Dime Receives “Outstanding” Rating on Community Reinvestment Act Exam from Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Rhea-AI Summary

Dime Community Bancshares (NASDAQ: DCOM) has received an 'Outstanding' Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, achieving the highest possible score across all three evaluation components: Lending Test, Investment Test, and Service Test.

The bank demonstrated leadership in several areas, including: community development loans, innovative lending practices, qualified community development investments and grants, and community development services. The Federal Reserve highlighted Dime's excellent responsiveness to credit and community development needs within its assessment area, particularly in Low-to-Moderate Income neighborhoods.

This achievement validates Dime's 160-year commitment to supporting local community growth through lending, investing, and services.

Positive

• Received highest possible 'Outstanding' CRA rating from Federal Reserve
• Achieved top rating in all three CRA evaluation components
• Recognized as leader in community development loans and investments
• Demonstrated excellent responsiveness to credit and community needs

Negative

• None.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The "Outstanding" CRA rating from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York represents a regulatory validation of Dime Community Bank's community banking practices, but has direct financial impact. While this achievement demonstrates strong operational execution in community lending and investment, it primarily serves as a reputational asset rather than a material financial catalyst.

The triple "Outstanding" rating across lending, investment and service tests positions DCOM favorably for future regulatory reviews and could marginally reduce compliance costs. However, for a $1.3 billion market cap institution, the immediate financial benefits are modest. Think of it as earning a perfect score on a mandatory test - it's excellent for credibility but doesn't directly generate revenue.

For context: Only about 10% of banks achieve an "Outstanding" rating, making this a noteworthy accomplishment in terms of community banking excellence. The rating may provide a slight competitive advantage in attracting municipal deposits and partnering with community organizations, but these benefits typically materialize gradually over time rather than driving near-term stock performance.

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Jan. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the “Company”), the parent company of Dime Community Bank (the “Bank” or “Dime”) announced today that Dime recently received an overall “Outstanding” Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) rating from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“FRBNY”).

The CRA encourages banks to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including Low-to-Moderate Income (“LMI”) neighborhoods. Dime received an “Outstanding”, which is the highest possible rating, across all three components of the CRA evaluation, including the Lending Test, Investment Test, and Service Test. The FRBNY referenced multiple achievements in its CRA evaluation of the Bank. Select highlights include:

• Dime was a leader in making community development loans and has made use of innovative and flexible lending practices to meet credit needs within Dime’s assessment area.
• Dime had an excellent level of qualified community development investments and grants, and often in a leadership position, particularly those that are not routinely provided by private investors.
• Dime exhibited excellent responsiveness to credit and community development needs.
• Dime was a leader in providing community development services.

“We are very proud to receive an Outstanding CRA rating,” said Stuart H. Lubow, Dime’s President, and Chief Executive Officer. “As a community bank, we have taken great pride in lending, investing, and providing services to our local communities for the past 160 years. Receiving an Outstanding rating on all three components of the CRA exam is a testament to the hard work of our employees, as well as our commitment to support the growth of our local communities in all aspects.”

ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Dime Community Bank, a New York State-chartered trust company with over $13.7 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share among community banks on Greater Long Island ⁽¹⁾.

Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
Investor Relations Contact:
Avinash Reddy
Senior Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 718-782-6200; Ext. 5909
Email: avinash.reddy@dime.com

¹ Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for community banks with less than $20 billion in assets.

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

FAQ

What rating did Dime Community Bancshares (DCOM) receive in its latest CRA evaluation?

Dime Community Bancshares received an 'Outstanding' rating, the highest possible score, in its CRA evaluation from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Which specific components did DCOM score 'Outstanding' in the CRA evaluation?

DCOM received 'Outstanding' ratings in all three components: the Lending Test, Investment Test, and Service Test.

How does the 2025 CRA rating benefit DCOM's community development initiatives?

The rating confirms DCOM's leadership in community development loans, investments, and services, particularly in Low-to-Moderate Income neighborhoods, strengthening its position as a community-focused bank.

What specific achievements were highlighted in DCOM's Federal Reserve CRA evaluation?

The Federal Reserve highlighted DCOM's leadership in community development loans, innovative lending practices, excellent level of qualified investments and grants, and outstanding responsiveness to community credit needs.