<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000943374-21-000267.txt : 20210621
<SEC-HEADER>0000943374-21-000267.hdr.sgml : 20210621
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210621151814
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000943374-21-000267
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	S-8
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		8
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210621
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210621
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20210621

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. /NY/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000846617
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				112934195
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		S-8
		SEC ACT:		1933 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-257220
		FILM NUMBER:		211030167

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		898 VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 560
		CITY:			HAUPPAUGE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11788
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6315371000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		898 VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 560
		CITY:			HAUPPAUGE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11788

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BRIDGE BANCORP, INC.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20190819

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BRIDGE BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940715
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>S-8
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>s-8_062121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. FORM S-8 JUNE 21, 2021
<TEXT>
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    <div style="text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Registration No. 333-</div>
    <div style="text-align: right; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission June 21, 2021</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">UNITED STATES</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Washington, D.C.&#160; 20549</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"></font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">___________________</font><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"></font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">FORM S-8</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">UNDER</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"></font>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z850fb18a8b65450eabc8896b634c09b6" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">New York</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">11-2934195</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction of</div>
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;">Incorporation or Organization)</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">898 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 560</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Hauppauge, New York 11788</font><font style="font-size: 8pt;"></font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 8pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font><font style="font-weight: bold;"></font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;"> <br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 8pt;">(Full Title of the Plan)</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center;">Copies to:</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zce6e6df36dd943718c385c89cd38bc16" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Kevin M. O&#8217;Connor, Chief Executive Officer</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">John J. Gorman, Esquire</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Patricia M. Schaubeck, EVP and General Counsel</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Max Seltzer, Esquire</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Luse Gorman, PC</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">898 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 560</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">5335 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Suite 780</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Hauppauge, New York 11788</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Washington, DC 20015-2035</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(631) 537-1000</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(202) 274-2000</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">(Name, Address and Telephone</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Number of Agent for Service)</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 47.35%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 47.32%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of &#8220;large
      accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company&#8221; and &#8220;emerging growth company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;):</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 66.66%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Large accelerated filer&#160; &#9723;</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 33.34%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Accelerated filer &#8999;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 66.66%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Non-accelerated filer &#9723;&#160; (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 33.34%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Smaller reporting company &#9723;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 66.66%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Emerging growth company &#9723;</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 33.34%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to
      Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. &#9723;</div>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
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          <td style="width: 22.12%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Title of</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Securities</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">to be</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Registered</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 18.27%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Amount</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">to be</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Registered<sup style="vertical-align: text-top; line-height: 1; font-size: smaller;">(1)</sup></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 19.62%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Proposed</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Maximum</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Offering Price</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Per Share</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 21.43%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Proposed</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Maximum</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Aggregate</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Offering Price</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 18.56%; vertical-align: bottom; border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Amount of</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Registration</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Fee</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 22.12%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div>Common stock, par value $0.01 per share</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 18.27%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">1,200,000</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 19.62%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">$33.31<sup style="vertical-align: text-top; line-height: 1; font-size: smaller;">(2)</sup></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 21.43%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">$39,972,000</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 18.56%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center;">$4,361</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 22.12%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 18.27%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 19.62%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 21.43%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 18.56%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div>_________________________</div>
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          <td style="width: 27pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">(1)</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Together with an indeterminate number of additional shares that may be necessary to adjust the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;Equity Plan&#8221;) as a
              result of a stock split, stock dividend or similar adjustment of the outstanding common stock of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) pursuant to 17 C.F.R. Section&#160;230.416(a).</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z14ff2839e06044338976e332d8a294c0" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

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          <td style="width: 27pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">(2)</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Determined pursuant to 17 C.F.R. Section 230.457(h)(1) and 230.457(c) under the Securities Act.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

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    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">_________________________</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">This Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and 17 C.F.R. &#167; 230.462.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after:always;">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PART I.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Items 1 and 2.&#160; Plan Information and Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 have been or will be sent or given to participants in the Plan as specified by Rule 428(b) promulgated by
      the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Securities Act&#8221;).</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">Such documents are not being filed with the Commission, but constitute (along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of
      Part II hereof) a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PART II.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Item 3.&#160; Incorporation of Documents by Reference</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), are incorporated herein by
      reference (other than any such documents or portions thereof that are furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form&#160;8-K,&#160;unless otherwise indicated therein, including any exhibits included with such Items):</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">(1)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>The Company&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
      ended December 31, 2020 (File No. 001-34096), filed with the Commission on <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000084661721000014/dcom-20201231x10k.htm">March 15, 2021</a>;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">(2)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>The information specifically incorporated by reference into
      the Company&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December&#160; 31, 2020 from the Company&#8217;s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Commission on <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000084661721000020/dcom-20210527xdef14a.htm">April 16, 2021</a>;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">(3)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>The Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form&#160;10-Q&#160;for the quarter
      ended March&#160;31, 2021, filed with the Commission on <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000084661721000029/dcom-20210331x10q.htm">May 10, 2021</a>.</div>
    <div style="text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">(4)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>The Company&#8217;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000084661721000003/bdge-20210108x8k.htm">January 8, 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921009751/tm214412d1_8k.htm">February 1,
        2021</a> (as amended on <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921033266/tm218136d1_8ka.htm">March 8, 2021</a>), <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921010989/tm214955d1_8k.htm">February 2, 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000094337421000239/form8k_052721.htm">May 28, 2021</a>
      and <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/846617/000094337421000252/form8k_061421.htm">June 15, 2021</a>; and</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">(5)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>The description of the Company&#8217;s common stock contained in the
      Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000106880008000250/bridge8a.txt">June 9, 2008</a> and <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921009777/tm214437d1_8a12b.htm">February 1, 2021</a> (File No. 001-34096), as updated by the description of our common stock contained in Exhibit 4.1 to the Form 10-K for the fiscal
      year ended December 31, 2020 (File No. 001-34096) filed with the Commission on <a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000084661721000014/dcom-20201231x10k.htm">March 15, 2021</a>, and including any subsequent amendments
      or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">All documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date hereof, and prior to the
      filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to
      be a part thereof from the date of the filing of such documents.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">Any statement contained in the documents incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein or therein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
      this Registration Statement and the prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or therein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein or therein modifies or
      supersedes such statement.&#160; Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement and the prospectus.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">All information appearing in this Registration Statement and the prospectus is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information, including financial statements, appearing in
      the documents incorporated herein or therein by reference.</div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after:always;">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Item 4.&#160; Description of Securities</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">Not applicable.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Item 5.&#160; Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">None.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;">Item 6.&#160; Indemnification of Directors and Officers</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>Article V of the Company&#8217;s Bylaws provides as follows:</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><u>Section 501</u> - <u>Right to Indemnification</u></div>
    <div>Any person who was, is, or is threatened to be made a party to any action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal (including an action by or in the right of the Corporation or any other corporation, partnership, join venture, trust, employee
      benefit plan or other enterprise which any director or officer of the Corporation served in any capacity at the request of this Corporation), by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the
      Corporation, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, shall be indemnified by the Corporation against all judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and
      reasonable expenses, including attorneys&#8217; fees actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense or appeal of any such action or proceeding, and against any other amounts, expenses and fees similarly incurred; provided that no
      indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of any director or officer where indemnification is prohibited by applicable law. This right of indemnification shall include the right of a director or officer to receive payment from the Corporation for
      expenses incurred in defending or appealing any such action or proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided that the payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of an action or proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to
      the Corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified. The preceding right of indemnification
      shall be a contract right enforceable by the director or officer with respect to any claim, cause of action, action or proceeding accruing or arising while this Bylaw shall be in effect.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><u>Section 502</u> - <u>Authorization of Indemnification</u></div>
    <div>Any indemnification provided for by Section 501 shall be authorized in any manner provided by applicable law or, in the absence of such law;</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>(a)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;By the Board of Directors acting by a quorum of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding, upon a finding that there has been no judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer which
      establishes that his acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which
      he was not legally entitled; or</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>(b)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;If a quorum under clause (a) is not obtainable, (i) by the Board upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because there has been no such judgment or other final
      adjudication adverse to the director or officer, or (ii) by the shareholders upon a finding that there has been no such judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the director or officer.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><u>Section 503</u> - <u>Right of Claimant to Bring Suit</u></div>
    <div>If a claim of indemnification is not paid in full by the Corporation within ninety days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid
      amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall also be entitled to recover the expenses of prosecuting such claim.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><u>Section 504</u> - <u>Non-Exclusivity of Rights</u></div>
    <div>The rights conferred on any person under this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which may exist under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or
      otherwise.</div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
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        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><u>Section 505</u> - <u>Insurance</u></div>
    <div>Subject to the laws of New York, the Corporation may maintain insurance, as its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation against any expense, liability or loss of the general nature contemplated by
      this Article, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the laws of New York.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><u>Section 506</u> - <u>Severability</u></div>
    <div>It is the intent of the Corporation to indemnify its officers and directors to the fullest extent authorized by the laws of New York as they now exist or may hereafter be amended. If any portion of this Article shall for any reason be held invalid
      or unenforceable by judicial decision or legislative amendment, the valid and enforceable provisions of this Article will continue to be given effect and shall be construed so as to provide the broadest indemnification permitted by law.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;">Item 7.&#160; Exemption From Registration Claimed.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">Not applicable.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Item 8.&#160; Exhibits.</div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z685415b13d8349a8affa5ed27907f37d" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid black;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Regulation S-K</div>
            <div style="text-align: center;">Exhibit Number</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid black;">
            <div style="text-align: center;">Document</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: bottom;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: bottom;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921010989/tm214955d1_ex3-1.htm">4.1</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: bottom;">
            <div><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921010989/tm214955d1_ex3-1.htm">Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company<font style="font-size: 8pt;">&#160;</font>(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
                Company&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February 2, 2021 (File No. 001-34096))</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: bottom;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921009751/tm214412d1_ex3-2.htm">4.2</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: bottom;">
            <div><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000110465921009751/tm214412d1_ex3-2.htm">Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed
                with the Commission on February 1, 2021 (File No. 001-34096))</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="font-size: 8pt;">&#160;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex5_s8062121.htm">5</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex5_s8062121.htm">Opinion of Luse Gorman, PC</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000084661721000020/dcom-20210527xdef14a.htm">10.1</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000846617/000084661721000020/dcom-20210527xdef14a.htm">Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix 1 to the proxy statement for the
                Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (File No. 001-34096), filed by Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. under the Exchange Act on April 16, 2021).</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex10-2_s8062121.htm">10.2</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex10-2_s8062121.htm">Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Award</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex10-3_s8102121.htm">10.3</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex10-3_s8102121.htm">Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Award</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex10-4_s8062121.htm">10.4</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex10-4_s8062121.htm">Form of Incentive Stock Option Award Agreement</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex10-5_s8062121.htm">10.5</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex10-5_s8062121.htm">Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex10-6_s8062121.htm">10.6</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex10-6_s8062121.htm">Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex5_s8062121.htm">23.1</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex5_s8062121.htm">Consent of Luse Gorman, PC (contained in Exhibit 5)</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="ex23-2_s8062121.htm">23.2</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="ex23-2_s8062121.htm">Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 19.67%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="#POWEROFATTORNEY">24.1</a></div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.2%; vertical-align: top;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 77.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><a href="#POWEROFATTORNEY">Power of Attorney (contained on signature page)</a></div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -36pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after:always;">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Item 9.&#160; Undertakings</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">1.<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
      made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">&#160;(i)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font> to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
      the Securities Act;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">(ii)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
      after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement.&#160;
      Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
      offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (section 230.424(b)) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
      price set forth in the &#8220;Calculation of Registration Fees&#8221; table in the effective registration statement;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">(iii)<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>to include any material information with respect to the plan
      of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">provided, however</font>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
      these paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">2.<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
      Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <font style="font-style: italic;">bona fide</font> offering thereof;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">3.<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
      amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Plan;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">4.<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
      Securities Act, each filing of the registrant&#8217;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the
      securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <font style="font-style: italic;">bona fide</font> offering thereof; and</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">5.<font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt">&#160;</font>Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
      Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
      public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.&#160; In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
      or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
      opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
      governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after:always;">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">SIGNATURES</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">The Registrant.</font>&#160; Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
      that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Hauppauge, County of Suffolk, New York, on this 14th
      day of June, 2021.</div>
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          <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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            <div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
            <div>&#160;</div>
            <div>&#160;</div>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a name="POWEROFATTORNEY"><!--Anchor--></a>POWER OF ATTORNEY</div>
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    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">We, the undersigned directors and officers of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) hereby severally constitute and appoint Kevin M. O&#8217;Connor, as our true and lawful
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    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: #000000 2px solid;">&#160;/s/ Michael P. Devine<br>
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            <div>&#160;June 11, 2021</div>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: #000000 2px solid;">&#160;/s/ Matthew A. Lindenbaum<br>
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            <div>&#160;June 17, 2021</div>
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          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Vincent F. Palagiano</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: #000000 2px solid;">&#160;/s/ Joseph J. Perry<br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Director</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid black;">
            <div>&#160;June 14, 2021</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Joseph J. Perry</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: #000000 2px solid;">&#160;/s/ Kevin Stein<br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Director</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid black;">
            <div>&#160;June 13, 2021</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Kevin Stein</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: #000000 2px solid;">&#160;/s/ Dennis A. Suskind<br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Director</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid black;">
            <div>&#160;June 11, 2021</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Dennis A. Suskind</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 29.65%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.57%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 35.06%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 5.56%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 24.18%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-5
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex5_s8062121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>OPINION OF LUSE GORMAN, PC
<TEXT>
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  <head>
    <title></title>
    <!-- Licensed to: Luse Gorman
         Document created using EDGARfilings PROfile 7.5.0.0
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<body bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left; color: #000000;">
  <div style="text-align: right;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT 5</font><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
  </div>
  <div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">LUSE GORMAN, PC</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">ATTORNEYS AT LAW</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">5335 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 780</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20015</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">TELEPHONE (202) 274-2000</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">FACSIMILE (202) 362-2902</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">www.luselaw.com</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>June 21, 2021</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>Board of Directors</div>
    <div>Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.</div>
    <div>898 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 560</div>
    <div>Hauppauge, New York 11788</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zb0a7fb5da3ae45e3816a39f39604f28c" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-weight: bold;">Re:</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
            <div><font style="font-weight: bold;">Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.</font>&#160;<font style="font-weight: bold;">2021 Equity Incentive Plan</font></div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-weight: bold;">&#160;Registration Statement on Form S-8</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>Ladies and Gentlemen:</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">You have requested the opinion of this firm as to certain matters in connection with the registration of 1,200,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the &#8220;Shares&#8221;), of Dime Community
      Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) to be issued pursuant to the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;).</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise, identified to our satisfaction of the following: (i) the Company&#8217;s Registration Statement on
      Form S-8 (the &#8220;Form S-8&#8221;) to be filed with the Securities Exchange Commission, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Act&#8221;), on the date hereof; (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date and currently in
      effect; (iii) the Bylaws of the Company, as amended to date and currently in effect; (iv) the Plan; (v) certain resolutions of the board of directors of the Company relating to the approval of the Plan, the filing of the Form S-8, and certain related
      matters; and (vi) applicable statutes and regulations governing the Company.&#160; We have assumed the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents in connection with the opinion expressed herein.&#160; We have also assumed the legal capacity and
      genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which the opinions expressed herein are rendered.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">Based on the foregoing, we are of the following opinion:</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">Following the effectiveness of the Form S-8, the Shares of the Company, when issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">This opinion has been prepared solely for the use of the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Form S-8, and shall not be used for any other purpose or relied upon by any other
      person without the prior express written consent of this firm.&#160; We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in the Form S-8.&#160; By giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under
      Section&#160;7 of the Act.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zdcecfd611e124b6c84c2a02be8dbd1d7" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 49.86%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>Very truly yours,</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 49.86%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 49.86%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50.14%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 49.86%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50.14%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: #000000 2px solid;">&#160;/s/ Luse Gorman, PC<br>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 49.86%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 50.14%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div>LUSE GORMAN, PC</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
  </div>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.2
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>ex10-2_s8062121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM OF TIME-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
<TEXT>
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    <title></title>
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<body bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left; color: #000000;">
  <div style="text-align: right;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT 10.2</font><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Award</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">Granted by</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">under the</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">This restricted stock agreement (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Award</font>&#8221; or &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Agreement</font>&#8221;) is and
      will be subject in every respect to the provisions of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Plan</font>&#8221;) of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Company</font>&#8221;) which are
      incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement.&#160; A copy of the Plan and related prospectus have been provided to each person granted a Restricted Stock Award pursuant to the Plan.&#160; The holder of
      this Restricted Stock Award (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Participant</font>&#8221;) hereby accepts this Restricted Stock Award, subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and agrees that all decisions under and
      interpretations of the Plan and this Agreement by the committee appointed to administer the Plan (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Committee</font>&#8221;) or the Board of Directors will be final, binding and conclusive upon the Participant and the
      Participant&#8217;s heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.&#160; Capitalized terms used herein but not defined will have the same meaning as in the Plan.</div>
    <div><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: normal;">1.</font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab"> </font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab">&#160;</font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><font style="font-weight: bold;"> Name of Participant</font>:&#160; ____________________________</font></div>
    <div><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <br>
      </font></div>
    <div><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">2.</font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab"> </font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab">&#160;</font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;"> Date of Grant</font>:&#160;
        __________________________________</font></div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">3.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Total number of shares of Company common stock, $0.01 par value per share, covered by the Restricted Stock Award</font>: ______</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 37.05pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </font><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zd8aca09d7628491e9de6fa949ae4f36e" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">4.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Vesting Schedule</font>.&#160; Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Restricted Stock Award shall vest on:</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-indent: 36pt; margin-left: 36pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Vesting Date</u></font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 180pt">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Number

          of Shares Vesting</u></font></div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zb0c78bf38c144dd3b4df9561877280f4" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">5.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Grant of Restricted Stock Award</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>The Restricted Stock Award will be in the form of issued and outstanding shares of Stock that will
              be registered in the name of the Participant and held by the Company, together with a stock power executed by the Participant in favor of the Company, pending the vesting or forfeiture of the Restricted Stock.&#160; Notwithstanding the foregoing,
              the Company may, in its sole discretion, issue Restricted Stock in any other format (e.g., electronically) in order to facilitate the paperless transfer of such Awards.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after:always;">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <!--PROfilePageNumberReset%Num%2%%%-->
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z4f1cf170f0884b13a1d2905f1e905e99" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">6.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Terms and Conditions</font>.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;">The Participant will have the right to vote the unvested shares of Restricted Stock awarded hereunder on matters which require shareholder vote.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -1.05pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -1.05pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;">Any cash dividends or distributions declared with respect to shares of Stock subject to this Restricted Stock Award will be distributed to the Participant at
      the time paid by the Company.&#160; Any stock dividends declared and paid with respect to shares of Stock subject to this Restricted Stock Award will be issued subject to the same restrictions and the same vesting schedule as the underlying share of Stock
      on which the dividend was declared.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -1.05pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="za35918e766ce41d3a464593e0cb1b0f5" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">7.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Delivery of Shares</font>.&#160; Delivery of shares of Stock under this Restricted Stock Award will comply with all applicable laws (including, the requirements of the Securities Act),
              and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z8bfbe9770e6d4ad4ab83f0e698ca067c" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">8.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Change in Control</font>.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z90d2499d4c564c67b581e71aa9e435da" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 34.2pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">8.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control, all Restricted Stock Awards subject to this Agreement will become fully vested.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z4568908d977b43f89cfb3f769128de58" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">8.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">A &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Change in Control</font>&#8221; will be deemed to have occurred as provided in Section 4.2 of the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z7a049e0eacd04196b298a254ab787e8e" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">9.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Adjustment Provisions</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>This Restricted Stock Award, including the number of shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award, will be
              adjusted upon the occurrence of the events specified in, and in accordance with the provisions of, Section 3.4 of the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zadacfd49d7b34dcb97d31eaebb8d8844" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">10.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Effect of Termination of Service on Restricted Stock Award</font>.</div>
            <div> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z1706333a9b574244b9a3ca76c66b51b2" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">10.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Restricted Stock Award will vest as follows:</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zf6a1879d184e43eb95b5ecc34ccb55ff" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108pt; vertical-align: top; font-style: normal;">
              <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(i)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Death</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s death, any unvested shares of Restricted Stock subject
                to this Agreement will vest.</div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z2f465186c5364828927343fd805d6c3b" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-size: 12pt;">(ii)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Disability</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s Disability, any unvested shares of Restricted
                Stock subject to this Agreement will vest.</div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z0e74ea898f5548979a254a193e4e7975" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-size: 12pt;">(iii)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Termination for Cause</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for Cause, all Restricted
                Stock subject to this Agreement that has not vested will expire and be forfeited.</div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="za16bf95a99994b8fbc448792e2bc1360" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-size: 12pt;">(iv)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Other Termination</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; If the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for any reason other than due to
                death, Disability or for Cause, all shares of&#160; Restricted Stock subject to this Agreement which have not vested as of the date of Termination of Service will expire and be forfeited.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div style="text-align: center;" id="DSPFPageNumberArea"><font style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;" id="DSPFPageNumber">2</font></div>
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after:always;">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;">
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;&#160;</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> </font></div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
      </font></div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z43b9a99b8a3c4db8991f21c6d1729b24" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 32.4pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by the Company and the Participant.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z7339d128e3ba44f1886d126eaaa32e7b" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">A Restricted Stock Award is not transferable prior to the time such Award vests in the Participant.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zb68b6ed73a874935a0c7d722a2af8e15" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.3</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Restricted Stock Award will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z075e6a57f27e44aa8380d9c60f36117b" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 34.2pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.4</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Restricted Stock Award is subject to all laws, regulations and orders of any governmental authority which may be applicable thereto and, notwithstanding any of the provisions hereof, the Company will not be
              obligated to issue any shares of stock hereunder if the issuance of such shares would constitute a violation of any such law, regulation or order or any provision thereof.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z43d521de99164ad9a7f575fd94e25dc9" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.5</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">All Awards under this Plan are subject to required federal, state and local tax withholding which may be effected in the manner or manners permitted by the Company.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="z973b635dfc154b9f8c36e3d900af3513" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.6</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">Nothing in this Agreement will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate your employment or service at any time, nor confer upon you any right to continue in the
              employ or service of the Company or any affiliate.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="zde2caf31f24042dbb69d1cc27fd1353b" class="DSPFListTable" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.7</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Award Agreement shall be binding upon any successor of the Company, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -71.25pt; margin-left: 71.25pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">[Signature Page Follows]</div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div id="DSPFPageBreakArea" style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;">
      <div style="text-align: center;" id="DSPFPageNumberArea"><font style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;" id="DSPFPageNumber">3</font></div>
      <div id="DSPFPageBreak" style="page-break-after:always;">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and on its behalf as of the date of grant of this Restricted Stock Award
      set forth above.</div>
    <div style="margin-left: 252pt; margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 254.85pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">By:__________________________________</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 216pt;"> </font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"></font></div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 254.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">Its:</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 216pt;">
        __________________________________</font></div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT&#8217;S ACCEPTANCE</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Restricted Stock Award and agrees to the terms and conditions hereof, including the terms and provisions of the
      Plan.&#160; The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and related prospectus.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> _______________________________________<br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3pt; margin-left: 253.65pt;"><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 214.05pt">&#160;</font><br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;"><br>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div style="text-align: center;" id="DSPFPageNumberArea"><font style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;" id="DSPFPageNumber">4</font></div>
</body>
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</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.3
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>ex10-3_s8102121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM OF PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
<TEXT>
<html>
  <head>
    <title></title>
    <!-- Licensed to: Luse Gorman
         Document created using EDGARfilings PROfile 7.5.0.0
         Copyright 1995 - 2021 Broadridge -->
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<body bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left; color: #000000;">
  <div style="text-align: right;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT 10.3</font><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
  </div>
  <div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <br>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">Performance-based</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Award</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">Granted by</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">under the</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">This restricted stock agreement (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Award</font>&#8221; or &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Agreement</font>&#8221;) is and will be subject in
      every respect to the provisions of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Plan</font>&#8221;) of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Company</font>&#8221;) which are incorporated herein by
      reference and made a part hereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement.&#160; A copy of the Plan and related prospectus have been provided to each person granted a Restricted Stock Award pursuant to the Plan.&#160; The holder of this Restricted Stock
      Award (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Participant</font>&#8221;) hereby accepts this Restricted Stock Award, subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and agrees that all decisions under and interpretations of the Plan
      and this Agreement by the committee appointed to administer the Plan (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Committee</font>&#8221;) or the Board of Directors will be final, binding and conclusive upon the Participant and the Participant&#8217;s heirs, legal
      representatives, successors and permitted assigns.&#160; Capitalized terms used herein but not defined will have the same meaning as in the Plan.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">1.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Name of Participant</font>:<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; &#160;
                    ___________________________________________________</font></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">2.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Date of Grant</font>: __________________________________</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;"></font></font></div>
    <div><br>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt;"></font></div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z81cd970070e74714828e10d02b519888">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">3.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Total number of shares of Company common stock, $0.01 par value per share, covered by the Restricted Stock Award</font>:<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>___________ (target award; final award is subject to determination in accordance with Exhibit A attached hereto and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9 hereof).</div>
              <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z0b0f08f9a97744d9acfda813bd4a617d">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div>4.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Vesting Schedule</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">.</font>&#160;<font style="font-size: 12pt;"> Except as otherwise
                  provided in this Agreement, this Restricted Stock Award shall vest as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto.</font></div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zfcd8245f9ad14fa19532907300653eec">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">5.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Distribution of Shares</font>.&#160; The shares of stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award will be distributed (if
                any) as soon as practicable after [date], and when the performance measurements are available and certified by the Company, which is expected to occur on or before [date].</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
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    <div><br>
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">6.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Grant of Restricted Stock Award</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>The Restricted Stock Award will be in the form of issued and outstanding shares of Stock that will
              be registered in the name of the Participant and held by the Company, together with a stock power executed by the Participant in favor of the Company, pending the vesting or forfeiture of the Restricted Stock.&#160; Notwithstanding the foregoing,
              the Company may, in its sole discretion, issue Restricted Stock in any other format (e.g., electronically) in order to facilitate the paperless transfer of such Awards.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zf897ae8516f342d3880adea7d9a91dab">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">7.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Voting and Dividends</font>.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">The Participant will have the right to vote the unvested shares of Restricted Stock awarded hereunder on matters which require shareholder vote.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;">Any cash dividends declared on the non-vested Restricted Stock (and any earnings thereon) will be delayed and distributed to the Participant within thirty (30)
      days of the time when the Restricted Stock is distributed to the Participant under Section 5 of this Agreement.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0pt; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z5b861af08b9a451a820e196e572ca261">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 2.85pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 34.2pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">8.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Delivery of Shares</font>.&#160; Delivery of shares of Stock under this Restricted Stock Award will comply with all applicable laws (including, the requirements of the Securities Act),
              and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z0ce163db114c42c08dd3753357f9d761">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">9.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Adjustment Provisions</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>This Restricted Stock Award, including the number of shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award, will be
              adjusted upon the occurrence of the events specified in, and in accordance with the provisions of, Section 3.4 of the Plan.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z5f04688a35b24b0fa28c7c068d79a10f">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">10.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Effect of Termination of Service and a Change in Control on Restricted Stock Award</font>.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">Notwithstanding Section 4 of this Restricted Stock Award Agreement, this Restricted Stock Award will vest as follows:</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z8436939724e24700ac2f587d09a7c0d7">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108pt; vertical-align: top; font-weight: normal;">
              <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(i)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Death</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s death, any unvested shares of Restricted Stock subject
                to this Agreement will vest, pro-rata, by multiplying (i)&#160;the number of shares that would be obtained based on achievement at target (or if actual achievement of the performance measures is greater than the target level, at such actual
                achievement level) as of the date of death, by (ii)&#160;a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole months the Participant was in Service during the performance period and the denominator of which is the number of months in the
                performance period.</div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zba2d153197df4cd7a36565e33ac92f10">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-size: 12pt;">(ii)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Disability</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s Disability, any unvested shares of Restricted
                Stock subject to this Agreement will vest, pro-rata, by multiplying (i)&#160;the number of shares that would be obtained based on achievement at target (or if actual achievement of the performance measures is greater than the target level, at
                such actual achievement level) as of the date of Termination of Service by reason of Disability, by (ii)&#160;a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole months the Participant was in Service during the performance period and the
                denominator of which is the number of months in the performance period.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">2</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z23695f6866264a3e93313e76ab206b43">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 72pt; font-size: 12pt;">(iii)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Termination for Cause</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; If the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for Cause, all Restricted
                Stock subject to this Agreement that has not vested will expire and be forfeited.</div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z97e45a0aba9b4816bc9081efb1c63c65">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108.3pt; vertical-align: top; font-weight: normal;">
              <div style="margin-left: 71.25pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">(iv)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Change in Control</font>.&#160; In the event of a Change in Control, the number of unvested shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award will vest based on actual
                performance measured on the most recent completed fiscal quarter. If actual performance cannot be determined, a prorated portion of the Awards will vest at the target performance level. The pro-rata portion will be calculated based on a
                number of months worked during the performance period as a percentage of the total performance period. A &#8220;Change in Control&#8221; will be deemed to have occurred as provided in Section 4.2 of the Plan.</div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z9d49f4d1377441e597da4a3ca1fd1fce">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 108.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 71.25pt; font-size: 12pt;">(v)</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Other Termination</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for any reason
                other than due to death, Disability or for Cause, all shares of Restricted Stock subject to this Agreement which have not vested as of the date of Termination of Service will expire and be forfeited.</div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">11.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous</font>.<br>
                </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <font style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </font>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z26805d4ef7eb4dd2866de989f22ab0b1">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 32.4pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by the Company and the Participant.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z2f17b609ab4c4381a67bd38989759bc5">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">A Restricted Stock Award is not transferable prior to the time such Awards vest in the Participant.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z0c92cf16b2df4894b84b874f9baba896">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.3</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Restricted Stock Award and this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z6f2af526ec7d43d5aba25a0d8c7ca9a9">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.4</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Restricted Stock Award and this Agreement is subject to all laws, regulations and orders of any governmental authority which may be applicable thereto and, notwithstanding any of the provisions hereof, the
              Company will not be obligated to issue any shares of stock hereunder if the issuance of such shares would constitute a violation of any such law, regulation or order or any provision thereof.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z944c1a1ebf144a9995d08ca5f59d751c">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.5</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">All Awards under this Plan are subject to required federal, state and local tax withholding which may be effected in the manner or manners permitted by the Company.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">3</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zce8a3c3a8b804cc18d3c12961618a15e">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.6</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">Nothing in this Agreement will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any affiliate to terminate your employment or service at any time, nor confer upon you any right to continue in the
              employ or service of the Company or any affiliate.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z580e5fa9fe1b46ef8f12f0a4acc5266e">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.7</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Award Agreement shall be binding upon any successor of the Company, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Plan.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">[Signature Page Follows]</div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">4</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and on its behalf as of the date of grant of this Restricted Stock Award set forth above.</div>
    <div style="margin-left: 252pt; margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 252pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">By:</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 180pt;" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">_________________________________ <br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 252pt;"><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT&#8217;S ACCEPTANCE</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Restricted Stock Award and agrees to the terms and conditions hereof, including the terms and provisions of the
      Plan.&#160; The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and related prospectus.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">____________________________________<br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3pt; margin-left: 253.65pt;"><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 214.05pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">5</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 3pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT A</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
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</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.4
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>ex10-4_s8062121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<html>
  <head>
    <title></title>
    <!-- Licensed to: Luse Gorman
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  <div style="text-align: right;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT 10.4</font><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <br>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">Stock Option</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">Granted by</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">under the</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">This stock option agreement (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Option</font>&#8221; or &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Agreement</font>&#8221;) is and will be subject in
      every respect to the provisions of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Plan</font>&#8221;) of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Company</font>&#8221;) which are incorporated herein by
      reference and made a part hereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement.&#160; A copy of the Plan and related prospectus have been provided to each person granted a stock option pursuant to the Plan.&#160; The holder of this Option (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Participant</font>&#8221;) hereby accepts this Option, subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and agrees that all decisions under and interpretations of the Plan and this Agreement by the
      committee appointed to administer the Plan (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Committee</font>&#8221;) or the Board of Directors will be final, binding and conclusive upon the Participant and the Participant&#8217;s heirs, legal representatives, successors and
      permitted assigns.&#160; Capitalized terms used herein but not defined will have the same meaning as in the Plan.</div>
    <div><br>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">1.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold;">Name of
                    Participant</font>:&#160; ______________________________</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <br>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">2.</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold;">Date of
                  Grant</font>:&#160; &#160; ___________________________________</font></div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: normal;"> <br>
      </font></div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">3.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Exercise price per share</font><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">: $</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; width: 180pt;"> _________<br>
                </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
      <font style="font-size: 12pt;"></font></div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <br>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">4.</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">
              <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Total number of shares of Company common stock, $0.01 par value per share, that may be acquired pursuant to
                    this Option</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">:</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 12pt">&#160;</font></font></div>
              <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 10 hereof).&#160; The Option will be an Incentive Stock Option to the maximum extent permitted under the tax laws, which means that up to
                $100,000 of Options that vest <u>in any one calendar year</u> will be Incentive Stock Options (based on the exercise price of the Option).</div>
              <font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; width: 180pt;"></font></div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <br>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Example</font>:&#160; A participant is granted 140,000 options that vest in equal installments of 28,000 options per year over a 5 year period.&#160; The exercise price is
      $10.89, which is equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant.&#160; Since $10.89 multiplied by 28,000 (the number of Options that vest each year) is $304,920.00,&#160; some of the Options that vest each year will <u>not</u> be Incentive
      Stock Options.&#160; Based on a $10.89 exercise price, the maximum number of Incentive Stock Options that can vest for any one year is 9,182 ($100,000 &#247; $10.89 = 9,182 (fractional shares are not included)).&#160; The remainder will be Non-Statutory Stock
      Options.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-right: 0.9pt; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Please note that for purposes of determining the maximum number of Options that can vest in any one calendar year as Incentive Stock Options,
      the Options granted to you in this Agreement that vest in a calendar year will be aggregated with any earlier Option grant that you received that vest in the same calendar year.&#160; If you vest in the maximum number of Incentive Stock Options in which
      you are permitted to vest for a calendar year under a prior Option Award, all Options that you receive under this</div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
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    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-right: 0.9pt; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Agreement that vest in the same calendar year will be considered Non-Statutory Stock Options</font>.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-right: 0.9pt; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z5c448f55484a44edb0c09d30e097e1bf">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">5.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Expiration Date of Option</font>:&#160; <font style="font-weight: bold;">_________________</font>, subject to earlier
                expiration due to Termination of Service.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>This Option may not be exercised at any time on or after the Option&#8217;s expiration date. </div>
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z47a8ae08d5c642ef85aad4002fa38c0a">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">6.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Vesting Schedule</font>.&#160; Unless sooner vested in accordance with the terms of this Award Agreement, the Options granted hereunder shall vest (i.e., become
                exercisable) in accordance with the following:</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-left: 108pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u> <br>
        </u></font></div>
    <div style="margin-left: 108pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Vesting Date</u></font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 216pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Number of
          Options Vesting</u></font></div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;">As set forth in Section 11 of this Agreement, vesting will automatically accelerate pursuant to Section 2.5, 2.7 and 4.1 of the Plan (in the event of Termination of Service due to
      death or Disability or an Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control).</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 37.05pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z9bcf43e3f6dc4792ad3237eeb5f75bd9">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">7.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Exercise Procedure</font>.&#160; The Participant may exercise this Option in whole or in part by&#160; delivering to the Company a written notice (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Notice
                of Exercise of Option</font>&#8221; attached hereto as Exhibit A or a similar form acceptable to the Committee) setting forth the number of shares with respect to which this Option is to be exercised, together with payment by cash or other means
              acceptable to the Committee.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z2df9dee768484d6196cd22cff053ff8b">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">8.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Delivery of Shares</font>.&#160; Delivery of shares of Stock upon the exercise of this Option will comply with all applicable laws (including the requirements of the Securities Act) and
              the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">9.</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><font style="font-weight: bold;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Change in Control</font></font>.<br>
                </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z660ac39f0f654235bbc2133715e82e8a">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">9.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control, all Options held by the Participant, whether or not exercisable at such time, will become fully exercisable for a period of
              one year following the Involuntary Termination, subject to the expiration under the expiration provisions otherwise applicable to the Option.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zda5e74773a664fa493bc572a6b310d55">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">9.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">A &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Change in Control</font>&#8221; will be deemed to have occurred as provided in Section 4.2 of the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z754cceddec8b4d5494c9110f1014059e">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">10.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Adjustment Provisions.&#160; </font>This Option, including the number of shares subject to the Option and the exercise price, will be adjusted upon the occurrence of the events
              specified in, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">2</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
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    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Termination of Option and Accelerated Vesting</font>.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <br>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">This Option will terminate upon the expiration date, except as set forth in the following&#160; provisions:</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zebadb5d4c1d34bfb96c49ff0cfe048be">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 35.7pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Death</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s death, any unvested Options subject to this Agreement will vest. Any Options
              awarded under this Agreement that are outstanding at that time may thereafter be exercised by the Participant&#8217;s legal representative or beneficiaries for a period of one year following Termination of Service due to death or the remaining
              unexpired term of the Option, if less.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zef3fc4ab2c67496785cb6a33598aaef0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Disability</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s Disability, any unvested Options subject to this Agreement will vest. Any
              Options awarded under this Agreement that are outstanding at that time may thereafter be exercised by the Participant or the Participant&#8217;s legal representative for a period of one year following Termination of Service due to Disability or the
              remaining unexpired term of the Option, if less.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zdd36982981374aafb91ee6d834304c99">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 35.7pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.3</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Termination for Cause</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for Cause, all Options subject to this Agreement
              that have not been exercised will immediately expire and be forfeited.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zf9487e9431f04f678b1c61bf7b1f394d">

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          <td style="width: 35.7pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.4</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Other Termination</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for any reason other than due to death, Disability,
              Cause of an Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control, this Option may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, for a period of three months following termination, subject to
              termination on the Option&#8217;s expiration date, if earlier.&#160; All unvested Options will be forfeited.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z57782dd005434a12a8f3e69be62ca8b4">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 35.7pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.5</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Incentive Option Treatment</font>.&#160; The Incentive Stock Options granted hereunder are subject to the requirements of Section 421 of the Internal Revenue Code.&#160; No Option will be
              eligible for treatment as an Incentive Stock Option in the event such Option is exercised more than three months following Termination of Service (except in the case of Termination of Service due to Disability).&#160; In order to obtain Incentive
              Stock Option treatment for Options exercised by heirs or devisees of the Participant, the Participant&#8217;s death must have occurred while the Participant was employed or within three months of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;"><br>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous</font>.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="za3b9c1f935b84ee491d965c99564159c">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 32.4pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">No Option will confer upon the Participant any rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z0f70000dc19f4a5b8e3b6c09d2cdf0d0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 32.4pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by the Company and the Participant.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z9018c84766f74fe3b0ed6ca447a74da0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.3</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, Incentive Stock Options under the Plan are not transferable except (1) as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, (2) to a
              trust established by the Participant, or (3) between spouses incident to a divorce or pursuant to a domestic relations order, provided, however,&#160; that in the case of a transfer described under (3), the Option will not qualify as an Incentive
              Stock Option as of the day of such transfer.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">3</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z9f52d45708344d25899a8b87059d3d71">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.4</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Option will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z9559b21b97994565a2b3ab6734deed05">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 74.1pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">12.5</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">The granting of this Option does not confer upon the Participant any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z11eecd0a4be4447bb574fe19771be6d0">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 71.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">12.6</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">Under current tax laws, an Option that is exercised as an Incentive Stock Option is not subject to ordinary income taxes so long as it is held for the requisite holding period, e.g., two (2)
                years from the date of grant of the Option and one (1) year from the date of exercise, whichever is later.&#160; A Non-Qualified Stock Option will be subject to income tax withholding at the time of exercise.&#160; Upon the exercise of a
                Non-Statutory Stock Option, the Participant shall be required to satisfy the minimum required federal, state and local tax withholding in the manner or manners permitted by the Company.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zec687c123637481f9093419dc986b9ee">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 71.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">12.7</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">This Stock Option Award, or any portion of this Award, is subject to forfeiture in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.17 of the Plan.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -71.25pt; margin-left: 71.25pt; font-size: 12pt;">[Signature Page Follows]</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">4</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and on its behalf as of the date of grant of this Option set forth above.</div>
    <div style="margin-left: 252pt; margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 254.85pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">By:</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 216pt;" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">
        ___________________________________</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"></font></div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 254.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">Its:</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 216pt;" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">
        ___________________________________</font></div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT&#8217;S ACCEPTANCE</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Option and agrees to the terms and conditions hereof, including the terms and provisions of the Plan.&#160; The
      undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and related prospectus.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3pt; margin-left: 253.65pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT</div>
    <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3pt; margin-left: 253.65pt;"><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 214.05pt;" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">______________________________________ </font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">5</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT A</div>
    <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF OPTION<font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><br>
        </font></font>(BY EMPLOYEE)</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">I hereby exercise the stock option (the &#8220;Option&#8221;) granted to me by Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) or its affiliate, subject to all the terms and provisions set forth in the Stock
      Option Agreement (the &#8220;Agreement&#8221;) and the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;) referred to therein, and notify you of my desire to purchase __________________ shares of common stock of the Company for a purchase
      price of $_______ per share.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">I wish to pay the purchase price by (check one or more):</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">[Any payment to be delivered must accompany this Notice of Exercise of Option]</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="za60777d20e4b4e95ab3d5419b4403bb2">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Personal, certified or cashier&#8217;s check in the sum of $_______ in full/partial payment of the purchase price.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z255fdd73e4954e0686cc5d9d7735495d">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Stock of the Company with a fair market value of $______ in full/partial payment of the purchase price.*</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z0d24a83af52440ca86b9836b24d47941">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>A &#8220;net settlement&#8221; of the Option whereby I direct the Company to withhold a sufficient number of shares to satisfy the purchase price.&#160; [&#160; ]&#160; Withhold a sufficient number of shares to pay minimum required taxes&#160; [&#160; ]&#160; Calculate minimum
              required withholding and I will submit payment.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z21efe928d245476ab38dfb078d04ad12">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>A check (personal, certified or cashier&#8217;s) in the sum of $_______ <u>and</u> Stock of the Company with a fair market value of $______, in full payment of the purchase price.*</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zfeb5f6804ffd408c8d16c3fd4a881749">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Please sell ______ shares from my Option shares through a broker in full/partial payment of the purchase price.&#160; If my broker requires additional forms in order to consummate this &#8220;broker cashless exercise,&#8221; I have included them with this
              election.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">I understand that after this exercise, ____________ shares of Stock remain subject to the Option, subject to all terms and provisions set forth in the Agreement and the Plan.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">I hereby represent that it is my intention to acquire these shares for the following purpose:</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">___<font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font>investment</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">___<font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font>resale or distribution</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">Please note: if your intention is to resell (or distribute within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933) the shares you acquire through this Option exercise,
      the Company or transfer agent may require an opinion of counsel that such resale or distribution would not violate the Securities Act of 1933 prior to your exercise of such Option.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;">Date: ____________, _____.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; _________________________________________</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 216pt;">Participant&#8217;s signature</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">*<font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font>If I elect to exercise by exchanging shares I already own, I
      will <u>constructively</u> return shares that I already own to purchase the new option shares.&#160; If my shares are in certificate form, I must attach a separate statement indicating the certificate number of the shares I am treating as having been
      exchanged.&#160; If the shares are held in &#8220;street name&#8221; by a registered broker, I must provide the Company with a notarized statement attesting to the number of shares owned that will be treated as having been exchanged.&#160; I will keep the shares that I
      already own and treat them as if they are shares acquired by the option exercise.&#160; In addition, I will receive additional shares equal to the difference between the shares I constructively exchange and the total new option shares that I acquire.</div>
  </div>
  <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">6</font></div>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.5
<SEQUENCE>6
<FILENAME>ex10-5_s8062121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM OF NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<html>
  <head>
    <title></title>
    <!-- Licensed to: Luse Gorman
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         Copyright 1995 - 2021 Broadridge -->
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<body bgcolor="#ffffff" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: left; color: #000000;">
  <div style="text-align: right;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT 10.5</font><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
  </div>
  <div><br>
  </div>
  <div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">Stock Option</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">Granted by</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">under the</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">This stock option agreement (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Option</font>&#8221; or &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Agreement</font>&#8221;) is and will be subject in every respect to the
      provisions of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Plan</font>&#8221;) of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Company</font>&#8221;) which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part
      hereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement.&#160; A copy of the Plan and related prospectus have been provided to each person granted a stock option pursuant to the Plan.&#160; The holder of this Option (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Participant</font>&#8221;)
      hereby accepts this Option, subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and agrees that all decisions under and interpretations of the Plan and this Agreement by the committee appointed to administer the Plan (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Committee</font>&#8221;) or the Board of Directors will be final, binding and conclusive upon the Participant and the Participant&#8217;s heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.&#160; Capitalized terms used herein
      but not defined will have the same meaning as in the Plan.</div>
    <br>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">1.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Name of Participant</font>:_______________________</td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
  </div>
  <div><br>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">2.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Date of Grant</font>:_______________________</td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">3.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Exercise price per share</font>:<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>$_____________</font></td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><font style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
      </font></div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zd580441fce644f7fadb5f2e5e08bee30">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">4.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Total number of shares of Company common stock, $0.01 par value per share, that may be acquired pursuant to this Option</font>:</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z2d34012007744a82b1bf03c5035e496e">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 72pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">
              <div style="margin-left: 54pt; font-size: 12pt;">&#8226;</div>
            </td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This is a Non-Qualified Option.</div>
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z628f48cb8b004078bc840d12aa1d9339">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 34.2pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">5.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Expiration Date of Option</font>:<font style="font-weight: bold;"> _________________</font>, subject to earlier expiration due to Termination of Service.&#160; This Option may not be
              exercised at any time on or after the Option&#8217;s expiration date.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z4700dca526ef4e23a35a9fdcec18adb0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 34.2pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">6.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Vesting Schedule</font>.&#160;&#160; Unless sooner vested in accordance with the terms of this Award Agreement, the Options granted hereunder shall vest (i.e., become exercisable) in
              accordance with the following schedule:</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-indent: 108pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Vesting Date</u></font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 216pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><u>Number of
          Options Vesting</u></font></div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
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    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;">As set forth in Section 11 of this Agreement, vesting will automatically accelerate pursuant to Section 2.5, 2.7 and 4.1 of the Plan (in the event of Termination of Service due to
      death or Disability or Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control).</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="za087dc3267d34699b641d6d2f96739c5">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">7.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Exercise Procedure</font>.&#160; The Participant may exercise this Option in whole or in part by&#160; delivering to the Company a written notice (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Notice
                of Exercise of Option</font>&#8221; attached hereto as Exhibit A or a similar form acceptable to the Committee) setting forth the number of shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, together with payment by cash or other means
              acceptable to the Committee.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zb14184de6e584777aa47a992a2739517">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">8.</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Delivery of Shares</font>. Delivery of shares of Stock upon the exercise of this Option will comply with all applicable laws (including the requirements of the Securities Act) and
              the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">9.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Change in Control.</font></font></td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z32ddd36b2b3d419bb7b85cf1e4e980d7">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 34.2pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">9.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control, all Options held by the Participant, whether or not exercisable at such time, will become fully exercisable for a period of
              one year following the Involuntary Termination, subject to earlier expiration under the expiration provisions otherwise applicable to the Option.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z5b148fa23e224ace91b06632115528b9">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.25pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">9.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">A &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Change in Control</font>&#8221; will be deemed to have occurred as provided in Section 4.2 of the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z8327530de777423396543a4e3dfefa60">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: -4.5pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 40.5pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">10.</font></td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Adjustment Provisions. </font>This Option, including the number of shares subject to the Option and the exercise price, will be adjusted upon the occurrence of the events specified
              in, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4 of the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 40.5pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">11.</font></td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Termination of Option and Accelerated Vesting</font>.</div>
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
              </div>
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Option will terminate upon the expiration date, except as set forth in the following provisions:</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <br>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z282cfead7e5d47d8b30fb44a3113f550">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 35.7pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Death</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s death, any unvested Options subject to this Agreement will vest. Any Options
              awarded under this Agreement that are outstanding at that time may thereafter be exercised by the Participant&#8217;s legal representative or beneficiaries for a period of one year following Termination of Service due to death or the remaining
              unexpired term of the Option, if less.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z1044edfd914845d088f6ded530125034">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Disability</font>.&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s Disability, any unvested Options subject to this Agreement will vest. Any
              Options awarded under this Agreement that are outstanding at that time may thereafter be exercised by the Participant or the Participant&#8217;s legal representative for a period of one year following Termination of Service due to Disability or the
              remaining unexpired term of the Option, if less.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">2</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zdb576f8bb5174c3fb7b774ce13a8eb7d">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.3</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Termination for Cause</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for Cause, all Options subject to this Agreement
              that have not been exercised will immediately expire and be forfeited.</div>
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
            </div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zc1b1e8081cb0480ebc1df9e9ad164ead">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">11.4</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Other Termination</font><font style="font-style: italic;">.</font>&#160; In the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for any reason other than due to death, Disability or
              for Cause, this Option may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, for a period of three months following termination, subject to termination on the Option&#8217;s expiration date, if earlier.&#160; All
              unvested Options will be forfeited.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 37.05pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous.</font></font></td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z7fa473246e874bb89cade5f399d105f0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 32.4pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.1</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">No Option will confer upon the Participant any rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z1b851b52dded4525843e06da62636309">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 32.4pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.2</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified unless evidenced in writing and signed by the Company and the Participant.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="za1433a7822d04b31b012f562e530ba2f">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.3</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">In the discretion of the Committee, a non-qualified Option granted under the Plan may be transferable by the Participant, provided, however, that such transfers will be limited to Immediate Family Members of
              Participants, trusts and partnerships established for the primary benefit of such family members or to charitable organizations, and provided, further, that such transfers are not made for consideration to the Participant.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="za136d29ed01c4209b83c66a31988e9d7">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 35.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.4</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Option will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>
      <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable">

          <tr>
            <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
            </td>
            <td style="width: 35.3pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.5</td>
            <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
              <div style="font-size: 12pt;">The granting of this Option does not confer upon the Participant any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary.</div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z3762fd79949f4422997cce877eecbca0">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 37.05pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 34.2pt; vertical-align: top; align: right; font-size: 12pt;">12.6</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">This Stock Option Award, or any portion of this Award, is subject to forfeiture in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.17 of the Plan.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -71.25pt; margin-left: 71.25pt; font-size: 12pt;">[Signature Page Follows]</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">3</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and on its behalf as of the date of grant of this Option set forth above.</div>
    <div style="margin-left: 252pt; margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 254.85pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">By:</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 216pt;" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">_________________________________
      </font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"></font></div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 254.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">Its:</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 216pt;" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">
        _________________________________</font></div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT&#8217;S ACCEPTANCE</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Option and agrees to the terms and conditions hereof, including the terms and provisions of the Plan.&#160; The
      undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and related prospectus.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3pt; margin-left: 253.65pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT</div>
    <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.3pt; margin-left: 253.65pt;"><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 214.05pt;" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">____________________________________ </font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">4</font></div>
      <div style="page-break-after:always;" id="DSPFPageBreak">
        <hr noshade="noshade" style="margin: 4px 0px; width: 100%; border-width: 0; height: 2px; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; clear: both;"></div>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT A</div>
    <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF OPTION<br>
      </font><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">I hereby exercise the stock option (the &#8220;Option&#8221;) granted to me by Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) or its affiliate, subject to all the terms and provisions set forth in the Stock
      Option Agreement (the &#8220;Agreement&#8221;) and the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;) referred to therein, and notify the Company of my desire to purchase __________________ shares of common stock of the Company for a
      purchase price of $_____________ per share.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">I wish to pay the purchase price by (check one or more):</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">[Any payment to be delivered must accompany this Notice of Exercise of Option]</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z0970abc4bf8f46eca93ee431c8b70d7d">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Personal, certified or cashier&#8217;s check in the sum of $_______ in full/partial payment of the purchase price.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z02ef178cbf814a4aaf9dec05241742fa">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Stock of the Company with a fair market value of $______ in full/partial payment of the purchase price.*</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zb730ecfaa4884ef193dea652db3089a8">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>A &#8220;net settlement&#8221; of the Option whereby I direct the Company to withhold a sufficient number of shares to satisfy the purchase price. Withhold a sufficient number of shares to pay minimum required taxes&#160; [&#160; ]&#160; Calculate minimum required
              withholding and I will submit payment.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="zbba2fcfdb0bc444186bc86eaec2dd4c3">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>A check (personal, certified or cashier&#8217;s) in the sum of $_______ <u>and</u> Stock of the Company with a fair market value of $______, in full payment of the purchase price.*</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 100%; text-align: left; color: #000000; margin-bottom: 12pt;" class="DSPFListTable" id="z4ffb3be0afd6469a8b885abbc30761f5">

        <tr>
          <td style="width: 36pt;"><br>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;">___</td>
          <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
            <div>Please sell ______ shares from my Option shares through a broker in full/partial payment of the purchase price.&#160; If my broker requires additional forms in order to consummate this &#8220;broker cashless exercise,&#8221; I have included them with this
              election.</div>
          </td>
        </tr>

    </table>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">I understand that after this exercise, ____________ shares of Stock remain subject to the Option, subject to all terms and provisions set forth in the Agreement and the Plan.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">I hereby represent that it is my intention to acquire these shares for the following purpose:</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">___<font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font>investment&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;
        &#160; &#160; ___<font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab"> </font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab">&#160;</font><font style="width: 9pt; font-size: 1px; display: inline-block;" class="HorizontalTab">&#160;</font>resale or distribution</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">Please note: if your intention is to resell (or distribute within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933) the shares you acquire through this Option exercise,
      the Company or transfer agent may require an opinion of counsel that such resale or distribution would not violate the Securities Act of 1933 prior to your exercise of such Option.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;">Date: ____________, _____.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; _________________________________________</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 216pt;">Participant&#8217;s signature</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">*<font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 36pt" id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab">&#160;</font>If I elect to exercise by exchanging shares I already own, I
      will <u>constructively</u> return shares that I already own to purchase the new option shares.&#160; If my shares are in certificate form, I must attach a separate statement indicating the certificate number of the shares I am treating as having been
      exchanged.&#160; If the shares are held in &#8220;street name&#8221; by a registered broker, I must provide the Company with a notarized statement attesting to the number of shares owned that will be treated as having been exchanged.&#160; I will keep the shares that I
      already own and treat them as if they are shares acquired by the option exercise.&#160; In addition, I will receive additional shares equal to the difference between the shares I constructively exchange and the total new option shares that I acquire.</div>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.6
<SEQUENCE>7
<FILENAME>ex10-6_s8062121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM OF PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
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  <div style="text-align: right;">EXHIBIT 10.6<br>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Unit Award</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">Granted by</div>
    <div><br>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">under the</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;">This restricted stock unit agreement (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Unit Award</font>&#8221; or &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Agreement</font>&#8221;)
      is and will be subject in every respect to the provisions of the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Plan</font>&#8221;) of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Company</font>&#8221;) which are
      incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement.&#160; A copy of the Plan and related prospectus have been provided to each person granted a Restricted Stock Unit Award pursuant to the Plan.&#160; The holder
      of this Restricted Stock Unit Award (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Participant</font>&#8221;) hereby accepts this Restricted Stock Unit Award, subject to all the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, and agrees that all decisions
      under and interpretations of the Plan and this Agreement by the committee appointed to administer the Plan (&#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Committee</font>&#8221;) or the Board of Directors will be final, binding and conclusive upon the Participant and
      the Participant&#8217;s heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.&#160; Capitalized terms used herein but not defined will have the same meaning as in the Plan.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24.5pt; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;">For valuable consideration, the Company does hereby grant to the Participant a Restricted Stock Unit Award for the number of restricted stock units (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Units</font>&#8221;) as set forth below, effective on the Date of Grant set forth below. The Restricted Stock Units granted under this agreement shall, subject to the attainment of certain performance goals set
      forth below (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Performance Goals</font>&#8221;), relating to the Performance Measures (as defined in Schedule I attached hereto), vest and become payable in shares of common stock of the Company (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Shares</font>&#8221;), subject to earlier expiration or termination of the Restricted Stock Units, as provided in this Agreement.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Name of Participant</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">:_______________&#160; </font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 432pt"><br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Date of Grant</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">:</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">_______________&#160; &#160;&#160; </font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 432pt"><br>
      </font></div>
    <div style="text-align: justify;"><font style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Performance Period</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">:</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;">_______________</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 432pt">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 12pt;"><br>
      </font><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">Target Number of Restricted Stock Units</font>:<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>The actual number of Shares that may become issuable
      pursuant to this Award shall be determined in accordance with Section 1 below.&#160; For purposes of the percentage calculations set forth in the Performance Goal Requirements section, the target number of Restricted Stock Units is __________.</div>
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    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">1</font>. <font style="font-weight: bold;">Vesting Schedule</font>. The number of Restricted Stock Units granted under this Agreement that actually
      vest and that will be settled shall be determined as provided under Section&#160;1.1 hereof on the basis of the level (i.e., Target, Threshold or Stretch) at which the Performance Goal specified on attached Schedule I is actually attained.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;">&#160;</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24.5pt; margin-left: 24.45pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">1.1 Performance Goal Requirements</font>.&#160;The attached Schedule I specifies the Performance Goals required to be attained
      during the Performance Period in order for the Restricted Stock Units to become eligible to vest and the relative weight attached to each Performance Goal. Within one hundred and twenty (120)&#160;days after the completion of the Performance Period, the
      Committee shall determine the actual level of attainment of the Performance Goal. On the basis of that determined level of attainment, the Target Number Restricted Stock Units will be multiplied by the applicable percentage determined in accordance
      with the percentile matrix set forth in Schedule I (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight: bold;">Performance RSUs</font>&#8221;). The number of Performance RSUs resulting from such calculation shall constitute the maximum number of Restricted Stock Units in which
      the Participant may vest under this Agreement. The Committee will determine in its sole discretion the extent, if any, to which the Performance Goal has been satisfied, and it will retain sole discretion to reduce the number of Performance RSUs that
      would otherwise be eligible to vest as a result of the performance as measured against the Performance Goal. The Committee may not increase the number of Performance RSUs that may be eligible to vest as a result of the Company&#8217;s performance as
      measured against the Performance Goal.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24.5pt; margin-left: 24.45pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">&#160;</font><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">2. Dividend Equivalent Rights and Voting Rights</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>In the sole discretion of the Committee, Dividend
      Equivalent Rights may be assigned to Restricted Stock Units. Dividend Equivalent Rights, if assigned, shall be paid at the same time as the Shares of stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit are distributed to the Participant. The Dividend
      Equivalent Rights are subject to the same rights and restrictions as the underlying Restricted Stock Unit. The Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">3. Form and Timing of Payment of Vested Units</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>Each Restricted Stock Unit Award represents the right to receive one
      Share of common stock on the date the Restricted Stock Unit Award vests. Subject to the other terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, any Restricted Stock Units that vest will be paid to the Participant solely in whole Shares (and not in
      cash, as the Plan permits), on, or as soon as practicable after, the date the Restricted Stock Units vest in accordance with Section&#160;1 hereof (or, if sooner, Sections&#160;4.2-4.5 hereof).</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">4. Termination of Employment; Change of Control</font>.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 24.5pt; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">4.1 Termination of Employment</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160; </font>Except as provided in Sections&#160;4.2-4.5 below,
      the unvested Restricted Stock Units subject to this Agreement shall immediately terminate and be automatically forfeited by the Participant to the Company upon the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service for any reason, including without limitation,
      voluntary termination by the Participant.</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">4.2 Death. </font>A portion of this<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>Restricted Stock Unit Award shall vest immediately
      in the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s death.&#160; The portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that vests upon death shall equal the Target Number of Performance RSUs multiplied by a fraction, where the
      numerator equals the number of</div>
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      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">2</font></div>
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    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">months that have elapsed since the Date of Grant and the denominator equals the number of months in the performance period.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">4.3 Disability</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>A portion of this<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>Restricted

      Stock Unit Award shall vest immediately in the event of the Participant&#8217;s Termination of Service by reason of the Participant&#8217;s Disability.&#160; The portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that vests upon the Participant&#8217;s Disability shall equal the
      Target Number of Performance RSUs multiplied by a fraction, where the numerator equals the number of months that have elapsed since the Date of Grant and the denominator equals the number of months in the performance period.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">4.4 Other Termination</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>If the Participant&#8217;s Service terminates for reasons other
      than death, Disability, Cause or an Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control, the Participant&#8217;s unvested Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall expire and be forfeited.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 27pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">4.5 Change in Control</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>A portion of this<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>Restricted


      Stock Unit Award shall vest immediately in the event of the Participant&#8217;s Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control.&#160; The portion of the Restricted Stock Unit Award that vests upon an Involuntary Termination following a Change in Control
      shall be based on actual performance under Section 1.1 hereof.&#160; If the actual performance is not determinable, the number shall equal the Target Number of Performance RSUs multiplied by a fraction, where the numerator equals the number of months that
      have elapsed since the Date of Grant and the denominator equals the number of months in the performance period.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">5. Withholding</font>.&#160;The Company shall collect federal, state and local income taxes and the employee portion of the FICA
      taxes (Social Security and Medicare) with respect to the Restricted Stock Units and any Dividend Equivalent Rights on such Restricted Stock Units paid to the Participant at the time the Restricted Stock Units vest.&#160; Unless the Participant delivers a
      separate check payable to the Company in the amount of the taxes required to be withheld from the Participant, the Company shall withhold those taxes from the Participant&#8217;s wages.&#160; The Participant hereby authorizes the Company to satisfy the
      withholding obligations by one or a combination of the following:</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">(a) withholding from the Participant&#8217;s wages or other cash compensation.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">(b) withholding from proceeds of the sale of Shares issued in settlement of the vested Restricted Stock Units, either through a voluntary sale or through a
      mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on the Participant&#8217;s behalf pursuant to this authorization), to the extent and in the manner permitted by all applicable securities laws, including making any necessary securities registration or taking any
      other necessary actions; or</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">(c) withholding in Shares to be issued in settlement of the vested Restricted Stock Units that number of whole Shares the fair market value of which (determined
      by reference to the closing price of the common stock on the principal exchange on which the common stock trades on the date the withholding obligation arises, or if such date is not a trading date, on the next preceding trading date) is equal to the
      aggregate withholding obligation as determined by the Company and/or the Employer with respect to such Award.</div>
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      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">3</font></div>
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    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">6. Code Section&#160;409A</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>The Restricted Stock Unit Award and payments made pursuant to this Agreement and
      the Plan are intended to qualify for an exemption from Code Section&#160;409A. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement and the Plan, the Company, to the extent it deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion, reserves the right, but
      shall not be required, to unilaterally amend or modify this Agreement and/or the Plan so that the Restricted Stock Units granted to the Participant qualify for exemption from or comply with Code Section&#160;409A; provided, however, that the Company makes
      no representations that the Restricted Stock Units shall be exempt from or comply with Code Section&#160;409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Code Section&#160;409A from applying to the Restricted Stock Units. Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall
      provide a basis for any person to take action against the Company or any affiliate based on matters covered by Code Section&#160;409A, including the tax treatment of any amount paid or payable or Award made under this Agreement, and neither the Company
      nor any of its affiliates shall under any circumstances have any liability to any Participant or his or her estate or any other party for any taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Code Section&#160;409A for any amounts paid or payable under this
      Agreement.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">7. Nature of Grant</font>.&#160;In accepting the Restricted Stock Units, the Participant acknowledges that: (a)&#160;the Plan is established voluntarily by the
      Company, is discretionary in nature and may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time; (b)&#160;grant of the Restricted Stock Units is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive
      future grants of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units even if Restricted Stock Units have been granted repeatedly in the past; (c)&#160;all decisions with respect to future awards of Restricted Stock Units, if any, will be
      at the sole discretion of the Company; (d)&#160;the Participant&#8217;s participation in the Plan is voluntary; (e)&#160;Restricted Stock Units are extraordinary items that do not constitute regular compensation for services rendered to the Company or any
      Subsidiary, and that are outside the scope of the Participant&#8217;s employment contract, if any; (f)&#160;Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to Restricted Stock Units are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation; (g)&#160;unless
      provided for elsewhere, Restricted Stock Units and the Shares subject to Restricted Stock Units are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation,
      redundancy or end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or
      any Subsidiary; (h)&#160;the award of Restricted Stock Units and the Participant&#8217;s participation in the Plan shall not be interpreted to form an employment contract or relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary; (i)&#160;the future value of the underlying
      Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty; (j)&#160;in consideration of the award of Restricted Stock Units, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the Restricted Stock Units resulting from
      termination of employment with the Company or any Subsidiary (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws), and the Participant irrevocably releases the Company and/or the Subsidiary from any such claim that may arise;
      if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, the Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her entitlement to pursue such claim; and (k)&#160;except as otherwise
      provided for in this Agreement or the Plan, in the event of involuntary termination of the Participant&#8217;s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), the Participant&#8217;s right to receive Restricted Stock Units and vest under the Plan, if
      any, will terminate effective as of the date that the Participant&#8217;s Service is terminated and</div>
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    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;">will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law (<font style="font-style: italic;">e.g.</font>, active employment would not include a period of &#8220;garden leave&#8221; or
      similar period pursuant to local law), and the Company shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when the Participant is no longer actively employed for purposes of this Agreement.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">8. No Advice Regarding Grant</font>.&#160;The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations
      regarding the Participant&#8217;s participation in the Plan, or the Participant&#8217;s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares. The Participant is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding the
      Participant&#8217;s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">9. Undertaking</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>The Participant hereby agrees to take whatever additional action and execute whatever
      additional documents the Company may deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on either the Participant or the Restricted Stock Units pursuant to the provisions of this
      Agreement.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">10. Restrictions on Transfer</font>. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Award
      may not be sold, pledged (as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose), assigned, hypothecated, transferred, disposed of in exchange for consideration, made subject to attachment or similar
      proceedings, or otherwise disposed of under any circumstances prior to the time the Restricted Stock Units vest.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">11. Severability</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are
      determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">12. No Rights as Shareholder</font>.<font style="font-weight: bold;">&#160;</font>Except as provided in this Agreement,<font style="font-weight: bold;"> t</font>he


      Participant will not have dividend, voting or any other rights as a shareholder of the Shares of common stock with respect to the Restricted Stock Units. Upon payment of the vested Restricted Stock Units in Shares of common stock, the Participant
      will obtain full dividend, voting and other rights as a shareholder of the Company.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">13. Electronic Delivery</font>.&#160;The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to current or future participation
      in the Plan by electronic means. The Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third
      party designated by the Company.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">14. Imposition of Other Requirements</font>.&#160;The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the Participant&#8217;s participation in the
      Plan, on the Restricted Stock Units and on any Shares of common stock acquired under the Plan, to the extent that the Company determines it is necessary or advisable in order to comply with local law or facilitate the administration of the Plan, and
      to require the Participant to sign any additional agreements or undertakings (as provided in Section&#160;6 above) that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;">By the Participant's signature and the Company's signature below, the Participant and the Company agree that this grant is governed by this Agreement and the Plan.</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;">[Signature Page Follows]</div>
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    </div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">IN WITNESS WHEREOF</font>, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and on its behalf as of the date of
      grant of this Restricted Stock Unit Award set forth above.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 252pt; margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 252pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">By:</font><font style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 12pt; width: 216pt;"> ___________________________________</font></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">PARTICIPANT&#8217;S ACCEPTANCE</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">The undersigned hereby accepts the foregoing Restricted Stock Unit Award and agrees to the terms and conditions hereof, including the terms and provisions of the
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    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; font-size: 12pt;">___________________________________</div>
    <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; font-size: 12pt;">Participant</div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br>
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    <div style="clear: both; margin-top: 10pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;" id="DSPFPageBreakArea">
      <div id="DSPFPageNumberArea" style="text-align: center;"><font id="DSPFPageNumber" style="font-size: 8pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">6</font></div>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">SCHEDULE I</div>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">(Performance-Based)</div>
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    <div style="text-indent: 24.5pt; margin-top: 6.9pt; font-size: 12pt;">The Performance Goal shall be based on the Company&#8217;s attainment over the Performance Period of the Performance Measures (defined below). Attainment of the Performance Goal at the
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 51%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 3.01%; vertical-align: bottom;">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 45.99%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
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            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Value Assigned to</div>
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              <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Performance Goal</div>
              <div>&#160;</div>
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              <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -12pt; margin-left: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">&#160;</div>
              <div>&#160;</div>
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          </td>
          <td style="width: 45.99%; vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: 2px solid #000000;">
            <div>
              <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">&#160;</div>
              <div>&#160;</div>
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            <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -12pt; margin-left: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">&#8212;&#160;&#160;</div>
          </td>
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          <td style="width: 45.99%; vertical-align: bottom;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;%</div>
          </td>
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 51%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
          <td colspan="2" style="width: 49%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 51%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -12pt; margin-left: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">&#8212;&#160;&#160;</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.01%; vertical-align: bottom;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">&#160;&#160;</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 45.99%; vertical-align: bottom;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;%</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 51%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
          <td colspan="2" style="width: 49%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
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          <td style="width: 51%; vertical-align: top;">
            <div style="text-align: center; text-indent: -12pt; margin-left: 12pt; font-size: 12pt;">&#8212;&#160;&#160;</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 3.01%; vertical-align: bottom;">
            <div style="font-size: 12pt;">&#160;&#160;</div>
          </td>
          <td style="width: 45.99%; vertical-align: bottom;">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;%</div>
            <div>&#160;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 51%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
          <td colspan="2" style="width: 49%; vertical-align: middle;">&#160;</td>
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    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Performance Goal</div>
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          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Target</div>
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            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Threshold</div>
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          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
            <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Stretch</div>
          </td>
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        <tr>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
          <td style="width: 25%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.2
<SEQUENCE>8
<FILENAME>ex23-2_s8062121.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
<TEXT>
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  <div style="text-align: right;"><font style="font-weight: bold;">EXHIBIT 23.2</font><br>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM</div>
    <div><br>
    </div>
    <div>We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. of our report dated March 15, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements and effectiveness of internal control
      over financial reporting appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2020.</div>
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      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-left: 36pt;"> /s/ Crowe LLP<br>
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      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 252pt; margin-left: 36pt;">Crowe LLP</div>
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    </div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
    <div>New York, New York</div>
    <div>June 21, 2021</div>
    <div>&#160;</div>
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