UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

The the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant

[x]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant

[ ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]Preliminary Proxy Statement

[ ]
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))

[x]Definitive Proxy Statement

[ ]Definitive Additional Materials

[ ]
Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
§240.14a-12

BCB Bancorp, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[x]No fee required.

[ ]Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[ ]
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)14a6(i)(1) and
0-11.


ANNUAL MEETING INVITATION

 

BCB Bancorp, Inc.

595 Avenue C

Bayonne, New Jersey 07002

LOGO

March 18, 2022

15, 2024

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

We cordially invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BCB Bancorp, Inc. The annual meeting will be held at The Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on April 28, 2022.

25, 2024.

The enclosed notice of annual meeting and proxy statement describe the formal business to be transacted at the annual meeting. During the annual meeting we will also report on the operations of BCB Bancorp, Inc. Directors and officers, as well as a representative of our independent registered public accounting firm, will be present to respond to any questions that shareholders may have.

The annual meeting is being held so that shareholders may vote upon the following matters: (i) the election of four directors; (ii) the ratification of the appointment of Wolf & Company, P.C. as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022;2024; and (iii) an advisory, non-binding resolution with respect to the executive compensation described in this Proxy Statement.

the proxy statement.

The Board of Directors has determined that approval of the matters to be considered at the annual meeting is in the best interests of shareholders. For the reasons set forth in the proxy statement, the Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” its proposed director nominees, as well as proposals (ii) and (iii) above.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we urge you to sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope, or vote by telephone or the Internet by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card, as soon as possible even if you currently plan to attend the annual meeting. This will not prevent you from voting in person at the annual meeting, but will assure that your vote is counted if you are unable to attend the annual meeting. Your vote is important, regardless of the number of shares that you own. Your cooperation is appreciated, since a majority of the common stock must be represented at the annual meeting, either in person or by proxy, to constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.

Thank you for your continued support of BCB Bancorp, Inc.

 

Sincerely,

Mark D. Hogan

Chairman of the Board


Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders

 

Sincerely,LOGO

 

 

Date and Time:

April 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)

Place:

The Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002

Items to be Voted:

elect four (4) director nominees named in the proxy statement;

ratify the appointment of Wolf & Company, P.C. as BCB Bancorp, Inc.’s independent

registered public accounting firm for fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;

an advisory vote to approve the compensation of BCB Bancorp, Inc.’s named executive officers; and

conduct any other business properly brought before the annual meeting.

Record Date:

Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 6, 2024 may vote at the meeting, and any adjournments or postponements thereof. A list of shareholders will be available at the annual meeting.

Mark D. Hogan

ChairmanBy Order of the Board

BCB Bancorp, Inc. of Directors

595 Avenue CRyan Blake

Bayonne, New Jersey 07002Chief Operating Officer and Secretary

March 15, 2024

Your vote is important!

Shareholders of record can vote their shares by using the Internet or the telephone or by attending the meeting and voting. Instructions for voting by using the Internet or the telephone are set forth on the proxy card that has been provided to you. The prompt voting of proxies will save us the expense of further requests for proxies. Shareholders of record who received a paper copy of the proxy materials also may vote their shares by marking their votes on the proxy card provided, signing and dating it, and mailing it in the self-address envelope provided, or by attending the meeting voting virtually. If you need directions to attend the annual meeting and to vote in person, please call us at 1 (800) 680-6872680-6872.

 

NOTICE OFImportant Notice Regarding the Availability

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Beof Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on April 28, 202225, 2024

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to Shareholders are available at www.investorvote.com/BCBP


PROXY STATEMENT

GENERAL INFORMATION

Solicitation of Proxies

 

Notice is hereby given that the Annual MeetingThe Board of ShareholdersDirectors of BCB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”“Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), will is providing this Proxy Statement to solicit proxies for use at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders to be held at The Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002 on April 28, 2022,25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. (Eastern Time) or any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). The Company is first delivering this Proxy Statement and the foregoing Notice on or about March 15, 2024.

Purpose of the Meeting

 

A Proxy Card and a Proxy Statement forAt the annual meeting are enclosed, along with a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

The annual meeting is being held so thatMeeting, our shareholders maywill be asked to vote on the following matters:proposals:

 

 Proposals1.The electionBoard
 Recommendation 
 1To elect four (4) director nominees to the Board of four directors;
2.The ratificationDirectors of the Company;FOR
 2To ratify the appointment of Wolf & Company P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022;2024; andFOR
 3To approve, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the Company’s named executive officer compensationFOR

Voting and Revocation of Proxies

Shareholders of record have a choice of voting by way of traditional proxy card, by telephone or through the Internet.

LOGO3.An advisory, non-binding resolution

   Mark your selections on the proxy card.

   Date and sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy card.

   Mail the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope that’s provided to you with respectyour proxy card.

If you return the signed proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how you wish to vote, your votes will be cast “FORthe election of all director nominees; “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Wolf & Company LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; and “FOR” the approval of the Company’s named executive compensation described in this Proxy Statement;officer compensation.

LOGO

Call toll-free 1-800-652-8683 and follow the voice prompts.

LOGO

Access the website www.investorvote.com/BCBP and follow the instructions.

 

such other business as may properly come before1


We encourage each shareholder of record to submit their proxy electronically through the annual meetingInternet, if that option is available, or by telephone. Delivery of a proxy in any adjournment or postponement of the annual meeting.three ways listed above will not affect the right of a shareholder of record to attend the Annual Meeting and vote during the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares in “street name” (that is, through a broker, trustee or other holder of record), you will receive a voting instruction card from your broker seeking instructions as to how your shares should be voted. If no voting instructions are given, your broker or nominee has discretionary authority to vote your shares on your behalf on routine matters. A “broker non-vote” results on a matter when your broker or nominee returns a proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because it does not have discretionary authority to vote on that proposal and has not received voting instructions from you. We believe that your broker or nominee only has discretionary voting power with respect to the proposal regarding the ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm. You may not vote shares held in “street name” at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from your broker or holder of record.

Any shareholder of record giving a proxy may revoke it by doing any of the following:

delivering a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company, dated later than the proxy, before the vote is taken at the Annual Meeting;

delivering a duly executed proxy to the Secretary of the Company, bearing a later date (including proxy by telephone or through the Internet) before the vote is taken at the Annual Meeting; or

voting at the Annual Meeting (your attendance at the Annual Meeting, in and of itself, will not revoke the proxy).

Any written notice of revocation, or later dated proxy, should be delivered to the Company, Attention: Ryan Blake, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary.

Record Date

 

Any action may be taken on the foregoing proposals at the annual meeting on the date specified above, or on any date or dates to which the annual meeting may be adjourned. ShareholdersOnly shareholders of record at the close of business on March 9, 2022,6, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are the shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting or any adjournments thereof.

EACH SHAREHOLDER, WHETHER HE OR SHE PLANS TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, IS REQUESTED TO SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD WITHOUT DELAY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE, OR VOTE NOW BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD.

If your broker holds your shares, they do not have the ability to cast votes with respect to the election of directors or the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers unless they have received instructions from you, as the beneficial owner of the shares. If your shares are held by a broker, it is important that you provide instructions to your broker so your vote is counted in the election of directors, the ratification of auditors, and in connection with the matter regarding the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

Important notice regarding the availability of proxy materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders: the Company’s Proxy Statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, and proxy card are available online at www.bcb.bank. If you need directions to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote in person, please call us at 1 (800) 680-6872.

By Order of the Board of Directors
Mark D. Hogan
Chairman of the Board

Bayonne, New Jersey

March 18, 2022

IMPORTANT: THE PROMPT VOTING OF PROXIES WILL SAVE US THE EXPENSE OF FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PROXIES. A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE OR YOU CAN VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD. IF YOU VOTE BY MAIL, NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

PROXY STATEMENT

BCB Bancorp, Inc.

595 Avenue C

Bayonne, New Jersey 07002

1 (800) 680-6872

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To be Held on April 28, 2022

INTRODUCTION

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of BCB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held at The Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002, on April 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and all adjournments of the annual meeting. The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and this Proxy Statement are first being mailed to shareholders on or about March 18, 2022.

Meeting. At the annual meeting, shareholders will vote on the election of four directors, the ratification of the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, and an advisory, non-binding resolution with respect to the Company’s executive compensation described in this Proxy Statement, and such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournments thereof.

The Company has elected to prepare this Proxy Statement and other annual and periodic reports as a “smaller reporting company” consistent with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

RECORD DATE AND QUORUM

Holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on March 9, 2022, our record date, arethe Record Date, there were 16,954,391 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding, each of which will be entitled to one vote for each share then held. Asat the Annual Meeting.

Quorum

The presence, in person or by proxy, of the record date, we had 16,984,538 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Holders ofshareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stockvotes that all shareholders are entitled to votecast will constitute a quorum at the annual meeting mustAnnual Meeting. Proxies received but marked as abstentions will be included in the calculation of the number of votes considered to be present at the annual meeting or represented by proxy for the transaction of business. This is called a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be countedAnnual Meeting for purposes of determining ifthe presence of a quorum is present. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.quorum.

In accordance with New Jersey law, a listTabulation of shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be made available at the annual meeting.Votes

 

VOTING PROCEDURES AND METHOD OF COUNTING VOTES

As to the election of directors, the proxy card being provided by the Board of Directors, as well as the Internet and telephone voting systems, each enables a shareholder to vote “FOR” the election of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors, or to “WITHHOLD” a vote for the nominees being proposed. Under New Jersey law and the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, without regard to either broker non-votes or proxies as to which authority to vote for the nominees being proposed is withheld.

Therefore, the four nominees for director receiving the highest number of votes cast at the meeting will be elected as directors.

As to the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, by checking the appropriate box a shareholder may: (i) vote “FOR” the ratification of such firm; (ii) vote “AGAINST” the ratification of such firm; or, (iii) “ABSTAIN” from voting for or against the ratification of such firm. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required for approval of the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

As to the advisory, non-binding resolution with respect toapproval of the Company’s named executive officer compensation, as described in this proxy statement, a shareholder may: (i) vote “FOR” the resolution; (ii) vote “AGAINST” the resolution; or (iii) “ABSTAIN” from voting on the resolution. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting is required for the approval of this the advisory, non-binding resolution. resolution with respect to the Company’s executive compensation. While this vote is required by law, it will neither be binding on the Company, or the Board of Directors, nor will it create or imply any change in the fiduciary duties of, or impose any additional fiduciary duty on, the Company, or the Board of Directors.

If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the meeting, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn the meeting to another time or place, the persons named in the proxy card will have discretion to vote on those matters according to their best judgment to the same extent as the person signing the proxy would be entitled to vote. At the date of this proxy statement, we do not anticipate that any other matters will be raised at the Annual Meeting.

The

2


Proposal No. 1

Election of the Director Nominees of the Board of Directors

General

Our certificate of incorporation provides that the Board of Directors will designate an inspectorshall consist of elections who will count the votes at, and certify the results of, the annual meeting.

Regardless of the number of shares of common stock owned, it is important that holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock be represented by proxynot less than one or present in person at the annual meeting. Shareholders are requested to vote by completing the enclosed proxy card and returning it signed and dated in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or by telephone or the internet by following the instructions on the proxy card. Shareholders mailing their proxy card are urged to indicate their vote in the spaces provided on the proxy card. PROXIES WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN ON THE PROXY. WHERE NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED, SIGNED PROXIES WILL BE VOTED “FOR” EACH NOMINEE FOR DIRECTOR AND “FOR” EACH OF THE PROPOSALS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

If your shares of common stock are held in “street name” by a broker, bank, or other nominee, you will receive instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee that you must follow in order to have your shares voted at the annual meeting. If you want to vote your shares of common stock held in “street name” in person at the annual meeting, you will have to get a legal proxy in your name from the broker, bank, or other nominee who holds your shares.

Participants in the 401(k) plan sponsored by BCB Community Bank, the Company’s principal operating subsidiary (the “Bank”), own shares of the Company’s common stock through that plan. They will have the right to direct the trustee how to vote the shares of the Company’s common stock allocated to their plan accounts in accordance with the terms of the 401(k) plan.

REVOCATION OF PROXIES

Shareholders who complete proxies retain the right to revoke them in the manner described below. Unless so revoked, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at the annual meeting and any adjournments thereof. Proxies may be revoked by sending written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at the address shown above, the submission of a later-dated proxy or by voting in person at the annual meeting. You will be able to change your vote as many times as you wish prior to the annual meeting and the last vote received chronologically will supersede all prior votes. The presence at the annual meeting of any shareholder who had returned a proxy shall not revoke such proxy unless the shareholder delivers his or her ballot in person at the annual meeting or delivers a written revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary prior to the voting of such proxy.

VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

Persons and entities who beneficially own in excess of 5% of the Company’s common stock are required to file certain reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding such beneficial ownership. A person or entity may be considered to beneficially own any shares of common stock over which the person or entity has, directly or indirectly, sole or shared voting authority. The following table sets forth, as of March 9, 2022, the shares of common stock beneficially owned by each person or entity who was known to us as the beneficial owner of more than 5%25 members, as fixed by the Board of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.

Name and Address of Beneficial OwnersAmount of Shares Owned and
Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1)
Percent of Shares of Common
Stock Outstanding

MFP Partners, L.P.

MFP Investors, LLC

Michael F. Price

909 Third Avenue, 33rd Floor

New York, New York 10022

1,020,808 (2)6.0%

(1)In accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a person or entity is deemed to be the beneficial owner for purposes of this table, of any shares of common stock if such person or entity has shared voting or investment power with respect to such security, or has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days from the date as of which beneficial ownership is being determined. As used herein, “voting power” is the power to vote or direct the voting of shares and “investment power” is the power to dispose or direct the disposition of shares.
(2)On a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2021, MFP Partners, L.P., MFP Investors LLC, and Michael F. Price each reported shared dispositive and voting power with respect to 1,020,808 shares of the Company’s common stock. MFP Investors LLC is the general partner of MFP Partners, L.P., and Michael F. Price is the managing partner of MFP Partners, L.P. and the managing member and controlling person of MFP Investors LLC.

PROPOSAL I - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Directors from time to time. The Company’s Board of Directors is currently composed of 11 members and is divided12 members. Our certificate of incorporation divides the Board into three classes, with oneeach class to be as nearly equal in number as possible. Each class will serve for a staggered, three-year term. Upon the expiration of the term of a class of directors, elected each year. The Company’snominees for directors in that class will generally be elected toconsidered for election for three-year terms at the annual meeting of shareholders in the year in which the term of directors in that class expires. However, director Thomas Coughlin and the Board of Directors have agreed that he will only serve for a three-year period and until their respective successors have been elected and qualify. Four directors will beone-year term if elected at the annual meeting. TheAnnual Meeting.

Director Nominees of the Board of Directors

Based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has re-nominated Judith Bielan, James Collins, Mark D. Hogan,unanimously nominated each of Thomas Coughlin, Vincent DiDomenico, Jr., Joseph Lyga, and John PulomenaMichael Shriner for three-year terms aselection to the class of directors at the annual meeting. Each nominee of the BoardCompany with terms expiring in 2027, except for Mr. Coughlin whose term will expire in 2025. Each director nominee currently serves as a director of DirectorsBCB Bank, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary (the “Bank”), and each has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement.Statement and to serve, if elected. Each of the directors elected at the Annual Meeting will hold office until the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, except that Mr. Coughlin will hold office until the 2025, and until their successor is duly elected and qualified. If any of the nominees become unable to accept their nomination or election, the persons named in the proxy may vote for a substitute nominee selected by the Board of Directors. Our management, however, has no present reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve as a director, if elected.

 

LOGO

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR
each director nominee

3


BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR NOMINEES

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our continuing directors and our director nominees as of March 9, 2022, regarding the compositiondate of this Proxy Statement:

Name

 

  

Age

 

  

Position with the Company

 

  

 

First Year as
Director

 

  

Term will

 Expire (1) 

 

 

Robert Ballance

 

  64  Director  2000  2026

 

Ryan Blake

 

  33  COO, Corporate Secretary, & Director  2023  2026

 

Judith Q. Bielan

 

  59  Director  2000  2025

 

James E. Collins

 

  74  Director  2003  2025

 

Thomas Coughlin

 

  63  Director  2002  2024

 

Vincent DiDomenico, Jr.

 

  58  Director  2018  2024

 

Mark D. Hogan

 

  58  Chairman of the Board  2000  2025

 

Joseph Lyga

 

  64  Director  2000  2024

 

John Pulomena

 

  68  Director  2018  2025

 

James Rizzo

 

  64  Director  2015  2026

 

Spencer B. Robbins

 

  71  Director  2011  2024

 

Michael Shriner

 

  59  President, CEO, & Director of the Bank  2024  2027

(1)

Directors’ terms of office are scheduled to expire at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in the year indicated, assuming election at the Annual Meeting.

Our directors and director nominees collectively possess the expertise, leadership skills, and diversity of experiences and backgrounds to oversee the execution of the Company’s Board of Directors, including the terms of office of Board membersgrowth strategy and protect long-term stockholder value, which qualifications are summarized below. More detailed information regarding the Company’s named executive officersabout each director and the executive officersdirector nominee can be found under their respective biography.

Area of ExpertiseThomas
Coughlin
Vincent
DiDomenico,
Jr.
Joseph
Lyga

Michael   

Shriner   

 Accounting/Finance

XXX  

 Lending

XXX  

 Governance

X

 Technology/Cybersecurity

X

The following matrix summarizes certain demographic characteristics of the Bank. Itboard of directors, including having two “diverse” directors as defined in the board diversity rules adopted by Nasdaq.

 

Board Diversity Matrix *

 

  

# Female

 

  

 # Male 

 

 

Gender Identity

 

  1  11

 

Demographic Background

 

    

 

African American or Black

 

  --  --

 

Alaskan Native or American Indian

 

  --  --

 

Asian

 

  --  --

 

Hispanic or Latinx

 

  --  --

 

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

 

  --  --

 

White

 

  1  11

 

Two or More Races or Ethnicities

 

  --  --

 

LGBTQ+

 

  --  1

* Based on 12 Total Number of Directors

4


Directors

Robert Ballance has been a director of the Company since its founding in 2000. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Ballance served as a Battalion Chief with the Bayonne Fire Department. Mr. Ballance is intended that the proxies solicited on behalfowner of a floor covering business located in Bayonne, New Jersey. Mr. Ballance is a member of various clubs and civic organizations throughout the communities the Company serves. With his lengthy experience as a businessman, community leader, civil servant, and as former director of the Bayonne Federal Credit Union, the Board of Directors (other than proxies in which the vote is withheldbelieves Mr. Ballance brings valuable support and insight as to the nominee) will be voted at the annual meeting for the electionboth a director of the nominees identified below. If a nominee is unable to serve, the shares represented by proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute as the Board of Directors may recommend. At this time, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees might be unable to serve, if elected. Except as indicated herein, there are no arrangements or understandings between the nomineeBank and any other person pursuant to which such nominee was selected.

Name

Position(s) Held With
the Company or the Bank

Age at
Record
Date

Director
Since(1)

Current
Term
Expires(1)

Shares
Beneficially
Owned(2)

Percent
of
Class(*)

       

NOMINEES

       
Judith Q. BielanDirector5720002022178,439(8)1.05%
James E. CollinsDirector7320032022251,038(9)1.48%
Mark D. HoganChairman of the Board5620002022655,036(10)3.86%
John PulomenaDirector662018202245,860(13)*

 

CONTINUING DIRECTORS

 
Robert BallanceDirector6320002023207,270(7)1.22%
Thomas CoughlinPresident, CEO and Director6120022024426,615(3)2.51%
Vincent DiDomenico, Jr.Director5620182024210,390(4)1.24%
Joseph LygaDirector6220002024230,191(5)1.36%
August Pellegrini, Jr.Director6220132023200,907(11)1.18%
James G. RizzoDirector6220152023171,472(12)1.01%
Spencer B. RobbinsDirector6920112024139,559(6)*
       
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS
Ryan BlakeChief Operating Officer31N/AN/A2,410(17)*
Kenneth G. EmersonChief Strategy & Risk Officer60N/AN/A3,000(16)*
David GarciaChief Lending Officer58N/AN/A1,000(18)*
Thomas P. KeatingFormer Chief Financial Officer66N/AN/A40,497(14)*
Michael LeslerFormer Chief Operating Officer51N/AN/A15,056(15)*
Sandra SievewrightChief Compliance Officer57N/AN/A13,880(19)*
       
All directors and
executive officers as a
group (17 persons)
    2,792,62016.44%

* Less than 1%.

(1)Includes service as a director of the Bank. Expiration of term reflects service as a director with the Company.
(2)In accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner for purposes of this table, of any shares of common stock if he has shared voting or investment power with respect to such security, or has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days from the record date. As used herein, “voting power” is the power to vote or direct the voting of shares and “investment power” is the power to dispose or direct the disposition of shares. Includes shares underlying options that are exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(3)Mr. Coughlin has sole voting and dispositive power over 277,290 shares, and sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares. In addition, there are 149,325 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(4)Mr. DiDomenico has sole voting and dispositive power over 167,940 shares, and sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares. In addition, there are 42,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(5)Mr. Lyga has sole voting and dispositive power over 154,844 shares, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 2,093 shares with his spouse, and shared voting and dispositive power over 2,804 shares with his child. In addition, there are 70,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(6)Mr. Robbins has sole voting and dispositive power over 68,909 shares, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares, and shared voting and dispositive power over 200 shares with his child. In addition, there are 70,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(7)Mr. Ballance has sole voting and dispositive power over 129,084 shares, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 3,275 shares with his spouse, and shared voting and dispositive power over 3,398 shares with his children. In addition, there are 70,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.

(8)Ms. Bielan has sole voting and dispositive power over 99,541 shares, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 8,371 shares with her spouse, and shared voting and dispositive power over 77 shares with her children. In addition, there are 70,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(9)Mr. Collins has sole voting and dispositive power over 179,278 shares, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 1,301 shares with his spouse. In addition, there are 70,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(10)Mr. Hogan has sole voting and dispositive power over 582,598 shares, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares, and shared voting and dispositive power over 1,988 shares with his children. In addition, there are 70,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(11)Mr. Pellegrini has sole voting and dispositive power over 147,457 shares, and sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares. In addition, there 53,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(12)Mr. Rizzo has sole voting and dispositive power over 109,822 shares, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares, and shared voting and dispositive power over 3,100 shares with his spouse. In addition, there are 58,550 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(13)Mr. Pulomena has sole voting and dispositive power over 13,410 shares, and sole voting power but no dispositive power over 4,200 unvested restricted stock shares. In addition, there are 32,450 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(14)Mr. Keating passed away on March 5, 2022. His estate has sole voting and dispositive power over 23,497 shares. In addition, there are 17,000 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(15)Mr. Lesler has sole voting and dispositive power over 15,056 shares. Mr. Lesler had no shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(16)Mr. Emerson has sole voting and dispositive power over 3,000 shares. Mr. Emerson had no shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(17)Mr. Blake has sole voting and dispositive power over 2,000 shares. In addition, there are 410 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(18)Mr. Garcia has sole voting and dispositive power over 1,000 shares. Mr. Garcia had no shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.
(19)Ms. Sievewright has sole voting and dispositive power over 1,380 shares. In addition, there are 12,500 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.

Biographical Information Regarding Nominees, Continuing Directors and Executive Officers

Set forth below is biographical information regarding the Company’s nominees, directors, and executive officers. For the individuals named below, all nominees are currently directors of the Company.

Nominees for Directors:

Judith Q. Bielan, Esq. is an attorney who has practiced law in New Jersey for over 30 years. In 1993, Ms. Bielan founded the law firm currently known as Bielan, Miklos & Makrogiannis, P.C., which handles all aspects of real estate, family law, contract disputes, and estate matters. She has represented various banking clients in commercial and residential real estate matters. Ms. Bielan brings to the Board of Directors experience in the areas of real estate, marketing, budgeting, public relations, and collections. She currently serves on the New JerseyNJ State Legislative Committee and the Hudson County Bar Association Due Diligence and Family Law Committees. She continues to serve as a Vice President on the Hudson County Bar Foundation.Legislative Committee. In the past, Ms. Bielan has been court-appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the Hudson County Condemnation Board, and has served on the Hudson County Fee Arbitration Committee, Due Diligence, Family Law, and Early Settlement Panel.Panel Committees. In 2010 Ms. Bielanshe was named President of the Hudson County Bar Association. In 2005 she received the Hudson County Family Lawyer of the Year Award.

Throughout her career, Ms. Bielan continued to serve the New Jersey and Hudson County communities by volunteeringvolunteered as a Trustee on the Board of “Women Rising,” by coaching bothcoached boys’ and girls’ basketball at the Bayonne PAL, by teaching Jurisprudence at Montclair State University and taught Adult Education Classesclasses at Bayonne High School.  From 2001 – 2010 she served on the Advisory Board and then as Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees of Holy Family Academy of Bayonne. In 2014, she was inducted into the Bayonne PAL Hall of Fame. Ms. Bielan’s legal experience and her service to the various organizations in her community lead to her appointment as a member ofFrom 2001-2010 she served on the Board of Directors at the Company’s founding. Ms. BielanHoly Family Academy. She holds degrees from Montclair State College (now University) and Seton Hall University School of Law. Ms. Bielan currently serves as Chair of the Bank’s Sitecompany’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Ryan Blake serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Director of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Blake has been with the company since 2008 and has served in his current role since 2021. Prior to then, Mr. Blake served as the Company’s Vice President and Controller. Mr. Blake currently serves as a trustee on the board of the Bayonne Public Library, has served as a commissioner on the Zoning Board of the City of Bayonne, as Vice President for a chapter of Rotary International, and is a former director of the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Blake is a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Finance and in Economics from Kean University, and has earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University.

James E. Collins James Collins has worked in the banking industry since 1972, and currently serves as a board member for the Bank and the Company. Mr. Collins was VP/Senior Lending Officer and Community Reinvestment Officer of the Bank when it opened in 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Collins was Senior Lender at First Savings

and Loan Association, where he worked for 28 years. Mr. Collins retired from the Bank in 2010. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Bank’s Loan Committee. In addition to chairing the Bank’s Loan Committee, Mr. Collins brings experience to the board that covers all phases of the lending process, as well as valuable experiences with CRA, regulatory reviews, appraisal functions, and compliance in the lending area. Through Mr. Collins’ experience and knowledge of the markets in which the Company operates, he provides referrals to management for new business, advice, and suggestions to both management and the board.

He has also served as Past President of Ireland’s 32 and as citywide Director for the Bayonne C.Y.O. sports programs. He has served as a Trustee and Treasurer for the Bayonne Education Foundation and was a member of the Directorate at Marist High School in Bayonne. Currently, he is a member of the Dorchester County Certified Emergency Response Team. Mr. Collins was educated at O.L.S.S. grammar school, Marist High School, and received a B.S from St. Peter’s College. Mr. Collins also attended graduate school at the National School of Banking and was a Certified Real Estate Appraiser and member of the Review Appraiser Society.

Thomas M. Coughlin was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and the Company from their formation until December 31, 2023. Mr. Coughlin has been in the banking industry for over 38 years. He formerly served as Vice President of Chatham Savings Bank and before that as Controller and Corporate Secretary of First Savings Bank of New Jersey. Believing that Bayonne was underserved by community banks, Mr. Coughlin, along with the support of local investors founded Bayonne Community Bank in 2000. After ten years of success, Coughlin, the vigor behind the growth and success of the Bank led the way for expansion with the integrations of Pamrapo Savings Bank, Allegiance Savings, and Indus American Bank. Mr. Coughlin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Peter’s University, Jersey City and received his CPA designation in 1982. Mr. Coughlin is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades from various organizations throughout New Jersey and New York in recognition of his service and dedication to the communities he serves.

Mark D. Hogan, C.P.A.Vincent DiDomenico, Jr. is the Founder and Managing Member of Delta Equity Management, L.L.C. et al developers of Commercial Real Estate in the New Jersey & New York Metropolitan Area. His real estate companies own

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and manage institutional-grade commercial real estate assets. Mr. DiDomenico has been a certified public accountant with an office located in Bayonne, NJDirector of the Bank and Naples, FL. Mr. Hogan is a registered financial representativethe Company since May 2017, where he serves on the Loan, Compensation (Chairman), and has earned the following licenses and designations: NASD Series 7, 24, 63 and 66; Mr. HoganLaw Committees. He also served on the Board of Trustees, foras well serving as a past two-term (2003-2005 & 2009-2011) Vice President and a past two-term (2006-2008 & 2011-2013) President, of the New Jersey Self Storage Association (NJSSA). Mr. DiDomenico is also a former Board of Trustee Member of St. Peter’s Preparatory School and a former Board of Trustee Member of Far Hills Country Day School. Currently,Prior to founding his current companies, Mr. Di Domenico was distinguished as a Deming Scholar from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University where he earned an MBA in Finance and Statistics, with a concentration in International Business Studies. He also currently serves on the Capital Campaign Committee at The Delbarton School and has served as Co-Chairman of the Far Hills Country Day School Capital Campaign Committee as well as the Board of Governors for the Archdiocese of Newark, C.Y.O. & Young Adult Ministries. He is a graduate of St. Peter’s Preparatory School (1984) and graduate of Villanova School of Business where he received a B.S. degree in Finance (1988).

Mark D. Hogan, C.P.A. is actively serving as Chairman of the Board of the Company, a position he has held since 2003. He has been a Director of the Company since its inception. Prior to beginning his service for the Company, Mr. Hogan servesfirst founded, built, and recently retired from, two (2) successful businesses: Hogan and Associates, LLC, a CPA practice which he had operated for almost three (3) decades; and Hogan Financial Advisors, Inc., a wealth management practice which he had operated for over twenty-five (25) years.

Mr. Hogan, who maintains his active CPA license, is currently managing his family’s real estate portfolio. Mr. Hogan’s Community Involvement includes service on the Board of Trustees for the Count Basie Theatre,of three organizations, namely: St Peter’s Preparatory School, where he is thealso served as Chairman of the Finance Committee; Count Basie Center for the Arts, where he also served on the Executive Committee and memberas Chairman of the Executive Committee.Finance Committee; and St. Ann’s Home for the Aged Corp. Mr. Hogan has humbly received innumerable awards for his Community Involvement. Because of Mr. Hogan’s extensive professional experience, his achievements and his aforesaid licenseslicense and designations, he is deemed well-qualified to actively serve as Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. receivedHogan graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Pace University.University in New York City.

Joseph Lyga has served as an Independent Director of the Company since its founding in 2000. Mr. Lyga has been a self-employed contractor and consultant in computer technology, security, network and systems design for the last 39 years. Mr. Lyga attended Jersey City State College and continued his education at the Chubb Institute for Technology. Studying computer programming, as a computer technician, and in computer network design. Mr. Lyga has obtained several certifications in the computer science field, such as those in cybersecurity, Network+, Security+, IT security, Cisco, and most recently obtained a certificate in Cybersecurity from Harvard University in Managing Risk. Mr. Lyga’s dedicated service and his extensive business background in Information Technology provide the Board of Directors with desired insights into the field of information technology. Mr. Lyga is also a member of several clubs and civic organizations.

John Pulomena has been the County Administrator of Middlesex County, New Jersey, for the past 13 years. As County Administrator for Middlesex County, considered the second largest county in the state, Mr. Pulomena is responsible for the development and management of a $500 million annual budget, supported by a workforce of over 2,000 employees. In this capacity, Mr. Pulomena is responsible for developing the strategic plans for sustained economic growth, critical investments in the county’s infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life for its 825,000 residents through key programs and services. Mr. Pulomena was employed by AT&T for over 22 years, including five years at AT&T Bell Laboratories in software development and 17 years at AT&T corporate in various roles including marketing & sales, government affairs, as Financial Controller, and as Director of the Customer Network Operation Centers. Mr. Pulomena was a Middlesex County Freeholder for 10 years, Council President for the Borough of South Plainfield for nine years, and Chairman of the Middlesex County Planning Board for five years. Mr. Pulomena is a graduate of the City University of New York, where he received a B.S. degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. Mr. Pulomena currently serves as Chairman of the Company’s Audit Committee.

Continuing Directors:

Robert Ballance has been a director of the Company since its founding in 2000. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Ballance served as a Battalion Chief with the Bayonne Fire Department. Mr. Ballance is the owner of a floor covering business located in Bayonne, New Jersey. Mr. Ballance is a member of various clubs and civic organizations throughout the communities the Company serves. Currently, Mr. Ballance serves as Chairman of the Company’s Budget Committee. With his lengthy experience as a businessman, community leader, civil servant, and as former director of the Bayonne Federal Credit Union, the Board of Directors believes Mr. Ballance brings valuable support and insight as both a director of the Bank and the Company, as well as to the role of Budget Committee Chairman.

Thomas M. Coughlin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of BCB Bank and BCB Bancorp, Inc. Mr. Coughlin has been in the banking industry for over 38 years. He formerly served as Vice President of Chatham Savings Bank and before that as Controller and Corporate Secretary of First Savings Bank of New Jersey. Believing that Bayonne was underserved by community banks, Mr. Coughlin, along with the support of local investors founded Bayonne Community Bank in 2000. After ten years of success, Coughlin, the vigor behind the growth and success of BCB led the way for expansion with the integrations of Pamrapo Savings Bank, Allegiance Savings, and Indus American Bank.

Mr. Coughlin currently serves as the President of the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce, Executive Board Member of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, as well as an active member of Friends of Special Children and a Lifetime Rotarian, is the former Commissioner of the Bayonne Rent Control Board, past- President of the

American Heart Association, and has served as Trustee of D.A.R.E. and the Bayonne P.A.L. Coughlin is also a member of the NJ Canna Business Association and the NJ Cannabis Association. Mr. Coughlin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Peter’s University, Jersey City and received his CPA designation in 1982. Mr. Coughlin is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades from various organizations throughout New Jersey and New York in recognition of his service and dedication to the communities he serves.

Vincent DiDomenico, Jr. is the Founder and Managing Member of Delta Equity Management, L.L.C. et al developers of Commercial Real Estate in the New Jersey & New York Metropolitan Area. His real estate companies own and manage institutional-grade commercial real estate assets. Mr. DiDomenico has been a Director of the Bank and the Company since May 2017, where he serves on the Loan, Compensation (Chairman), and Law Committees. He also served on the Board of Trustees, as well serving as a past two-term (2003-2005 & 2009-2011) Vice President and a past two-term (2006-2008 & 2011-2013) President, of the New Jersey Self Storage Association (NJSSA). Mr. DiDomenico is also a former Board of Trustee Member of St. Peter’s Preparatory School and a former Board of Trustee Member of Far Hills Country Day School. Prior to founding his current companies, Mr. Di Domenico was distinguished as a Deming Scholar from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University where he earned an MBA in Finance and Statistics, with a concentration in International Business Studies. He also currently serves on the Capital Campaign Committee at The Delbarton School and has served as Co-Chairman of the Far Hills Country Day School Capital Campaign Committee as well as the Board of Governors for the Archdiocese of Newark, C.Y.O. & Young Adult Ministries. He is a graduate of St. Peter’s Preparatory School (1984) and graduate of Villanova School of Business where he received a B.S. degree in Finance (1988).

Joseph Lyga Joseph Lyga has served as an Independent Director of the Company since its founding in 2000. Mr. Lyga has been a self-employed contractor and consultant in computer technology, security, network and systems design for the last 39 years. Mr. Lyga attended Jersey City State College and continued his education at the Chubb Institute for Technology. Studying computer programming, as a computer technician, and in computer network design. Mr. Lyga has obtained several certifications in the computer science field such as those in cybersecurity, Network+, Security+, IT security, Cisco, and as an Ethical Hacker. Mr. Lyga’s dedicated service and his extensive business background in Information Technology provides the Board of Directors with desired insights into the field of information technology. Mr. Lyga is also a member of several clubs and civic organizations.

Dr. August Pellegrini, Jr. Dr. August Pellegrini, Jr. practiced general dentistry in Bayonne, New Jersey, for 30 years until he retired in 2016. He is currently a member of the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association, and the Hudson County Dental Society. Dr. Pellegrini also served as an Assistant Dean at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in Newark, New Jersey. He sat on the Board of Trustees of Matheny Hospital in Peapack, NJ for 6 years, where he was a member of the Audit Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. Dr. Pellegrini’s professional background and experience and his long-time service to the community bring valuable insights to the board. Dr. Pellegrini currently serves as Chairman of the Company’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

James G. Rizzo has been a director of the Company since 2015. He currently serves as business liaison to the Board of Directors and has helped lead the Company’s expansion efforts throughout Bergen County, with four branches opening over the last six years. Mr. Rizzo serves as Chairman of the Company’s Investment and Capital Markets committees. In his role as Chairman of the Investment Committee, Mr. Rizzo has been active in overseeing the Company’s investment securities portfolio and its impact on asset liability management. As Chairman of the Capital Markets committee, Mr. Rizzo has been instrumental in the Company’s most recent common and preferred equity offerings. After having spent more than thirty years in a career focused on the high-yield bond markets, Mr. Rizzo is currently in the real estate management business. His career began at Drexel Burnham and included being designated as a Managing Director in positions held at firms such as Guggenheim Partners, Citicorp, and Fleet Bank. Mr. Rizzo’s most recent position was as a Managing Director at Dahlman Rose and Company, from which he retired.

Mr. Rizzo is a graduate of St. Peter’s University, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration. He currently serves on the University’s Board of Regents, and on the

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Advisory Board of the University’s Business School. He is also a graduate of St. Peter’s Preparatory school, and is involved in planning the future of Saint Peter’s Preparatory School as a former member of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Rizzo is an active member of the Rutherford Planning Board and the Rutherford Economic Development Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Rutherford Public

Library, as well as the Rutherford Library Foundation. Additionally, Mr. Rizzo serves on the Board of St. Dominic’s Academy in Jersey City, N.J.

Spencer B. Robbins is the Managing Director of the Law firm of Robbins & Robbins, Esqs. Located in Woodbridge, New Jersey for the past 3842 years. The firm is full-service law office, with a specialtyan emphasis in litigation. Mr. Robbins was a founding member of Allegiance Community Bank whichwhere he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors until it merged with BCB Communitythe Bank in 2011. Mr. Robbins previouslypresently serves as the Presiding Judge of Sayreville Municipal court and has served as the Chief Judge of Woodbridge Township, and served as the Judge for the South Plainfield and Sayreville Municipal Courts.municipal courts. Mr. Robbins has also beenis involved with manynumerous clients in the real estate development process and is active in other business development.development for the Bank. Mr. Robbins also serves ason many committees of the Bank and is Chairman of the Bank’s Legal Committee.

Executive Officers who are not Directors:

Ryan Blake, 31, Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Corporate Secretary of BCB Bancorp, Inc. and BCB Bank. Mr. Blake has been withMichael A. Shriner serves as the company since 2008 and has served in various capacities, most recently as Vice President and Controller.Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and the Company. Mr. Blake currentlyShriner also serves as a trusteeDirector on the board of the Bayonne Public Library, asBank. Mr. Shriner, a commissioner on35-year veteran of banking, was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of Millington, New Jersey-based MSB Financial Corp. and Millington Bank prior to being acquired by Kearny Bank. Under his leadership, he converted Millington Bank from a mutual holding company structure to a fully public institution through a Second Step Conversion. Mr. Shriner joined Millington Bank in 1987 and held various commercial and corporate banking positions, including that of Chief Operating Officer and Board Member prior to his promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer in 2012. Most recently, he held the Zoning Boardrole of the City of Bayonne, as ViceMarket President for a chapterKearny Bank, where he transitioned legacy Millington Bank customers to Kearny Bank following the merger acquisition. Mr. Shriner holds an Associate of Rotary International, and is a former director of the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Blake holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Finance and in Economics from Kean University and a Master’s degreeArts Degree in Business Administration from Rutgersthe University of New Hampshire and is a Graduate of The National School of Banking, Fairfield University.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Independence of Directors

Our Board of Directors determined that all directors, with the exception of Mr. Shriner, Mr. Blake, and Mr. Coughlin, are independent from the Company and our management under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”). The Board considered the Nasdaq standards, the fact that there were no transactions or arrangements between these directors and the Company, other than the consideration for serving as a director, and all other relevant facts and circumstances in making these independence determinations and concluded that there were no material relationships between any of these directors and the Company.

There are no familial relationships among our directors or executive officers.

Access to Corporate Governance Documents

Our corporate governance information and materials, including our Corporate Governance Guidelines, charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, are available on the Investors page of our website at www.BCB.bank or at investorrelations.bcbcommunitybank.com, and any shareholder may obtain printed copies of these documents by writing to Investor Relations at: 595 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002, by e-mail to: rblake@bcb.bank, or by calling Investor Relations at 1-(800) 680-6872. Information contained on the website is not incorporated by reference or otherwise considered part of this Proxy Statement.

Committees of our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below. The Board of Directors has determined that each committee member is independent under the Nasdaq listing standards. Our Board of Directors, from time to time, may establish other committees.

Audit Committee

As of the Record Date, Messrs. Lyga, Hogan, and Pulomena (Chairperson) serve as members of our Audit Committee. For fiscal year 2024, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Pulomena as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The Board of Directors determined that each member of the Audit Committee is an independent director under the Nasdaq listing standards and the SEC rules and regulations applicable to audit committees and financially literate in accordance with the Nasdaq listing standards.

Our Audit Committee held a total of eight (8) meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

The Audit Committee is responsible for:

appointing, compensating and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm (“independent auditors”), and overseeing the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence;

Overseeing the integrity of the company’s financial statements;

Overseeing the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;

Overseeing the performance of the internal audit function, independent loan review function; and

Overseeing the system of internal controls.

For additional information, see “Audit Committee Report” herein and the Audit Committee Charter, which is available on the Investors page of our website at www.BCB.bank or investorrelations.bcbcommunitybank.com.

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Compensation Committee

As of the Record Date, Messrs. Lyga, Robbins, and DiDomenico (Chairperson) serve as members of our Compensation Committee.

This Committee held a total of three (3) meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

The Compensation Committee is responsible for:

assisting the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to the compensation and benefits provided to the Company’s executive management and Board of Directors;

reviewing, evaluating and recommending various benefit plans and overall compensation; and

administering our equity plans and other certain incentive compensation plans.

More specifically, the Compensation Committee reviews, evaluates and recommends to the Board of Directors the base salaries and equity-based and incentive-based compensation for our named executive officers. It engages its own independent compensation consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners (“Meridian”), to review the compensation levels of executives at our peer group companies and assess total compensation and make recommendations about changes in the compensation of our executives, including incentive and equity plan structure and performance goals. The consultant works with management on behalf of the Compensation Committee on matters under the Committee’s purview but provides no services to management or the Company other than its work for the Committee. The Compensation Committee also considers recommendations from our CEO with respect to the base salary of our other named executive officers. The Compensation Committee utilizes a similar methodology, including advice from its consultant on compensation levels and structure, for recommending non-employee director compensation and meeting fees.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Compensation Committee (i) was, during fiscal year 2023, or had previously been an officer or employee of the Company or our subsidiaries nor (ii) had any direct or indirect material interest in a transaction of the Company or a business relationship with the Company, in each case that would require disclosure under the applicable rules of the SEC. No other interlocking relationship existed between any member of the Compensation Committee or an executive officer of the Company, on the one hand, and any member of the compensation committee (or committee performing equivalent functions, or the full board of directors) or an executive officer of any other entity, on the other hand, requiring disclosure pursuant to the applicable rules of the SEC.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

As of the Record Date, Ms. Bielan (Chairperson) and Messrs. Collins, Lyga, and Robbins serve as members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Committee held a total of fourteen (14) meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

The responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include assisting the Board of Directors with the following:

identifying qualified individuals to become Board members;

determining the size and composition of the Board of directors and its Committees;

monitoring a process to assess Board effectiveness;

reviewing the continuation of each director being considered for re-election;

executive succession planning;

developing and implementing the Company’s corporate governance guidelines; and

reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the Company’s corporate governance documents.

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Process for Selection of Director Nominee Candidates

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the minimum qualifications for serving as a director of the Company are that a candidate demonstrate, by significant accomplishments in his or her field, an ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board of Directors’ oversight of the business and affairs of the Company and have a record and reputation for honest and ethical conduct in his or her professional and personal activities. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers the following characteristics in reviewing director candidates:

integrity and character;

sound and independent judgment;

breadth of experience;

business acumen;

leadership skills;

banking or other financial services expertise;

familiarity with issues affecting businesses in diverse industries; and

diversity of backgrounds and experience.

In addition to these requirements, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also evaluate, in the context of the Board’s needs, whether the nominee’s skills are complementary to the existing Board members’ skills, and assess any material relationships with the Company or third parties that might adversely impact independence and objectivity, as well as such other criteria as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines to be relevant at the time. Except as described above, the Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee do not maintain a formal diversity policy; however, diversity is one of many factors considered in the nomination of our directors.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Committee Chairperson and/or our Chairman of the Board interview director nominee candidates that meet the criteria, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee selects candidates that best suit the Board’s needs. We may from time to time hire an independent search firm to help identify and facilitate the screening and interview process of director candidates.

Shareholders may recommend qualified persons for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Shareholders making a recommendation must submit the same information as that required to be included by us in our Proxy Statement with respect to nominees of the Board of Directors. The shareholder recommendation should be submitted in writing, addressed to the Company at 595 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 Attn: Corporate Secretary.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s evaluation process does not vary based on whether or not a candidate is recommended by a shareholder. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also review the performance as a director of any person already serving on the Board of Directors of the Company in determining whether to recommend that the Director be re-nominated.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board of Directors maintains a leadership structure that continues to separate the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer roles. We believe that keeping separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is an effective means by which the board of directors is able to independently manage risk oversight.

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board oversees various risks potentially affecting the Company both directly and indirectly through its committees. The Company has in place a risk management program that, among other things, is designed to identify risks across the Company with input from each business unit and function. Material risks are identified and prioritized by management and its risk committee that reports to the Audit Committee, and each prioritized risk is referred to the appropriate committee of the Board or the full Board for oversight. Members of the Board regularly review information regarding our credit, liquidity, markets, legal, regulatory, compliance and operations, including technology and cyber security risk, as well as the strategic and financial considerations associated with each.

Also, the Compensation Committee periodically reviews the most important risks to the Company to ensure that compensation programs do not encourage excessive risk-taking. Senior members of management from across business units and programmatic and functional disciplines within the Company make up a risk committee, which meets at least

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quarterly to identify significant risks to us, coordinate information sharing and mitigation efforts for all types of risks, sometimes working with outside advisors. We also have mandatory training of our workforce around our policies, including our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The risk committee reports its results to the Audit Committee periodically.

Charters of the Committees of the Board of Directors

The Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee each operate pursuant to a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. Each Committee reviews its charter at least annually. Copies of the charters are available on the Investors page of our website at investorrelations.bcbcommunitybank.com or in print upon request. See “Corporate Governance–Access to Corporate Governance Documents.”

Director Attendance at Board, Committee and Annual Meetings

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that directors are expected to attend meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the committees on which they serve. Unless there are mitigating circumstances (such as medical or family emergencies), any Board member who attends less than 75% of the aggregate Board and assigned committee meetings in any calendar year will not be nominated for re-election. During fiscal year 2023, the Board of Directors met a total of twelve (12) times. Each director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and its committees on which the director served during the fiscal year, based on the number of such meetings held during the period for which each person served as a director or on a committee. Unless there are mitigating circumstances (such as medical or family emergencies), each Board member is required to attend the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders. All members of the Board of Directors attended the 2023 annual meeting of shareholders.

Executive Sessions of Non-Management Directors

The Board has established a policy requiring non-management directors to meet in executive session periodically during the course of each year.

Communications with the Board of Directors

Shareholders and other interested parties, who desire to communicate directly with any member (or all members) of the Board, any Board committee or any chair of any such committee, should submit such communication in writing addressed to the “Chairman of the Board of Directors” or “Non-Management Directors,” at the Company, 595 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 Communications intended for the full Board of Directors may be submitted in the same manner.

Shareholders, employees and other interested parties who desire to express a concern relating to accounting or auditing matters should communicate directly with our Audit Committee in writing addressed to the “Audit Committee Chair” at the Company, 595 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 or by e-mailing the Audit Committee by going to investorrelations.bcbcommunitybank.com, under the link for Governance and Documents and Charters.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that is applicable to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Controller, as well as our other officers, directors, employees and contractors of the Company. The Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any amendment to, or waiver from, this Code for such officers will be disclosed on a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

Human Capital Management

The Company’s long-term growth and success depends on its ability to attract, develop and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce. The Company strives to provide a work environment that promotes collaboration, productivity, and employee engagement, which in turn drives both employee and customer success, as well as benefits the communities in which the Company does business.

The Company’s Board of Directors and executive team oversee the strategic management of the Company’s human capital resources, and the Company’s Human Resources Department manages the day-to- day of those resources.

11


Employee profile

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had 266 full-time employees, 46 part-time employees, and no commissioned employees, for a total of 312 employees. In addition, approximately 67% of the Company’s employees are female and 33% are male, and the average tenure was 7 years as of December 31, 2023.

Total Rewards

As part of the Company’s compensation philosophy, market competitive programs are maintained for employees to attract and retain superior talent. In addition to competitive base wages, additional programs include annual bonus compensation opportunities, a Company-matched 401(k) Plan, health and welfare benefits, flexible spending accounts, paid time off, family leave, and employee assistance programs. Some employees also receive grants of equity awards in the Company’s stock. In addition, the Company promotes health and wellness by encouraging work-life balance, and offering flexible work schedules.

Talent and Promoting Diversity

A core tenet of the Company’s talent philosophy is to both develop talent from within and supplement with external hires. Whenever possible, the Company seeks to fill positions by promotion and transfer from within the organization. The Company’s talent acquisition team uses internal and external resources to recruit highly skilled and talented candidates; employee referrals are also encouraged.

The Company is dedicated to recruitment and career development practices that support its employees and promotes diversity in its workforce at all levels of the Company. The Company is committed to having a workforce that reflects the communities in which it serves. Partnerships are in place with several sources to assist in attracting diverse talent from a broad population, including the African American, Asian American, and Latino chamber of commerce affiliations. In addition, career opportunities are shared with colleges and universities with diverse student bodies. The Company’s internship program also serves as a pipeline of diverse talent for full time employment. Other available tools are also utilized to connect with prospective new hires. As of December 31, 2023, 48% of the Company’s employees were persons of color.

Following a multi-pronged recruiting strategy, which includes sourcing diverse candidate pools, new hires participate in an onboarding program which includes an introduction to the Company’s culture, policies, and procedures. Retention strategies include espousing a culture that inspires loyalty and trust through ongoing communication of strategic initiatives, in addition to the benefits mentioned above in Total Rewards. The Company’s leadership development programs and opportunities offered through the Company’s continuing education program help ensure that motivated individuals have the opportunity for continuous improvement. Employees each maintain a professional development action plan and participate in regular evaluation and growth opportunities.

This approach has yielded loyalty and commitment from employees which in turn grows the business, products, and customers. This approach has also added new employees and ideas, which support a continuous improvement mindset and the goals of a diverse and inclusive workforce.

The Company strives to promote inclusion through defined Company values and behaviors. With the support from the Board of Directors, the Company continues to explore additional diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts through multiple approaches to inclusion: candidates, employees, and the marketplace. The Company is focused on sourcing and hiring with fair and equitable approaches, creating an environment where all employees can develop and thrive.

12


NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

We believe that the amounts and form of compensation and the methods used to determine compensation of our non-employee directors are important in (i) attracting and retaining directors who are independent, interested, diligent and actively involved in overseeing the Company’ affairs and (ii) more substantially aligning the interests of our non-employee directors with the interests of our shareholders. We did separately compensate Mr. Coughlin and Mr. Blake for their service on the Board for fiscal year 2023.

For fiscal year 2023, our Compensation Committee retained the services of Meridian as an independent compensation consultant to the Compensation Committee, to provide competitive data and make recommendations on the compensation of our named executive officers, as well as to assist the Compensation Committee in evaluating the compensation of our non-employee directors. The Compensation Committee considers this information, including the applicable peer group data, and ultimately recommends any changes to the non-employee director compensation program to our Board for its approval. In assessing non-employee director compensation, we utilize the same peer group that is used for executive compensation and is described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee reviews the non-employee director compensation program annually.

Cash Compensation

The cash elements of the non-employee director compensation program for fiscal year 2023, which the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board approved, were as follows:

  Annual retainer (Bank):

$25,000 per year

  Annual retainer (Company):

$10,000 per year

  Non-Executive Chairman:

$75,000 per year

  Committee meetings:

$300 per meeting (1)

(1)

Members of the Company’s Audit Committee receive $500 per meeting.

Equity Compensation

For fiscal year 2023, each non-employee director received an award of 3,000 shares of restricted stock, with a grant date fair market value of $17.99. These awards were made in January 2023 and vest in one-quarter installments over a 4-year period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

We make all equity awards to non-employee directors under our shareholder-approved equity incentive plan. As required under their respective award agreements, we credit directors with any dividend equivalents attributable to such equity awards.

Director Deferred Compensation Plan

Under the Company’s Executive and Director Deferred Compensation Plan, which we refer to as the “2023 Deferred Plan,” each non-employee director may defer receipt of all or a portion of any cash fees that are payable to the director for service on the Board. The 2023 Deferred Plan was originally effective on October 1, 2005, and was amended and restated effective January 1, 2023.

The 2023 Deferred Plan is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan designed to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Pursuant to the 2023 Deferred Plan, a participant may elect to defer, on a pre-tax basis, receipt of all or any portion of fees and retainers received for his or her service on the Board of Directors and on committees of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent such amounts are attributable to services not yet performed. The Bank credits the deferred amounts to a bookkeeping account.

The Bank may, but is not required to, make matching or discretionary contributions on behalf of participants. Any such matching or discretionary contribution will vest after the participant completes three years of service with the Bank, except that participants will automatically become 100% vested in their matching or discretionary contributions upon our change in control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the participant engages in injurious conduct (as defined in the 2023 Deferred Plan), all matching or discretionary contributions (whether vested or not) shall be forfeited.

A participant may elect to allocate the deferred amounts into an investment account and select among various investment options upon which the rate of return of the deferred amounts will be based. The participants’ investment accounts are adjusted periodically to reflect the deemed gains and losses attributable to the deferred amounts. The investment options available may (but is not required to) include a stock unit investment account under which amounts are deemed invested in a number of notional shares of our common stock and at distribution such amounts are payable in shares of our common stock.

13


Deferred amounts will be paid out on the participant’s benefit age as designated in his or her deferral election form or upon the participant’s death, disability or separation from service, if such date is earlier than his or her designated benefit age. Distributions may also be made earlier than the participant’s designated benefit age if the distribution is necessary to satisfy a financial hardship, as defined under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. At the election of the participant, the distribution may be paid out in a lump sum or in equal annual installments over a period not to exceed ten years.

The Bank may establish a “rabbi trust” to which the Bank may deposit such deferrals and earnings, but the rights of all participants to any deferred amounts represent the Bank’s unsecured promise to pay and the deferred amounts remain subject to the claims of the Bank’s creditors.

Hedging and Pledging Prohibition

As with our employees, we do not permit our non-employee directors to hedge their economic exposures to our common stock that they own by engaging in transactions involving puts, calls, or other derivative securities, zero-cost collars, forward sales contracts, or buying on margin or pledging shares as collateral for a loan.

14


NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023

The table set forth below summarizes the compensation that we paid to our non-employee directors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. None of our non-employee directors received option awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation, pension, nonqualified deferred compensation, or any other compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Name

 

  Fees Earned  

  Paid in Cash  

 

Stock Awards (1)(2)

 

   Total   

    

Robert Ballance

 $52,600 $53,970 $106,570
    

Judith Q. Bielan

 $54,200 $53,970 $108,170
    

James E. Collins

 $56,800 $53,970 $110,770
    

Vincent DiDomenico, Jr.

 $53,200 $53,970 $107,170
    

Mark D. Hogan (3)

 $135,500 $53,970 $206,052
    

Joseph Lyga

 $59,300 $53,970 $113,270
    

John Pulomena

 $52,800 $53,970 $106,770
    

James Rizzo

 $53,200 $53,970 $107,170
    

Spencer B. Robbins

 $54,500 $53,970 $108,470

(1)

As of December 31, 2023, the independent directors noted above each held the following shares of unvested restricted stock under the Equity Incentive Plan.

NameUnvested Restricted
Stock Under the Equity Incentive
Plan

Robert Ballance

6,450

Judith Q. Bielan

6,450

James E. Collins

6,450

Vincent DiDomenico, Jr.

6,450

Mark D. Hogan

6,450

Joseph Lyga

6,450

John Pulomena

6,450

James Rizzo

6,450

Spencer B. Robbins

6,450

(2)

We calculated these amounts using the provisions of ASC Topic 718. Amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock that we awarded to each non-employee director in fiscal year 2023 as we describe above. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in the footnotes to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we filed on March 8, 2024.

(3)

For Mr. Hogan, the amount includes perquisites of $16,582 received in the form of a country club membership.

15


Proposal No. 2

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public

Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has appointed Wolf & Company, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. No determination has been made as to what action the Audit Committee would take if shareholders do not ratify the appointment.

Wolf & Company, P.C. conducted the audit of the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. Representatives of Wolf & Company, P.C. are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and will be available to answer appropriate questions from shareholders.

LOGO

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR

the ratification of the appointment of

Wolf & Company, P.C.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Background

The members of the Audit Committee are currently Directors Pulomena (Chairperson), Lyga, and Hogan. For additional information relating to the members and responsibilities of the Audit Committee, see “Corporate Governance–Committees of our Board of Directors–Audit Committee.”

Responsibility

Management is responsible for the preparation of financial statements and the integrity of the reporting process, including the system of internal and disclosure controls.

The independent auditors are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to express an opinion on the audit of internal control over financial reporting.

The primary responsibilities of the Audit Committee are to select, engage, and compensate our independent auditors and to oversee the financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. It is not the duty of the Audit Committee to prepare financial statements and related disclosures. It is also not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits, or to determine that our financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

Process and Recommendation

In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, with our management and independent auditors, including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles as applied in our financial reports, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the clarity of the disclosures in the financial statements. The Audit Committee discussed with our internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Audit Committee meets with management to discuss disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee also meets with the internal and independent auditors, with and without our management present, to discuss the results of their examinations and overall quality of our financial reporting. The Audit Committee also reviewed with our CEO and CFO their certification relating to their evaluation of our disclosure controls, the completeness and accuracy of the financial statements and other financial information contained in the Form 10-K, and the process followed by the CEO and CFO to assure the truthfulness of such certificate.

16


The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditors, who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, the matters required to be discussed by the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), including PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 1301, Communications with Audit Committees, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other applicable regulations. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditor the firm’s independence from Company management and the Company, including the matters in the letter from the firm required by PCAOB Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, and considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the independent auditor’s independence.

The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed together with management and the independent auditor the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and the results of management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the independent auditor’s audit of internal control over financial reporting.

Based on the process referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Fees of Independent Auditors

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, incurred for services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, Wolf & Company, P.C.

   Year Ended
Description of Fees  December 31, 2023  December 31, 2022 

Audit Fees, including fees associated with the annual audit of the Company, the reviews of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements

  $375,000  $319,400

Audit-Related Fees, including assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and review of the financial statements and that are not already reported in “Audit Fees” above

  $20,000  $18,532

Tax Fees, including fees associated with income tax compliance, advice and planning

  $ --  $ --
  $ --  $1,528

Total

  $395,000  $339,460

The Audit Committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services by our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, was compatible with maintaining auditor independence. The Audit Committee pre-approved all fees for non-audit related services paid to our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services by Independent Auditors

The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent auditors. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of services provided by the independent auditors. Under the policy, pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget. In addition, the Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. For each proposed service, the Audit Committee has received detailed information sufficient to enable the Audit Committee to pre-approve and evaluate such service. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to the Chairman of the Committee of up to $100,000, to pre-approve permitted non-audit services. Any pre-approval decisions made under this delegated authority are ratified by the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

17


Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Year 2024

The Audit Committee has appointed Wolf & Company, P.C. to conduct the audit of the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The Company’s shareholders are being asked to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Wolf & Company, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm at the Annual Meeting to which this Proxy Statement relates.

Audit Committee

John Pulomena (Chairman)

Joseph Lyga

Mark D. Hogan

18


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our current executive officers, except for Mr. Shriner and Mr. Blake, are listed below. Mr. Shriner and Mr. Blake’s information is included under “Board of Directors.”

Jawad Chaudhry, C.F.A., serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of the Bank and the Company. Mr. Chaudhry has extensive corporate finance and advisory experience from working both in regional banking and on Wall Street. Most recently, Mr. Chaudhry served as Executive Vice President and Head of FP&A, Corporate Finance & Strategy department at NJ-based $28 billion asset-size Investors Bank. Since joining the Bank in 2015, Mr. Chaudhry had been responsible for leading a number of initiatives that included M&A, Strategic Planning, Budgeting/Forecasting, Enterprise-wide Stress Testing, Capital Planning, CECL Program / Model implementation, and Profitability Reporting. Prior to joining Investors Bank, Mr. Chaudhry spent majority of his career on Wall Street where he worked in the FIG Investment Banking departments at Lehman Brothers, Barclays Capital, and Jefferies. Additionally, Mr. Chaudhry also served on the Morris County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Board and was a member of MCCC’s Investment Committee. Mr. Chaudhry graduated Summa Cum Laude from Franklin & Marshall College where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics with concentration in Finance. Mr. Chaudhry also holds a Chartered Financial Analyst certification.

Kenneth G. Emerson, 60, is Senior serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Risk Officer of the Company and the Bank. He has 35 years of New Jersey banking experience, most recently at Blue Foundry Bank where for over 17 years he acted in several capacities including Chief Information Officer, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Operations and Strategy Officer. Previous to those roles, he worked at FinPro, Inc., providing consulting services to the banking industry in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, market feasibility, CRA, and asset/liability management. Prior to FinPro, he worked in various accounting roles at Summit Bank, Valley Savings Bank, Howard Savings Bank, and Carteret Savings Bank. He received his CPA designation from the State of New Jersey in 1996.

David Garcia, 58, is Senior serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of BCBthe Bank. Mr. Garcia has been in the finance industry for over 25 years, serving at both New Jersey banks as well as Investment Banks. Immediately prior to joining BCB,the Company, he served for over 11 years in various senior capacities at Oritani Bank, most recently as Executive Vice President of the Bank’s private REIT, Oritani Asset Corp., as well as Managing Director of Oritani Finance Co. Previously, he served at UBS Investment Bank in the Global Commercial Real Estate/CMBS Group for nearly a decade in capacities of progressive responsibility, culminating as a Director leading the proprietary acquisition of credit-tenant assets nationwide. Prior to UBS, Mr. Garcia served as Associate Director within the real estate finance group at Daiwa Securities. A lifelong resident of Rockland County, NY, Mr. Garcia holds a B.S. from Dominican College and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is the 2019-2021 Chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York Finance Committee, and is active in a number of industry organizations.

Frank Grecowas promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank in September 2023. Prior to that time, he served as VP, Portfolio Management Manager of the Bank from January 2019 through August 2023. Prior to the Bank he served as Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Officer at Freedom Bank from 2016 to 2018, as Senior Vice President of Bank of New Jersey from 2012 to 2016 and as Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Officer of First Commerce Bank from 2009 to 2012. Prior to 2009, Mr. Greco held various credit and lending positions at banks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Mr. Greco holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and is a graduate of The Graduate School of Banking, Madison, Wisconsin.

Sandra L. Sievewright, 57, is serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of the Bank. She has been in the banking industry for over 30 years. Ms. Sievewright’s diverse experience includes management positions in compliance, bank secrecy, community reinvestment, marketing, security, branch administration, operations and residential lending. She joined the Bank in May 2014. From July 2013 to May 2014, Ms. Sievewright was the Senior Vice President and BSA/Compliance Officer of First Commerce Bank in Lakewood, New Jersey. From October 2005 to July 2013, Ms. Sievewright was the Senior Vice President and Compliance Officer of Bogota Savings Bank in Teaneck, New Jersey.

 

Wing Siu, 62, is Senior Vice President, Chief IT & Information Security Officer19


NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) provides a description of the Bank. He joined the Bank in 2013 with over 20 yearsroles and responsibilities of experience in information technology and security. Mr. Siu is responsible for aligning IT and Bank strategies, planning, resourcing, and managing the delivery of IT services, and solutions to support the Bank’s enterprise objectives. Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Siu was the Chief Information Security Officer of Sterling National Bank (“SNB”), and the IT Director of Sterling National Mortgage Company, a subsidiary of SNB. Mr. Siu is CISSP, CISM, and CISA certified.

Karen Duran, 53, was appointed interim principal financial officer and principal accounting officer of the company and the Bank on March 2, 2022. Ms. Duran has been in the banking industry for over 30 years. She has

been with the Company and the Bank since 2010, serving most recently as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Prior to this, she served for over 23 years in various capacities at Pamrapo Savings Bank, where she ended her tenure as Controller. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Bayonne Education Foundation. Ms. Duran earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting from St. John’s University and received her CPA designation from the State of New Jersey in 1997.

Board Independence

The Board of Directors has determined that, as of December 31, 2021, except for Mr. Coughlin, each member of the Board of Directors is an “independent director” within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Mr. Coughlin is not considered independent because he is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank.

The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors meets the independence requirements applicable to each committee as prescribed by the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, the SEC, and the Internal Revenue Service. In determining the independence of each director, the Board of Directors, except as noted below, did not consider any transactions not required to be reported under the section herein entitled “Related Party Transactions.”

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

The Company separates the principal executive officer and board chair positions to provide a higher degree of independence and transparency between the Board of Directors and management. This leadership structure has been in place since the incorporation of the Company. The Board of Directors believes that this leadership structure is most appropriate given the Company’s conservative risk profile, the Board of Directors’ role in monitoring the Company’s execution of its strategic plan, and the risk elements associated with such execution.

The Board of Directors monitors the Company’s risk profile through a number of departments within the Bank, as well as independent contractors, to monitor, measure and advise of certain risk parameters of the Company and the Bank, such as interest rate risk, credit risk, cybersecurity risk, liquidity risk, compliance risk, economic risk, operational risk, strategic risk, concentration risk, risks related to the regulation of the Company’s industry, and risks related to the Company’s common stock. Reports assessing the Company’s and the Bank’s risk profiles are provided to management, to the appropriate sub-committee(s) and/or committees of the Board and to the full Board of Directors. Additionally, this CD&A describes the Company’s executive compensation philosophy, guidelines and programs, and the material factors affecting the Company’s decisions regarding the compensation of its senior executives. The Named Executive Officers for the fiscal year 2023 are:

 

Given the increasing, critical nature of information technology and cybersecurity risks, the Bank has a dedicated IT Committee comprised of three independent directors and whose chair has over 35 years of IT-related experience. The Bank’s Chief IT & Information Security Officer has over 20 years of information technology and security experience and is CISSP, CISM, and CISA certified.

Thomas Coughlin

 

President & Chief Executive Officer

Ryan Blake

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Jawad Chaudhry

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Kenneth Emerson

Executive Vice President and Chief Security and Risk Officer

David Garcia

Executive Vice President and Chief Loan Officer

Fiscal Year 2023 Performance

The Bank’s external and internal auditors frequently audit and review its information technology and cybersecurity areas. The Bank also contracts with third-party vendorsCompany’s net income decreased by $16.1 million, or 35.3 percent, to perform external penetration testing and internal vulnerability assessments, among other tasks.

Presentations are made by the Bank’s IT Department and IT Committee to the full Board of Directors regarding cybersecurity risk on at least a quarterly basis. The Bank’s IT Department and Risk Department also hold quarterly information technology and cybersecurity meetings with officers of the Bank. Executive officers and officers from each department are in attendance. Additionally, the Bank conducts annual information security/physical security/compliance training sessions with all employees.

Compliance training is provided to the full Board to provide better understanding of the aforesaid risks and the Board’s role in managing same. Given the independent roles both the Board and management have in monitoring the Company’s risk, the Company believes that its current leadership and reporting structures are well-positioned to identify and mitigate risks as they may arise.

Given the challenges presented over the last two years with respect to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company continues to focus on protecting the health and wellbeing of its employees and the communities in which it operates while assuring the continuity of its business operations. 

The Company activated its dedicated pandemic response team that proactively implemented its business continuity plans and has taken a variety of measures to ensure the ongoing availability of services, while taking health and safety measures, including enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols in all of its facilities and remote work policies, where possible. To date, as a result of these business continuity measures, the Company has not experienced significant disruptions in its operations. We have provided detailed information on our operational initiatives and impacts related to the Bank in the Company’s Annual Form 10-K$29.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

The Company’s Board of Directors meets on a monthly basis and may hold additional special meetings, as needed. The Company’s standing committees include the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Bank’s other committees include a joint Asset Liability/Enterprise Risk Management Committee (which meets quarterly), a Budget Committee, an Executive Committee, an Information Technology Committee, an Investment Committee, a Legal Committee, and a Loan Committee.

During2023 from $45.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company held 12 regular meetings. No director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of board meetings held and the total number of committee meetings held in which he2022. Net interest income decreased by $9.9 million, or she served during 2021, in the aggregate. The Company does not have a written policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings of shareholders. At last year’s annual meeting, all directors of the Company were in attendance.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is a joint committee of the Company and the Bank. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Directors Bielan, Collins, Pellegrini, and Robbins. Each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is considered “independent” as defined in the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a written charter8.7 percent, to $104.1 million for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and this charter has been posted to the Company’s website at www.bcb.bank. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met two times.

The functions of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include the following:

·to lead the search2023 from $113.9 million for individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors and to select director nominees to be presented for shareholder approval;
·to review and monitor compliance with the requirements for board independence;
·to review the committee structure and make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding committee membership;
·to develop and recommend to the Board of Directors for its approval corporate governance guidelines; and
·to develop and recommend to the Board of Directors for its approval a self-evaluation process for the Board of Directors and its committees.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies nominees by first evaluating the current members of the Board of Directors willing to continue in service. Current members of the Board of Directors with skills and experience that are relevant to the Company’s business and who are willing to continue in service are first considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of the Board of Directors with that of obtaining new perspectives. If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors and the Board determines to fill that vacancy, the Board of Directors does not re-nominate a current member for re-election, or the size of the Board of Directors is increased, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would solicit

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suggestions for director candidates from all board members. In addition, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is authorized by its charter to engage a third party to assist in the identification of director nominees. In such situations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee would seek to identify a candidate who, at a minimum, satisfies the following criteria:

·has the highest personal and professional ethics and integrity and whose values are compatible with the Company’s;
·has experience and achievement which demonstrates exceptional business ability and judgment;
·is willing to devote the necessary time to the work of the Board of Directors and its committees, which includes being available for board and committee meetings;
·is familiar with the communities in which we operate and is actively engaged in community activities;
·is involved in other activities or interests that do not create a conflict with their responsibilities to the Company;
·if the Board determines to nominate or appoint a diverse director, meaning an individual who self-identifies as female, an underrepresented minority, or LGBTQ+, whether such candidate is diverse; and,
·has the capacity and desire to represent the balanced, long-term interests of all of the Company’s shareholders as a group, and not a special interest group or constituency.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also take into account whether a candidate satisfies the criteria for “independence” under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards, and, if a nominee is sought for the Company’s Audit Committee, the financial and accounting expertise of a candidate.

Although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors does not have a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying a director nominee, the Board of Directors intends that if a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors and the Board determines to fill that vacancy, or the Board of Directors does not re-nominate a current member for re-election, the Board of Directors intends to direct the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to prioritize diversity in the director identification process. As stated above, our Board seeks very highly qualified individuals with very relevant skill sets to fill any vacancy on our Board. Due to so many companies currently seeking to add diverse directors to their boards, finding qualified candidates who are diverse is extremely competitive. Therefore, even though we will prioritize finding a diverse director, we may not be able to find a qualified candidate who is diverse. Our board does not believe it is in the best interest of the Company or its shareholders and other constituents to increase the size of its board. Therefore, the only opportunity to add a diverse director would be if a vacancy occurs on the board.

While the attributes above are always considered in the identification process, the Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors will also evaluate a potential director nominee’s personal character, community involvement, and willingness to serve so that he or she can help further the Company’s and the Bank’s role and mission as a community-based financial institution.

Director Qualification and Diversity Matrices

The members of the Board have a diversity of experience and a wide variety of backgrounds, skills, qualifications, and viewpoints that strengthen their ability to carry out their oversight role on behalf of our stockholders. The following matrices are provided to illustrate the knowledge, skills, diversity, and experience of those directors that serve on our Board. The Nominating Committee of the Company’s Board has reviewed the qualifications of those directors nominated to stand for election at this year’s annual meeting. The Nominating Committee believes that the following qualifications and professional attributes of each nominee are critical to the way in which the Company executes on its Corporate Governance duties. The qualification matrix does not encompass all of the knowledge, skills, and experience of our directors, and the fact that a particular knowledge, skill or experience is not listed does not mean that a director does not possess it. In addition, the absence of a particular knowledge, skill or experience with respect to any of our directors does not mean the director in question is unable to contribute to the decision-making process in that area. However, a mark indicates a specific area of focus or expertise that the director brings to our Board. More information on each director’s qualifications and background can be found in the director

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biographies above. We regularly review the attributes required of Board members in order to better facilitate our long-term goals and operational performance, enhance our corporate culture and promote diversity and inclusiveness at our company.

Director Qualification Matrix

Area of ExpertiseBielanCollinsHoganPulomena
Accounting/FinanceXX
Business GenerationXX
Community Reinvestment ActX
Legal InsightX
Information TechnologyX
M&A TransactionsXXX
Real Estate TransactionsXXX
Regulatory InsightXX

The matrix above refers to those directors standing for election at this year’s annual meeting.

Director Diversity Matrix

CategoryBallanceBielanCollinsCoughlinDiDomenicoHoganLygaPellegriniPulomenaRizzoRobbins
GenderMFMMMMMMMMM
Race/Ethnicity*CCCCCCCCCCC

“C” refers to Caucasian
“A” refers to Asian/Pacific Islander
“AA” refers to African American

Consideration and Procedures for Shareholder Recommendations for the Nomination of Directors

It is the policy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consider director candidates recommended by shareholders who appear to be qualified to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors. Consequently, the Company’s Board of Directors has adopted procedures for the submission of director nominees by shareholders. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may choose not to consider an unsolicited recommendation if no vacancy exists on the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not perceive a need to increase the size of the Board of Directors. In order to avoid the unnecessary use of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s resources, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider only those director candidates recommended in accordance with the procedures set forth below.

To submit a recommendation of a director candidate to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a shareholder should submit the following information in writing, addressed to the Corporate Secretary, BCB Bancorp, Inc., 595 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002. The Corporate Secretary must receive said submission at least 90 calendar days before the date the Company’s proxy statement was released to shareholders in connection with the previous year’s annual meeting, advanced by one year.

The submission must include the following information:

·The name of the person recommended as a director candidate;
·all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);
·the written consent of the person being recommended as a director candidate to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;
·a statement of the candidate’s business and educational experience;

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·a statement detailing any relationship between the candidate and any of the Company’s customers, suppliers or competitors;
·as to the shareholder making the recommendation, the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of such shareholder; provided, however, that if the shareholder is not a registered holder of the Company’s common stock, the shareholder should submit his or her name and address along with a current written statement from the record holder of the shares that reflects ownership of the Company’s common stock;
·a statement disclosing whether such shareholder is acting with or on behalf of any other person and, if applicable, the identity of such person; and,
·proof that the person making the recommendation is herself, himself or itself a shareholder.

The Corporate Secretary has not received any shareholder recommendations for nominations to the Board of Directors at the Company’s upcoming annual meeting.

Shareholder Communications with the Board

A shareholder who wishes to communicate with the Company’s Board of Directors or with any individual director can write to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, 591-595 Avenue C, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002. The letter should indicate that the author is a shareholder and if shares are not held of record, should include appropriate evidence of stock ownership. Depending on the subject matter, the Corporate Secretary will:

·forward the communication to the director or directors to whom it is addressed;
·attempt to handle the inquiry directly (for example, where the request is for information about the Company or is a stock-related matter); or,
·not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature, relates to an improper or irrelevant topic, or is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate.

If applicable, at each Board of Directors’ meeting, management presents a summary of all communications received since the last meeting that were not forwarded and makes those communications available to the directors.

Board Communications with Shareholders

In the interest of communicating with the Company’s shareholders and keeping them frequently informed, the Company’s Board of Directors directed the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary in connection with issuing communications to the Company’s shareholders throughout the year. Enclosed with each quarterly dividend check, the Company includes summary financial data from the most recent quarter and key financial metrics that occurred in that quarter.

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a code of ethics that is applicable to the Company’s officers, directors, and employees, including the Company’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer or Controller, and/or persons performing similar functions. The Company’s Code of Ethics has been filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Employee, Officer and Director Hedging

As a part of its Insider Trading Policy, the Company has adopted an Anti-Hedging Policy which prohibits directors and executive officers of the Company from entering into hedging or monetization transactions or similar arrangements with respect to Company securities. Directors and executive officers may not buy or sell puts or calls on, or other derivative securities with respect to, the Company’s securities under this policy.

Directors and executive officers of the Company may not hold Company securities in a margin account or pledge Company securities as collateral for any loan without the prior approval of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Anti-Hedging Policy. The policy states that the Company’s Board of Directors will not approve any pledge of

13 

Company securities as part of a hedging or monetization strategy designed to or otherwise having the effect of hedging or offsetting any decrease in the market value of Company securities.

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is a joint committee of the Company and the Bank. As of December 31, 2021, the Audit Committee consisted of Directors Lyga, Pellegrini, Pulomena, and Robbins. Each member of the Audit Committee is considered “independent” as defined in the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards and under SEC Rule 10A-3. The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee include, among other things:

·Evaluate the Company’s compliance with, and the effectiveness of, administrative operating policies, procedures, accounting and internal control systems;
·Evaluate the Company’s compliance with established lending policies and underwriting standards for loans by review of an internal audit report generated at least annually;
·Review all significant accounting changes.
·Review major changes to the Company’s auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the independent auditor, internal auditors or management.
·Review the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent accountants, including the adequacy of internal controls that could significantly affect the Company’s financial statements;
·Review with management and the independent auditor the Company’s quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K;
·Meet periodically with management to review the Company’s major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures;
·Review and approve the audit plan of the internal auditors, including the extent to which the planned audit scope relates to identifying weaknesses in internal controls and review of the Company’s procedures and controls;
·Review the regular reports prepared by the internal auditor, external loan review firm, independent auditor and management's responses and/or corrective actions;
·Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed relating to the conduct of the audit;
·Review with the independent auditor any problems or difficulties the auditor may have encountered and any management letter provided by the auditor and the Company’s response to that letter;
·Receive periodic reports from the independent auditor regarding the auditor's independence, discuss such reports with the auditor, and if so determined by the Committee, recommend that the Board take appropriate action to insure the independence of the auditor;
·Obtain from the independent auditor assurance that Section 10A of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding required disclosures of corporate fraud to management, the Committee and the Board, has not been implicated;
·Be directly responsible for the appointment, retention and termination of the independent auditor, and annually evaluate the performance of the independent auditor, and, if so determined by the Audit Committee, recommend that the Board replace the independent auditor;
·Approve the fees to be paid to the independent auditor and pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent auditor;
·Review the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company’s annual proxy statement.
·Establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the confidential anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; Report any violations of the whistleblower policy to the Board.

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The Audit Committee met six times during 2021. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee and this charter has been posted to the Company’s website at www.bcb.bank. The Committee reports to the Board of Directors on its activities and findings.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee is Mr. Pulomena. The Board of Directors believes that Mr. Pulomena qualifies as a “financial expert,” as that term is defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC. Mr. Pulomena is independent, as independence for audit committee members is defined in the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.

Audit Committee Report

In accordance with SEC regulations, the Audit Committee has prepared the following report. As part of its ongoing activities, the Audit Committee has:

·Reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021;
·Discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm, with and without management, the results of its examination, its evaluation of the Company’s internal controls, the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting and the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC; and,
·Received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, to be filed with the SEC. In addition, the Audit Committee approved the appointment of Wolf & Company, P.C., as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.

This report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

The Audit Committee:

John Pulomena (Chairman)

August Pellegrini, Jr.

Joseph Lyga

Spencer B. Robbins

The Compensation Committee

During the year ended December 31, 2021,2022. The decrease in net interest income resulted from a $66.8 million increase in interest expense, offset by an increase of $56.9 million in interest income.

Net interest margin was 2.85 percent for the Compensation Committee met four timestwelve months of 2023, compared to determine3.78 percent for the Company’s compensation programs and adjustments. The Compensation Committeetwelve months of 2022. During the twelve months of 2023, the Company as of December 31, 2021, consisted of Directors DiDomenico, Lyga, and Robbins. Each member of the Compensation Committee is considered “independent” as definedrecognized $704,000 in the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Mr. Coughlin does not participatenet-charge offs compared to $1.7 million in the Board of Directors’ determination of his compensation as Chief Executive Officer or President. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charternet-charge offs for the Compensation Committeesame period in 2022.

Non-interest income increased by $2.5 million to $4.1 million for the twelve months of 2023 from $1.6 million for the twelve months of 2022. Non-interest expense increased by $5.1 million, or 9.2 percent, to $60.6 million for the twelve months of 2023 from $55.5 million for the same period in 2022. The increase in operating expenses for 2023 was driven primarily by an increase in salaries and this charter has been postedemployee benefits, an increase in regulatory assessments, and higher data processing expenses. The 2023 salaries and benefits expense includes a one-time payment of $1.17 million to the Company’s website at www.bcb.bank.

Roles and Responsibilities. The primary purpose of the Compensation Committee is to assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to the compensation and benefits provided to the Company's executive management, and in that connection, it is authorized to review, evaluate and recommend various benefit plans and overall compensation for the Company and the Bank. Direct responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

15 

·Establish, review, and modify from time to time, as appropriate, the overall compensation philosophy of the Company;
·Evaluating and recommending goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the chief executive officer and other executive management, and evaluating the performance of executive management in light of those goals and objectives;
·Administering and having discretionary authority over the issuance of equity awards to employees and directors under the Company’s active shareholder-approved incentive plans;
·Reviewing, evaluating and recommending the compensation level for the chief executive officer;
·Reviewing, evaluating and recommending compensation levels of other key executive officers; and,
·Reviewing, evaluating and determining the compensation (including stock option and restricted stock awards, retainers, fees, etc.) to be paid to directors of the Company and of affiliates of the Company for their service on the Board(s).

The Compensation Committee reviews, evaluates and recommends to the full board the compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and other members of executive management, which compensation may include both equity and non-equity compensation. The performance of the Chief Executive Officer and other members of executive management is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee. Performance evaluations are generally measured on criteria applicable to executive management as a whole and to the specific responsibilities of each member of executive management. While strict numerical formulas are not used to evaluate the performance of the Company’s executive management team, criteria considered include earnings, return on equity, return on assets, asset quality, capital management, risk management, franchise expansion, corporate governance, expertise, general management skills, and each executive’s contribution to the Company’s successful operation. These criteria are evaluated not only on current-year performance, but also on the trend of performance over the past several years and within the context of unusual operating and performance issues. The Committee also takes into consideration factors outside the control of management, such as the state of the economy, the interest rate environment, regulatory mandates and competition.

Except for the Company’sformer President and Chief Executive Officer, membersOfficer.

Summary of 2023 Compensation Actions

The compensation programs in which our named executive management generallyofficers participate are not engaged directlydesigned to drive our financial results, align with our business strategy and create long-term value for our shareholders. In 2023, The Compensation Committee reviewed Say-on-Pay results, proxy advisor commentary and made several changes to our compensation programs, practices and policies after thorough deliberations throughout the year. The following concerns regarding our compensation programs were addressed in the following manner.

Single trigger cash severance provision. With Mr. Coughlin’s retirement on December 31, 2023, the Company no longer provides any agreements that provide severance upon a change in control, without requiring an employment termination. All employment agreements for our Named Executive Officers contain a “double trigger,” requiring a change in control and a qualified termination in order to receive severance benefits.

Preset performance criteria. The Compensation Committee recognizes that shareholders prefer incentive compensation to be linked to objective performance criteria. In 2023, the Company committed to adopting incentive compensation programs that reinforce our pay for performance culture:

o

The Compensation Committee approved an Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”), which provides annual cash incentive awards for our Named Executive Officers to motivate and reward the achievement of key short-term objectives. The AIP is based on Company’s achievement of pre-defined financial targets for the applicable year and a qualitative assessment of individual performance. For 2023, Adjusted Earnings Per Share (Adjusted “EPS”) was chosen as the financial performance metric and was weighted at 80% of the total award. The individual assessment was weighted at 20% of the total award.

20


o

The Compensation Committee intends to implement a Long-term Incentive Plan (LTIP), in which Named Executive Officers will participate. Given the macro-economic environment in 2023, implementation was delayed, and the Compensation Committee will consider implementation for 2024. The LTIP will award 50% of Named Executive Officer’s award value in the form of performance-based restricted stock units (PRSUs). Vesting is contingent on Return on Average Assets (“ROAA”) and Return on Average Equity (“ROAE”), which are measured on a relative basis to a peer group at the end of a three-year performance period. The remaining 50% of the NEO’s award value will be in the form of time-based restricted stock awards (RSAs). Any dividends or dividend equivalents will be deferred until vesting.

Compensation risk mitigators. The Compensation Committee adopted a clawback policy in 2023 that provides for the recoupment of excess compensation in the event of a financial restatement. The Compensation Committee intends to adopt a market-based stock ownership guidelines for its Named Executive Officers upon the implementation of the LTIP discussed above.

Results of Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation – Say-on-Pay

At our annual meeting of shareholders held on April 27, 2023, we held a say on pay vote, which is a non-binding advisory vote in support of the compensation of our Named Executive Officers, The Company received the support of approximately 61.8% of the votes cast, which was significantly lower than the support of approximately 92.4% of the votes case in the prior year. As a response to the 2023 Say-on-Pay vote, the Compensation Committee made meaningful changes to its executive compensation programs and policies as noted above.

At our 2024 Annual Meeting, shareholders will have the opportunity to cast an advisory say-on-pay vote regarding the compensation of our named executive officers as discussed further in settingProposal No. 3.

Compensation Policies and Practices

Our executive compensation program is grounded in the amount or formfollowing policies and practices, which promote sound compensation governance, enhance our pay-for-performance philosophy and further align our executives’ interests with those of their compensation or director compensation. However, as part ofour stockholders:

We employ the annual performance review for members of executive management other than the Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee considers the Chief Executive Officer’s perspective on each member of executive management’s individual performance. In addition, the Compensation Committee may delegate to management certain of its duties and responsibilities, including the adoption, amendment, modification or termination of the Bank’s tax-qualified retirement plans and health and welfare plans. The Compensation Committee also reviews, evaluates and determines the form and amount of compensation paid to the Company’s directors.following practices:

 

The Compensation Committee has sole authority and responsibility under its charter to approve the engagement of any compensation consultant it uses and the fees for those services.

Use an annual incentive program with defined metrics and a formulaic approach, with flexibility for the Committee to use discretion where prudent;

Engage an independent compensation consultant;

Benchmark compensation to remain competitive and employ market-based practices;

Require our named executive officers to be subject to a clawback policy designed to recoup excess compensation paid to executive officers in the event of an accounting restatement;

Use a double trigger change in control provision so that severance benefits are only paid upon termination event following a change in control;

Adopt administration procedures to ensure equity awards comply with legal, regulatory, and accounting requirements;

Require shareholder approval in the repricing of underwater stock options;

Limit perquisites;

Do not provide excise or tax gross-ups in our employment or change in control agreements;

Prohibit hedging and pledging of our stock.

Compensation Committee InterlocksPhilosophy and Insider ParticipationObjectives

The Compensation Committee reviews, evaluates and recommends to the full Board the compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and other members of executive management, which compensation may include both equity and non-equity compensation. None of the members of the Compensation Committee was an officer or employee of the Company or the Bank during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, or is a former officer of the Company or the Bank.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021: (i) no executive of the Company or the Bank served as a member of the Compensation Committee (or other board committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of the Company; (ii) no executive officer of the Company or the Bank served as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee of the Company; and, (iii) no executive officer of the Company or the Bank served as a member of the compensation committee (or other board

16 

committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire Board of Directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director of the Company or the Bank.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Compensation Objectives.Our compensation objectives begin with the premise that our success depends, in large part, on the dedication and commitment of the people we place in key management positions, and the incentives we provide such personsour employees to successfully implement our business strategy and other corporate objectives. The overall objectives of our compensation program areWe seek to retain, motivate, and reward employees and officers (includingour Named Executive Officers as defined below) forwhile maintaining an appropriate emphasis on pay-for performance and to provide competitive compensation to attract talent to our organization. alignment.

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We recognizebelieve that we operate in a competitive environment for talent. Therefore, our approach to compensation considers a rangecan achieve the objectives of compensation techniques as we seek to attract and retain key personnel.

We intend to base our compensation decisionsphilosophy by implementing a compensation program that is competitive with our industry peers and creates appropriate incentives for our management team. Our compensation philosophy is based on four basic principles:

 

·1.

Aligning with Shareholder Interest – As a public company, we use equity compensation as an integral component of our compensation program to develop a culture of ownership among our key personnel and to align their individual financial interest with the interests of our shareholders.

2.

Driving Performance – We will base compensation in part on the attainment of company-wide, business unit, and individual targets that contribute to our earnings within risk tolerance.

3.

Reflecting our Business Philosophy – Our approach to compensation reflects our values and the way we do business in the communities we serve.

4.

Meeting the Demands of the Market – Our goal is to compensate our employees at competitive levels that position us as the employer of choice among our peers who provide similar financial services in the markets we serve.

·Aligning with Shareholder Interest – As a public company, we use equity compensation as a key component of our compensation program to develop a culture of ownership among our key personnel and to align their individual financial interest with the interests of our shareholders.
·Driving Performance – We will base compensation in part on the attainment of company-wide, business unit, and individual targets that contribute to our earnings within risk tolerance.
·Reflecting our Business Philosophy – Our approach to compensation reflects our values and the way we do business in the communities we serve.
·We believe that we can achieve the objectives of our compensation philosophy by implementing a compensation program that is competitive with our industry peers and creates appropriate incentives for our management team.

Factors Considered in Determining Pay Programs and Making Pay Decisions

This discussionThe Committee is focused specifically on theresponsible for compensation of the following executive officers, each of whom is named in the “Executive Compensation Summary” which appears later herein. These four executives are referred to in this discussion as “Named Executive Officers.”

NameTitle as of December 31, 2021
Thomas M. CoughlinPresident and Chief Executive Officer
Thomas P. Keating(1)Chief Financial Officer
Michael Lesler (2)Former Chief Operating Officer
Kenneth G. EmersonChief Strategy & Risk Officer

(1)Mr. Keating passed away on March 5, 2022.
(2)Mr. Lesler served as Chief Operating Officer until September 28, 2021.

Designingdecisions for our Compensation Program. Our compensation program is designed to reward the Named Executive Officers based on their level of assigned management responsibilities, experience and performance levels. The creation of long-term value is highly dependent onreports all actions to the developmentCorporation’s Board.

Benchmarking Compensation

In 2023, the Compensation Committee engaged Meridian, its independent compensation consultant, to assess the competitiveness and effective execution of a sound business strategy by our Named Executive Officers.

Other considerations influencing the designeffectiveness of our executive compensation program are:program. Meridian provided an analysis of base salary, short-term incentive, long-term incentive and total compensation practices of similarly sized banks within of region. This data was used by the Committee to establish compensation for 2023. The compensation consultant considered individual compensation elements, as well as the total compensation package, and assessed the relationship of pay to performance.

In performing this analysis, Meridian used a peer group of banking institutions, which was reviewed and approved by the Committee. The peer group included institutions with an asset size ranging from $1.6 billion to $7.2 billion. All banks were based in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. The peer group used in the report presented for consideration of 2023 compensation decisions consisted of the following financial institutions:

 

Brookline Bancorp, Inc.

Cambridge Bancorp

CNB Financial Corporation

Embassy Bancorp, Inc.

Enterprise Bancorp, Inc.

Financial Institutions, Inc.

Greene County Bancorp, MHC

HarborOne Bancorp, Inc.

Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc.

·Experience

Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

Orrstown Financial Services, Inc.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation

Peoples Financial Services Corp.

Princeton Bancorp, Inc.

Republic First Bancorp, Inc.

The First of Long Island Corporation

Univest Financial Corporation

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.

A peer group analysis is limited to those positions for which compensation information is disclosed publicly. Therefore, the compensation consultant also relied on published compensation surveys to supplement peer group information, including the McLagan Regional & Community Banking Survey. Similar asset and regional scope comparisons were used for the benchmarking analysis.

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Elements of Compensation

Compensation Element    

Purpose

Base Salary

Provides a fixed amount of compensation to recognize the duties, responsibilities, and scope of influence of the executive’s role. The level of base salary also takes into consideration the executive’s experience, skills, and performance.

Annual Incentive Program

Rewards the achievement of annual goals for financial performance, as well as key annual individual goals that strengthen the business and position the Company for long-term success.

Long-Term Incentives

Rewards long-term performance through increases in share appreciation and aligns executives with shareholder interests.

Other Compensation

Named Executive Officers participate in the benefit and retirement programs generally available to all full-time Company employees. The Named Executive Officers also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program and in the case of Mr. Coughlin, a legacy Supplemental Executive Retirement Program. These benefits are with the purpose of providing health, welfare and financial services industrystability.

Perquisites are generally limited to those that promotesassist our Named Executive Officers in conducting their business duties productively.

Employment agreements and other separation benefits are provided to ensure that executives act in the safe and sound operationbest interest of the Company and the Bank;regardless of future employment status.

·Experience and prior performance of our executives in successfully implementing and completing strategic goals;
·Experience in all aspects of risk management;
·Experience in our markets relating to the needs of our customers, products, and investments in various phases of the economic cycle;
·Disciplined decision-making that respects our strategic plan but adepts quickly to change;
·The retention and development of incumbent executives who meet, or exceed, performance objectives, since recruiting executives can be expensive, unpredictable, and may have a disruptive effect on our operations;

17 2023 Compensation Elements and Decisions

The Company does not use a specific percentile positioning in determining pay levels. Rather, the Compensation Committee bases the Named Executive Officers’ compensation opportunities using the following principles:

 

Experience in the financial services industry that promotes the safe and sound operation of the Company and the Bank;

·The compensation and employment practices of our competitors within the financial services industry and elsewhere in the marketplace; and,
·

Experience and prior performance of our executives in successfully implementing and completing strategic goals;

Experience in all aspects of risk management;

Experience in our markets relating to the needs of our customers, products, and investments in various phases of the economic cycle;

Disciplined decision-making that respects our strategic plan but adapts quickly to change;

The retention and development of incumbent executives who meet, or exceed, performance objectives, since recruiting executives can be expensive, unpredictable, and may have a disruptive effect on our operations;

The compensation and employment practices of our competitors within the financial services industry and elsewhere in the marketplace; and,

Each executive’s individual performance and contribution in helping us achieve our corporate goals.

Role of the Compensation Committee and the Named Executive Officers. Our Compensation Committee and President and Chief Executive Officer have a significant role in helping us achieve our corporate goals.

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Base Salary

Based on the executive compensation objectivesanalysis and designing our compensation program. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing and making recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect to our compensation program related to the Named Executive Officers. The Compensation Committee regularly evaluates and recommends the elements of total compensation payable to the Named Executive Officers. In making these determinations,principles described above, the Compensation Committee considersadjusted base salaries to the Named Executive Officer’s level of job responsibility, the compensation paid by peers for similar levels of responsibility, industry survey data regarding executive compensation and our financial condition and performancefollowing in 2023:

 

Name

 

 

     2023     

 

 

    2022    

 

 

   % Change   

 

 

   2024   

 

 

  % Change  

 

 

 Thomas Coughlin (1)

 

 

$585,000

 

 

$585,000

 

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

--

 

 

 Ryan Blake

 

 $400,000 $400,000 -- $400,000 --

 

 Jawad Chaudhry (2)

 

 $350,000 $350,000 -- $425,000 21.4%

 

 Kenneth Emerson (3)

 

 $230,000 $250,000 8.70% $ 250,000 --

 

 David Garcia

 

 $265,000 $305,000 15.0% $ 305,000 --

The President and Chief Executive Officer provides(1) Mr. Coughlin retired as of December 31, 2023.

(2) Mr. Chaudhry began his tenure with the Company on September 26, 2022.

(3) Mr. Emerson resigned his position with the Company on March 6, 2024.

Annual Incentive Plan (“AIP”)

In response to our Say-on-Pay outcome, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Meridian and input regarding our employee compensation philosophy, process and compensation decisions for employees other than himself. In addition to providing factual information on relevant measures,from senior management, developed the President and Chief Executive Officer articulates senior management’s views on current compensation programs and processes, recommends relevant performance measures to be used for future evaluations and otherwise provides information to assistAIP, in which the Compensation Committee. The President and Chief Executive Officer also provides information about individual performance assessments for the other Named Executive Officers and expresses toother members of the Compensation Committee his viewssenior management team participate. The Plan is based on a balanced scorecard which includes Company Performance Goals, and a qualitative assessment of Individual Goals. 

The Company Performance Goal and weighting for 2023 was Adjusted EPS with a total award weighting of 75%. The Individual Goals qualitative assessment was weighted 25% of the total award. Each goal is measured separately and not contingent on achieving performance on the appropriate levels of compensation for the other Named Executive Officers for the ensuing year.other.

Awards are calculated as follows:

 

The President and Chief Executive Officer participates in Compensation Committee activities purely in an informational and advisory capacity. He has no vote inLOGO

Each Company Performance Goal is assigned three performance levels, which earn the Compensation Committee’s decision-making process. The President and Chief Executive Officer does not attendfollowing payouts based on the portionslevel of Compensation Committee meetings during which his performance is evaluated or his compensation is being determined. No Named Executive Officer (other than the President and Chief Executive Officer) attends the portions of Compensation Committee meetings during which the performanceactual achievement: Threshold (50% of the other Named Executive Officers is evaluated or their compensation is being determined.

Usetarget incentive), Target (100% of Consultants. In 2021, neither the Board of Directors nor the Compensation Committee engaged the services of a compensation consultant.

Elements of Compensation. Our compensation program with respect to our Named Executive Officers primarily consiststarget incentive) and Stretch (150% of the following:

·Base salary, which is designed to provide a reasonable level of predictable income commensurate with market standards for the executive’s position;
·Non-equity bonus and incentive compensation, which is recommended by the Compensation Committee based on the satisfaction of company-wide and individual-based performance objectives;
·Equity compensation of awards stock options and restricted stock, which provides incentives to maximized shareholder value;
·Supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs);
·Severance benefits payable pursuant to employment agreements with certain Named Executive Officers;
·Benefits payable pursuant to our 401(k) plan; and,
·Health and welfare benefits

target incentive). Amounts below threshold earn a $0 payout. In no event may a participant earn more than 150%. Straight-line interpolation is used between performance levels to reward incremental achievement of Company Performance Goals.

The Compensation Committee seeks to create what it believes is the best mix of each element of compensation in recommending a Named Executive Officer’s total compensation. For each Named Executive Officer, a significant percentage of total cash compensation is at-risk, meaning that it will generally be earned when the Company, the Bank and the Named Executive Officer are successful in realizing the interests of the Company and the Bank.

The Compensation Committee reviewed compensation for the year ended December 31, 2021,incentive opportunities for the Named Executive Officers relativewere the following as a percentage of base salary: 50% Mr. Coughlin and 50% Messrs. Blake, Chaudhry and Emerson.

Given the macroeconomic conditions in 2023, including rapidly rising interest rates, deposit outflows to the competitive marketlargest financial institutions and toa decrease in commercial and residential lending, the results delivered on established objectivesCompany’s Adjusted EPS was impacted and

18 

performance criteria, and concluded that each Named Executive Officer’s compensation was consistent with market practice and was based on the Named Executive Officer’s performance.

Base Salary. Base salary is the primary source of compensation for services performed during the year for all employees. On an annual basis, the were below threshold. The Compensation Committee reviews the base salariesconducted a qualitative assessment of the Named Executive Officers and primarily considers:

·Market dataOfficers’ performance. Mr. Coughlin provided recommendations regarding individual performance for peer institutions and direct competitors located in New Jersey, the New York metropolitan area, and the northeast region;
·Internal review of the Named Executive Officer’s compensation, both individually and relative to other officers;
·Individual performance of the Named Executive Officer; and,
·Our financial condition and results of operations, including tax and accounting impact of the base salaries.

Base salaries are reviewed annually and adjusted from time-to-time to realign base salaries with market levels, after taking into account the considerations discussed above. Details regarding the base salary earned by the Named Executive Officers are included inother than himself. The Committee used this information along with their own experiences to determine and independently assess CEO performance. Award payouts under the “Executive Compensation Summary” table in this section.AIP were as follows:

 

Non-Equity Bonus and Incentive Compensation. The Compensation Committee has the ability to review, evaluate and recommend to the full Board discretionary bonus payments to the Named Executive Officers. While strict numerical formulas were not used to quantify the bonus payments payable to the Named Executive Officers in 2021, both company-wide and individually-based performance objectives are used by the Compensation Committee to recommend bonus payments. Company-wide performance objectives focus on growth, expense control, asset quality (particularly the quality of our loan portfolio and positive results of our quality control audits), compliance audits and regulatory “safety and soundness” examinations. Such performance objectives are customarily used by similarly-situated financial institutions in measuring performance. Individually-based performance objectives are determined based on the individual’s responsibilities and contributions to our successful operation. Both the company-wide and individually-based performance objectives are evaluated by the Compensation Committee on an annual basis and as a trend of performance. The Compensation Committee also takes into consideration outside factors that impact our performance, such as national and local economic conditions, the interest rate environment, regulatory mandates and the level of competition in our market area.24


Executive

    Base Salary ($)    Payout at
  Target ($)(1)  
  Payout at
  Target (%)  
    Actual Payout  
Earned ($)
    % of Base  
Salary

 

 Thomas Coughlin

  $585,000  $292,500  50%  --  --

 

 Ryan Blake

  $400,000  $200,000  50%  --  --

 

 Jawad Chaudhry

  $350,000  $175,000  50%  $70,000  20%

 Kenneth Emerson

  $250,000  $125,000  50%  --  --

 

 David Garcia

  $305,000  --  --  --  --

 

(1)

Mr. Garcia is not included in the Company’s short-term incentive plan, but is included here as he is a named executive officer.

The “Executive Compensation Summary” table in this section provides the bonus payments which were paid to the Named Executive Officers in 2021 and 2020.Long-term Incentives

Equity Compensation. The Compensation Committee has the ability to review, evaluate, and recommend to the full Board stock option awards to be granted to the Named Executive Officers under our 2011 Stock Option Plan and stock option, restricted stock, and restricted stock unit awards to be granted to the Named Executive Officers under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan may receive equity awards in an effort to focus their attention on our sustained, long-term financial performance. performance and increase shareholder value. In 2023, restricted stock was awarded to Mr. Blake on June 30, 2023. This vests over 12 months on a pro-rata basis. 

The Compensation Committee intends to implement a Long-term Incentive Plan (LTIP), in which Named Executive Officers will participate. Given the macro-economic environment in 2023, implementation was delayed, and the Compensation Committee will consider implementation for 2024. The LTIP will award 50% of Named Executive Officer’s award value in the form of performance-based restricted stock units (PRSUs). Vesting is contingent on Return on Average Assets (“ROAA”) and Return on Average Equity (“ROAE”), which are measured on a relative basis to a peer group at the end of a three-year performance period. The remaining 50% of the NEO’s award value will be in the form of time-based restricted stock awards (RSAs). Any dividends or dividend equivalents will be deferred until vesting.

Deferred Compensation Plan

We maintain a deferred compensation originally effective on October 1, 2005, which was amended and restated effective January 1, 2023 (the “2023 Deferred Plan”). The 2023 Deferred Plan is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan designed to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Select executives and all members of the Board of Directors of the Bank are eligible to participate in the 2023 Deferred Plan. Pursuant to the 2023 Deferred Plan, a participant may elect to defer, on a pre-tax basis, receipt of all or any portion of salary, bonus or fees and retainers received for his or her employment or service on the Board of Directors and on committees of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent such amounts are attributable to services not yet performed. The Bank credits the deferred amounts to a bookkeeping account.

The Bank may, but is not required to, make matching or discretionary contributions on behalf of participants. Any such matching or discretionary contribution will vest after the participant completes three years of service with the Bank, except that participants will automatically become 100% vested in their matching or discretionary contributions upon our change in control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the participant engages in injurious conduct (as defined in the 2023 Deferred Plan), all matching or discretionary contributions (whether vested or not) shall be forfeited.

A participant may elect to allocate the deferred amounts into an investment account and select among various investment options upon which the rate of return of the deferred amounts will be based. The participants’ investment accounts are adjusted periodically to reflect the deemed gains and losses attributable to the deferred amounts. The investment options available may (but is not required to) include a stock option award gives the recipient the right to purchaseunit investment account under which amounts are deemed invested in a number of notional shares of our common stock and at a specified price during a specified period of time. Restricted stock awards grant shares of our common stock for no consideration, subject to a vesting schedule or the satisfaction of market conditions or performance conditions. Restricted stock unitsdistribution such amounts are denominatedpayable in shares of our common stock except no shares of stock are actually awardedstock.

Deferred amounts will be paid out on the participant’s benefit age as designated in his or her deferral election form or upon the participant’s death, disability or separation from service, if such date is earlier than his or her designated benefit age. Distributions may also be made earlier than the participant’s designated benefit age if the distribution is necessary to satisfy a financial hardship, as defined under Section 409A of grantthe Internal Revenue Code. At the election of the participant, the distribution may be paid out in a lump sum or in equal annual installments over a period not to exceed ten years.

The Bank may establish a “rabbi trust” to which the Bank may deposit such deferrals and earnings, but the rights of all participants to any deferred amounts represent the Bank’s unsecured promise to pay and the deferred amounts remain subject to the claims of the Bank’s creditors.

Currently, none of our named executive officers, with the exception of Mr. Coughlin, participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan.

25


Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The Bank implemented a defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”) on December 29, 2021 for the benefit of Mr. Coughlin. The Bank has implemented the SERP to provide supplemental nonqualified pension benefits to Mr. Coughlin and incentivize him to continue to make substantial contributions to the success of the Bank. The SERP provides Mr. Coughlin with supplemental retirement income payable in the form of a restricted stock unit. A restricted stock unit is subject to a vesting schedule or the satisfaction of market conditions or performance conditions and are settled in either shares of our common stock or,life annuity. Upon his separation from service (as defined in the sole discretionSERP) after reaching normal retirement age (age 65), for any reason other than death, benefit payments will commence on the first day of the Compensation Committee determinedsecond month following his separation from service, payable monthly and continuing for his lifetime. The monthly benefit payment will be $10,000 (the “Normal Retirement Benefit”). Except as provided below, in the event he should incur a separation from service prior to normal retirement age, then upon reaching normal retirement age he will receive 75% of the Normal Retirement Benefit in the case of a separation from service occurring prior to the end of the calendar year 2023; and 100% of the Normal Retirement Benefit in the case of a separation from service occurring at or after the end of calendar year 2023.

If Mr. Coughlin is actively employed at the time of settlement, cash based ona change in control (as defined in the fair market valueSERP) and incurs a separation from service within 24 months after the change in control, except a separation from service for cause (as defined in the SERP), he will receive 100% of the Normal Retirement Benefit upon reaching normal retirement age. The SERP also provides that in connection with such a change in control, a rabbi trust will be formed into which assets will be contributed to provide the Bank or its successor with a source of funds to satisfy the obligations under the SERP. In the event Mr. Coughlin experiences a separation from service for cause, he will forfeit his entire SERP benefit, regardless of vesting.

In the event Mr. Coughlin dies while in active service with the Bank, his beneficiary will receive a lump sum payment equal to his account balance (the liability accrued by the Bank under generally accepted accounting principles as of such date) at the time of death in a single lump sum within 60 days of the date of death. In the event he dies after a separation from service but before receiving 180 monthly payments, his beneficiary will receive the monthly benefit payments that he was entitled to at the time of his death until 180 monthly payments have been made. If he has already received 180 monthly payments at the time of his death, his beneficiary will not be entitled to a death benefit.

Except in the case of a shareseparation from service following a change in control, the SERP provides that for a period of our common stock multiplied byone year following his separation from service, Mr. Coughlin will not (i) cause any employee of the number of units being settled. The Compensation Committee believes that stock option, restricted stock awardsBank to terminate his or her employment and restricted stock unit awards: (1) reward the Named Executive Officers for long-term, sustained performance and stock price growth; (2) align the Named Executive Officers’ interestsaccept employment or become affiliated with our shareholders’ through stock ownership; and (3) provide an incentive to the Named Executive Officers to remain employedany business whatsoever which competes with the Company andbusiness of the Bank, through the vesting periodsor (ii) cause any customer of the awards.Bank to terminate an existing business or commercial relationship with the Bank.

Employment and Related Agreements

The “Executive Compensation Summary” and “Outstanding Equity Awards at Year End” tables in this section provide the equity compensation payments which were paid to the Named Executive Officers in 2021.

19 

Severance Benefits.We currently maintain employment agreements with Mr. CoughlinMessrs. Blake, Chaudhry, and Mr. Emerson thatShriner, which provide them withfor severance payments in the event ofbenefits upon a qualifying termination of employment without cause. Please seein connection with a change in control.

We describe these agreements under the heading “Employment Agreements”Agreements.” We describe the termination and “Compensation Committee Communications and Responsiveness” below for a more thorough descriptionchange-in-control provisions of these agreements.agreements and our equity awards under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-In-Control.”

Employee Benefits

Retirement Plans.We generally offer all our eligible employees, including the named executive officers, core employee benefits coverage. The Named Executive Officers arebenefits include medical and dental coverage, short-term disability insurance, and life insurance. All eligible tonon-unionized U.S. employees, including the named executive officers, may also obtain at their expense, long-term disability insurance coverage, and participate in oura 401(k) retirement plan as a means to save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis. We provide a matching contribution under the 401(k) plan on the same terms as other employees. Please see “Tax-Qualified Benefit Plans” below for a more thorough descriptionto all eligible participants.

Each of our retirement plans. We also provide Mr. Coughlin with non-qualified supplemental retirement benefits under a supplemental executive retirement plan dated December 29, 2021. Please see “Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan” below for a more thorough description of this agreement.

Health and Welfare Benefits. We provide group health, dental, and vision insurance coverage to our employees, including the Named Executive Officers, withnamed executive officers, partially bears the employees being responsible forcost of certain employee benefits.

We do not cover our named executive officers under any defined benefit pension.

Perquisites

We provide limited perquisites and personal benefits to our named executive officers, including a portion of the premiums. company car and spousal travel benefits to business functions, and airline club membership dues.

26


The Compensation Committee believeshas determined that each of these benefits are appropriate and assist the employees in fulfilling their employment obligations.

Tax and Accounting Implications. In consultation with our advisors, we evaluate the tax and accounting treatment of our compensation program at the time of adoption and on an annual basis to ensure that we understand the financial impact of the program. Our analysis includeshas a detailed review of recently adopted and pending changes in tax and accounting requirements. As part of our review, we consider modifications and/or alternatives to existing programs to take advantage of favorable changesvalid business purpose. You can find information about these perquisites in the tax or accounting environment or to avoid adverse consequences. To preserve maximum flexibility in the design and implementation of our compensation program, we have not adopted a formal policy that requires all compensation to be tax deductible. However,footnotes to the greatest extent possible, we structure our compensation program in a tax efficient manner.Summary Compensation Table.

Other Matters

Risk Management.Management

The Compensation Committee believes that any risks arising from our compensation policies and practices for all of our employees, including our Named Executive Officers, are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company or the Bank. In addition, the Compensation Committee believes that the mix and design of the elements of our compensation program will encourage our senior managementNamed Executive Officers to act in a manner that is focused on the long-term valuation of the Company and the Bank.

The Compensation Committee regularly reviews our compensation program to ensure that controls are in place so that our employees are not presented with opportunities to take unnecessary and excessive risks that could threaten the Company and the Bank. With respect to our non-equity bonus compensation program, theThe Compensation Committee utilized both company-wide and individual performance objectives to recommend the bonus paymentsin our AIP made to our Named Executive Officers. The performance objectives selected are customary performance metrics for financial institutions in our peer group. In addition, because the Compensation Committee evaluates company-wide performance objectives as a trend of performance, the long-term financial performance of the Company and the Bank is in correlation with any bonusannual incentive payments awarded to our Named Executive Officers.

By recommending the granting of equity awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans, the Compensation Committee has attempted to place more of our common stock into the hands of our employees in an effort to align their interests with those of our shareholders, which should contribute to long-term shareholder value and decrease the likelihood that our employees would take excessive risks

Clawback Policy

We maintain a clawback policy applicable to each of our executive officers subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange of 1934, including each of our named executive officers. Pursuant to this policy, in the event of any restatement of our financial statements, our Audit Committee may require reimbursement or forfeiture of any excess payment from any cash or equity-based incentive compensation awarded to or realized by, such executive officer during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which might threaten the valueCompany is required to prepare an accounting restatement. The clawback policy applies to incentive compensation received by the executive officer following the adoption of their common stock receivedthe policy in the event that (i) our financial statements are required to be restated as a result of material non-compliance with any financial reporting requirements under ourthe federal securities laws (other than a restatement due to a change in financial accounting rules), (ii) as a result of such restatement, a financial reporting measure which was in whole or in part a factor in determining the amount of such bonus, incentive or equity compensation program.

As described in “Board Leadership Structurepreviously earned by such officer is restated, and Risk Oversight”, the Company’s Board of Directors remains focused on the Bank’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ensure proper oversight(iii) our Audit Committee of the risks presented. This response also impactedBoard, determines, in its discretion, that a lower amount of bonus, incentive or equity compensation would have been paid to such officer based upon the restated financial results.

Policy on Granting Equity Awards

We have a written equity award policy that provides the authority and the procedure for granting awards. The Compensation Committee’s decisions regarding compensation for bothCommittee has the Company’s Named Executive Officers and directors in 2020. As a responseauthority to make all equity awards to employees of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020Company. In addition, within certain limitations, the Compensation Committee awarded no stock option or restricted stockmay delegate authority to our CEO to make awards to either itsemployees below the named executive officer level.

Our policy requires that the exercise price of stock options be no less than the closing price of our stock on the grant date. Subject to applicable local law, the grant date for equity awards to all eligible participants, including our named executive officers, is on the first business day after the annual meeting that our stock trading window is open and that is not otherwise within our stock trading blackout policy. These procedures provide assurance that grant dates are not being manipulated to result in an exercise price that is favorable to us or our employees.

Hedging and Pledging Prohibition

No employee (including Named Executive OfficersOfficers) or itsnon-employee directors of the Company may engage in short sales of our securities, purchases or sales of puts, calls or other derivative securities based on our securities, or purchases of financial instruments that are designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of our securities. We also prohibit employees and non-employee directors from pledging or otherwise encumbering our equity securities as collateral for indebtedness, including holding shares in a margin or similar account that would subject our equity securities to margin calls.

27


Accounting and Tax Considerations

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

Tax Deductibility Under Section 162(m) of the Code. Generally, Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), disallows a federal income tax deduction for public corporations of remuneration in excess of $1 million paid for any fiscal year to “covered employees” of the company. The Board of Directors. Please see the “Director Compensation” section for detailed information on payments to directors.

20 

Report ofand the Compensation Committee believe that stockholder interests are best served if they retain maximum flexibility to design executive compensation programs that meet stated business objectives. For that reason, while our Board and Compensation Committee consider the potential effects of Section 162(m) of the Code on Executivethe compensation paid to our named executive officers, in light of the constraints imposed by Section 162(m) and our desire to maintain flexibility in compensation decisions, the Board and the Compensation Committee do not necessarily limit compensation to amounts deductible under Section 162(m).

Taxation of “Parachute” Payments

Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code provide that certain individuals who hold significant equity interests in the Company and certain executive officers and other service providers may be subject to significant additional taxes if they receive payments or benefits in connection with a change in control of the Company that exceed certain prescribed limits, and that we (or our successor) may forfeit a deduction on the amounts subject to this additional tax. We did not provide any executive officer, including any of the named executive officers, with a “gross-up” or other reimbursement payment for any tax liability that the executive officer might owe as a result of the application of Sections 280G or 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, and we have not agreed, and are not otherwise obligated, to provide any executive officer with such a “gross-up” or other reimbursement.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

The Company follows Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“ASC 718”), for our stock-based compensation awards. ASC 718 requires companies to measure the compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees based on the grant date fair value of these awards. This calculation is performed for accounting purposes and reported in the compensation tables below, even though our executive officers may never realize any value from their awards.

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the section entitled “CompensationCompensation Discussion and Analysis” with management. Based on this reviewAnalysis. The Compensation Committee is satisfied that the Compensation Discussion and discussion,Analysis fairly and completely represents the philosophy, intent, and actions of the Compensation Committee recommendswith regard to executive compensation. We recommended to the Board of Directors that the “CompensationCompensation Discussion and Analysis”Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

This report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into anyand in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, for filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this report by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This report has been provided by the Compensation Committee:

Committee

Vincent DiDomenico, Jr. (Chairman)

Joseph Lyga

Spencer Robbins

 

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION28


SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table summarizes the compensation earned in fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023, by our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, and our three other most highly compensated executive officers. We collectively refer to these individuals as the “named executive officers.”

 

Set forth below is information as of December 31, 2021 regarding equity compensation plans that have been approved by shareholders. The Company has no equity-based benefit plans that were not approved by shareholders.

    
PlanNumber of securities to be issued
upon exercise of outstanding
options and rights

Weighted average

Exercise price(1)

Number of securities remaining
available for issuance under
plans
2011 Stock Option Plan826,800$11.67-
2018 Equity Incentive Plan506,932$11.56330,638
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders---
Total1,333,732$11.64330,638

Name

Principal Position

  Year   Salary ($)  Bonus
($) (1)
 Restricted Stock
Awards ($) (2)
  Option
Awards ($) (3)
  Change in Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($) (4)
  All Other
Compensation
(5) ($)
  Total

Thomas Coughlin

  2023  585,000  -- --  --  350,000  49,444  984,444

President & CEO

  2022  585,000  300,000 354,170  --  328,000  48,146  1,615,316
  2021  585,000  - (6) 30,936  12,000  597,112  45,948  1,270,996

Ryan Blake

  2023  400,000  -- 298,731  --  --  46,630  745,361

Executive Vice President & COO

  2022  400,000  125,000 342,190  --  --  35,027  902,217
  2021  250,000  60,000 --  6,458  --  6,477  322,935

Jawad Chaudhry

  2023  350,000  70,000 --  --  --  4,177  424,177

Executive Vice President & CFO

  2022  70,000  100,000 --  --  --  --  170,000

Thomas Keating, Former CFO

  2021  258,000  100,000 --  --  --  12,358  370,358

Kenneth Emerson

  2023  250,000  -- --  --  --  21,153  271,153

Executive Vice President & CSRO

  2022  250,000  125,000 --  --  --  19,637  394,637
  2021  230,000  100,000 --  --  --  14,396  344,396

David Garcia

  2023  305,000  30,000 --  --  --  6,500  341,500

Executive Vice President & CLO

  2022  265,000  200,000 --  --  --  1,460  466,460
  2021  265,000  -- --  --  --  502  265,502

 

(1)The weighted average exercise price reflects

Represents the exercise prices ranging from $9.03-$13.68 per share for options granted undercash bonus earned by the 2011 Stock Option Plan andnamed executive officer during the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table. The following table set forth the total compensation paid to Thomas Coughlin, as Principal Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, Thomas Keating, as the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Company and the Bank, Michael Lesler, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Company and the Bank, and Kenneth G. Emerson, the Chief Strategy & Risk Officer of the Company and the Bank for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2021. After Mr. Coughlin, Mr. Keating and Mr. Emerson were the two most highly-compensated officers who received total compensation of at least $100,000 from the Company or the Bank during the year ended December 31, 2021. Mr. Lesler is included here because he served until September 28, 2021 as the Bank and Company’s Chief Operating Officer and if he had been serving as such at December 31, 2021 his total compensation would have been included in the Executive Compensation Summary. The officers listed in the table below are each a “Named Executive Officer.”

21 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY

         
Name and Principal PositionYear

Salary

($)

Bonus

($)(1)

Restricted
Stock Awards
(2)

($)

Option
Awards(3)

($)

Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings ($)
(4)

All Other
Compensation(5)

($)

Total

($)

Thomas M. Coughlin

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

2021585,000-30,93612,000597,11245,9481,270,996
2020585,000300,000---45,748930,748

Thomas P. Keating

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer(6)

2021258,000100,000---12,358370,358
2020258,000----10,474268,474

Michael Lesler (7)

Former Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

2021331,000----19,983350,983
2020331,000165,565---24,348520,913
Kenneth G. Emerson (8)2021230,000100,000---14,396344,396
Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy & Risk Officer2020230,000----6,083236,083

(1)The Compensation Committeefiscal year covered but determined that Mr. Coughlin was entitled to be awarded a $300,000 bonus in 2021, andduring the Bank and Mr. Coughlin agreed that this amount should be applied to his SERP/Pension plan to offset Year 1 costs.following fiscal year.

(2)

Represents the grant date fair value of restricted stock received under the BCB Bancorp, Inc.Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The grant date fair value has been computed in accordance with the stock-based compensation accounting rules (FASB ASC Topic 718). The grant date fair assumptions used in calculating the award values may be found in the Company’s consolidated financial statements set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.2023.

(3)

Represents the grant date fair value of the stock option awards received under the BCB Bancorp, Inc.Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The grant date fair value has been computed in accordance with the stock-based compensation accounting rules (FASB ASC Topic 718). The grant date fair assumptions used in calculating the award values may be found in the Company’s consolidated financial statements set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.2023.

(4)Represents

For 2021, the amount represents the Year 1 pension expense based on the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit (50% vesting) under the SERP at December 31, 2021. For Year 22022 and Year 3,2023, the amount will berepresents the increase in the actuarial present value of the accumulated benefit from the end of the prior year ($329,904 in 2022 and $352,267 in 2023).year.

(5)

The amounts in this column reflect what the Company paid for, or reimbursed, the applicable Named Executive Officer for the various benefits and perquisites received. A breakdown of the various elements of compensation in this column for the yearyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 is set forth in the table provided on the following page.below.

(6)

The Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Keating passed away on March 5, 2022.Coughlin was entitled to be awarded a $300,000 bonus with respect to 2021, and the Bank and Mr. Coughlin agreed that this amount should be applied to his SERP/Pension plan to offset Year 1 costs.

(7)Mr. Lesler served as served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of

29


Employment Agreements

Employment Agreement with Mr. Shriner

On December 18, 2023, the Company and the Bank until September 28, 2021.

(8)Mr. Emerson began his employment with the Company and the Bank on January 22, 2020.

The amounts in the table below reflect a breakdown of the various elements of all other compensation for the year ended December 31, 2021, as reported in the executive summary compensation table on the previous page. The amounts provided in this table reflect what the Company paid for, or reimbursed, the applicable Named Executive Officer for the various benefits and perquisites received

       
Name and Principal Position

Year

Employer
Contributions

to 401(k) Plan ($)

Life
Insurance

($)

Board
Retainer

($)

Car
Allowance

($)

Total All
Other
Compensation
($)

Thomas M. Coughlin

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

202111,60094810,00023,40045,948
202011,40094810,00023,40045,748

Thomas P. Keating

Former Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

202111,600758--12,358
20209,526948--10,474

Michael Lesler

Former Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

202110,035948-9,00019,983
202011,400948-12,00024,348
Kenneth G. Emerson20217,448948-6,00014,396
Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy & Risk Officer2020-583-5,5006,083

22 

Employment Agreements

On February 24, 2020, the Company and the Bank (collectively the “Company” or the “Bank”, for purposes of this section) entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Coughlin,Shriner effective as of January 1, 2020. 2024, pursuant to which he will serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of each entity. The agreement is for a three-year term ending on December 31, 2026. The agreement provides Mr. Shriner with an annual base salary of $675,000. This base salary is subject to annual review and adjustment by the Company’s Compensation Committee. He will also be entitled to discretionary performance bonuses annually pursuant to the terms of the Bank’s Incentive Bonus Program. In addition, he is entitled to participate in (i) the Company’s equity incentive plans as well as any other long-term incentive compensation plans and short-term incentive plans or arrangements, in the Company’s discretion, and (ii) all employee benefit plans, arrangements and perquisites offered to employees and executives of the Company. The Bank will also provide him with life, medical, dental and disability coverage, and a monthly automobile allowance in the amount of no more than $2,000.

In the event of the involuntary termination of his employment by the Bank prior to a change in control of the Company or the Bank for reasons other than cause, disability or death, Mr. Shriner will receive a cash lump sum payment in the amount of $675,000. If within one year after the occurrence of a change in control of the Company or the Bank, Mr. Shriner’s employment is terminated by the Company or the Bank (or their successors) without cause or the executive voluntarily terminates his employment for Good Reason (as defined in the agreement), he will receive a lump sum payment equal to 1.50 times an amount equal to the sum of (i) his annual base salary at the time of a change in control, and (ii) an amount equal to the annual bonus paid to him during the most recent prior year in which he received a bonus. This payment will be paid within thirty days following the date of the change in control. However, the change in control payments would be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid penalties under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.

The employment agreement hasprovides that for a termperiod of three years. one year following his separation from service, Mr. Shriner will not (i) engage in the same trade or business as the Bank, as an owner, officer, director, stockholder, investor, proprietor, organizer, employee, agent, representative, consultant, independent contractor, or otherwise, within a 25 mile radius of any branch or office of the Bank, (ii) cause any employee of the Bank to terminate his or her employment and accept employment or become affiliated with any business whatsoever which competes with the business of the Bank within such 25 mile radius, or (iii) cause any customer of the Bank to terminate an existing business or commercial relationship with the Bank.

Employment Agreement with Mr. Blake

On February 16, 2022, the Company and the Bank entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Blake. The agreement will automatically renew for an additional three years12 calendar months unless the Bank provides written notice of termination of the agreementagreements no less than ninety90 days prior to the expiration of the term or until such time as either party terminates the agreement.term.

Mr. Coughlin's employmentThe agreement provides himMr. Blake with an annual base salary of $585,000. $250,000 for the 2022 calendar year, subject to annual review and adjustment. In the 2022 review, Mr. CoughlinBlake’s annual base salary was increased to $400,000. The executives will also be entitled to a discretionary cash performance bonusbonuses of up to 50% of histheir base salarysalaries and to participate in other incentive compensation and bonus plans or arrangements of the Bank. In addition, he isthe executives are entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans offered by the Bank and will be reimbursed for business expenses incurred. The Bank will also provide himthe executives with life, medical, dental and disability coverage.

InUnder each agreement, in the event of Mr. Coughlin's involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than cause, disability or death, he will be entitled to: (i) a lump-sum cash payment equalprior to his base salary through the remaining term of the agreement; and (ii) continued life insurance coverage and non-taxable medical and dental insurance coverage that will cease upon the earlier of (a) the end of the term of his employment agreement; (b) the date on which such coverage is made available to Mr. Coughlin through subsequent employment; or (c) the date Mr. Coughlin becomes eligible for Medicare coverage.

In addition, the employment agreement provides that, upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company or the Bank Mr. Coughlin will receive a lump sum payment equal to 2.9 times (2.9x) his annual base salary at the time of a change in control. This payment will be paid within thirty days following the date of the change in control in lieu of the cash severance payments described above. However, the change in control payments would be reduced by the minimum amount necessary to avoid penalties under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.

On February 16, 2022, the Company and the Bank entered into employment agreements with each of Thomas Keating, Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank, and Kenneth G. Emerson, Chief Strategic Risk Officer of the Company and the Bank. Each employment agreement was made retroactively effective as of January 1, 2022, for an initial term of 12 calendar months.

Mr. Keating unfortunately passed away on March 5, 2022. Under his agreement, he received continued life insurance coverage payable to his beneficiaries. Also, his estate or beneficiaries will receive the compensation due to him through the last day of the calendar month in which his death occurred and vested rights and benefits earned through the date of his death and any expense reimbursements. The Bank will continue to provide to his immediate family members who are eligible, for one (1) year after his death, non-taxable medical and dental coverage substantially comparable (and on substantially the same terms and conditions) to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Mr. Keating and his family immediately prior to his death.

With respect to Mr. Emerson’s agreement, at the end of its initial 12-month period the agreement will automatically renew for an additional 12 calendar months unless the Bank provides written notice of termination of the agreement no less than ninety days prior to the expiration of the term. The agreement provides Mr. Emerson with an annual base salary of $230,000. He will also be entitled to discretionary performance bonuses of up to 50% of his base salary and to participate in other incentive compensation and bonus plans or arrangements of the Bank. In addition, he is entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans offered by the Bank and will be reimbursed for business expenses incurred. The Bank will also provide him with life, medical, dental and disability coverage.

Under his agreement, in the event of involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than cause, disability or death, Mr. Emersonthe executive will receive a cash lump sum payment equal to his base salary through the remaining term of the agreement, or six months of base salary, whichever is greater. In addition, hethe executive will receive continued life insurance coverage and non-taxable medical and dental insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions that exist immediately prior to histhe executive’s termination, which will cease upon the earlier of (A) the later of one (1) calendar year or the end of the term of the agreement; (B) the date on which substantially comparable coverage is made available to him through subsequent employment; or (C) the date hethe executive becomes eligible for Medicare coverage.

23 

If within two years after the occurrence of a change in control of the Company or the Bank, Mr. Emerson’sthe executive’s employment is terminated by the Bank (or its successor) without cause or hethe executive voluntarily terminates for Good Reason (as defined in the agreement), hethe executive will receive a lump sum payment equal to (i) in the case of Mr. Emerson, his annual base salary at the time of a change in control, and in the case of Mr. Blake, three times his annual base salary

30


at the time of a change in control, plus (ii) an amount equal to the amount of his bonusmost recently paid with respect to the prior year.(or determined but not yet paid) annual bonus. This payment will be paid within thirty days following the date of the change in control in lieutermination of the cash severance payments described above (unless such payment is greater).employment. The change in control payments would be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid penalties under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.

Except in the case of a separation from service following a change in control, each of the employment agreements with Mr. Blake and Mr. Emerson provides that for a period of one year following his separation from service, the executive will not (i) cause any employee of the Bank to terminate his or her employment and accept employment or become affiliated with any business whatsoever which competes with the business of the Bank, or (ii) cause any customer of the Bank to terminate an existing business or commercial relationship with the Bank.

Employment Agreement with Mr. Chaudhry

Mr. Chaudhry’s employment agreement originally dated September 26, 2022 will automatically renew for an additional 12 calendar months unless the Bank provides written notice of termination of the agreement no less than 90 days prior to the expiration of the term. It provides Mr. Chaudhry with an annual base salary of $350,000 for the 2022 calendar year. He will also be entitled to discretionary annual performance bonuses of up to 50% of his base salary and to participate in other incentive compensation and bonus plans or arrangements of the Bank. In addition, Mr. Chaudhry is entitled to participate in the employee benefit plans offered by the Bank and will be reimbursed for business expenses incurred. The Bank will also provide him with life, medical, dental and disability coverage.

Under Mr. Chaudhry’s employment agreement, in the event of involuntary termination of employment prior to a change in control of the Company or the Bank for reasons other than cause, disability or death, he will receive a cash lump sum payment equal to his base salary through the remaining term of the agreement. In addition, he will receive continued life insurance coverage and non-taxable medical and dental insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions that exist immediately prior to his termination, which will cease upon the earlier of (A) the later of one (1) calendar year or the end of the term of the employment agreement; (B) the date on which substantially comparable coverage is made available to him through subsequent employment; or (C) the date he becomes eligible for Medicare coverage.

If within two years after the occurrence of a change in control of the Company or the Bank, Mr. Chaudhry’s employment is terminated by the Bank (or its successor) without cause or the executive voluntarily terminates for Good Reason (as defined in the agreement), he will receive a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times his annual base salary at the time of a change in control. This payment will be paid within thirty days following the date of the termination of employment. The change in control payments would be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid penalties under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.

Except in the case of a separation from service following a change in control, Mr. Emerson’sChaudhry’s employment agreement provides that for a period of one year following his separation from service, he will not (i) cause any employee of the Bank to terminate his or her employment and accept employment or become affiliated with any business whatsoever which competes with the business of the Bank, or (ii) cause any customer of the Bank to terminate an existing business or commercial relationship with the Bank.Bank

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan31


GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
TABLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023

   Grant Date  Committee
Action Date
  All Other Stock Awards: Number of
Shares of stock or units (#)(1)
  

Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and 

Option Awards ($(2)

Ryan Blake

  06/30/23  06/30/23  25,252  $298,731

(1)

Reflects the number of restricted stock units awarded as long-term incentive compensation. We describe this award in the section entitled “Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

(2)

We calculated these amounts using the provisions of ASC Topic 718. Amounts represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the applicable awards. See Note 16. Stock-Based Compensation” to our consolidated financial statements set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, for the assumptions made in calculating these amounts.

 

The Bank implemented a defined benefit supplemental executive retirement plan (the “SERP”) on December 29, 2021 for the benefit of Mr. Coughlin. The Bank has implemented the SERP to provide supplemental nonqualified pension benefits to Mr. Coughlin and incentivize him to continue to make substantial contributions to the success of the Bank. The SERP provides Mr. Coughlin with supplemental retirement income payable in the form of a life annuity. Upon his separation from service (as defined in the SERP) after reaching normal retirement age (age 65), for any reason other than death, benefit payments will commence on the first day of the second month following his separation from service, payable monthly and continuing for his lifetime. The monthly benefit payment will be $10,000 (the “Normal Retirement Benefit”). Except as provided below, in the event he should incur a separation from service prior to normal retirement age, then upon reaching normal retirement age he will receive 50% of the Normal Retirement Benefit in the case of a separation from service occurring prior to the end of calendar year 2022; 75% of the Normal Retirement Benefit in the case of a separation from service occurring prior to the end of the calendar year 2023; and 100% of the Normal Retirement Benefit in the case of a separation from service occurring at or after the end of calendar year 2023.

If Mr. Coughlin is actively employed at the time of a change in control (as defined in the SERP) and incurs a separation from service within 24 months after the change in control, except a separation from service for cause (as defined in the SERP), he will receive 100% of the Normal Retirement Benefit upon reaching normal retirement age. The SERP also provides that in connection with such a change in control, a rabbi trust will be formed into which assets will be contributed to provide the Bank or its successor with a source of funds to satisfy the obligations under the SERP. In the event Mr. Coughlin experiences a separation from service for cause, he will forfeit his entire SERP benefit, regardless of vesting.

In the event Mr. Coughlin dies while in active service with the Bank, his beneficiary will receive a lump sum payment equal to his account balance (the liability accrued by the Bank under generally accepted accounting principles as of such date) at the time of death in a single lump sum within 60 days of the date of death. In the event he dies after a separation from service but before receiving 180 monthly payments, his beneficiary will receive the monthly benefit payments that he was entitled to at the time of his death until 180 monthly payments have been made. If he has already received 180 monthly payments at the time of his death, his beneficiary will not be entitled to a death benefit.

Except in the case of a separation from service following a change in control, the SERP provides that for a period of one year following his separation from service, Mr. Coughlin will not (i) cause any employee of the Bank to terminate his or her employment and accept employment or become affiliated with any business whatsoever which competes with the business of the Bank, or (ii) cause any customer of the Bank to terminate an existing business or commercial relationship with the Bank.

24 32


OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2023

Compensation Committee Communications and Responsiveness

The Board of Directors understands that having employment agreements that provide for change in control severance payments without involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties (referred to as "single" trigger agreements) may be considered problematic by certain third-party, proxy advisory firms. Therefore, the employment agreement entered into in 2021 with Mr. Emerson, and Mr. Coughlin’s SERP, each require an involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties in order for change in control severance payments to be made. However, when entering into the employment contract with Mr. Coughlin in 2020, the board believed that the vast majority of chief executive officers sustain either involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties in connection with a change in control, so that having such a requirement in Mr. Coughlin’s employment agreement was not necessary. The board further believed that, based on a review of recent merger transactions, executive agreements providing for (1) a change in control and (2) involuntary job loss or substantial diminution of duties before severance is paid, are often times amended in connection with the signing of the merger agreement to make such agreements single trigger agreements. Therefore, the board believed that making Mr. Coughlin’s employment agreement a single trigger agreement was not problematic or disadvantageous to the Company or any potential acquirer, but rather served to simplify matters in the context of any change in control, saving all parties considerable time and expense.

The Board of Directors and executive management of the Company are in frequent communications with the Company’s shareholder base, including its institutional investors, both through quarterly earnings calls and through voluntary distributions of data enclosed with our quarterly dividends. Additional information on the latter process can be found within this Proxy Statement under “Board Communications with Shareholders.” In the course of these communications, any shareholder or institutional investor questions or concerns regarding executive compensation, if any, have been addressed by management or by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors believes that the Company’s compensation to executive management is appropriate based on review and analysis of companies similar to our asset size and in our geographic area. The Compensation Committee analyzes data related to the Company’s peer groups annually in order to review executive compensation, including reports and documents prepared by third-party, independent vendors.

25 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Year End.The following table sets forth informationthe outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers at the end of the 2023 fiscal year. The amounts include additional shares attributable to accumulated dividend equivalents with respect to outstandingunvested equity awards, as of December 31, 2021, for the Company’s Named Executive Officers.when applicable to such award.

 

Name and Principal PositionOption AwardsStock Awards

Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised options

(#)

Exercisable

Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)(1)

Unexercisable

Option
Exercise
Price ($)

Option
Expiration
Date

Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)(2)

Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested ($)(3)

Thomas M. Coughlin

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

      
8,0002,0009.031/17/2023--
7,0003,00013.3203/7/2024--
6,0004,00010.8112/2/2025--
50,000-10.9209/16/2026--
20,0005,00012.4009/13/2027--
25,000-11.2612/14/2028--
30,125-12.4606/14/2029--
 -6,00012.8902/10/20312,40037,032

Thomas P. Keating

Former Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

2,000-12.1910/20/2024--
5,000-10.5512/29/2025--
10,0002,50012.4009/13/2027--

Michael Lesler

Former Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer

------

Kenneth G. Emerson

Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy & Risk Officer

------

   Option Awards  Stock Awards
 Name  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
(1)
        Option
Exercise
Price
($ per
share)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested (2)
  Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of
Stock
That
Have
Not
 Vested (3) 

 Thomas M. Coughlin

President,

Chief Executive Officer, &

Director

              
  9,000  1,000    13.32  03/07/2024  -  -
  8,000  2,000    10.81  12/02/2025  -  -
  50,000  -    10.92  09/16/2026  -  -
  25,000  -    12.40  09/13/2027  -  -
  25,000  -    11.26  12/14/2028  -  -
  30,125  -    12.46  06/14/2029  2,250  28,913
  2,400  3,600    12.89  02/10/2031  1,200  15,420

 Ryan Blake

Chief Operating Officer,

Corporate Secretary, &

Director

  820  1,230    13.68  04/26/2031  25,252  324,488

 

(1)

The stock options granted to Mr. Coughlin expiring on 1/17/2023, 3/7/2024 and 12/2/2025 vest at a rate of 10% per year, commencing on the one-year anniversary date following the date of grant. The stock options granted to Mr. Coughlin expiring on 9/13/20272/10/2031 and 02/10/the stock options granted to Ryan Blake expiring on 4/26/2031 vest at a rate of 20% per year, commencing on the one-year anniversary date following the date of that grant. The stock options granted to Mr. Keating expiring on 9/13/2027 vest at a rate of 20% per year, commencing on the one-year anniversary date following the date of grant. All stock options awarded have a ten-year term to be exercised from the date of grant.

(2)

Amounts shown represent time-based restricted stock awards granted on February 10, 2001 and vesting at a rate of 25%33% per year, commencing on the one-year anniversary date following the date of grant.year.

(3)

Amounts shown are based on the fair market value of the Company common stock on December 31, 202129, 2023 (the last trading day of 2021)2023) of $15.43.$12.85.

OPTIONS EXERCISED AND STOCK VESTED

DURING FISCAL YEAR 2023

26 

Stock Benefit Plans

BCB Bancorp, Inc. Stock Option Plan. Outside directors and employeesThe following table sets forth the number of the Company, the Bank or their affiliates were eligible to participateshares acquired upon exercising options and receive awards under the BCB Bancorp, Inc., 2011 Stock Option Plan (“2011 Stock Option Plan”). The Company reserved 900,000 shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to grants of stock options under the 2011 Stock Option Plan. As of December 31, 2021, there were 826,800 shares of common stock outstanding under the 2011 Stock Option Plan.

Unless otherwise specified in an award agreement, the vesting of stock options will accelerate upon death, disability or a change in control of the Company or the Bank.

BCB Bancorp, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. Directors and employees of the Company, the Bank or their affiliates are eligible to participate and receive awards under the BCB Bancorp, Inc., 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (“2018 Equity Incentive Plan”). The Company reserved 1,000,000 shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to grants of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.

A stock option gives the recipient the right to purchase shares of common stock of the Company at a specified priceby our named executive officers during a specified period of time. Awards may be granted as either incentive or non-qualified stock options. Incentive stock options have certain tax advantages and must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Only officers and employees are eligible to receive incentive stock options. Outside directors and service providers may only receive non-qualified stock options. Shares of common stock purchased upon the exercise of a stock option must be paid for in full at the time of exercise (i) by tendering, either actually or constructively by attestation, shares of stock valued at fair market value as of the date of exercise; (ii) by irrevocably authorizing a third party, acceptable to the Compensation Committee, to sell shares of stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired upon exercise of the stock option and to remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire exercise price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise; (iii) by a net settlement of the stock option, using a portion of the shares obtained on exercise in payment of the exercise price of the stock option (and if applicable, any required tax withholding); (iv) by personal, certified or cashier’s check; (v) by other property deemed acceptable by the Compensation Committee; or (vi) by any combination thereof.

A restricted stock award gives the recipient a grant of shares of the Company’s common stock for no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by applicable law. Restricted stock awards may be granted only in whole shares of common stock. Shares of common stock issued as restricted stock shall count against the reserved 1,000,000 shares of common stock as two (2) shares of stock for every one (1) share of stock issued under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. Prior to vesting, recipients of a restricted stock award are entitled to vote the shares of restricted stock during the restricted period. No dividends on unvested restricted stock awards, whether subject to a time-based vesting schedule or performance-based vesting conditions, will be paid to the recipient that has been granted the restricted stock award unless and until the recipient vests in the restricted stock award.

A restricted stock unit gives the recipient a grant of units that may be denominated in shares of common stock and are similar to restricted stock awards except that no shares of common stock are actually issued to the award recipient at the time of grant of a restricted stock unit. Awards may be settled in shares of the Company’s common stock, or in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee determined at the time of final settlement in cash or a combination of cash and the Company’s common stock, subject to vesting conditions and other restrictions set forth in the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan or the award agreement. Shares of common stock issued as restricted stock units shall count against the reserved 1,000,000 shares of common stock as two (2) shares of stock for every one (1) share of stock issued under the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. Recipients of units have no voting rights with respect to any restricted stock units granted. Dividend rights may be paid on restricted stock units, in the sole discretion of the Committee, exercised at the time of grant, as specified in the Award Agreement.

Unless otherwise specified in an award agreement, the vesting of stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units will accelerate upon involuntary termination of employment or service simultaneous with or following a change in a change in control of the Company or the Bank.fiscal year 2023.

 

27 

Tax-Qualified Benefit Plans

401(k) Plan. The Bank maintains the BCB Community Bank 401(k) Plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, for all employees who satisfied the 401(k) plan’s eligibility requirements. Employees are eligible to participate in the plan upon completion of one year of service with the Bank. The 401(k) plan allows a participant to contribute, on a pre-tax basis, up to 25% of his or her annual salary, provided that the contribution does not exceed the maximum salary deferral contribution limit set forth by the Internal Revenue Service, which was $19,500 for 2021 for Employees under 50 years of age, and $26,000 for 2021 for Employees over 50 years of age. In addition, the Bank may make: (i) discretionary qualified non-elective contributions; and/or (ii) discretionary matching contributions to the 401(k) plan, both of which will be allocated to a participant’s individual account based on the ratio his or her compensation bears to the total compensation of all participants. A participant is always 100% vested in his or her elective deferrals and the qualified non-elective contributions which were allocated to his or her account. The Bank may make profit-sharing contributions at its discretion which will be allocated annually in accordance with the terms of the 401(k) plan. Any discretionary matching contributions and/or profit-sharing contributions made by the Bank which are allocated to a participant’s account will become vested at the rate of 20% per year, starting upon completion of two years of credited service, and will be fully vested upon completion of six years of credited service. However, a participant will immediately become 100% vested in any profit-sharing contributions upon his or her death, disability, or attainment of age 65 while employed with the Bank. Generally, a participant (or participant’s beneficiary) may receive a distribution from his or her vested account on or after the normal retirement date (age 65) or upon termination of employment. Each participant has an individual account under the 401(k) plan and may direct the investment of his or her account among a variety of investment options available, including the purchase of Company common stock through the BCB Bancorp Stock Fund.

Director Compensation

Directors’ Summary Compensation Table. Set forth below is summary compensation for each of the Company’s Non-employee Directors for the year ended December 31, 2021. Compensation paid to Directors who are also Named Executive Officers is reflected in the “Executive Compensation Summary” above.

Name

Fees earned or
paid in cash

($)(1)

 

 

Stock awards
($)(2)

 

 

Option awards
($)(3)

All other
compensation

($)(4)

Total

($)

Robert Ballance55,10012,00030,936-98,036
Judith Q. Bielan50,50012,00030,936-93,436
James Collins55,30012,00030,936-98,236
Vincent DiDomenico53,50012,00030,936-96,436
Mark D. Hogan132,10012,00030,93614,825189,861
Joseph Lyga55,40012,00030,936-98,336
August Pellegrini53,20012,00030,936-96,136
John Pulomena52,20012,00030,936-95,136
James Rizzo55,00012,00030,936-97,936
Spencer Robbins54,40012,00030,936-97,336
   
    Option Awards  Stock Awards
    
Name  

Number of 

Shares 
Acquired on 
Exercise 

  

 Value Realized 

on 

Exercise 

  

Number of Shares 

Acquired on Vesting 

(1) 

  

Value Realized on 

Vesting (2) 

Thomas M. Coughlin

President, CEO, & Director

  10,000  92,700  600  10,932
  -  -  750  13,058
             

Ryan Blake COO, Corporate

Secretary, & Director

  -  -  150  2,639

 

(1)Included in these totals are certain fees earned during the fourth quarter

Vesting of restricted stock awards originally granted on 02/10/2021 but paid in 2022.and 01/12/2022, respectively, for those related to Mr. Coughlin. The awards granted to Mr. Blake held an original grant date of 02/19/2021.

(2)

Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock received under the BCB Bancorp, Inc.Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. The grant date fair value ishas been computed in accordance with FASBthe stock-based compensation accounting rules (FASB ASC Topic 718.

(3)Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock options received under the BCB Bancorp, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.718). The grant date fair assumptions used in calculating the award values may be found in the Company’s consolidated financial statements set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

33


POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION

OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

As we describe above, each of Messrs. Blake, and Chaudhry, have entered into employment agreements with us. Under the conditions described below, each of these agreements provides for certain payments upon termination of employee and a change in control. We describe these payments below. Mr. Coughlin, though he was a party to an employment agreement with the Bank, retired from the Company and the Bank effective December 31, 2023. Therefore, he has no potential payments under such agreement. His payments upon retirement are set forth in the footnote below.

Messrs. Blake, and Chaudhry

If we were to terminate the employment of Messrs. Blake, and Chaudhry without cause, as defined below, or if such executive were to resign for good reason, as defined below, during the 24-month period after a change in control, we would be obligated to pay to the terminating executive the following:

a lump sum cash payment equal to two-times the sum of the executive’s base salary then in effect for Mr. Chaudhry (for Mr. Blake, the payment is three times this amount);

“Cause” means, with respect to Messrs. Coughlin, Blake, and Chaudhry any of the following:

(1) material act of fraud or dishonesty in performing Executive’s duties on

(2) willful misconduct that, in the judgment of the Board, will likely cause material economic damage to the Bank or injury to the business reputation of the Bank;

(3) incompetence (in determining incompetence, the acts or omissions shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the commercial banking industry);

(4) breach of fiduciary duty;

(5) intentional failure to perform stated duties under this Agreement after written notice thereof from the Board;

(6) willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) that reflect adversely on the reputation of the Bank, any felony conviction, any violation of law involving moral turpitude, or any violation of a regulatory order;

(7) material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or,

(8) willful engagement in conduct which constitutes a violation of the established written policies or procedures of the bank regarding the conduct of its employees.

“Good reason” means, with respect to Messrs. Chaudhry and Blake any of the following:

a material diminution in Executive’s Base Salary

a material diminution of the executive’s position, duties, or responsibilities;

a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must perform his duties under this Agreement; or

a material breach of our obligations under the agreement.

“Change in Control” means, with respect to Messrs. Chaudhry and Blake any of the following:

(i) MERGER: The Company or the Bank merges into or consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into the Company or the Bank, and as a result less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were stockholders of the Company or the Bank immediately before the merger or consolidation;

(ii) ACQUISITION OF SIGNIFICANT SHARE OWNERSHIP: There is filed or required to be filed a report on Schedule 13D or another form or schedule (other than Schedule 13G) required under Sections 13(D) or 14(D) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of a class of the Company’s voting securities; or

(iii) SALE OF ASSETS: The Company sells to a third party all or substantially all of its assets.

34


Each of Messrs. Blake and Chaudhry’s employment agreements provides that if any amounts payable, when taken together with payments and benefits provided to the executive under any other plans, contracts, or arrangements with us, will be subject to any excise tax imposed under Code Section 4999, then such amounts will be

reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof will be subject to the excise tax

In the event of the death or termination for disability of a named executive officer, all outstanding unvested equity awards of such named executive officer become vested.

Potential Payments Table

The table below reflects the incremental amount of compensation payable to our named executive officers under various termination and change in control scenarios. The amounts shown below assume that such hypothetical termination or change in control is effective as of December 31, 2023. These amounts do not include benefits earned or vested as of December 31, 2023, or benefits provided under insurance or regular programs available to our salaried employees generally. The actual amounts that are payable upon a named executive officer’s termination of employment can be determined only at the time of any such event. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon a termination or change in control, any actual amounts paid or distributed may be higher or lower than the amounts set forth below. Factors that could affect these amounts include, among other things, the time of year the event occurs, our financial performance, and the age of the named executive officer at the time of the event.

    
      Pre-Change-In-Control Post-Change-In-Control
     
      Termination
 for Death or 
Disability
 Involuntary
 Termination 
for Cause
 Involuntary
Termination
 without Cause 
 Voluntary
 Termination 
for Good
Reason
 Involuntary
Termination
 without Cause 
 Voluntary
 Termination 
for Good
Reason
 

Thomas Coughlin (1) See footnote below

  Total - - - - -  
     

Ryan Blake

 Severance - - $200,000 - $1,324,821 $1,324,821
     
  Welfare benefits continuation (2) $28,142 - $9,886 - - -
     
  Value of accelerated restricted stock units (3) - - - - $24,413 $24,413
     
  Value of accelerated restricted stock options (3) - - - - - -
     
  Potential reduction in payout due to operation of Code Section 280G - - - - ($219,271) ($219,271)
     
  Total $28,142 - $209,886 - $1,129,963 $1,129,963
     

Jawad Chaudhry

 Severance - - $255,898 - $700,000 $700,000
     
  Benefit continuation (2) (3) $3,107 - - - - -
     
  Value of accelerated stock options(3) - - - - - -
     
  Potential reduction in payout due to operation of Code Section 280G - - - - - -
     
  Total $3,107 - $255,898 - $700,000 $700,000

(1)

Mr. Coughlin terminated effective December 31, 2023 and has entered into a consulting agreement with the Bank. In connection with his termination of employment, Mr. Coughlin received 18-months health insurance coverage valued at $11,074, two years of life insurance continuation valued at $4,722, and an additional benefit under a supplemental executive retirement plan with a present value of $1,170,000.

(2)

Assumes no increase in the cost of welfare benefits.

(3)

Represents a payment of up to three years of continuation of life insurance, medical, and dental benefits upon executive’s termination due to Disability.

(4)

For Mr. Blake, the amount of benefit continuation upon disability is computedrepresented by $21,252 in medical and dental benefits and $6,890 in life insurance. benefits. The amount of benefit continuation upon an involuntary termination without cause before a change-in-control is represented by $7,466 in medical and dental benefits and $2,421 in life insurance benefits.

35


2023 CEO PAY RATIO

As required by applicable SEC rules, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of Mr. Thomas Coughlin, our President and Chief Executive Officer (our “CEO”).

For fiscal year 2023:

   the median of the annual total compensation of all our employees (other than our CEO) was $44,309; and

   the annual total compensation of our CEO, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table, was $984,444.

Based on this information for fiscal year 2023, the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees was 22:1.

Methodology

We took the following steps to identify the median of the annual total compensation of all our employees, as well as to determine the annual total compensation of our median employee and our CEO.

As of December 31, 2023, our global workforce used for determining the pay ratio was estimated to be 312 employees in the U.S and none internationally. This population consisted of our full-time, part-time, and temporary employees employed with us as of the determination date.

To identify the “median employee” from our employee population, we used the amount of “gross wages” for the identified employees as reflected in our payroll records for the 12-month period beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023. For gross wages, we generally used the total amount of compensation the employees were paid before taxes, deductions, insurance premiums, and other payroll withholdings. We did not use any statistical sampling techniques.

For the annual total compensation of our median employee, we identified and calculated the elements of that employee’s compensation for fiscal year 2023 in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(4)For Mr. Hogan, amount represents perquisites receivedthe requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x), resulting in the formannual total compensation of a country club membership.$44,309.

 

For the annual total compensation of our CEO, we used the amount reported in the “Total” column of our 2023 Summary Compensation Table.

The CEO pay ratio reported above is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules based on the methodologies and assumptions described. SEC rules for identifying the median employee and determining the CEO pay ratio permit companies to employ a wide range of methodologies, estimates and assumptions. As a result, the CEO pay ratios reported by other companies, which may have employed other permitted methodologies or assumptions and which may have a significantly different work force structure from ours, are likely not comparable to our CEO pay ratio.

28 

 

36

As


PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
 CEO Pay Ratio
 Pay Versus Performance
In accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of December 31, 2021, each director has2010, we provide the following outstanding stock option disclosure regarding executive compensation for our principal executive officer (“PEO”)
and restricted stock awards:non-PEO NEOs
and Company performance for the fiscal years listed below. The Compensation Committee did not consider the pay versus performance disclosure below in making its pay decisions for any of the years shown.
  Year
    
Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Thomas M. Couglin¹
($)
    
Compensation
Actually Paid
to Thomas M.
Coughlin
1,2,3
 
($)
    
 
Average
Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Non-PEO
 
NEOs
1
 
($)
    
Average
Compensation
Actually Paid
to
Non-PEO
 
NEOs
1,2,3
 
($)
    
Value of Initial Fixed
$100 Investment
Based on:
4
 
TSR
($)
    
Net
Income
 ($ Millions) 
 2023    984,444    984,439    445,548    941,315    132    29,483
 2022    1,615,316    1,814,638    483,328    1,027,771    176    45,579
 2021    1,270,996    1,574,757    325,798    666,660    146    34,240
1.
Thomas M. Coughlin was our PEO for each year presented. The individuals comprising
the non-PEO
NEOs for each fiscal year are listed below.
 
2021
 
  
2022
 
  
2023
 
 
Ryan Blake, COO
 
  
 
Ryan Blake, COO
  
 
Ryan Blake, COO
Kenneth Emerson CSRO
 
  Kenneth Emerson, CSRO  Kenneth Emerson, CSRO
Thomas Keating, CFO
 
  Jawad Chaudhry, CFO  Jawad Chaudhry, CFO
David Garcia, CLO
 
  David Garcia, CLO  David Garcia, CLO
2. The amounts shown for Compensation Actually Paid have been calculated in accordance with Item 402(v) of
Regulation S-K and
do not reflect compensation actually earned, realized, or received by the Company’s NEOs. These amounts reflect the Summary Compensation Table Total.
3. Compensation Actually Paid reflects the exclusions and inclusions of certain amounts for the PEO and
the non-PEO NEOs
as set forth below. Equity values are calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Amounts in the Exclusion of Stock Awards and Option Awards column are the totals from the Stock Awards and Option Awards columns of our 2023 Summary Compensation Table on page 51.
     
Summary Compensation
Table Total
for Thomas M. Coughlin
($)
    
 
Exclusion of Stock
Awards and
Option Awards for
Thomas M. Coughlin
($)
    
Inclusion of Equity
Values for Thomas
M. Coughlin
($)
    
Compensation Actually
Paid to Thomas M.
Coughlin
($)
 
 2023
    984,444    -    (5)    984,439
 
 2022
    1,615,316    (354,170)    553,492    1,814,638
 
 2021
    1,270,996    (42,936)    346,697    1,574,757
  Year
  
Average Summary
Compensation Table
Total for Non-PEO NEOs
 
($)
  
 
Average Exclusion of
Stock Awards and
Option Awards for Non-
PEO NEOs
($)
  
Average Inclusion of
Equity Values for Non-
PEO NEOs
($)
  
 Average Compensation 
Actually Paid to
Non-PEO
NEOs
($)
 
 2023
  445,548  (37,341)  533,109  941,315
 
 2022
  483,328  (42,774)  587,216  1,027,771
 
 2021
  325,798  (807)  341,670  666,660
37

The amounts in the Inclusion of Equity Values in the tables above are derived from the amounts set forth in the following tables:
  Year
  
Year-End Fair
Value of Equity
Awards Granted
During Year That
Remained
Unvested as of
Last Day of
Fiscal Year for
Thomas M.
Coughlin
($)
  
Change in Fair
Value from Last
Day of Prior
Fiscal Year to
Last Day of Fiscal
Year of Unvested
Equity Awards for
Thomas M.
Coughlin
($)
  
Vesting-Date
Fair Value of
Equity Awards
Granted During
Year that Vested
During Year for
Thomas M.
Coughlin
($)
  
 
Change in Fair
Value from Last
Day of Prior
Fiscal Year to
Vesting Date of
Unvested Equity
Awards that
Vested During
Fiscal Year for
Thomas M.
Coughlin
($)
  
Fair Value at
Last Day of
Prior Year of
Equity Awards
Forfeited
During Year for
Thomas M.
Coughlin
($)
  
Value of
Dividends or
Other Earnings
Paid on Equity
Awards Not
Otherwise
Included for
Thomas M.
Coughlin
($)
  
Total
Inclusion of
Equity Values
for Thomas
M. Coughlin
($)
  
 
 2023
  -  (7)  -  2  -  -  (5) 
 
 2022
  53,970  177,438  320,450  1,634  -  -  553,492 
 
 2021
  37,032  262,047  -  47,618  -  -  346,697 
Year
  
Average Year-End Fair
 
Value of Equity Awards
Granted During Fiscal
Year That Remained
Unvested as of Last Day
of Fiscal Year for Non-
PEO NEOs
($)
  
 
Average Change in Fair
Value from Last Day of
Prior Fiscal Year to Last
Day of Fiscal Year of
Unvested Equity Awards
for
Non-PEO
NEOs
($)
  
 
Average Change in Fair
Value from Last Day of
Prior Fiscal Year to
Vesting Date of
Unvested Equity Awards
That Vested During
Fiscal Year for
Non-PEO
 
NEOs
($)
  
Total—
Average Inclusion
 of Equity Values for 
Non-PEO
NEOs
($)
 
2023
  81,122  6,439  -  87,561
 
2022
  8,051  6,538  89,300  103,889
 
2021
  9,065  6,807  -  15,872
4.
The Peer Group TSR set forth in the table below utilizes the NASDAQ Composite Index, which we also utilize in the stock performance graph required by Item 201(e) of Regulation
S-K
included in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The comparison assumes $100 was invested for the period starting December 31, 2020, through the end of the listed fiscal year in the Company and in the NASDAQ Composite Index, respectively. Historical stock performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
Description of Relationship Between PEO
and Non-PEO NEO
Compensation Actually Paid and Company Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”)
38

The following chart sets forth the relationship between Compensation Actually Paid to our PEO, the average of Compensation Actually Paid to
our Non-PEO NEOs,
and the Company’s cumulative TSR over the three most recently completed fiscal years.
LOGO
39


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

Name

Option Awards

Restricted

Stock Awards

Mark D. Hogan102,2502,400
Robert Ballance102,2502,400
Judith Q. Bielan102,2502,400
James Collins102,2502,400
Vincent DiDomenico62,2502,400
Joseph Lyga102,2502,400
August Pellegrini82,2502,400
John Pulomena37,2502,400
James Rizzo92,7502,400
Spencer Robbins102,2502,400

Director FeesReview of Related Person Transactions

 

Non-employeeThe Bank leases a property from New Bay, LLC. (“New Bay”), a limited liability company 100 percent owned by Directors of the Bank and the Company. In conjunction with the lease, New Bay substantially removed the pre-existing structure on the site and constructed a new building suitable to the Bank for its banking operations. Under the terms of the lease, the cost of this project was reimbursed to New Bay by the Bank. The amount reimbursed, which occurred during the year 2000, was $943,000, and is included in property and equipment under the caption “Building and improvements” (see Note 6). On May 1, 2006, the Bank renegotiated the lease to a twenty-five-year term. The Bank paid New Bay $165,000 a year ($13,750 per month) which is included in the consolidated statements of operations for 2023, 2022 and 2021, within occupancy expense. The rent is to be adjusted every five years thereafter at the fair market rental value. The Bank expects to pay $165,000 in rental expense for the year 2024.

On March 6, 2014, the Bank entered into a ten-year lease of property in Rutherford, New Jersey with 190 Park Avenue, LLC, which is owned by Directors of the Bank and the Company. The rent is $7,816 per month and lease payments of $105,000, $102,000 and $99,000 were made in years 2023, 2022 and 2021, which is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations within occupancy expense. The Bank expects to pay $31,264 in rental expense for the year 2024.

On August 3, 2018, the Bank entered in to a ten-year lease of property in River Edge, New Jersey with 876 Kinderkamack, LLC, which is owned by a majority of the Directors of the Bank and the Company. The rent is $8,240 per month and lease payments of $97,000, $96,000 and $96,000 were made in the years 2023, 2022 and 2021, which is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations within occupancy expense. The Bank expects to pay $98,880 in rental expense for the year 2024.

On April 2, 2021, the Bank renewed a five-year lease of property in Lyndhurst, New Jersey with 734 Ridge Realty, LLC, which is owned by Directors of the Bank and the Company. The rent is $7,718 per month and lease payments of $93,000, $93,000 and $91,000 were made in years 2023, 2022 and 2021, which is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations within occupancy expense. The Bank expects to pay $93,000 in rental expense for the year 2024.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, legal fees were paid to a law firm owned by a Director of the Bank and the Company received an annual retainertotaling $75,000. No payments were made during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021.

Indemnification

Under New Jersey law, our certificate of $10,000incorporation and our bylaws contain limitation of liability provisions and provisions for indemnification of our directors and officers.

Directors and officers of the Company are also insured against certain liabilities for their services toactions by insurance policies obtained by the CompanyCompany. The aggregate premium for these policies for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Thomas Coughlin, who is a Director of the Company and also an executive officer of the Company, received an annual retainer of $10,0002023, specifically for his services as a Director of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Directors of the Company did not receive any other remuneration for their services as directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Non-employee Directors of the Bank received an annual retainer of $25,000 for their services to the Bank for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Thomas Coughlin, who is a Director of the Bank and also an executive officer of the Bank, did not receive an annual retainer for his services as a Director of the Bank for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, non-employee Directors of the Bank received total fees and retainers ranging from $50,500 to $132,100. The fee amounts are determined by membership on Board committees and attendance at Board and Committee meetings. Mr. Hogan received fees and retainers of $75,000 as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Non-employee directors of the Bank receive $1,000 for attending each Board meeting, $500 for attending each Special Board meeting, and the following as designated members of the below Committees: (1) Audit, Compensation, and Loan Committee - $300/meeting attended; (2) ALCO/ERM and Budget Committees - $500/meeting attended; and, (3) $300/meeting attended for all other Committee Meetings attended as a designated member of the Committee. Thomas Coughlin, who is a Director of the Bank and also an executive officer, did not receive any fees or a retainer for his services as a Director of the Bank for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Director Plans

Stock Benefit Plans. Directors are eligible to participate in the 2011 Stock Option Plan and the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. Please see the descriptions of the plan set forth above under “Executive Compensation – Stock Benefit Plans” for further details.

Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. The Board of Directors of the Bank adopted the 2005 Director Deferred Compensation Plan (the “2005 Deferred Plan”), which became effective on October 1, 2005. The 2005 Deferred Plan is designed to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. All members of the Board of Directors of the Bank are eligible to participate in the 2005 Deferred Plan. Pursuant to the 2005 Deferred Plan, a participant may elect to defer, on a pre-tax basis, receipt of all or any portion of the fees and retainers received for his or her service on the Board of Directors and on committees of the Board of Directors, but only to the extent such amounts are attributable to services not yet performed. The Bank credits the deferred amounts to a bookkeeping account. Interest is paid on such deferred amounts at a rate equal to the rate payable on the Bank’s highest paying time deposit, as determined as of the first day of each month, or as adjusted from time to time. The Bank may establish a “rabbi trust” to which the Bank may deposit such deferrals and interest, but such deposits shall remain subject to the claims of the Bank’s creditors.

A participant may make a deferral election during the first 30 days of becoming eligible to participate in the 2005 Deferred Plan with respect to amounts earned that year, specifying the amount deferred and the time and form

29 

of payment. Deferral amounts continue in effect until the participant files a notice of adjustment with the Bank. In addition, if the amount of director fees and/or retainers is increased, the participant may increase the amount of his or her deferral by filing a notice of adjustment with the Bank. Such adjustments take effect as of January 1 following the date the notice is given to the Bank. Such deferral election is irrevocable with respect to the calendar year for which it is filed, provided, however, that a participant may delay distributions or modify a previous deferral election if: (i) the new deferral election is not effective for 12 months, (ii) the original distribution date is at least 12 months from the date of the change in the election, and (iii) the new distribution date must be at least five years after the original distribution date.

Deferred fees will be paid out on the participant’s benefit age as designated in his or her deferral election form or upon the participant’s death, disability or separation from service as a director of the Bank, if such date is earlier than his or her designated benefit age. Distributions may also be made earlier than the director’s designated benefit age if the distribution is necessary to satisfy a financial hardship, as defined under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. At the election of the participant, the distribution may be paid out in a lump sum or in equal annual installments over a period not to exceed ten years.

Related Party Transactions

The Bank leases its 860 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey, branch office from a limited liability company owned by directors Hogan, Ballance, Bielan, Collins, Coughlin, Lyga and Pellegrini, and three former directors or their estates. The percentage of ownership in the limited liability company is divided equally among the 10 individuals and/or entities. Based upon a market rental value appraisal obtained prior to entering into the lease agreement, the Company believes that the terms and conditions of the lease are comparable to terms that would have been available from a third party that was unaffiliated with the Bank. During 2021, total lease payments of $165,000 were made to that limited liability company. Rental payments under the lease were $13,750 per month in 2021. Rental payments under the lease currently are $13,750 per month.

The Bank leases its 876 Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, New Jersey, branch office from a limited liability company owned by directors Bielan, Coughlin, Hogan, Pellegrini, Rizzo, Robbins, and the estate of a former director. The percentage of ownership in the limited liability company is divided equally among those seven individuals. Based upon a market rental value appraisal obtained prior to entering into the lease agreement, the Company believes that the terms and conditions of the lease are comparable to terms that would have been available from a third party that was unaffiliated with the Bank. During 2021, total lease payments of $96,000 were made to that limited liability company. Rental payments under the lease were $8,000 per month in 2021. Rental payments under the lease currently are $8,000 per month.

The Bank leases its 190 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey, branch office from a limited liability company in which directors Rizzo and Hogan each owns a 50% membership interest. Based upon a market rental value appraisal obtained prior to entering into the lease agreement, the Company believes that the terms and conditions of the lease are comparable to terms that would have been available from a third party unaffiliated with the Bank. During 2021, total lease payments of $99,481.51 were made to that limited liability company. Rental payments under the lease were $7,367 per month in 2021. Rental payments under the lease currently total $7,367 per month.

The Bank leases its 734 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, branch office from a limited liability company in which directors Ballance, Bielan, Coughlin, Hogan, Lyga, Pellegrini, Rizzo and Robbins each own a 10% membership interest. Two former directors or their estates each also own a 10% membership interest. Based upon a market rental value appraisal obtained prior to entering into the lease agreement, the Company believes that the terms and conditions of the lease are comparable to terms that would have been available from a third party unaffiliated with the Bank. During 2021, total lease payments of $90,772 were made to that limited liability company. Rental payments under the lease were $7,717 per month in 2020. Rental payments under the lease currently total $7,350 per month.

Other than as described in the preceding paragraph, no directors, executive officers or immediate family members of such individuals have engaged in transactions with us involving more than $120,000 (other than through a loan) during the preceding year. In addition, no directors, executive officers or immediate family members of such individuals were involved in loans from us which were not made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms and conditions, including interest rate and collateral, as those of comparable transactions prevailing at

30 

the time with other unaffiliated persons, and do not include more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.

The Company requires that any transaction in which a director, officer or a member of their immediate family has an interest, and in which the Bank is involved, must be reviewed and approved and/or ratified by the Board of Directors. Any such transaction must be made on terms no less favorable to us than it would be if the Company entered into a similar relationship with an unaffiliated third party. Any lending relationship between a director, officer or a member of their immediate family and the Bank must be reviewed and approved and/or ratified by the Board of Directors. All such loans are made on substantially the same terms as loans to third parties, consistent with banking regulations governing the origination of loans to directors, officers and employees of the Bank. The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the application of these policies and procedures, which are part of the Company’s written policies.

Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 generally prohibits an issuer from: (1) extending or maintaining credit; (2) arranging for the extension of credit; or (3) renewing an extension of credit in the form of a personal loan for an officer or director. There are several exceptions to this general prohibition, one of which is applicable to us. Sarbanes-Oxley does not apply to loans made by a depository institution that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and is subject to the insider lending restrictions of the Federal Reserve Act. All loans to the Company’s directors and officers, as individuals, was $776,000.

DELINQUENT SECTION16 (a) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and any persons owning more than ten percent of Company common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC and Nasdaq. Persons filing such reports are maderequired by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all such reports filed with the SEC. Based solely on our review of any copies of such reports received by it, and on written representations from our existing directors and executive officers that no additional annual statements of beneficial ownership were required to be filed by such persons. We believe that all statements were timely filed in conformity with regulations promulgated under the Federal Reserve Act.fiscal year 2023 except that Mr. Blake inadvertently filed a Form 4 late reporting one transaction, Mr. DiDomenico inadvertently filed two Form 4s late reporting three transactions, Mr. Collins inadvertently filed a Form 4 late reporting one transaction, Mr. Hogan inadvertently filed a Form 4 late reporting one transaction, and Mr. Chaudhry inadvertently filed a Form 4 late reporting one transaction.

 

PROPOSAL II - RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED40

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2021, was Wolf & Company, P.C. (“Wolf & Company”).

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has approved the engagement of Wolf & Company to be the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. The Audit Committee has directed that management submit the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm to the Company’s shareholders for ratification at the annual meeting. Representatives of Wolf & Company are expected to attend the annual meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Shareholder ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm is not required by the Company’s Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders fail to ratify the independent registered public accounting firm selected by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain that firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such change is in the Company’s best interests and the best interests of the Company’s shareholders.

Fees Paid to Wolf & Company


 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN

BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Set forth below is certain information concerning aggregate fees billedthe beneficial ownership of our common stock by each director, each nominee for professional services rendered by Wolf & Company during 2021director, each named executive officer, each holder of more than 5% percent of our common stock, and 2020:all directors and named executive officers as a group as of March 6, 2024, the Record Date.

 

Name

  Number of Shares (1)  Percent (1)

 

BlackRock, Inc. (2)

  1,059,233  6.25%

 

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP (3)

  934,133  5.51%

 

Robert Ballance (4)

  214,737  1.27%

 

Judith Q. Bielan (5)

  206,385  1.22%

 

Ryan Blake (6)

  55,001  *

 

James Collins (7)

  259,888  1.54%

 

Thomas Coughlin (8)

  450,915  2.67%

 

Vincent DiDomenico, Jr. (9)

  225,790  1.34%

 

Mark D. Hogan (10)

  749,017  4.43%

 

Joseph Lyga (11)

  246,139  1.46%

 

John Pulomena (12)

  51,260  *

 

James Rizzo (13)

  198,072  1.17%

 

Spencer B. Robbins (14)

  150,659  *

 

Michael Shriner (15)

  33,500  *

 

Jawad Chaudhry (16)

  1,500  *

 

Kenneth Emerson (17)

  6,000  *

 

David Garcia (18)

  3,000  *

 

Sandra Sievewright (19)

  16,380  *

 

All current directors and named executive officers as a group (16 persons) (20)

  4,861,609  28.7%

Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed to us

*

Less than 1%.

(1)

Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under Exchange Act, thereby including, with respect to each director and named executive officer, options exercisable by such owner or restricted stock units that vest within 60 days of the Record Date. The numbers of shares reflected in this table have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

(2)

Includes BlackRock Advisors, LLC; Aperio Group, LLC; BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited; BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited; BlackRock Fund Advisors; BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, National Association; BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.; and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC. Information about BlackRock, Inc. is derived from its Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 29, 2024. The principal business office address of BlackRock, Inc. is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

(3)

Information about Dimensional Fund Advisors LP is derived from its Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024. Its principal business office address is 6300 Bee Cave Road, Building One, Austin, TX 78746.

(4)

Mr. Ballance has sole voting and dispositive power over 214,737 shares, including 64,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 3,275 shares with his spouse, sole voting and dispositive power over 1,063 shares held in an IRA, and shared voting and dispositive power over 3,398 shares with his children.

(5)

Ms. Bielan has sole voting and dispositive power over 206,385 shares, including 64,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 14,246 shares with her spouse, sole voting and dispositive power over 13,426 shares held in an IRA, and shared voting and dispositive power over 39 shares with her children.

(6)

Mr. Blake has sole voting and dispositive power over 55,001 shares, including 1,230 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 25,252 unvested restricted stock shares and sole voting and dispositive power over 5,732 shares held in a 401(k) account.

(7)

Mr. Collins has sole voting and dispositive power over 259,888 shares, including 52,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 1,751 shares with his spouse, and sole voting and dispositive power over 79,999 shares held in an IRA.

(8)

Mr. Coughlin has sole voting and dispositive power over 450,915 shares, including 146,125 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, and sole voting power but no dispositive power over 3,450 unvested restricted stock shares, and sole voting and dispositive power over 59,374 shares held in an IRA.

(9)

Mr. DiDomenico has sole voting and dispositive power over 225,790 shares, including 49,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, and sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares.

(10)

Mr. Hogan has sole voting and dispositive power over 749,017 shares, including 64,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares, and shared voting and dispositive power over 1,988 shares with his children, and sole voting and dispositive power over 75,729 shares held in an IRA.

(11)

Mr. Lyga has sole voting and dispositive power over 246,139 shares, including 64,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 2,594 shares with his spouse, and shared voting and dispositive power over 2,985 shares with his child.

(12)

Mr. Pulomena has sole voting and dispositive power over 51,260 shares, including 34,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, and sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares.

41


(13)

Mr. Rizzo has sole voting and dispositive power over 198,072 shares, including 72,150 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 3,100 shares with his spouse, and sole voting and dispositive power over 69,554 shares held in an IRA.

(14)

Mr. Robbins has sole voting and dispositive power over 150,659 shares, including 64,850 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date, sole voting power but no dispositive power over 5,250 unvested restricted stock shares, shared voting and dispositive power over 200 shares with his child, and sole voting and dispositive power over 300 shares held in an IRA.

(15)

Mr. Shriner has sole voting and dispositive power over 33,500 shares.

(16)

Mr. Chaudhry has sole voting and dispositive power over 1,500 shares.

(17)

Mr. Emerson has sole voting and dispositive power over 6,000 shares.

(18)

Mr. Garcia has sole voting and dispositive power over 3,000 shares.

(19)

Ms. Sievewright has sole voting and dispositive power over 16,380 shares, including 15,000 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.

(20)

Includes 696,305 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days from the record date.

42


Proposal No. 3

Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officer Compensation

As required by Wolf & Company for professional services rendered for the auditDodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, we are seeking shareholder input on our executive compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement. Based upon the results of a non-binding advisory vote on the issue of the Company’sfrequency of holding future non-binding advisory votes to approve named executive officer compensation, the Board has determined that it will include an annual financial statements, reviewnon-binding advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation in our proxy materials until the next non-binding advisory vote on the frequency for holding such votes. The Board and the Compensation Committee actively monitor our executive compensation practices in light of the financial statements includedindustry in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements was $228,500 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and $226,500 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

31 

Audit Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed to us by Wolf & Company for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit and review of the financial statements and that are not already reported in “Audit Fees” above was $17,522 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and $27,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Tax Fees. There were no fees billed to us by Wolf & Company for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

All Other Fees. All other fees billed to us by Wolf & Company, which are not described above, were $4,925 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its Chairman when expedition of services is necessary. The independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the full Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval,we operate and the feesmarketplace for talent in which we compete. We remain focused on compensating our executive officers fairly and in a manner that incentivizes high levels of performance while providing the services performedtools necessary to date. All ofattract and retain the fees paid in the audit-related, tax and all other categories were approved per the pre-approval policies.

Required Vote and Recommendation of the Board of Directors

In order to ratify the selection of Wolf & Company, P.C., as independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, the proposal must receive the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting, either in person or by proxy.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF WOLF & COMPANY, P.C., AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.

PROPOSAL III – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

best talent.

The compensation of the Named Executive Officers of the Company is described under the “Executive Compensation” section above. Shareholders are urged to read the “The Compensation Committee -- Roles“Compensation Discussion and Responsibilities”Analysis” section of this Proxy Statement, which discusses the Company’s compensation policies and procedures with respect to the Company’s Named Executive Officers.

In accordance with Section 14AFor the reasons set forth in such Compensation Discussion and Analysis section the Board recommends shareholders vote in favor of the Exchange Act, shareholders will be asked atfollowing resolution:

“Resolved, that the annual meetingcompensation paid to provide their support with respectthe company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Company’s Named Executive Officers by voting on the following advisory, non-binding resolution:

RESOLVED, that the shareholders of the Company approve, on an advisory basis,Securities and Exchange Commission, including the compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers described in the “Executive Compensation” section of the Proxy Statement, includingdiscussion and analysis, the compensation tables and other narrative executive compensation disclosures set forthany related material disclosed in that section.this proxy statement, is hereby APPROVED.”

ThisAs an advisory vote, commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay” advisory vote,this proposal is non-binding onnot binding upon the Board of Directors. Although non-binding, the Board of Directors andCompany. However, the Compensation Committee, value constructive dialogue on executive compensationwhich is responsible for designing and other important governance topics with the Company’s shareholders and

32 

encourages all shareholders to vote their shares on this matter. The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regardingadministering the Company’s executive compensation programs.

Required Voteprogram, values the opinions expressed by shareholders in their vote on this proposal and Recommendationwill consider the outcome of the Boardvote when making future compensation decisions for named executive officers.

Approval of Directors

In order for the resolution set forth above to be approved,Proposal No. 3 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes castshares present or represented by proxy and voting at the Annual Meeting.

LOGO

The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR
approval of executive compensation

43


OTHER INFORMATION

Shareholder Proposals or Nominations

Any shareholder who desires to submit a proposal for inclusion in the proxy materials relating to our 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in accordance with the rules of the SEC must submit such proposal in writing, addressed to the Company at 595 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 no later than November 15, 2024.

In accordance with our bylaws, a shareholder who desires to propose a matter for consideration at an annual meeting of shareholders, even if the proposal is not submitted by the deadline for inclusion in our proxy materials, must comply with the procedures specified in our bylaws, including providing notice thereof in writing, delivered or mailed by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting. For the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this period will begin on January 26, 2025 and end on December 27, 2024.

In accordance with our bylaws, a shareholder who desires to nominate candidates for election to the Board must comply with the proceeding specified in the bylaws, including providing proper notice of the nomination in writing, delivered or mailed by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting. For the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this period will begin on January 26, 2025 and end on December 27, 2024.

If the shareholder does not also comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, proxy holders of shares entitledmay exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies that we solicit to vote thereonin accordance with their best judgment on any such shareholder proposal or nomination.

Reduce Duplicate Mailings

Only one Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and Annual Report will be sent to those shareholders who share a single household and who have consented to receive a single copy of such annual meeting materials. This practice, known as “householding,” is designed to reduce expenses and conserve natural resources. Householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until one or more shareholders at your address revokes consent. If you revoke consent, you will be removed from the householding program within 30 days of receipt of the revocation. However, if any shareholder residing at such an address desires to receive a separate Proxy Statement, Proxy Card and Annual Report in the future, he or she may telephone our Investor Relations Department at 1-(800)680-6872 or write to Investor Relations at the Company, rblake@bcb.bank or by e-mail through the Investor Relations and Other Information link at www.BCB.bank. If you are receiving multiple copies of our annual meeting is required. Unless otherwise instructed, validly executedmaterials, please request householding by contacting Investor Relations in the same manner. If you choose this option, your choice will remain in effect until you notify us by mail that you wish to resume mail delivery of these documents. If you hold your shares of our common stock through a bank, broker or another holder of record, refer to the information provided by that entity for instructions on how to elect this option.

Other Matters

If any other item or proposal properly comes before the Annual Meeting, including voting on a proposal omitted from this Proxy Statement pursuant to the rules of the SEC or incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting, then the proxies will be voted “FOR” this resolution.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE RESOLUTION SET FORTH IN THIS PROPOSAL III.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a)in accordance with the discretion of the Exchange Act and related regulationsproxy holders, including to vote to adjourn the Annual Meeting for the purpose of soliciting proxies to vote in accordance with the Board’s recommendation on any of the SEC require the Company’s officers and directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities (“ten-percent holders”) to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors, and ten-percent holders are required by regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and representations that no other reports were required, each of the Company’s officers, directors, and ten-percent holders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to him or her during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

In orderproposals to be eligible for inclusion in the Company’s proxy materials for next year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, any shareholder proposal to take action at such meeting must be received at the following address by no later than November 8, 2022.considered.

Corporate Secretary

BCB Bancorp, Inc.

591-595 Avenue C

Bayonne, New Jersey 07002

OTHER MATTERSProxy Solicitation Costs

 

The Company’sproxies being solicited hereby are being solicited by the Board of Directors is not aware of any business, other than the matters described in this Proxy Statement, to come before the annual meeting. However, if any other matter should properly come before the annual meeting,Company. The cost of soliciting proxies in the enclosed form will be voted in respect of any such matter as recommendedborne by the BoardCompany. Officers and regular employees of Directors.

33 

MISCELLANEOUS/FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Thethe Company may, but without compensation other than their regular compensation, solicit proxies by further mailing or personal conversations, or by telephone, telex, facsimile or electronic means. We will, bear the cost of solicitation of proxies. The Company willupon request, reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciariesothers for their reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materialsforwarding solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock. The Company’s directors, officers, and regular employees may solicit proxies personally, by telephone, or by any other lawful means without receiving additional compensation.

 

AN44


Incorporation by Reference

In accordance with SEC rules, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our previous or future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that might incorporate this Proxy Statement or future filings made by us under those statutes, the information included under the caption “Compensation Committee Report” and those portions of the information included under the caption “Audit Committee Report” required by the SEC’s rules to be included therein, shall not be deemed filed with the SEC and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any of those prior filings or into any future filings made by us under those statutes, except to the extent that we specifically incorporates these items by reference.

Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023

The Company’s Annual Report to the Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2023, is enclosed herewith. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, has been combined with the Annual Report to Shareholders, as permitted by SEC rules. The Annual Report is furnished to shareholders for their information. No part of the Annual Report is incorporated by reference herein.

UPON REQUEST OF ANY SHAREHOLDER, A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K CONTAINING THE COMPANY’S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT AND FOR THEITS FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 IS BEING FURNISHED TO SHAREHOLDERS. THE FORM 10-K CONSTITUTES THE COMPANY’S ANNUAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. COPIES OF ALL2023, INCLUDING A LIST OF THE COMPANY’S FILINGSEXHIBITS THERETO, REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-1 UNDER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ARE AVAILABLE AT THE COMMISSION’S WEB SITE (www.sec.gov), ON THE COMPANY’S WEBSITE, www.bcb.bank, AND ARE AVAILABLEACT OF 1934, MAY BE OBTAINED, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY WRITING TO INVESTOR RELATIONS, BCB BANCORP, INC. AT, 595 AVENUE C, BAYONNE, NEW JERSEYNJ 07002 ATTENTION: CORPORATE SECRETARY.OR BY CALLING THE COMPANY’S INVESTOR RELATIONS DIRECTLY AT 1-(800)680-6872. EACH REQUEST MUST SET FORTH A GOOD FAITH REPRESENTATION THAT, AS OF THE RECORD DATE, THE PERSON MAKING THE REQUEST WAS A BENEFICIAL OWNER OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE MEETING.

 

 

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 
 

Mark D. Hogan

Chairman of the Board

 

Bayonne, New Jersey45


LOGO

March 18, 2022

34 

Online Go to www.investorvote.com/BCBP or scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below.ENDORSEMENT_LINE SACKPACK MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 ADD 5 ADD 6 C123456789 Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext Your vote matters – here’s how to vote! You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card. Votes submitted electronically must be received by April 24, 2024 at 11:59 P.M., EST. Online Go to www.investorvote.com/BCBP or scanthe QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below. Phone Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within thewithinthe USA, US territories and Canada Save paper, time and money! Sign up for electronic delivery at www.investorvote.com/atwww.investorvote.com/BCBP Annual Meeting Proxy Card q1234 5678 9012 345 IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposals 1, 2 and 3. For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold + 1. The election as Directors of all nominees listed below each to servebelow: For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold 01—Michael Shriner*** 02—Thomas Coughlin* 03—Vincent DiDomenico, Jr.*** 04—Joseph Lyga*** * for a three-year term: 01 - Judith Bielan 04 - John Pulomena 02 - James Collins 03 - Mark D. Hogan1 year term *** for a 3 year term For Against Abstain 2. The ratification of the appointment of Wolf & Co., P.C., as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for theforthe fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 For Against Abstain2024 3. An advisory, non-binding resolution with respect to the executive compensationexecutivecompensation described in the Company’s Proxy Statement B Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. C 1234567890 1UPX J N T 602820 MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE 140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND 03Y9TE


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LOGO

03KIIC 1 U P X + IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 28, 2022.25, 2024. THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT: http://www.edocumentview.com/BCBP q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q REVOCABLE PROXY — BCB BANCORP, INC. + ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS APRIL 28, 202225, 2024 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The undersigned hereby appoints Ryan Blake, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary, with full powers of substitution to act as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned to vote all shares of common stock of BCB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at The Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002 on April 28, 2022,25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. eastern time. Ryan Blake, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary, is authorized to cast all votes to which the undersigned is entitled as follows: THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSITIONS STATED ABOVE. IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT SUCH MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THE ABOVE-NAMED PROXY AT THE DIRECTION OF A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOWS OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING. The annual meeting may be postponed or adjourned for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. Should the undersigned be present and elect to vote at the annual meeting or at any adjournment thereof and after notification to our Corporate Secretary at the annual meeting of the shareholder’s decision to terminate this proxy, then the power of said attorneys and proxies shall be deemed terminated and of no further force and effect. This proxy may also be revoked by sending written notice to our Corporate Secretary at the address set forth on the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or by the filing of a later proxy prior to a vote being taken on a particular proposal at the annual meeting. The undersigned acknowledges receipt from the Company prior to the execution of this proxy of a notice of the annual meeting and a Proxy Statement dated March 18, 202215, 2024 and the Annual Report on Form 10-K with audited financial statements. PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE C Non-Voting Items Change of Address — Please print new address below. Comments — Please print your comments below. Meeting Attendance Mark box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. +

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Your vote matters – here’s how to vote! You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card. Votes submitted electronically must be received by April 25, 2022 at 9:00 A.M., EST. Online Go to www.investorvote.com/BCBP or scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below. Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. Phone Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories and Canada Save paper, time and money! Sign up for electronic delivery at www.investorvote.com/BCBP Annual Meeting Proxy Card q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q A Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposals 1, 2, and 3. For Withhold For Withhold For Withhold + 1. The election as Directors of all nominees listed below each to serve for a three-year term: 01 - Judith Bielan 04 - John Pulomena 02 - James Collins 03 - Mark D. Hogan 2. The ratification of the appointment of Wolf & Co., P.C., as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 For Against Abstain 3. An advisory, non-binding resolution with respect to the executive compensation described in the Company’s Proxy Statement B Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full title. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below. Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box. Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.

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03KNOC 1 U P X + IMPORTANT ANNUAL MEETING INFORMATION IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 28, 2022. THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE ANNUAL REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT: http://www.edocumentview.com/BCBP q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q 401(k) PLAN VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM — BCB BANCORP, INC. SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEE OF THE BCB COMMUNITY BANK 401(K) PLAN (“401(K) PLAN”) ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS – APRIL 28, 2022 The undersigned hereby appoints Ryan Blake, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary, with full powers of substitution to act as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned to vote all shares of common stock of BCB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at The Chandelier Restaurant, 1081 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002 on April 28, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. local time. Ryan Blake, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary, is authorized to cast all votes to which the undersigned is entitled as follows: If any other business is brought before the Annual Meeting, this form will be voted by the Trustee in a manner intended to represent the best interest of participants and beneficiaries of the 401(k) Plan. At the present time, the Company knows of no other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting. The Trustee of the BCB Community Bank 401(k) Plan is hereby directed to vote my proportionate interest in the BCB Community Bank 401(k) Plan as indicated above. If I do not return this form in a timely manner, shares representing my interest in said plan will be voted in proportion to the manner in which other participants have voted their interests, subject to the determination that such a vote is for the exclusive benefit of plan participants and beneficiaries. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED AND THIS 401(k) PLAN VOTE AUTHORIZATION FORM IS RETURNED SIGNED, THIS FORM WILL BE CONSIDERED A VOTE FOR EACH OF PROPOSALS 1, 2, AND 3. I understand that my voting instructions will be kept confidential. I acknowledge receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, dated March 18, 2022, and the Confidential 401(k) Plan Voting Instruction Form. Please complete, sign, date and submit this form to Proxy Services, C/O Computershare Investor Services, PO Box 505008, Louisville, KY 40233-9814, in the enclosed postage- paid envelope as soon as possible. Your Confidential 401(k) Plan Voting Instruction Form must be received by COMPUTERSHARE no later than April 25, 2022. PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE C Non-Voting Items Change of Address — Please print new address below. Comments — Please print your comments below. Meeting Attendance Mark box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. +

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