• A regional version of a PNC Bank or Citizens Financial Group, primarily serving the New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas.
• Like a smaller-scale Bank of America or Wells Fargo, concentrating on the New Jersey and New York business community.

• Commercial Real Estate Loans: Financing for the acquisition, construction, and refinancing of income-producing commercial properties.
• Commercial & Industrial Loans: Loans provided to businesses for working capital, equipment purchases, expansion, and other operational needs.
• Residential Mortgage Loans: Financing for individuals to purchase or refinance primary residences and investment properties.
• Deposit Products: A range of checking, savings, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts for individuals and businesses.
• Treasury Management Services: Solutions for businesses to optimize cash flow, manage payments, and mitigate fraud risks.
• Digital Banking Services: Online and mobile platforms enabling customers to manage accounts, pay bills, and conduct transactions conveniently.

ConnectOne Bancorp (symbol: CNOB) operates as a full-service commercial bank, serving a diverse client base that includes both businesses and individuals. Due to the nature of banking, it does not have a few identifiable "major customer companies" in the traditional sense; rather, it serves a broad range of clients within specific categories. Its primary customer categories can be described as:

• Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs): ConnectOne Bancorp focuses on providing commercial loans, lines of credit, treasury management solutions, and other business banking services to a wide array of SMBs across various industries. These businesses are typically privately held and are not publicly traded entities.
• Commercial Real Estate Investors and Developers: A significant portion of ConnectOne Bancorp's lending activities is directed towards individuals and entities involved in commercial real estate, including financing for acquisition, development, and investment in multi-family properties, office buildings, retail centers, and other commercial projects.
• High Net Worth Individuals and Consumers: The bank also serves individuals, including high net worth clients, offering a range of personal banking products such as checking and savings accounts, residential mortgages, personal loans, and wealth management services.

• nCino (NCNO)
• Moody's Corporation (MCO)

Frank S. Sorrentino III, Chairman & CEO

Frank S. Sorrentino III founded ConnectOne Bank in 2005, then known as North Jersey Community Bank, alongside other civic and business leaders. Prior to establishing ConnectOne, he served as President of FSS Construction, Inc., a family-owned third-generation construction business specializing in custom-built luxury homes, which was founded in 1979. Sorrentino led the company's rebrand to ConnectOne Bank in 2013, followed by its initial public offering (IPO) which raised over $50 million. He also spearheaded a merger agreement with Union Center National Bank in 2014 and more recently led the acquisition of BoeFly, a FinTech company. His decision to found ConnectOne was driven by frustrating experiences with service quality deterioration after his previous lenders were acquired by larger institutions.

William S. Burns, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

William S. Burns also holds the title of Principal Accounting Officer for ConnectOne Bancorp.

Elizabeth Magennis, President, ConnectOne Bank and Executive Vice President

Elizabeth Magennis was elevated to the role of President of ConnectOne Bank in December 2020. She has been a key player in the bank's organic growth, robust loan portfolio, and client experience during her more than 14 years with the institution. Magennis previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer and is also a Director of ConnectOne Bank.

Laura Criscione, Executive Vice President/Corporate Secretary

Laura Criscione serves as the Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary for ConnectOne Bancorp.

Robert A. Schwartz, General Counsel

Robert A. Schwartz was appointed General Counsel of ConnectOne Bancorp, effective June 1, 2025. He brings decades of legal and strategic experience in mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and bank regulatory frameworks. Schwartz has been a trusted legal advisor to ConnectOne since its inception, playing a foundational role in the bank's formation, IPO, and numerous transactions throughout its 20-year history.

The key risks to ConnectOne Bancorp's business include:

1. Concentration in Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending: ConnectOne Bancorp has a significant exposure to commercial real estate loans, which represent approximately two-thirds of its total loan portfolio and more than 400% of its total risk-based capital. This concentration makes the company particularly vulnerable to adverse economic conditions or downturns in the commercial real estate market, especially within its operating regions of New York and New Jersey.
2. Regulatory Changes and Integration Risks Associated with the FLIC Merger: The recent merger with The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC) brings inherent risks related to the integration of the two companies, including the potential for shareholder lawsuits and challenges in realizing anticipated cost savings and operational synergies. Furthermore, the combined entity is projected to surpass $10 billion in assets, which will subject ConnectOne Bancorp to increased regulatory scrutiny and compliance costs.
3. Interest Rate Fluctuations and Economic Conditions: Like other financial institutions, ConnectOne Bancorp is sensitive to changes in interest rates, which can impact its net interest margin and overall profitability. The company has experienced pressure on its net interest margin due to high funding costs. Additionally, a general downturn in economic conditions could adversely affect loan demand, credit quality, and the value of the company's assets.

The accelerating rise of digital-first neobanks, online lenders, and financial technology (fintech) platforms. These competitors offer streamlined digital experiences, faster loan approvals, often lower fees, and personalized services that are actively eroding traditional banks' market share in deposit gathering (especially from younger demographics), consumer lending, and small business lending. This fundamental shift in customer expectations toward seamless digital interactions directly challenges ConnectOne Bancorp's traditional branch-based and relationship-focused banking model.

ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB) primarily offers commercial banking products and services, including lending, deposit products, and cash management solutions, to small to middle-market businesses, local professionals, and individuals. The company's main operating regions include New Jersey and the New York Metropolitan area, with a recent expansion into Long Island and a presence in South Florida.

The addressable market sizes for ConnectOne Bancorp's main products and services in their core regions are as follows:

• Commercial Banking Market in New Jersey: The projected market size for the commercial banking industry in New Jersey is $50.6 billion in 2025.
• Commercial Banking Market in New York: The projected market size for the commercial banking industry in New York is $259.1 billion in 2025.

ConnectOne Bancorp also operates BoeFly, a fintech subsidiary that serves as a marketplace connecting borrowers in the franchise space with funding solutions. While a specific market size for this fintech niche is not available, its services contribute to the broader commercial lending market.

1. Strategic Acquisitions and Market Expansion: ConnectOne Bancorp's successful acquisition and integration of The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC) in June 2025 is a primary driver of future revenue growth. This merger has expanded the bank's geographic footprint, particularly in the Long Island market, increased its client base, and enhanced its product offerings. The company also mentions opportunistic expansion into South Florida, leveraging its existing client base and digital investments for dynamic growth beyond the immediate merger. This strategic expansion is expected to drive increased lending and interest income by growing its client base and deposits.

2. Net Interest Margin (NIM) Expansion and Loan Repricing: ConnectOne Bancorp anticipates a continuation of margin expansion, with projections for its net interest margin to reach 3.25% or higher in Q4 2025, and further widening expected post-merger. Additionally, the bank expects to opportunistically reprice approximately $1 billion in loans in 2026, which offers a significant opportunity to bolster interest income in a stabilizing rate environment. Lower average cash balances are also expected to contribute to optimized asset yields.

3. Robust Loan and Deposit Growth: The company forecasts sustained growth in both its loan portfolio and deposits. ConnectOne Bancorp expects continuing growth in loans and solid pipeline developments in various sectors, including Commercial & Industrial (C&I) and Commercial Real Estate (CRE) lending, throughout 2025 and 2026. In Q3 2025, loan originations were robust, exceeding $465 million, and deposits grew significantly by over $600 million. The bank saw annualized sequential client deposit growth of approximately 4% in Q3 2025, building on 17% annualized growth in Q2 2025, with loan growth expected to accelerate in Q4 2025.

4. Accelerated Noninterest Income Growth: ConnectOne Bancorp anticipates accelerated growth in noninterest income, primarily driven by increased activities related to Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. The bank's fintech subsidiary, BoeFly, Inc., which operates as a marketplace connecting franchise borrowers with funding solutions, is also positioned to leverage technological advancements to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and open new revenue streams through digital banking services and products.

Share Repurchases

• In September 2021, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 2,000,000 shares, supplementing a program initially approved in March 2019.
• Share repurchases were on hold as of Q2 2025 due to the merger with FLIC, but management indicated the possibility of future repurchases given strengthening capital ratios.
• ConnectOne Bancorp indicated in Q3 2025 that it has sufficient capital to likely conduct share repurchases in 2026 from retained earnings.

Share Issuance

• On June 2, 2025, ConnectOne Bancorp completed an all-stock merger with The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC), in which FLIC shareholders received 0.5175 shares of ConnectOne common stock for each FLIC common stock owned.

Outbound Investments

• On June 1, 2025, ConnectOne Bancorp completed its all-stock merger with The First of Long Island Corporation (FLIC), a transaction valued at $284 million.
• In 2021, ConnectOne expanded its operations into Florida, primarily to serve clients from the NY metro region, by strategically onboarding a local team.

Capital Expenditures

• Over the last 12 months, ConnectOne Bancorp reported capital expenditures of -$6.04 million.
• The company consistently invests in technology to support its "branch-lite" operating model and enhance operational efficiency.
• Future capital investments are anticipated for the ongoing operation and further development of electronic banking services and new technologies.