Anthony J. Labozzetta, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “Provident produced respectable financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year 2023 despite challenging market conditions throughout the year. We had solid loan growth, including annualized growth in our total loan portfolio of 7.7% during the fourth quarter. Our fee income from the wealth management and insurance agency businesses continue to make significant contributions to our overall financial success. Elevated short-term interest rates and a shift in the funding mix continued to impact our net interest margin, however, we are starting to see stabilization in our funding costs. An increased provision for loan losses largely driven by changes in our CECL economic forecast also impacted the full year's results, however, our asset quality remains strong.”

Regarding the previously announced pending merger with Lakeland Bancorp, Inc., Labozzetta added, “Provident is actively engaged in discussions with our regulators concerning the merger. Both Provident and Lakeland have agreed to extend the merger deadline to March 31, 2024, to allow additional time to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals. Provident looks forward to closing the transaction as soon as possible following receipt of the approvals.”

Declaration of Quarterly Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per common share payable on February 23, 2024, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 9, 2024.

Annual Meeting Date Set

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on April 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time as a virtual meeting. March 1, 2024 has been established as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Results of Operations

Three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, net income was $27.3 million, or $0.36 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $28.5 million, or $0.38 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income decreased $448,000 to $95.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from $96.2 million for the trailing quarter. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to a decrease in lower-costing deposits and an increase in borrowings, combined with unfavorable repricing of both deposits and borrowings, partially offset by originations of new loans at current market rates and the favorable repricing of adjustable-rate loans.

The Company’s net interest margin decreased four basis points to 2.92% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, from 2.96% for the trailing quarter. The average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 increased 15 basis points to 5.04%, compared to the trailing quarter. The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 increased 21 basis points to 2.71%, compared to the trailing quarter. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 increased 25 basis points to 2.47%, compared to 2.22% for the trailing quarter. The average cost of total deposits, including non-interest-bearing deposits, was 1.95% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 1.74% for the trailing quarter. The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was 3.71%, compared to 3.74% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Provision for Credit Losses

For the quarter ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $500,000 provision for credit losses related to loans, compared with a provision for credit losses of $11.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The decrease in the provision for credit losses for the quarter was primarily attributable to an improved economic forecast for the current quarter within our CECL model.

Non-Interest Income and Expense

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, non-interest income totaled $19.0 million, a decrease of $352,000, compared to the trailing quarter. Insurance agency income decreased $465,000 to $2.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $3.2 million for the trailing quarter, largely due to a seasonal decrease in business activity. Bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") income decreased $176,000 compared to the trailing quarter, to $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to a benefit claim recognized in the prior quarter, partially offset by higher equity valuations. Additionally, wealth management income decreased $149,000 compared to the trailing quarter, to $6.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to a decrease in the average market value of assets under management during the period. Partially offsetting these decreases in non-interest income, other income increased $488,000 to $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the trailing quarter, primarily due to an increase in net gains on the sale of SBA loans.

Non-interest expense totaled $74.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $7.3 million, compared to $67.2 million for the trailing quarter. Other operating expenses increased $4.9 million to $15.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the trailing quarter. The increase in other operating expenses was largely due to a $3.0 million charge for contingent litigation reserves, combined with a $2.0 million write-down of a foreclosed property. Compensation and benefits expense increased $3.1 million to $38.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $35.7 million for the trailing quarter. The increase in compensation and benefit expense was primarily attributable to increases in the accrual for incentive compensation, post-retirement benefit expense and employee medical benefits, partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation expense. FDIC insurance increased $1.3 million to $2.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $1.6 million for the trailing quarter, primarily due to the FDIC special assessment, combined with an increase in the assessment rate. Additionally, data processing expense increased $1.1 million to $6.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the trailing quarter, largely due to an increase in software related expenses. For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $1.4 million benefit to the provision for credit losses for off-balance sheet credit exposures, compared to a $1.5 million provision for the trailing quarter. The $2.9 million decrease in the provision for credit losses for off-balance sheet credit exposures for the current quarter was primarily due to a decrease in loans approved and awaiting closing.

The Company’s annualized adjusted non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets⁽¹⁾ was 1.98% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 1.80% for the trailing quarter. The efficiency ratio (adjusted non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income)⁽¹⁾ was 61.32% for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 54.81% for the trailing quarter.

Income Tax Expense

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company's income tax expense was $12.5 million with an effective tax rate of 31.3%, compared with income tax expense of $8.8 million with an effective tax rate of 23.7% for the trailing quarter. The increase in tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared with the trailing quarter was largely due to an increase in taxable income and a discrete item related to deferred taxes on stock-based compensation in the current quarter. This discrete item was also the primary reason for the increase in the effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared with the trailing quarter.

Three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2022

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, net income was $27.3 million, or $0.36 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $49.0 million, or $0.66 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2022.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income decreased $18.3 million to $95.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from $114.1 million for same period in 2022. The decrease in net interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was primarily due to a decrease in lower-costing deposits and an increase in borrowings, combined with unfavorable repricing of both deposits and borrowings, partially offset by originations of new loans and the favorable repricing of adjustable-rate loans.

The Company’s net interest margin decreased 70 basis points to 2.92% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, from 3.62% for the same period last year. The average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 increased 68 basis points to 5.04%, compared to 4.36% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 171 basis points for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 to 2.71%, compared to 1.00% for the fourth quarter of 2022. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was 2.47%, compared to 0.90% for the same period last year. The average cost of total deposits, including non-interest-bearing deposits, was 1.95% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared with 0.67% for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was 3.71%, compared to 1.74% for the same period last year.

Provision for Credit Losses

For the quarter ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $500,000 provision for credit losses related to loans, compared with a $3.4 million provision for credit losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in the provision for credit losses was largely a function of the period-over-period improvement in the economic forecast.

Non-Interest Income and Expense

Non-interest income totaled $19.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $702,000, compared to the same period in 2022. Other income increased $911,000 to $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to an increase in net gains on the sale of SBA loans. Insurance agency income increased $454,000 to $2.8 million, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, largely due to strong retention revenue and new business activity, while wealth management income increased $247,000 to $6.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to an increase in the average market value of assets under management. Partially offsetting these increases in non-interest income, fee income decreased $510,000 to $6.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, largely due to a decrease in commercial loan prepayment fees. Additionally, BOLI income decreased $366,000 to $1.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, largely due to a benefit claim recognized in the same period in 2022.

Non-interest expense totaled $74.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $12.8 million, compared to $61.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Other operating expenses increased $5.2 million to $15.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in other operating expenses was largely due to a $3.0 million charge for contingent litigation reserves, combined with a $2.0 million write-down of a foreclosed property. Compensation and benefits expense increased $4.2 million to $38.8 million for three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $34.6 million for the same period in 2022. The increase was principally due to increases in salary expense, employee medical benefits and post-retirement benefit expense, partially offset by decreases in the accrual for incentive compensation and stock-based compensation. FDIC insurance increased $1.7 million to $2.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2022, primarily due to an increase in the assessment rate and the FDIC special assessment. Additionally, data processing expense increased $1.3 million to $6.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, largely due to an increase in software related expenses. Merger-related expense increased $1.2 million to $2.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. Partially offsetting these increases, net occupancy expenses decreased $507,000 to $7.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, largely due to decreases in maintenance, depreciation and rent expenses.

The Company’s annualized adjusted non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets⁽¹⁾ was 1.98% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, compared to 1.79% for the same period in 2022. The efficiency ratio (adjusted non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income)⁽¹⁾ was 61.32% for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to 46.88% for the same respective period in 2022.

Income Tax Expense

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company's income tax expense was $12.5 million with an effective tax rate of 31.3%, compared with $18.2 million with an effective tax rate of 27.1% for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in tax expense for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared with the same period last year was largely the result of a decrease in taxable income. The increase in the effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared with the three months ended December 31, 2022, was primarily due to a discrete item recorded in the current quarter related to deferred taxes on stock-based compensation.

Year Ended December 31, 2023 compared to the Year ended December 31, 2022

For the year ended December 31, 2023, net income totaled $128.4 million, or $1.72 per basic share and $1.71 per diluted share, compared to net income of $175.6 million, or $2.35 per basic and diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income decreased $18.1 million to $399.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, from $417.6 million for same period in 2022. The decrease in net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily due to a decrease in lower-costing deposits and an increase in borrowings, combined with unfavorable repricing of both deposits and borrowings, partially offset by originations of new loans and the favorable repricing of adjustable-rate loans. For the year ended December 31, 2023, fees related to the forgiveness of PPP loans decreased $1.4 million to $7,000, compared to $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the net interest margin decreased 21 basis points to 3.16%, compared to 3.37% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The average yield on interest earning assets increased 111 basis points to 4.87% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 3.76% for the year ended December 31, 2022, while the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 170 basis points to 2.24% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 0.54% last year. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 152 basis points to 1.99% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 0.47% in the prior year. Average non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $421.0 million to $2.33 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with $2.75 billion for the year ended December 31, 2022, with the majority of the decrease coming from transfers to our Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) product following the March 2023 bank failures. The average cost of total deposits, including non-interest-bearing deposits, was 1.54% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with 0.35% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The average cost of borrowings for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 3.41%, compared to 1.23% in the prior year.

Provision for Credit Losses

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $27.9 million provision for credit losses related to loans, compared with a provision for credit losses of $8.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in the year-over-year provision for credit losses was primarily attributable to a worsened economic forecast and related deterioration in the projected commercial property price indices used in our CECL model. For the year ended December 31, 2023, net charge-offs totaled $8.1 million, or 8 basis points of average loans, which was primarily attributable to two commercial loans.

Non-Interest Income and Expense

For the year ended December 31, 2023, non-interest income totaled $79.8 million, a decrease of $8.0 million, compared to the same period in 2022. Other income decreased $6.9 million to $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $14.2 million for the same period in 2022, primarily due to an $8.6 million gain realized in the prior year on the sale of a foreclosed commercial office property, partially offset by an increase in gains on sales of SBA loans. Additionally, fee income decreased $3.7 million to $24.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in commercial loan prepayment fees. Partially offsetting these decreases in non-interest income, insurance agency income increased $2.5 million to $13.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $11.4 million for the same period in 2022, largely due to increases in retention revenue and new business activity. BOLI income increased $494,000 to $6.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, largely due to greater equity valuations, partially offset by a decrease in benefit claims recognized.

Non-interest expense totaled $275.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $18.8 million, compared to $256.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Other operating expense increased $8.5 million to $47.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $38.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in other operating expenses was largely due to a $3.0 million charge for contingent litigation reserves, combined with a $2.0 million write-down of a foreclosed property and an increase in professional fees. Merger-related expense increased $3.7 million to $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. The Company recorded a $264,000 provision for credit losses for off-balance sheet credit exposures, compared to a $3.4 million negative provision last year. The $3.6 million increase in the provision for credit losses for off-balance sheet credit exposures for the year was primarily due to a period over period decrease in line of credit utilization, combined with a period over period increase in loans approved and awaiting closing. FDIC insurance increased $3.4 million to $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $5.2 million for the trailing year, primarily due to an increase in the assessment rate and the FDIC special assessment. Data processing expense increased $1.3 million to $23.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, mainly due to an increase in software service and core processing expenses. Compensation and benefits expense increased $1.3 million to $148.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $147.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to increases in salary expense, employee medical benefits and post-retirement benefit expense, partially offset by decreases in the accrual for incentive compensation and stock-based compensation. Partially offsetting these increases, net occupancy expense decreased $2.3 million to $32.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, mainly due to decreases in depreciation and maintenance expenses.

Income Tax Expense

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company's income tax expense was $47.4 million with an effective tax rate of 27.0%, compared with $64.5 million with an effective tax rate of 26.8% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared with the same period last year was largely the result of a decrease in taxable income.

Asset Quality

The Company’s total non-performing loans at December 31, 2023 were $49.6 million, or 0.46% of total loans, compared to $39.5 million or 0.37% of total loans at September 30, 2023 and $58.5 million, or 0.57% of total loans at December 31, 2022. The $10.1 million increase in non-performing loans at December 31, 2023, compared to the trailing quarter, consisted of a $19.6 million increase in non-performing commercial loans and a $138,000 increase in non-performing consumer loans, partially offset by a $6.5 million decrease in non-performing commercial mortgage loans, a $1.5 million decrease in non-performing multi-family loans, a $1.1 million decrease in non-performing construction loans and a $476,000 decrease in non-performing residential loans. At December 31, 2023, impaired loans totaled $42.3 million with related specific reserves of $2.9 million, compared with impaired loans totaling $30.4 million with related specific reserves of $3.4 million at September 30, 2023. At December 31, 2022, impaired loans totaled $42.8 million with related specific reserves of $2.4 million.

At December 31, 2023, the Company’s allowance for credit losses related to the loan portfolio was 0.99% of total loans, compared to 1.01% and 0.86% at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The allowance for credit losses increased $19.2 million to $107.2 million at December 31, 2023, from $88.0 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in the allowance for credit losses on loans at December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022 was due to a $27.9 million provision for credit losses, partially offset by net charge-offs of $8.1 million. The increase in the allowance for credit losses on loans was primarily due to the weakened economic forecast used in our CECL model, combined with an increase in total loans outstanding.

The following table sets forth accruing past due loans and non-accrual loans on the dates indicated, as well as certain asset quality ratios.

At December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company held foreclosed assets of $11.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2023, there were four additions to foreclosed assets with an aggregate carrying value of $15.1 million, four properties sold with an aggregate carrying value of $3.7 million and one write-down of $2.0 million. Foreclosed assets at December 31, 2023 consisted primarily of commercial real estate. Total non-performing assets at December 31, 2023 increased $657,000 to $61.3 million, or 0.43% of total assets, from $60.6 million, or 0.44% of total assets at December 31, 2022.

Balance Sheet Summary

Total assets at December 31, 2023 were $14.2 billion, a $427.4 million increase from December 31, 2022. The increase in total assets was primarily due to a $624.8 million increase in total loans, partially offset by a $127.5 million decrease in total investments.

The Company’s loan portfolio totaled $10.9 billion at December 31, 2023 and $10.2 billion at December 31, 2022. The loan portfolio consists of the following:

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company experienced net increases of $298.7 million in multi-family loans, $208.7 million in commercial loans and $196.2 million in commercial mortgage loans, partially offset by net decreases of $62.2 million in construction loans and net decreases in residential mortgage and consumer loans of $12.7 million and $5.6 million, respectively. Commercial loans, consisting of commercial real estate, multi-family, commercial and construction loans, represented 86.5% of the loan portfolio at December 31, 2023, compared to 85.6% at December 31, 2022.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, loan funding, including advances on lines of credit, totaled $3.34 billion, compared with $3.95 billion for the same period in 2022.

At December 31, 2023, the Company’s unfunded loan commitments totaled $2.09 billion, including commitments of $1.16 billion in commercial loans, $539.6 million in construction loans and $58.9 million in commercial mortgage loans. Unfunded loan commitments at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 totaled $2.18 billion and $2.06 billion, respectively.

The loan pipeline, consisting of work-in-process and loans approved pending closing, totaled $1.09 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to $1.70 billion at September 30, 2023 and $1.29 billion at December 31, 2022.

Total investment securities were $2.13 billion at December 31, 2023, a $127.5 million decrease from December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to repayments of mortgage-backed securities, a decrease in unrealized losses on available for sale debt securities and maturities and calls of certain municipal and agency bonds, partially offset by purchases of mortgage-backed and municipal securities.

Total deposits decreased $270.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, to $10.29 billion. Total savings and demand deposit accounts decreased $615.0 million to $9.20 billion at December 31, 2023, while total time deposits increased $344.5 million to $1.10 billion at December 31, 2023. The decrease in savings and demand deposits was largely attributable to a $440.6 million decrease in non-interest-bearing demand deposits, a $262.9 million decrease in savings deposits and a $216.8 million decrease in money market deposits, partially offset by a $305.3 million increase in interest-bearing demand deposits. During the year ended December 31, 2023, ICS deposits increased $461.3 million to $520.2 million at December 31, 2023, from $58.9 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in time deposits consisted of a $366.4 million increase in retail time deposits, partially offset by a $21.9 million decrease in brokered time deposits.

Borrowed funds increased $632.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, to $1.97 billion. The increase in borrowings was largely due to asset funding requirements. Borrowed funds represented 13.9% of total assets at December 31, 2023, an increase from 9.7% at December 31, 2022.

Stockholders’ equity increased $92.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, to $1.69 billion, primarily due to net income earned for the period and a decrease in unrealized losses on available for sale debt securities, partially offset by cash dividends paid to stockholders. For the year ended December 31, 2023, common stock repurchases totaled 71,781 shares at an average cost of $23.28 per share, all of which were made in connection with withholding to cover income taxes on the vesting of stock-based compensation. At December 31, 2023, approximately 1.1 million shares remained eligible for repurchase under the current stock repurchase authorization. Book value per share and tangible book value per share⁽¹⁾ at December 31, 2023 were $22.38 and $16.32, respectively, compared with $21.25 and $15.12, respectively, at December 31, 2022.

About the Company

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.

Post Earnings Conference Call

Representatives of the Company will hold a conference call for investors on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company’s financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023. The call may be accessed by dialing 1-888-412-4131 (United States Toll Free) and 1-646-960-0134 (United States Local). Speakers will need to enter conference ID code (3610756) before being met by a live operator. Internet access to the call is also available (listen only) at provident.bank by going to Investor Relations and clicking on "Webcast."

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” "project," "intend," “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the Company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, the effects of the recent turmoil in the banking industry (including the closing of three financial institutions), changes in accounting policies and practices that may be adopted by the regulatory agencies and the accounting standards setters, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, potential goodwill impairment, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities markets, the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity, the ability to complete, or any delays in completing, the pending merger between the Company and Lakeland; any failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction when expected or at all; certain restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the merger and integration of the companies; and the impact of a potential shutdown of the federal government.

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company advises readers that the factors listed above could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements. The Company does not assume any duty, and does not undertake, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement.

Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ Annualized adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision return on average assets, annualized return on average tangible equity, tangible book value per share, annualized adjusted non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets and the efficiency ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the Notes following the Consolidated Financial Highlights which contain the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures and the associated calculations.

Notes and Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Dollars in Thousands, except share data)

The Company has presented the following non-GAAP (U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures because it believes that these measures provide useful and comparative information to assess trends in the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is consistent with how the Company evaluates its performance internally and these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the Company’s industry. Investors should recognize that the Company’s presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures might not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and the Company strongly encourages a review of its condensed consolidated financial statements in their entirety.

SOURCE: Provident Financial Services, Inc.
CONTACT: Investor Relations, 1-732-590-9300
Web Site: http://www.Provident.Bank