The NJBankers Board of Directors has named John R. Garbarino, chairman and CEO, OceanFirst Bank, as recipient of the 2014 Forrey Gallman Award. The award is named for Robert C. Forrey and Emil A. Gallman, long-time chief executive officers of the New Jersey Bankers Association and New Jersey Savings League. Garbarino is being recognized for his long-term service to NJBankers, New Jersey League and to the state’s banking industry.

Included among the accomplishments in a 43 year community banking career, he has served as chairman of the New Jersey Savings League, served three terms on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, and served as a director of America’s Community Bankers. Garbarino continues to be active in many civic and charitable activities. The award will be presented during the First General Session (May 1, 2014) at the 110th Annual Conference at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort in Marco Island, Florida. 

NJBankers welcomes Noah Bank, headquartered in Elkins Park, PA, as our newest member. Noah Bank has branches and loan production offices in four states and Washington DC.  Offices are located in Elkins Park and Jenkintown PA; Edison, Fort Lee, and Palisades Park NJ;  Manhattan, NYC and Flushing, Queens NY; and Annandale VA.

Last week, 30 bankers received training at the NJBankers office on the Essential Employee Credentialing Program. The program is managed by the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management Support Services Group.  Under the program, travel ID cards will be issued to registered “essential employees” that will allow them access to roadways so that they can address critical bank business in times of emergencies when complete travel bans or restrictions are in place. The training was conducted by Cindy Fullerton. If you were unable to attend the session, you may reach out to Ms. Fullerton at lppfullc@gw.njsp.org to request to be notified of the next training event.

Associate Member Orientation Meeting 

Front row; far left: Chairman Roseanne Casiere and Vice Chairman John Siracusa (far right) hosted an orientation for new associate members.

NJBankers is pleased to announce that the following firms have joined the Association. These firms recognize the value of membership in NJBankers and we applaud their support of the New Jersey banking industry. 

April 30 – May 4, 2014
Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Marco Island, FL

UPDATED HOTEL RESERVATION – PLEASE NOTE - Please note NJBankers room block is currently still open and has rooms depending on your dates, (but the HOTEL is sold out on 3 nights). 

Directors and Managing Officers Conference
"Bringing Board Issues into Focus" 
Friday, March 14, 2014
Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel, Iselin, NJ

Boardroom intelligence is more important than ever and NJBankers Directors and Managing Officers Conference will help guide your board for the challenges ahead. We have assembled a program of outstanding speakers to help your directors become a strategic asset for your financial institution.

Campaign Finance Seminar:
Developing an Ethical and Effective Political Activity
Compliance Program
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Crowne Plaza, Monroe Township, NJ
CPE Credits Just Approved for 3 CLE Credits in Ethics!

These days, political participation requires vigilance.  All procedures and protocols should be reviewed in advance, and each decision to participate should be evaluated specific to the context in which the request is made – not every circumstance is the same.

Annual Security Seminar
presented by Profit Protection LLC
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Crowne Plaza, Monroe Township, NJ
CPE & CFSSP Credits Will Apply

Topics for this annual seminar will include:  Protecting Against Workplace Violence and Active Shooters; Proactive Measures to Avoid Confrontation and Stay Safe; A Close Look at Internal Fraud and Embezzlement; Security Diagnostic: An Enterprise-wide Risk Analysis and Assessment; Security Diagnostic: An Enterprise-wide Risk Analysis and Assessment and more.

G.R.O.W.T.H. Executive Conference
Friday, April 4, 2014
Pines Manor, Edison, NJ 08817

This second annual conference is designed to help banks adapt and obtain a G.R.O.W.T.H. mindset, to Gain Revenues by Organizational Wins Through High Level Leadership, regardless of the environment surrounding the banking industry today.  There are five major points that will be touched upon during this action packed thought provoking full day program that will help your bank grow. 

Members are encouraged to attend “An Evening with the Commissioner,” featuring New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance Commissioner Kenneth E. Kobylowski on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. Registration form

Monte Ehrenkranz, VP of business development for Regal Bank, has been appointed board president of the Livingston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP has announced that three new associates have joined the firm:  Anne Carrasco, Erika M. Lopes-McLeman and Christopher M. Quinlan.

A small contingent of students and their faculty advisors from Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) in Wayne recently took time out of their busy school schedules to stop by Columbia Bank’s corporate headquarters in Fair Lawn to officially “thank the bank” for their career support efforts and also to showcase their fellow student’s talents.  The visit coincided with National Career & Technical Education Month.

Shown during their visit to Columbia’s corporate headquarters are: Angelo Cassilli (third from right) and Geralyn Hunter (far left), PCTI Skills USA Advisors; Thomas Kemly, Columbia’s president and CEO (center); Richard Graff, Columbia Bank’s vice president, business banking officer (far right), and PCTI students (from left) Kevin Lopez, Jessica Gomez, Priscilla Nunez, Kayleen Acosta and Michal Kobylarz.  Gifts presented included student-drawn illustrations and gourmet baked goods prepared by the school’s Culinary Institute.

Staff members from Oritani Bank recently provided more than $2,800 worth of gifts, including two bicycles, to the Volunteer Center of Bergen County’s Adopt-A-Family holiday program. In addition to gifts, a $1,000 donation from the OritaniBank Charitable Foundation was used for last minute gift cards to ensure everyone was able to receive a little extra cheer. Staff members also delivered the gifts to three of the agencies participating in the Volunteer Center’s program throughout Bergen and Passaic counties.

Photo from Left to Right:  Oritani Bank employees Emilia Barrion, Gail Keates, Karen Colon and John Krantz.

Regal Bank recently presented a $2,000 check to support the mission of Healthy Communities Healthy Youth (HCHY). HCHY is a community organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of young people in Livingston, New Jersey.

Pictured left to right are: Monte Ehrenkranz, Regal Bank’s vice president of business development; Sydney Arnold, student member of the HCHY advisory board; Ben Karpas, student member of the HCHY advisory board; Christina Slater, Regal Bank’s vice president/regional manager; and Alan Karpas, president of the HCHY executive committee.

Sun National Bank has opened a Commercial Lending office in Manhattan NYC.  The office will serve businesses throughout New York’s five boroughs as well as Long Island and Westchester County.  Leading Sun National Bank’s New York efforts will be Marc Ravage, who will manage and grow the bank’s current portfolio of New York City-based commercial clients, as well as develop new business.

With thousands of likes, shares and comments on Stellar Deeds, customers and social media fans helped Susquehanna Bank far exceed its goal of donating a million meals to area food banks during the bank’s 4th annual  “virtual food drive.” The 2013 campaign helped raise more than 361,000 meals – the highest amount since Susquehanna began the food drive in 2010.

Photo caption: (L:R)- Chris Warren; Central NJ commercial executive, Susquehanna Bank; Joe Njoroge; COO/CFO, Food Bank of South Jersey; Kathie Stone; Central NJ regional president, Susquehanna Bank; Jeremy Shackleford; Central NJ retail executive, Susquehanna Bank; Tom Sims; chief development officer, Food Bank of South Jersey; Don McCarty; Delaware Valley Market CEO, Susquehanna Bank. 

2014 Securities and Regulatory Outlook 
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Reed Smith - New York, New York

Discussion led by distinguished corporate counsel and senior government officials, including former U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Roger Altman

Topics include:

Capital Markets
Trends & Forecast

SEC Enforcement
Aggressive new enforcement policies
Asset Management industry in the crosshairs
New analytical modeling tools

Role of Compliance
Evolving responsibilities of compliance officers
Dodd-Frank requirements and their effects
Volcker Rule implementation

CLE Credit
Applications for 3.0 hours of credit for California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas accreditation of this program is currently pending

Beyond Accommodation Conference
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The National Conference Center at the Holiday Inn of East Windsor
East Windsor, NJ

Join the Chamber to learn about the new Section 503 regulations on disability employment and how you can prepare for the new 7% rule.

Reasons to attend: new disability regulations will affect your business – be ready, know your compliance obligations; gain insight from a prominent New Jersey employment law expert; hear from trailblazers of promising practices in employment of people with disabilities; explore tools and incentives available to employers; learn how you can expand your candidate pool and increase access to qualified people with disabilities.

Who should attend: employment/diversity specialists, human resources professionals, federal government contractors, and individuals who are responsible for hiring and ‘or ensuring compliance with respect to employment.

2014 ABA Real Estate Lending Conference
April 6 - 8, 2014  - Charleston Marriott
Charleston, South Carolina

It's time to get back to the business of lending. The ABA Real Estate Lending Conference will help you move forward by building your business and expanding your market share in this new economic and regulatory environment. Whether you work in residential or commercial, come discover your roadmap for turning today's real estate realities into a formula for business success.