Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (‘Peapack’) operates as a bank holding company for Peapack Private Bank & Trust (‘Peapack Private’ or the ‘bank’).
The bank is a state-chartered commercial bank founded in 1921 under New Jersey laws. The bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Through its branch network in Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, and Union counties, and its private banking locations in Bedminster, Morristown, Princeton, and Teaneck, New Jersey, and in New York City, as well a...
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (‘Peapack’) operates as a bank holding company for Peapack Private Bank & Trust (‘Peapack Private’ or the ‘bank’).
The bank is a state-chartered commercial bank founded in 1921 under New Jersey laws. The bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System. Through its branch network in Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, and Union counties, and its private banking locations in Bedminster, Morristown, Princeton, and Teaneck, New Jersey, and in New York City, as well as its private wealth management, commercial private banking, retail private banking, and residential lending divisions, along with its online platforms, Peapack Private is committed to offering unparalleled client service.
The company’s wealth management clients include individuals, families, foundations, endowments, trusts, and estates. The company’s commercial loan clients include business owners, professionals, retailers, contractors, and real estate investors. Most forms of commercial lending are offered, including working capital lines of credit, term loans for fixed asset acquisitions, commercial mortgages, multifamily mortgages, and other forms of asset-based financing.
In addition to commercial lending activities, the company offers a wide range of consumer banking services, including checking and savings accounts, money market and interest-bearing checking accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. The company also offers residential mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and other second mortgage loans. Automated teller machines are available at 18 locations. Internet banking, including an online bill payment option, and mobile phone banking, is also available.
Peapack Private Bank & Trust Wealth Management Division
The company intends to grow this business further, both in and around its market, through its existing wealth, loan, and depository client base, its innovative private banking service model, which utilizes private bankers working together to provide fully integrated client solutions, and potential acquisitions of complementary wealth management businesses. Throughout the wealth management division and all other business lines, the company will continue to provide the unparalleled personalized, high-touch service its valued clients have come to expect.
Loans
Primary Residential Mortgages
The bank originates one to four-family residential mortgage loans in the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut), Pennsylvania, and Florida. On a case-by-case basis, the bank will lend in additional states. When reviewing residential mortgage loan applications, detailed verifiable information is gathered on income, assets, employment, and a tri-merged credit report obtained from a credit repository that will determine total monthly debt obligations. Utilizing an independent appraisal from an approved appraisal management company, the bank makes residential mortgage loans up to 80 percent of the appraised value. Maximum loan-to-value (LTV) is determined based on property type and loan amount. Community Development loans granted under the Affordable Housing Program are offered with 30-year maturities. Loans with longer maturities or lower credit scores are sold to secondary market investors.
Junior Lien Loan on Residence (which includes home equity lines of credit)
The bank provides junior lien loans (JLL) and revolving home equity lines of credit against one to four-family properties in the Tri-State area. Junior lien loans are a revolving home equity line of credit. These loans are subordinate to a first mortgage, which may be from another lending institution. The bank requires that the mortgage securing the JLL be no lower than a second lien position. When reviewing the JLL application, the bank collects detailed verifiable information regarding income, assets, employment, and a credit report that determines total monthly debt obligations. The bank uses an independent appraisal of the subject property on all applications.
Multifamily Loans
Multifamily loans are commercial mortgages on residential apartment buildings. Within the multifamily sector, the bank’s primary focus is to lend against larger, non-luxury apartment buildings and rent-regulated properties with at least 30 units that are owned and managed by experienced sponsors. As of December 31, 2024, the average property size in the portfolio was 46 units.
Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate Loans
The bank provides mortgage loans for owner-occupied commercial real estate properties in the Tri-State area and Pennsylvania. Commercial mortgage loans are generally made with an initial fixed rate, with periodic rate resets every five or seven years over an underlying market index.
Investment Commercial Real Estate Loans
The bank provides mortgage loans for properties managed as investment properties (non-owner-occupied) in the Tri-State area and Pennsylvania. Commercial mortgage loans are generally made with an initial fixed rate, with periodic rate resets every five or seven years over an underlying market index. Resets may not be automatic and are subject to re-approval. Commercial mortgage loan terms include prepayment penalties and generally require that the bank escrow for real estate taxes. The bank requires an independent appraisal, an assessment of the property’s condition, and appropriate environmental due diligence. With all commercial real estate loans, the bank’s standard practice is to require a depository relationship.
Commercial and Industrial Loans
The bank provides lines of credit and term loans to operating companies for business purposes. The loans are generally secured by business assets, such as accounts receivable, inventory, business vehicles, and equipment, as well as the stock of the company, if privately held. In addition, these loans often include commercial real estate as collateral to strengthen the bank’s position and further mitigate risk. When underwriting business loans, among other things, the bank evaluates the historical profitability and debt servicing capacity of the borrowing entity and the financial resources and character of the principal owners and guarantors.
Leasing and Equipment Finance
Peapack Capital Corporation (PCC), a subsidiary of the bank, offers a range of finance solutions nationally. PCC provides term loans and leases secured by assets financed for mid-size and large companies based in the U.S. Facilities tend to be fully drawn under fixed-rate terms. PCC serves a broad range of industries, including transportation, manufacturing, heavy construction, and utilities.
Construction
The bank selectively provides commercial construction loans for properties located in the Tri-State area.
Consumer and Other
These are loans to individuals for household, family, and other personal expenditures, as well as obligations of states and political subdivisions in the U.S. This also represents all other loans that cannot be categorized in any of the previously mentioned loan segments. Consumer loans generally have higher interest rates and shorter terms than residential loans but tend to have higher credit risk due to the depreciating nature of the collateral securing the loan, or in some cases, the absence of collateral.
Deposits
As of December 31, 2024, the company’s deposits were noninterest-bearing demand deposits, interest-bearing deposits, such as savings, money market accounts, certificates of deposit—retail, and certificates of deposit—listing service; and subtotal deposits, such as interest-bearing demand—brokered and certificates of deposit—brokered.
Investment Securities
As of December 31, 2024, the company’s investment securities included the U.S. government-sponsored agencies, mortgage-backed securities—residential, SBA pool securities, and corporate bonds.
Markets
The company’s current market is defined as the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania metropolitan statistical area, with its primary market areas being in New Jersey and New York.
Business Strategy
The key elements of the company’s business strategy are to a robust wealth management business that provides a diversified and stable source of revenue over time, through organic growth and strategic acquisitions; an emphasis on commercial banking with private bankers focused on providing high-touch client service through an advice-based approach encompassing corporate and industrial (C&I) lending (including equipment finance lending and leasing), wealth management, depository services, electronic banking, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, other commercial real estate lending, and corporate advisory services; a unified ‘One Company’ culture heavily focused on unparalleled ‘white glove’ customer service designed and centered around best-in-class hospitality standards and delivered by experienced industry professionals across all business lines; a highly efficient branch network; a continued expansion of the company’s footprint to include areas that naturally fit with its geography and/or business model; and a focus on the communities it serves, with a strong commitment to community service and involvement.
Bank Regulation
As a New Jersey-chartered commercial bank, the bank is subject to the regulation, supervision, and examination by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (NJDOBI). As a Federal Reserve member bank, the bank is also subject to regulation, supervision, and examination by the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) as its primary federal regulator. The regulations of the FRB and the NJDOBI impact virtually all of the company’s activities, including the minimum levels of capital it must maintain, its ability to pay dividends, its ability to expand through new branches or acquisitions, and various other matters.
Holding Company Supervision
The company is a bank holding company and is periodically examined within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act. As a bank holding company, the company is supervised by the FRB and is required to file reports with the FRB and provide such additional information as the FRB may require. Acquisitions through the bank require the approval of the FRB and the NJDOBI.
Insurance of Deposit Accounts
The bank’s deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) of the FDIC.
Pursuant to the federal Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), the bank is obligated, consistent with safe and sound banking practices, to help meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
The company is also subject to FRB policies, which may, in certain circumstances, limit its ability to pay dividends. As a New Jersey-chartered commercial bank, the bank is subject to the restrictions on the payment of dividends contained in the New Jersey Banking Act of 1948, as amended (the Banking Act).
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted to address, among other issues, corporate governance, auditing and accounting, executive compensation, and enhanced and timely disclosure of corporate information. The company has existing policies, procedures, and systems designed to comply with this act and its implementing regulations.
The bank’s operations are also subject to federal laws (and their implementing regulations) applicable to credit transactions, such as the Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
The operations of the bank are also subject to the Right to Financial Privacy Act, Electronic Funds Transfer Act and Regulation E, Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (also known as ‘Check 21’), The Bank Secrecy Act, and the USA PATRIOT Act, Regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and Truth in Savings Act.
History
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation was founded in 1921. The company was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey in 1997.