Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Dime Community Bank that provides commercial banking and financial services.
The company’s bank operations also include Dime Abstract LLC (‘Dime Abstract’), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank, which is a broker of title insurance services. The company engages in providing full-service commercial and consumer banking services, including accepting time, savings, and demand deposits from businesses, consumers, and local mu...
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Dime Community Bank that provides commercial banking and financial services.
The company’s bank operations also include Dime Abstract LLC (‘Dime Abstract’), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank, which is a broker of title insurance services. The company engages in providing full-service commercial and consumer banking services, including accepting time, savings, and demand deposits from businesses, consumers, and local municipalities in its market area. These deposits, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, are invested primarily in: commercial real estate (‘CRE’) loans; multi-family mortgage loans; residential mortgage loans; secured and unsecured commercial and consumer loans; home equity loans; construction and land loans; Federal Home Loan Bank (‘FHLB’), Federal National Mortgage Association (‘Fannie Mae’), Government National Mortgage Association (‘Ginnie Mae’), and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (‘Freddie Mac’) mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, and other asset-backed securities; the U.S. Treasury securities; New York State and local municipal obligations; the U.S. government-sponsored enterprise (‘U.S. GSE’) securities; and corporate bonds.
The company also offers the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (‘CDARS’) and Insured Cash Sweep (‘ICS’) programs, providing multi-millions of dollars of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (‘FDIC’) insurance on deposits to its customers. In addition, the company offers merchant credit and debit card processing, automated teller machines, cash and treasury management services, escrow account services, lockbox processing, online banking services, remote deposit capture, safe deposit boxes, and individual retirement accounts. The company also offers investment services through Dime Financial Services LLC, which provides a full range of investment products and services through a third-party broker dealer. Through its title insurance subsidiary, Dime Abstract, the bank acts as a broker for title insurance services. The company’s customer base comprises principally small and medium-sized businesses, municipal relationships, and consumer relationships.
As of December 31, 2024, the company operated several branch locations throughout Long Island, the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx, and Westchester County.
Principal Market Areas
The company’s principal market area is Greater Long Island, which includes the counties of Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk, and Manhattan. Industries represented across the principal market areas include retail establishments; construction and trades; restaurants and bars; lodging and recreation; professional entities; real estate; health services; passenger transportation; tech manufacturing; and agricultural and related businesses.
Loans
Business loans - Loans in this classification consist of commercial and industrial, and owner-occupied commercial real estate loans. Commercial and industrial loans consist of lines of credit, revolving lines of credit, and term loans, generally to businesses or net worth individuals. The owners of these businesses typically provide recourse, such that they guarantee the debt. The lines of credit are generally secured by the assets of the business. Term loans are generally secured by either specific or general asset liens of the borrower’s business. These loans are granted based upon the strength of the cash generation ability of the borrower. Included in C&I loans are also certain SBA loans in which the loan is secured by underlying assets of the business.
One-to-four family residential, including condominium and cooperative apartment loans - Loans in this classification consist of residential real estate and one-to-four family real estate properties. Included in one-to-four family loans are also certain SBA loans in which the loan is secured by underlying real estate as collateral.
Multifamily residential and residential mixed-use loans - Loans in this classification consist of multifamily residential real estate with a minimum of five residential units.
Non-owner-occupied commercial real estate loans - Loans in this classification consist of mortgage loans on nonresidential properties. Nonresidential properties include investor-owned assets, such as retail, warehouses/industrial facilities, hotels, supportive housing, non-medical and medical offices, educational facilities, and medical facilities, among others.
Acquisition, development, and construction loans - Loans in this classification consist of loans to purchase land intended for further development, including single-family homes, multi-family housing, and commercial income properties. In general, the maximum loan-to-value ratio for a land acquisition loan is 50% of the appraised value of the property. The credit quality of this portfolio is dependent on economic factors, such as unemployment rates and CRE prices.
Other loans - Loans in this classification consist of installment and consumer loans. Repayment is dependent on the credit quality of the individual borrower. The credit quality of this portfolio is dependent on economic factors, such as unemployment rates.
Securities
As of December 31, 2024, the company’s securities were agency notes, treasury securities, corporate securities, pass-through mortgage-backed securities issued by government-sponsored entities, agency collateralized mortgage obligations, and state and municipal obligations.
Deposits
As of December 31, 2024, the company’s deposits were savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, interest-bearing checking accounts, and non-interest-bearing checking accounts.
Regulation and Supervision
The bank is a New York State-chartered trust company and a member of the Federal Reserve System (a ‘member bank’). The lending, investment, and other business operations of the bank are governed by New York and federal laws and regulations. The bank is subject to extensive regulation by the New York State Department of Financial Services (‘NYSDFS’), and as a member bank, by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (‘FRB’). The bank’s deposit accounts are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC under its Deposit Insurance Fund (‘DIF’), and the FDIC has certain regulatory authority as deposit insurer.
The bank is a member of the DIF, which is administered by the FDIC. The company’s deposit accounts are insured by the FDIC.
Under the federal Bank Merger Act, prior approval of the FDIC is required for the bank to merge with or purchase the assets or assume the deposits of another insured depository institution.
Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act govern transactions between a member bank and its affiliates, which includes the company.
The bank is required to file periodic reports with, and is subject to periodic examination by, the NYSDFS and the FRB.
Federal law provides that institutions with more than $10 billion in total assets, such as the bank, are examined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (‘CFPB’) as to compliance with certain federal consumer protection and fair lending laws and regulations.
Under the federal Community Reinvestment Act (‘CRA’), the bank has a continuing and affirmative obligation consistent with its safe and sound operation to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods.
The Bank Secrecy Act (‘BSA’) and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (‘USA PATRIOT Act’) require the bank to implement a compliance program to detect and prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and crime. Together, the BSA and USA PATRIOT Act require the bank to implement internal controls, conduct customer due diligence, maintain records, and file reports. The bank has established policies, procedures, and systems designed to comply with the BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, and regulations implemented thereunder.
The company, as a bank holding company controlling the bank, is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (‘BHCA’), and the rules and regulations of the FRB under the BHCA applicable to bank holding companies. The company is required to file reports with, and otherwise comply with the rules and regulations of the FRB.
The company files certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) under the federal securities laws.
History
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1910. The company was incorporated under the laws of the state of New York in 1988.