<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000943374-25-000163.txt : 20250421
<SEC-HEADER>0000943374-25-000163.hdr.sgml : 20250421
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250421161518
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000943374-25-000163
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250421
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250421

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. /NY/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000846617
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	02 Finance
		EIN:				112934195
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34096
		FILM NUMBER:		25853332

	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>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>defa14a_042125.htm
<DESCRIPTION>DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC. APRIL 21, 2025
<TEXT>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">UNITED STATES</div>
    <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0.45pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold;"><font style="font-size: 12pt;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
        COMMISSION </font>Washington, D.C. 20549</div>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"> AMENDMENT NO. 1<br>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">TO<br>
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    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">SCHEDULE 14A</div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 0.8pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities ExchangeAct of 1934 (Amendment No. )</div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 0.5pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>Filed by the Registrant <font style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', sans-serif;">&#9746;</font></div>
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    <div>Filed by a Party other than the Registrant <font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 1pt;">&#8201;</font><font style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', sans-serif;">&#9744;</font></div>
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    <div>Check the appropriate box:</div>
    <div style="margin-top: 5.85pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 1pt;">&#8201;</font><font style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', sans-serif;">&#9744;</font><font class="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 18pt">&#160;</font>Preliminary Proxy Statement</div>
    <div style="margin-top: 5.85pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', sans-serif;">&#9744;</font><font class="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 18pt"> </font><font style="font-weight: bold;">Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))</font></div>
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      <div><font style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', sans-serif;">&#9744;</font><font class="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 18pt"> </font>Definitive Proxy Statement</div>
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      <font style="font-weight: bold;"></font> </div>
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    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.&#160;</font></div>
    <div>
      <hr noshade="noshade" align="center" style="height: 2px; width: 80%; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"></div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 0.7pt; text-align: center;">(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)</div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 0.7pt; text-align: center;"> <br>
    </div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <br>
    </div>
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      <hr noshade="noshade" align="center" style="height: 2px; width: 80%; color: #000000; background-color: #000000; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"></div>
    <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)</div>
    <div style="margin-bottom: 0.2pt;"><br>
    </div>
    <div>Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):</div>
    <div style="margin-left: 0.25pt; margin-top: 5.9pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', sans-serif;">&#9746;</font><font class="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 17.95pt">&#160;</font>No fee required.</div>
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      <div style="margin-left: 0.25pt; margin-top: 0.2pt;"><font style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol', sans-serif;">&#9744;</font><font class="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 17.95pt"> </font>Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per ExchangeAct Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11</div>
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                <div>&#160;<img src="image00001.jpg"></div>
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                <div>&#160;
                  <div style="text-align: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);">898 Veterans Memorial Highway</div>
                  <div style="text-align: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);">Suite 560</div>
                  <div style="text-align: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);">Hauppauge, NY 11788</div>
                  <div style="text-align: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);">1.800.321.DIME (3463)</div>
                  <div style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><br>
                  </div>
                  <div style="text-align: left; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 112, 192);">dime.com</div>
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        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-top: 3.95pt;"><br>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-top: 3.95pt; font-size: 12pt;">Dear Stockholder:</div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="font-size: 12pt;">You previously received the Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221; or &#8220;Dime&#8221;) proxy statement dated April 7, 2025 (the &#8220;Proxy Statement&#8221;) in
          connection with the annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 22, 2025. Included with these materials was a proxy card for stockholders to vote on three proposals described in the Proxy Statement.</div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: justify; margin-right: 15.8pt; font-size: 12pt;">We are writing to inform you that Proposal 1 contained a misprint referencing the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and should
          have referenced the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and therefore should read in part:</div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-indent: -13.5pt; margin-left: 27pt; font-size: 12pt;">1) <font style="font-style: italic;">Election of
            the following eleven nominees for Directors for terms to expire at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:</font></div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: justify; margin-right: 9.2pt; font-size: 12pt;">Also enclosed is an amended proxy card, which may be used by stockholders to vote on all three proposals.</div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="font-size: 12pt;">If you have already voted and do not submit a new (amended) proxy card, your previously submitted proxy will be voted at the annual meeting with respect
          to all three proposals as if there was no misprint.</div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="text-align: justify; margin-right: 26.55pt; font-size: 12pt;">PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU SUBMIT A NEW PROXY CARD, IT WILL REVOKE ALL PRIOR PROXY CARDS, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO INDICATE YOUR VOTE
          ON EACH PROPOSAL ON THE NEW PROXY CARD.</div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-right: 5.85pt; font-size: 12pt;">You can vote by proxy over the Internet by following the instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy
          Materials that was mailed to you or, if you requested printed copies of the proxy materials, you can also vote by mail or on the Internet as instructed on the proxy card that you received. You may revoke your proxy and vote in person if you
          decide to attend the meeting.</div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-top: 0.05pt; font-size: 12pt;">On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our appreciation for your continued interest in Dime.</div>
        <div style="margin-top: 0.05pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-right: 405.05pt; margin-top: 0.1pt; font-size: 12pt;">Sincerely,</div>
        <div style="margin-right: 405.05pt; margin-top: 0.1pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-right: 405.05pt; margin-top: 0.1pt; font-size: 12pt;">Judy Wu</div>
        <div style="margin-right: 250.8pt; margin-top: 0.1pt; font-size: 12pt;">General Counsel and Corporate Secretary </div>
        <div style="margin-right: 250.8pt; margin-top: 0.1pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
        </div>
        <div style="margin-right: 250.8pt; margin-top: 0.1pt; font-size: 12pt;">April 21, 2025</div>
        <div style="margin-right: 250.8pt; margin-top: 0.1pt; font-size: 12pt;"> <br>
        </div>
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                  <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 1.7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;">898 VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK 11788</div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 1.7pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;"><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic;">ATTN:
                        INVESTOR RELATIONS</font><font class="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 259.1pt">&#160;</font> </div>
                  </td>
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                    <div>&#160;</div>
                    <div>
                      <div style="text-align: center; margin-right: 152.55pt; margin-left: 45.7pt; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">SCAN TO</div>
                      <div style="text-align: center; margin-right: 137pt; margin-left: 30.15pt; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">VIEW MATERIALS &amp; VOTE <br>
                      </div>
                    </div>
                  </td>
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                  <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 50%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;
                    <div><font style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">VOTE BY INTERNET</font></div>
                    <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">Before The Meeting </font>-
                      Go to <font style="font-weight: bold;">www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above</font></div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 0.45pt;"><br>
                    </div>
                    <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on
                      May 21, 2025. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.</div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 0.2pt;"><br>
                    </div>
                    <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;"><font style="font-style: italic;">During The Meeting </font>-
                      Go to <font style="font-weight: bold;">www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/DCOM2025</font></div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 0.45pt;"><br>
                    </div>
                    <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by
                      the arrow available and follow the instructions. The meeting will be held on May 22, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.</div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 0.2pt;"><br>
                    </div>
                    <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903</div>
                    <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on May 21, 2025. Have your proxy
                      card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.</div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 0.45pt;"><br>
                    </div>
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">VOTE BY MAIL</div>
                    <div style="text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o
                      Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.</div>
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              <div style="margin-left: 5pt; font-size: 8pt;">TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:</div>
              <div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;"> V74203-P25740&#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;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS</div>
              <div style="text-align: right; margin-left: 5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;"> <br>
              </div>
            </div>
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          <div style="text-align: right; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;"> <font style="font-weight: normal;">DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY</font></div>
          <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.</div>
          <div style="margin-top: 2.6pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;"><br>
          </div>
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                  <td style="vertical-align: top; font-weight: bold;" rowspan="1" colspan="2">DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</td>
                  <td style="width: 5%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">
                    <div>&#160;For</div>
                    <div>All<br>
                    </div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="width: 5.29%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">Withhold All <br>
                  </td>
                  <td style="width: 5.29%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">&#160;For All Except<br>
                  </td>
                  <td style="width: 20.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark "For All Except" and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.</td>
                  <td style="width: 20.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                </tr>
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                  <td style="width: 2.5%; vertical-align: top; padding-bottom: 2px;" rowspan="1" colspan="2">
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">Proposals 1, 2, and 3 are proposed by Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company"). The Board of Directors
                      unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" all of the nominees in Proposal 1 and a vote "FOR" Proposals 2 and 3.</div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="width: 5%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 2px;">&#160;&#9744;</td>
                  <td style="width: 5.29%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 2px;">&#160;&#9744;</td>
                  <td style="width: 5.29%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; padding-bottom: 2px;">&#160;&#9744;</td>
                  <td style="width: 20.29%; vertical-align: top; border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 20.29%; vertical-align: top; padding-bottom: 2px;">&#160;</td>
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                  <td style="vertical-align: top;">&#160; <br>
                  </td>
                  <td style="width: 20.84%; vertical-align: top;">&#160; <br>
                  </td>
                  <td style="width: 5%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 5.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 5.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 20.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 20.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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                  <td style="width: 2.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;1.</td>
                  <td style="width: 26.3%; vertical-align: top;">
                    <div>&#160;Election of the following eleven nominees for Directors for terms to expire at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:</div>
                    <div> <br>
                    </div>
                  </td>
                  <td style="width: 14.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 14.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 14.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 14.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 14.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
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                  <td style="width: 2.29%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;</td>
                  <td style="width: 26.3%; vertical-align: top;">&#160;
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold;">NOMINEES:</div>
                    <div style="margin-top: 4.2pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">01) Kenneth J. Mahon</div>
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">02) Paul M. Aguggia</div>
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">03) Rosemarie Chen</div>
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">04) Judith H. Germano</div>
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">05) Matthew A. Lindenbaum</div>
                    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 8pt;">06) Stuart H. Lubow</div>
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          <font style="font-weight: bold;">The proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in such manner as shall be determined by a majority of the Board of
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          <div>The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Proxy Statement, both dated April 7, 2025 for the Annual Meeting.</div>
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          <font style="font-weight: bold;">Please note the Annual Meeting is being held as a virtual meeting.</font>
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          <div style="font-weight: bold;">Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear(s) on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give
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          <div style="text-align: center; margin-right: 66.95pt; margin-left: 67.95pt; font-weight: bold;">Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:</div>
          <div style="text-align: center; margin-right: 82.2pt; margin-left: 83.2pt; margin-top: 0.4pt;">The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.</div>
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          <div style="margin-top: 0.3pt;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
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          <div style="text-align: right; margin-right: 4.6pt; margin-left: 493.3pt; font-size: 8pt;">V74204-P25740</div>
          <div><br>
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          <div>
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                  <td style="width: 33.34%; vertical-align: top; border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">&#160;DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.</td>
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          <div style="text-align: center; margin-right: 52.9pt; margin-left: 53.9pt; font-weight: bold;">This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Dime Community
            Bancshares, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 22, 2025.</div>
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          <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 12pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-left: 5pt;">The undersigned shareholder of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. hereby appoints Judy Wu to
            represent and to vote as proxies, as designated on the reverse side, all shares of common stock of Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. held of record by the undersigned on March 25, 2025, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting")
            to be held at 10:00 A.M., Eastern Time, on May 22, 2025, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, upon the matters described in the accompanying Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, both dated April 7, 2025,
            and upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. The undersigned hereby revokes all prior proxies.</div>
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          <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 12pt; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-left: 5pt;">This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the
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end
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
