UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

____________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):

May 1, 2019

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

New Jersey	001-16197	22-3537895
(State or Other Jurisdiction)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)		Identification No.)

500 Hills Drive, Suite 300, Bedminster, New Jersey			07921
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)			(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

(908) 234-0700

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common		PGC		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On May 1, 2019, John P. Babcock, Senior Executive Vice President of Peapack Gladstone Financial Corporation (the “Company”) and President of Peapack Wealth Management, entered into a stock trading plan to sell 10,000 shares of common stock over a five-month period. The trading plan, which becomes effective in May 2019, is designed to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In accordance with Rule 10b5-1, officers of a public company may adopt a plan for selling stock of the public company when the officer is not in possession of material, non-public information about the company.

Mr. Babcock entered into the plan for asset diversification and tax and financial planning. Following the completion of the plan, Mr. Babcock will still maintain a substantial ownership position and will continue to be in compliance with the stock ownership requirements for named executive officers as required by the Company’s stock ownership guidelines. The stock transactions under the plan will be disclosed publicly through filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION



DATE: May 8, 2019	By:	/s/ Jeffrey J. Carfora
		Name: Jeffrey J. Carfora
		Title: Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer