John R. Garbarino has been a key figure at OceanFirst Financial Corp. since 1996, serving as its CEO and Chairman. With a Bachelor's degree in Finance, he has been with the company for a long time, starting from its early...

John R. Garbarino has been a key figure at OceanFirst Financial Corp. since 1996, serving as its CEO and Chairman. With a Bachelor's degree in Finance, he has been with the company for a long time, starting from its early days. Garbarino's leadership helped OceanFirst grow and adapt over the years. He is known for aligning his goals with the company’s performance, which shows in how the company handles compensations. For example, a part of his pay is based on how well the company does, making sure he is focused on success. He has also been involved in community banking organizations and local charities for years. At times, his wealth tied up in company stock has reached significant amounts, showing he invests in his own company’s future. Additionally, he has a solid record in insider trading by selling shares strategically, which attracted attention. John stepped down as CEO in 2014 but continues to have a strong voice as a board member, influencing company direction and strategy for OceanFirst.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other OceanFirst Financial CEOs

O

John R. Garbarino

Ex-CEO of OceanFirst Financial

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

January 1, 1954 - 71 years ago

CEO of OceanFirst Financial for

13 years 7 months (Jan 2000 - Aug 2013)

Previous Experience

Various leadership roles in banking and finance

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of John R. Garbarino

H

Kevin S. Kim

CEO of Hope Bancorp

2023 Compensation

Stock

$700.98K

Salary

$1.05M

Bonus

$1.05K

Other

$60.71K

Total Holdings

$10.60M

F

Mark K. Hardwick

CEO of First Merchants Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$611.04K

Salary

$728.00K

Bonus

$369.81K

Other

$78.87K

Total Holdings

$128.69K

P

Anthony Labozzetta

CEO of Provident Financial Services

2023 Compensation

Stock

$61.82K

Salary

$818.27K

Bonus

$309.38K

Other

$121.55K

Total Holdings

$8.84M

A

H. Palmer Proctor, Jr.

CEO of Ameris Bancorp

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.90M

Salary

$925.00K

Bonus

$1.44M

Other

$98.20K

Total Holdings

$28.94M

U

Jeffrey M. Schweitzer

CEO of Univest Financial Corporation

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$806.00K

Bonus

$250.57K

Other

$26.25K

Total Holdings

$2.56M

Holdings

See how much did John R. Garbarino make over time.

Over his tenure, John R. Garbarino saw significant fluctuations in his company stock holdings. At one point, his wealth in OceanFirst stock peaked at about $11.18 million in January 2020, reflecting a strong performance from the company. However, there were...

Over his tenure, John R. Garbarino saw significant fluctuations in his company stock holdings. At one point, his wealth in OceanFirst stock peaked at about $11.18 million in January 2020, reflecting a strong performance from the company. However, there were periods of decline, too, with holdings dropping to around $6.13 million by October 2023. This shows both the highs and lows of being a CEO, where stock value can vary considerably based on company performance. Garbarino maintained a significant portion of his wealth tied to company stock, which demonstrates confidence in the company's future. Throughout his years at OceanFirst, his approach has been carefully monitored, especially during times of change in the market.

Mar 18, 2025

O

shares

OCFC @ $17.11

Total Stock Sold

$4.59M

OCFC

$4.59M

215,220 OCFC shares

What if they kept their stock?

If John R. Garbarino didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra OCFC215,220 shares worth $3.68M.
This is -19.72% and $904.29K less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

OCFC

539,758 shares

OCFC

Recent Charitable Transactions

OCFC

7,000 shares

OCFC

Aug 9, 2016

Charity

OCFC

530,554 shares

OCFC

Dec 11, 2013

Charity

OCFC

2,204 shares

OCFC

Jul 1, 2013

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of John R. Garbarino.

OCFC

$394.65K

OCFC at $26.31/share

May 23, 2017

Sale

OCFC

1,335 shares

OCFC

Mar 15, 2017

Received

OCFC

1,035 shares

OCFC

Mar 15, 2017

Received

OCFC

$604.40K

OCFC at $30.22/share

Mar 1, 2017

Sale

OCFC

$87.00K

OCFC at $29.00/share

Feb 10, 2017

Sale

OCFC

$205.58K

OCFC at $29.37/share

Feb 13, 2017

Sale

OCFC

$3.08M

OCFC at $19.25/share

Aug 25, 2016

Sale

OCFC

7,000 shares

OCFC

Aug 9, 2016

Charity

OCFC

$188.40K

OCFC at $18.84/share

Aug 9, 2016

Sale

OCFC

1,740 shares

OCFC

Jan 19, 2016

Received

Compensation History

See how much did John R. Garbarino make over time.

Garbarino’s compensation package has varied over the years, tailored to reflect his performance and OceanFirst's success. In 2013, his total compensation reached approximately $1.45 million, which included a salary around $490k, a bonus, and other incentives. His pay structure emphasized performance metrics, ensuring that when the company succeeded, he would also benefit. However, in some years, bonuses were minimal or non-existent if specific benchmarks were not met. This setup aligns his interests with those of shareholders. By remaining on the Board after stepping down, Garbarino's influence on compensation decisions continues, keeping him connected to the company's financial strategies.

Year

2013

Total Compensation

$1.45M

Salary

$490.50K

Board Justification

The compensation program is designed to attract, retain, and reward highly qualified executives while aligning their interests with those of stockholders and ensuring prudent risk management.

Bonus

$175.00K

Board Justification

Discretionary bonus for 2013 based on performance assessment by the Compensation Committee.

Other

$784.53K

Board Justification

Includes contributions to the SERP, matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan, life insurance premiums, long-term disability premiums, automobile benefit, and club dues.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 Restricted Stock)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2013; all stock awards are subject to vesting schedules.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2013 included net income and efficiency ratio, but the targets were not met, resulting in no cash incentives under the guidelines.

Other OceanFirst Financial CEOs

Here are other CEOs of OceanFirst Financial

Christopher D. Maher

Ex-CEO of OceanFirst Financial

August 2013 - March 2022