ISELIN, N.J., April 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) (the "Company") reported net income of $32.1 million, or $0.43 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $27.3 million, or $0.36 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and $40.5 million, or $0.54 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Net income for the trailing quarter ended December 31, 2023 was negatively impacted by a $3.0 million charge for contingent litigation reserves and a $2.0 million write-down of a foreclosed property. Transaction costs related to our pending merger with Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. ("Lakeland") totaled $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with $2.5 million in the trailing quarter and $1.1 million for the respective 2023 period. In addition, prior year earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2023, included a $2.0 million gain recognized from the sale of a foreclosed commercial property. Performance Highlights for the First Quarter of 2024 The Company's total commercial and industrial ("C&I") loan portfolio increased $72.1 million, or 11.5% annualized, to $2.51 billion as of March 31, 2024, from $2.44 billion as of December 31, 2023. Net interest income decreased $2.1 million to $93.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $95.8 million for the trailing quarter as a result of one fewer day in the current quarter and higher funding costs, which more than offset the benefits of favorable loan repricing. The net interest margin decreased five basis points to 2.87% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, from 2.92% for the trailing quarter. The weighted average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 increased two basis points to 5.06%, compared to the trailing quarter, while the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 increased nine basis points to 2.80%, compared to the trailing quarter. The increase in funding costs was attributable to a decrease in lower-costing deposits, an increase in average borrowings and unfavorable repricing of deposits, reflective of current market conditions. As of March 31, 2024, the Company's loan pipeline, consisting of work-in-process and loans approved pending closing, totaled $1.08 billion, with a weighted average interest rate of 7.42%, compared to $1.09 billion, with a weighted average interest rate of 7.08% as of December 31, 2023. Asset quality improved in the quarter, as non-performing loans as of March 31, 2024 declined to $47.6 million, or 0.44% of total loans, compared to $49.6 million, or 0.46% of total loans as of December 31, 2023. Criticized and classified loans fell to $226.3 million, or 2.09% of loans as of March 31, 2024, from $241.3 million, or 2.22% of loans as of December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, CRE loans related to office properties totaled $483.9 million, compared to $483.1 million as of December 31, 2023. This portfolio constitutes only 4.5% of total loans and has an average loan size of $1.9 million, with just four relationships greater than $10.0 million. Approximately 41.0% of the Company's office loans are to medical offices and the portfolio does not have significant central business district exposure. Delinquencies in the office portfolio as of March 31, 2024 were limited to four loans totaling $5.9 million. As of March 31, 2024, Multi-family CRE loans on New York City properties totaled $188.7 million, compared to $186.8 million as of December 31, 2023. This portfolio constitutes only 1.7% of total loans and has an average loan size of $2.8 million. Approximately $117.4 million of these loans are collateralized by rent stabilized apartments and all are performing. The Company recorded a $200,000 provision for credit losses on loans for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to a $500,000 provision for the trailing quarter. 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 Current Expected Credit Loss ("CECL") model, partially offset by an increase in specific reserves on impaired credits. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans decreased to 0.98% as of March 31, 2024, from 0.99% as of December 31, 2023. Wealth Management and Insurance Agency income increased 8.3% and 16.9%, respectively, versus the same period in 2023. Total non-interest income was 18.2% of net revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company's annualized adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision ("PTPP") return on average assets(1) was 1.28% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to 1.25% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Annualized returns on average assets, average equity and average tangible equity(1) were 0.92%, 7.60% and 10.40%, respectively for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with 0.77%, 6.60% and 9.15%, respectively for the trailing quarter. Anthony J. Labozzetta, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "Our first quarter results reflect strong operating performance and returns despite continuing pressure on funding costs and the net interest margin. Our team has performed admirably to manage through these conditions and continued to deliver exceptional customer service. Additionally, our asset quality remains strong and our credit risk is well managed, with limited exposure to the market segments of greatest concern in the current operating environment." Regarding the Company's pending merger with Lakeland, Mr. Labozzetta added, "We are delighted that all regulatory approvals required for the merger have been obtained and we are diligently moving forward with our subordinated debt offering which is a required closing condition of the merger. We are excited to complete the closing of the merger promptly to bring together two prominent high performing banks with like-minded cultures, unwavering commitment to employee and customer experience, a dedication to serving our communities, and a keen focus on financial performance and stockholder returns." Declaration of Quarterly Dividend The Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per common share payable on May 31, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 29, 2024. Results of Operations Three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2023 For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net income was $32.1 million, or $0.43 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $27.3 million, or $0.36 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Transaction costs related to our pending merger with Lakeland totaled $2.2 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Net interest income decreased $2.1 million to $93.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $95.8 million for the trailing quarter. The decrease in net interest income reflected one fewer calendar day in the first quarter and a decrease in lower-costing deposits, combined with unfavorable repricing of deposits, partially offset by the favorable repricing of adjustable-rate loans. The Company's net interest margin decreased five basis points to 2.87% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, from 2.92% for the trailing quarter. The weighted average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 increased two basis points to 5.06%, compared to the trailing quarter. The weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 increased nine basis points from the trailing quarter to 2.80%. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 increased 13 basis points to 2.60%, compared to 2.47% for the trailing quarter. The average cost of total deposits, including non-interest-bearing deposits, was 2.07% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to 1.95% for the trailing quarter. The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was 3.60%, compared to 3.71% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Provision for Credit Losses For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded a $200,000 provision for credit losses on loans, compared with a provision for credit losses of $500,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 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, partially offset by an increase in specific reserves on impaired credits. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net charge-offs totaled $971,000, or an annualized 4 basis points of average loans, compared with net charge-offs of $863,000, or an annualized 3 basis points of average loans, for the trailing quarter. Non-Interest Income and Expense For the three months ended March 31, 2024, non-interest income totaled $20.8 million, an increase of $1.8 million, compared to the trailing quarter. Insurance agency income increased $2.0 million to $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, mainly due to the receipt of contingent commissions and additional business in the current quarter. Wealth management income increased $645,000 to $7.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, mainly due to an increase in the average market value of assets under management during the period. Additionally, BOLI income increased $173,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, primarily due to a benefit claim recognized in the current quarter. Partially offsetting these increases to non-interest income, other income decreased $829,000 to $798,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, primarily due to a reduction in gains on the sale of SBA loans, while fee income decreased $190,000 to $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, primarily due to decreases in loan related fees and debit card income. Non-interest expense totaled $71.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $3.2 million, compared to $74.5 million for the trailing quarter. Other operating expense decreased $5.3 million to $10.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $15.6 million for the trailing quarter, largely due to a prior quarter $3.0 million charge for contingent litigation reserves, combined with a prior quarter $2.0 million write-down of a foreclosed property. FDIC insurance decreased $618,000 to $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, primarily due to the FDIC special assessment of $775,000 recorded in the prior quarter, partially offset with a current quarter FDIC special assessment of $195,000. Additionally, merger expenses related to our pending merger with Lakeland decreased $275,000 to $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter. Partially offsetting these decreases in non-interest expense, compensation and benefits expense increased $1.3 million to $40.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $38.8 million for the trailing quarter. The increase in compensation and benefit expense was primarily due to increases in payroll taxes, employee medical benefits, stock-based compensation and salary expense, partially offset by a decrease in the accrual for incentive compensation. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded a $506,000 provision benefit for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures, compared to a $1.4 million provision benefit for the trailing quarter. The provision benefits for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures for both periods were primarily due to decreases in loans approved and awaiting closing. Additionally, net occupancy expense increased $723,000 to $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, largely due to seasonal increases in snow removal costs and Common Area Maintenance ("CAM") expense. The Company's annualized adjusted non-interest expense as a percentage of average assets(1) totaled 1.99% for both the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and the trailing quarter. The efficiency ratio (adjusted non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income)(1) was 60.82% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to 61.32% for the trailing quarter. Income Tax Expense For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company's income tax expense was $10.9 million with an effective tax rate of 25.3%, compared with income tax expense of $12.5 million with an effective tax rate of 31.3% for the trailing quarter. The decrease in tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with the trailing quarter was largely due to a decrease in taxable income, combined with a discrete item related to deferred taxes on stock-based compensation recorded in the prior quarter and the 2024 sunset of the 2.5% NJ Corporate Business Tax surcharge. This prior quarter discrete item and the sunset of the 2.5% NJ Corporate Business Tax surcharge were also the primary reasons for the decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with the trailing quarter. Three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023 For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net income was $32.1 million, or $0.43 per basic and diluted share, compared to net income of $40.5 million, or $0.54 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Transaction costs related to our pending merger with Lakeland totaled $2.2 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively. Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Net interest income decreased $14.7 million to $93.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $108.3 million for same period in 2023. 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 and the favorable repricing of adjustable-rate loans. The Company's net interest margin decreased 61 basis points to 2.87% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, from 3.48% for the same period last year. The weighted average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 increased 43 basis points to 5.06%, compared to 4.63% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 126 basis points for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 to 2.80%, compared to 1.54% for the first quarter of 2023. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was 2.60%, compared to 1.39% for the same period last year. Average non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $478.8 million to $2.07 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to $2.55 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The average cost of total deposits, including non-interest-bearing deposits, was 2.07% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared with 1.05% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The average cost of borrowed funds for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 was 3.60%, compared to 2.48% for the same period last year. Provision for Credit Losses For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded a $200,000 provision for credit losses on loans, compared with a $6.0 million provision for credit losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The decrease in the provision for credit losses was largely a function of the period-over-period improvement in the economic forecast. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, net charge-offs totaled $971,000, or an annualized 4 basis points of average loans, compared with net charge-offs of $671,000, or an annualized 3 basis points of average loans, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Non-Interest Income and Expense Non-interest income totaled $20.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, a decrease of $1.3 million, compared to the same period in 2023. Other income decreased $2.5 million to $798,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to a $2.0 million gain from the sale of a foreclosed commercial property which was recorded in the prior year, combined with a decrease in gains on sales of SBA loans. Fee income decreased $475,000 to $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due to decreases in commercial loan prepayment fees and deposit fee income. Partially offsetting these decreases in non-interest income, insurance agency income increased $691,000 to $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, largely due to an increase in business activity. Wealth management income increased $573,000 to $7.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2023, mainly due to an increase in the average market value of assets under management during the period, combined with an increase in mutual fund fees. Additionally, BOLI income increased $333,000 to $1.8 million three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily due a benefit claim recognized in the current quarter, combined with an increase in equity valuations. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, non-interest expense totaled $71.3 million, an increase of $1.8 million, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. Compensation and benefits expense increased $1.3 million to $40.0 million for three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $38.7 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to an increase in salary expense associated with Company-wide annual merit increases, combined with increases in the accrual for incentive compensation, payroll taxes and employee insurance, partially offset by a decrease in stock-based compensation. Data processing expense increased $1.3 million to $6.8 million for three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $5.5 million for the same period in 2023. The increase in data processing expense was primarily due to increases in software service, telecommunication and electronic business banking expenses. Merger-related expenses related to our pending combination with Lakeland increased $1.1 million to $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, FDIC insurance expense increased $335,000 to $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to a current quarter FDIC special assessment of $195,000, combined with an increase in the assessment rate. Partially offsetting these increases in non-interest expense, other operating expense decreased $729,000 to $10.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, largely due to a decrease in professional fees, partially offset by additional expenses related to foreclosed commercial real estate properties. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded a $506,000 provision benefit for credit losses on off-balance sheet credit exposures, compared to a $739,000 provision charge for the same period in 2023. The $1.2 million decrease in the provision for credit losses on 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 1.99% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to 2.00% for the same period in 2023. The efficiency ratio (adjusted non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income)(1) was 60.82% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to 51.85% for the same respective period in 2023. Income Tax Expense For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company's income tax expense was $10.9 million with an effective tax rate of 25.3%, compared with $14.5 million with an effective tax rate of 26.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease in tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with the same period last year was largely the result of a decrease in taxable income and the 2024 sunset of the 2.5% NJ Corporate Business Tax surcharge, while the decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2023, was largely due to the 2024 sunset of the 2.5% NJ Corporate Business Tax surcharge and a decrease in the proportion of income derived from taxable sources. Asset Quality The Company's total non-performing loans as of March 31, 2024 were $47.6 million, or 0.44% of total loans, compared $49.6 million, or 0.46% of total loans as of December 31, 2023 and $35.5 million, or 0.35% of total loans as of March 31, 2023. The $2.0 million decrease in non-performing loans as of March 31, 2024, compared to the trailing quarter, consisted of a $4.6 million decrease in non-performing commercial loans and a $771,000 decrease in non-performing construction loans, partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in non-performing multi-family loans, a $794,000 increase in non-performing residential mortgage loans, a $787,000 increase in non-performing commercial mortgage loans and a $127,000 increase in non-performing consumer loans. As of March 31, 2024, impaired loans totaled $40.1 million with related specific reserves of $8.2 million, compared with impaired loans totaling $42.3 million with related specific reserves of $2.9 million as of December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023, impaired loans totaled $27.5 million with related specific reserves of $1.4 million. As of March 31, 2024, the Company's allowance for credit losses related to the loan portfolio was 0.98% of total loans, compared to 0.99% and 0.91% as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively. The allowance for credit losses decreased $771,000 to $106.4 million as of March 31, 2024, from $107.2 million as of December 31, 2023. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses on loans at March 31, 2024 compared to December 31, 2023 was due to net charge-offs of $971,000, partially offset by a $200,000 provision for credit losses. The following table shows accruing past due loans and non-accrual loans on the dates indicated, as well as certain asset quality ratios.   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   March 31, 2023   Number of Loans   PrincipalBalanceof Loans   Number of Loans   PrincipalBalanceof Loans   Number of Loans   PrincipalBalanceof Loans   (Dollars in thousands) Accruing past due loans:                             30 to 59 days past due:                             Commercial mortgage loans         3     $         5,052               1     $         825               1     $         3,000     Multi-family mortgage loans         4               12,069               1               3,815               1               3,875     Construction loans         —               —               —               —               —               —     Residential mortgage loans         11               3,568               13               3,429               9               2,064     Total mortgage loans         18               20,689               15               8,069               11               8,939     Commercial loans         11               4,493               6               998               4               1,070     Consumer loans         22               803               31               875               22               2,106     Total 30 to 59 days past due         51     $         25,985               52     $         9,942               37     $         12,115                                   60 to 89 days past due:                             Commercial mortgage loans         3     $         1,148               —     $         —               4     $         1,528     Multi-family mortgage loans         —               —               1               1,635               1               785     Construction loans         —               —               —               —               —               —     Residential mortgage loans         6               804               8               1,208               6               639     Total mortgage loans         9               1,952               9               2,843               11               2,952     Commercial loans         3               332               3               198               2               3,028     Consumer loans         8               755               5               275               1               150     Total 60 to 89 days past due         20               3,039               17               3,316               14               6,130     Total accruing past due loans         71     $         29,024               69     $         13,258               51     $         18,245                                   Non-accrual:                             Commercial mortgage loans         8     $         5,938               7     $         5,151               5     $         6,815     Multi-family mortgage loans         2               2,355               1               744               1               1,548     Construction loans         —               —               1               771               2               1,874     Residential mortgage loans         10               1,647               7               853               12               1,744     Total mortgage loans         20               9,940               16               7,519               20               11,981     Commercial loans         21               36,892               26               41,487               30               23,129     Consumer loans         11               760               10               633               10               346     Total non-accrual loans         52     $         47,592               52     $         49,639               60     $         35,456                                   Non-performing loans to total loans                 0.44   %                   0.46   %                   0.35   % Allowance for loan losses to total non-performing loans                 223.63   %                   215.96   %                   261.61   % Allowance for loan losses to total loans                 0.98   %                   0.99   %                   0.91   % As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company held foreclosed assets of $11.3 million and $11.7 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, there were two properties sold with an aggregate carrying value of $327,000. Foreclosed assets as of March 31, 2024 consisted primarily of commercial real estate. Total non-performing assets as of March 31, 2024 decreased $2.4 million to $58.9 million, or 0.42% of total assets, from $61.3 million, or 0.43% of total assets as of December 31, 2023. Balance Sheet Summary Total assets as of March 31, 2024 were $14.13 billion, a $79.9 million decrease from December 31, 2023. The decrease in total assets was primarily due to a $33.6 million decrease in total investments and a $31.0 million decrease in total loans. The Company's loan portfolio totaled $10.84 billion as of March 31, 2024 and $10.87 billion as of December 31, 2023. The loan portfolio consisted of the following:   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   (Dollars in thousands) Mortgage loans:       Commercial $         4,353,799     $         4,512,411   Multi-family           1,825,888               1,812,500   Construction           711,417               653,246   Residential           1,152,185               1,164,956   Total mortgage loans           8,043,289               8,143,113   Commercial loans           2,514,550               2,442,406   Consumer loans           295,125               299,164   Total gross loans           10,852,964               10,884,683   Premiums on purchased loans           1,439               1,474   Net deferred fees and unearned discounts           (11,696 )             (12,456 ) Total loans $         10,842,707     $         10,873,701   During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the loan portfolio had net decreases of $158.6 million of commercial mortgage loans, $12.8 million of residential mortgage loans, and $4.0 million of consumer loans, partially offset by net increases of $72.1 million of commercial loans, $58.2 million of construction loans, and $13.4 million of multi-family loans. All commercial loans, which consist of commercial real estate, multi-family, commercial and construction loans, represented 86.7% of the loan portfolio as of March 31, 2024, compared to 86.5% as of December 31, 2023. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, loan funding, including advances on lines of credit, totaled $622.7 million, compared with $809.2 million for the same period in 2023. As of March 31, 2024, the Company's unfunded loan commitments totaled $1.97 billion, including commitments of $1.14 billion in commercial loans, $486.9 million in construction loans and $49.9 million in commercial mortgage loans. Unfunded loan commitments as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023 were $2.09 billion and $2.05 billion, respectively. The loan pipeline, consisting of work-in-process and loans approved pending closing, totaled $1.08 billion as of March 31, 2024, compared to $1.09 billion and $1.54 billion as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively. Total investment securities were $2.10 billion as of March 31, 2024, a $33.6 million decrease from December 31, 2023. This decrease was primarily due to repayments of mortgage-backed securities, an increase 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 $193.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $10.10 billion. The decrease in total deposits was primarily due to a decrease in brokered deposits of $98.0 million and a decrease in municipal deposits of $57.0 million. Total savings and demand deposit accounts decreased $129.7 million to $9.07 billion as of March 31, 2024, while total time deposits decreased $64.0 million to $1.03 billion as of March 31, 2024. The decrease in savings and demand deposits consisted of a $149.1 million decrease in non-interest-bearing demand deposits and a $14.7 million decrease in savings deposits, partially offset by a $28.6 million increase in interest bearing demand deposits and a $5.5 million increase in money market deposits. The decrease in time deposits consisted of an $84.8 million decrease in brokered time deposits, partially offset by a $20.9 million increase in retail time deposits. Borrowed funds increased $88.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $2.06 billion. The increase in borrowings was largely due to asset funding requirements. Borrowed funds represented 14.6% of total assets as of March 31, 2024, an increase from 13.9% as of December 31, 2023. Stockholders' equity increased $4.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $1.70 billion, primarily due to net income earned for the period, partially offset by an increase in unrealized losses on available for sale debt securities and cash dividends paid to stockholders. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, common stock repurchases totaled 86,325 shares at an average cost of $14.84 per share, all of which were made in connection with withholding to cover income taxes on the vesting of stock-based compensation. As of March 31, 2024, approximately 1.0 million shares remained eligible for repurchase under the current stock repurchase authorization. Book value per share and tangible book value per share(1) as of March 31, 2024 were $22.33 and $16.30, respectively, compared with $22.38 and $16.32, respectively, as of December 31, 2023. 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, April 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Company's financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. 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, 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 pending merger 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 pending merger transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of conditions imposed by regulators, unexpected conditions, 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.             PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY Consolidated Financial Highlights (Dollars in Thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)       As of or for the Three months ended   March 31,   December 31,   March 31,    2024    2023    2023 Statement of Income           Net interest income $         93,670       $         95,788       $         108,324     Provision for credit losses           186                 497                 6,001     Non-interest income           20,807                 18,968                 22,152     Non-interest expense           71,321                 74,491                 69,485     Income before income tax expense           42,970                 39,768                 54,990     Net income           32,082                 27,312                 40,536     Diluted earnings per share $         0.43       $         0.36       $         0.54     Interest rate spread           2.26   %             2.33   %             3.09   % Net interest margin           2.87   %             2.92   %             3.48   %             Profitability           Annualized return on average assets           0.92   %             0.77   %             1.20   % Annualized return on average equity           7.60   %             6.60   %             10.11   % Annualized return on average tangible equity (1)           10.40   %             9.15   %             14.10   % Annualized adjusted non-interest expense to average assets (3)           1.99   %             1.98   %             2.00   % Efficiency ratio (4)           60.82   %             61.32   %             51.85   %             Asset Quality           Non-accrual loans $         47,592       $         49,639       $         35,456     90+ and still accruing           —                 —                 —     Non-performing loans           47,592                 49,639                 35,456     Foreclosed assets           11,324                 11,651                 13,743     Non-performing assets           58,916                 61,290                 49,199     Non-performing loans to total loans           0.44   %             0.46   %             0.35   % Non-performing assets to total assets           0.42   %             0.43   %             0.36   % Allowance for loan losses $         106,429       $         107,200       $         92,758     Allowance for loan losses to total non-performing loans           223.63   %             215.96   %             261.61   % Allowance for loan losses to total loans           0.98   %             0.99   %             0.91   % Net loan charge-offs $         971       $         863       $