News Details

OceanFirst Financial Corp. Announces 17.1% Increase in Quarterly Earnings Per Share, and Continuation of Quarterly Dividend

October 23, 2003

TOMS RIVER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2003--OceanFirst Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:OCFC), the holding company for OceanFirst Bank, today announced diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 of $.41, a 17.1% increase over the $.35 per diluted share for the same prior year quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003 diluted earnings per share increased 10.2% to $1.19, from $1.08 for the corresponding prior year period. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors had declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.20 per share--covering the three month period ended September 30, 2003--to be paid on November 14, 2003, to shareholders of record on October 31, 2003.

In making today's announcement John R. Garbarino, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce our twenty-seventh consecutive quarterly cash dividend. The dividend, along with yesterday's announcement of our tenth stock repurchase program for 10% of outstanding shares, reflects management's continuing strong commitment to increasing shareholder value and leveraging the organization's capital."

"Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2003 was adversely affected by a declining net interest margin caused by the historically low rate environment and unparalleled prepayment activity. Despite this difficult operating environment, we continue to successfully grow commercial loans and core deposits, increase non-interest revenue and manage capital."

Results of Operations

Net interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 decreased to $13.8 million and $44.1 million, respectively, as compared to $15.6 million and $45.9 million, respectively, in the same prior year periods. For each period in 2003, interest-earning assets increased while the net interest margin declined as compared to the same prior year periods. The net interest margin decreased to 3.31% and 3.54%, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 from 3.80% and 3.73%, respectively, in the same prior year periods. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 5.44% and 5.82%, respectively, as compared to 6.65% and 6.70%, respectively, for the same prior year periods. High prepayment levels caused a decrease in the rate earned on interest earning assets and an acceleration of the amortization of net premiums on mortgage-related assets. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 2.37% and 2.53%, respectively for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, as compared to 3.15% and 3.27%, respectively, in the same prior year periods. Funding costs benefited from the Company's focus on lower cost core deposit growth. Core deposits (including non-interest-bearing deposits) represented 65.7% and 63.4%, respectively, of average deposits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 as compared to 58.0% and 55.3%, respectively, for the same prior year periods.

Other income increased to $5.6 million and $13.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, from $1.3 and $6.9 million, respectively, in the same prior year periods. Fees and service charges increased by $314,000, or 18.7%, and $1.2 million, or 25.4%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, as compared to the same prior year periods due to the growth in commercial account services, retail core account balances and trust fees, and the establishment of a captive subsidiary to recognize fee income from private mortgage reinsurance. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company recorded gains of $3.3 million and $8.7 million on the sale of loans and securities, as compared to gains of $1.3 million and $2.8 million in the same prior year periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the gain on sales of loans and securities includes a gain of $323,000 on the sale of equity securities. Loan servicing income for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, was adversely affected by the recognition of an impairment to the loan servicing asset of $2.2 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, the Company recognized impairments to the loan servicing asset for $1.9 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

Operating expenses amounted to $11.1 million and $32.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, as compared to $9.9 million and $29.6 million, respectively, for the corresponding prior year periods. The increase was principally due to the higher loan related expenses and for the year-to-date, the costs associated with the opening of the Bank's seventeenth branch office in May 2002.

Financial Condition

Loans receivable net, increased by $16.0 million at September 30, 2003 as compared to December 31, 2002 as commercial loan growth was partially offset by reductions in 1-4 family mortgage loans due to sale activity. Commercial loans outstanding increased $29.9 million, or 18.1% on an annualized basis.

Deposits decreased to $1,164.7 million at September 30, 2003 from $1,184.8 million at December 31, 2002. Core deposits, however, the Company's primary focus, grew $60.3 million while certificate balances declined in the low interest rate environment.

Stockholders' equity decreased by $2.5 million to $132.8 million at September 30, 2003 as compared to $135.3 million at December 31, 2002. For the year-to-date, 771,713 common shares were repurchased at a total cost of $18.5 million. Under the 10% repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in August 2002, 178,122 shares remain to be purchased as of September 30, 2003. A new repurchase program, the Company's eleventh, was announced on October 22, 2003. Under this 10% repurchase program, an additional 1,341,818 shares are available for repurchase. The cost of share repurchases was partly offset by proceeds from stock option exercises and the related tax benefits.

Asset Quality

The Company's non-performing assets totaled $2.6 million at September 30, 2003 as compared to $2.8 million at December 31, 2002. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, the Company experienced a net recovery of $36,000 through the allowance for loan losses.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.'s subsidiary, OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902, is a federally-chartered stock savings bank with $1.8 billion in assets and seventeen branches located in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties, New Jersey. The Bank is the largest and oldest community-based financial institution headquartered in Ocean County, New Jersey.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.'s press releases are available at no charge by visiting us on the worldwide web at http://www.oceanfirst.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Company and the subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board, the quality or composition of the loan or investment portfolios, demand for loan products, deposit flows, competition, demand for financial services in the Company's market area and accounting principles and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake - and specifically disclaims any obligation - to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

OceanFirst Financial Corp.
            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
           (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                          September 30,    December 31,  September 30,
                             2003             2002            2002
                         --------------  -------------- --------------
                          (Unaudited)                     (Unaudited)

ASSETS
------
Cash and due from
 banks                 $     42,117$     17,192$     34,861
Investment securities
 available for sale          79,322          91,978            79,482
Federal Home Loan
 Bank of New York
  stock, at cost             19,950          18,700            18,440
Mortgage-backed
 securities available
 for sale                   102,361         138,657           180,837
Loans receivable, net     1,351,866       1,335,898         1,299,987
Mortgage loans held for
 sale                        83,671          66,626            32,271
Interest and dividends
 receivable                   6,598           6,378             7,881
Real estate owned, net          264             141               359
Premises and equipment,
 net                         16,867          17,708            17,849
Servicing asset               7,121           7,907             6,995
Bank Owned Life Insurance    33,573          32,398            31,948
Other assets                 10,884          10,115             9,836
                         --------------  -------------- --------------
   Total assets        $  1,754,594$  1,743,698$  1,720,746
                         ==============  ============== ==============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------------
Deposits               $  1,164,745$  1,184,836$  1,170,049
Securities sold under
 agreements to repurchase
 with retail customers       52,242          44,584            41,200
Securities sold under
 agreements to repurchase
 with the Federal Home
 Loan Bank                  100,000         140,000           155,000
Federal Home Loan Bank
 advances                   283,500         214,000           199,000
Advances by borrowers for
 taxes and insurance          6,741           5,952             2,665
Other liabilities            14,542          19,021            14,701
                         --------------  -------------- --------------
   Total liabilities      1,621,770       1,608,393         1,582,615
                         --------------  -------------- --------------
Stockholders' equity:
 Preferred stock, $.01
  par value, 5,000,000
  shares authorized,
  no shares issued                -               -                 -
 Common stock, $.01 par
  value, 55,000,000
  shares authorized,
  27,177,372 shares issued
  and 13,418,183,
  13,757,880 and 13,924,103
  shares outstanding at
  September 30, 2003,
  December 31, 2002 and
  September 30, 2002,
  respectively                  272             272               272
 Additional paid-in
  capital                   188,526         184,934           183,761
 Retained earnings          149,014         142,224           139,887
 Accumulated other
  comprehensive loss         (4,236)         (3,201)           (1,897)
 Less: Unallocated common
       stock held by
       Employee Stock
        Ownership Plan      (10,245)        (11,248)          (11,601)
       Treasury stock,
        13,759,189,
        13,419,492 and
        13,253,269 shares
        at September 30,
        2003, December
        31, 2002 and
        September 30,
        2002, respectively (190,507)       (177,676)         (172,291)
                         --------------  -------------- --------------
        Total stockholders'
         equity             132,824         135,305           138,131
                         --------------  -------------- --------------
        Total liabilities
         and stockholders'
         equity        $  1,754,594$  1,743,698$  1,720,746
                         ==============  ============== ==============
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
               (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                                       For the three     For the nine
                                       months ended      months ended
                                       September 30,     September 30,
                                       -------------    --------------
                                       2003     2002    2003      2002
                                       -------------    --------------
                                        (Unaudited)       (Unaudited)

Interest income:
  Loans                             $21,159$23,993$66,058$71,222
  Mortgage-backed securities            819    2,353    3,641   8,058
  Investment securities and other       721      925    2,742   3,273
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------
      Total interest income          22,699   27,271   72,441  82,553
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------

Interest expense:
  Deposits                            3,886    6,784   13,557  21,426
  Borrowed funds                      5,018    4,915   14,801  15,225
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------
      Total interest expense          8,904   11,699   28,358  36,651
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------

      Net interest income            13,795   15,572   44,083  45,902

Provision for loan losses                48      375      673   1,250
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------
      Net interest income after
       provision
          for loan losses            13,747   15,197   43,410  44,652
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------

Other income:
  Loan servicing loss                   (71)  (2,047)  (2,758) (2,091)
  Fees and service charges            1,990    1,676    5,855   4,669
  Net gain on sales of loans and
   securities
      available for sale              3,335    1,258    8,737   2,766
  Net (loss) income from other real
   estate
      operations                         (3)      (7)     106      67
  Other                                 383      460    1,201   1,460
                                    --------  -------  ------- -------


  Total other income                  5,634    1,340   13,141   6,871
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------

Operating expenses:
  Compensation and employee
   benefits                           5,699    5,107   15,819  15,365
  Occupancy                             852      848    2,663   2,438
  Equipment                             633      561    1,809   1,679
  Marketing                             369      583    1,338   1,439
  Federal deposit insurance             126      113      360     364
  Data processing                       702      595    2,234   1,908
  General and administrative          2,676    2,092    8,265   6,393
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------

     Total operating expenses        11,057    9,899   32,488  29,586
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------

     Income before provision for
      income taxes                    8,324    6,638   24,063  21,937
Provision for income taxes            2,994    1,848    8,538   6,962
                                     -------  -------  ------- -------

      Net income                    $ 5,330$ 4,790$15,525$14,975
                                     =======  =======  ======= =======

Basic earnings per share            $  0.43$  0.38$  1.25$  1.16
                                     =======  =======  ======= =======
Diluted earnings per share          $  0.41$  0.35$  1.19$  1.08
                                     =======  =======  ======= =======

Average basic shares outstanding     12,293   12,719   12,384  12,938
                                     =======  =======  ======= =======
Average diluted shares outstanding   13,072   13,666   13,080  13,822
                                     =======  =======  ======= =======

Cash earnings (1)                   $ 6,241$ 5,601$18,000$17,334
                                     =======  =======  ======= =======
Diluted cash earnings per share     $  0.48$  0.41$  1.38$  1.25
                                     =======  =======  ======= =======

(1) Cash earnings are determined by adding (net of taxes) to reported
    earnings the non-cash expenses stemming from the amortization and
    appreciation of allocated shares in the company's stock-related
    benefit plans and the amortization of intangible assets.
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
                 SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
               (in thousands, except per share amounts)

                               At Sept. 30,  At Dec. 31,  At Sept. 30,
                                    2003         2002         2002
                               ------------- ------------ ------------

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
------------------------------

Stockholders' equity to total
 assets                                7.57%        7.76%        8.03%
Common shares outstanding (in
 thousands)                          13,418       13,758       13,924
Stockholders' equity per
 common share                  $       9.90$      9.83$      9.92
Tangible stockholders' equity
 per common share                      9.79         9.72         9.80

ASSET QUALITY
------------------------------

Allowance for loan losses      $     10,782$    10,074$     9,665
Nonperforming loans                   2,324        2,688        2,780
Nonperforming assets                  2,588        2,829        3,139
Allowance for loan losses as a
 percent of total
  loans receivable                     0.75%        0.71%        0.72%
Allowance for loan losses as a
 percent of
  nonperforming loans                463.94       374.78       347.66
Nonperforming loans as a
 percent of
  total loans receivable               0.16         0.19         0.21
Nonperforming assets as a
 percent of total assets               0.15         0.16         0.18

                                           For the three  For the nine
                                            months ended  months ended
                                           September 30September 30
                                           ------------- -------------
                                            2003   2002   2003   2002
                                           ------ ------ ------ ------
PERFORMANCE RATIOS (ANNUALIZED)
-------------------------------------------

Return on average assets                    1.21%  1.11%  1.18%  1.16%
Return on average stockholders' equity     15.89  13.61  15.39  14.02
Interest rate spread                        3.07   3.50   3.29   3.43
Interest rate margin                        3.31   3.80   3.54   3.73
Operating expenses to average assets        2.50   2.29   2.48   2.28
Efficiency ratio                           56.91  58.53  56.77  56.06

CASH EARNINGS
-------------
Although reported earnings and return on stockholders' equity are
traditional measures of performance, the Company believes that the
change in stockholders' equity or "cash earnings," and related return
measures are also a significant measure of a company's performance.
Cash earnings exclude the effects of various non-cash expenses, such
as the employee stock plans amortization expense and related tax
benefit, as well as the amortization of intangible assets. The
following table reconciles the Company's net income with cash
earnings. The table is a pro forma calculation which is not in
accordance with GAAP.

                                      For the three     For the nine
                                      months ended      months ended
                                      September 30September 30
                                    ---------------- -----------------
                                       2003    2002     2003     2002
                                    -------- ------- -------- --------

Net income                           $5,330$4,790$15,525$14,975
Add: Employee stock plans
 amortization
     expense                          1,011     918    2,775    2,736
     Amortization of intangible
      assets                             26      26       78       78
Less: Tax benefit (1)                  (126)   (133)    (378)    (455)
                                    -------- ------- -------- --------
     Cash earnings                   $6,241$5,601$18,000$17,334
                                    ======== ======= ======== ========
Basic cash earnings per share          $.51   $0.44$1.45$1.34
                                    ======== ======= ======== ========
Diluted cash earnings per share        $.48   $0.41$1.38$1.25
                                    ======== ======= ======== ========

(1) The Company does not receive any tax benefit for that portion of
    employee stock plan amortization expense relating to the ESOP fair
    market value adjustment.
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
                    SELECTED LOAN AND DEPOSIT DATA
                            (in thousands)

LOANS RECEIVABLE
----------------                     At September 30,  At December 31,
                                            2003             2002
                                     ----------------  ---------------
Real estate:
     One- to four-family                  $1,105,153$1,101,904
     Commercial real estate, multi-
       family and land                       166,734          142,726
     Construction                             10,802           11,079
Consumer                                      78,758           80,218
Commercial                                    83,874           77,968
                                     ----------------  ---------------
               Total loans                 1,445,321        1,413,895

     Loans in process                         (2,920)          (3,531)
     Deferred origination costs, net           3,923            2,239
     Unearned discount                            (5)              (5)
     Allowance for loan losses               (10,782)         (10,074)
                                     ----------------  ---------------
               Total loans, net            1,435,537        1,402,524

Less: mortgage loans held for sale            83,671           66,626
                                     ----------------  ---------------
               Loans receivable, net      $1,351,866$1,335,898
                                     ================  ===============
Mortgage loans serviced for others        $  713,173$  680,165
Loan pipeline                                271,846          307,662


                                    For the three      For the nine
                                     months ended       months ended
                                     September 30September 30
                                 ------------------  -----------------
                                   2003      2002      2003     2002
                                 --------  --------  -------- --------

Loan originations               $357,015$223,665$956,178$639,811
Loans sold                       161,940    88,964   479,489  302,250
Net charge-offs (recovery)            28      (458)      (36)   1,924


DEPOSITS
--------                              At September 30, At December 31,
                                            2003             2002
Type of Account                       ---------------- ---------------
---------------
Non-interest bearing                    $  108,608$   86,290
NOW                                        254,135         260,762
Money market deposit                       137,875         123,960
Savings                                    265,713         234,995
Time deposits                              398,414         478,829
Type of Account                       ---------------- ---------------
                                        $1,164,745$1,184,836
                                      ================ ===============


                      OceanFirst Financial Corp.
                    ANALYSIS OF NET INTEREST INCOME


                                            FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
                                                 SEPTEMBER 30,
                                         -----------------------------
                                                    2003
                                         -----------------------------
                                                              AVERAGE
                                          AVERAGE              YIELD/
                                          BALANCE    INTEREST   COST
                                         ----------- -------- --------
                                            (Dollars in thousands)
Assets
Interest-earnings assets:
    Interest-earning deposits
    and short term investments               $9,918$24      .97%
  Investment securities                      86,924      454     2.09
  FHLB stock                                 19,544      243     4.97
  Mortgage-backed securities                118,649      819     2.76
  Loans receivable, net (1)               1,433,215   21,159     5.91
                                         ----------- --------
    Total interest-earning
     assets                               1,668,250   22,699     5.44
                                                     --------
Non-interest earning assets                  98,647
                                         -----------
    Total assets                         $1,766,897
                                         ===========
Liabilities and Stockholders'
 Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Transaction deposits                     $665,099      987      .59
  Time deposits                             405,096    2,899     2.86
                                         ----------- --------
    Total                                 1,070,195    3,886     1.45
  Borrowed funds                            433,780    5,018     4.63
                                         ----------- --------
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities                          1,503,975    8,904     2.37
                                                     --------
Non-interest-bearing deposits               111,012
Non-interest bearing liabilities             17,711
                                         -----------
    Total liabilities                     1,632,698
Stockholders' equity                        134,199
                                         -----------
    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' equity                $1,766,897
                                         ===========
Net interest income                                  $13,795
                                                     ========
Net interest rate spread (2)                                     3.07%
                                                                =====
Net interest margin (3)                                          3.31%
                                                                =====


                                              FOR THE QUARTER ENDED
                                                   SEPTEMBER 30,
                                          ----------------------------
                                                      2002
                                          ----------------------------
                                                               AVERAGE
                                             AVERAGE            YIELD/
                                             BALANCE  INTEREST    COST
                                          ----------- -------- -------
                                              (Dollars in thousands)


Assets
Interest-earnings assets:
    Interest-earning deposits
    and short term investments               $30,714$129    1.68%
  Investment securities                       86,456      608    2.81
  FHLB stock                                  18,704      188    4.02
  Mortgage-backed securities                 166,140    2,353    5.67
  Loans receivable, net (1)                1,338,229   23,993    7.17
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total interest-earning
     assets                                1,640,243   27,271    6.65
                                                      -------- -------
Non-interest earning assets                   86,531
                                          -----------
    Total assets                          $1,726,774
                                          ===========
Liabilities and Stockholders'
 Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Transaction deposits                      $599,665    2,241    1.49
  Time deposits                              494,668    4,543    3.67
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total                                  1,094,333    6,784    2.48
  Borrowed funds                             392,189    4,915    4.99
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities                           1,486,522   11,699    3.15
                                                      -------- -------
Non-interest-bearing deposits                 83,611
Non-interest bearing liabilities              15,891
                                          -----------
    Total liabilities                      1,586,024
Stockholders' equity                         140,750
                                          -----------
    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' equity                 $1,726,774
                                          ===========
Net interest income                                   $15,572
                                                      ========
Net interest rate spread (2)                                     3.50%
                                                               =======
Net interest margin (3)                                          3.80%
                                                               =======


                                           FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                  SEPTEMBER 30,
                                          ----------------------------
                                                     2003
                                          ----------------------------
                                                               AVERAGE
                                            AVERAGE             YIELD/
                                            BALANCE   INTEREST  COST
                                          -------------------- -------
                                             (Dollars in thousands)
Assets
Interest-earnings assets:
    Interest-earning deposits
    and short term investments               $13,096$108    1.10%
  Investment securities                       89,705    1,884    2.80
  FHLB stock                                  19,324      750    5.17
  Mortgage-backed securities                 124,045    3,641    3.91
  Loans receivable, net (1)                1,414,011   66,058    6.23
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total interest-earning assets          1,660,181   72,441    5.82
                                                      -------- -------
Non-interest earning assets                   88,129
                                          -----------
    Total assets                          $1,748,310
                                          ===========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Transaction deposits                      $645,383    3,825     .79
  Time deposits                              430,194    9,732    3.02
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total                                  1,075,577   13,557    1.68
  Borrowed funds                             421,149   14,801    4.69
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     1,496,726   28,358    2.53
                                                      -------- -------
Non-interest-bearing deposits                100,162
Non-interest bearing liabilities              16,917
                                          -----------
    Total liabilities                      1,613,805
Stockholders' equity                         134,505
                                          -----------
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                               $1,748,310
                                          ===========
Net interest income                                   $44,083
                                                      ========
Net interest rate spread (2)                                     3.29%
                                                               =======
Net interest margin (3)                                          3.54%
                                                               =======


                                          FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                 SEPTEMBER 30,
                                         -----------------------------
                                                     2002
                                          ----------------------------
                                                               AVERAGE
                                            AVERAGE             YIELD/
                                            BALANCE   INTEREST  COST
                                         ------------ -------- -------
                                            (Dollars in thousands)
Assets
Interest-earnings assets:
    Interest-earning deposits
    and short term investments               $11,968$149    1.66%
  Investment securities                       86,241    2,414    3.73
  FHLB stock                                  21,022      710    4.50
  Mortgage-backed securities                 188,007    8,058    5.71
  Loans receivable, net (1)                1,335,701   71,222    7.11
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total interest-earning assets          1,642,939   82,553    6.70
                                                      -------- -------
Non-interest earning assets                   84,694
                                          -----------
    Total assets                          $1,727,633
                                          ===========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Transaction deposits                      $554,739    6,493    1.56
  Time deposits                              511,818   14,933    3.89
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total                                  1,066,557   21,426    2.68
  Borrowed funds                             426,037   15,225    4.76
                                          ----------- -------- -------
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     1,492,594   36,651    3.27
                                                      -------- -------
Non-interest-bearing deposits                 78,442
Non-interest bearing liabilities              14,232
                                          -----------
    Total liabilities                      1,585,268
Stockholders' equity                         142,365
                                          -----------
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                               $1,727,633
                                          ===========
Net interest income                                   $45,902
                                                      ========
Net interest rate spread (2)                                     3.43%
                                                               =======
Net interest margin (3)                                          3.73%
                                                               =======

(1) Amount is net of deferred loan fees, undisbursed loan funds,
    discounts and premiums and estimated loss allowances and includes
    loans held for sale and non-performing loans.

(2) Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the
    yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing
    liabilities.

(3) Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by
    average interest-earning assets.
    CONTACT: The Foristall Company, Inc.
             Thomas F. Curtin, 610-398-3022
             Fax: 610-530-7781
             [email protected]
              or
             OceanFirst Financial Corp.
             Chief Financial Officer
             Michael J. Fitzpatrick, 732-240-4500, Ext. 7506
             Fax: 732-349-5070
             [email protected]

    SOURCE: OceanFirst Financial Corp.