ISELIN, N.J. and OAK RIDGE, N.J, April 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) ("Provident"), the parent company of Provident Bank, and Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: LBAI) ("Lakeland"), the parent company of Lakeland Bank, today announced receipt of regulatory approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") for Provident and Lakeland to complete their previously announced merger. With this approval, no further regulatory approvals are required to complete the merger.
Consistent with the approval of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for the merger, the Federal Reserve approval is subject to a commitment by Provident to issue $200 million of Tier 2 qualifying subordinated debt prior to or concurrently with the completion of the merger. In addition, Provident has committed to submitting, within 60 days following the completion of the merger, a capital plan to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to maintain satisfactory capital at the bank holding company, and for two years following completion of the merger to provide the Federal Reserve Bank of New York 30 days' prior written notice of any capital distribution, which capital distribution shall be consistent with the capital plan.
The merger is expected to be completed in the second calendar quarter, subject to the completion of the subordinated debt issuance and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
About Provident
Provident Financial Services, Inc. is the holding company for Provident Bank, a community-oriented bank offering "commitment you can count on" since 1839. Provident Bank provides a comprehensive array of financial products and services through its network of branches throughout northern and central New Jersey, Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania, as well as Queens and Nassau Counties in New York. The Bank also provides fiduciary and wealth management services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Beacon Trust Company and insurance services through its wholly owned subsidiary, Provident Protection Plus, Inc.
About Lakeland
Lakeland Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc., which had $11.14 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2023. With an extensive branch network and commercial lending centers throughout New Jersey and Highland Mills, New York, the Bank offers business and retail banking products and services. Business services include commercial loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, loans for healthcare services, asset-based lending, equipment financing, small business loans and lines and cash management services. Consumer services include online and mobile banking, home equity loans and lines, mortgage options and wealth management solutions. Lakeland is proud to be recognized as New Jersey's Best-In-State Bank by Forbes and Statista for the fifth consecutive year, Best Banks to Work For by American Banker, rated a 5-Star Bank by Bauer Financial and named one of New Jersey's 50 Fastest Growing Companies by NJBIZ.
Additional Information About the Subordinated Debt Issuance
It is expected that the subordinated debt to be offered will be issued pursuant to a prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus filed as part of Provident's effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333- 275213).
Before considering an investment, investors should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents filed, or to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for more complete information about the issuer and the offering. A copy of the prospectus, and when available, the prospectus supplement, are available without charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, a copy of the prospectus, and when available, the prospectus supplement, may be requested by calling Provident at 732-590-9300 or by contacting: Piper Sandler & Co. by telephone at (866) 805-4128 or by email at fsgsyndicate@psc.com, or by emailing Keefe, Bruyette & Woods at USCapitalMarkets@kbw.com.
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the subordinated debt, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.