided weighting in determining the allowance for loan losses for non-impaired real estate loans:

(i)
Charge-off experience (including peer charge-off experience)
(ii)
Economic conditions
(iii)
Underwriting standards or experience
(iv)
Loan concentrations
(v)
Regulatory climate
(vi)
Nature and volume of the portfolio
(vii)
Changes in the quality and scope of the loan review function

The following is a brief synopsis of the manner in which each element is considered:

(i)  Charge-off experience - Loans within the non-impaired loan portfolio are segmented by significant common characteristics, against which historical loss rates are applied to reflect probable incurred loss percentages.  The Bank also reviews and considers the charge-off experience of peer banks in its lending marketplace in order to determine whether probable incurred losses that could take a longer period to flow through its allowance for loan losses possibly exist.

(ii) Economic conditions - The Bank assigned a loss allocation to its entire non-impaired real estate loan portfolio based, in part, upon a review of economic conditions affecting the local real estate market. Specifically, the Bank considered both the level of, and recent trends in: 1) the local and national unemployment rate, 2) residential and commercial vacancy rates, 3) real estate sales and pricing, and 4) delinquencies in the Bank’s loan portfolio.

(iii) Underwriting standards or experience - Underwriting standards are reviewed to ensure that changes in the Bank's lending policies and practices are adequately evaluated for risk and reflected in its analysis of potential credit losses.  Loss expectations associated with changes in the Bank’s lending policies and practices, if any, are then incorporated into the methodology.

(iv) Loan concentrations - The Bank regularly reviews its loan concentrations (borrower, collateral type and location) in order to ensure that heightened risk has not evolved that has not been captured through other factors.  The risk component of loan concentrations is regularly evaluated for reserve adequacy.

(v) Regulatory climate – Consideration is given to public statements made by the banking regulatory agencies that have a potential impact on the Bank’s loan portfolio and allowance for loan losses.

(vi) Nature and volume of the portfolio – The Bank considers any significant changes in the overall nature and volume of its loan portfolio.

(vii) Changes in the quality and scope of the loan review function – The Bank considers the potential impact upon its allowance for loan losses of any adverse change in the quality and scope of the loan review function.

All non-impaired Substandard loans were deemed sufficiently well secured and performing to have remained on accrual status both prior and subsequent to their downgrade to the Substandard internal loan grade at June 30, 2017.

Consumer Loans

Due to their small individual balances, the Bank does not evaluate individual consumer loans for impairment.  Loss percentages are applied to aggregate consumer loans based upon both their delinquency status and loan type.  These loss percentages are derived from a combination of the Company’s historical loss experience and/or nationally published loss data on such loans.  Consumer loans in excess of 120 days delinquent are typically fully charged off against the allowance for loan losses.
 
The following tables present data regarding the allowance for loan losses activity for the periods indicated:

     At or for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017  
         
Real Estate Loans
         
Consumer
Loans
 
   
One-to-Four Family
Residential,
Including
Condominium and
Cooperative
Apartment
   
Multifamily
Residential and
Residential
Mixed Use
   
Commercial
Mixed Use
Real Estate
   
Commercial
Real Estate
   
ADC
   
Total
Real Estate
     
C&I
 
Beginning balance
 
$
129
   
$
16,665
   
$
1,589
   
$
2,099
   
$
-
   
$
20,482
   
$
453
   
$
19
 
Provision (credit) for loan losses
   
(19
)
   
730
     
(178
)
   
(65
)
   
6
     
474
     
570
     
3
 
Charge-offs
   
-
     
(23
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(23
)
   
-
     
(5
)
Recoveries
   
12
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
12
     
-
     
-
 
Ending balance
 
$
122
   
$
17,372
   
$
1,411
   
$
2,034
   
$
6
   
$
20,945
   
$
1,023
   
$
17
 

   
At or for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
   
Real Estate Loans
   
Consumer
Loans
 
   
One-to-Four Family
Residential,
Including
Condominium and
Cooperative
Apartment
   
Multifamily
Residential and
Residential
Mixed Use
   
Commercial
Mixed Use
Real Estate
   
Commercial
Real Estate
   
Total
Real Estate
 
Beginning balance
 
$
99
   
$
14,462
   
$
1,552
   
$
2,381
   
$
18,494
   
$
19
 
Provision (credit) for loan losses
   
96
     
407
     
133
     
(194
)
   
442
     
-
 
Charge-offs
   
(4
)
   
(43
)
   
(1
)
   
-
     
(48
)
   
-
 
Recoveries
   
1
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1
     
1
 
Ending balance
 
$
192
   
$
14,826
   
$
1,684
   
$
2,187
   
$
18,889
   
$
20
 
 
  At or for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017  
         
Real Estate Loans
         
Consumer
Loans
 
   
One-to-Four Family
Residential,
Including
Condominium and
Cooperative
Apartment
   
Multifamily
Residential and
Residential
Mixed Use
   
Commercial
Mixed Use
Real Estate
   
Commercial
Real Estate
   
ADC
   
Total
Real Estate
     
C&I
 
Beginning balance
 
$
145
   
$
16,555
   
$
1,698
   
$
2,118
   
$
-
   
$
20,516
   
$
-
   
$
20
 
Provision (credit) for loan losses
   
(23
)
   
864
     
(291
)
   
(84
)
   
6
     
472
     
1,023
     
2
 
Charge-offs
   
(13
)
   
(92
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(105
)
   
-
     
(5
)
Recoveries
   
13
     
45
     
4
     
-
     
-
     
62
     
-
     
-
 
Ending balance
 
$
122
   
$
17,372
   
$
1,411
   
$
2,034
   
$
6
   
$
20,945
   
$
1,023
   
$
17
 

   
At or for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
 
   
Real Estate Loans
   
Consumer
Loans
 
   
One-to-Four Family
Residential,
Including
Condominium and
Cooperative
Apartment
   
Multifamily
Residential and
Residential
Mixed Use
   
Commercial
Mixed Use
Real Estate
   
Commercial
Real Estate
   
Total
Real Estate
 
Beginning balance
 
$
263
   
$
14,118
   
$
1,652
   
$
2,461
   
$
18,494
   
$
20
 
Provision (credit) for loan losses
   
(46
)
   
731
     
34
     
(297
)
   
422
     
(1
)
Charge-offs
   
(27
)
   
(60
)
   
(2
)
   
-
     
(89
)
   
-
 
Recoveries
   
2
     
37
     
-
     
23
     
62
     
1
 
Ending balance
 
$
192
   
$
14,826
   
$
1,684
   
$
2,187
   
$
18,889
   
$
20
 
 
The following tables present the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans by portfolio segment and based on impairment evaluation method as of the periods indicated:

    At or for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017  
         
Real Estate Loans
     
C&I
 
 
Consumer
Loans
 
   
One-to-Four Family
Residential,
Including
Condominium and
Cooperative
Apartment
   
Multifamily
Residential and
Residential
Mixed Use
   
Commercial
Mixed Use
Real Estate
   
Commercial
Real Estate
   
ADC
   
Total
Real Estate
 
Allowance for loan losses:
                                                 
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Collectively evaluated for impairment
   
122
     
17,372
     
1,411
     
2,034
     
6
     
20,945
     
1,023
     
17
 
Total ending allowance balance
 
$
122
   
$
17,372
   
$
1,411
   
$
2,034
   
$
6
   
$
20,945
   
$
1,023
   
$
17
 
                                                                 
Loans:
                                                               
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
399
   
$
3,257
   
$
4,319
   
$
3,330
   
$
-
   
$
11,305
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Collectively evaluated for impairment
   
70,583
     
4,752,923
     
400,607
     
567,515
     
4,000
     
5,795,628
     
68,199
     
1,749
 
Total ending loans balance
 
$
70,982
   
$
4,756,180
   
$
404,926
   
$
570,845
   
$
4,000
   
$
5,806,933
   
$
68,199
   
$
1,749
 

    At or for the Year Ended December 31, 2016  
   
Real Estate Loans
         
Consumer
Loans
 
   
One-to-Four Family
Residential,
Including
Condominium and
Cooperative
Apartment
   
Multifamily
Residential and
Residential
Mixed Use
   
Commercial
Mixed Use
Real Estate
   
Commercial
Real Estate
   
Total
Real Estate
     
C&I
 
Allowance for loan losses:
                                           
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Collectively evaluated for impairment
   
145
     
16,555
     
1,698
     
2,118
     
20,516
     
-
     
20
 
Total ending allowance balance
 
$
145
   
$
16,555
   
$
1,698
   
$
2,118
   
$
20,516
   
$
-
   
$
20
 
                                                         
Loans:
                                                       
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
$
407
   
$
3,333
   
$
4,810
   
$
3,363
   
$
11,913
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Collectively evaluated for impairment
   
73,615
     
4,597,193
     
399,329
     
550,957
     
5,621,094
     
2,058
     
1,357
 
Total ending loans balance
 
$
74,022
   
$
4,600,526
   
$
404,139
   
$
554,320
   
$
5,633,007
   
$
2,058
   
$
1,357
 
 
There were no impaired real estate loans with a related allowance recorded for the periods ended June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.  The following tables summarize impaired real estate loans with no related allowance recorded as of the periods indicated (by collateral type within the real estate loan segment):

   
At June 30, 2017
   
At December 31, 2016
 
   
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
   
Recorded
Investment (1)
   
Related
Allowance
   
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
   
Recorded
Investment (1)
   
Related
Allowance
 
                                     
With no related allowance recorded:
                                   
One-to-Four Family Residential, Including Condominium and Cooperative Apartment
 
$
399
   
$
399
   
$
-
   
$
407
   
$
407
   
$
-
 
Multifamily Residential and Residential Mixed Use
   
3,257
     
3,257
     
-
     
3,333
     
3,333
     
-
 
Commercial Mixed Use Real Estate
   
4,319
     
4,319
     
-
     
4,810
     
4,810
     
-
 
Commercial Real Estate
   
3,330
     
3,330
     
-
     
3,363
     
3,363
     
-
 
Total with no related allowance recorded
 
$
11,305
   
$
11,305
   
$
-
   
$
11,913
   
$
11,913
   
$
-
 
(1)
The recorded investment excludes accrued interest receivable and loan origination fees, net, due to immateriality.

The following table presents information for impaired loans for the periods indicated:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
   
Average
Recorded
Investment (1)
   
Interest
Income
Recognized
   
Average
Recorded
Investment (1)
   
Interest
Income
Recognized
   
Average
Recorded
Investment (1)
   
Interest
Income
Recognized
   
Average
Recorded
Investment (1)
   
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
With no related allowance recorded:
                                               
One-to-Four Family Residential, Including Condominium and Cooperative Apartment
 
$
400
   
$
7
   
$
399
   
$
7
   
$
402
   
$
14
   
$
465
   
$
41
 
Multifamily Residential and Residential Mixed Use
   
3,264
     
16
     
2,451
     
25
     
3,287
     
62
     
1,962
     
38
 
Commercial Mixed Use Real Estate
   
4,527
     
43
     
4,367
     
44
     
4,622
     
88
     
4,360
     
88
 
Commercial Real Estate
   
3,338
     
33
     
3,404
     
34
     
3,347
     
67
     
3,481
     
68
 
Ending balance
 
$
11,529
   
$
99
   
$
10,621
   
$
110
   
$
11,658
   
$
231
   
$
10,268
   
$
235
 
(1)
The recorded investment excludes accrued interest receivable and loan origination fees, net, due to immateriality.

9.   INVESTMENT AND MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

The following tables summarize the major categories of securities owned by the Company (excluding trading securities) for the periods indicated:

   
At June 30, 2017
 
   
Amortized
Cost (1)
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
 
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
                       
Pooled bank trust preferred securities (“TRUP CDOs”) (2)
 
$
5,315
   
$
3,161
   
$
(91
)
 
$
8,385
 
                                 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                               
Registered Mutual Funds
   
3,944
     
186
     
(81
)
   
4,049
 
Pass-through MBS issued by GSEs
   
333
     
10
     
-
     
343
 
Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (“CMO”)
   
3,207
     
-
     
(54
)
   
3,153
 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
   
7,484
     
196
     
(135
)
   
7,545
 
Total investment securities
 
$
12,799
   
$
3,357
   
$
(226
)
 
$
15,930
 
(1)   Amount represents the purchase amortized / historical cost less any OTTI charges (credit or non-credit related) previously recognized.  For the TRUP CDOs, amount is also net of the $708 unamortized portion of the unrealized loss that was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss on September 1, 2008 (the day on which these securities were transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity).
                                        
(2)   The Company sold its TRUP CDOs in August 2017, refer to Note 16 – Subsequent Events.
 
   
At December 31, 2016
 
   
Amortized
Cost (1)
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
 
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
                       
TRUP CDOs
 
$
5,378
   
$
2,221
   
$
(303
)
 
$
7,296
 
                                 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                               
Registered Mutual Funds
   
4,011
     
62
     
(178
)
   
3,895
 
Pass-through MBS issued by GSEs
   
360
     
12
     
-
     
372
 
CMO
   
3,247
     
-
     
(61
)
   
3,186
 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
   
7,618
     
74
     
(239
)
   
7,453
 
Total investment securities
 
$
12,996
   
$
2,295
   
$
(542
)
 
$
14,749
 
(1)   Amount represents the purchase amortized / historical cost less any OTTI charges (credit or non-credit related) previously recognized.  For the TRUP CDOs, amount is also net of the $755 unamortized portion of the unrealized loss that was recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss on September 1, 2008 (the day on which these securities were transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity).

The held-to-maturity TRUP CDOs had a weighted average term to maturity of 17.5 years at June 30, 2017 At June 30, 2017 , available-for-sale pass-through MBS issued by GSEs possessed a weighted average contractual maturity of 10.6 years and a weighted average estimated duration of 1.0 year.  As of June 30, 2017 , the available-for-sale agency CMO security had a weighted average term to maturity of 2.6 years. All of the pass-through MBS securities issued by GSEs possess an annual interest rate adjustment.

Gross proceeds from the sales of registered mutual funds totaled $68 and $103 for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively. There were no gains or losses recognized on these sales. There were no sales of registered mutual funds during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2016.  There were no sales of pass-through MBS issued by GSEs during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 or 2016.There were no sales of agency collateralized mortgage obligation securities during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 or 2016.

Gross proceeds from the sales of trading securities were $4,544 during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017. Gross gains of $63 and gross losses of $25 were recognized on these sales. Gross proceeds from the sales of trading securities were $3,648 during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016. Gross gains of $3 and gross losses of $45 were recognized on these sales.

The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses and fair value of investment securities aggregated by investment category and the length of time the securities were in a continuous unrealized loss position for the periods indicated:

   
June 30, 2017
 
   
Less than 12
Consecutive Months
   
12 Consecutive
Months or Longer
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
                                   
TRUP CDOs
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
2,549
   
$
91
   
$
2,549
   
$
91
 
                                                 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                                               
Registered Mutual Funds
   
1,099
     
25
     
1,595
     
56
     
2,694
     
81
 
Agency CMO
   
-
     
-
     
3,153
     
54
     
3,153
     
54
 
                                                 
   
December 31, 2016
 
   
Less than 12
Consecutive Months
   
12 Consecutive
Months or Longer
   
Total
 
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
                                               
TRUP CDOs
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
2,439
   
$
303
   
$
2,439
   
$
303
 
                                                 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                                               
Registered Mutual Funds
   
1,308
     
47
     
1,747
     
131
     
3,055
     
178
 
Agency CMO
   
3,186
     
61
     
-
     
-
     
3,186
     
61
 
 
The Company sold its $5,315 of TRUP CDOs in August 2017. The disclosures below are as of, or for the periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
 
TRUP CDOs That Maintained an Unrealized Holding Loss for 12 or More Consecutive Months

At June 30 , 2017, there were two TRUP CDOs with unrealized holding losses for 12 or more consecutive months. The impairment of one of those TRUP CDOs was deemed temporary, as management believed that the full recorded balance of the investments would be realized.  In making this determination, management considered the following:

·
Based upon an internal review of the collateral backing the TRUP CDOs portfolio, which accounted for current and prospective deferrals, the securities could reasonably be expected to continue making all contractual payments
·
At June 30, 2017, the Company did not intend to sell these securities prior to full recovery of their impairment
·
There were no cash or working capital requirements nor contractual or regulatory obligations that would compel the Company to sell these securities prior to their forecasted recovery or maturity
·
The securities have a pool of underlying issuers comprised primarily of banks
·
None of the securities have exposure to real estate investment trust issued debt (which has experienced high default rates)
·
The securities feature either a mandatory auction or a de-leveraging mechanism that could result in principal repayments to the Bank prior to the stated maturity of the security
·
The securities are adequately collateralized

The unrealized loss on the second TRUP with unrealized holding losses for 12 or more consecutive months was considered to be other than temporary. See below for a discussion of other than temporary impairment.

TRUP CDOs with Other than Temporary Impairment

As of each reporting period through June 30, 2017, the Company applied the protocol established by ASC 320-10-65 in order to determine whether OTTI existed for its TRUPS and/or to measure, for TRUP CDOs that were determined to be other than temporarily impaired, the credit related and non-credit related components of OTTI.  As of June 30, 2017, five TRUP CDOs were determined to meet the criteria for OTTI based upon this analysis, and no additional OTTI charges were recognized.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the pre-tax OTTI charges recognized on the Company's TRUP CDOs, for which a portion of the impairment loss (non-credit factors) was recognized in other comprehensive income for the period ended:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
   
Credit
Related
OTTI
Recognized
in Earnings
   
Non-Credit
OTTI
Recognized in
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
   
Total
OTTI
Charge
   
Credit
Related
OTTI
Recognized
in
Earnings
   
Non-Credit
OTTI
Recognized in
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
   
Total
OTTI
Charge
 
Cumulative pre-tax balance at the beginning of the period
 
$
8,587
   
$
536
   
$
9,123
   
$
8,691
   
$
570
   
$
9,261
 
Amortization of previously recognized OTTI
   
(26
)
   
(9
)
   
(35
)
   
(26
)
   
(8
)
   
(34
)
Cumulative pre-tax balance at end of the period
 
$
8,561
   
$
527
   
$
9,088
   
$
8,665
   
$
562
   
$
9,227
 

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
   
Credit
Related
OTTI
Recognized
in Earnings
   
Non-Credit
OTTI
Recognized in
Accumulated
 Other
Comprehensive
Loss
   
Total
OTTI
Charge
   
Credit
Related
OTTI
Recognized
in
Earnings
   
Non-Credit
OTTI
Recognized in
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
   
Total
OTTI
Charge
 
Cumulative pre-tax balance at the beginning of the period
 
$
8,613
   
$
544
   
$
9,157
   
$
8,717
   
$
578
   
$
9,295
 
Amortization of previously recognized OTTI
   
(52
)
   
(17
)
   
(69
)
   
(52
)
   
(16
)
   
(68
)
Cumulative pre-tax balance at end of the period
 
$
8,561
   
$
527
   
$
9,088
   
$
8,665
   
$
562
   
$
9,227
 
 
10.   DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy.  Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. During the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, such derivatives were used to hedge the variability in cash flows associated with wholesale borrowings, i.e. , FHLBNY advances.  The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. The Company did not record any hedge ineffectiveness during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 or 2016.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are paid on the Company’s liabilities.  During the next twelve months the Company estimates that $52 will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition:

   
At June 30, 2017
   
At December 31, 2016
 
   
Count
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
Assets
   
Fair Value
Liabilities
   
Count
   
Notional
Amount
   
Fair Value
Assets
   
Fair Value
Liabilities
 
Included in other assets/(liabilities):
                                               
Interest rate swaps related to FHLBNY advances
   
7
   
$
135,000
   
$
2,898
   
$
(87
)
   
4
   
$
90,000
   
$
3,228
   
$
-
 
                                                                 
Weighted average pay rates
           
1.46
%
                           
1.24
%
               
Weighted average receive rates
           
1.22
%
                           
0.95
%
               
Weighted average maturity
         
4.79 years
                           
5.32 years
                 

The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as the amount of gain or (loss) on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the periods indicated:

   
For the Three Months
Ended June 30,
   
For the Six Months
Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Interest rate products
                       
Effective portion:
                       
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income
 
$
(825
)
 
$
(998
)
 
$
(597
)
 
$
(998
)
Amount of gain or (loss) reclassified from other comprehensive income into interest expense
   
(92
)
   
(41
)
   
(179
)
   
(41
)
Ineffective Portion:
                               
Amount of gain or (loss) recognized in other  non-interest expense
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 

The Company’s agreements with each of its derivative counterparties state that if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, it could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations and could be required to terminate its derivative positions with the counterparty.

The Company’s agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties state that if the Bank fails to maintain its status as a well-capitalized institution, the Bank could be required to terminate its derivative positions with the counterparty.
 
As of June 30, 2017, the termination value of derivatives in a net asset position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $2,791. If the Company had breached any of the above provisions at June 30, 2017, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at the termination value and would have been required to pay any additional amounts due in excess of amounts previously posted as collateral with the respective counterparty. There were no provisions breached for the period ended June 30, 2017.

11.   FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The fair value hierarchy established under ASC 820-10 is summarized as follows:

Level 1 Inputs – Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 Inputs – Significant other observable inputs such as any of the following: (1) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, (2) quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, (3) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability ( e.g. , interest rates and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, and default rates), or (4) inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market-corroborated inputs).

Level 3 Inputs – Significant unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.  Significant unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).  Significant unobservable inputs shall be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The following tables present the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of the dates indicated, segmented by level within the fair value hierarchy.  Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

         
Fair Value Measurements at
June 30, 2017 Using
 
   
Total
   
Level 1
Inputs
   
Level 2
Inputs
   
Level 3
Inputs
 
Financial Assets
                       
Trading securities (Registered Mutual Funds):
                       
Domestic Equity Mutual Funds
 
$
437
   
$
437
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
International Equity Mutual Funds
   
114
     
114
     
-
     
-
 
Fixed Income Mutual Funds
   
2,136
     
2,136
     
-
     
-
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                               
Registered Mutual Funds:
                               
Domestic Equity Mutual Funds
   
1,456
     
1,456
     
-
     
-
 
International Equity Mutual Funds
   
429
     
429
     
-
     
-
 
Fixed Income Mutual Funds
   
2,164
     
2,164
     
-
     
-
 
Pass-through MBS issued by GSEs
   
343
     
-
     
343
     
-
 
Agency CMOs
   
3,153
     
-
     
3,153
     
-
 
Derivative – interest rate product
   
2,898
     
-
     
2,898
     
-
 
                                 
Financial Liabilities
                               
Derivative – interest rate product
   
87
     
-
     
87
     
-
 
 
         
Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2016 Using
 
   
Total
   
Level 1
Inputs
   
Level 2
Inputs
   
Level 3
Inputs
 
Financial Assets
                       
Trading securities (Registered Mutual Funds):
                       
Domestic Equity Mutual Funds
 
$
873
   
$
873
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
International Equity Mutual Funds
   
213
     
213
     
-
     
-
 
Fixed Income Mutual Funds
   
5,867
     
5,867
     
-
     
-
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                               
Registered Mutual Funds:
                               
Domestic Equity Mutual Funds
   
1,356
     
1,356
     
-
     
-
 
International Equity Mutual Funds
   
377
     
377
     
-
     
-
 
Fixed Income Mutual Funds
   
2,162
     
2,162
     
-
     
-
 
Pass-through MBS issued by GSEs
   
372
     
-
     
372
     
-
 
Agency CMOs
   
3,186
     
-
     
3,186
     
-
 
Derivative – interest rate product
   
3,228
     
-
     
3,228
     
-
 

The Company’s available-for-sale investment securities and MBS are reported at fair value, which were determined utilizing prices obtained from independent parties. The valuations obtained are based upon market data, and often utilize evaluated pricing models that vary by asset and incorporate available trade, bid and other market information. For securities that do not trade on a daily basis, pricing applications apply available information such as benchmarking and matrix pricing. The market inputs normally sought in the evaluation of securities include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes (obtained only from market makers or broker/dealers recognized as market participants), issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. For certain securities, additional inputs may be used or some market inputs may not be applicable.  Prioritization of inputs may vary on any given day based on market conditions.

The pass-through MBS issued by GSEs all possessed the highest possible credit rating published by at least one established credit rating agency as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Obtaining market values as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 for these securities utilizing significant observable inputs was not difficult due to their considerable demand.
 
Derivatives represent interest rate swaps and estimated fair values are based on valuation models using observable market data as of the measurement date.
 
There were no assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.
 
Impaired Loans - Loans with certain characteristics are evaluated individually for impairment. A loan is considered impaired under ASC 310-10-35 when, based upon existing information and events, it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due, including principal and interest, according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The Bank's impaired loans at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were collateralized by real estate and were thus carried at the lower of the outstanding principal balance or the estimated fair value of the collateral.  Fair value is estimated through either a negotiated note sale price (Level 3 input), or, more commonly, a recent real estate appraisal (Level 3 input).  The appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the independent appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Such adjustments are usually significant and typically result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value.

An appraisal is generally ordered for all impaired multifamily residential, mixed use and commercial real estate loans for which the most recent appraisal is more than one year old.  The Bank never adjusts independent appraisal data upward.  Occasionally, management will adjust independent appraisal data downward based upon its own lending expertise and/or experience with the subject property, utilizing such factors as potential note sale values, or a more refined estimate of costs to repair and time to lease the property.  Adjustments for potential disposal costs are also considered when determining the final appraised value.

As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no impaired loans measured at fair value.
 
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments other than those measured at fair value on either a recurring or non-recurring basis at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows:

         
Fair Value Measurements
at June 30, 2017 Using
 
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Level 1
Inputs
   
Level 2
Inputs
   
Level 3
Inputs
   
Total
 
Financial Assets
                             
Cash and due from banks
 
$
110,044
   
$
110,044
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
110,044
 
TRUP CDOs
   
5,315
     
-
     
-
     
8,385
     
8,385
 
Loans, net
   
5,854,896
     
-
     
-
     
5,845,003
     
5,845,003
 
Accrued interest receivable
   
16,124
     
-
     
12
     
16,112
     
16,124
 
FHLBNY capital stock
   
50,961
     
N/A
     
N/A
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Financial Liabilities
                                       
Savings, money market and checking accounts
   
3,521,854
     
3,521,854
     
-
     
-
     
3,521,854
 
Certificates of Deposits (“CDs”)
   
896,626
     
-
     
899,111
     
-
     
899,111
 
Escrow and other deposits
   
91,196
     
91,196
     
-
     
-
     
91,196
 
FHLBNY Advances
   
944,575
     
-
     
943,875
     
-
     
943,875
 
Subordinated debt
   
113,545
     
-
     
114,695
     
-
     
114,695
 
Trust Preferred securities payable
   
70,680
     
70,680
     
-
     
-
     
70,680
 
Accrued interest payable
   
2,289
     
-
     
2,289
     
-
     
2,289
 

 
       
Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2016 Using
 
   
Carrying
Amount
   
Level 1
Inputs
   
Level 2
Inputs
   
Level 3
Inputs
   
Total
 
Financial Assets
                             
Cash and due from banks
 
$
113,503
   
$
113,503
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
113,503
 
TRUP CDOs
   
5,378
     
-
     
-
     
7,296
     
7,296
 
Loans, net
   
5,615,886
     
-
     
-
     
5,609,034
     
5,609,034
 
Accrued interest receivable
   
15,647
     
-
     
11
     
15,636
     
15,647
 
FHLBNY capital stock
   
44,444
     
N/A
     
N/A
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Financial Liabilities
                                       
Savings, money market and checking accounts
   
3,346,961
     
3,346,961
     
-
     
-
     
3,346,961
 
CDs
   
1,048,465
     
-
     
1,054,131
     
-
     
1,054,131
 
Escrow and other deposits
   
103,001
     
103,001
     
-
     
-
     
103,001
 
FHLBNY Advances
   
831,125
     
-
     
831,951
     
-
     
831,951
 
Trust Preferred securities payable
   
70,680
     
-
     
69,973
     
-
     
69,973
 
Accrued interest payable
   
2,080
     
-
     
2,080
     
-
     
2,080
 

Cash and Due From Banks – The fair value is assumed to be equal to their carrying value as these amounts are due upon demand (deemed a Level 1 valuation).

TRUP CDOs Held to Maturity – At both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 the Company owned seven TRUP CDOs classified as held-to-maturity. As a result of improved marketplace stability and enhanced trading activity, broker quotations became the sole valuation source utilized to estimate the fair value of TRUP CDOs as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Despite improvement in the overall marketplace conditions, unobservable data was still deemed to have been utilized in the broker quotation pricing, warranting a determination of Level 3 valuation for these securities at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Loans, Net (Excluding Impaired Loans Carried at Fair Value) – For adjustable rate loans repricing monthly or quarterly, and with no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values.  The fair value of all remaining loans receivable is determined by discounting anticipated future cash flows of the loans, net of anticipated prepayments, using a discount rate reflecting current market rates for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality.  The valuation method used for loans does not necessarily represent an exit price valuation methodology as defined under ASC 820.  However, since the valuation methodology is deemed to be comparable to a Level 3 input, the fair value of loans receivable other than impaired loans measured at fair value, is shown under the Level 3 valuation column.

Accrued Interest Receivable – The estimated fair value of accrued interest receivable approximates its carrying amount, and is deemed to be valued at an input level comparable to its underlying financial asset.

FHLBNY Capital Stock – It is not practicable to determine the fair value of FHLBNY capital stock due to restrictions placed on transferability.

Deposits – The fair value of savings, money market, and checking accounts is, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date ( i.e ., their carrying amount), which has been deemed a Level 1 valuation.  The fair value of CDs is based upon the present value of contractual cash flows using current interest rates for instruments of the same remaining maturity (deemed a Level 2 valuation).
 
Escrow and Other Deposits – The fair value of escrow and other deposits is, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (i.e. , their carrying amount), which has been deemed a Level 1 valuation.

FHLBNY Advances – The   fair value of FHLBNY advances is measured by the discounted anticipated cash flows through contractual maturity or next interest repricing date, or an earlier call date if, as of the valuation date, the borrowing is expected to be called (deemed a Level 2 valuation).  The carrying amount of accrued interest payable on FHLBNY advances is its fair value and is deemed a Level 2 valuation.

Subordinated debt – The fair value of subordinated debt is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based on then current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements (deemed a Level 2 valuation), and is provided to the Company quarterly independently by a market maker in the underlying security. The fair value is shown net of capitalized issuance costs.

Trust Preferred Securities Payable – The fair value is assumed to be equal to their carrying value as the Company redeemed the trust preferred securities in July 2017 at par value (deemed a Level 1 valuation).

Accrued Interest Payable – The estimated fair value of accrued interest payable approximates its carrying amount, and is deemed to be valued at an input level comparable to its underlying financial liability.

12.   RETIREMENT AND POSTRETIREMENT PLANS

The Holding Company or the Bank maintains the Retirement Plan of Dime Community Bank (the "Employee Retirement Plan"), the Retirement Plan for Board Members of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the "Outside Director Retirement Plan"), the BMP, and the Postretirement Welfare Plan of Dime Community Bank (the "Postretirement Plan").  Net expenses associated with these plans were comprised of the following components:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
   
BMP, Employee
and Outside
Director
Retirement Plans
   
Postretirement
Plan
   
BMP, Employee
and Outside
Director
Retirement Plans
   
Postretirement
Plan
 
                         
Service cost
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Interest cost
   
329
     
14
     
343
     
16
 
Expected return on assets
   
(395
)
   
-
     
(383
)
   
-
 
Unrecognized past service liability
   
-
     
(2
)
   
-
     
(2
)
Amortization of unrealized loss (gain)
   
359
     
(1
)
   
428
     
(1
)
Net periodic cost
 
$
293
   
$
11
   
$
388
   
$
13
 

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
   
BMP, Employee
and Outside
Director
Retirement Plans
   
Postretirement
Plan
   
BMP, Employee
and Outside
Director
Retirement Plans
   
Postretirement
Plan
 
                         
Service cost
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Interest cost
   
658
     
28
     
686
     
32
 
Expected return on assets
   
(790
)
   
-
     
(766
)
   
-
 
Unrecognized past service liability
   
-
     
(4
)
   
-
     
(4
)
Amortization of unrealized loss (gain)
   
718
     
(2
)
   
858
     
(2
)
Net periodic cost
 
$
586
   
$
22
   
$
778
   
$
26
 
 
The Company disclosed in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 that it expected to make contributions to, or benefit payments on behalf of, benefit plans during 2017 as follows: Employee Retirement Plan - $15, Outside Director Retirement Plan - $208, Postretirement Plan - $113, and BMP - $725.  The Company made contributions of $8 to the Employee Retirement Plan during the three months ended June 30, 2017, and $12 during the six months ended June 30, 2017, and expects to make the remainder of the anticipated contributions during 2017.  The Company made benefit payments of $56 on behalf of the Outside Director Retirement Plan during the three months ended June 30, 2017, and $97 during the six months ended June 30, 2017, and expects to make the remainder of the estimated net contributions or benefit payments during 2017. The Company made benefit payments totaling $42 on behalf of the Postretirement Plan during the three months ended June 30, 2017, and $77 during the six months ended June 30, 2017, and expects to make the remainder of the anticipated contributions or benefit payments during 2017.  The Company made benefit payments totaling $69 on behalf of the BMP during the three month period ended June 30, 2017, and $104 during six months ended June 30, 2017, and expects to make the remainder of the anticipated benefit payments during 2017.

The BMP exists in order to compensate executive officers for any curtailments in benefits due to statutory limitations on qualifying benefit plans.  During the three-month period ended June 30, 2017, in addition to benefit payments from the defined benefit plan component of the BMP discussed above, a retired participant elected a gross lump-sum distribution of $121.  The distribution was satisfied by 4,282 shares of Common Stock (market value of $84) held by the ESOP component of the BMP and cash of $37 held by the defined contribution plan components of the BMP.  As a result of the distribution, a non-cash tax benefit of $8 was recognized for the difference between market value and cost basis of the common stock held by the BMP. Effective January 1, 2017, income tax benefits were recognized as discrete items in income tax expense in accordance to ASU 2016-09.

13.   SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYABLE

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Holding Company issued $115.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due June 2027, which become callable commencing on June 15, 2022.  The notes will mature on June 15, 2027 (the “Maturity Date”). From and including June 13, 2017 until but excluding June 15, 2022, interest will be paid semi-annually in arrears on each June 15 and December 15 at a fixed annual interest rate equal to 4.50%. From and including June 15, 2022 to, but excluding, the Maturity Date or earlier redemption date, the interest rate shall reset quarterly to an annual interest rate equal to the then-current three-month LIBOR plus 266 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears.  Debt issuance cost directly associated with subordinated debt offering was capitalized and netted with subordinated notes payable on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.
 
14.   INCOME TAXES

During the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company's consolidated effective tax rates were 37.8% and 42.2%, respectively.  During the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company's consolidated effective tax rates were 38.0% and 42.2%, respectively.  The higher consolidated tax rate during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016 was primarily the result of a $68,183 gain on sale of real estate transaction during the six month period ended June 30, 2016.  There were no other significant unusual income tax items during the three-month or six-month periods ended either June 30, 2017 or 2016.
                                                
15.   PREMISES HELD FOR SALE

On March 16, 2016, the Bank completed the sale of premises held for sale with an aggregate recorded balance of $ 8,799 at December 31, 2015.  A gain of $68,183 was recognized on this sale.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Bank re-classified certain real estate utilized as a retail branch and principal office of the Company and the Bank to premises held for sale. The aggregate recorded balance of the premises held for sale was $1,379 at June 30, 2017, the outstanding balance upon transfer. On April 14, 2016, a Purchase and Sale Agreement was executed for the property, for a sale price of $12,300. The sale is expected to close in September 2017.

16.   SUBSEQUENT EVENT

The Company redeemed its $70,680 of Trust Preferred securities borrowings at par from third parties in June 2017.  The redemption was completed on July 17, 2017. No gain or loss is expected to be recorded from the redemption.
 
On July 24, 2017, the Company decided to sell its $5,315 of TRUP CDOs. The sale was completed in August 2017. A pre-tax gain of approximately $3,850 is expected to be recorded from the sale.
 
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

Dime Community Bancshares (the “Company”), is a Delaware corporation headquartered in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The Company was organized in 1996 and is registered as a savings and loan holding company with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to section 10(l) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended. As of June 30, 2017, t he Holding Company's direct subsidiaries were Dime Community Bank, 842 Manhattan Avenue Corp., and Dime Community Capital Trust 1. The Company engages in commercial banking and financial services through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Dime Community Bank. In 2004, the Company formed Dime Community Capital Trust I as a subsidiary, which issued $72.2 million of 7.0% trust preferred securities, $70.7 million of which remained outstanding at June 30, 2017. The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “DCOM.”
 
Dime Community Bank, a New York-chartered stock savings bank formerly known as The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, was founded in 1864 and operates 27 full service retail banking offices located in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, and in Nassau County, New York. The Bank’s principal business is gathering deposits from customers within its market area and via the internet, and investing them primarily in multifamily residential, commercial real estate, mixed use, and, to a lesser extent, commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of the U.S. government and government sponsored enterprises, and corporate debt and equity securities. The substantial majority of the Bank’s lending occurs in the greater New York City metropolitan area. The Bank has four active subsidiaries, including two real estate investment trusts that hold one- to four-family and multifamily residential and commercial real estate loans; Dime Insurance Agency, which engages in general insurance agency activities; and Boulevard Funding Corporation, which holds and manages real estate.

Executive Summary

The Company’s primary business is the ownership of the Bank. The Bank’s primary deposit strategy is generally to increase its product and service utilization for each depositor, and to increase its household and deposit market shares in the communities that it serves. In recent years, particular emphasis has been placed upon growing individual and small business commercial checking account balances. The Bank also actively strives to obtain checking account balances affiliated with the operation of the collateral underlying its mortgage and C&I loans, as well as personal deposit accounts from its borrowers. The Bank launched an internet banking initiative, “DimeDirect,” in the second half of 2015. To date, deposits gathered through DimeDirect have primarily been money markets. The DimeDirect deposits are anticipated to carry lower administrative servicing costs than the Bank’s traditional retail deposits.

Historically, the Bank’s primary lending strategy included the origination of, and investment in, mortgage loans secured by multifamily and mixed use properties, and, to a lesser extent, mortgage loans secured by commercial real estate properties, primarily located in the greater New York City metropolitan area. As part of its strategic plan for 2017 and beyond, the Bank is investing in the development of a robust commercial banking platform, by adding products and services to serve both the credit and business banking needs in its footprint.

The commercial banking platform is focused on total relationship banking and will enable the Bank to diversify its loan portfolio into areas such as C&I loans, Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans (a portion of which is guaranteed by the SBA), small business loans, acquisition, land development and construction loans, finance loans and leases, one- to four-family loans and personal loans. These business lines are intended to supplement core deposit growth and provide greater funding diversity. In the first quarter of 2017, the Bank hired seasoned commercial lenders, and bolstered its C&I lending and credit and administrative staff. During the first quarter of 2017, our business banking division extended $28.1 million of C&I loans and raised $14.0 million of new core deposits. The Bank also purchases investment grade securities primarily for liquidity purposes. The Bank seeks to maintain the asset quality of its loans and other investments, and uses portfolio and asset/liability management techniques in an effort to manage the effects of interest rate volatility on its profitability and capital.

Recent Events
 
In June 2017, the Company announced that it priced an underwritten public offering of $115.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due June 2027, which will become callable commencing in June 2022.  Interest will be paid semi-annually in arrears on each June 15 and December 15 at an initial fixed annual interest rate equal to 4.50%. The notes will mature on June 15, 2027. The Company used part of the net proceeds from the offering to redeem its $70.7 million of trust preferred securities which had a 7.00% annual coupon in July 2017. See "Part I - Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements – Note 13" for details of the subordinated notes payable.
 
Selected Financial Highlights and Other Data
(Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

   
At or For the Three
Months Ended June 30,
   
At or For the Six
Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Per Share Data:
                       
Reported EPS (Diluted)
 
$
0.32
   
$
0.30
   
$
0.61
   
$
1.67
 
Cash dividends paid per share
   
0.14
     
0.14
     
0.28
     
0.28
 
Book value per share
   
15.41
     
14.60
     
15.41
     
14.60
 
Dividend Payout Ratio
   
43.75
     
46.67
     
45.90
     
16.77
 
Performance and Other Selected Ratios:
                               
Return on average assets
   
0.78
%
   
0.81
%
   
0.76
%
   
2.29
%
Return on average common equity
   
8.32
     
8.23
     
8.08
     
23.28
 
Net interest spread
   
2.40
     
2.50
     
2.40
     
2.57
 
Net interest margin
   
2.57
     
2.68
     
2.57
     
2.74
 
Average interest earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities
   
117.18
     
117.91
     
116.77
     
117.27
 
Non-interest expense to average assets
   
1.27
     
1.31
     
1.32
     
1.35
 
Efficiency Ratio
   
48.99
     
47.75
     
50.98
     
48.58
 
Loans to Deposits at End of Period
   
133.01
     
137.80
     
133.01
     
137.80
 
Effective Tax Rate
   
37.83
     
42.17
     
38.00
     
42.17
 
Asset Quality Summary:
                               
Non-performing loans
 
$
3,374
   
$
4,329
   
$
3,374
   
$
4,329
 
Non-performing assets
   
4,661
     
5,600
     
4,661
     
5,600
 
Net charge-offs (recoveries)
   
16
     
46
     
48
     
26
 
Non-performing loans/Total loans
   
0.06
%
   
0.08
%
   
0.06
%
   
0.08
%
Non-performing assets/Total assets
   
0.07
     
0.10
     
0.07
     
0.10
 
Allowance for loan loss/Total loans
   
0.37
     
0.36
     
0.37
     
0.36
 
Allowance for loan loss/Non-performing loans
   
651.60
     
436.80
     
651.60
     
436.80
 
Earnings to Fixed Charges Ratios (1)
                               
Including interest on deposits
   
2.28
x
   
2.46
x
   
2.27
x
   
5.15
x
Excluding interest on deposits
   
4.44
     
4.39
     
4.57
     
10.50
 
(1)
Please refer to Exhibit 12.1 for further detail on the calculation of these ratios.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s policies with respect to: (1) the methodologies it uses to determine the allowance for loan losses (including reserves for loan commitments), and (2) accounting for defined benefit plans, are its most critical accounting policies because they are important to the presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations, involve a significant degree of complexity and require management to make difficult and subjective judgments which often necessitate assumptions or estimates about highly uncertain matters. The use of different judgments, assumptions or estimates could result in material variations in the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

Allowance for Loan Losses. The Bank's methods and assumptions utilized to periodically determine its allowance for loan losses are summarized in Note 8 to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Accounting for Defined Benefit Plans.   Defined benefit plans are accounted for in accordance with ASC 715, which requires an employer sponsoring a single employer defined benefit plan to recognize the funded status of such benefit plan in its statements of financial condition, measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value (with limited exceptions) and the benefit obligation.  The Company utilizes the services of trained actuaries employed at an independent benefits plan administration entity in order to assist in measuring the funded status of its defined benefit plans.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Board of Directors of the Bank has approved a liquidity policy that it reviews and updates at least annually. Senior management is responsible for implementing the policy.  The Bank's Asset Liability Committee ("ALCO") is responsible for general oversight and strategic implementation of the policy and management of the appropriate departments are designated responsibility for implementing any strategies established by ALCO.  On a daily basis, appropriate senior management receives a current cash position report and one-week forecast to ensure that all short-term obligations are timely satisfied and that adequate liquidity exists to fund future activities.  Reports detailing the Bank's liquidity reserves and forecasted cash flows are presented to appropriate senior management on a monthly basis, and the Board of Directors at each of its meetings. In addition on a monthly basis, a twelve-month liquidity forecast is presented to ALCO in order to assess potential future liquidity concerns.  A forecast of cash flow data for the upcoming 12 months is presented to the Board of Directors on an annual basis.

The Bank's primary sources of funding for its lending and investment activities include deposits, loan and MBS payments, investment security principal and interest payments and advances from the FHLBNY.  The Bank may also sell selected multifamily residential or mixed use real estate loans to private sector secondary market purchasers, and has in the past sold such loans and one to four family residential loans to FNMA.  The Company may additionally issue debt under appropriate circumstances.  Although maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and investments are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and prepayments on mortgage loans and MBS are influenced by interest rates, economic conditions and competition.

The Bank gathers deposits in direct competition with commercial banks, savings banks and brokerage firms, many among the largest in the nation.  It must additionally compete for deposit monies against the stock and bond markets, especially during periods of strong performance in those arenas.  The Bank's deposit flows are affected primarily by the pricing and marketing of its deposit products compared to its competitors, as well as the market performance of depositor investment alternatives such as the U.S. bond or equity markets.  To the extent that the Bank is responsive to general market increases or declines in interest rates, its deposit flows should not be materially impacted.   However, favorable performance of the equity or bond markets could adversely impact the Bank’s deposit flows.

Total retail deposits (due to depositors) increased $23.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to $596.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016.  Within deposits, core deposits ( i.e., non-CDs) increased $174.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and $420.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016. The increase in growth of core deposits during each of the comparative periods were due primarily to successful gathering efforts tied to promotional Internet money market offerings in line with the Company’s growth strategy.  CDs decreased $151.8 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, due to the attrition of maturing CDs from successful CD promotional activities, particularly among Individual Retirement Account customers, during the six months ended June 30, 2016 in which CDs increased $175.7 million.

In the event that the Bank should require funds beyond its ability or desire to generate them internally, an additional source of funds is available through its borrowing line at the FHLBNY.  At June 30, 2017, the Bank had an additional potential borrowing capacity of $1.13 billion through the FHLBNY, subject to customary minimum FHLBNY common stock ownership requirements ( i.e. , 4.5% of the Bank's outstanding FHLBNY borrowings).

The Bank increased its outstanding FHLBNY advances by $113.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, to fund asset growth. The Bank decreased its outstanding FHLBNY advances by $149.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016, reflecting both the utilization of deposit inflows to fund asset growth and the deployment of the cash proceeds received from the real estate sale during the six months ended June 30, 2016.

During the six months ended June 30, 2017, principal repayments on real estate loans (including refinanced loans) totaled $304.7 million compared to $375.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016. The decrease resulted primarily from lower prepayment volume.

Gross proceeds from the sales of registered mutual funds totaled $103,000 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2017. There were no gains or losses recognized on these sales. There were no sales of registered mutual funds during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2016. There were no sales of pass-through MBS issued by GSEs during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 or 2016. There were no sales of agency collateralized mortgage obligation securities during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 or 2016.
 
The Company and the Bank are subject to minimum regulatory capital requirements imposed by its primary federal regulator.  As a general matter, these capital requirements are based on the amount and composition of an institution's assets. At June 30, 2017, each of the Company and the Bank were in compliance with all applicable regulatory capital requirements and were considered "well-capitalized" for all regulatory purposes.

The following table summarizes Company and Bank capital ratios calculated under the Basel III Capital Rules framework as of June 30, 2017:

Actual Ratios at
June 30, 2017
     
Basel III
    Well
Capitalized
Requirement
Under FDIC
Prompt
Corrective
Action
Framework (3)
 
   
Bank
   
Consolidated
Company
   
Minimum
Requirement
   
Minimum
Requirement
Plus 1.25%
Buffer (1)
   
Minimum
Requirement
Plus 2.5%
Buffer (2)
     
Tier 1 common equity ratio
   
11.44
%
   
10.78
%
   
4.5
%
   
5.75
%
   
7.0
%
   
6.5
%
Tier 1 risk-based based capital ratio
   
11.44
     
12.17
     
6.0
     
7.25
     
8.5
     
8.0
 
Total risk-based based capital ratio
   
11.88
     
14.96
     
8.0
     
9.25
     
10.5
     
10.0
 
Tier 1 leverage ratio
   
9.25
     
9.86
     
4.0
     
n/a
     
n/a
     
5.0
 
(1)
The 1.25% buffer percentage represents the phased-in requirement as of June 30, 2017.
(2)
The 2.5% buffer percentage represents the fully phased-in requirement as of January 1, 2019.
(3)
Only the Bank is subject to these requirements.

Implementation of the initial phase capital conservation buffer under the Basel III Capital Rules effective January 1, 2016 did not have a material impact upon the operations of the Bank or Holding Company. Management believes that, as of June 30, 2017, the Bank and the Holding Company would satisfy all capital categories requirements under the Basel III Capital Rules on a fully phased in basis as if such requirement had been in effect on that date.
 
The Company generally utilizes its liquidity and capital resources primarily to fund the origination of real estate and, recently, C&I loans, the purchase of real estate loans, mortgage-backed and other securities, the repurchase of common stock into treasury, the payment of quarterly cash dividends to holders of the common stock, and the payment of quarterly interest to holders of its outstanding trust preferred debt.  During the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, real estate loan originations totaled $476.7 million and $734.1 million, respectively.  The decrease reflected the Company's election to steady the growth of the real estate portfolio and focus efforts on developing and growing the C&I loan portfolio, which totaled $66.5 million in originations during the six months ended June 30, 2017, as a result of the build out of the Business Banking division during 2017. Additionally, real estate originations included $152.6 million of purchased loan participations during the six months ended June 30, 2016 in order to deploy liquidity from deposit inflows more profitably.  Security purchases were de-emphasized during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, as the yield offered in highly graded investment securities was not deemed sufficiently attractive.
 
The Holding Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2017 or 2016. As of June 30, 2017, up to 1,104,549 shares remained available for purchase under authorized share purchase programs.

The Holding Company paid $10.5 million in cash dividends on common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2017, up from $10.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016, reflecting an increase of 20,608 in outstanding shares from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.

Contractual Obligations

The Bank is obligated to make rental payments under leases on certain of its branches and equipment.  In addition, the Bank generally has outstanding at any time significant borrowings in the form of FHLBNY advances, as well as customer CDs with fixed contractual interest rates.  During the six months ended June 30, 2017, the Holding Company issued $115.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due June 2027, which become callable at any time commencing in June 2022.  The Holding Company also had $70.7 million of callable trust preferred borrowings from third parties outstanding at June 30, 2017, which the Company called for redemption on June 14, 2017. The full redemption was completed in July 2017.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As part of its loan origination business, the Bank generally has outstanding commitments to extend credit to third parties, which are granted pursuant to its regular underwriting standards.  Since these loan commitments may expire prior to funding, in whole or in part, the contract amounts are not estimates of future cash flows.

The following table presents off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2017:

   
Less than
One Year
   
One Year
to Three
Years
   
Over Three
Years to
Five Years
   
Over Five
Years
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
       
Credit Commitments:
                             
Available lines of credit
 
$
38,302
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
38,302
 
Other loan commitments
   
105,210
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
105,210
 
Stand-by letters of credit
   
922
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
922
 
Total Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
$
144,434
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
144,434
 

Asset Quality
 
General

At both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had neither whole loans nor loans underlying MBS that would have been considered subprime loans at origination, i.e., mortgage loans advanced to borrowers who did not qualify for market interest rates because of problems with their income or credit history.  See Note 9 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a discussion of impaired investment securities and MBS.

Monitoring and Collection of Delinquent Loans

Management of the Bank reviews delinquent loans on a monthly basis and reports to its Board of Directors at each regularly scheduled Board meeting regarding the status of all non-performing and otherwise delinquent loans in the Bank's portfolio.

The Bank's loan servicing policies and procedures require that an automated late notice be sent to a delinquent borrower as soon as possible after a payment is ten days late in the case of multifamily residential, commercial real estate, or C&I loans, or fifteen days late in connection with one-to-four family or consumer loans.  A second letter is sent to the borrower if payment has not been received within 30 days of the due date.  Thereafter, periodic letters are mailed and phone calls placed to the borrower until payment is received.  When contact is made with the borrower at any time prior to foreclosure, the Bank will attempt to obtain the full payment due or negotiate a repayment schedule with the borrower to avoid foreclosure.

Accrual of interest is generally discontinued on a loan that meets any of the following three criteria:  (i) full payment of principal or interest is not expected; (ii) principal or interest has been in default for a period of 90 days or more (unless the loan is both deemed to be well secured and in the process of collection); or (iii) an election has otherwise been made to maintain the loan on a cash basis due to deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower.  Such non-accrual determination practices are applied consistently to all loans regardless of their internal classification or designation.  Upon entering non-accrual status, the Bank reverses all outstanding accrued interest receivable.

The Bank generally initiates foreclosure proceedings when a loan enters non-accrual status based upon non-payment, and typically does not accept partial payments once foreclosure proceedings have commenced.  At some point during foreclosure proceedings, the Bank procures current appraisal information in order to prepare an estimate of the fair value of the underlying collateral.  If a foreclosure action is instituted and the loan is not brought current, paid in full, or refinanced before the foreclosure action is completed, the property securing the loan is transferred to OREO status.  The Bank generally attempts to utilize all available remedies, such as note sales in lieu of foreclosure, in an effort to resolve non-accrual loans and OREO properties as quickly and prudently as possible in consideration of market conditions, the physical condition of the property and any other mitigating circumstances.  In the event that a non-accrual loan is subsequently brought current, it is returned to accrual status once the doubt concerning collectability has been removed and the borrower has demonstrated performance in accordance with the loan terms and conditions for a period of at least six months.
 
Non-accrual Loans

Within the Bank's permanent portfolio, eleven non-accrual loans (excluding consumer loans) totaled $3.4 million at June 30, 2017, and sixteen non-accrual loans (excluding consumer loans) totaled $4.2 million at December 31, 2016.  During the six months ended June 30, 2017, four non-accrual loans totaling $398,000 were fully satisfied according to their contractual terms, one non-accrual loan totaling $287,000 was partially charged down by $37,000, one non-accrual loan totaling $393,000 was sold, and principal amortization of $33,000 was recognized on four non-accrual loans. There were no changes on the remaining six non-accrual loans during the six month period ended June 30, 2017.

Impaired Loans

The recorded investment in loans deemed impaired (as defined in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements) totaled $11.3 million, consisting of eleven loans, at June 30, 2017, compared to $11.9 million, consisting of thirteen loans, at December 31, 2016.  During the six months ended June 30, 2017, one impaired loan totaling $287,000 was partially charged down by $37,000, one impaired loan totaling $49,000 was fully satisfied according to its contractual terms, one impaired loan totaling $393,000 was sold, and principal amortization totaling $130,000 was recognized on ten impaired loans.  There was no change on the remaining ten impaired loans during the six month period ended June 30, 2017.

The following is a reconciliation of non-accrual and impaired loans as of the dates indicated:

   
June 30,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Non-accrual loans (1) :
           
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment
 
$
654
   
$
1,012
 
Multifamily residential and residential mixed use real estate
   
2,618
     
2,675
 
Commercial mixed use real estate
   
101
     
549
 
Consumer
   
1
     
1
 
Total non-accrual loans
   
3,374
     
4,237
 
Non-accrual one-to-four family and consumer loans deemed homogeneous loans
   
(655
)
   
(1,013
)
TDRs:
               
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment
   
399
     
407
 
Multifamily residential and residential mixed use real estate
   
639
     
658
 
Commercial mixed use real estate
   
4,218
     
4,261
 
Commercial real estate
   
3,330
     
3,363
 
Total TDRs
   
8,586
     
8,689
 
Impaired loans
 
$
11,305
   
$
11,913
 
(1)
There were no non-accruing TDRs for the periods indicated.

TDRs

Under ASC 310-40-15, the Bank is required to recognize loans for which certain modifications or concessions have been made as TDRs.  A TDR has been created in the event that, for economic or legal reasons, any of the following concessions has been granted that would not have otherwise been considered to a debtor experiencing financial difficulties. The following criteria are considered concessions:

·
A reduction of interest rate has been made for the remaining term of the loan
·
The maturity date of the loan has been extended with a stated interest rate lower than the current market rate for new debt with similar risk
·
The outstanding principal amount and/or accrued interest have been reduced

I n instances in which the interest rate has been reduced, management would not deem the modification a TDR in the event that the reduction in interest rate reflected either a general decline in market interest rates or an effort to maintain a relationship with a borrower who could readily obtain funds from other sources at the current market interest rate, and the terms of the restructured loan are comparable to the terms offered by the Bank to non-troubled debtors.  The Bank did not modify any loans in a manner that met the criteria for a TDR during the six months ended June 30, 2017.  The Bank modified one one-to-four family residential loan in a manner that met the criteria of a TDR during the six months ended June 30, 2016.
 
Accrual status for TDRs is determined separately for each TDR in accordance with the policies for determining accrual or non-accrual status that are outlined on page 35.  At the time an agreement is entered into between the Bank and the borrower that results in the Bank's determination that a TDR has been created, the loan can be on either accrual or non-accrual status.  If a loan is on non-accrual status at the time it is restructured, it continues to be classified as non-accrual until the borrower has demonstrated compliance with the modified loan terms for a period of at least six months.  Conversely, if at the time of restructuring the loan is performing (and accruing) it will remain accruing throughout its restructured period, unless the loan subsequently meets any of the criteria for non-accrual status under the Bank’s policy, as disclosed on page 35 and agency regulations.

The Bank never accepts receivables or equity interests in satisfaction of TDRs.

At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, all TDRs but one were collateralized by real estate that generated rental income.  For TDRs that demonstrated conditions sufficient to warrant accrual status, the present value of the expected net cash flows of the underlying property was utilized as the primary means of determining impairment.  Any shortfall in the present value of the expected cash flows calculated at each measurement period (typically quarter-end) compared to the present value of the expected cash flows at the time of the original loan agreement was recognized as either an allocated reserve (in the event that it related to lower expected interest payments) or a charge-off (if related to lower expected principal payments).  For TDRs on non-accrual status, an appraisal of the underlying real estate collateral is deemed the most appropriate measure to utilize when evaluating impairment, and any shortfall in valuation from the recorded balance is accounted for through a charge-off.  In the event that either an allocated reserve or a charge-off is recognized on TDRs, the periodic loan loss provision is impacted.

Please refer to Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for a further discussion of TDRs.

OREO

Property acquired by the Bank, or a subsidiary, as a result of foreclosure on a mortgage loan or a deed in lieu of foreclosure is classified as OREO.  Upon entering OREO status, the Bank obtains a current appraisal on the property and reassesses the likely realizable value ( a/k/a fair value) of the property quarterly thereafter.  OREO is carried at the lower of the fair value or book balance, with any write downs recognized through a provision recorded in non-interest expense.  Only the appraised value, or either a contractual or formal marketed value that falls below the appraised value, is used when determining the likely realizable value of OREO at each reporting period.  The Bank typically seeks to dispose of OREO properties in a timely manner.  As a result, OREO properties have generally not warranted subsequent independent appraisals.

The Bank had no OREO properties at June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016. The Bank did not recognize any provisions for losses on OREO properties during the three or six months ended June 30, 2017 or 2016.

The following table sets forth information regarding non-accrual loans and certain other non-performing assets (including OREO, if any) at the dates indicated:

   
June 30,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Non-accrual loans
 
$
3,374
   
$
4,237
 
Non-performing assets:
               
Non-performing TRUP CDOs
   
1,287
     
1,270
 
Total non-performing assets
 
$
4,661
   
$
5,507
 
Ratios:
               
Total non-accrual loans to total loans
   
0.06
%
   
0.08
%
Total non-performing assets to total assets
   
0.07
     
0.09
 
                 
Other Potential Problem Loans

Loans Delinquent 30 to 89 Days

The Bank had three real estate loans, totaling $1.9 million, that were delinquent between 30 and 89 days at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The 30 to 89 day delinquency levels fluctuate monthly, and are generally considered a less accurate indicator of near-term credit quality trends than non-accrual loans.
 
Reserve for Loan Commitments

The Bank maintains a reserve associated with unfunded loan commitments accepted by the borrower. The amount of reserve was $25,000 at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. This reserve is determined based upon the outstanding volume of loan commitments at each period end.  Any increases or reductions in this reserve are recognized in periodic non-interest expense.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The methodology utilized to determine the Company's allowance for loan losses on real estate, C&I, and consumer loans, along with periodic associated activity, remained constant during the periods ended June 30, 2017, March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.  The following is a summary of the components of the allowance for loan losses as of the following dates:

   
June 30,
2017
   
March 31,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Impaired loans
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Pass graded loans:
                       
Real estate loans
   
20,945
     
20,482
     
20,516
 
C&I loans
   
1,023
     
453
     
-
 
Consumer loans
   
17
     
19
     
20
 
Total
 
$
21,985
   
$
20,954
   
$
20,536
 

The allowance for loan losses increased $1.0 million and $1.4 million during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively. Provisions of $1.0 million and $1.5 million were recorded during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, primarily from growth in C&I loans within the pass graded portion of the loan portfolio.

For a further discussion of the allowance for loan losses and related activity during the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and as of December 31, 2016, please see Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.  Period-end balances of all Substandard, Special Mention and pass graded real estate loans are summarized in Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Comparison of Financial Condition at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016

Assets.   Assets totaled $6.26 billion at June 30, 2017, $252.8 million above their level at December 31, 2016.

Total loans increased $239.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017. During the period, the Bank originated $476.7 million of real estate loans (including refinancing of existing loans) and $66.5 million of C&I loans, which exceeded the $305.1 million of aggregate amortization on such loans (also including refinancing of existing loans) during the period.

Cash and due from banks decreased $3.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, as a result of funding loan growth in the period.

Liabilities.   Total liabilities increased $238.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, primarily due to an increase of $113.5 million in FHLBNY advances, the net issuance of $113.5 million of subordinated debt, and increases of $23.1 million in retail deposits (due to depositors), offset by an $11.8 million decrease in mortgagor escrow and other deposits.  Please refer to "Part I – Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a discussion of the increases in retail deposits and decline in FHLBNY advances during the six months ended June 30, 2017.  The decrease in mortgagor escrow and other deposits was due to the semi-annual real estate tax payments made from escrow accounts.

Stockholders' Equity.   Stockholders' equity increased $14.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, due primarily to net income of $23.1 million, $626,000 of equity added from stock option exercises, $838,000 aggregate increase related to expense amortization, and $198,000 of equity added as a result of issuances of equity awards.  Partially offsetting these items was $10.5 million in cash dividends paid during the period.  The change in accumulated other comprehensive loss was immaterial during the six-month period ended June 30, 2017.
 
Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

General.   Net income was $12.0 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $781,000 from net income of $11.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016.  During the comparative period, net interest income increased by $2.4 million, offset by a decrease in non-interest income by $558,000, an increase in non-interest expense by $1.4 million, and an increase in the provision for loan losses by $605,000 during the period. Income tax expense was $7.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, lower than the comparative period by $878,000 as the effective tax rate was higher in 2016 due to the gain recognized from the sale of real estate.

Net Interest Income.  The discussion of net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 should be read in conjunction with the following tables, which set forth certain information related to the consolidated statements of income for those periods, and which also present the average yield on assets and average cost of liabilities for the periods indicated.  The average yields and costs were derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of their related assets or liabilities during the periods represented. Average balances were derived from average daily balances. The yields include fees that are considered adjustments to yields.

Analysis of Net Interest Income

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
         
2017
               
2016
       
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Average
Yield/
Cost
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
Assets:
 
(Dollars In Thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Real estate loans
 
$
5,759,565
   
$
51,137
     
3.55
%
 
$
5,138,053
   
$
47,358
     
3.69
%
C&I loans
   
41,776
     
474
     
4.54
     
384
     
6
     
6.25
 
Other loans
   
1,076
     
18
     
6.69
     
1,127
     
18
     
6.39
 
MBS
   
3,460
     
14
     
1.62
     
400
     
2
     
2.00
 
Investment securities
   
16,970
     
164
     
3.87
     
20,203
     
265
     
5.25
 
Other
   
95,326
     
611
     
2.56
     
148,267
     
721
     
1.95
 
Total interest-earning assets
   
5,918,173
   
$
52,418
     
3.54
%
   
5,308,434
   
$
48,370
     
3.64
%
Non-interest earning assets
   
210,205
                     
201,115
                 
Total assets
 
$
6,128,378
                   
$
5,509,549
                 
                                                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Interest bearing checking accounts
 
$
114,257
   
$
65
     
0.23
%
 
$
84,835
   
$
61
     
0.29
%
Money Market accounts
   
2,767,455
     
6,139
     
0.89
     
1,892,046
     
3,865
     
0.82
 
Savings accounts
   
367,995
     
46
     
0.05
     
369,266
     
44
     
0.05
 
CDs
   
925,535
     
3,259
     
1.41
     
1,010,864
     
3,627
     
1.44
 
Borrowed Funds
   
875,057
     
4,856
     
2.23
     
1,145,058
     
5,163
     
1.81
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
5,050,299
   
$
14,365
     
1.14
%
   
4,502,069
   
$
12,760
     
1.14
%
Non-interest bearing checking accounts
   
300,762
                     
255,922
                 
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities
   
200,628
                     
206,526
                 
Total liabilities
   
5,551,689
                     
4,964,517
                 
Stockholders' equity
   
576,689
                     
545,032
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
6,128,378
                   
$
5,509,549
                 
Net interest income
         
$
38,053
                   
$
35,610
         
Net interest spread
                   
2.40
%
                   
2.50
%
Net interest-earning assets
 
$
867,874
                   
$
806,365
                 
Net interest margin
                   
2.57
%
                   
2.68
%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities
                   
117.18
%
                   
117.91
%
                                                 
Deposits
 
$
4,476,004
   
$
9,509
     
0.85
%
 
$
3,612,933
   
$
7,597
     
0.85
%
 
Rate/Volume Analysis

   
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
Increase/ (Decrease) Due to:
 
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars In thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                 
Real estate loans
 
$
5,653
   
$
(1,874
)
 
$
3,779
 
C&I loans
   
559
     
(91
)
   
468
 
Other loans
   
(1
)
   
1
     
-
 
MBS
   
14
     
(2
)
   
12
 
Investment securities
   
(37
)
   
(64
)
   
(101
)
Other
   
(297
)
   
187
     
(110
)
Total
 
$
5,891
   
$
(1,843
)
 
$
4,048
 
                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Interest bearing checking accounts
 
$
19
   
$
(15
)
 
$
4
 
Money market accounts
   
1,869
     
405
     
2,274
 
Savings accounts
   
1
     
1
     
2
 
CDs
   
(300
)
   
(68
)
   
(368
)
Borrowed funds
   
(1,364
)
   
1,057
     
(307
)
Total
 
$
225
   
$
1,380
   
$
1,605
 
Net change in net interest income
 
$
5,666
   
$
(3,223
)
 
$
2,443
 

The Company’s net interest income and net interest margin (“NIM”) during the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were impacted by the following factors:

·
During the period January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2017, Federal Open Market Committee monetary policies resulted in the maintenance of the overnight federal funds rate in a range of 0.0% to 1.25%, helping deposit and borrowing costs remain at historically low levels.

·
Increased marketplace competition and refinancing activity on real estate loans, particularly during the period January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017, resulted in an ongoing reduction in the average yield on real estate loans.

Net Interest Income.  Net interest income was $38.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of an increase of $2.4 million from the three months ended June 30, 2016.  Average earning assets were $5.92 billion at June 30, 2017, an increase from $5.31 billion from June 30, 2016. NIM was 2.57% during the three months ended June 30 2017, down from 2.68% during the three months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to lower yields on real estate loans.

Interest Income.   Interest income was $52.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $4.0 million from the three months ended June 30, 2016, primarily reflecting an increase of $3.8 million in interest income on real estate loans. The increased interest income on real estate loans was attributable to growth of $621.5 million in their average balance during the comparative period, as, pursuant to the Company's growth strategy, new originations significantly exceeded amortization and satisfactions during the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. Partially offsetting the higher interest income on real estate loans from the growth in their average balance was a reduction of 14 basis points in their average yield, resulting from both continued low benchmark lending rates and heightened market competition.

Interest Expense.   Interest expense increased $1.6 million, to $14.4 million, during the three months ended June 30, 2017, from $12.8 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016. The increased interest expense was mainly attributable to growth in money market deposits average balance of $875.4 million, and an increase in their average cost by 7 basis points. The increase in the money market average balances was due to successful promotional activities in connection with the Company’s growth strategy. Offsetting this increase was a decline in interest expense of $368,000 on CDs and $307,000 on borrowed funds, as their average balances decreased $85.3 million and $270.0 million, respectively, during the comparative period as a result of money market growth outpacing loan growth in furtherance of the Company’s strategy to decrease high cost borrowings and borrowed funds.

Provision for Loan Losses. The Company recognized a provision for loan losses of $1.0 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, compared to a provision for loan losses of $442,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2016.   The increase in loan loss provision resulted mainly from growth in the real estate and C&I loan portfolio.
 
Non-Interest Income.     Non-interest income was $1.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, a decrease of $558,000 million from $2.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, due primarily to $484,000 of additional income from BOLI related to the receipt of a mortality benefit due to the passing of an insured officer during the three months ended June 30, 2016. The remaining variance in non-interest income during the comparative period was related to miscellaneous other income.

Non-Interest Expense.   Non-interest expense was $19.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $1.4 million from $18.1 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016, reflecting increases of $274,000 in salaries and employee benefit expense, $385,000 in occupancy and equipment expense, $247,000 in data processing costs, $288,000 in marketing expense, and $131,000 in FDIC premiums, offset by a decrease of $465,000 in ESOP and RSA amortization expense during the comparative period. The remaining increase in non-interest expense was experienced in other operating expenses. The $274,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily driven by the hiring of new employees and their associated employee benefits expense. The $385,000 increase in occupancy expense was attributable to new leases related to de novo retail branches and a new corporate headquarters. The $247,000 increase in data processing costs was the result of various technology enhancement initiatives related to customer banking services. The $288,000 increase in marketing expense was attributable to higher volume of marketing promotions. The $465,000 decrease in ESOP and RSA amortization expense resulted from the payoff of the ESOP share acquisition loan during the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and a lower number of vesting RSAs during the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

Non-interest expense was 1.27% and 1.31% of average assets during the three-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, as the increase in average assets of $618.8 million outpaced the growth of non-interest expense during the comparative period.

Income Tax Expense.    Income tax expense approximated $7.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2017, down $878,000 from $8.2 million during the three months ended June 30, 2016.  The Company's consolidated tax rate was 37.8% during the three months ended June 30, 2017, down from 42.2% during the three months ended June 30, 2016.  The decrease in the consolidated tax rate was primarily a result of the previously discussed $68.2 million gain on sale of real estate transaction, which impacted the consolidated tax rate during the June 2016 quarter.

Comparison of Operating Results for the Six months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

General.   Net income was $23.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, a decrease of $38.1 million from net income of $61.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016.  During the comparative period, non-interest income decreased by $68.5 million, non-interest expense increased $4.3 million, and the provision for loan losses increased by $1.1 million, offset by an increase of $5.3 million in net interest income during the period. Income tax expense decreased by $30.5 million during the comparative period, as a result of $68.6 million lower pre-tax income, resulting primarily from a $68.2 million gain on the sale of property in 2016.

Net Interest Income.  The discussion of net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 presented below should be read in conjunction with the following tables, which set forth certain information related to the consolidated statements of income for those periods, and which also present the average yield on assets and average cost of liabilities for the periods indicated.  The average yields and costs were derived by dividing income or expense by the average balance of their related assets or liabilities during the periods represented. Average balances were derived from average daily balances. The yields include fees that are considered adjustments to yields.
 
Analysis of Net Interest Income

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
         
2017
               
2016
       
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Average
Yield/
Cost
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Average
Yield/
Cost
 
Assets:
 
(Dollars In Thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Real estate loans
 
$
5,723,561
   
$
101,612
     
3.55
%
 
$
4,977,574
   
$
93,009
     
3.74
%
C&I loans
   
22,125
     
515
     
4.66
     
329
     
11
     
6.69
 
Other loans
   
1,072
     
36
     
6.72
     
1,137
     
37
     
6.51
 
MBS
   
3,475
     
28
     
1.61
     
407
     
4
     
1.97
 
Investment securities
   
16,906
     
354
     
4.19
     
20,210
     
438
     
4.33
 
Other
   
104,102
     
1,327
     
2.55
     
132,382
     
1,382
     
2.09
 
Total interest-earning assets
   
5,871,241
   
$
103,872
     
3.54
%
   
5,132,039
   
$
94,881
     
3.70
%
Non-interest earning assets
   
206,405
                     
208,420
                 
Total assets
 
$
6,077,646
                   
$
5,340,459
                 
                                                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Interest bearing checking accounts
 
$
112,527
   
$
124
     
0.22
%
 
$
82,337
   
$
117
     
0.29
%
Money Market accounts
   
2,730,337
     
11,918
     
0.88
     
1,790,974
     
7,244
     
0.81
 
Savings accounts
   
368,041
     
91
     
0.05
     
368,487
     
91
     
0.05
 
CDs
   
973,845
     
6,883
     
1.43
     
970,936
     
6,939
     
1.44
 
Borrowed Funds
   
843,173
     
9,316
     
2.23
     
1,163,586
     
10,249
     
1.77
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
5,027,923
   
$
28,332
     
1.14
%
   
4,376,320
   
$
24,640
     
1.13
%
Non-interest bearing checking accounts
   
296,007
                     
258,450
                 
Other non-interest-bearing liabilities
   
180,510
                     
179,597
                 
Total liabilities
   
5,504,440
                     
4,814,367
                 
Stockholders' equity
   
573,206
                     
526,092
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
6,077,646
                   
$
5,340,459
                 
Net interest income
         
$
75,540
                   
$
70,241
         
Net interest spread
                   
2.40
%
                   
2.57
%
Net interest-earning assets
 
$
843,318
                   
$
755,719
                 
Net interest margin
                   
2.57
%
                   
2.74
%
Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities
                   
116.77
%
                   
117.27
%
                                                 
Deposits
 
$
4,480,757
   
$
19,016
     
0.86
%
 
$
3,471,184
   
$
14,391
     
0.83
%

Rate/Volume Analysis

   
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Increase/ (Decrease) Due to:
 
   
Volume
   
Rate
   
Total
 
   
(Dollars In thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                 
Real estate loans
 
$
13,636
   
$
(5,033
)
 
$
8,603
 
C&I loans
   
618
     
(114
)
   
504
 
Other loans
   
(2
)
   
1
     
(1
)
MBS
   
28
     
(4
)
   
24
 
Investment securities
   
(71
)
   
(13
)
   
(84
)
Other
   
(327
)
   
272
     
(55
)
Total
 
$
13,882
   
$
(4,891
)
 
$
8,991
 
                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Interest bearing checking accounts
 
$
40
   
$
(33
)
 
$
7
 
Money market accounts
   
3,920
     
754
     
4,674
 
Savings accounts
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
CDs
   
7
     
(63
)
   
(56
)
Borrowed funds
   
(3,201
)
   
2,268
     
(933
)
Total
 
$
766
   
$
2,926
   
$
3,692
 
Net change in net interest income
 
$
13,116
   
$
(7,817
)
 
$
5,299
 
 
The Company’s net interest income and NIM during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were impacted by the following factors:

·
During the period January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2017, Federal Open Market Committee monetary policies resulted in the maintenance of the overnight federal funds rate in a range of 0.0% to 1.25%, helping deposit and borrowing costs remain at historically low levels.

·
Increased marketplace competition and refinancing activity on real estate loans, particularly during the period January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017, has resulted in an ongoing reduction in the average yield on real estate loans.

Net Interest Income.  Net interest income was $75.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of an increase of $5.3 million from the six months ended June 30, 2016.  Average earning assets were $5.87 billion at June 30, 2017, an increase from $5.13 billion from June 30, 2016. NIM was 2.57% during the six months ended June 30, 2017, down from 2.74% during the three months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to lower yields on real estate loans.

Interest Income.   Interest income was $103.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $9.0 million from the six months ended June 30, 2016, primarily reflecting increases in interest income of $8.6 million on real estate loans and $504,000 on C&I loans. The increased interest income on real estate loans reflected growth of $746.0 million in their average balance during the comparative period, as new originations significantly exceeded amortization and satisfactions during the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017. The increased interest income on C&I loans reflected the build out of the Business Banking division and growth of $21.8 million in the average balances during the comparative period.  Partially offsetting the higher interest income on real estate loans from the growth in their average balance was a reduction of 19 basis points in their average yield, resulting from both continued low benchmark lending rates and heightened marketplace competition.

Interest Expense.   Interest expense approximated $28.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $3.7 million from the six months ended June 30, 2016, primarily reflecting increases in interest expense of $4.7 million on money market accounts, offset by a reduction of $933,000 in interest expense on borrowed funds. The increase of $4.7 million in interest expense on money market deposits reflected successful promotional activities that increased their average balance by $939.4 million and their average cost by 7 basis points from the six months ended June 30, 2016 to the six months ended June 30, 2017.  Interest expense on borrowings declined $933,000 due to a decrease of $320.4 million in their average balance during the comparative period, which outweighed the increase in their average cost by 46 basis points.

Provision for Loan Losses. The Company recognized a provision for loan losses of $1.5 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to a provision for loan losses of $421,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2016.  The increase in loan loss provision resulted mainly from growth in the real estate and C&I loan portfolio, offset by continued improvement in the overall credit quality of the loan portfolio.

Non-Interest Income.     Total   non-interest income decreased $68.5 million from the six months ended June 30, 2016 to the six months ended June 30, 2017, due primarily to a gain of $68.2 million recognized on the sale of real estate and $484,000 of additional income from BOLI related to the receipt of a mortality benefit due to the passing of an insured officer during the six months ended June 30, 2016. Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase in service charges and other fees during the comparative period as a result of higher transaction volume.

Non-Interest Expense.   Non-interest expense was $40.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $4.3 million from $36.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016, reflecting increases of $1.5 million in salaries and employee benefits, $1.4 million in occupancy and equipment expense, $659,000 in data processing costs, $577,000 in marketing expense, and $47,000 in FDIC insurance premiums, offset by a decrease of $1.0 million in ESOP and RSA amortization expense during the comparative period. The remaining increase in non-interest expense was experienced in other operating expenses. The $1.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily driven by the hiring of new employees and their associated employee benefits expense. The $1.4 million increase in occupancy expense was attributable to new leases related to de novo retail branches and a new corporate headquarters. The $659,000 increase in data processing costs was the result of various technology enhancement initiatives related to customer banking services. The $577,000 increase in marketing expense was attributable to higher volume of marketing promotions. The $1.0 million decrease in ESOP and RSA amortization expense resulted from the payoff of the ESOP share acquisition loan during the quarter ended December 31, 2016 and a lower number of vesting RSAs during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Non-interest expense was 1.32% and 1.35% of average assets during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease was mainly due to the growth in average assets outweighing the growth in non-interest expense during the period.
 
Income Tax Expense.   Income tax expense approximated $14.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2017, down from $44.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016, due to a decrease of $68.6 million in pre-tax income during the comparative period.  The $68.6 million decrease in pre-tax income was primarily attributable to the $68.2 million gain on sale of real estate that occurred during the six month period ended June 30, 2016.  The Company's consolidated tax rate was 38.0% during the six months ended June 30, 2017, down from 42.2% during the six months ended June 30, 2016, primarily due to the additional tax related to the $68.2 million gain on sale of real estate.

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk were presented at December 31, 2016 in Item 7A of the Holding Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017.  The following is an update of the discussion provided therein.

General .  Virtually all of the Company's market risk continues to reside at the Bank level.  The Bank's largest component of market risk remains interest rate risk.  The Company is not subject to foreign currency exchange or commodity price risk.  At June 30, 2017, the Company owned thirteen mutual fund investments totaling $7.2 million that were designated as trading.  At June 30, 2017, the Company conducted seven transactions involving derivative instruments requiring bifurcation in order to hedge interest rate or market risk.

Assets, Deposit Liabilities and Wholesale Funds .  There was no material change in the composition of assets, deposit liabilities or wholesale funds from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017.  See "Part I - Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a discussion of deposit and borrowing activity during the period.

Interest Rate Risk Exposure Analysis
 
Economic Value of Equity ("EVE") Analysis .  In accordance with agency regulatory guidelines, the Bank simulates the impact of interest rate volatility upon EVE using several interest rate scenarios.  EVE is the difference between the present value of the expected future cash flows of the Bank’s assets and liabilities and the value of any off-balance sheet items, such as firm commitments to originate loans, or derivatives, if applicable.

Traditionally, the fair value of fixed-rate instruments fluctuates inversely with changes in interest rates.  Increases in interest rates thus result in decreases in the fair value of interest-earning assets, which could adversely affect the Company's consolidated results of operations in the event they were to be sold, or, in the case of interest-earning assets classified as available-for-sale, reduce the Company's consolidated stockholders' equity, if retained.  The changes in the value of assets and liabilities due to fluctuations in interest rates measure the interest rate sensitivity of those assets and liabilities.

In order to measure the Bank’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates, EVE is calculated under market interest rates prevailing at a given quarter-end ("Pre-Shock Scenario"), and under various other interest rate scenarios ("Rate Shock Scenarios") representing immediate, permanent, parallel shifts in the term structure of interest rates from the actual term structure observed in the Pre-Shock Scenario.  An increase in the EVE is considered favorable, while a decline is considered unfavorable.  The changes in EVE between the Pre-Shock Scenario and various Rate Shock Scenarios due to fluctuations in interest rates reflect the interest rate sensitivity of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and off-balance sheet items that are included in the EVE.  Management reports the EVE results to the Bank's Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. The report compares the Bank's estimated Pre-Shock Scenario EVE to the estimated EVEs calculated under the various Rate Shock Scenarios.

The calculated EVEs incorporate some asset and liability values derived from the Bank’s valuation model, such as those for real estate and C&I loans and time deposits, and some asset and liability values provided by reputable independent sources, such as values for the Bank's MBS portfolio, as well as all borrowings.  The Bank's valuation model makes various estimates regarding cash flows from principal repayments on loans and deposit decay rates at each level of interest rate change.  The Bank's estimates for loan repayment levels are influenced by the recent history of prepayment activity in its loan portfolio, as well as the interest rate composition of the existing portfolio, especially in relation to the existing interest rate environment.  In addition, the Bank considers the amount of fee protection inherent in the loan portfolio when estimating future repayment cash flows.  Regarding deposit decay rates, the Bank tracks and analyzes the decay rate of its deposits over time, with the assistance of a reputable third party, and over various interest rate scenarios.  Such results are utilized in determining estimates of deposit decay rates in the valuation model.  The Bank also generates a series of spot discount rates that are integral to the valuation of the projected monthly cash flows of its assets and liabilities.  The Bank's valuation model employs discount rates that it considers representative of prevailing market rates of interest, with appropriate adjustments it believes are suited to the heterogeneous characteristics of the Bank’s various asset and liability portfolios.  No matter the care and precision with which the estimates are derived, however, actual cash flows could differ significantly from the Bank's estimates, resulting in significantly different EVE calculations.
 
The analysis that follows presents, as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the estimated EVE at both the Pre-Shock Scenario and the +200 Basis Point Rate Shock Scenario. The analysis additionally presents the percentage change in EVE from the Pre-Shock Scenario to the +200 Basis Point Rate Shock Scenario at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

   
At June 30, 2017
   
At December 31, 2016
 
   
EVE
   
Dollar
Change
   
Percentage
Change
   
EVE
   
Dollar
Change
   
Percentage
Change
 
Rate Shock Scenario
 
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
+ 200 Basis Points
 
$
556,515
   
$
(61,808
)
   
-10.0
%
 
$
508,155
   
$
(66,494
)
   
-11.6
%
Pre-Shock Scenario
   
618,323
     
-
     
-
     
574,649
     
-
     
-
 

The Bank’s Pre-Shock Scenario EVE increased from $574.6 million at December 31, 2016 to $618.3 million at June 30, 2017. The factors contributing to the more favorable valuation at June 30, 2017 included an increase in the value of the Bank's real estate and C&I loans and a decrease in the value of the core deposit liability. The more favorable valuation of real estate and C&I loans resulted primarily from a slight decrease in duration of the portfolio at June 30, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016, as both refinancing and gross loan origination activity was lower than in previous quarters.  The decrease in the value of the Bank's core deposit liability resulted primarily from an increase in market interest rates from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017.

The Bank’s EVE in the +200 basis point Rate Shock Scenario increased from $508.2 million at December 31, 2016 to $556.5 million at June 30, 2017. The factors contributing to the more favorable valuation included the previously noted increase in the value of the Bank’s real estate and C&I loans and decrease in the value of the core deposit liability from December 31, 2016 to June 30, 2017.

Income Simulation Analysis.   As of the end of each quarterly period, the Bank also monitors the impact of interest rate changes through a net interest income simulation model.  This model estimates the impact of interest rate changes on the Bank's net interest income over forward-looking periods typically not exceeding 36 months (a considerably shorter period than measured through the EVE analysis).  Management reports the net interest income simulation results to the Bank's Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. The following table discloses the estimated changes to the Bank's net interest income over the 12-month period ending June 30, 2017 assuming instantaneous changes in interest rates for the given Rate Shock Scenarios:
 
Instantaneous Change in Interest rate of:
 
Percentage
Change in Net
Interest
Income
 
+ 200 Basis Points
   
(11.4
)%
+ 100 Basis Points
   
(5.9
)
100 Basis Points
   
9.9
 

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures

Management of the Company, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness as of June 30, 2017, of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) under the Exchange Act.  Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2017 in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company's last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, such controls.
 
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is routinely named as a defendant in or party to various pending or threatened legal actions or proceedings.  Certain of these matters may seek substantial monetary damages.  In the opinion of management, the Company is involved in no actions or proceedings that are likely to have a material adverse impact on its financial condition and results of operations.

Item 1A.
Risk Factors

There were no material changes from the risks disclosed in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

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

(a)
Not applicable.

(b)
Not applicable.

(c)
The Holding Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock into treasury during the three-month or six-month periods ended June 30, 2017.  No existing repurchase programs expired during the three months ended June 30, 2017, nor did the Company terminate any repurchase programs prior to expiration during the period.  As of June 30, 2017, the Holding Company had an additional 1,104,549 shares remaining eligible for repurchase under its twelfth stock repurchase program, which was publicly announced in June 2007.

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4.
(Removed and Reserved)

Item 5.
Other Information

None.

Item 6.
Exhibits

Exhibit Number
   
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Transition Report on Form 10-K for the transition period ended December 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2003 (File No. 000-27782))
   
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 30, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
4.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. [see Exhibit 3.1 hereto]
   
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. [see Exhibit 3.2 hereto]
   
4.3
Draft Stock Certificate of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998, filed with the SEC on September 28, 1998 (File No. 000-27782))
   
4.4
Second Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of July 29, 2004, by and among Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., as Sponsor, the Administrators of Dime Community Capital Trust I, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Dime Community Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on July 29, 2004 (File No. 333-117743))
 
4.5
Indenture, dated as of March 19, 2004, between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on July 29, 2004 (File No. 333-117743))
   
4.6
Series B Guarantee Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2004, executed and delivered by Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., as Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Series B Capital Securities of Dime Community Capital Trust I (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC on July 29, 2004 (File No. 333-117743))
   
4.7
Indenture, dated as of June 13, 2017, by and between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 13, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
4.8
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 13, 2017, by and between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee, including the form of 4.50% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debentures due 2027 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 13, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.3
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and Kenneth J. Mahon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2011 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.6
Employment Agreement between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Kenneth J. Mahon  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2011 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.7
Form of Employee Retention Agreement by and among The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh, Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. and certain officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2012 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.8
The Benefit Maintenance Plan of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 4, 2011 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.9
Severance Pay Plan of The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.10
Retirement Plan for Board Members of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.12
Recognition and Retention Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees of Dime Community Bancorp, Inc., as amended by amendments number 1 and 2 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, filed with the SEC on September 26, 1997 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.13(i)
Form of stock option agreement for Outside Directors under Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, filed with the SEC on September 26, 1997 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.13(ii)
Form of stock option agreement for Outside Directors under Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the SEC on January 24, 2003 (File No. 333-102690))
   
10.13(iii)
Form of stock option agreement for Outside Directors under Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2005 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.14(i)
Form of stock option agreement for officers and employees under Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, filed with the SEC on September 26, 1997 (File No. 000-27782))
 
10.14(ii)
Form of stock option agreement for officers and employees under Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the SEC on January 24, 2003 (File No. 333-102690))
   
10.14(iii)
Form of stock option agreement for officers and employees under Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 22, 2005 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.20
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2011 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.21
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan for Outside Directors, Officers and Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2008 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.24
Waiver executed by Kenneth J. Mahon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2005 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.25
Form of restricted stock award notice for officers and employees under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 22, 2005) (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.27
Form of restricted stock award notice for outside directors under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 22, 2005) (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.30
Adoption Agreement for Pentegra Services, Inc. Volume Submitter 401(K) Profit Sharing Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2015) (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.31
Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Certain Affiliates (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 31 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009) (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.32
Amendment to the Benefit Maintenance Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, filed with the SEC on November 13, 2012) (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.33
Amendments One, Two and Three to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Certain Affiliates (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2013 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.34
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2013 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.35
Form of restricted stock award notice for officers and employees under the 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2014 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.36
Form of restricted stock award notice for outside directors under the 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on August 5, 2014 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.37
The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(K) Savings Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2015 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.38
Amendment Number Four to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Certain Affiliates (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.39
Amendment Number One to the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(K) Savings Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2015 (File No. 000-27782))
 
10.40
Retirement and Consulting Agreement between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Michael P. Devine (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on November 6, 2015 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.41
Retirement and Consulting Agreement between Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Vincent F. Palagiano (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 30, 2016) (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.42
Form of performance share award notice for 2016 grants to officers under 2013 Equity and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2016 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.43
Employment and Change in Control Agreement between Dime Community Bank and Stuart Lubow (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.44
Employment and Change in Control Agreement between Dime Community Bank and Conrad Gunther (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.45
Purchase and Sale Agreement between The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and Tarvos Capital Partners USA LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.46
Purchase and Sale Agreement between The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and Havemeyer Owner BB LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.47
Amendment Number Five to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Certain Affiliates (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
10.48
Amendment Number Six to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Certain Affiliates (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2017 (File No. 000-27782))
   
Dime Community Bank KSOP, as amended and restated effective July 1, 2017
   
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
   
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
   
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
   
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350
   
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350
   
101
Pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T, the following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2017 is formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) interactive data files: (i) the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Unaudited), (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income f(Unaudited), (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited), (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited), (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited), and (vi) the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements **

**
Furnished, not filed, herewith.
 
SIGNATURES

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

Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.

Dated: August 7, 2017
By: /s/ KENNETH J. MAHON
 
Kenneth J. Mahon
 
President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: August 7, 2017
By: /s/ JAMES L. RIZZO
 
James L. Rizzo
 
Senior Vice President and Comptroller (Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
49


Exhibit 10.49
 
DIME COMMUNITY BANK KSOP

As amended and restated effective July 1, 2017
 

DIME COMMUNITY BANK KSOP
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
    
Page
     
ARTICLE 1
INTRODUCTION
1
      
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
4
       
ARTICLE 3
PARTICIPATION
12
       
 
Section 3.1
Eligibility Requirements.
12
       
ARTICLE 4
CONTRIBUTIONS
13
       
 
Section 4.1
Elective Deferrals (Pre-Tax and Roth).
13
       
 
Section 4.2
Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contribution.
16
       
 
Section 4.3
Employer Discretionary Contribution.
16
       
 
Section 4.4
Employer Matching Contributions
17
       
 
Section 4.5
Limitations on Contributions for Highly-Compensated Employees.
17
       
 
Section 4.6
Return of Employer Contributions
22
       
 
Section 4.7
Military Service
23
       
ARTICLE 5
ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN
24
       
 
Section 5.1
Requirements for Rollover Contributions
24
       
 
Section 5.2
Delivery of Rollover Contributions.
24
       
ARTICLE 6
TRUST
25
       
ARTICLE 7
INVESTMENT ELECTIONS, ALLOCATION OF TRUST INCOME AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO PARTICIPANTS’ ACCOUNTS
26
   
 
Section 7.1
Separate Accounts.
26
       
 
Section 7.2
Investment Funds, Elections and Company Stock Fund.
26
       
 
Section 7.3
Allocation to Participants’ Accounts of Net Income of Trust and Fluctuation in Value of Trust Assets
33
       
 
Section 7.4
Determination of Net Worth of an Investment Fund
34
       
 
Section 7.5
Limitations on Allocations
34
       
 
Section 7.6
Correction of Error.
35
       
ARTICLE 8
VESTING
36
       
 
Section 8.1
Vesting Schedules.
36
       
 
Section 8.2
Forfeiture of Unvested Amounts
36
 
i

ARTICLE 9
DISTRIBUTIONS
38
       
 
Section 9.1
Time and Form of Distribution upon Termination of Employment.
38
       
 
Section 9.2
Designation of Beneficiary
40
       
 
Section 9.3
Investment of Distributee Accounts
40
       
 
Section 9.4
Distributions to Minor and Disabled Distributees
40
       
 
Section 9.5
“Lost” Participants and Beneficiaries.
41
       
 
Section 9.6
Withdrawals from Accounts During Employment.
41
       
 
Section 9.7
Loans to Participants.
44
       
 
Section 9.8
Direct Rollovers.
45
       
ARTICLE 10
PARTICIPANTS’ STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS
47
       
 
Section 10.1
Company Stock
47
       
 
Section 10.2
Tender Offers.
47
       
ARTICLE 11
ADMINISTRATION
49
       
 
Section 11.1
The Plan Administrator.
49
       
 
Section 11.2
Claims Procedure.
50
       
 
Section 11.3
Procedures for Domestic Relations Orders
53
       
 
Section 11.4
Notices to Participants, Etc.
53
       
 
Section 11.5
Notices to Company, Employers or Plan Administrator
53
       
 
Section 11.6
New Technologies
54
       
 
Section 11.7
Records
54
       
 
Section 11.8
Reports of Accounting to Participants
54
       
 
Section 11.9
Limitations on Actions
54
       
 
Section 11.10
Restriction of Venue
54
       
ARTICLE 12
ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN
55
       
 
Section 12.1
Adoption of Plan By Entity in Company’s Controlled Group
55
       
 
Section 12.2
Withdrawal from Participation
55
       
 
Section 12.3
Company and Plan Administrator as Agent for Employers
55
 
ii

ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS
56
       
 
Section 13.1
Expenses
56
       
 
Section 13.2
Non-Assignability.
56
       
 
Section 13.3
Employment Non-Contractual
57
       
 
Section 13.4
Limitation of Rights
57
       
 
Section 13.5
Merger or Consolidation with Another Plan
57
       
 
Section 13.6
Gender and Plurals
57
       
 
Section 13.7
Applicable Law
57
       
 
Section 13.8
Severability
58
       
ARTICLE 14
TOP-HEAVY PLAN REQUIREMENTS
59
       
 
Section 14.1
Top-Heavy Plan Determination
59
       
 
Section 14.2
Definitions and Special Rules.
59
       
 
Section 14.3
Minimum Contribution for Top-Heavy Years
60
       
ARTICLE 15
AMENDMENT, ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATE PLAN AND TERMINATION
61
       
 
Section 15.1
Amendment or Termination
61
       
 
Section 15.2
Establishment of Separate Plan
61
       
 
Section 15.3
Full Vesting upon Termination of Participation, Partial Plan Termination or Complete Discontinuance of Contributions
61
       
 
Section 15.4
Distribution upon Termination of the Plan
61
       
 
Section 15.5
Trust Fund to Be Applied Exclusively for Participants and Their Beneficiaries
62
       
SIGNATURE
63
 
iii

DIME COMMUNITY BANK KSOP
 
ARTICLE 1
 
INTRODUCTION
 
The Dime Community Bank KSOP has been established to permit the eligible employees of Dime Community Bank to save for retirement by deferring receipt of a portion of their compensation on either a pre-tax or after-tax (Roth) basis as elected by the Participant, and also by providing for Company-paid contributions to the extent described herein.
 
The Plan is a single-employer defined contribution profit sharing plan that is intended to meet the requirements for qualification and tax-exemption under Code section 401(a).  The Plan is ERISA plan number 002.
 
The Plan includes a cash or deferred arrangement under Code section 401(k), a discretionary employer contribution feature for the 2017 Plan Year, and effective January 1, 2018, a matching contribution feature under 401(m).  In addition, the Plan is intended to qualify as a safe harbor plan under Code section 401(k)(12)(C) and provides for a qualified nonelective contributions as required therein.  The Plan is a participant-directed individual account plan and is intended to meet the requirements of ERISA section 404(c) (regarding participant control over Plan assets in the participant’s account).
 
The Plan also includes an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) portion that is intended to qualify as both a stock bonus plan under Code section 401(a) and an employee stock ownership plan under Code section 4975(e)(7) and ERISA section 407(d)(6).  The ESOP portion of the Plan consists of the portion of the Plan which, as of any applicable date, is invested in the common stock of the Company.  Both the ESOP portion of the Plan and the non-ESOP portion of the Plan are intended to constitute a single plan under Treasury regulation § 1.414(l) 1(b)(1).  This Plan has never included an ESOP leveraged loan feature.  The Dime ESOP, which merged into this Plan on the KSOP Effective Date, included a leveraged loan feature.  All exempt loans under the Dime ESOP were repaid in full prior to the KSOP Effective Date.  The Company has structured Plan to include the ESOP portion so that the Company can qualify for the dividend deduction under Code section 404(k) and also so as to maintain the required ESOP features for the Participants with Dime ESOP accounts that merged into this Plan to the extent it is required to do so.
 
The Plan is called a “KSOP” because it includes both the elective deferral opportunity under Code section 401(k) and the ESOP feature.
 
The Plan allows its Participants to take withdrawals and loans from their account balances under certain limited circumstances while still actively employed, and allows its Participants to elect a distribution of their vested account balances upon termination of employment in the form of a lump sum or installments.
 
1

It is the Company’s intention that (i) the Plan shall at all times be qualified under Code sections 401(a), 401(k) and 401(m), (ii) the Trust Agreement shall be tax-exempt under Code section 501(a), and (iii) Employer contributions under the Plan shall be tax deductible under Code section 404.  The provisions of the Plan and the Trust Agreement shall be construed to effectuate these intentions.
 
This Restatement .  Except as otherwise noted herein, this amendment and restatement is effective as of July 1, 2017.  It governs the rights of Participants and Beneficiaries (and of those claiming through or on behalf of such individuals) from and after July 1, 2017.  The rights and benefits of any individual who ceases to be a Participant (and of anyone claiming through or on behalf of such individual) in this Plan shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Plan in effect not later than the date such individual ceases to be a Participant except to the extent otherwise specified in the Plan or required by law.
 
History of the Plan .  The Plan was originally established effective July 1, 1973 as the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh Incentive Savings Plan by Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh and has been amended from time to time since that date.  The following are some of the key events that have occurred since the establishment of the Plan.
 
Effective as of July 1, 1991, the Plan was amended and restated in its entirety and the Plan was renamed The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(k) Savings Plan in RSI Retirement Trust
 
Effective as of February 8, 1996, the Plan: (a) added an investment fund consisting of common stock of the employer (b) established the plan as a “Plan of Partial Participation” as defined under the RSI Retirement Trust Agreement and Declaration of Trust, and (c) established a separate trust to hold company common stock and designated a separate agency to serve as trustee.
 
Effective as of May 31, 1996, matching contributions were discontinued.
 
Effective as of June 26, 1996, Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh acquired Pioneer Savings Bank, F.S.B. and its parent Conestoga Bancorp, Inc. and in connection with that acquisition, the Plan was amended to give credit to employees of specified “acquired companies” for purposes of vesting and eligibility to participate, and to permit immediate participation as of the date of such acquisition for eligible employees with respect to compensation for the full payroll period that includes the date of such acquisition.
 
Effective as of January 1, 1997, the Plan was amended and restated in its entirety.  New enrollments in the Plan and future before-tax contributions under the Plan were disallowed.
 
Effective March 1, 1997, the Pioneer Savings Bank, FSB Tax Deferral Savings Plan in RSI Retirement Trust merged into the Plan, and the accounts of employees of Pioneer Savings Bank, FSB and Conestoga Bancorp, Inc. were merged into the accounts maintained on behalf of each participant in the Plan.
 
Effective January 21, 1999, Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh acquired Financial Federal Savings Bank.  Effective April 15, 1999, Financial Federal Savings Bank Incentive Savings Plan in RSI Retirement Trust merged with and into the Plan and the accounts of employees of Financial Federal Savings Bank were merged into the accounts maintained on behalf of each participant in the Plan.
 
2

Effective as of July 1, 2000, the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(k) Savings Plan in RSI Retirement Trust was amended to (i) reinstate enrollments; (ii) reinstate Before Tax Contributions; and (iii) provide for a three percent (3%) Employer contribution meeting the requirements for a design-based “safe harbor” arrangement under Code section 401(k)(12).
 
Effective as of April 1, 2001, Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(k) Savings Plan in RSI Retirement Trust was amended and restated in its entirety and the Plan was renamed The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(k) Savings Plan.
 
Effective as of January 1, 2009, the option of making Roth Contributions became available to Participants.
 
Effective as of January 1, 2010, Plan was amended and restated in its entirety.
 
Effective as of January 1, 2015, The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(k) Savings Plan was amended and restated in its entirety using the format of the Pentegra Services, Inc. Volume Submitter 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan #01-003.
 
Effective as of August 1, 2016, Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh changed its name to Dime Community Bank.
 
Effective as of July 1, 2017 (the KSOP Effective Date), the Dime ESOP merged into this Plan.
 
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ARTICLE 2
 
DEFINITIONS
 
As used herein, the following words and phrases shall have the following respective meanings when capitalized:
 
(1)  Accounts .  The separate accounts established for each Participant under Section 7.1 and otherwise under the Plan.  For purposes of the Plan, “Account” and “Account balance” shall mean all Accounts and the aggregate value of all Accounts maintained for a Participant under the Plan.
 
(2)  Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions .  The Elective Deferrals described in Section 4.1(e).
 
(3)  Beneficiary .  The person or persons entitled under Article 9 to receive benefits in the event of the death of a Participant.
 
(4)  Cash ESOP Dividends .  Cash ESOP Dividends that are paid on or after the KSOP Effective Date by the Company with respect to Company Stock in the Company Stock Fund and that are eligible for the deduction for dividends paid pursuant to Code section 404(k).
 
(5)  Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election .  A completed election made under Section 7.2(d) pursuant to which a Participant (or Beneficiary, as applicable) affirmatively elects to have Cash ESOP Dividends with respect to his or her Accounts distributed to the Participant (or Beneficiary, as applicable) in cash rather than reinvested in the Company Stock Fund.
 
(6)  Code .  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
(7)  Code Section 415 Compensation .  Compensation as defined under Treasury regulation § 1.415(c)-2(d)(4) (Form W-2 compensation with adjustments including the addition of amounts that would be included in wages but for a payroll deduction election under Code section 125(a), 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B, 402(k) or 457(b)).
 
(a)  Code Section 415 Compensation shall not exceed the limits in Code section 401(a)(17)(B) (limitation on annual compensation):
 
 
Plan Year
 
Plan Year Limit
 
2018
 
For calendar years 2018 and later, $270,000 (or such higher amount as is permitted under the cost-of-living provisions of Code section 402(g)(4))
 
2017
 
$270,000
 
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(b)  Code Section 415 Compensation shall include compensation paid by the later of 2½ months after an Employee’s severance from employment with Company’s Controlled Group and the end of the Plan Year that includes such severance from employment date if (a) the payment is regular compensation for services during the employee’s regular working hours, or compensation for services outside the employee’s regular working hours (such as overtime or shift differential), commissions, bonuses, or other similar payments, and, absent a severance from employment, the payments would have been paid to the employee while the employee continued in employment with the employer, (b) the payment is for unused accrued bona fide sick, vacation or other leave that the employee would have been able to use if employment had continued; or (c) the payment is received by the employee pursuant to a nonqualified unfunded deferred compensation plan and would have been paid at the same time if employment had continued, but only to the extent includible in gross income.  Any payments not described above shall not be considered compensation if paid after severance from employment, even if they are paid by the later of 2 ½ months after the date of severance from employment or the end of the Plan Year that includes the date of severance from employment.
 
(c)  Back pay, within the meaning of Treasury regulation § 1.415(c)‑2(g)(8), shall be treated as compensation for the limitation year to which the back pay relates to the extent the back pay represents wages and compensation that would otherwise be included under this definition.
 
(8)  Company .  Dime Community Bank (which before August 1, 2016 was known as the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh).
 
(9)  Company’s Controlled Group .  All organizations under common control with the Company, within the meaning of Code section 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) or 414(o) and the regulations issued thereunder.  An entity shall be considered a member of the Company’s Controlled Group only during the period it is one of the group of organizations described in the preceding sentence.
 
(10)  Company Stock .  Shares of common stock of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
 
(11)  Company Stock Fund .  The investment fund holding Company Stock that is established and maintained in accordance with Section 7.2.
 
(12)  Dependent .  An individual who qualifies as a dependent of a Participant under the applicable provisions of Code section 152.
 
(13)  Dime ESOP .  The Employee Stock Ownership Plan of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Certain Affiliates (which merged into this Plan as of the KSOP Effective Date).
 
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(14)  Distributee .  A person entitled to receive a distribution from the Trust under Article 9.
 
(15)  Elective Deferrals .  Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Plan.
 
(16)  Eligible Employee .  Effective on the KSOP Effective Date, an Employee of an Employer, other than:
 
(a)  Student interns (as defined by the Company’s personnel policies),
 
(b)  Employees who are paid solely on the basis of commissions,
 
(c)  Employees included in a unit of Employees the terms of whose employment with an Employer are subject to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement between employee representatives of such unit and such Employer unless such agreement provides for such Employee to be eligible for participation in the Plan,
 
(d)  Leased Employees, and
 
(e)  Nonresident aliens.
 
An individual must be an Employee to be an Eligible Employee.  The Plan documents as in effect before the KSOP Effective Date sets forth the applicable definitions of Eligible Employee for prior periods.
 
(17)  Employee .  An individual whose relationship with an Employer is that of an employee under common law, as so classified by his Employer, and subject to the following:
 
(a)  The following individuals are not eligible to be Employees (or to participate in the Plan): Any individuals who are classified by their Employer as independent contractors or are otherwise not classified as employees under the personnel practices and rules of the Employer (including self-employed individuals, consultants, freelancers, agency employees, on-call workers, contingent workers, non-payroll workers, or other similar individuals), or who are not classified as employees for purposes of income tax withholding and employment taxes.
 
(b)  Leased Employees shall be treated as Employees only to the extent provided in the definition of Leased Employee in this Article I.
 
(c)  For purposes of this definition of “Employee”, it is expressly intended that individuals who are classified by an Employer as independent contractors, as well as any other individuals who are not classified as Employees under this definition, are not Employees (and therefore may not be Eligible Employees or Participants) until the Plan Administrator affirmatively changes their classification.  Therefore, an independent contractor or any other individual who is reclassified by a court, administrative agency, governmental unit, tribunal or other party as an employee (including a common law employee) will nevertheless not be considered an Employee or Eligible Employee hereunder for periods before the Plan Administrator implements the reclassification decision, even if the reclassification decision applies retroactively.
 
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(18)  Employer .  The Company, and any member of the Company’s Controlled Group that with the consent of the Company elects to participate in the Plan in the manner described in Article 12.  If any such entity withdraws from participation in the Plan pursuant to Section 12.2 or leaves the Company’s Controlled Group, such entity shall thereupon cease to be an Employer.
 
(19)  Employer Discretionary Contributions .  The Employer contributions described in Section 4.3
 
(20)  Employer Matching Contributions .  Matching Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.4.
 
(21)  Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contributions .  The Employer contributions described in Section 4.2
 
(22)  Employment Commencement Date .  The date on which the Employee first performs an Hour of Service for which the Employee is paid or entitled to payment for the performance of duties for any entity within the Company’s Controlled Group.
 
(23)  ERISA .  The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
 
(24)  ESOP .  An employee stock ownership plan.
 
(25)  Hour of Service .  An hour for which an Employee is entitled to receive compensation from an entity in the Company’s Controlled Group (including hours for any period during which he receives compensation without rendering services such as paid holidays, vacations, sick leave, disability leave, layoff, or jury duty (but in such cases not exceeding 501 hours for any one such period).  For purposes of determining the number of Hours of Service to be credited to an Employee, “compensation” shall mean the total earnings paid, directly or indirectly, to the Employee by an entity in the Company’s Controlled Group, including any back pay, irrespective of mitigation of damages, either awarded to the Employee or agreed to by an entity in the Company’s Controlled Group.  The computation of Hours of Service and the periods to which they are to be credited shall be determined under uniform rules applied by the Plan Administrator in accordance with Department of Labor regulation § 2530.200b-2(b), (c) and (f).  Each employee for whom Hours of Service are not determinable pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be credited with 45 Hours of Service for each week of employment or such other number of Hours of Service determined by the Plan Administrator in accordance with Department of Labor regulation § 2530.200b-3(e).  This provision shall not be interpreted in a manner that would result in duplication of service crediting.
 
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(26)  KSOP Effective Date .  July 1, 2017, the date the Dime ESOP merged into this Plan and this Plan was amended and restated in its entirety.
 
(27)  Leased Employee .  Any person who is not a common law employee of an Employer and who, pursuant to an agreement between the Employer and a leasing organization, has performed services for the Company’s Controlled Group on a substantially full-time basis for a period of at least one year, where such services are performed under the “primary direction or control” (within the meaning of Code section 414(n)(2)(C)) of the Company’s Controlled Group.  A Leased Employee is treated as an Employee unless both of the following occur (in which case such Leased Employee is not treated as an Employee): (i) Such Leased Employee is covered by a money purchase pension plan providing a nonintegrated employer contribution rate of at least 10% of Code Section 415 Compensation, immediate participation, and full and immediate vesting; and (ii) Leased Employees do not constitute more than 20% of the non-highly compensated employees (as defined in Code section 414(q)) of the Company’s Controlled Group.  For this purpose, contributions and benefits provided a Leased Employee by the leasing organization which are attributable to services performed for the Employer are treated as provided by the Employer.  In no event may a Leased Employee be treated as an Eligible Employee.
 
(28)  Military Service .  Qualified service in the uniformed services within the meaning of Code section 414(u)(5).
 
(29)  Participant .  An Eligible Employee who has become a Participant as set forth in Article 3.  A person shall cease to be a Participant when he or she no longer has an Account balance.
 
(30)  Participant Response System .  The participant response system established by the Company to permit Participants to manage their Account and communicate with the Plan Administrator, Trustee, recordkeeper and/or delegate thereof, including the ability to change their contribution elections and investment elections, to apply for a loan, to commence participation in the Plan, to apply for an in-service withdrawal, and to request a distribution.  As determined by the Plan Administrator, this system may take any form, and different forms and protocols may be used for different purposes or different groups of Participants (e.g., an interactive telephone voice response system, a paper document system, an internet site, an intranet site, or an e-mail protocol).  Unless the Participant uses a form or protocol that is specifically permitted by the Plan Administrator for the purpose in question, the Participant’s communication shall not be deemed to be made through the Participant Response System.
 
(31)  Period of Service .  The period commencing on the Employee’s Employment Commencement Date or Reemployment Commencement Date and ending on the next Period of Service Cutoff Date (subject to (a) and (b) below).  Periods of Service shall be measured in years and days.
 
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(a)  If Employee Has a Break in Service .  If an Employee has a Period of Service Cutoff Date and the resulting Period of Severance lasts less than 12 months, the Period of Severance shall be counted as part of such Employee’s Period of Service.  In all other cases, the Employee’s Period of Severance shall be disregarded in determining such Employee’s Period of Service.
 
(b)  If an Employee has Period of Severance of at Least Five Years .  If an Employee is reemployed after a five-year Period of Severance, his or her Period of Service shall not include his or her Periods of Service from before the five-year Period of Severance unless the former Employee: (i) has a vested Account balance at the time of his or her rehire, or (ii) had a Period of Service that exceeded five years or if greater, his or her pre-break Period of Service.
 
(32)  Period of Service Cutoff Date .  The earlier of:
 
(a)  The Employee’s Separation from Service date, or
 
(b)  The first anniversary of the first date the Employee is absent from employment with the Company’s Controlled Group for any reason other than a Separation from Service, such as vacation, holiday, sickness, disability, leave of absence or layoff, except that in the case of an Employee who is absent from employment beyond the first anniversary of the first day of absence on account of (i) the Employee’s pregnancy, (ii) the birth of a child of the Employee, (iii) the placement of a child with the Employee in connection with the adoption of the child by the Employee, or (iv) an absence due to the need for caring for such child for a period beginning immediately following the birth or placement, the second anniversary of the first day of such absence.  The period after the first anniversary of the Employee’s absence shall neither be a Period of Service nor a period that is part of a Period of Severance.
 
In the case of an Employee whose Period of Service Cutoff Date would otherwise occur during an absence required by the Family Medical Leave Act, the Employee’s Period of Service Cutoff Date shall be delayed just to the extent required so that it does not occur during the absence required by the Family Medical Leave Act.  The period after the first anniversary of the Employee’s absence shall neither be a Period of Service nor a period that is part of a Period of Severance.
 
(33)  Period of Severance .  The period commencing on the Participant’s Period of Service Cutoff Date and ending on the Participant’s Reemployment Commencement Date, except that a Period of Severance shall not include any period of time when an individual is not an Employee solely because he or she is serving in the uniformed services of the United States provided the individual seeks reinstatement as an Employee while his or her reemployment rights are protected by law.
 
(34)  Plan .  The Dime Community Bank KSOP.  Prior to July 1, 2017, the Plan was referred to as the “Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh 401(k) Savings Plan.”
 
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(35)  Plan Administrator .  The administrator described in Section 11.1.  The Plan Administrator shall have authority to administer the Plan as provided in Article 11.
 
(36)  Plan Compensation .  Code Section 415 Compensation (i.e., W-2 box 1 compensation with some adjustments including the addition of certain enumerated salary reduction amounts), reduced as follows.
 
(a)  For purposes of Elective Deferrals (Pre-Tax and Roth) described in Section 4.1, Plan Compensation shall not include bonuses, reimbursements or other expense allowance, fringe benefits (cash or non-cash), moving expenses, deferred compensation (other than Elective Deferrals) or welfare benefits.
 
(b)  For purposes of Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contributions described in Section 4.2, Employer Discretionary Contributions described in Section 4.3 and Employer Matching Contributions described in Section 4.4, Plan Compensation shall not include amounts that are attributable to (i) the exercise of stock options or a disqualifying disposition of incentive stock options by the Employee, (ii) the vesting of, or other recognition of income with respect to, restricted stock awards, or (iii) cash awards under any long-term incentive plan of any organization in the Company’s Controlled Group.
 
(37)  Plan Year .  Each 12-consecutive-month period beginning on each January 1 and ending on the next December 31.
 
(38)  Reemployment Commencement Date .  The date on which an Employee first performs an Hour of Service for which the Employee is paid or entitled to payment for the performance of duties for the Employer or any other employer within the Company’s Controlled Group, following a Period of Severance.
 
(39)  Rollover Contributions .  Contributions made pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Plan.
 
(40)  Roth Elective Deferrals .  A Participant’s Elective Deferrals that are includible in the Participant’s gross income at the time deferred and have been irrevocably designated as Roth Elective Deferrals by the Participant in his or her deferral election, and that are described in Section 4.1(f).
 
(41)  Separation from Service .  The termination of the Employee’s employment relationship with the Company’s Controlled Group, including by quit, resignation, discharge, retirement, disability, or layoff (but not an authorized leave of absence).
 
(42)  Spouse .  A person who is considered lawfully married to another individual under applicable Federal tax law.
 
(43)  Total Disability .  Effective on the KSOP Effective Date, a total disability that has lasted at least 6 months and that is evidenced by either:
 
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(a)  Receipt of disability payments under the Employer’s long-term disability program, or
 
(b)  If the Employee is not covered by the Employer’s long-term disability program, receipt of a Social Security disability award (however, the receipt of such disability award shall not be deemed to occur prior to the time the Plan Administrator has received written notice from the Participant that he or she is receiving such a disability award).
 
(44)  Trust .  The trust fund (or funds) which holds the assets of the Plan and are established by the trust agreement or agreements entered into on behalf of the Plan with an individual or corporate trustee to provide for holding the Plan assets.
 
(45)  Trust Fund .  All money and property of every kind held by the Trustee under the Trust agreement.
 
(46)  Trustee .  The Trustee provided for in Article 6 or any successor Trustee or, if there shall be more than one Trustee acting at any time, all of such Trustees collectively.
 
(47)  Valuation Date .  Each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open, and any other day as the Plan Administrator may determine.
 
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ARTICLE 3
 
PARTICIPATION
 
Section 3.1              Eligibility Requirements.
 
(a)  Service Requirement .  An Eligible Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan as follows.
 
(1)  General Rule .  An Eligible Employee shall be eligible to become a Participant as of the pay date for the first pay period that begins on or after the Employee completes a one month Period of Service, and such date shall be the Eligible Employee’s entry date.
 
(2)  Historical Provisions .  The rule in paragraph (1) is effective on the KSOP Effective Date.  See the prior plan documents for the applicable rules for earlier periods.  Notwithstanding paragraph (1) above:  (i) all Participants in this Plan as of immediately prior to the KSOP Effective Date shall continue to be Participants as of the KSOP Effective Date and shall participate thereafter in accordance with the terms of this Plan, and (ii) all participants in the Dime ESOP as of immediately prior to the KSOP Effective Date who are not Participants in this Plan as of immediately before the KSOP Effective Date shall become Participants in this Plan as of the KSOP Effective Date, such date shall be their entry date, and they shall participate thereafter in accordance with the terms of this Plan.
 
An individual must be an Eligible Employee and must have satisfied the service and entry date requirements set out above to participate actively in this Plan.
 
(b)  Participation .  An Eligible Employee who satisfies the Plan’s service and entry date requirements in subsection (a) above may make an election pursuant to Section 4.1 to make Elective Deferrals to the Plan.  Such Eligible Employee will become a Participant in this Plan on the first date that Elective Deferrals are withheld from his or her Plan Compensation or, if earlier, that any Employer contribution (such as the Employer Basic Safe Harbor Contribution) is made to his or her Account.  An Eligible Employee who makes a Rollover Contribution in accordance with Section 5.1 before becoming a Participant pursuant to the preceding sentence also shall be treated as a Participant, but only to the limited extent described in Section 5.1 (that is, he or she shall not be eligible to make Elective Deferrals or receive Employer contributions) until such time as he or she becomes eligible to make Elective Deferrals pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 3.1(b).
 
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ARTICLE 4
 
CONTRIBUTIONS
 
Section 4.1               Elective Deferrals (Pre-Tax and Roth).
 
(a)  Employee Elections .  Each Employer shall make a contribution (“Elective Deferral”) to the Trust for each payroll period on behalf of each Eligible Employee of such Employer who has satisfied the service and entry date requirements in Section 3.1 and who elects to make an elective deferral from his or her Plan Compensation for such payroll period (or is deemed to do so pursuant to subsection (b) below).  Except as provided in subsection (f) below (Roth Elective Deferrals), Elective Deferrals shall be made on a pre-tax basis.  Any election (or deemed election pursuant to subsection (b) below) to commence Elective Deferrals is effective only with respect to Plan Compensation that has not yet been paid to the Eligible Employee as of the effective date of such election and not yet “currently available” to the Eligible Employee (within the meaning of Treasury regulation § 1.401(k)-1(a)(3)).  Such election is effective only while the election remains in effect.  The Elective Deferral election must be in an amount equal to a whole percentage of from 1% to 100% of the Participant’s Plan Compensation paid by such Employer for the payroll period.  If a Participant makes an Elective Deferral for a pay period, the Participant’s remuneration paid through the Employer’s regular payroll that would otherwise be payable directly to the Participant for that payroll period shall be reduced by the amount of such Elective Deferral (but only to the extent the Participant’s paycheck is sufficient to fund such Elective Deferral after satisfying the Participant’s tax withholding obligations and health and welfare deductions).
 
(b)  Automatic Contribution Arrangement :  The Plan has adopted an automatic contribution arrangement, effective for Employees hired on or after January 1, 2017.  Pursuant to this arrangement, an Eligible Employee who has satisfied the service and entry date requirements in Section 3.1(a) shall be deemed to elect to become a Participant and to have pre-tax Elective Deferrals made on his or her behalf at a rate equal to 3% of his or her Plan Compensation each pay period.
 
(1)  Election Out Before Auto-Enrollment Begins .  The automatic enrollment described in the preceding sentence shall not apply if the Eligible Employee affirmatively elects to participate in the Plan or not to participate in the Plan in sufficient time before the automatic enrollment is scheduled to become effective that it can be canceled before it becomes effective.
 
(2)  Election Out After Auto-Enrollment Begins .  A Participant who has made a deemed election pursuant to the automatic contribution arrangement described in this Section 4.1(b) may elect not to participate in the Plan or may elect to change the applicable contribution rate as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, in which case the Participant shall thereafter cease to be covered by the automatic contribution arrangement.
 
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(c)  Change, Suspension or Resumption of Elective Deferrals .  A Participant may change the rate of Elective Deferrals at any time, may suspend Elective Deferrals at any time and may resume Elective Deferrals at any time, and may change the type of Elective Deferrals (pre-tax Elective Deferrals or Roth Elective Deferrals), in each case by giving directions to the Plan Administrator in accordance with rules and procedures prescribed by the Plan Administrator.  Any such suspension shall be effective as soon as administratively practicable.  Any such change or resumption in the rate of Elective Deferrals shall be subject to the rules described in subsection (a) of this Section, and shall be effective as soon as administratively practicable.
 
(d)  Annual limit on Elective Deferrals .
 
(1)  The Annual Limit .  An Employee’s Elective Deferrals plus any elective deferrals made under any other cash or deferred arrangement sponsored by the Company’s Controlled Group for a calendar year shall be limited as follows:
 
 
Plan Year
 
Plan Year Limit
 
2018
 
For calendar years 2018 and later $18,000 (or such higher amount as is permitted under the cost-of-living provisions of Code section 402(g)(4))
 
2017
 
$18,000

These limits do not apply to Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions, which are addressed in subsection (e) below.
 
(2)  Distribution of Excess Elective Deferrals Resulting From Employment With Another Employer .  If for any calendar year during which a Participant also participates in a plan or arrangement described in Code section 401(k), 408(k) or 403(b) maintained by another employer, the aggregate for the Participant of the (i) Elective Deferrals to the Plan excluding any Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions and (ii) amounts contributed under all other such plans and arrangements will exceed the above limit for the calendar year in which such contributions are made (“excess Elective Deferrals”), such Participant shall, pursuant to such rules and at such time following such calendar year as determined by the Plan Administrator but no later than the March 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such excess Elective Deferrals were made, be allowed to submit a written request that the excess Elective Deferrals plus any income allocable thereto be distributed to him.  Such request shall be accompanied by the Participant’s written statement that if such excess Elective Deferrals are not distributed such excess Elective Deferrals, when added to amounts contributed under other plans and arrangements described in Code sections 401(k), 408(k) or 403(b) will exceed the limit described in the first sentence of this paragraph.  The distribution of excess Elective Deferrals shall consist of a Participant's pre-tax Elective Deferrals, Roth Elective Deferrals or a combination of both.  A distribution of such excess Elective Deferrals as well as of any other amounts that the Plan Administrator determines were contributed on behalf of Participants in excess of the annual limitations set forth in Code section 402(g) limitation, plus allocable income, shall be made no later than the April 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such excess Elective Deferrals were made.  The amount of excess Elective Deferrals to be so distributed shall be reduced by any contributions previously distributed pursuant to Section 4.5 with respect to such calendar year.  The amount of any income allocable to such excess Elective Deferrals shall be determined by the Plan Administrator pursuant to applicable Treasury regulations.  The Plan shall not distribute the allocable gain or loss for the period between the end of the Plan Year and the date of distribution (the “gap period”).  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, any excess Elective Deferrals shall be treated as “annual additions” for purposes of Section 7.5 except to the extent such excess Elective Deferrals are distributed in accordance with Treasury regulation § 1.402(g)-1(e)(2) or (3).  Excess Elective Deferrals shall be excluded for purposes of the tests described in Section 4.5(a) to the extent required by applicable Treasury regulations.  Any corresponding “Employer Matching Contributions” (described in Section 4.2) related to excess Elective Deferrals so distributed, plus any income allocable to such Employer Matching Contributions shall be forfeited.
 
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(e)  Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions .  Each Participant whose 50 th birthday is on or before the close of the Participant’s taxable year shall be eligible to elect to have Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions made in any payroll period provided the Participant cannot make any other regular Elective Deferrals to the Plan for such payroll period by reason of the limitations contained in this Article 4, Section 7.5 or any comparable limitation or any restriction contained in the terms of the Plan or the Code.  Employer Matching Contributions shall not be made with respect to Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions.
 
(1)  Dollar Limits.  The amount of the Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions a Participant may make to the Plan for a calendar year may not exceed, when combined with any catch-up contributions made under Code section 414(v) to any other plan or arrangement of the Employer, the following:
 
 
Plan Year
 
Plan Year Limit
 
2018
 
For calendar years 2018 and later $6,000 (or such higher amount as is permitted under the cost-of-living provisions of Code section 414(v)(2)(C))
 
2017
 
$6,000

(2)  Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions made pursuant to this subsection shall be treated as Elective Deferrals under the Plan except as otherwise provided below.
 
(i)  Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions shall not be taken into account for purposes of the annual dollar limitations in Section 3.1(d) (Code section 402(g) provisions) and Section 7.5 (Code section 415 provisions), and as otherwise provided in Code section 414(v).
 
(ii)  The Plan shall not be treated as failing to satisfy the provisions of Section 4.5 (ADP nondiscrimination test), Article 14 (top heavy provisions), Code section 401(a)(4) (nondiscrimination in contributions), Code section 401(a)(17) (limit on compensation taken into account), Code section 401(k)(12) (safe harbor provisions) or  Code section 410(b) (nondiscrimination in coverage) by reason of such Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions.
 
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At the end of the Plan Year the Plan Administrator will determine if any Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions must be recharacterized as regular Elective Deferrals to meet the requirements of this subsection (e), and to what extent any Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions recharacterized as regular Elective Deferrals are eligible for an Employer Matching Contribution under Section 4.2, and will adjust the Participant’s Account accordingly.
 
(f)  Roth Elective Deferrals .  Participants shall be permitted to designate some or all of their Elective Deferrals as Roth Elective Deferrals, in which case the contributions will be includible in the Participant’s gross income at the time deferred.  Roth Elective Deferrals are a Participant's Elective Deferrals that are includible in the Participant's gross income at the time deferred and have been irrevocably designated as Roth Elective Deferrals by the Participant in his or her deferral election. Except in the case of an in-plan Roth rollover (a rollover to a participant’s Roth Elective Deferral account from another account of the Participant in this Plan), Elective Deferrals contributed to the Plan as one type, either Roth or pre-tax, may not later be reclassified as the other type.  A Participant’s Roth Elective Deferrals shall be deposited in the Participant’s Roth Elective Deferral account in the Plan.  No contributions other than Roth Elective Deferrals, in-plan Roth rollovers and properly attributable earnings will be credited to each Participant’s Roth Elective Deferral account, and gains, losses and other credits or charges will be allocated on a reasonable and consistent basis to such account.  The Plan shall maintain a record of the amount of Roth Elective Deferrals in each Participant’s Roth Elective Deferral account.
 
Section 4.2               Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contribution. The Employer shall make an Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contribution to the Account of each Eligible Employee who has satisfied the service and entry date requirements in Section 3.1 by the end of the Plan Year, without regard to whether the individual is an Eligible Employee on the last day of the Plan Year.  Such contribution shall be equal to 3% of the Participant’s Plan Compensation for the Plan Year.  The Employer shall contribute such contribution to the Trust no later than the Employer’s tax filing deadline for the Plan Year.  The Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contribution is intended to meet the requirements of Code section 401(k)(12)(C).
 
Section 4.3              Employer Discretionary Contribution .  The Employer may at its discretion make an annual Employer Discretionary Contribution to the Account of each Eligible Employee who has satisfied the service and entry date requirements in Section 3.1 by the end of the Plan Year and who is employed on the last day of the Plan Year as an Eligible Employee.  The Employer Discretionary Contribution shall be equal to a uniform percentage of the Eligible Employee’s Plan Compensation for the Plan Year (for example, 3% of Plan Compensation), with such percentage to be determined at the Employer’s discretion.  The Employer shall contribute the Employer Discretionary Contribution to the Eligible Employee’s Account no later than the Company’s tax filing deadline for the Plan Year.  The Employer does not intend to make Employer Discretionary Contributions with respect to Plan Years after the 2017 Plan Year, but retains the right to do so.
 
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Section 4.4               Employer Matching Contributions .  Effective for pay periods that begin on or after January 1, 2018, the Employer shall contribute to the Account of each Participant each pay period an Employer Matching Contribution equal to 100% of such Participant’s Elective Deferral for the pay period, capped at 3% of such Participant’s Plan Compensation for the pay period.  No Employer Matching Contributions shall be made for the 2017 Plan Year.
 
Section 4.5               Limitations on Contributions for Highly-Compensated Employees.  For purposes of this Section 4.5, “Eligible Employee” means an Eligible Employee who has satisfied the service and entry date requirements of Section 3.1(a).
 
(a)  Limits imposed by Code section 401(k)(3) (ADP Test) .  The Plan intends to meet the requirements of Code section 401(k)(3) (the “actual deferral percentage” or “ADP” test) automatically by qualifying for the safe harbor under Code section 401(k)(12)(C).  Accordingly, the requirements of this Section 4.5(a) shall apply only in the unlikely event the Plan should fail to meet the safe harbor requirements of Code section 401(k)(12)(C) for any Plan Year, and in that case, if the Elective Deferrals made for a Plan Year fail to satisfy either of the tests set forth in subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph, the adjustments prescribed in Section 4.5(c)(1) shall be made.
 
(1)  The average deferral percentage for the group consisting of all highly compensated Eligible Employees for the Plan Year does not exceed the product of the average deferral percentage for the group consisting of all non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year and 1.25.
 
(2)  The average deferral percentage for the group consisting of all highly compensated Eligible Employees for the Plan Year (i) does not exceed the average deferral percentage of the group consisting of all non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year by more than 2 percentage points, and (ii) does not exceed the product of the average deferral percentage of the group consisting of all non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year and 2.0.
 
Any additional Elective Deferrals which are Age 50 Catch-Up Contributions or which are permitted for periods of Military Service as described in Section 4.7 shall not be considered as Elective Deferrals for purposes of determining whether the tests set forth in such paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection are satisfied or for purposes of making any adjustments prescribed by Section 4.5(e)(1).
 
(b)  Limits imposed by Code section 401(m) (ACP Test) .  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4.4, if the Employer Matching Contributions made for a Plan Year fail to satisfy both of the tests set forth in subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph, the adjustments prescribed in Section 4.5(e)(2) shall be made.  Any additional Employer Matching Contributions made pursuant to Section 4.7 (Military Service) shall not be considered Employer Matching Contributions for purposes of determining whether the tests set forth in such paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection are satisfied or for purposes of making any adjustments prescribed by Section 4.5(e)(2).
 
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(1)  The average contribution percentage for the group consisting of all highly compensated Eligible Employees for the Plan Year does not exceed the product of the average contribution percentage for the group consisting of all non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year and 1.25.
 
(2)  The average contribution percentage for the group consisting of all highly compensated Eligible Employees for the Plan Year (i) does not exceed the average contribution percentage of the group consisting of all non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year by more than 2 percentage points, and (ii) does not exceed the product of the average contribution percentage of the group consisting of all non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year and 2.0.
 
(c)  Definitions and Special Rules .  For purposes of this Section:
 
(1)  The “average deferral percentage” for
 
(i)  The group of highly compensated Eligible Employees for a Plan Year shall be the average of the ratios, calculated separately for each Eligible Employee in such group to the nearest one-hundredth of one percent, of the Elective Deferrals made for the benefit of such Eligible Employee for such Plan Year to the total Code section 415 Compensation for such Plan Year paid to such Eligible Employee, and
 
(ii)  The group of non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for a Plan Year shall be the average of the ratios, calculated separately for each Eligible Employee in such group to the nearest one-hundredth of one percent, of the pre-tax compensation contributions made for the benefit of such Eligible Employee for such Plan Year to the total Code section 415 Compensation for such Plan Year paid to such Eligible Employee.
 
(2)  The “average contribution percentage” for
 
(i)  The group of highly compensated Eligible Employees for a Plan Year shall be the average of the ratios, calculated separately for each Eligible Employee in such group to the nearest one-hundredth of one percent, of the Employer Matching Contributions made during such Plan Year for the benefit of such Eligible Employee to such Eligible Employee’s Code section 415 Compensation for such Plan Year, and
 
(ii)  The group of non-highly compensated Eligible Employees for a Plan Year shall be the average of the ratios, calculated separately for each Eligible Employee in such group to the nearest one-hundredth of one percent, of the Employer Matching Contributions made during such Plan Year for the benefit of such Eligible Employee to such Eligible Employee’s Code section 415 Compensation for the Plan Year.
 
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(3)  “highly compensated Eligible Employee” shall mean any Eligible Employee who has satisfied the service requirement in Section 3.1(a), who performs services in the determination year, and who is in one or more of the following groups:  (i) Employees who were five percent owners as determined in Code section 416(i)(1)(A)(iii) at any time during the determination year or the look-back year, or (ii) Employees with Code section 415 Compensation greater than $120,000 (for 2017, and adjusted for changes in the cost of living as set forth in Code section 415(d)) during the look-back year.  Any former Employee who had a separation year prior to the determination year and was a highly compensated Eligible Employee as described in any of in the first sentence above for either (A) his separation year or (B) any determination year ending on or after this attainment of age 55 shall be considered a “highly compensated Eligible Employee”.  For purposes of determining whether a person is a highly compensated Eligible Employee of an Employer with respect to a Plan Year, the term “determination year” means the Plan Year for which the determination is being made; the term “look-back year” means the twelve-month period immediately preceding the determination year; the term “top-paid group” means the top 20% of employees of the Employer ranked on the basis of Code Section 415 Compensation received during the year (provided, however, that when determining the number of employees in such group, employees described in Code section 414(q)(8) and Q&A 9(b) of Treasury regulation § 1.414(q)-1T are excluded); the Company’s Controlled Group is treated as a single Employer; and “separation year” means the determination year the Employee separates from service with the Employer.
 
(4)  “non-highly compensated Eligible Employee” shall mean any Eligible Employee who has satisfied the service requirement in Section 3.1(a), who performs services in the determination year (as defined in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph), and who is not a highly compensated Eligible Employee.
 
(5)  Any Eligible Employee who is not a highly compensated Eligible Employee and who has either (i) not attained the age of 21 or (ii) or completed a one-year Period of Service may be excluded from consideration for purposes of the average deferral percentage test and the average contribution percentage test, provided however, that such excluded Eligible Employees separately satisfy the minimum coverage test of Code section 410(b).
 
(6)  The Plan incorporates the provisions of Code sections 401(k)(3) and 401(m)(2), and the Treasury regulations thereunder, by reference.  In the event that this Plan satisfies the requirements of Code section 401(k), 401(a)(4), or 410(b) only if aggregated with one or more other plans, or if one or more other plans satisfy the requirements of such Code sections only if aggregated with this Plan, then the ADP and ACP tests in Sections 4.5(a) and 4.5(b) shall be determined as if all such plans were a single plan.  Plans may be aggregated in order to satisfy Code sections 401(k) and 401(m), respectively, only if they have the same Plan Year and use the same ADP and ACP testing method, as the case may be.
 
(7)  If a highly compensated Eligible Employee participates in the Plan and one or more other plans in his Company’s Controlled Group to which any such contributions are made, all such contributions shall be aggregated for purposes of this Section.
 
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(d)  Adjustments to comply with limits.
 
(1)  Adjustments to comply with Code section 401(k)(3) .  The Plan Administrator may cause to be made such periodic computations as it shall deem necessary or appropriate to determine whether either of the tests set forth in Section 4.5(a)(1) or 4.5(a)(2) shall be satisfied during a Plan Year and, if it appears to the Plan Administrator that neither of such tests will be satisfied, the Plan Administrator may take such steps as it deems necessary or appropriate to adjust the Elective Deferrals made for all or a portion of the remainder of such Plan Year on behalf of each Participant who is a highly compensated Eligible Employee to the extent necessary in order for one of such tests to be satisfied.  If after the end of a Plan Year it is determined that regardless of any such steps taken neither of the tests set forth in Section 4.5(a)(1) or 4.5(a)(2) shall be satisfied with respect to such Plan Year, the Plan Administrator shall calculate the “excess contribution amount.”  The excess contribution amount shall be, with respect to any Plan Year, the excess of:
 
(i)  The aggregate amount of Elective Deferrals actually made on behalf of highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year, over
 
(ii)  The maximum amount of such contributions permitted by the limitations of the actual deferral percentage test set forth in Section 4.5(a) (determined by hypothetically reducing contributions made on behalf of highly compensated Eligible Employees in order of actual deferral percentages, beginning with the highest of such percentages).
 
The amount to be returned to each Participant who is a highly compensated Eligible Employee shall be determined by first reducing the Elective Deferrals made under the Plan on behalf of each Participant whose actual dollar amount of Elective Deferrals for such Plan Year is the highest until such reduced dollar amount equals the next highest actual dollar amount of Elective Deferrals made for such Plan Year on behalf of any highly compensated Participant or until the total reduction equals the excess contributions amount.  If further reductions are necessary, then such contributions made under the Plan on behalf of each Participant who is a highly compensated Eligible Employee and whose actual dollar amount of Elective Deferrals made for such Plan Year is the highest (determined after the reduction described in the previous sentence) shall be reduced in accordance with the previous sentence.  Such reductions shall continue to be made to the extent necessary so that the total reduction equals the excess contributions amount.  The Plan Administrator shall distribute to each such Participant no later than the last day of the subsequent Plan Year for which such adjustment is made the amount of such reductions made with respect to such Participant plus any income allocable thereto, and any corresponding Employer Matching Contributions related thereto, plus any income allocable thereto shall be forfeited.  The distribution of Elective Deferrals that are excess contributions shall be made from the Participant's pre-tax Elective Deferral account before the Participant's Roth Elective Deferral account, to the extent pre-tax Elective Deferrals were made for the year, unless the Participant specifies otherwise.  The amount of Elective Deferrals distributed shall be reduced by any Elective Deferrals previously distributed to such Participant pursuant to Section 4.1(d)(2) for such Plan Year.  The amount of any income allocable to any such reductions to be so distributed or forfeited shall be determined pursuant to applicable Treasury regulations.  The Plan shall not distribute the allocable gain or loss for the period between the end of the Plan Year and the date of distribution (the “gap period”).  The unadjusted amount of any reductions distributed shall be treated as “annual additions” for purposes of Section 7.6.
 
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(2)  Adjustments to comply with Code section 401(m) .  The provisions of this Section shall apply separately to each collective bargaining unit whose collective bargaining agreement provides for participation in the Plan.  The Plan Administrator may cause to be made such periodic computations as it shall deem necessary or appropriate to determine whether either of the tests set forth in Sections 4.5(b)(1) or 4.5(b)(2) shall be satisfied during a Plan Year with respect to the Plan, and if it appears to the Plan Administrator that neither of such tests will be satisfied, the Plan Administrator may take such steps as it deems necessary or appropriate to adjust the Employer Matching Contributions made for all or a portion of the remainder of such Plan Year on behalf of each Participant who is a highly compensated Eligible Employees to the extent necessary in order for one of such tests to be satisfied.  If after the end of a Plan Year it is determined that regardless of any steps taken neither of the tests set forth in Section 4.5(b)(1) or 4.5(b)(2) shall be satisfied with respect to such Plan Year, the Plan Administrator shall calculate the “excess aggregate contribution amount.”  The excess aggregate contribution amount shall be, with respect to any Plan Year, the excess of:
 
(i)  The aggregate Employer Matching Contributions actually made on behalf of highly compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year, over
 
(ii)  The maximum amount of such contributions permitted by the limitations of the actual contribution percentage test set forth in Section 4.4(b) (determined by hypothetically reducing contributions made on behalf of highly compensated Eligible Employees in order of their contribution percentages, beginning with the highest of such percentages).
 
Such determination shall be made after first determining excess Elective Deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1(d) and then determining the excess contribution amount pursuant to Section 4.5(d)(1).  The Plan Administrator shall reduce the Employer Matching Contributions made under the Plan on behalf of each Participant who is a highly compensated Eligible Employee and whose actual dollar amount of Employer Matching Contributions for such Plan Year is the highest in the same manner described in paragraph (1) above until such reductions in the aggregate equal the excess aggregate contribution amount.  The reduction described in the foregoing sentence shall be made with respect to a Participant’s Employer Matching Contributions.  The Plan Administrator shall distribute no later than the last day of the subsequent Plan Year to each such Participant the amount of such reductions made with respect to Employer Matching Contributions plus any income allocable thereto to which such Participant would be entitled under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 if such Participant had terminated service on the last day of the Plan Year for which such contributions are made (or earlier if such Participant actually terminates service at any earlier date), and any remaining amount of such reductions plus any income allocable thereto shall be forfeited.  The distribution of Elective Deferrals that are excess aggregate contributions shall be made from the Participant's pre-tax Elective Deferral account before the Participant's Roth Elective Deferral account, to the extent pre-tax Elective Deferrals were made for the year, unless the Participant specifies otherwise.  The amount of any such income allocable to any such reductions to be so distributed or forfeited shall be determined pursuant to applicable Treasury regulations.  The Plan shall not distribute the allocable gain or loss for the period between the end of the Plan Year and the date of distribution (the “gap period”).
 
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(e)  Designation of Qualified Nonelective Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions .  Each Plan Year, the Company may require some or all of the Employers to make, to the extent permitted by the Secretary of the U.S.  Department of Treasury, a “qualified nonelective contribution,” as defined below, or a “qualified matching contribution,” as defined below, or both, to the Plan for purposes of applying the tests set forth in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section (each such contribution may be applied either for purposes of the test set forth in subsection (a) of this Section or for purposes of the test set forth in subsection (b) of this Section, but not both such tests).  Any qualified nonelective contribution or qualified matching contribution to the Plan shall be allocated in the manner prescribed by the Company and consistent with applicable regulations to the Accounts of some or all of those Participants who are non-highly compensated Eligible Employees (as defined in subsection (d) of this Section) for the Plan Year with respect to which such qualified nonelective contribution or qualified matching contribution is made.  Any such qualified nonelective contributions or qualified matching contributions shall be accounted for separately and shall be distributable pursuant to the provisions of the Plan concerning Employer Matching Contributions.
 
For purposes of this Section, the term “qualified matching contribution” shall mean Employer Matching Contributions which are subject to the distribution and nonforfeitability requirements under Code section 401(k) when made, and the term “qualified nonelective contribution” shall mean contributions (other than Employer Matching Contributions or qualified matching contributions) made by an Employer and allocated to Participants’ Accounts that the Participants may not elect to receive in cash until distributed from the Plan; that are nonforfeitable when made; and that are distributable only in accordance with the distribution provisions that are applicable to Elective Deferrals and qualified matching contributions.
 
Section 4.6                Return of Employer Contributions .  Upon written demand by the Employer, the Trustee shall return any Elective Deferrals to this Plan under any one of the circumstances described in (a) or (b) , subject to the special rules of (c):
 
(a)  If a contribution was made due to a mistake of fact, the contribution may be returned, adjusted for losses but not earnings, within one year after it was contributed.
 
(b)  If a contribution is determined not to be deductible under Code section 404, the portion of the contribution that was disallowed may be returned to the Employer, adjusted for losses but not earnings, within one year after the disallowance.
 
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(c)  If Elective Deferrals are returned to the Employer in accordance with subsections (a) or (b), Participants’ Elective Deferral elections with respect to such returned contributions shall be adjusted retroactively to the beginning of the period for which such contributions were made.  As a result, amounts returned in accordance with subsections (a) or (b) shall not be counted in determining the limitations in Section 4.4.  The Elective Deferrals so returned shall be distributed in cash to those Participants for whom such contributions were made.
 
Section 4.7              Military Service .  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, contributions, benefits and service credit with respect to Military Service will be provided in accordance with Code section 414(u) (e.g., covered Participants will be given an opportunity to make make-up Elective Deferrals and receive make-up Employer Matching Contributions (but without make-up earnings) after their return to active employment to the extent required by section 414(u)(2), subject to the applicable limit under Code section 415 for the year to which the contributions relate and to other limits as set forth in Code section 414(u)(2)).  An Employee shall be deemed to be employed during any period during which the Employee is in Military Service, provided that the Employee returns to the employ of an Employer as an Eligible Employee within the period prescribed by laws relating to the reemployment rights of persons in Military Service.  The Plan Administrator may require certification from an Eligible Employee that during the Employee’s absence, the Employee was in Military Service.  Participants on military leave will be treated like other Employee on an approved leave of absence, and as such will be able to make Elective Deferrals (including out of any Company-paid differential pay), request in-service distributions and take loans but will not be treated as having a Separation from Service.  If a Participant who is performing qualified military service dies while he or she has a right to reemployment with the Employer under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), such Participant’s survivors any additional benefits (other than contributions relating to the period of qualified military service, but including vesting service credit for such period and any other survivor benefits) that would have been provided under the plan had the participant resumed employment on the day preceding the participant’s death and then terminated employment on account of death.
 
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ARTICLE 5
 
ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN
 
Section 5.1               Requirements for Rollover Contributions .  If an Eligible Employee receives, either before or after becoming a Participant, a distribution or distributions from an employees’ trust described in Code section 401(a) which is exempt from tax under Code section 501(a) or from a qualified annuity plan described in Code section 403(a) or 403(b) (or elects to directly transfer to the Plan such distribution) and such distribution or distributions were eligible rollover distributions as defined in Code section 402(c)(4) and do not include after-tax contributions (and any earnings thereon), then such Employee may contribute to the Plan an amount which does not exceed the amount of such distribution or distributions (including the proceeds from the sale of any property received as a part of such distribution or distributions) less the amount considered contributed to such trust or annuity plan by the Employee (determined by applying Code section 402(d)(4)(D)(i)) (a “rollover contribution”).  A rollover contribution may also be a distribution from an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity (within the meaning of Code section 408); provided that (i) no amount in such account or no value of such annuity is attributable to a source other than an eligible rollover distribution (within the meaning of Code section 402(c)(4)) from an employees’ trust described in Code section 401(a) which is exempt from tax under Code section 501(a) or a qualified annuity plan described in Code section 403(a) at the time contributions were made on his behalf under such trust or annuity plan (and any earnings on such a rollover distribution), (ii) the contribution does not include after-tax contributions (or earnings thereon) and (iii) the entire amount received is paid (for the benefit of such individual) into the Trust no later than the 60th day following the day on which the individual receives the distribution.  If a rollover contribution is made by an Eligible Employee prior to his becoming a Participant, such Eligible Employee shall until such time as he becomes a Participant be deemed to be a Participant and his Rollover Account shall be deemed to be an Account of a Participant for all purposes of the Plan except for the purpose of being eligible for contributions made by his Employer and for the purpose of making Elective Deferrals.
 
Section 5.2              Delivery of Rollover Contributions .  Any rollover contribution made pursuant to Section 5.1 shall be delivered by the Eligible Employee to the Plan Administrator and by the Plan Administrator to the Trustee on or before the 60th day after the day on which the Employee receives the distribution or on or before such later date as may be prescribed by law.  Any such contribution must be accompanied by (i) a statement of the Employee that to the best of his knowledge the contribution meets the conditions specified in Section 5.1 and (ii) a copy of such documents as may have been received by the Employee advising him of the amount of and the character of such distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator shall not accept a rollover contribution if in its judgment accepting such contribution would cause the Plan to violate any provision of ERISA, the Code or any regulations thereunder, and the Plan Administrator shall not be required to accept such a contribution to the extent it consists of property other than cash.
 
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ARTICLE 6
 
TRUST
 
A Trust was created between the Company and the Trustee in connection with the implementation of the Plan in July 1973 and has been amended from time to time since that date.  The assets of the Plan are held in the Trust by the Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the Trust Agreement.  All contributions under the Plan shall be paid to the Trustee.  The Trustee shall hold all monies and other property received by it and invest and reinvest the same, together with the income therefrom, on behalf of the Participants collectively in accordance with the provisions of the Trust agreement, except to the extent that such monies and other property are invested as provided for in Article 7.  The Trustee shall make distributions from the Trust Fund at such time or times to such person or persons and in such amounts as the Plan Administrator shall direct in accordance with the Plan.
 
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ARTICLE 7
 
INVESTMENT ELECTIONS, ALLOCATION OF TRUST INCOME
AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO PARTICIPANTS’ ACCOUNTS
 
Section 7.1               Separate Accounts .
 
(a)  In General .  The Plan Administrator shall maintain or cause to be maintained separate Accounts for each Participant.  The Accounts maintained for a Participant shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a Pre-Tax Account, to which shall be credited all Elective Deferrals made on behalf of the Participant other than Roth Elective Deferrals, (ii) an Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contribution Account, to which shall be credited all Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contribution made on behalf of the Participant pursuant to Section 4.2, (iii) an Employer Discretionary Contribution Account, to which shall be credited all Employer Safe Harbor Contributions made on behalf of the Participant pursuant to Section 4.3, (iv) an Employer Matching Contribution Account, to which shall be credited all Employer Matching Contributions made on behalf of the Participant pursuant to Section 4.4, (v) a Roth Elective Deferral Account, to which shall be credited any Roth Elective Deferrals made on behalf of the Participant pursuant to Section 4.1(f), and (vi) a Rollover Account, to which shall be credited all rollover contributions made by the Participant.  In addition, other Accounts may be established by the Plan Administrator for other purposes, including with respect to plans that are merged into or otherwise transferred to the Plan.  Each such Account shall be divided and invested as the Participant elects in accordance with Section 7.2(b) among such separate investment funds as are maintained pursuant to Section 7.2(a).  Unless the context otherwise requires, a Participant’s “Account” and “Account balance” shall mean all Accounts and the aggregate value of all accounts maintained for such Participant pursuant to the Plan.  Such Accounts shall be maintained solely for accounting purposes and there shall be no segregation of assets of the Trust Fund or of any separate investment fund among separate Accounts.  The books of Accounts, forms and accounting methods used in the administration of Participants’ Accounts shall be the responsibility of, and shall be subject to the supervision and control of, the Plan Administrator.
 
Section 7.2               Investment Funds, Elections and Company Stock Fund .
 
(a)  Investment Funds .  As directed by the Plan Administrator, several separate investment funds have been established and maintained or made available with respect to the Plan.  From time to time, in accordance with the investment policies and objectives established by the Plan Administrator, the Plan Administrator may add, cease offering or make changes in the operation and management of any investment fund at any time, and shall have the authority to specify rules and procedures as to how Participant investment elections shall be adjusted to reflect the addition, deletion or change in the investment funds offered under the Plan, subject to paragraph (1) below (regarding the Company Stock Fund).  The investment funds may include, but are not limited to, investments in securities of open-end or closed-end investment companies and investments in any suitable collective investment fund maintained by any bank or trust company.  Pending allocation to the investment funds, contributions to the Plan may be held uninvested or may, on an interim basis, be invested, in whole or in part, in cash or cash equivalents.  Except as otherwise provided herein (or in rules adopted from time to time), dividends, interest, and other distributions received on the assets held by the Trustee in respect of any investment fund shall be reinvested in the respective investment fund.
 
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(1)  Diversified Investment Options .  The Plan shall at all times offer at least three diversified investment options, in addition to the Company Stock Fund (for which see paragraph (2) below and subsection 7.2(e) below), to which a Participant or Beneficiary may direct his or her investments, each of which shall be selected by the Plan Administrator or its delegate and each of which shall have materially different risk and return characteristics.
 
(2)  Company Stock Fund .  An investment fund called the “Company Stock Fund” shall be established and maintained and shall be invested primarily in Company Stock.  The rules regarding the Company Stock Fund are set forth in Section 7.2(e) below.
 
(b)  Investment Elections .  Each Participant shall have the right to direct the Trustee with respect to the investment and reinvestment of the assets and future contributions comprising the Participant’s Account among the investment funds that the Plan makes available.  To do so, the Participant must file an investment election with the Plan that specifies the percentage of the Participant’s existing Account balance and future contributions (in multiples established by the Plan Administrator from time to time) that are to be invested in each of such investment funds.  The Plan’s record keeper shall establish the procedures for filing investment elections.  The Participant’s most recent valid and timely-filed investment direction will be honored, subject to the default investment provisions in paragraph (3) below.  After a Participant’s death, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall have the right to direct the Trustee with respect to the investment or reinvestment of the assets comprising the Participant’s Account to the same extent that the Participant had during his life.
 
(1)  Timing of Investment Elections .  A Participant may make or change his or her investment election at any time.  A Participant’s initial or changed investment election shall be effective as soon as administratively practicable on or following the date the Plan receives the Participant’s investment election (usually by no later than the following business day).
 
(2)  Participant-Directed Investments and Section 404(c) Compliance .  Each Participant is solely responsible for the investment of his or her Plan contributions, his or her selection of investment funds, and for his transfers among the available investment funds, and no Plan fiduciary or other person shall have any liability for any loss or diminution in value resulting from the Participant’s exercise of such investment responsibility.  Because each Participant controls the investment of his or her Participant Accounts, the Plan is intended to be covered to the maximum extent possible by ERISA section 404(c) and Department of Labor regulations thereunder which provide that Plan fiduciaries may be relieved of liability for any losses that are the result of investment instructions given by a Participant or Beneficiary.
 
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(3)  Default Investment Fund .  Whenever amounts in a Participant’s Account or future contributions to that Account cannot be invested pursuant to the Participant’s direction (for example, if the Participant has not made a valid investment election) or pursuant to a mapping procedure established by the Plan Administrator for this purpose (see paragraph (4) below), the Trustee shall direct the investment of such amounts into the Plan’s default investment fund (or funds) as designated by the Plan Administrator, which shall be a “qualified default investment alternative” within the meaning of ERISA section 404(c)(5).
 
(4)  Mapping of Investment Elections When Funds Change .  The Plan’s investment funds will change from time to time.  When they do, the Plan intends to use the protocol in ERISA section 404(c)(4) for a qualified change in investment options to map the funds that will no longer be offered in the Plan to the appropriate new or existing investment funds.
 
(5)  Notification to Participants .  The Plan Administrator intends to notify Participants of the investment funds that are available under the Plan pursuant to Section 7.2 and to explain related fees and costs to the extent required by the regulations promulgated by the Department of Labor pursuant to ERISA section 404.  The Plan Administrator also intends to provide any notifications necessary to maintain compliance with ERISA sections 404(c) (participant-directed account), 404(c)(4) (qualified change in investment options) and 404(c)(5) (qualified default investment arrangements).
 
(6)  No Investment Recommendations .  The Trustee, the Plan Administrator, the Company, the Employer, the officers or supervisors of the Employer and the Company and the Plan’s fiduciaries are not empowered or authorized to advise a Participant regarding the Participant’s investment election.  The fact that an investment fund is offered under the Plan shall not be construed as a recommendation that Participants invest in such investment fund.
 
(7)  Investment of Amounts That are not Allocated to Participant Accounts .  Any portion of the Trust Fund which from time to time is not allocated to Participants’ Accounts shall be invested in such manner as the Plan Administrator shall determine.  The Plan Administrator shall be a “named fiduciary” (within the meaning of such term as used in ERISA) for this purpose.
 
(8)  Rule 16b-3(f) Compliance .  To the extent necessary to ensure compliance with Rule 16b-3(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company may arrange for tracking of any transaction defined in Rule 16b‑3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act involving the Company Stock Fund and the Company may bar any such transaction to the extent it would not be exempt under Rule 16b-3(f) of the Exchange Act.  To the extent the Company exercises its authority to bar a transaction under this subsection, the provisions of this subsection shall apply notwithstanding Section 7.2(b)(2) of the Plan (ERISA section 404(c) compliance).
 
(9)  Blackout Periods .  The Plan will comply with section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Section 306 in part requires the Plan to give advance notice of “blackout periods” (as defined in Department of Labor regulation section 2520.101‑3(d)(1)) to affected Participants and Beneficiaries (i.e., to Participants and Beneficiaries whose rights under the Plan to direct or diversify assets credited to their Accounts, to obtain loans from the Plan, or to obtain distributions from the Plan are suspended, limited or restricted by the blackout period).
 
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(i)  The Company is authorized to impose blackout periods whenever the Company determines that circumstances warrant.
 
(ii)  The Company may impose “regularly scheduled” blackout periods within the meaning of Department of Labor regulation section 2520.101-3(d)(1)(ii)(B) in the following circumstances:
 
(A)  The Company imposes quarterly blackout periods on insider trading in the Company Stock Fund as needed (as determined by the Company), timed to coincide with the release of the Company’s quarterly earnings reports.  The commencement and termination of these blackout periods in each quarter, the parties to which they apply and the activities they restrict shall be as set forth in the official insider trading policy promulgated by the Company from time to time.
 
(B)  The Company may impose blackout periods to the extent necessary under the liquidity provisions of paragraph (10) below.
 
(10)  Maintaining Liquidity .  The Trustee may direct the investment of a portion of certain investment Funds such as the Company Stock Fund in cash or short-term securities to the extent necessary to maintain a level of liquidity in such Funds that is reasonably expected to permit trades into and out of such Funds, as determined by the Trustee in its sole discretion.  If the liquid assets held by these Funds are insufficient to satisfy the immediate demand for liquidity under the Plan, the Trustee may temporarily limit or suspend transfers of any type (including withdrawals and distributions) to or from any affected investment fund.  During this period, contributions to any affected Fund may be redirected to a Fund chosen by the Trustee and instructions and transfers may be pended.
 
(c)  ESOP Portion and Non-ESOP Portions .  The Plan is divided into two portions: An ESOP Portion and a Non-ESOP Portion.  Together the ESOP Portion and the Non-ESOP Portion constitute the entire Plan and are intended to be a single plan under Treasury regulation section 1.414(l)-1(b)(1).
 
(1)  ESOP Portion .  As of any time, the portion of the Plan assets that is invested in the Company Stock Fund shall be a stock bonus plan under Code section 401(a) and is intended to qualify as an employee stock ownership plan under Code section 4975(e)(7) (the “ESOP Portion”).
 
(i)  Separate Portion .  The ESOP Portion is maintained as a portion of the Plan as authorized by Treasury regulation § 54.4975-11(a)(5).
 
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(ii)  Diversification .  In general, the ESOP Portion meets the diversification requirements of Code section 401(a)(28), to the extent applicable, by Plan design, since a Participant may self-direct the investment of 100% of the Participant’s Account.
 
(iii)  Valuations .  Valuations of shares of distributed Company Stock which are not readily tradable on an established securities market shall be made by an independent appraiser (within the meaning of Code section 401(a)(28)(C)).
 
(iv)  Suspense Account Not Required .  The ESOP Portion is not required to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a suspense account pursuant to Treasury regulation section 54.4975‑11(c), because for periods after the KSOP Effective Date, any assets acquired with an exempt loan have already been released from suspense, nor for the protections and rights described in Treasury regulation § 54.4975-11(a)(3)(i) (e.g., put options) that are required for assets acquired with the proceeds of an exempt loan, because the assets distributed under the Plan are publicly traded when distributed.
 
(v)  Distribution in Employer Securities .  The distribution provisions of Code section 409(h) (requiring a Participant to be given the opportunity to have his Account distributed in the form of employer securities) are met by Plan design because a Participant can take a distribution from the Plan in the form of shares of Company Stock.
 
(vi)  Merger of Dime ESOP .  Effective as of the KSOP Effective Date, the Dime ESOP merged into this Plan, and all of the accounts of the participants in the Dime ESOP as of immediately before the KSOP Effective Date were thereupon invested in the Company Stock Fund.  The Trustee shall account separately for these accounts, including any earnings thereon (“Dime ESOP Accounts”).  The Dime ESOP Accounts are closed to new investments.  A Participant may elect to reinvest all or any portion of his or her investment in the Company Stock Fund that is in his or her Dime ESOP Account into any other investment fund offered by the Plan, and by doing so, such amounts shall no longer be considered part of such Participant’s Dime ESOP Account.  Further, if any Participant invests or reinvests in the Company Stock Fund on or after the KSOP Effective Date, such investment or reinvestment shall not be included in the Participant’s Dime ESOP Account.
 
(2)  Non-ESOP Portion .  The remaining part of the Plan is intended to be a profit sharing plan under Code section 401(a) and to meet the requirements for qualification under Code section 401(a) (the “non-ESOP Portion”).
 
(d)  Election to Receive Dividends on ESOP Portion (Company Stock Fund) .  The Plan Administrator shall prescribe rules and procedures that allow each Participant (or Beneficiary, as applicable) with an interest in the Company Stock Fund to elect to have any Cash ESOP Dividends that are allocated to the Participant’s Accounts distributed in cash directly to him or her as soon as administratively practical after the dividend is paid to the Plan without being first reinvested in the Company Stock Fund (a Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election).
 
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(1)  Dividend Deduction Under Code Section 404(k) .  Such rules and procedures shall be in accordance with the terms of the Plan or, to the extent not specified in the Plan, with the requirements that must be satisfied in order for a federal income tax deduction to be allowed under Code section 404(k) with respect to the Cash ESOP Dividends (including the requirement that the election to receive Cash ESOP Dividends be irrevocable for the period to which it applies).  The Plan Administrator may provide for procedures for a Participant to make a Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election by contacting the Participant Response System.
 
(2)  Processing Fee .  The Plan Administrator shall be allowed to prescribe a processing fee for processing and paying Cash ESOP Dividends to electing Participants, the amount of which shall be subject to change; provided, however, that any increase in such fee shall not cause it to exceed the level that would permit the Company to deduct such dividends.
 
(3)  If Participant Does Not Make a Dividend Election .  In the event a Participant, as of the record date for a Cash ESOP Dividend, either:
 
(i)  Does not have a completed Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election on file with the Plan Administrator, or
 
(ii)  Completes a Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election but the Participant cannot be located (for example, because his address on file is invalid), the Participant’s Cash ESOP Dividends shall be paid to the Plan, allocated to the Company Stock Fund and reinvested in Company Stock.  Cash ESOP Dividends that are either paid or reinvested pursuant to Code section 404(k)(2)(A)(iii) and the provisions of this Section shall not be considered to be Annual Additions for purposes of Code section 415(c), Elective Deferrals for purposes of Code section 402(g), elective contributions for purposes of Code section 401(k), or employee (or matching) contributions for purposes of Code section 401(m).
 
(4)  Timing .  A Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election must be completed by the Participant (or Beneficiary, as applicable) within the time prescribed for such purpose and pursuant to the rules and procedures adopted by the Plan Administrator from time to time.  Any Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election that is not completed in the format required by the Plan Administrator shall be considered null and void.  The Plan Administrator shall give Participants (or Beneficiaries, as applicable) a reasonable opportunity before each dividend record date in which to make a Cash ESOP Dividend Payment.  The Plan Administrator shall honor each Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election as in effect on the dividend record date, and each Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election shall become irrevocable on such record date unless the Committee has timely established and communicated a different irrevocability date.  Each Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election shall remain in effect until the Participant (or Beneficiary, as applicable) affirmatively elects to revoke it.  A Participant (or Beneficiary, as applicable) may submit a Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election at any time, and may revoke an existing Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election at any time, with any submission or revocation to be effective for dividend record dates that occur after such submission or revocation.
 
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(e)  Company Stock Fund .  The Company Stock Fund shall be governed by the following paragraphs, unless otherwise noted:
 
(1)  Share Accounting .  Effective July 1, 2017, investments in the Company Stock Fund shall be record-kept using “share accounting” so that a Participant’s Account will hold shares as opposed to units.
 
(2)  Employee Benefit Committee is Plan Administrator for Company Stock Fund .  The Company’s Employee Benefit Committee is the Plan Administrator and “named fiduciary” (within the meaning of such term as it is used in ERISA) for investment decisions relating to the Company Stock Fund.  The Company’s Employee Benefit Committee shall be solely responsible for all investment decisions relating to the Company Stock Fund, except to the extent it delegates that responsibility to another ERISA fiduciary.  Subject to an override by the Company’s Employee Benefit Committee or other applicable fiduciary that such fiduciary determines to be required to comply with ERISA, the Company Stock Fund is required to be available to Participants as an investment fund pursuant to the terms of the Plan.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no provision of the Plan is to be construed to confer discretion on or authority in the Trustee or any fiduciary to remove the Company Stock Fund as an investment fund under the Plan or to limit Participants’ access to such fund.
 
(3)  Diversification Not Required for Company Stock Fund .  In accordance with ERISA section 404(a)(2), the Trustee is expressly excused from the requirements of diversification as to the investment of the Trust in the Company Stock Fund or other qualifying employer security.
 
(4)  Qualifying Employer Securities .  Shares of Company Stock in the Company Stock Fund are “qualifying employer securities” within the meaning of Code section 409(1) which defines “qualifying employer securities in relevant part as “common stock issued by the employer (or by a corporation which is a member of the same controlled group) which is readily tradable on an established securities market”, and ERISA section 407(d)(3).  In accordance with ERISA section 407(b)(1), the Trustee is authorized to invest and hold up to 100% of the assets of the Trust in the Company Stock Fund as directed from time to time by the Participants.  Accordingly, the Plan is an “eligible individual account plan” as defined in ERISA section 407(d)(3).
 
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(5)  Trading in Company Stock .  The Trustee may purchase Company Stock or other qualifying employer security from the Company or any other source, and such Company Stock or other qualifying employer security purchased by the Trustee may be outstanding, newly issued, or treasury shares, provided that such shares are registered.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any purchase by the Trustee of any shares of Company Stock or other qualifying employer security from any “party in interest” as defined in ERISA section 3(14), or from any “disqualified person” as defined in Code section 4975(e)(2), shall not be made at a price that exceeds “adequate consideration” as defined in ERISA section 3(18) and no commissions shall be paid with Plan assets on such purchase.  Shares of Company Stock will be purchased or sold for the Company Stock Fund in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions.  In the unusual event that the Company Stock Fund is acquiring or liquidating a block of Company Stock that is so large that its purchase or sale, in the ordinary course, is expected to disrupt an orderly market in Company Stock, the Trustee (or its designated agent) may limit the daily volume of purchases and sales of Company Stock by the Company Stock Fund to the extent necessary to preserve an orderly market.
 
(6)  Valuation .  Ongoing investment of Trust funds into Company Stock shall be permitted only if such Company Stock is traded on an exchange permitting a readily ascertained value, or the Plan Administrator has obtained a current valuation by a qualified independent appraiser.  The Trust shall be invested in the Stock Fund to the extent necessary to comply with valid Participant investment directions made pursuant to this Article.
 
(7)  Right to Divest .  Participants investing in the Company Stock Fund may divest their interests at any time.
 
(8)  Dividends and Stock Splits .  All dividends on shares of Company Stock in the Company Stock Fund are paid to the Company Stock Fund, treated as earnings and used to purchase additional shares of Company Stock in the Company Stock Fund (other than Cash ESOP Dividends that a Participant elects to have paid directly to him or her pursuant to Section 7.2(d)).  Any Company Stock received by the Trustee as a stock split or dividend, or as a result of a reorganization or other recapitalization with respect to the Company Stock in the Company Stock Fund, will be added to the Company Stock Fund.  Any other property (other than shares of Company Stock) received by the Trustee with respect to the Company Stock in the Company Stock Fund may be sold by the Trustee and the proceeds added to the Company Stock Fund.  In the event of a significant distribution of such other property, the Plan Administrator may implement special arrangements for the holding or disposition of such other property by the Plan.  Any rights to subscribe to additional shares of Company Stock shall be sold by the Trustee and the proceeds credited to the Company Stock Fund.
 
(9)  Voting .  See Article 10 below.
 
(10)  Liquidity .  See Section 7.2(b)(10) above.
 
Section 7.3              Allocation to Participants’ Accounts of Net Income of Trust and Fluctuation in Value of Trust Assets .  The net worth of each investment fund shall be determined as of each Valuation Date pursuant to Section 7.4, and the market value of each Participant’s Account shall be recalculated to reflect the net earnings and losses of each such investment fund since the preceding Valuation Date in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator.
 
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Section 7.4               Determination of Net Worth of an Investment Fund .  The net worth of an investment fund as of any Valuation Date shall be the fair market value of all assets (including any uninvested cash) held by such investment fund, as determined by the Trustee on the basis of such evidence and information as it may deem pertinent and reliable, reduced by any liabilities of the investment fund other than Participants’ Accounts and reduced by contributions made to the Trust Fund and invested in the investment fund subsequent to the preceding Valuation Date.
 
Section 7.5               Limitations on Allocations .  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the amounts allocated pursuant to Section 7.5 to a Participant’s Accounts under the Plan for each Plan Year shall be limited so that the aggregate annual additions to the Participant’s Accounts under the Plan and under all other defined contribution plans maintained by an Employer shall not exceed the lesser of (i) $54,000 in 2017 (as adjusted for cost-of-living increases in accordance with Code section 415(d)), and (ii) 100% of the Participant’s Code Section 415 Compensation for such Plan Year.  For purposes of this Section, the provisions of Code section 415 and the regulations issued thereunder are incorporated by reference as permitted under Treasury regulation § 1.415(a)-1(d)(3).  If the amount to be allocated to a Participant’s Accounts pursuant to Section 7.5 for a Plan Year would exceed the limitation set forth in this Section, such excess amount shall be corrected in accordance with the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (see, e.g., Revenue Procedure 2016-51).  If the amount to be allocated to a Participant’s Accounts pursuant to this Section for a Plan Year would exceed any of the limitations set forth in this Section, such excess amounts shall be corrected in accordance with the Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System of the Internal Revenue Service.  Such excess amounts shall be deemed Elective Deferrals and special Employer contributions, in that order.  For purposes of this Section, the “annual additions” for a Plan Year to a Participant’s Accounts in the Plan and his accounts in any other defined contribution plans is the sum during such Plan Year of:
 
(a)  the amount of Elective Deferrals, Employer Matching Contributions, special Employer contributions and after-tax contributions (but excluding any rollover contributions (within the meaning of Code sections 401(a)(31), 402(c)(1), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3) and 457(e)(16)) or any direct transfers made to such plan) allocated to such Participant’s accounts,
 
(b)  the amount of forfeitures allocated to such Participant’s accounts, and
 
(c)  contributions allocated on behalf of the Participant to any individual medical benefit account as defined in Code section 415(1), the additional reserve for post-retirement medical and life insurance benefits (as defined in Code section 419A(d)(2)) maintained on behalf of the Participant and mandatory employee contributions (as defined in Code section 411(c)(2)(C)) to a defined benefit plan, regardless of whether such plan is subject to the requirements of Code section 411.
 
For purposes of this Section, the term “defined contribution plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Code section 415 and the Treasury regulations thereunder, and the term “Employer” shall mean the Company’s Controlled Group except that in defining the Company’s Controlled Group, “more than 50%” shall be substituted for “at least 80 percent” where required by Code section 415(g).
 
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Section 7.6             Correction of Error .  If it comes to the attention of the Plan Administrator that an error has been made in any of the allocations prescribed by this Article 7, appropriate adjustment shall be made to the Accounts of all Participants and designated Beneficiaries which are affected by such error, in accordance with the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (see, e.g., Revenue Procedure 2016-51).
 
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ARTICLE 8
 
VESTING
 
Section 8.1               Vesting Schedules .
 
(a)  100% Vesting .  A Participant shall be at all times 100% vested in his or her Elective Deferrals, Rollover Contributions and Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contributions, and earnings thereon.  A Participant shall be at all times 100% vested in any dividends paid with respect to his or her investments in the Company Stock Fund for which the Participant was given the opportunity to make a Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election pursuant to Section 7.2(d) and Code section 404(k).  A Participant shall become 100% vested in the entire balance of the Participant’s Accounts if the Participant, while still an Employee, attains age 65, dies, or suffers a Total Disability.
 
(b)  Two to Six Year Graded Vesting .  A Participant shall vest in his Employer Discretionary Contributions and Employer Matching Contributions as set forth in the following schedule.
 
 
Participant’s Period of Service
(Measured in Completed Years)
 
Vested Percentage
 
Less than 2
 
0%
 
Less than 3 but more than 2
 
20%
 
Less than 4 but more than 3
 
40%
 
Less than 5 but more than 4
 
60%
 
Less than 6 but more than 5
 
80%
 
6 or more
 
100%

(c)  Vesting in Amounts in Plans That Merged Into This Plan .  A Participant who was a participant in the Dime ESOP shall be at all times 100% vested in amounts attributable to his or her balance therein as of the KSOP Effective Date, and earnings thereon.  A Participant who was a participant in any other plan that merged into this Plan (for example, the Pioneer Savings Bank, FSB Tax Deferral Savings Plan in RSI Retirement Trust which merged into this Plan effective March 1, 1997) shall be vested in amounts attributable to his or her balance in such plan pursuant to the terms of the documents supporting such plan and/or merger resolutions as applicable.
 
Section 8.2              Forfeiture of Unvested Amounts .  A Participant who terminates employment with the Company’s Controlled Group before vesting in all of his or her Accounts established under the Plan (as applicable) pursuant to Section 8.1 shall not be entitled to a distribution of any unvested amounts.  These unvested amounts shall be forfeited from the Participant’s Accounts as soon as administratively practicable following the earlier of: (i) the date the Participant’s entire vested Account balance is distributed from the Plan, and (ii) the date the Participant incurs a five-year Period of Severance.  For purposes of this Section 8.2, a Participant who terminates employment at a time when he or she has no vested interested in any Account shall be deemed to have received a distribution of his or her entire vested Account balance.
 
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(a)  Use of Forfeitures .  Any amount forfeited under this Section 8.2 shall be used to pay any administrative expenses of the Plan (including the cost of restoring any forfeitures) or to fund Employer Discretionary Contributions or Employer Matching Contributions.  Except to the extent of any required restorations of forfeited amounts, a Participant shall not be entitled to an allocation of a forfeiture of any portion of his or her Account, or to an allocation of a forfeiture made from any portion of any other Participant’s Account.
 
(b)  Reinstatement of Forfeited Amounts .  A Participant who received a distribution from the Plan of the vested portion of his or her Account and whose unvested portion was forfeited as a result, and who has a Reemployment Commencement Date before incurring a five-year Period of Severance, may repay the full amount of the distribution (excluding amounts attributable to the Rollover Contributions Account) in a cash lump sum to the Trustee within five years following the Participant’s Reemployment Commencement Date.  If the Participant does so, the Plan shall restore the forfeited amount, without earnings.
 
(c)  Vested Status Following a Break .  In the case of a Participant who has a Period of Severance that lasts at least five years, such Participant’s Period of Service that was completed before the Period of Severance shall be considered in determining the Participant’s vested interest in the portion of the Participant’s Account balance that the Participant earns after the break only if either: (i) such Participant has any remaining nonforfeitable interest in the Account balance attributable to Employer contributions that were earned before the Period of Service Cutoff Date; or (ii) upon returning to service the length of the Participant’s Period of Severance is less than the Participants Period of Service, measured in completed years.  Separate accounts will be maintained for the Participant’s pre-break and post-break Employer-derived account balance.  Both accounts will share in the earnings and losses of the Trust.
 
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ARTICLE 9
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
Section 9.1               Time and Form of Distribution upon Termination of Employment .
 
(a)  Form of distribution .  Any distribution to which a Participant or Beneficiary becomes entitled pursuant to subsection (b) below shall be distributed by the Trustee in a single lump sum payment or in substantially equal installments, as elected by the Participant or Beneficiary.  Any distribution from the Plan shall be made in the form of cash; provided, however, that a Participant may elect to receive the value of his Account that is invested in the Company Stock Fund in full shares of Company Stock and in cash for any fractional shares.
 
(b)  Time of Distributions .  A Participant shall be entitled to a distribution of the Participant’s vested Account balance as soon as administratively practicable after the date of the Participant’s severance from employment with the Employer, or, subject to the remaining provisions of this Section, may defer distribution to a later date; provided, however, that:
 
(1)  Consent .  The Participant’s Account shall not be distributed prior to the Participant’s 65 th birthday unless the Participant has consented in writing to such distribution.  Such consent shall be obtained in writing within the 180 day period ending on the first day of the first period for which an amount is paid.  The Plan Administrator shall notify the Participant of the right to defer any distribution until the Participant’s 65th birthday and of the consequences of failing to defer any distribution.  Such notification shall include a general description of the material features of the optional forms of benefit available under the Plan and a description of the Participant’s right to defer receipt of the distribution (where applicable), and shall be provided no less than 30 days and no more than 180 days prior to the first day of the first period for which an amount is paid.  However, distribution may commence less than 30 days after the notice described in the preceding sentence is given, provided the Plan Administrator clearly informs the Participant that the Participant has a right to a period of at least 30 days after receiving the notice to consider the decision of whether or not to elect a distribution (and, if applicable, a particular distribution option), and the Participant, after receiving the notice, affirmatively elects a distribution.  The Participant’s consent shall be in writing or, if authorized by the Plan Administrator, provided through an electronic medium that meets the requirements of Treasury regulation § 1.411(a)-11(f).  The Participant’s consent shall not be required to the extent that a distribution is required to satisfy Code section 401(a)(9) or 415.
 
(2)  Code Section 401(a)(14) .  Pursuant to Code section 401(a)(14), payment of benefits under the Plan shall begin no later than 60 days after the end of the Plan Year which contains the later of (i) the date of the Participant’s termination of employment, (ii) the tenth anniversary of the date the Participant commenced participation in the Plan and (iii) the Participant’s 65 th birthday; provided, however, that the Plan Administrator shall require such a Participant to file a claim for benefits before such payment of benefits shall commence.  If the Participant fails to file a claim for benefits prior to the later to occur of the events listed above, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected to defer such distribution until a date no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70½.
 
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(3)  Code Section 401(a)(9) .  Distribution to a Participant shall be made no later than the April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70½ or the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment, except that distribution to a Participant who is a “five percent owner” (as defined in Code section 416(i)) at any time during the Plan Year ending in the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70½ shall be made no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70½.  A Participant’s benefit will be distributed, beginning not later than the date required in this paragraph, over the life of the Participant, or over the lives of such Participant and a Beneficiary, or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of such Participant or the joint life expectancy of such Participant and a Beneficiary.
 
(4)  Small Dollar Cashouts .  Notwithstanding any provision in this Section to the contrary, if the vested Account balance of a terminated Participant does not exceed $1,000, such account shall be distributed in one lump sum payment in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator.
 
(c)  Time of Distribution to Beneficiary .  If prior to the Participant’s death the distribution of his vested Account balance had not been made, then distribution of his vested Account balance shall be made to his Beneficiary as soon as administratively practicable after the first Valuation Date coinciding with or following his death; provided, however, that if the Participant’s Beneficiary is the Participant’s Spouse, distribution may be deferred, at the Beneficiary’s election, until as late as the date on which the Participant would have attained age 70½ had the Participant survived.  The Participant’s Account shall not be forfeited on account of his or her death.
 
(d)  Code Section 401(a)(9) Requirements .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 9, all distributions under this Plan shall be made in accordance with Code section 401(a)(9) and the Treasury regulations thereunder.  Provisions of the Plan regarding payment of distributions shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with Code section 401(a)(9) and the Treasury regulations thereunder.
 
(e)  Incidental Death Benefit .  If payment of a Participant’s benefit under this Plan is by a distribution directly to the Participant from such Participant’s Account, the minimum amount which must be distributed each calendar year shall be the amount determined by dividing the balance in the Participant’s Account by the “applicable divisor.”  The “applicable divisor” shall be determined under regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury under the incidental death benefit requirements of Code section 401(a)(9).
 
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Section 9.2              Designation of Beneficiary .  Each Participant shall have the right to designate a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries (who may be designated contingently or successively and which may be an entity other than a natural person) to receive any distribution to be made upon the death of such Participant or, in the case of a Participant who dies subsequent to termination of his employment but prior to the distribution of the entire amount to which he is entitled, any undistributed balance to which such Participant was entitled; provided, however, that no such designation shall be effective if the Participant was married through the one-year period ending on the date of the Participant’s death unless such designation was consented to at the time of such designation by the person who was the Participant’s Spouse during such period, in writing, acknowledging the effect of such consent and witnessed by a notary public or a Plan representative, or it is established to the satisfaction of the Plan Administrator that such consent could not be obtained because the Participant’s Spouse cannot be located or such other circumstances as may be prescribed in applicable Treasury regulations.  A Participant may from time to time, without the consent of any designated Beneficiary, cancel any such designation.  Such designation and each cancellation thereof shall be made in the form prescribed by the Plan Administrator and shall be filed with the Plan Administrator.  If no Beneficiary has been designated by a deceased Participant, any such designation is not effective pursuant to the proviso contained in the first sentence of this Section, or the designated Beneficiary has predeceased the Participant, any undistributed vested balance of the deceased Participant shall be distributed at the direction of the Plan Administrator (a) to the surviving Spouse of such deceased Participant, if any, or (b) if there is no surviving Spouse, to the surviving children of such deceased Participant, if any, in equal shares, or (c) if there is no surviving Spouse or surviving children, to the surviving parents of the deceased Participant, if any, in equal shares, or (d) if there is no surviving parent, to the surviving siblings of the deceased Participant, if any, in equal shares, or (e) if there is no surviving sibling, to the executor or administrator of the estate of such deceased Participant, or (f) if no executor or administrator has been appointed for the estate of such deceased Participant within six months following the date of the Participant’s death, in equal shares to the person or persons who would be entitled under the intestate succession laws of the state of the Participant’s domicile to receive the Participant’s personal estate.  The marriage of a Participant shall be deemed to revoke any prior designation of a Beneficiary made by him and a divorce shall be deemed to revoke any prior designation of the Participant’s divorced Spouse if written evidence of such marriage or divorce shall be received by the Plan Administrator before distribution has been made in accordance with such designation.  For purposes of this Section, “marriage” shall mean a legal union between two people under applicable Federal law.
 
Section 9.3              Investment of Distributee Accounts .  If distribution of the amount to which a Distributee becomes entitled is made later than the first Valuation Date coincident with or following the Participant’s termination of employment, the undistributed balance of such amount shall be credited as of such Valuation Date to an account established and maintained in the name of the Distributee entitled to receive the same (“Distributee Account”).  For purposes of investment elections that can be made pursuant to Section 7.2, the allocations prescribed in Section 7.3, and any distribution of assets pursuant to Section 15.4 upon termination of the Plan, a Distributee for whom a Distributee Account is established shall be deemed to be a Participant and such Account shall be deemed to be a Participant’s Account.
 
Section 9.4               Distributions to Minor and Disabled Distributees .  Any distribution under this Article which is payable to a Distributee who is a minor or to a Distributee who, in the opinion of the Plan Administrator, is unable to manage his affairs by reason of illness or mental incompetency may be made to or for the benefit of any such Distributee at such time consistent with the provisions of this Article and in such of the following ways as the legal representative of such Distributee shall direct:  (a) directly to any such minor Distributee if, in the opinion of such legal representative, he is able to manage his affairs, (b) to such legal representative, (c) to a custodian under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act for any such minor Distributee, or (d) to some near relative of any such Distributee to be used for the latter’s benefit.  The Plan Administrator shall be required to see to the application by any third party other than the legal representative of a Distributee of any distribution made to or for the benefit of such Distributee pursuant to this Section.
 
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Section 9.5              “Lost” Participants and Beneficiaries .  If within a reasonable period following the death or other termination of employment of any Participant the Plan Administrator in the exercise of reasonable diligence has been unable to locate the person or persons entitled to benefits under this Article, the rights of such “lost” Participant or “lost” Beneficiary, as the case may be, shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Plan shall reinstate and pay to such “lost” Participant or “lost” Beneficiary, as the case may be, the amount of the benefits so forfeited upon a claim for such benefits made by such person.  To reinstate this amount, the Employer of such “lost” Participant shall contribute to the Plan an amount equal to the amount to be so reinstated.  Any such contribution shall be made without regard to whether or not the limitations set forth in Section 7.5 will be exceeded by such contribution.
 
Section 9.6               Withdrawals from Accounts During Employment .
 
(a)  Withdrawals upon incurring financial hardship .  A Participant whom the Plan Administrator determines has incurred a “financial hardship” may elect to withdraw vested amounts in cash from his Plan Accounts in cash.  The amount of withdrawal on account of hardship shall not exceed the amount the Plan Administrator determines is necessary to satisfy such hardship.  A Participant may apply for a hardship withdrawal pursuant to this subsection (a) in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Plan Administrator.  The Plan Administrator may assess Participants a fee for processing hardship withdrawal applications.
 
(1)  Limit of Two a Year .  No more than two hardship withdrawals may be made to a Participant during a Plan Year.
 
(2)  Eligible Amounts .  In no event may hardship withdrawals be taken from amounts invested in the Company Stock Fund.  Hardship withdrawals may be made only from the following types of contributions:
 
(i)  Elective Deferrals. but not including earnings thereon (except that earnings on Roth Elective Deferrals and earnings allocated to Elective Deferrals before 1989 are available for hardship withdrawal), and
 
(ii)  Rollover Account and earnings thereon.
 
No other amounts are eligible for withdrawal on account of hardship, including Employer Safe Harbor Basic Contributions and earnings thereon, qualified nonelective contributions or qualified matching contributions (see, for example, Section 4.4(e), Designation of Qualified Nonelective Contributions and Qualified Matching Contributions) and earnings thereon, and earnings allocated to Elective Deferrals or other elective deferrals after December 31, 1988.  Prior to the KSOP Effective Date, hardship withdrawals were available from some other accounts (for example, the Bank Contribution Account and Pioneer Prior Matching Contribution Account), but these accounts are no longer available for hardship withdrawal.
 
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(3)  Determination of Financial Hardship .  The determination of the existence of “financial hardship” and the amount required to be distributed to satisfy the need created by the hardship will be made by the Plan Administrator in a uniform and non-discriminatory manner.  A financial hardship shall be deemed to exist only if the Participant certifies to the Plan Administrator that the financial need is for one or more of the following reasons, to the extent permitted under the safe harbor hardship distribution rules set forth in Treasury regulation § 1.401(k)-1(d)(3)(ii)(B):
 
(i)  Expenses for (or necessary to obtain) medical care that would be deductible under Code section 213(d) (determined without regard to whether the expenses exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income), as well as, such medical care for a Participant’s primary Beneficiary;
 
(ii)  Costs directly related to the purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of a principal residence for the Participant;
 
(iii)  The payment of tuition, related educational fees, and room and board expenses for the next twelve months of post-secondary education for the Participant, the Participant’s Spouse, children, Dependents (defined without regard to Code sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(B)), or primary Beneficiary;
 
(iv)  The need to prevent eviction of the Participant from his principal residence or foreclosure on the mortgage of the Participant’s principal residence;
 
(v)  Burial or funeral expenses for the Participant’s deceased parent, Spouse, children, Dependents (defined without regard to Code section 152(d)(1)(B)) or primary Beneficiary; or
 
(vi)  Expenses for the repair of damage to the Participant’s principal residence that would qualify for the casualty deduction under Code section 165 (determined without regard to whether the loss exceeds 10% of adjusted gross income).
 
The Participant shall be required to submit any additional supporting documentation as may be requested by the Plan Administrator.
 
(4)  Immediate and Heavy Financial Need .  No distributions on account of hardship shall be made pursuant to this subsection unless the Plan Administrator determines that all of the following conditions are satisfied, based upon the Participant’s representation and such other facts as are known to the Plan Administrator:
 
(i)  The distribution is not in excess of the amount of the immediate and heavy financial need of the Participant (including any amounts necessary to pay any federal, state, or local taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution); and
 
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(ii)  The Participant has obtained all distributions, other than hardship distributions, all nontaxable loans currently available under all plans maintained by the Employer (to the extent the loan would not increase the hardship) and has made a Cash ESOP Dividend Payment Election to the extent such an election is currently available to the Participant at the time the hardship withdrawal is being requested.
 
The Participant shall be required to submit any additional supporting documentation as may be requested by the Plan Administrator.  The Plan Administrator’s determination of the amount necessary to satisfy any financial hardship can, in the Plan Administrator’s sole discretion, include consideration of the amounts that will be necessary for the Participant to pay any federal, state or local income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from a withdrawal made on account of a financial hardship.
 
(5)  Restrictions resulting from hardship withdrawal .  If a Participant takes a hardship withdrawal pursuant to this subsection (a) or has taken a hardship withdrawal that is subject to Code section 401(k)(2)(B)(IV) from any other retirement plan that is available within the Company’s Controlled Group, (i) Elective Deferrals and all other elective and employee contributions made on behalf of or made by such Participant under the Plan and all other plans within the Company’s Controlled Group (other than such contributions to a health or welfare benefit plan) shall cease beginning with the date on which the Participant receives (or received) such distribution; and (ii) such Participant shall not again be eligible to elect or otherwise have such contributions commence until the first day of the first month which follows end of the six-month period following the date on which such distribution is (or was) made.  If a Participant is deemed to make Elective Deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1(b), Elective Deferrals shall resume at the end of the six-month period at the rate that would have applied if no suspension pursuant to this subsection had occurred.
 
(b)  Age 59½ Withdrawals .  A Participant who is an Employee and who has attained age 59½ may elect to withdraw as of any Valuation Date all or a portion of the vested balance in his or her Accounts, in cash, in the time and manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator.  Such withdrawal may not be greater than the combined value of the vested amounts held in such Accounts as of such Valuation Date.  Amounts in the Company Stock Fund are not eligible for in-service withdrawal.
 
(c)  Distributions from a Participant’s Rollover Account .  A Participant who is an Employee may elect to withdraw as of any Valuation Date all or a portion of the vested balance in his Rollover Account, in cash, in the time and manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator.  Amounts in the Company Stock Fund are not eligible for in-service withdrawal.
 
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Section 9.7               Loans to Participants .
 
(a)  Making of Loans .  Subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section, the Plan Administrator shall establish a loan program whereby any Participant who is an Employee may request, in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Plan Administrator, to borrow funds from the Plan.  The principal balance of any such loan cannot be less than $1,000 and shall not exceed the lesser of (1) 50% of the aggregate of the Participant’s vested Account balance as of the Valuation Date coinciding with or immediately preceding the day on which the loan is made, and (2) $50,000 reduced by the highest outstanding loan balance of the Participant under all plans maintained by his Employer during the period of time beginning one year and one day prior to the day such loan is to be made and ending on the day prior to the day such loan is to be made.  The details of the Plan’s participant loan program are set forth in the Plan’s written loan procedures.
 
(b)  Restrictions on Loans .  Any loan approved by the Plan Administrator pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section shall be made only upon the following terms and conditions:
 
(1)  Amounts invested in the Company Stock Fund are not eligible to be taken as a loan.
 
(2)  No loan shall be made unless the Participant consents to have such loan repaid in substantially equal installments deducted from the regular payments of the Participant’s compensation during the term of the loan.
 
(3)  No Participant may have more than two loans outstanding at any time.
 
(4)  The period for repayment of the loan shall be arrived at by mutual agreement between the Plan Administrator and the Participant but such period shall not exceed five years from the date of the loan; except in the case of a loan the purpose of which (as determined by the Plan Administrator) is to acquire any dwelling unit which within a reasonable time is to be used as the principal residence of the Participant.  A loan may be prepaid in whole or in part, without penalty, by delivery to the Plan Administrator of cash in an amount equal to the amount of the prepayment.
 
(5)  A Participant who terminates employment with the Employer must repay all outstanding loans following such termination of employment.
 
(6)  Loan repayments under the Plan shall be suspended with respect to Participants in Military Service as permitted under Code section 414(u)(4).
 
(7)  Each loan shall be evidenced by the Participant’s collateral promissory note for the amount of the loan, with interest, payable to the order of the Trustee, in substantially equal installments (payable at least quarterly), and shall be secured by an assignment of 50% of the Participant’s vested benefit under the Plan.
 
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(8)  Each loan shall bear a fixed interest rate commensurate with the interest rate than being charged by persons in the business of lending money in the area of the Employer for loans made under similar circumstances.
 
(9)  Each Participant requesting a loan shall, as a condition of receiving such loan, pay any reasonable loan processing fee and/or loan maintenance fee as shall be set from time to time by the Plan Administrator.  Such fee(s) may be paid from the loan proceeds or deducted from the Participant’s Account.
 
(c)  Applicability .  The provisions of this Section shall apply to each Participant and Beneficiary of a deceased Participant if such Participant or Beneficiary is a “party in interest” as defined in ERISA section 3(14).  Each reference in this Section to “Participant” shall include such Beneficiaries of deceased Participants except that the requirements of subsection (b) above shall not apply to a loan made to any Participant or Beneficiary who is a “party in interest” after the Participant’s termination of employment.
 
Section 9.8               Direct Rollovers.
 
(a)  Election .  A Distributee may elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Plan Administrator, to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan specified by the Distributee in a direct rollover.
 
(b)  Definitions .  For purposes of this Section:
 
(1)  An “eligible rollover distribution” is any distribution being made pursuant to the terms of the Plan of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of the Distributee, except that an eligible rollover distribution does not include: any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the Distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the Distributee and the Distributee’s designated Beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more; any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under Code section 401(a)(9); and the portion of any distribution that is not includible in gross income and any distribution that is a hardship distribution under Code section 401(k)(2)(B).
 
(2)  An “eligible retirement plan” includes any of the following that accepts the Distributee’s eligible rollover distribution:
 
(i)  An individual retirement account described in Code section 408(a), an individual retirement annuity described in Code section 408(b), and a qualified trust described in Code section 401(a).
 
(ii)  An annuity plan described in Code section 403(a) and an annuity contract described in Code section 403(b).
 
(iii)  An eligible plan under Code section 457(b) which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a state, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state and which agrees to separately account for amounts transferred into such plan from the Plan.
 
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(iv)  A Roth IRA described in Code section 408A(b).
 
(3)  A “Distributee” includes (A) an Employee or former Employee, (B) the Employee’s or former Employee’s surviving Spouse and the Employee’s or former Employee’s Spouse or former Spouse who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code section 414(p) but only with regard to the interest of the Spouse or former Spouse, and (C) the Participant’s nonspousal primary Beneficiary who is the Participant’s “designated Beneficiary” under Code section 401(a)(9)(E) and the regulations thereunder (except that in this case the definition of eligible retirement plan is modified to mean only an individual retirement account described in Code section 408(a) and an individual retirement annuity described in Code section 408(b) established by the non-spouse Beneficiary for purposes of receiving the direct rollover).
 
(4)  A “direct rollover” is a payment by the Plan to the eligible retirement plan specified by the Distributee.
 
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ARTICLE 10
 
PARTICIPANTS’ STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS
 
Section 10.1            Company Stock .  (a)  The Trustee shall vote, in person or by proxy, shares of Company Stock which are allocated to a Participant’s Account and the Participant’s “proportionate share” (as determined pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 10.1(a)) of the votes attributable to the non-voted shares of Company Stock in accordance with instructions obtained from such Participant (or, if applicable, his Beneficiary).  Each Participant (or Beneficiary) shall be entitled to give voting instructions with respect to the number of shares of Company Stock allocated to his Account as of the valuation date prior to the shareholder record date for such vote.  Written notice of any meeting of stockholders of the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and a request for voting instructions shall be given by the Plan Administrator or the Trustee, at such time and in such manner as the Plan Administrator shall determine, to each Participant (or Beneficiary) entitled to give instructions for voting shares of Company Stock at such meeting.  A Participant’s “proportionate share” of non-voted shares of Company Stock shall be a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of votes attributable to shares of Company Stock that are held in such Participant’s Account for which instructions are timely provided to the Trustee and the denominator of which shall be the number of votes attributable to all shares of Company Stock held in Participants’ Account under the Company Stock Fund for which voting instructions are provided to the Trustee.
 
(b)  Other Securities .  The Trustee shall vote, in person or by proxy, shares of securities other than Company Stock held in the Trust in accordance with voting instructions provided by the Plan Administrator.
 
Section 10.2            Tender Offers .
 
(a)  Rights of Participants .  In the event a tender or exchange offer is made generally to the shareholders of the Company to transfer all or a portion of their shares of Company Stock in return for valuable consideration, including but not limited to, offers regulated by section 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Trustee shall respond to such tender or exchange offer in respect of shares of Company Stock allocated to a Participant’s Account and the Participant’s “proportionate share” (as determined pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 10.2(a)) of the votes attributable to the unallocated shares of Company Stock held in the Company Stock Fund in accordance with instructions obtained from such Participant (or, if applicable, his Beneficiary).  Each Participant (or Beneficiary) shall be entitled to give instructions with respect to tendering or withdrawal from tender of such shares.  A Participant (or Beneficiary) shall not be limited in the number of instructions to tender or withdraw from tender which he can give but a Participant (or Beneficiary) shall have the right to give instructions to tender or withdraw from tender after a reasonable time established by the Trustee pursuant to subsection (c) below.  The Trustee shall respond to any such tender or exchange offer in respect of all shares of Company Stock allocated to Participants’ (or Beneficiaries’) Accounts in accordance with the terms of the Trust.  All instructions from the Participant (or Beneficiary) shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person, including the Company.  A Participant’s “proportionate share” of unallocated shares of Company Stock held in the Company Stock Fund shall be a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Company Stock that are held in such Participant’s Account for which instructions are timely provided to the Trustee and the denominator of which shall be the number of all shares of Company Stock held in Participants’ Accounts under the Company Stock Fund for which voting instructions are provided to the Trustee.
 
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(b)  Duties of the Plan Administrator .  Within a reasonable time after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer, the Plan Administrator or the Trustee shall provide to each Participant:
 
(1)  The offer to purchase or exchange as distributed by the offeror to the shareholders of the Company,
 
(2)  A statement of the shares of Company Stock allocated to his Account, and
 
(3)  Directions as to the means by which a Participant can give instructions with respect to the tender or exchange offer.
 
The Plan Administrator shall establish and pay for a means by which a Participant (or Beneficiary) can expeditiously deliver to the Plan Administrator instructions addressed to the Trustee with respect to a tender or exchange offer.  The Plan Administrator shall transmit to the Trustee aggregate numbers of shares to be tendered or withheld from tender representing instructions of Participants (or Beneficiaries).  The Plan Administrator, at its election, may engage an agent to receive instructions from Participants (or Beneficiaries) and transmit them to the trustee.
 
(c)  Duties of the Trustee .  The Trustee shall follow the instructions of the Participants (or Beneficiaries) with respect to the tender or exchange offer as transmitted to the Trustee.  The Trustee may establish a reasonable time, taking into account the time restrictions of the tender or exchange offer, after which it shall not accept instructions of Participants (or Beneficiaries).
 
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ARTICLE 11
 
ADMINISTRATION
 
Section 11.1             The Plan Administrator .
 
(a)  The “named fiduciary” of the Plan within the meaning of ERISA section 402 shall be the Plan Administrator for purposes of administration of the Plan and the Plan’s investments (except to the extent otherwise provided with respect to the Company Stock Fund in Section 7.2).  The Company’s Compensation Committee shall appoint a Plan Administrator with responsibility for the Plan’s ministerial and fiduciary duties (except to the extent otherwise provided with respect to the Company Stock Fund in Section 7.2).  It is expressly contemplated that the Compensation Committed may appoint a third party administrator to serve in this role, and that the third party administrator shall also service as the named fiduciary to the Plan within the meaning of ERISA section 402(a) as a result of this delegation.  Any such delegation shall be reduced to writing and such writing shall be kept with the records of the meetings of the Compensation Committee.  The named fiduciary and any other parties designated as fiduciaries, as defined in ERISA section 3(21), by such named fiduciary in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Trust Agreement, shall be fiduciaries only with respect to their specific responsibilities in connection with the Plan and Trust, and shall have only those specific powers, duties, responsibilities, and obligations as are specifically given them under this Plan or the Trust Agreement.  The Plan Administrator shall have the sole responsibility for the administration of the Plan, which responsibility is specifically described in this Plan and the Trust Agreement.  The Plan Administrator may designate any person, person, partnership, corporation or combination thereof to carry out any of its duties and responsibility with respect to administrator of the Plan, with the consent of the Compensation Committee.  Each fiduciary may rely upon any direction, information or action of another fiduciary as being proper under this Plan or the Trust, and is not required under this Plan or the Trust instrument to inquire into the propriety of any direction, information or action.  It is intended under this Plan and the Trust instrument that each fiduciary shall be responsible for the proper exercise of its own powers, duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Plan and the Trust instrument and shall not be responsible for any act or failure to act of another fiduciary.  No fiduciary guarantees the Trust in any manner against investment loss or depreciation in asset value.  The Plan Administrator shall be the Plan’s agent for service of legal process.  The Plan Administrator shall have all powers necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of the Plan, as set forth in this Article.  To the extent permitted by law, all findings of fact, determinations, interpretations and decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons having or claiming to have any interest or right under the Plan.
 
(b)  Each Employer shall, from time to time, upon request of the Plan Administrator, furnish to the Plan Administrator such data and information as the Plan Administrator shall require in the performance of its duties.
 
(c)  The Plan Administrator shall direct the Trustee to make payments of amounts to be distributed from the Trust under Article 9 and to withhold applicable taxes therefrom.
 
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(d)  If the Plan Administrator position is filled by more than one person, those persons may allocate their responsibilities among themselves and may designate any person, persons, partnership, corporation or combination thereof to carry out any of their duties and responsibilities with respect to administration of the Plan.  Any such allocation or designation shall be reduced to writing and such writing shall be kept with the records of the meetings of the Plan Administrator.
 
(e)  No person serving as a Plan Administrator shall receive any compensation or fee for his or her services unless otherwise agreed between such person and the Company, but the Company shall reimburse persons serving as the Plan Administrator for any necessary expenditures incurred in the discharge of their duties as Plan Administrator.
 
(f)  The Plan Administrator may employ such counsel (who may be of counsel for any Employer) and agents and may arrange for such clerical and other services as it may require in carrying out the provisions of the Plan.
 
(g)  The Plan Administrator shall have the responsibility and authority to appoint one or more investment advisors and to set out the investment objectives and parameters for the Plan.
 
Section 11.2            Claims Procedure .  If any Participant or Distributee (a “claimant”) believes he is entitled to benefits in an amount greater than those which he is receiving or has received, he may file a claim with the Plan Administrator.
 
(a)  Initial Claim .  Such a claim shall be in writing and state the nature of the claim, the facts supporting the claim, the amount claimed, and the address of the claimant.  The Plan Administrator shall review the claim and, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, within 90 days after receipt of the claim, give written notice by registered or certified mail to the claimant of his decision with respect to the claim.  If special circumstances require an extension of time, the claimant shall be so advised in writing within the initial 90-day period and in no event shall such an extension exceed 90 days.  The notice of the decision of the Plan Administrator with respect to the claim shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and, if the claim is wholly or partially denied, set forth the specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary.  The Plan Administrator shall also advise the claimant that he or his duly authorized representative may request a review by the Plan Administrator of the denial by filing with the Plan Administrator within 65 days after notice of the denial has been received by the claimant, a written request for such review.  The claimant shall be informed that he may have reasonable access to pertinent documents and submit comments in writing to the Plan Administrator within the same 65-day period.
 
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(b)  Appeal .  If a request is so filed, review of the denial shall be made by the Plan Administrator within, unless special circumstances require an extension of time, 60 days after receipt of such request, and the claimant shall be given written notice of the resulting final decision.  If special circumstances require an extension of time, the claimant shall be so advised in writing within the initial 60-day period and in no event shall such an extension exceed 60 days.  The notice of the final decision shall include specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based and shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant.
 
(c)  Claimant Must Exhaust the Plan’s Claims Procedures .  Before filing any Claim (including a suit or other action) in court or in another tribunal, a Claimant must first fully exhaust all of the Claimant’s rights under the claims procedures of this Section.
 
(1)  Upon review by any court or other tribunal, the exhaustion requirement of this Section 11.2(c) is intended to be interpreted to require exhaustion in as many circumstances as possible (and any steps necessary to clarify or effect this intent may be taken).
 
(2)  In any action or consideration of a Claim in court or in another tribunal following exhaustion of the Plan’s claims procedure as described in this Section 11.2(c), the subsequent action or consideration shall be limited, to the maximum extent permissible, to the record that was before Plan Administrator in the claims procedure.
 
(3)  The exhaustion requirement of this Section 11.2(c) shall apply: (i) regardless of whether other Disputes that are not Claims (including those that a court might consider at the same time) are of greater significance or relevance, (ii) to any rights the Plan Administrator may choose to provide in connection with novel Disputes or in particular situations, (iii) regardless of whether the rights are actual or potential and (iv) even if the Plan Administrator has not previously defined or established specific claims procedures that directly apply to the submission and consideration of such Claim (in which case the Plan Administrator (upon notice of the Claim) shall either promptly establish such claims procedures or shall apply (or act by analogy to) the claims procedures of Section 11.2 that apply to claims for benefits).
 
(4)  The Plan Administrator may make special arrangements to consider a Claim on a class basis or to address unusual conflicts concerns, and such minimum arrangements in these respects shall be made as are necessary to maximize the extent to which exhaustion is required.
 
(5)  For purposes of this Section 11.2(c), the following definitions apply.
 
(i)  A “Dispute” is any claim, dispute, issue, action or other matter.
 
(ii)  A “Claim” is any Dispute that implicates in whole or in part any one or more of the following –
 
(A)  The interpretation of the Plan;
 
(B)  The interpretation of any term or condition of the Plan;
 
(C)  The interpretation of the Plan (or any of its terms or conditions) in light of applicable law;
 
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(D)  Whether the Plan or any term or condition under the Plan has been validly adopted or put into effect;
 
(E)  The administration of the Plan;
 
(F)  Whether the Plan, in whole or in part, has violated any terms, conditions or requirements of ERISA or other applicable law or regulation, regardless of whether such terms, conditions or requirements are, in whole or in part, incorporated into the terms, conditions or requirements of the Plan;
 
(G)  A request for Plan benefits or an attempt to recover Plan benefits;
 
(H)  An assertion that any entity or individual has breached any fiduciary duty; or
 
(I)  Any Claim that: (i) is deemed similar to any of the foregoing by the Plan Administrator, or (ii) relates to the Plan in any way.
 
(iii)  A “Claimant” is any Employee, former Employee, Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary (or the spouse, former spouse, estate, heir or representative of any of the foregoing individuals), or any other individual, person, entity with a relationship to any of the foregoing individuals or the Plan, as well as any group of one or more of the foregoing, who has a Claim.
 
(6)  Exclusive Discretionary Authority .  The Plan Administrator shall have the exclusive discretionary authority to construe and to interpret the Plan, to decide all questions of eligibility for benefits and to determine the amount of such benefits, and its decisions on such matters are final and conclusive.  As a result, benefits under this Plan will be paid only if the Plan Administrator decides in its discretion that the Participant (or other claimant) is entitled to them.  The Plan Administrator’s discretionary authority is intended to be absolute, and in any case where the extent of this discretion is in question, the Plan Administrator is to be accorded the maximum discretion possible.  Any exercise of this discretionary authority shall be reviewed by a court under the arbitrary and capricious standard (i.e., the abuse of discretion standard).
 
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Section 11.3            Procedures for Domestic Relations Orders .  If the Plan Administrator receives any written judgment, decree or order (including approval of a property settlement agreement) pursuant to State domestic relations or community property law relating to the provision of child support, alimony or marital property rights of a Spouse, former Spouse, child or other Dependent of a Participant and purporting to provide for the payment of all or a portion of the Participant’s Account balances under the Plan to or on behalf of one or more of such persons (such judgment, decree or order being hereinafter called a “domestic relations order”), the Plan Administrator shall promptly notify the Participant and each other payee specified in such domestic relations order of its receipt and of the following procedures.  After receipt of a domestic relations order, the Plan Administrator shall determine whether such order constitutes a “qualified domestic relations order,” as defined in subsection (b) of Section 13.2, and shall notify the Participant and each payee named in such order in writing of its determination.  Such notice shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the parties and shall set forth specific reasons for the Plan Administrator’s determination, and shall contain an explanation of the review procedure under the Plan.  The Plan Administrator shall also advise each party that he or his duly authorized representative may request a review by the Plan Administrator of its determination by filing with the Plan Administrator a written request for such review.  The Plan Administrator shall give each party affected by such request notice of such request for review.  Each party also shall be informed that he may have reasonable access to pertinent documents and submit comments in writing to the Plan Administrator in connection with such request for review.  Each party shall be given written notice of the Plan Administrator’s final determination, which notice shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the parties and shall include specific reasons for such final determination.  If within a reasonable time after receipt of written evidence of such order, it is determined that such domestic order constitutes a qualified domestic relations order, amounts subject to a domestic relations order which are payable to the alternate payee shall be segregated in a separate account and distributed in accordance with the terms of the order.  If within such reasonable period of time it is determined that such order does not constitute a qualified domestic relations order, the amounts so segregated (plus any interest thereon) shall be paid to the Participant or such other persons, if any, entitled to such amounts at such time.  Any determination regarding the status of such order after such reasonable time period shall be applied only to payments on or after the date of such determination.  Prior to the issuance of regulations, the Plan Administrator shall establish the time periods in which the Plan Administrator’s initial determination, a request for review thereof and the review by the Plan Administrator shall be made, provided that the total of such time periods shall not be longer than 18 months from the date written evidence of a domestic relations order is received by the Plan Administrator.  The duties of the Plan Administrator under this Section may be delegated by the Plan Administrator to one or more persons.
 
Section 11.4              Notices to Participants, Etc .  All notices, reports and statements given, made, delivered or transmitted to a Participant or Distributee or any other person entitled to or claiming benefits under the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given, made or transmitted when mailed by first class mail with postage prepaid and addressed to the Participant or Distributee or such other person at the address last appearing on the records of the Plan Administrator.  A Participant or Distributee or other person may record any change of his address from time to time by written notice filed with the Plan Administrator.
 
Section 11.5            Notices to Company, Employers or Plan Administrator .  Written directions, notices and other communications from Participants or Distributees or any other person entitled to or claiming benefits under the Plan to the Company, Employers or the Plan Administrator shall be deemed to have been duly given, made or transmitted either when delivered to such location as shall be specified upon the form prescribed by the Plan Administrator for the giving of such directions, notices and other communications or when mailed by first class mail with postage prepaid and addressed to the addressee at the address specified upon such forms.
 
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Section 11.6             New Technologies .  Any references in this Plan to communications, notices, forms or agreements given under the Plan may be given in any form acceptable to the Plan Administrator including but not limited to electronic or other paperless forms (whether electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or other comparable technologies), facsimile, telephonic voice response systems or internet protocols, subject to the requirements of Department of Labor regulation section 2520.104b-1 or other applicable regulatory guidance.  Record retention may be in any form acceptable to the Plan Administrator.  Signatures (including signatures that must be notarized or acknowledged) will be accepted electronically to the extent the procedures for electronic signatures are acceptable to the Plan Administrator.
 
Section 11.7            Records .  The Plan Administrator shall keep a record of all of its proceedings and shall keep or cause to be kept all books of account, records and other data as may be necessary or advisable in its judgment for the administration of the Plan.
 
Section 11.8            Reports of Accounting to Participants .  The Plan Administrator shall keep on file, in such form as it shall deem convenient and proper, all reports concerning the Trust Fund and the Plan Administrator shall, as soon as possible after the close of each Plan Year, advise each Participant and Distributee of the balance credited to any account for his benefit as of the close of such Plan Year pursuant to Article 7 hereof.
 
Section 11.9             Limitations on Actions .  Effective for claims and actions filed on or after January 1, 2020, any claim filed under Section 11.2 and any action filed in state or federal court by or on behalf of a former or current Employee, Participant, Beneficiary or any other individual, person or entity (collectively, a “Petitioner”) for the alleged wrongful denial of Plan benefits or for the alleged interference with or violation of ERISA-protected rights must be brought within two years of the date the Petitioner’s cause of action first accrues.  For purposes of this subsection, a cause of action with respect to a Petitioner’s benefits under the Plan shall be deemed to accrue not later than the earliest of (i) when the Petitioner has received the calculation of the benefits that are the subject of the claim or legal action (ii) the date identified to the Petitioner by the Plan Administrator on which payments shall commence, or (iii) when the Petitioner has actual or constructive knowledge of the facts that are the basis of his claim.  For purposes of this subsection, a cause of action with respect to the alleged interference with ERISA-protected rights shall be deemed to accrue when the claimant has actual or constructive knowledge of the acts that are alleged to interfere with ERISA-protected rights.  Failure to bring any such claim or cause of action within two-year time frame shall preclude a Petitioner, or any representative of the Petitioner, from filing the claim or cause of action.  Correspondence or other communications following the mandatory appeals process described in Section 11.2 shall have no effect on this two-year time frame.
 
Section 11.10           Restriction of Venue .  Any claim or action filed in a court or any other tribunal in connection with the Plan by or on behalf of a Petitioner (as defined in Section 11.9) shall only be brought or filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
 
54

ARTICLE 12
 
ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN
 
Section 12.1            Adoption of Plan By Entity in Company’s Controlled Group .  With the consent of the Company, any entity within the Company’s Controlled Group may become a participating Employer under the Plan for the benefit of its Eligible Employees.  An entity that becomes a participating Employer under the Plan shall compile and submit all information required by the Company with reference to its Eligible Employees.
 
Section 12.2            Withdrawal from Participation .  Any Employer may withdraw from participation in the Plan at any time by duly notifying the Company and submitting any information required by the Company in connection with its withdrawal.
 
Section 12.3            Company and Plan Administrator as Agent for Employers .  Each entity which shall become a participating Employer pursuant to Section 12.1 by so doing shall be deemed to have appointed the Company and the Plan Administrator its agent to exercise on its behalf all of the powers and authorities hereby conferred upon the Company and the Plan Administrator by the terms of the Plan, including, but not by way of limitation, the power of the Company to amend and terminate the Plan.  The authority of the Company and the Plan Administrator to act as such agent shall continue unless and until Employer withdraws from participation pursuant to Section 12.2 and the Trust no longer contains Plan assets related to the employees of that Employer.
 
55

ARTICLE 13
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
Section 13.1             Expenses .  All costs and expenses incurred in administering the Plan and the Trust, including the fees of counsel and any agents for the Company and Plan Administrator, the fees and expenses of Trustee, the fees of counsel for the Trustee and other administrative expenses shall be paid from the Trust Fund to the extent not paid by the Company or the Employers, except for any expenses that are appropriate to be paid by a particular Participant (for example, any loan-processing fees assessed in accordance with Section 8.9(b)(7) shall be paid by the Participant requesting the loan).  The Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine the portion of each expense which is to be borne by a particular Employer.
 
Section 13.2             Non-Assignability .
 
(a)  In General .  It is a condition of the Plan, and all rights of each Participant and Distributee shall be subject thereto, that no right or interest of any Participant or Distributee in the Plan shall be assignable or transferable in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise, including, but not by way of limitation, execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or bankruptcy, but excluding devolution by death or mental incompetency, and no right or interest of any Participant or Distributee in the Plan shall be liable for, or subject to, any obligation or liability of such Participant or Distributee, including claims for alimony or the support of any Spouse.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the rule against assignability in the foregoing shall not apply, to the extent permitted by law, to any offset of a Participant’s benefits under the Plan against an amount that the Participant is ordered or required to pay to the Plan pursuant to (i) a judgment of conviction for a crime involving the Plan, (ii) a civil judgment in connection with a violation (or alleged violation) of Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or (iii) a settlement agreement between the Secretary of Labor and the Participant or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the Participant in connection with a violation (or alleged violation) of Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA.
 
(b)  Exception for Qualified Domestic Relations Orders .  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, if a Participant’s Account balance under the Plan, or any portion thereof, is the subject of one or more qualified domestic relations orders, as defined below, such Account balance or portion thereof shall be paid to the person and at the time and in the manner specified in any such order.  For purposes of this paragraph, “qualified domestic relations order” shall mean any “domestic relations order” as defined in Section 11.3 which creates (or recognizes the existence of) or assigns to a person other than the Participant (an “alternate payee”) rights to all or a portion of the Participant’s Account balance under the Plan.
 
The Qualified Domestic Relations Order must clearly specify:
 
1. The name and last known mailing address (if any) of the Participant and each alternate payee covered by such order,
 
56

2. The amount or percentage of the Participant’s benefits to be paid by the Plan to each such alternate payee, or the manner in which such amount or percentage is to be determined,
 
3. The number of payments to, or period of time for which, such order applies, and
 
4. Each plan to which such order applies;
 
The Qualified Domestic Relations Order does not require:
 
1. The Plan to provide any type or form of benefit or any option not otherwise provided under the Plan at the time such order is issued,
 
2. The Plan to provide increased benefits (determined on the basis of actuarial equivalence), and
 
3. The payment of benefits to an alternate payee which at the time such order is issued already are required to be paid to a different alternate payee under a prior qualified domestic relations order;
 
All as determined by the Plan Administrator pursuant to the procedures contained in Section 11.3.
 
Section 13.3             Employment Non-Contractual .  The Plan confers no right upon an Employee to continue in employment.
 
Section 13.4              Limitation of Rights .  A Participant or Distributee shall have no right, title or claim in or to any specific asset of the Trust Fund, but shall have the right only to distributions from the Trust on the terms and conditions herein provided.
 
Section 13.5             Merger or Consolidation with Another Plan .  A merger or consolidation with, or transfer of assets or liabilities to, any other plan shall not be effected unless the terms of such merger, consolidation or transfer are such that each Participant, Distributee, Beneficiary or other person entitled to receive benefits from the Plan would, if the Plan were to terminate immediately after the merger, consolidation or transfer, receive a benefit equal to or greater than the benefit such person would be entitled to receive if the Plan were to terminate immediately before the merger, consolidation, or transfer.
 
Section 13.6            Gender and Plurals .  Wherever used in the Plan, words in the masculine gender shall include masculine or feminine gender, and, unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular shall include the plural, and words in the plural shall include the singular.
 
Section 13.7             Applicable Law .  The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York to the extent such laws have not been preempted by applicable federal law.
 
57

Section 13.8            Severability .  If a provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included in the Plan.
 
58

ARTICLE 14
 
TOP-HEAVY PLAN REQUIREMENTS
 
Section 14.1             Top-Heavy Plan Determination .  If as of the determination date (as defined in Section 14.2) for any Plan Year (a) the sum of the Account balances under the Plan and all other defined contribution plans in the aggregation group (as defined in Section 14.2) and (b) the present value of accrued benefits under all defined benefit plans in such aggregation group of all participants in such plans who are key employees (as defined in Section 14.2) for such Plan Year exceeds 60% of the aggregate of the Account balances and present value of accrued benefits of all participants in such plans as of the determination date, then the Plan shall be a top-heavy plan for such Plan Year, and the requirements of Sections 14.3 shall be applicable for such Plan Year as of the first day thereof.  If the Plan shall be a top-heavy plan for any Plan Year and not be a top-heavy plan for any subsequent Plan Year, the requirements of this Article 14 shall not be applicable for such subsequent Plan Year.
 
Section 14.2             Definitions and Special Rules.
 
(a)  Definitions .  For purposes of this Article 14, the following definitions shall apply:
 
(1)  Determination Date .  The determination date for all plans in the aggregation group shall be the last day of the preceding Plan Year, and the valuation date applicable to a determination date shall be (i) in the case of a defined contribution plan, the date as of which account balances are determined which is coincident with or immediately precedes the determination date, and (ii) in the case of a defined benefit plan, the date as of which the most recent actuarial valuation for the Plan Year which includes the determination date is prepared, except that if any such plan specifies a different determination or valuation date, such different date shall be used with respect to such plan.
 
(2)  Aggregation Group .  The aggregation group shall consist of (a) each plan of an Employer in which a key employee is a Participant, (b) each other plan which enables such a plan to be qualified under Code section 401(a) or 410, and (c) any other plans of an Employer which the Employer shall designate as part of the aggregation group and which shall permit the aggregation group to continue to meet the requirements of Code sections 401(a) and 410 with such other plan being taken into account.
 
(3)  Key Employee .  The term key employee shall have the meaning set forth in Code section 416(i).  “Key employee” means any Employee or former Employee (including any deceased Employee) who at any time during the Plan Year that includes the Determination Date was an officer of an Employer having annual Code Section 415 Compensation greater than $130,000 (as adjusted under Code section 416(i))(1)) for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 2002), a 5-percent owner of an Employer, or a 1-percent owner of an Employer having annual Code Section 415 Compensation of more than $150,000.  For this purpose, annual Code Section 415 Compensation shall not include any amounts paid to such nonresident alien which are (i) excludable from gross income and (ii) not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.  The determination of who is a key employee will be in accordance with Code section 416(i)(1) and the applicable Treasury regulations and other guidance of general applicability thereunder.
 
59

(b)  Special Rules .  For purposes of this Article 14, the following special rules shall apply:
 
(1)  For the purpose of determining the accrued benefit or account balance of a participant, the accrued benefit or account balance of any person who has not performed services for an Employer at any time during the five-year period ending on the determination date shall not be taken into account pursuant to this Section, and any person who received a distribution from a plan (including a plan which has terminated) in the aggregation group during the five-year period ending on the last day of the preceding Plan Year shall be treated as a participant in such plan, and any such distribution shall be included in such participant’s account balance or accrued benefit, as the case may be.
 
(2)  The present values of accrued benefits and the amounts of account balances of an Employee as of the Determination Date shall be increased by the distributions made with respect to the Employee under the Plan and any plan aggregated with the Plan under Code section 416(g)(2) during the one-year period ending on the Determination Date.  The preceding sentence shall also apply to distributions under a terminated plan which, had it not been terminated, would have been aggregated with the plan under Code section 416(g)(2)(A)(i).  In the case of a distribution made for a reason other than severance from employment, death, or disability, this provision shall be applied by substituting “five-year period” for “one-year period.”  The accrued benefits and accounts of any individual who has not performed services for an Employer during the one-year period ending on the Determination Date shall not be taken into account.
 
Section 14.3            Minimum Contribution for Top-Heavy Years .  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Employer Matching Contributions under Article 4 allocated to the Account of a Participant during any Plan Year (other than to the Account of a key employee) and the forfeitures allocated to the Account of a Participant during any Plan Year (other than to the Account of a key employee) for which the Plan is a top-heavy plan shall in no event be less than the lesser of (i) 3 percent of such Participant’s Code Section 415 Compensation during such Plan Year and (ii) the highest percentage at which contributions are made on behalf of any key employee for such Plan Year.  Such minimum contribution shall be made even if, under other provisions of the Plan, the Participant would not otherwise be entitled to receive an allocation or would receive a lesser allocation for the year because of (i) the Participant’s failure to complete 1,000 Hours of Service, or (ii) Code Section 415 Compensation of less than a stated amount.  If during any Plan Year for which this Section is applicable a defined benefit plan is included in the aggregation group and such defined benefit plan is a top-heavy plan for such Plan Year, the percentage set forth in the clause (i) above shall be 5 percent.  The percentage referred to in clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section shall be obtained by dividing the aggregate of contributions made pursuant to Article 4 and pursuant to any other defined contribution plan which is required to be included in the aggregation group (other than a defined contribution plan which enables a defined benefit plan which is required to be included in such group to be qualified under Code section 401(a)) during the Plan Year on behalf of such key employee by such key employee’s Code Section 415 Compensation for the Plan Year.
 
60

ARTICLE 15
 
AMENDMENT, ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATE
PLAN AND TERMINATION
 
Section 15.1             Amendment or Termination .  The Plan may at any time and from time to time be amended or modified by resolution of the Company, or a duly appointed delegate thereof.  Any such amendment or modification shall become effective on such date as the amendment shall specify, including retroactively to the extent permitted by law, and may apply to Participants in the Plan at the time thereof as well as to future Participants.  The Plan may be terminated on any date specified by resolution of the Company.
 
Section 15.2            Establishment of Separate Plan .  If an Employer shall withdraw from the Plan under Section 12.2 the Company shall determine the portion of the Trust Fund held by the Trustee which is applicable to the Participants and former Participants of such Employer and direct the Trustee to segregate such portion in a separate Trust.  Such separate Trust shall thereafter be held and administered as a part of the separate plan of such Employer.  The portion of the Trust applicable to the Participants and former Participants of a particular Employer shall be the sum of:
 
(a)  The total amount credited to all Accounts which are applicable to the Participants and former Participants of such Employer and
 
(b)  An amount which bears the same ratio to the excess, if any, of
 
(1)  The total value of the Trust, over
 
(2)  The total amount credited to all Accounts as the total amount credited to the Accounts which are applicable to the Participants and former Participants of such Employer bears to the total amount credited to such Accounts of all Participants and former Participants.
 
Section 15.3             Full Vesting upon Termination of Participation, Partial Plan Termination or Complete Discontinuance of Contributions .  In the event of the termination or partial termination of the Plan or upon the complete discontinuance of contributions under the Plan, the Accounts of all affected Employees shall become fully vested and shall not thereafter be subject to forfeiture.
 
Section 15.4            Distribution upon Termination of the Plan .  Any Employer may at any time terminate its participation in the Plan by written instrument executed on behalf of the Employer by resolution of its board of directors to that effect.  In the event of any such termination the Company shall determine the portion of the Trust Fund held by the Trustee which is applicable to the Participants and former Participants of such Employer and direct the Trustee to distribute such portion to Participants ratably in proportion to the balances of their respective Accounts as follows:
 
61

(a)  The balance in any Account shall be distributed to the Distributee entitled to receive such Account.
 
(b)  The remaining assets of the Trust Fund shall be distributed to Participants ratably in proportion to the balances of their respective Accounts. A complete discontinuance of contributions by an Employer shall be deemed a termination of such Employer’s participation in the Plan for purposes of this Section.  Notwithstanding he foregoing or any provision of the Plan to the contrary, no distribution shall be made in violation of the distribution restrictions of Code section 401(k).
 
Section 15.5             Trust Fund to Be Applied Exclusively for Participants and Their Beneficiaries .  Subject only to the provisions of Section 4.6 (Return of Employer Contributions) and the provisions of Section 15.4 (Distribution upon Termination of the Plan) and any other provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, it shall be impossible for any part of the Trust Fund to be used for or diverted to any purpose not for the exclusive benefit of Participants and their Beneficiaries either by operation or termination of the Plan, power of amendment or other means.
 
62

SIGNATURE
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has adopted the Plan on this ____ day of ______________, 2017.
 
 
DIME COMMUNITY BANK
   
 
By:
              
 
 
63


EXHIBIT 12.1
 
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
(in thousands, except ratio of earnings to fixed charges)
 
The following table sets forth our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods shown. For purposes of computing the ratios, earnings represent income before taxes, extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes, plus fixed charges. Fixed charges represent total interest expense plus an estimate of the interest within rental expense, including and excluding interest on deposits. Currently, the Company has no shares of preferred stock outstanding and have not paid any dividends on preferred stock in the periods shown. Therefore, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is not different from the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

   
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
   
June 30, 2017
   
June 30, 2016
   
June 30, 2017
   
June 30, 2016
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Including Deposits)
                       
Earnings:
                       
Income before income taxes
 
$
19,284
   
$
19,381
   
$
37,330
   
$
105,905
 
Add:  Fixed charges, net
   
15,113
     
13,316
     
29,481
     
25,537
 
Income before income taxes and fixed charges, net
   
34,397
     
32,697
     
66,811
     
131,442
 
Fixed charges
                               
Interest expense
 
$
14,365
   
$
12,760
   
$
28,333
   
$
24,640
 
One-third of rental expense
   
748
     
556
     
1,148
     
897
 
Interest on unrecognized tax benefits
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Total fixed charges
 
$
15,113
   
$
13,316
   
$
29,481
   
$
25,537
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
   
2.28
x
   
2.46
x
   
2.27
x
   
5.15
x
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Excluding Deposits)
                       
Earnings:
                       
Income before income taxes
 
$
19,284
   
$
19,381
   
$
37,330
   
$
105,905
 
Add:  Fixed charges, net
   
5,604
     
5,719
     
10,465
     
11,146
 
Income before income taxes and fixed charges, net
   
24,888
     
25,100
     
47,795
     
117,051
 
Fixed charges
                               
Interest expense (excluding deposits)
   
4,856
     
5,163
     
9,317
     
10,249
 
One-third of rental expense
   
748
     
556
     
1,148
     
897
 
Interest on unrecognized tax benefits
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Total fixed charges
 
$
5,604
   
$
5,719
   
$
10,465
   
$
11,146
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
   
4.44
x
   
4.39
x
   
4.57
x
   
10.50
x

 


EXHIBIT 31.1
 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a)
 
I, Kenneth J. Mahon, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter In the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors:

a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonable likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  August 7, 2017
 
    
/s/KENNETH J. MAHON
 
    
Kenneth J. Mahon
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 




EXHIBIT 31.2

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 17 CFR 240.13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a)

I, James L. Rizzo, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter In the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors:

a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonable likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:  August 7, 2017
 
   
/s/ JAMES L. RIZZO
   
   
James L. Rizzo
 
Senior Vice President and Comptroller (Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 


Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "Report") for the period ended June 30, 2017 of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., (the "Company") as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, Kenneth J. Mahon, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

August 7, 2017
Date
   
     
By:
/s/ KENNETH J. MAHON
 
 
Kenneth J. Mahon
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 

 


Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "Report") for the period ended June 30, 2017 of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc., (the "Company") as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, I, James L. Rizzo, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the Company, hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

August 7, 2017
   
Date
   
     
By:
/s/ James L. Rizzo                               
 
 
James L. Rizzo
 
 
Senior Vice President and Comptroller(Principal Financial Officer)