OceanFirst (NASDAQ: OCFC) CRO receives time- and performance-based stock awards

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP reported that Senior EVP & CRO David Berninger received equity awards of common stock. On February 27, 2026, he was granted 11,076 restricted shares that will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 1, 2027, plus additional restricted shares previously granted that vest in the future.

He was also awarded 16,612 performance-based restricted shares that may vest on March 1, 2029 at approximately 33% to 100%, depending on performance achieved for the period from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, or be forfeited if minimum goals are not met. These awards are exempt acquisitions under Rule 16b-3(c) and are shown as increasing his beneficial ownership, including 361 shares held indirectly through an ESOP.

Insider Trade Summary

3 transactions reported

Mixed 3 txns

Insider Berninger David

Role Senior EVP & CRO

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Common Stock	11,076	$0.00	--
Grant/Award	Common Stock	16,612	$0.00	--
holding	Common Stock	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 86,637 shares (Direct); Common Stock — 361 shares (Indirect, By ESOP)

Footnotes (1)

1. Restricted shares awarded. Such shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 1, 2027. Total includes other restricted shares that vest in the future. Restricted shares awarded. Such shares vest on March 1, 2029 at approximately 33% to 100% depending on the attainment of defined performance criteria for the three year period from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, or are forfeited if threshold performance is not met. Total includes other unvested restricted shares that vest in the future. This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Berninger David

(Last) (First) (Middle)

110 WEST FRONT STREETT

(Street)

RED BANK NJ 07701

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP [ OCFC ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Senior EVP & CRO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/27/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/27/2026		A		11,076	A	$0	86,637	D(1)
Common Stock	02/27/2026		A		16,612	A	$0	103,249	D(2)
Common Stock								361	I	By ESOP(3)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Restricted shares awarded. Such shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 1, 2027. Total includes other restricted shares that vest in the future.

2. Restricted shares awarded. Such shares vest on March 1, 2029 at approximately 33% to 100% depending on the attainment of defined performance criteria for the three year period from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, or are forfeited if threshold performance is not met. Total includes other unvested restricted shares that vest in the future.

3. This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).

Remarks:

	/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos, Power of Attorney	03/03/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did OCFC executive David Berninger report?

David Berninger reported receiving restricted stock awards of OceanFirst Financial common stock. These were equity grants, not open-market purchases, and increased his beneficial ownership through exempt acquisitions under Rule 16b-3(c) as disclosed in the Form 4 filing.

How many time-vesting restricted OCFC shares were granted to David Berninger?

He was granted 11,076 time-vesting restricted shares of OceanFirst Financial common stock. According to the filing, these shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 1, 2027, and the total disclosed includes other restricted shares that will vest in future years.

What are the terms of David Berninger’s performance-based OCFC share award?

He received 16,612 performance-based restricted shares that may vest on March 1, 2029. Vesting will range from approximately 33% to 100% based on defined performance criteria for January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, with forfeiture if threshold performance is not reached.

How did these equity awards affect David Berninger’s OCFC share ownership?

The awards increased his beneficial ownership of OceanFirst Financial common stock. The filing shows updated direct holdings after each grant and also reports 361 shares held indirectly through an ESOP, reflecting both time-based and performance-based restricted stock components.

Are David Berninger’s OCFC stock awards open-market purchases or exempt acquisitions?

They are exempt acquisitions of restricted shares under Rule 16b-3(c), not open-market purchases. The footnotes explain that the awards consist of restricted and performance-based shares that vest over time or based on performance, increasing his beneficial ownership accordingly.

When will David Berninger’s OCFC restricted shares vest?

The time-vesting restricted shares vest in four equal annual installments starting March 1, 2027. The performance-based restricted shares may vest on March 1, 2029, with actual vesting dependent on performance achieved over the 2026–2028 measurement period as described in the filing.