Here are 1-3 brief analogies for OceanFirst Financial (OCFC):

• OceanFirst Financial is like JPMorgan Chase, but scaled for the Mid-Atlantic region.
• It's similar to Bank of America for New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
• Think of it as a community-bank version of Wells Fargo.

• Deposit Products: Provides a variety of checking, savings, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts for individuals and businesses.
• Lending Products: Offers a range of loans including residential mortgages, commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, and consumer loans.
• Wealth Management Services: Delivers financial planning, investment management, and trust services to help clients manage and grow their assets.

OceanFirst Financial (OCFC), through its subsidiary OceanFirst Bank, operates as a community bank primarily serving a broad and diverse customer base consisting of individuals, small to medium-sized businesses, and commercial real estate clients. Unlike companies that sell products or services to a few large corporate clients, a bank's revenue is derived from interest income on a vast portfolio of loans and investments, and fees for various banking services from thousands of account holders. Therefore, it does not have "major customers" in the traditional sense that can be specifically named and publicly identified.

Instead, its customer base can be described through the following categories:

1. Individuals and Households: This category encompasses consumers who utilize OceanFirst Bank for a range of personal banking services including checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), residential mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, and wealth management services.
2. Small to Medium-sized Businesses: Local and regional enterprises, ranging from sole proprietorships to mid-sized corporations, that rely on the bank for commercial loans (e.g., lines of credit, term loans, SBA loans), business checking and savings accounts, treasury management services, and merchant services.
3. Commercial Real Estate Clients: This segment includes individual investors, developers, and businesses involved in commercial real estate. They seek financing for the acquisition, development, construction, or refinancing of various commercial properties such as multi-family residences, office buildings, retail spaces, and industrial facilities.

Christopher D. Maher, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Maher has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and OceanFirst Bank N.A. since 2017. He joined OceanFirst Bank in 2013 as President and Chief Operating Officer and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2014. Prior to joining OceanFirst, Mr. Maher served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Patriot National Bancorp (2010-2013), and Patriot Bank NA (2011-2013). He previously held positions as Executive Vice President of Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburg, Senior Vice President Information Services of BISYS, and Managing Director Banking Strategy of Fidelity National Information Services. Mr. Maher also served as a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia from 2020 to 2024.

Patrick S. Barrett, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Barrett was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of OceanFirst Financial Corp. on June 2, 2022. Before joining OceanFirst, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. from January 2017 to April 2022. First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. completed a merger of equals with Old National Bancorp. Prior to First Midwest Bancorp, Inc., Mr. Barrett served as Chief Financial Officer at Fulton Financial Corp. Inc. His career, spanning over 30 years, also includes leadership positions at SunTrust Banks, JPMorgan Chase, and Deloitte.

Joseph J. Lebel III, President & Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Lebel was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of OceanFirst Bank on January 1, 2021, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of OceanFirst Financial Corp. in June 2020. He joined OceanFirst in 2006 as Senior Vice President in charge of Commercial Lending. Before OceanFirst, Mr. Lebel was employed with Wachovia Bank N.A. as a Senior Vice President, holding various leadership and revenue-generating roles.

Steven J. Tsimbinos, Senior Executive Vice President & General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Mr. Tsimbinos was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and the Bank in 2016. He previously held these roles as First Senior Vice President since 2010. Prior to joining OceanFirst, Mr. Tsimbinos served as General Counsel of Copper River Management, L.P. since 2006, and was a partner with Lowenstein Sandler PC before that.

Michele B. Estep, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer

Ms. Estep was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of OceanFirst Bank in January 2020. She joined OceanFirst with the acquisition of Sun Bancorp Inc. Prior to OceanFirst, Ms. Estep was the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Sun National Bank. She also held leadership roles at KeyBank.

The key risks to OceanFirst Financial (OCFC) are:

1. Interest Rate Risk and Net Interest Margin Pressure: OceanFirst Financial faces significant challenges from changes in interest rates, which directly impact its net interest income. The company has struggled with spread pressure due to higher funding costs, and its net interest margins have been negatively affected by the "higher-for-longer" rate cycle. The bank's profitability is largely dependent on net interest income, and the imbalance between shorter-term interest-bearing liabilities and longer-term interest-earning assets creates earnings volatility when market interest rates fluctuate.
2. Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Exposure and Credit Quality: OceanFirst has substantial exposure to commercial real estate loans, which represents a notable risk to the business. The bank's investor CRE exposure was approximately 365% of total risk-based capital at the end of 2024, with office lending constituting 10% of its loan portfolio. Although credit quality has historically been strong, and a portion of their office portfolio is in less-stressed medical offices, the overall concentration in CRE, particularly in the current environment, remains a "watch item."
3. Regulatory Scrutiny and Compliance: OceanFirst has recently faced significant regulatory issues, including a settlement of over $15 million with the Department of Justice for "redlining" allegations between 2018 and 2022. This resulted in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) downgrading the bank's Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating to "needs to improve." Regulatory delays were also cited as a reason for the termination of a planned merger in 2022, indicating ongoing challenges in the regulatory environment.

The increasing competition from digital-only banks and financial technology (fintech) companies, which leverage lower overhead and often different regulatory frameworks to offer more competitive rates, lower fees, and superior digital experiences, poses a clear emerging threat to traditional banking models like OceanFirst Financial. These competitors are actively attracting deposits and disintermediating traditional lenders in various loan markets.

OceanFirst Financial (symbol: OCFC) operates as a regional bank holding company primarily offering commercial and consumer banking services in New Jersey, the Philadelphia metropolitan area, New York City, Baltimore, Boston, and Washington D.C.. The addressable markets for their main products and services in the U.S. are as follows:

• Retail Banking: The U.S. retail banking market is valued at approximately USD 0.87 trillion (USD 870 billion) in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.08 trillion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.22% during this period.
• Commercial Lending: The U.S. commercial banking market size is estimated at USD 732.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 915.45 billion by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 4.56%. Commercial lending constituted 44.34% of the U.S. commercial banking market share in 2024. Based on this, the addressable market for commercial lending in the U.S. would be approximately USD 324.7 billion in 2025 (44.34% of USD 732.5 billion).
• Wealth Management: The U.S. private banking market, which encompasses wealth management services, is projected to grow from USD 127.6 billion in 2025 to USD 218.4 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 8.0%.

OceanFirst Financial (OCFC) is expected to drive future revenue growth over the next 2-3 years through several key initiatives:

1. Growth in Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Lending: The company has a strategic focus on expanding its commercial loan portfolio. In the third quarter of 2025, commercial and industrial lending increased by 12%, contributing to $1 billion in loan originations for the quarter. Management projects an annualized loan growth of 7% to 9% for 2026, predominantly fueled by C&I growth. This ongoing emphasis on commercial banking relationships is expected to continue driving revenue.
2. Expansion of the Premier Banking Team and Deposit Gathering: OceanFirst's newly established Premier banking teams are a significant driver for attracting new deposits. These teams contributed $128 million in new deposits in Q3 2025 and are on track to achieve the company's $500 million deposit target for 2025. Growing deposits in line with loans is anticipated to maintain a stable loan-to-deposit ratio and support continued growth in earning assets.
3. Net Interest Income (NII) Expansion and Margin Improvement: Management anticipates positive expansion in net interest income, consistent with or exceeding loan growth. While some short-term margin compression is expected in Q4 2025 due to seasonality and restructuring, the CFO indicated that potential interest rate cuts in 2026 could drive the Net Interest Margin (NIM) trajectory above 3% by mid-2026. The company reported a fourth consecutive quarter of growth of net interest income in Q3 2025.
4. Cost Savings and Efficiency from Residential Lending Outsourcing: OceanFirst made a strategic decision to outsource its residential loan originations and underwriting functions. This initiative, while incurring restructuring charges in the short term, is projected to result in a $10 million annual pre-tax operating benefit starting in 2026, thereby improving operating leverage and overall earnings. Improved efficiency and reduced operating expenses can indirectly contribute to stronger net revenue.
5. Geographic Diversification: The company is actively expanding its presence in key Northeast markets, including New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston, moving beyond its traditional New Jersey roots. This geographic diversification supports the growth in commercial lending and specialized banking services by reaching new customer bases.