UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☐	Preliminary Proxy Statement
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☒	Definitive Proxy Statement
☐	Definitive Additional Materials
☐	Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

Kearny Financial Corp.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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September 15, 2017

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Kearny Financial Corp. (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, located at 690 Route 46 East in Fairfield, New Jersey on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.

We are furnishing proxy materials to our stockholders primarily via the Internet by mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or “Notice”, instead of mailing printed copies of those materials to each stockholder. The Notice directs stockholders to a website where they can access our proxy materials, including our proxy statement and our annual report, and view instructions on how to vote via the Internet or by telephone. If you would prefer to receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions included in the Notice. If you have previously elected to receive our proxy materials electronically, you will continue to receive access to these materials electronically unless you elect otherwise.

The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Kearny Financial Corp. for use at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. This proxy statement is first being made available to stockholders on or about September 15, 2017. Stockholders may submit a proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting by following the instructions on the Notice, via the Internet, by telephone, or (if they have received paper copies of the proxy materials) by returning a proxy card.

The Annual Meeting is being held so that stockholders may consider the election of four directors, the ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as Kearny Financial Corp.’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending June 30, 2018, and the consideration of an advisory, non-binding resolution, with respect to the executive compensation described in the Proxy Statement.

The Board of Directors of Kearny Financial Corp. has determined that the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting are in the best interests of Kearny Financial Corp. and its stockholders. For the reasons set forth in the Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each of the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the officers and employees of Kearny Financial Corp. and its subsidiary, Kearny Bank, I thank you for your continued support of Kearny Financial Corp.

Sincerely,

/s/ Craig L. Montanaro

Craig L. Montanaro

President and Chief Executive Officer

Kearny Financial Corp.

120 Passaic Avenue

Fairfield, New Jersey 07004

(973) 244-4500

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Kearny Financial Corp. (the “Company”) will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 690 Route 46 East, Fairfield, New Jersey on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following matters:

1. To elect four directors;

2. To ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018;

3. An advisory, non-binding resolution to approve our executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement; and

such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof may also be acted upon. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come before the Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors of the Company has determined that the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting, described in this Notice of Annual Meeting and the accompanying Proxy Statement, are in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. For the reasons set forth in the Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” each of its nominees, a vote “FOR” the ratification of Crowe Horwath LLP as independent auditors, and a vote “FOR” the non-binding resolution to approve our executive compensation.

Any action may be taken on any one of the foregoing proposals at the Annual Meeting on the date specified above, or on any date or dates to which, by original or later adjournment, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned. Pursuant to the Company’s bylaws, the Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on September 1, 2017 as the record date for determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AND VOTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. STOCKHOLDERS WHOSE SHARES ARE HELD IN REGISTERED FORM HAVE A CHOICE OF VOTING BY PROXY CARD, TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET, AS DESCRIBED ON YOUR PROXY CARD. STOCKHOLDERS WHOSE SHARES ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF A BROKER, BANK OR OTHER HOLDER OF RECORD MUST VOTE IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY SUCH HOLDER. CHECK YOUR PROXY CARD OR THE INFORMATION FORWARDED BY YOUR BROKER, BANK OR OTHER HOLDER OF RECORD TO SEE WHICH OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU. ANY STOCKHOLDER OF RECORD PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING MAY WITHDRAW HIS OR HER PROXY AND VOTE PERSONALLY ON ANY MATTER PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING. IF YOU ARE A STOCKHOLDER WHOSE SHARES ARE NOT REGISTERED IN YOUR OWN NAME, YOU WILL NEED APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE STOCKHOLDER OF RECORD TO VOTE IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

/s/ Sharon Jones

Sharon Jones

Corporate Secretary

Fairfield, New Jersey

September 15, 2017

Important Notice Regarding Internet

Availability of Proxy Materials

For the Stockholder Meeting to be

Held on October 26, 2017

The Proxy Statement and Annual Report to

Stockholders are available at

www.investorvote.com/KRNY

(or through the Company Info tab of our website at www.kearnybank.com)

KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE

2017 Annual Meeting OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on October 26, 2017

GENERAL INFORMATION

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Kearny Financial Corp. (the “Company” or “Kearny Financial”) in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors of proxies for use at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 690 Route 46 East, Fairfield, New Jersey on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time (the “Annual Meeting”). This Proxy Statement and the proxy card are first being made available to stockholders on or about September 15, 2017.

The Annual Meeting

Date, Time and Place	The Annual Meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 690 Route 46 East, Fairfield, New Jersey on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
Record Date	September 1, 2017
Shares Entitled to Vote	82,611,248 shares of Kearny Financial common stock were outstanding on the Record Date and are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Purpose of the Annual Meeting	To consider and vote on: 1) the election of four directors; 2) the ratification of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending June 30, 2018; and 3) the approval of a resolution to approve our executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement.
Vote Required	Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, without regard to either broker non-votes or proxies as to which authority to vote for the nominees being proposed is withheld. The vote to approve the advisory, non-binding resolution with respect to executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement and the ratification of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, is determined by a majority of the votes cast, without regard to broker non-votes or proxies marked “ABSTAIN.”

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Your Board of Directors Recommends You Vote in Favor of the Proposals

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” each of the nominees for director listed in this Proxy Statement, “FOR” the ratification of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending June 30, 2018, and “FOR” approval of an advisory, non-binding resolution, with respect to executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement.

Kearny Financial

Kearny Financial is the holding company for Kearny Bank, an FDIC-insured, federally-chartered capital stock savings bank. Kearny Financial had $4.82 billion in total assets at June 30, 2017, and currently operates 42 retail branch offices located throughout northern and central New Jersey and Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York. Kearny Financial’s executive offices are located at 120 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, New Jersey 07004, and its telephone number is (973) 244-4500.

Who Can Vote at the Annual Meeting

The Board of Directors has fixed September 1, 2017 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, only holders of record of shares of Kearny Financial common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at the close of business on such date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On September 1, 2017, 82,611,248 shares of Kearny Financial common stock were outstanding and held by approximately 9,012 holders of record. The presence, in person or by properly executed proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Kearny Financial common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.

How Many Votes You Have

Each holder of shares of Kearny Financial common stock outstanding on September 1, 2017 will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record. However, Kearny Financial’s articles of incorporation provides that stockholders of record who beneficially own in excess of 10% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of Kearny Financial are not entitled to vote any of the shares held in excess of that 10% limit. A person or entity is deemed to beneficially own shares that are owned by an affiliate of, as well as by any person acting in concert with, such person or entity.

Matters to Be Considered

The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to: 1) elect four directors; 2) ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending June 30, 2018; and 3) approve a resolution to approve our executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement.

You may be asked to vote upon other matters that may properly be submitted to a vote at the Annual Meeting. We may adjourn or postpone the Annual Meeting for the purpose, among others, of allowing additional time to solicit proxies.

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How to Vote

We are making our proxy materials available to our stockholders on the Internet. You may read, print and download our 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders and our Proxy Statement at www.investorvote.com/KRNY (or through the Company Info tab of our website at www.kearnybank.com). On September 15, 2017, we mailed a Notice to Stockholders containing instructions on how to access our proxy materials and vote online. On an ongoing basis, stockholders may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email.

You may vote your shares by Internet, by telephone, by regular mail or in person at the Annual Meeting. Each of these voting options is described in the Notice. You should complete and return your Proxy Card, or vote using the Internet or telephone voting options, in order to ensure that your vote is counted at the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournment of the Annual Meeting, regardless of whether you plan to attend. If you return an executed Proxy Card without marking your instructions, your executed Proxy Card will be voted “FOR” the election of the four director nominees named in this Proxy Statement, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, and “FOR” the advisory, non-binding resolution to approve our executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement.

To access your online proxy card, please visit www.investorvote.com/KRNY and follow the on-screen instructions. The Notice previously provided to you contains the necessary codes required to vote online or by telephone. If you wish to vote by telephone, please call 1-800-652-8683 using a touch-tone phone and follow the prompted instructions. You may also vote by mail by requesting a paper proxy card using the instructions provided in the Notice. Finally, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

If you are a stockholder whose shares are not registered in your own name, you will need appropriate documentation from the stockholder of record to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you want to vote your shares of Kearny Financial common stock that are held in street name in person at the Annual Meeting, you will need a written proxy in your name from the broker, bank or other nominee who holds your shares.

The Board of Directors is currently unaware of any other matters that may be presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting. If other matters properly come before the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting, shares represented by properly submitted proxies will be voted, or not voted, by the persons named as proxies on the Proxy Card in their best judgment.

Participants in the Kearny Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan, Kearny Bank Employees’ Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and Holders of Non-Vested Restricted Stock Awards

If you are a participant in the Kearny Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”) or hold (i) Kearny Financial common stock through the Kearny Bank Employees’ Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (the “401(k) Plan”) or (ii) non-vested restricted stock awards, you will receive a voting instruction form that reflects all shares you may vote under these plans and awards. Under the terms of the plans, you are entitled to direct the trustees as how to vote the shares of Kearny Financial common stock credited to your account in the ESOP and 401(k) Plan and you are entitled to vote any non-vested restricted stock awards. The 401(k) Plan trustee and ESOP trustee, as applicable, will vote all shares for which it does not receive timely instructions from participants in the same proportion as shares for which the 401(k) Plan trustee and ESOP trustee, as applicable, received voting instructions, and the unallocated ESOP shares will also be voted in the same proportion as shares for which the ESOP trustee received voting instructions. It is important that you direct the trustee as to how to vote your shares, and to allow sufficient time for voting by the trustees, your voting instructions must be received by October 19, 2017.

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Quorum and Vote Required

The presence, in person or by properly executed proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Kearny Financial common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted solely for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. A proxy submitted by a broker that is not voted is sometimes referred to as a broker non-vote.

Directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast, without regard to either broker non-votes or proxies as to which authority to vote for the nominees being proposed is “Withheld.” The ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm and the advisory vote to approve our executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement is determined by a majority of the votes cast, without regard to broker non-votes or proxies marked “Abstain.”

Revocability of Proxies

You may revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the Annual Meeting. You may revoke your proxy by:

• submitting written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary of Kearny Financial prior to the voting of such proxy;

• submitting a properly executed proxy bearing a later date;

• using the Internet or telephone voting options explained on the Proxy Card; or

• voting in person at the Annual Meeting; however, simply attending the Annual Meeting without voting will not revoke an earlier proxy.

Written notices of revocation and other communications regarding the revocation of your proxy should be addressed to:

Kearny Financial Corp.

120 Passaic Avenue

Fairfield, New Jersey 07004

Attention: Sharon Jones, Corporate Secretary

If your shares are held in street name, you should follow your broker’s instructions regarding the revocation of proxies.

Solicitation of Proxies

Kearny Financial will bear the entire cost of soliciting proxies from you. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mailing, Kearny Financial will request that banks, brokers and other holders of record send proxies and proxy material to the beneficial owners of Kearny Financial common stock and secure their voting instructions. If necessary, Kearny Financial may also use several of its regular employees, who will not be specially compensated, to solicit proxies from stockholders.

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Recommendation of the Board of Directors

Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each of the nominees for director listed in this Proxy Statement, “FOR” the ratification of Crowe Horwath LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending June 30, 2018, and “FOR” approval on an advisory basis of executive compensation as described in this Proxy Statement.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The following table sets forth, as of September 1, 2017, certain information as to the shares of Kearny Financial common stock owned by persons who beneficially own more than five percent of Kearny Financial’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock and as to the shares of common stock beneficially owned by all executive officers and directors of Kearny Financial as a group. We know of no persons who beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Kearny Financial common stock as of September 1, 2017. For purposes of the following table, and in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of any shares of common stock (i) over which he or she has, or shares, directly or indirectly, voting or investment power, or (ii) as to which he or she has the right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days after September 1, 2017.

Name of Beneficial Owner	Shares Beneficially Owned			Percent of All Common Stock Outstanding(1)
Directors:
Theodore J. Aanensen		173,877	(2)		*
Raymond E. Chandonnet		66,139			*
John N. Hopkins		515,504	(3)		*
John J. Mazur, Jr.		201,010	(4)		*
Joseph P. Mazza		206,548			*
Matthew T. McClane		146,504	(5)		*
John F. McGovern		235,992			*
Craig L. Montanaro		339,218	(6)		*
Leopold W. Montanaro		241,136	(7)		*
Christopher Petermann		44,339	(8)		*
John F. Regan		156,221			*
Executive Officers:
William C. Ledgerwood		226,243	(9)		*
Eric B. Heyer		100,051	(10)		*
Sharon Jones		179,981	(11)		*
Patrick M. Joyce		110,894	(12)		*
Erika K. Parisi		176,351	(13)		*
All directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons)		3,120,008			3.78	%

* Less than 1%.

(1) Based on 82,611,248 shares of Kearny Financial common stock outstanding and entitled to vote as of September 1, 2017.

(2) Includes 12,429 shares held by Mr. Aanensen’s spouse and 1,000 shares held in trust for Mr. Aanensen’s grandchild.

(3) Includes 13,804 shares held by Mr. Hopkins’ spouse.

(4) Includes 2,541 shares held by Mr. Mazur’s spouse.

(5) Includes 13,804 shares held in the estate of Catherine McClane.

(6) Includes 99,813 shares held in the Kearny Bank 401(k) plan for the benefit of Mr. Montanaro, 37,807 shares held in the ESOP, 8,283 shares held in the BEP and 4,417 shares held by Mr. Montanaro’s child.

(7) Includes 34,510 shares held by Mr. Montanaro’s spouse.

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(8) Includes 200 shares held by Mr. Petermann’s child.

(9) Includes 10,703 shares held in the Kearny Bank 401(k) plan for the benefit of Mr. Ledgerwood, 40,540 shares held in the ESOP, 1,846 shares held in the BEP and 13,804 shares held by Mr. Ledgerwood’s spouse.

(10) Includes 14,833 shares held in the ESOP, 10,000 shares held in an IRA and 50 shares held in the BEP.

(11) Includes 12,847 shares held in the Kearny Bank 401(k) plan for the benefit of Ms. Jones, 37,838 shares held in the ESOP and 4 shares held in the BEP.

(12) Includes 17,976 shares held in the Kearny Bank 401(k) plan for the benefit of Mr. Joyce, 40,540 shares held in the ESOP and 737 held in the BEP.

(13) Includes 11,609 shares held in the Kearny Bank 401(k) plan for the benefit of Ms. Parisi, 39,862 shares held in the ESOP and 295 shares held in the BEP.

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PROPOSAL I – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Kearny Financial’s Board of Directors currently consists of eleven members and is divided into three classes, with one class of directors elected each year. Each of the eleven members of the Board of Directors also serves as a director of Kearny Bank.

Four directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting. On the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors nominated Theodore J. Aanensen, Joseph P. Mazza, John F. Regan and Christopher Petermann for election as directors, each of whom has agreed to serve if so elected. All will serve until their respective successors have been elected and qualified.

Except as indicated herein, there are no arrangements or understandings between any nominee and any other person pursuant to which any such nominee was selected. Unless authority to vote for the nominees is withheld, it is intended that the shares represented by the Proxy Card, if executed and returned, will be voted “FOR” the election of all nominees.

In the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve, the persons named in the Proxy Card as proxies will vote with respect to a substitute nominee designated by Kearny Financial’s current Board of Directors. At this time, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees would be unable or would decline to serve, if elected.

KEARNY FINANCIAL’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS NAMED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

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Directors and Executive Officers of Kearny Financial

The following table sets forth for each nominee, continuing director and executive officer of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank: name, positions with Kearny Financial, age, year of first election or appointment and expiration of current term if a director.

Name and Positions with Company	Age as of June 30, 2017	Year First Elected or Appointed(1)	Current Term to Expire
BOARD NOMINEES FOR TERM TO EXPIRE IN 2019
Theodore J. Aanensen	72	1986	2017
Director
Joseph P. Mazza	73	1993	2017
Director
John F. Regan	72	1999	2017
Director
Christopher Petermann	58	2015	2017
Director
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
John N. Hopkins	70	2002	2018
Director
Craig L. Montanaro	51	2010	2018
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
Leopold W. Montanaro	77	2003	2018
Director
John J. Mazur, Jr.	63	1996	2019
Chairman of the Board, Director
Matthew T. McClane	80	1994	2019
Director
John F. McGovern	55	1999	2019
Director
Raymond E. Chandonnet	51	2015	2019
Director
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS
William C. Ledgerwood	64	2002
Sr. Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Eric B. Heyer	55	2010
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Sharon Jones	63	2002
Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary
Patrick M. Joyce	52	2002
Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer
Erika K. Parisi	52	2002
Executive Vice President, Director of Customer Relationship Management Analytics

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Business Experience and Qualifications of Directors

The Board of Directors believes that the many years of service that our directors have had with Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank or with other financial institutions is one of the directors’ most important qualifications for service on the Board of Directors. This service has given them extensive knowledge of the business of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial. Furthermore, their service on Board of Directors’ committees, especially in areas of audit, compliance and compensation is critical to their ability to oversee the management of Kearny Bank by our executive officers. Service on the Board of Directors by the Chief Executive Officer is critical to aiding the outside directors to understand the crucial and complicated issues that are common in Kearny Bank’s business. Each outside director brings special skills, experience and expertise to the Board of Directors as a result of their other business activities and associations.

Nominees for Director

Theodore J. Aanensen is an owner and President of Aanensen’s, a luxury home remodeling and custom cabinetry company established in Kearny, New Jersey in 1951. A graduate of Upsala College in 1966, he has been President of Aanensen’s since 1982. He served as Chairman of the Board of Kearny Bank from January 2000 through January 2004 and as Chairman of the Board of Kearny Financial from March 2001 through January 2004. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial. With over 50 years of business experience, Mr. Aanensen has strong leadership, sales and customer assessment skills. Mr. Aanensen has developed a broad understanding of Kearny Bank’s industry based on his service on the Board of Directors since 1986, strengthening the Board’s collective knowledge of our business and the policies and practices of the Board as its governing body.

Joseph P. Mazza has been the sole owner of a dental practice in Rutherford, New Jersey since 1971. A graduate of Seton Hall University and the University of Pennsylvania, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial. He also serves on the Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. Board of Trustees, where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee and on the Board of Directors of the Rutherford Senior Citizens Center (55 Kip Center). Dr. Mazza has been active in both professional and charitable organizations and has over 40 years of business experience. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, both in the U.S. and in Vietnam, and then continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel through 1993. Dr. Mazza brings to the Board strong leadership and business management skills along with valuable experience relating to governance and ethical issues.

John F. Regan now retired, was the majority shareholder and President of two automobile sales and service companies, DeMassi Pontiac, Buick and GMC, located in Riverdale, New Jersey and Regan Pontiac, Buick and GMC, located in Long Island City, New York since 1995. Both companies closed in March 2009, and in July 2009, both companies filed for bankruptcy. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial. Mr. Regan’s involvement in our local community brings knowledge of the local economy and business opportunities for Kearny Bank. Mr. Regan, while operating his automobile business, developed solid leadership and business management skills as well as a depth of knowledge in the areas of operational efficiency and effectiveness which are a valuable asset to the Board.

Christopher Petermann is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is the Managing Partner at the New York City Office of O’Connor Davies, LLP and serves as Co-Partner-in-Charge for the Private Foundation Practice. He has over 30 years of specialized experience in accounting for exempt organizations and private foundations, as well as closely held businesses and financial services entities. Mr. Petermann was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of Kearny Financial Corp. and the Board of Directors of Kearny Bank on December 23, 2015. As a resident of New Jersey, he holds a number of

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professional committee and community board positions including involvement with the William F. Grupe Foundation, Partners for Health, NJ Symphony Orchestra along with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accounts. Mr. Petermann provides proficient guidance relative to financial reporting, accounting and tax matters as well as internal control and governance issues as an independent director. Mr. Petermann holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Bucknell University.

Continuing Directors with Terms to Expire in 2018

John N. Hopkins retired in March 2011 as Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank after serving in those positions since March 2010. Prior to March 2010, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank, positions he had held since 2002. He had served Kearny Bank as Executive Vice President from 1994 to 2002 and as Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 1999. His career at Kearny Bank began in 1975. Mr. Hopkins was elected to serve as a Director in 2002 and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank. He is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University. Active in professional and charitable organizations, he served on several committees of the New Jersey Bankers Association, the Board of Directors of TICIC, Inc., a consortium that provides long-term financing for affordable and senior housing in New Jersey, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Clara Maass Medical Center and Director Emeritus of the Rutherford Senior Citizens Center (55 Kip Center). His many years of service in the operations of Kearny Bank and his past duties as Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank bring a special knowledge of the financial, economic and regulatory challenges we face which makes him well suited to counseling the Board on these matters.

Craig L. Montanaro was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank in April 2011. Prior to that time, he had served as President and Chief Operating Officer since April 2010. He previously performed the duties of Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Planning for Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial from 2005 to March 2010 and from 2003 to 2004 served as Vice President and Regional Branch Administrator. He is a 1988 graduate of Syracuse University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in finance and marketing and in 2000 received his MBA from Fairfield University. He also received a Graduate Degree in banking from the National School of Banking at Fairfield University. Mr. Montanaro, formerly employed by West Essex Bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, joined Kearny Bank when that bank was acquired by Kearny Bank in 2003. West Essex Bank had employed him beginning in 1988. In addition to solid management and administrative skills, his knowledge and understanding of the financial, economic, social and regulatory environments make him a valuable asset to Kearny Financial, Kearny Bank and to the Board of Directors. Craig L. Montanaro is the son of Director Leopold W. Montanaro.

Leopold W. Montanaro is retired and was the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of West Essex Bancorp, Inc. and West Essex Bank, located in Caldwell, New Jersey, until that bank was acquired by Kearny Financial on July 1, 2003. He was employed by West Essex Bank beginning in 1972. He serves as a director of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial as well as the KearnyBank Charitable Foundation. His past service as President of a financial institution, director on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Thrift and Bankers Association and his participation in our local community for 50 years brings special knowledge of the financial, economic and regulatory challenges we face as well as knowledge of the local economy and business opportunities for Kearny Bank. He is the father of Craig L. Montanaro, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial.

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Continuing Directors with Terms to Expire in 2019

John J. Mazur, Jr. is the President/Chief Executive Officer of Elegant Desserts, a wholesale bakery located in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, that sells gourmet cakes locally and nationally. A 1976 graduate of Villanova University, he opened this business in 1994. From 1976 to 2003, he was also a partner and general manager of Mazur’s Bakery, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, a family owned business that operated from 1936 until 2003 when it was sold. He became Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank in January 2004. Mr. Mazur is a resident of New Jersey and serves on the Board of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce as well as serving as Chairman of the Council of Regents for Felician College. Mr. Mazur brings strong marketing and sales skills to the Board as well as a wide range of experience in business management and employee relations.

Matthew T. McClane retired in 2002 as President and Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Bank after serving in that position since 1994 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Financial after serving in those positions since 2001. After graduating from St. Peter’s College and serving in the U.S. Army Reserves, he began his career with Kearny Bank in December of 1967. His many years of service included a wide range of responsibility for operations and human resources at Kearny Bank, which together with his past duties as Chief Executive Officer of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank bring a special insight and knowledge of personnel challenges along with financial, economic and regulatory challenges we face. This acute insight and knowledge makes him well suited to educating the Board on these matters. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial and remains active in the community as a member, past President and current Secretary of the Optimist Club of Kearny, New Jersey.

John F. McGovern has worked as a self-employed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) since 1984 and holds the designation of Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Since 2001, he has been a federally registered investment advisor. Mr. McGovern is also the owner of McGovern Monuments, Inc. a monument sales and lettering company located in North Arlington, New Jersey that has been family owned and operated since 1924. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial. Mr. McGovern, as a CPA/PFS and CFP, has strong risk assessment, financial reporting and internal control expertise as well as extensive knowledge of accounting and regulatory issues. He has been designated as an audit committee financial expert under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and regulations. Through his considerable experience as a CPA/PFS and CFP, Mr. McGovern provides an essential understanding of public accounting and financial matters to the Board. As a resident of New Jersey, he is involved in local and community organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Raymond E. Chandonnet is co-founding principal of Second Act Capital Partners, a financial advisory firm that provides consulting to financial services companies including banks, insurance companies and pensions funds, as well as business incubation services to companies seeking to develop and launch products designed for the financial industry. Mr. Chandonnet co-founded Second Act Capital Partners in 2015 after retiring from Sandler O’Neill & Partners in 2014, where he had served as a partner and Chief Balance Sheet Strategist since 2007. Prior to joining Sandler O’Neill, he was head of Bank Strategy for JPMorgan Securities, Lehman Brothers, and First Union Capital Markets. Mr. Chandonnet was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of Kearny Financial Corp. and the Board of Directors of Kearny Bank on December 23, 2015. He is a frequent publisher and speaker on a wide range of issues related to bank financial management and holds a Master’s Degree in finance from Bentley College Graduate School of Business in Waltham, MA and a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. Mr. Chandonnet’s background brings a strong understanding of accounting, regulatory and tax issues to the Board along with his beneficial knowledge of balance sheet structure and strategies.

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Business Experience and Qualifications of Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

The business experience for the past five years of each of our executive officers who are not directors is set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the executive officer has held his or her position for the past five years.

William C. Ledgerwood was appointed Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2014 and previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since April 2011. He became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial in December 2006, and served as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer of Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial from 2002 through 2006. He has been employed by Kearny Bank since 1998 and he is a graduate of Bucknell University and the National School of Banking at Fairfield University.

Eric B. Heyer was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective April 2014 and previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2011. He became First Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Kearny Financial in October 2009 and of Kearny Bank in July 2009. Mr. Heyer had previously served as Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of American Bancorp of New Jersey, Inc. from 1997 until its acquisition by Investors Bancorp, Inc. in May 2009.

Sharon Jones is the Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank. Appointed to the office of Corporate Secretary in 1994, she became a Vice President in 1997, a Senior Vice President in 2002 and an Executive Vice President in April 2014. Beginning her career at Kearny Bank in 1972 as a loan originator, she served as Assistant Vice President of Lending from 1982 to 1994 and also served as Director of Human Resources from 1994 to 2004.

Patrick M. Joyce was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Kearny Bank in April 2014, previously serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Kearny Bank since 2002 and as Vice President of loan originations from 1999 to 2002. He was formerly employed by South Bergen Savings Bank as an Assistant Corporate Secretary and as a loan originator. He joined South Bergen Savings Bank in 1985. He joined Kearny Bank when South Bergen Savings Bank was acquired by Kearny Bank in 1999.

Erika K. Parisi was appointed Executive Vice President and Director of Customer Relationship Management Analytics of Kearny Bank in June 2016, previously serving as Executive Vice President and Branch Administrator of Kearny Bank since April 2014, and as Senior Vice President and Branch Administrator of Kearny Bank since 2002 and Vice President and Branch Administrator from 1999 to 2002. She was formerly employed by South Bergen Savings Bank as Vice President/Branch Administrator and joined Kearny Bank when South Bergen Savings Bank was acquired by Kearny Bank in 1999. She joined South Bergen Savings Bank in 1991. Ms. Parisi holds a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in accounting, from the State University of New York at Albany.

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Corporate Governance Matters

Board Independence

The board of directors determines the independence of each director in accordance with Nasdaq Stock Market rules, which include all elements of independence as set forth in the listing requirements for Nasdaq securities. The board of directors has determined that Messrs. Aanensen, Mazza, Regan, Mazur, McClane, McGovern, Hopkins, Petermann and Chandonnet are “independent” directors within the meaning of such standards. In evaluating the independence of our independent directors, we found no transactions between us and our independent directors that are not required to be reported in this prospectus and that had an impact on our determination as to the independence of our directors.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Kearny Financial’s common stock is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. The executive officers and directors of Kearny Financial, and beneficial owners of greater than 10% of Kearny Financial’s common stock, are required to file reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of Kearny Financial’s common stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission rules require disclosure in Kearny Financial’s Proxy Statement or Annual Report on Form 10-K of the failure of an executive officer, director or 10% beneficial owner of Kearny Financial’s common stock to file a Form 3, 4, or 5 on a timely basis. Based on Kearny Financial’s review of ownership reports and confirmations by executive officers and directors, Kearny Financial believes that, during the 2017 fiscal year, its officers, directors and beneficial owners of greater than 10% of its common stock timely filed all required reports.

Codes of Ethics

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that reflects current circumstances and Securities and Exchange Commission and Nasdaq definitions for such codes. The code of business conduct and ethics covers the Company, Kearny Bank and other subsidiaries. Among other things, the code of business conduct and ethics includes provisions regarding honest and ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, full and fair disclosure, compliance with law, and reporting of and sanctions for violations. The code applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company and subsidiaries. We have posted a copy of the Code of Ethics (referred to as Conflicts of Interest & Code of Conduct) on our corporate website, at www.kearnybank.com, on the “Company Info” tab under the link “Governance Documents.” As further matters are documented, or if those documents (including the Code of Ethics) are changed, waivers from the code of business conduct and ethics are granted, or new procedures are adopted, those new documents, changes and/or waivers will be posted on the corporate website at that address.

Transactions With Certain Related Persons

Since the beginning of the last fiscal year, no directors, officers or their immediate family members have had a direct or indirect material interest in any transactions in which we or any subsidiary were a participant involving an amount in excess of $120,000 (other than loans from Kearny Bank).

Kearny Bank makes loans to its officers, directors and employees in the ordinary course of business. Kearny Bank has adopted written policies governing these loans. In accordance with federal regulations, all such loans or extensions of credit were made in the ordinary course of business on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not related to Kearny Bank and did not involve more than the

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normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. All such loans are approved in advance by the Board of Directors with any interested director abstaining. Loans to insiders are monitored on a monthly basis to ensure continued compliance with Kearny Bank’s lending policies.

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Management

Under the Board of Directors’ current leadership structure, the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are held by separate individuals. John J. Mazur, Jr. serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Mazur is an independent director and does not serve in any executive capacity with the Company. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is Craig L. Montanaro. Although the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are currently held by separate individuals, the Board of Directors has not made a determination that this is the appropriate leadership structure for the Board of Directors in all circumstances and reserves the right to combine these offices in the future if deemed appropriate under the circumstances.

The Board of Directors has general authority over the Company’s risk oversight function, with authority delegated to the Enterprise Risk Management Committee to review risk management policies and practices in specific areas of the Company’s business. The Audit & Compliance Committee is primarily responsible for providing oversight of the financial reporting process, the audit process, the system of internal controls and compliance with laws and regulations. The Audit & Compliance Committee works closely with officers involved in the risk management function and the internal audit staff who report directly to the Audit & Compliance Committee.

Operation of the Board of Directors

During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Boards of Directors of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank held 18 and 17 meetings, respectively. During the year ended June 30, 2017, no director attended fewer than 75% of the total meetings of the Board of Directors and committees on which he served during the period for which he had been a director. The Board of Directors maintains an Audit & Compliance Committee, a Budget Committee, an Executive Committee, an Interest Rate Risk Management Committee, an Asset Quality Committee, an Enterprise Risk Management Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation Committee, an Information Technology Committee and a Benefits Equalization Plan Administrative Committee. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, all independent directors attended 2 executive sessions of the Board.

Enterprise Risk Management Committee. This committee consists of Directors Hopkins (Chair), Chandonnet, McGovern, Montanaro (Leopold), and Regan. The responsibilities of this Committee encompass determining the Company’s appropriate level of risk and strategy, monitoring management’s implementation thereof, identifying and managing multiple and cross-enterprise operational and strategic risks and monitoring the Company’s overall risk position. This committee is scheduled to meet quarterly and met four times during the year ended June 30, 2017.

Compensation Committee. This committee consists of Directors Aanensen (Chair), Regan and Petermann. Each member of the Compensation Committee is independent in accordance with the current listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market, including the enhanced independent requirements for compensation committee members of listed companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee which is available on our website at www.kearnybank.com on the “Company Info” tab under the link “Governance Documents.” The responsibilities of this committee include appraisal of the performance of officers, administration of management compensation plans and review of directors’ compensation. This committee reviews industry compensation surveys and reviews the recommendations of management on employee compensation matters. This committee meets as needed and met 10 times during the year ended June 30, 2017.

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Audit & Compliance Committee. This committee consists of Directors McGovern (Chair), Mazur, Mazza and Petermann. Each member of the Audit & Compliance Committee is independent in accordance with the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market, including those standards specifically applicable to audit committee members. The Board of Directors has determined that John F. McGovern is an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. This committee’s responsibilities include oversight of the internal audit and regulatory compliance activities and monitoring management and employee compliance with the Board of Directors’ audit policies and applicable laws and regulations. This committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the external auditors. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit & Compliance Committee, which governs its composition, responsibilities and operation. A copy of this charter is available on our website at www.kearnybank.com on the “Company Info” tab under the link “Governance Documents.” This committee meets monthly and also periodically with the internal auditor, the compliance officer and the external auditors and met 12 times during the year ended June 30, 2017.

Report of the Audit & Compliance Committee. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Audit & Compliance Committee: (i) reviewed and discussed the Company’s audited financial statements with management; (ii) discussed with the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, BDO USA, LLP, all matters required to be discussed in accordance with the Standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 1301 “Communication with Audit Committees”; and (iii) received from BDO USA, LLP written disclosures and the letter concerning the firm’s independence with respect to the Company, as required by Rule 3520 of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Based on the foregoing review and discussions, the Audit & Compliance Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Audit & Compliance Committee:	John F. McGovern (Chair)
	John J. Mazur, Jr.
	Joseph P. Mazza
	Christopher Petermann

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. This committee consists of Directors Mazza (Chair), Regan and Aanensen and is responsible for, among other things, the annual selection of nominees for election as directors. Each member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent in accordance with the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market. This committee operates under a written charter, which governs its composition, responsibilities and operations. A copy of this charter is available on our website at www.kearnybank.com on the “Company Info” tab under the link “Governance Documents.” The committee meets as needed and met one time during the year ended June 30, 2017.

The charter states that in evaluating candidates for nomination, the Committee will consider, among other things, the candidates’ knowledge (including relevant industry knowledge), understanding of the Company’s business, experience, achievements, independence, personal and professional integrity, character, reputation, ability to represent the interests of all stockholders, dedication and diversity. The Committee may consider diversity in market knowledge, background, experience, qualifications, and other factors as part of its evaluation of each candidate.

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The Company does not pay fees to any third party to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying or evaluating potential nominees. The Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating potential nominees includes soliciting recommendations from directors and officers of the Company and Kearny Bank. Additionally, the Committee will consider persons recommended by stockholders of the Company in selecting the individuals the Committee recommends to the Board of Directors for selection as the Board of Directors’ nominees. The Committee will evaluate persons recommended by directors or officers of the Company or Kearny Bank and persons recommended by stockholders in the same manner.

To be considered in the Committee’s selection of individuals the Committee recommends to the Board of Directors for selection as the Board of Directors’ nominees, recommendations from stockholders must be received by the Company in writing by at least 120 days prior to the date the proxy statement for the previous year’s annual meeting was first distributed to stockholders. Recommendations should identify the submitting stockholder, the person recommended for consideration and the reasons the submitting stockholder believes such person should be considered.

Kearny Financial’s bylaws provide that any stockholder desiring to make a nomination for the election of directors or a proposal for new business at a meeting of stockholders must submit written notice to Kearny Financial not less than 110 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s written notice shall be timely only if delivered or mailed to and received by the Secretary of Kearny Financial at the principal executive office of the corporation no earlier than the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made and no later than the tenth day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made.

Management believes that it is in the best interest of Kearny Financial and its stockholders to provide sufficient time to enable management to disclose to stockholders information about a dissident slate of nominations for directors. This advance notice requirement may also give management time to solicit its own proxies in an attempt to defeat any dissident slate of nominations, should management determine that doing so is in the best interests of stockholders generally. Similarly, adequate advance notice of stockholder proposals will give management time to study such proposals and to determine whether to recommend to the stockholders that such proposals be adopted. In certain instances, such provisions could make it more difficult to oppose management’s nominees or proposals, even if stockholders believe such nominees or proposals are in their best interests.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”)

This section discusses the Company’s executive compensation philosophy, guidelines and programs, and the material factors affecting the Company’s decisions regarding the compensation of its senior executives. This CD&A is presented to give our stockholders a clear and comprehensive picture of the Company’s executive compensation program, and its individual components. The Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) for fiscal year 2017 are:

• Craig L. Montanaro, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)

• William C. Ledgerwood, Sr. Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (“COO”)

• Patrick M. Joyce, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer (“CLO”)

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• Eric B. Heyer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”)

• Erika K. Parisi, Executive Vice President, Director of Customer Relationship Management Analytics

Executive Summary

Business Performance Achievements. The Company continued to execute strategies throughout fiscal year 2017 intended to grow and diversify its balance sheet while increasing earnings and prudently managing capital to promote long-term growth in stockholder value. These strategies resulted in balance sheet growth and diversification achievements that are included among the following noteworthy highlights for the quarter and year ended June 30, 2017:

• For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the Company reported net income of $18.6 million, or $0.22 per basic and diluted share. The results represent an increase of $2.8 million compared to net income of $15.8 million, or $0.18 per basic and diluted share, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016.

• The Company’s aggregate loan portfolio increased by $571.3 million, or 21.4%, from $2.67 billion, or 59.4% of total assets, at June 30, 2016. The growth in the loan portfolio largely reflected the Company’s continued strategic focus on commercial loans, which increased by $121.2 million, or 4.9%, for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, while growth in commercial loans totaled $622.9 million, or 32.0%, for the year ended June 30, 2017.

• The Company’s return on average assets increased by 4 basis points to 0.40% for the year ended June 30, 2017 from 0.36% for the year ended June 30, 2016.

• The Company increased its regular quarterly cash dividend payable to stockholders by $0.01 from $0.02 per share declared and paid during the quarters ended September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, to $0.03 per share declared and paid during the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017. The Company continues to evaluate its dividend policies and practices in relation to its capital management and stockholder value objectives.

• In May 2017, the Company completed the repurchase of its shares of capital stock under its first share repurchase program announced in May 2016 through which it authorized the repurchase of 9,352,809 shares, or 10%, of the Company’s outstanding shares. The shares associated with this first program were repurchased at a total cost of $130.6 million and at an average cost of $13.96 per share.

• In May 2017, the Company announced a second share repurchase program through which it authorized the repurchase of 8,559,084 shares, or 10%, of the Company’s outstanding shares. Through June 30, 2017, the Company repurchased a total of 1,240,000 shares, or 14.5% of the shares authorized for repurchase under this second program, at a total cost of $17.7 million and at an average cost of $14.30 per share.

“Say On Pay” Vote. On October 27, 2016, stockholders were asked to vote on a non-binding resolution to approve the compensation for the NEOs, commonly referred to as a “say on pay” vote. The resolution was approved with a 96.9% affirmative vote, demonstrating strong support of the Compensation Committee’s executive pay decision.

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Best Compensation Pay Policies & Practices. Our executive compensation program is grounded in the following policies and practices, which promote sound compensation governance, enhance our pay-for-performance philosophy and further align our executives’ interests with those of our stockholders:

	WHAT WE DO	WHAT WE DO NOT DO
✓	Significant emphasis on performance-based, “at-risk” compensation	x	No repricing and exchange of underwater options for cash or shares without stockholder approval
✓	Independent compensation consultant engaged by the Compensation Committee	x	No short vesting periods for awards of restricted stock and grants of stock options
✓	Annual risk assessments	x	No excise tax gross-ups in our employment agreements
✓	Compensation recoupment “claw-back” policy	x	No significant perquisites
✓	Share ownership guidelines	x	No “single trigger” change in control severance

Compensation Actions At-A-Glance. Taking into account our performance, stockholder feedback and consistent with our compensation best-practices, the Compensation Committee took the following actions concerning the compensation of our NEOs:

• Base Salaries: None of the NEOs received based salary increases in fiscal year 2017.

• Executive Management Incentive Program: Each of the NEOs participated in the Executive Management Incentive Program. Payouts for fiscal year 2017 were near target performance. For details, please refer to pages 21 - 22 of this CD&A.

• Long-Term Equity Awards: On December 1, 2016, each of the NEOs received long-term equity award grants under the new stockholder-approved 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”). The 2016 Plan was implemented after the 2005 Stock Compensation and Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) expired on October 23, 2015. The Board of Directors and Compensation Committee believe that our award of stock options and restricted stock under the 2016 Plan is consistent with market compensation practices, particularly in the context of second-step conversions as substantially all second-step conversion institutions adopt equity incentive plans and the intention to adopt such plan was disclosed in the Company’s second-step offering materials. The 2016 Plan provides the Company with the greater ability to attract, retain and motivate leadership to promote its growth, improve its performance and further align the interest of its executives with the interests of its stockholders. It also gives the Company the flexibility to provide, and more heavily rely upon, equity-based compensation awards, and reduce reliance on cash compensation, which will tie the compensation of our NEOs to the performance of our common stock. For details about the structure of the equity awards that were granted in fiscal year 2017, please refer to page 23 of this CD&A.

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What Guides our Executive Compensation Program

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives. Our compensation philosophy is driven by the following guiding principles that reinforce the critical connections between business performance, stockholder value creation and senior leadership:

• Pay for Performance: A substantial portion of an NEO’s total compensation should be variable and contingent upon the attainment of certain specific and measurable annual- and long-term business performance objectives.

• Stockholder Alignment: Executives should be compensated through a mix of components (base salaries, annual- and long-term incentives) designed to create long-term value for our stockholders, as well as foster a culture of ownership.

• Competitiveness: Target compensation is set at a level that is competitive with that being offered to individuals holding similar positions at other organizations with which we compete for business and talent.

• Attraction and Retention: The executive compensation program should enable Kearny Bank to retain superior executive talent, as well as attract additional top-tier leadership.

The Principal Components of Compensation. Our compensation philosophy is supported by the following principal components in our executive compensation program.

Compensation Component	Form	Purpose
Base Salary	Cash (Fixed)	Provide a fixed level of pay that recognizes the NEO’s scope of responsibilities, skills, performance and experience for the value of his or her role.
Executive Management Incentive Program	Cash (Variable)	Motivate and reward NEOs for achieving annual Company, business unit, and individual goals that support the long-term strategic plan.
Long-Term Equity Awards	Equity (Variable)	Provide incentives for NEOs to execute on longer-term financial/strategic growth goals that drive stockholder value creation and support the Company’s retention strategy.

The Decision Making Process. The Compensation Committee oversees the executive compensation program for our NEOs. The Compensation Committee is comprised of independent, non-employee members of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Compensation Committee works closely with its independent consultant and management to examine the effectiveness of the Company’s executive compensation program throughout the year and when considering and making any material long term equity awards. Details of the Compensation Committee’s authority and responsibilities are specified in the Compensation Committee’s charter, which can be found at https://kearnybank.com/Governance-Documents.aspx.

The Role of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews all compensation and awards to the NEOs. The Committee utilizes publicly available information to gather information related to compensation practices for executive officers of financial services companies in order to determine market competitive levels of compensation as well as reviewing internal pay levels within the executive group.

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The Committee considers a variety of factors as it evaluates compensation for each officer including:

• the Company’s overall financial performance as compared to budget and prior year’s performance;

• bank regulatory compliance and examination results;

• bank performance metrics compared to other financial services companies in our market area, including return on assets, loan and deposit growth, level of non-performing loans, and other risk management metrics; and

• the individual achievements of each officer in their respective areas of responsibility; and the market competitiveness of the Company’s compensation and benefits programs applicable to its executive management.

The Committee also considers the potential risks to which the incentive compensation programs may expose the Company, and the established policies, controls, and procedures of the Company and Kearny Bank that exist to protect against such risks to the Company (See “— Compensation Risk Assessment”).

The Role of Management. Upon the request of the Committee, the CEO may be asked to provide input in regard to the performance and compensation of his direct reports. The Compensation Committee takes this information under advisement; the Committee makes its decisions independently and regularly hosts executive sessions. The CEO may not be present during voting or deliberations on his compensation.

The Role of the Independent Consultant. The Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate a compensation consultant and to approve the consultant’s fees and all other terms of the engagement. During fiscal year 2017, the Committee retained the services of Pearl Meyer & Partners LLC (“Pearl Meyer”), an independent compensation consulting firm. When determining the size and terms of the equity awards to officers and directors during fiscal year 2017, the Committee considered a number of factors, including the recommendations and analysis provided by Pearl Meyer.

A representative from Pearl Meyer attends the Committee meetings upon request for the purpose of reviewing compensation data with the Committee and participating in general discussions on compensation for the NEOs. While the Committee considers input from Pearl Meyer when making compensation decisions, the Committee’s final decisions reflect many factors and considerations.

Pearl Meyer reports directly to the Committee and does not provide any other services to the Company. The Committee has analyzed whether the work of Pearl Meyer as a compensation consultant has raised any conflict of interest, taking into consideration the following factors, among others: (i) the provision of other services to the Company by Pearl Meyer; (ii) the amount of fees from the Company paid to Pearl Meyer as a percentage of Pearl Meyer’s total revenue; (iii) Pearl Meyer’s policies and procedures that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of Pearl Meyer or the individual compensation advisors employed by Pearl Meyer with an executive officer of the Company; (v) any business or personal relationship of the individual compensation advisors with any member of the Committee; and (vi) any stock of the Company owned by Pearl Meyer or the individual compensation advisors employed by Pearl Meyer. The Committee has determined, based on its analysis of the above factors, among others, that the work of Pearl Meyer and the individual compensation advisors employed by Pearl Meyer as compensation consultants to the Company has not created any conflict of interest.

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The Role of Benchmarking. It is the Committee’s goal to provide the NEOs with a total compensation package that is both competitive and reflective of the performance achieved by the Company compared to the performance achieved by the Company’s peers. The Compensation Committee periodically considers publicly-available data for informational purposes when making its compensation-related decisions. However, market data are not the sole determinants of the Company’s practices or executive compensation levels. When determining base salaries, incentive opportunities and annual equity grants for NEOs, the Committee also considers the performance of the Company and the individual, the nature of an individual’s role within the Company, as well as experience and contributions to his or her current role. For fiscal year 2017, the Compensation Committee did not materially rely on a particular group of companies for benchmarking purposes.

However, with respect to the size and terms of the new 2016 Plan, the Board and Compensation Committee considered a number of factors, including: 1) the recommendations and analysis provided by Pearl Meyer, the independent compensation consultant engaged by the Compensation Committee to assist it with the design of the plan, 2) industry practices related to the adoption of equity-incentive plans by second-step converted banks, 3) applicable regulations related to the adoption of equity-incentive plans, 4) guidance provided by proxy advisory firms regarding equity-based incentive plans, and 5) the size and terms of our expired 2005 Plan and awards made thereunder.

Details of Compensation Components    

Base Salary. Base salaries for executives and other officers are reviewed by the Committee on an annual basis. Salaries are reflective of the executive’s job responsibilities, job performance and experience, and the competitive market. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, base salaries were unchanged.

Executive Management Incentive Program. All NEOs participate in the Executive Management Incentive Program (the “Program”). The Program is designed to recognize and reward executives for their annual contribution to Kearny Bank’s performance. Eligibility is limited to executives and certain senior vice president positions that have a significant impact on the success of the Company. The Program is a short-term cash incentive plan that directly ties annual cash awards to the Company’s performance as achieved across multiple performance measures. The performance measures and goals are defined each year and approved by the Committee.

Each executive has a scorecard that identifies the appropriate performance categories, weightings and target compensation opportunities as shown below. A table indicating the metrics, goals and actual performance for fiscal year 2017 is shown as a separate table later in this section.

	Performance Categories and Weightings
Executive	Target Opportunity			Earnings			Lending			Deposits			Asset Quality			Interest Rate Risk			Qualitative
Craig Montanaro		35	%		50	%		15	%		15	%		10	%		10	%		0	%
William Ledgerwood		30	%		50	%		15	%		15	%		10	%		10	%		0	%
Patrick Joyce		25	%		30	%		50	%		10	%		10	%		0	%		0	%
Eric Heyer		25	%		50	%		15	%		15	%		0	%		20	%		0	%
Erika Parisi		25	%		50	%		0	%		0	%		0	%		0	%		50	%

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The following outlines the performance measures in each category, the goal at target and the actual results for fiscal year 2017:

Performance Categories & Metrics	Target			Actual			% Achieved
Earnings
Net Income	$	16,562,045		$	18,603,358			112.33	%
Return on Average Assets		0.36	%		0.40	%		112.18	%
Earnings per Share	$	0.21		$	0.22			104.73	%
Efficiency Ratio		71.34	%		71.20	%		100.48	%
Lending
Total Loan Growth	$	661,586,238		$	572,453,625			86.53	%
Deposits
Total Deposit Growth	$	231,666,646		$	211,962,844			91.49	%
Asset Quality
Nonperforming Loan Ratio (%)		0.79	%		0.58	%		126.76	%
Nonperforming Asset Ratio (%)		0.55	%		0.43	%		121.18	%
Interest Rate Risk
EVE Ratio Risk Factor		13.50	%		20.58	%		159.14	%
EVE Sensitivity Risk Factor		(11.67	%)		(9.37	%)		111.52	%
NII Sensitivity Y1 (M1-M12)		(3.51	%)		(0.14	%)		156.33	%
NII Sensitivity Y2 (M13-M24)		(5.26	%)		(4.62	%)		107.03	%

At the beginning of each year, a range of performance is established for each factor (Floor; Target; and Cap). Performance against each range determines the payout opportunity for each factor, ranging from 0% (not achieving minimal performance) to 125% (achieving exceptional performance) of the established target.

In order to ensure incentives are funded based on profits, there is a Kearny Bank “performance gate” that must be achieved in order to fund any awards beyond target payout levels. Kearny Bank must achieve at least 75% of its Net Income goal for any awards to be paid beyond target. If performance falls below 50% in any individual performance factor, no incentive compensation is paid on that measure. In addition, an overall floor is in place which eliminates any payments from being made if Net Income falls below 50% of target. For fiscal year 2017, the Net Income goal was at 112.33% of target and the performance gate was achieved.

The following table shows each NEO’s payout as a percentage of target on the five performance categories for fiscal year 2017 performance:

	Performance Categories
Executive	Payout at Target			Earnings			Lending			Deposits			Asset Quality			Interest Rate Risk			Qualitative			Payout Earned
Craig Montanaro		35.00	%		20.10	%		3.84	%		4.36	%		5.12	%		4.52	%		0.00	%		37.92	%
William Ledgerwood		30.00	%		17.23	%		3.29	%		3.73	%		4.39	%		3.87	%		0.00	%		32.51	%
Patrick Joyce		25.00	%		8.61	%		9.13	%		2.07	%		3.65	%		0.00	%		0.00	%		23.48	%
Eric Heyer		25.00	%		14.36	%		2.74	%		3.11	%		0.00	%		6.45	%		0.00	%		26.66	%
Erika Parisi		25.00	%		14.36	%		0.00	%		0.00	%		0.00	%		0.00	%		12.50	%		26.86	%

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Executive	Base Salary ($)		Payout at Target ($)		Payout at Target (%)			Actual Payout Earned ($)		% of Base Salary
Craig Montanaro		450,000		157,500		35.00	%		170,660		37.92	%
William Ledgerwood		300,600		90,180		30.00	%		97,715		32.51	%
Patrick Joyce		282,063		70,516		25.00	%		66,215		23.48	%
Eric Heyer		271,160		67,790		25.00	%		72,292		26.66	%
Erika Parisi		268,730		67,183		25.00	%		72,172		26.86	%

Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation. The NEOs are eligible for long-term incentives, all of which are issued under the terms of our stockholder-approved 2016 Plan. The 2016 Plan provides incentives for executives to execute on longer-term performance goals that drive stockholder value creation, with an emphasis on performance-based vesting for restricted stock awards. It also supports the Company’s leadership retention strategy. For fiscal year 2017, long-term equity incentives were granted to the NEOs as follows:

Type of Equity	Percentage of Award	Overview
Performance-Based Restricted Stock	50% of all restricted stock awards	•    Awards vest 20% per year over a five-year period commencing one year from the date of grant provided performance metrics are achieved. •    Vesting depends on the achievement of pre-determined, annual return on average assets (“ROAA”) goals as established by the Compensation Committee, and for the year ended June 30, 2017, the ROAA target was 0.36%. •    ROAA will be measured on a quarterly basis and averaged to calculate the ROAA used for the awards. •    At the end of the performance year, actual performance against the goal will be measured. •    Accomplishment of the goal results in full vesting of the amount of shares allocated to the year. •    Awards scale depending on performance falling short or exceeding the goal.
Time-Based Restricted Stock	50% of all restricted stock awards	•    Vesting: Awards vest 20% per year over a five-year period commencing one year from the date of grant. •    Paid in Company shares at vesting.
Stock Options		•    Exercise price: 100% of fair market value on the grant date. •    Vesting: Awards vest 20% per year over a five-year period commencing one year from the date of grant. •    Exercise term: Maximum of 10 years (shorter exercise term upon termination of employment).

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2017 Target Long-Term Equity Incentive Award Grants. The table below shows the long-term incentive awards granted to each of the NEOs on December 1, 2016:

NEO	Performance-Based Restricted Stock		Time-Based Restricted Stock		Stock Options
Craig Montanaro		125,000		125,000		540,000
William Ledgerwood		65,000		65,000		270,000
Patrick Joyce		42,500		42,500		150,000
Eric Heyer		47,500		47,500		150,000
Erika Parisi		25,000		25,000		100,000

For a more detailed description of the material factors utilized in the granting of the above-referenced restricted stock awards and stock options, please see “Executive Compensation - 2016 Equity Incentive Plan” below.

Other Compensation Guidelines, Practices and Policies

Stock Ownership Guidelines. The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of Company and its stockholders to align the financial interests of its executive officers and directors with those of stockholders. Accordingly, Company has adopted Stock Ownership Guidelines for NEOs and Directors of Company that require the following minimum investment in Company common stock:

Position	Guideline
CEO	A number of shares having a market value equal to three times (3.0x) annual base salary
Other NEOs	A number of shares having a market value equal to two times (2.0x) annual base salary
Directors	A number of shares having a market value equal to four times (4.0x) annual cash retainer (excluding any committee fees)

Stock holdings are expected to be achieved within three (3) years from the later of either the implementation of the Stock Ownership Guidelines or, for NEOs, the starting employment date or, for directors, the date of first appointment to the Board of Directors. Stock ownership for NEOs and Directors is reviewed on an annual basis.

“Claw-Back” Provision. The executive compensation program includes a claw-back provision. In the event the Company or Kearny Bank is required to restate its financial statements, participants will be required to forfeit any incentive award earned or distributed during the period for which the restatement is required in excess of what they would have otherwise received based on restated results. The Committee has discretion in determining the application of claw-backs and the amounts to be reclaimed under this provision.

Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policy. The Company has adopted an anti-hedging and pledging policy, which prohibits directors and executive officers from engaging in or effecting any transaction designed to hedge or offset the economic risk of owning shares of Company common stock.

Accordingly, any hedging, derivative or other equivalent transaction that is specifically designed to reduce or limit the extent to which declines in the trading price of Company common stock would affect the value of the shares of Company common stock owned by an executive officer or director is prohibited. Cashless exercises of employee stock options are not deemed short sales and are not prohibited. This policy does not prohibit transactions in the stock of other companies.

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The anti-hedging and pledging policy also prohibits directors and executive officers from holding Company securities in a margin account or pledging Company securities as collateral for any other loan. An exception to this prohibition may be granted, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors or the Governance Committee of the Board of Directors and may be based on any relevant factors, including the percentage of securities held by the individual that is currently pledged and the magnitude of aggregate pledged shares in relation to total shares outstanding, market value or trading volume. Other than 8,748 shares pledged by Craig L. Montanaro and 7,000 shares pledged by John J. Mazur, Jr., no shares are currently pledged by a director or executive officer.

Retirement Income. The NEOs are eligible to participate in benefit plans available to all employees, including the Kearny Bank 401(k) Plan and the Kearny Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). Certain NEOs also participate in the related ESOP Benefits Equalization Plan, which provides benefits that would otherwise be limited under the ESOP due to IRS limits, and the frozen Kearny Bank defined benefit pension plan and the frozen Benefits Equalization Plan related to the defined benefit plan (each of which have been frozen as of July 1, 2007 so that future service or salary changes will not increase retirement benefits).

Compensation Risk Assessment. During fiscal year 2017, senior management conducted an updated Compensation Risk Assessment which was presented to and reviewed by the Committee. This Compensation Risk Assessment concluded the Company’s compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation. It is anticipated that all compensation earned for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 will be a deductible expense for tax purposes in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, companies are subject to limits on the deductibility of executive compensation. Deductible compensation is limited to $1 million per year for the Chief Executive Officer and the three most highly paid executive officers listed in the summary compensation table other than the Chief Financial Officer.

The Compensation Committee’s practice is to structure compensation programs offered to the executive officers with a view to providing incentives necessary to attract, retain and reward our executive officers. In most instances, such compensation is anticipated to satisfy the requirements for tax-deductibility. The Compensation Committee may determine to authorize payments, all or part of which would be nondeductible for federal tax purposes.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that is required by the rules established by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

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Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table. The following table sets forth for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 certain information as to the total compensation paid to our President and Chief Executive Officer and our four other most highly compensated executive officers. Each executive is referred to as a named executive officer (“NEO”).

Name and Principal Position	Year		Salary($)		Bonus($)		Stock Awards(1) ($)		Option Awards(1) ($)		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation(2) ($)		Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings(3) ($)		All Other Compensation(4) ($)		Total($)
Craig L. Montanaro President and Chief Executive Officer		2017 2016 2015		450,000 445,592 445,755		—   —   11,250		3,837,500 —   —		1,602,180 —   —		170,660 153,611 101,254		—   24,000 16,000		95,431 73,203 73,487		6,155,771 696,406 647,746
William C. Ledgerwood		2017		300,600		—		1,995,500		801,090		97,715		—		66,500		3,261,405
Sr. Executive Vice		2016		297,655		—		—		—		87,953		58,000		55,003		498,611
President and Chief Operating Officer		2015		297,764		7,515		—		—		67,637		65,000		50,914		488,830
Patrick M. Joyce Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer		2017 2016 2015		282,063 279,301 279,403		—   —   6,884		1,304,750 —   —		445,050 —   —		66,215 65,522 47,392		—   57,000 38,000		46,922 39,048 36,679		2,145,000 440,871 408,358
Eric B. Heyer		2017		271,160		—		1,458,250		445,050		72,292		—		48,850		2,295,602
Executive Vice		2016		268,504		—		—		—		75,358		—		39,157		383,019
President and Chief Financial Officer		2015		256,715		6,129		—		—		50,194		—		33,784		346,822
Erika K. Parisi Executive Vice President, Director of Customer Relationship Management Analytics		2017 2016 2015		268,730 266,097 266,195		—   —   6,637		767,500 —   —		296,700 —   —		72,172 49,791 29,980		—   61,000 39,000		48,531 41,610 38,067		1,453,633 418,498 379,879

(1) Represents awards under the Company’s performance-based, long-term incentive compensation program, which is the 2016 Plan. For stock awards, fifty percent (50%) of the total awards are subject to performance-based vesting requirements and the other fifty percent (50%) are subject to time-based vesting. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, the reported amount represents the full grant date value of each award. Since awards vest at a rate of 20% per year beginning December 1, 2017, none of the NEOs recognized any income from the awards during 2016. The assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 15 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. For stock option awards, amounts reported are grant date fair values computed based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, and the actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance that the value of an option realized by a NEO will be at or near the value shown above. For restricted stock awards, the amount shown reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted to each NEO on December 1, 2016. For those restricted stock awards that are subject to performance conditions, the grant date fair values are based on the outcome of such conditions at target level. No restricted stock awards or stock options were granted to the NEOs for the fiscal years ended 2016 and 2015.

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(2) Reflects the amounts earned by each NEO under the Kearny Bank Senior Management Incentive Compensation Plan. The Senior Management Incentive Compensation Plan section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes how the 2017 cash awards to the NEOs were determined.

(3) Reflects the actuarial change in pension value in each individual’s accrued benefit under the defined benefit pension plan from June 30 of the prior year to June 30 of the reported year. Pension values may fluctuate significantly from year to year depending on a number of factors, including age and the assumptions used to determine the present value of a named executive officer’s accumulated benefit. The change in pension value for Messrs. Montanaro, Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi, respectively, was negative $5,000, $1,000, $10,000, $0, and $11,000, respectively; however, applicable SEC rules require that we report a negative number as a zero in the above table.

(4) For fiscal year 2017, all other compensation included the following:

Name	401(k) Plan Company Contributions($)		Bank Owned Life Insurance($)		ESOP and ESOP BEP Company Contributions(1)($)		Long-Term Care Premium($)		Dividends on Unvested Stock Awards($)		Other(2)($)		Club Dues($)
Craig L. Montanaro		—		739		57,474		3,212		15,000		7,748		11,258
William C. Ledgerwood		8,474		1,541		37,133		4,750		7,800		6,802		—
Patrick M. Joyce		3,979		541		34,610		2,692		5,100		—		—
Eric B. Heyer		9,308		717		33,125		—		5,700		—		—
Erika K. Parisi		9,315		549		32,794		2,873		3,000		—		—

(1) For Messrs. Montanaro, Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi includes regular ESOP allocations of $32,696, $32,696, $32,696, $32,696 and $32,696, respectively, and allocations under the related ESOP Benefits Equalization Plan of $24,778, $4,437, $1,914, $429 and $98, respectively.

(2) For Messrs. Montanaro and Ledgerwood includes an automobile allowance of $6,754 and $6,417, respectively, and reimbursement of spouse travel expenses to attend a conference of $994 and $385, respectively.

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Plan-Based Awards. The following table sets forth information regarding plan-based awards made to our NEOs for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

		Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)						Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2)						All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of		All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying		Exercise or Base Price of Option		Grant Date Fair Value of Stock
Name	Grant Date	Threshold ($)		Target ($)		Maximum ($)		Threshold (#)		Target (#)		Maximum (#)		Stock or Units (#)(3)		Options (#)		Awards ($/Sh)		Awards ($)(4)
Craig L. Montanaro	—		78,750		157,500		236,250		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		125,000		—		—		—		—		1,918,750
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		125,000		—		—		1,918,750
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		540,000		15.35		1,602,180
William C. Ledgerwood	—		45,090		90,180		135,270		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		65,000		—		—		—		—		997,750
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		65,000		—		—		997,750
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		270,000		15.35		801,090
Patrick M. Joyce	—		35,258		70,516		105,774		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		42,500		—		—		—		—		652,375
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		42,500		—		—		652,375
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		150,000		15.35		445,050
Eric B. Heyer	—		33,895		67,790		101,685		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		47,500		—		—		—		—		729,125
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		47,500		—		—		729,125
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		150,000		15.35		445,050
Erika K. Parisi	—		33,591		67,183		100,774		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		25,000		—		—		—		—		383,750
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		25,000		—		—		383,750
	12/1/2016		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		100,000		15.35		296,700

(1) The amounts reported in these columns include potential cash payouts corresponding to achievement of the threshold, target and maximum performance objectives under the Executive Management Incentive Program. Please see the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Executive Management Incentive Program” for a discussion of this plan.

(2) The amount of each performance-based restricted stock award is contingent upon satisfying a performance-based target as of June 30, 2017, and each subsequent June 30 through June 30, 2021. If the performance objectives are met or exceeded, the number of shares earned vest 20% on June 30, 2017, and 20% on each subsequent June 30 through June 30, 2021. The awards will become 100% vested earlier upon death or disability, and the shares of Company common stock will be issued to the NEO on December 1 following the applicable vesting date provided the NEO is employed on such date. The awards were made under the 2016 Plan and please see the section titled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation” for a discussion of this plan.

(3) The amounts shown in this column reflect the number of shares of restricted stock granted to the NEO pursuant to the 2016 Plan. These awards are subject to time-based vesting, and the awards will vest 20% on June 30, 2017, and 20% on each subsequent June 30 through June 30, 2021 provided the NEO is employed on such dates, and the awards will become 100% vested earlier upon death or disability.

(4) The amounts shown in this column reflect the full grant date fair value of the restricted stock awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC No. 718, and, for performance-based awards, the amounts shown reflect attaining the performance at the target level. For stock option awards, amounts reported are grant date fair values computed based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End. The following table provides information regarding options and restricted stock awards held by the NEOs as of June 30, 2017.

	Option Awards								Stock Awards
									Restricted Stock				Performance Shares
Name	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable(1)		Option Exercise Price($)		Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(1)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested($)(2)		Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested($)(1)		Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested($)(2)
Craig L. Montanaro		—		540,000		15.35		12/1/2026		125,000		1,856,250		125,000		1,856,250
William C. Ledgerwood		—		270,000		15.35		12/1/2026		65,000		965,250		65,000		965,250
Patrick M. Joyce		—		150,000		15.35		12/1/2026		42,500		631,125		42,500		631,125
Eric B. Heyer		—		150,000		15.35		12/1/2026		47,500		705,375		47,500		705,375
Erika K. Parisi		—		100,000		15.35		12/1/2026		25,000		371,250		25,000		371,250

(1) All option awards and restricted stock awards vest at a rate of 20% per year commencing on December 1, 2017. Performance shares (restricted stock subject to performance-based vesting) vest at a rate of 20% per year commencing on December 1, 2017 provided that certain performance metrics are achieved. For a description of the performance metrics, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.

(2) Amounts based on the closing price of the Company common stock as of June 30, 2017 ($14.85).

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2016 Equity Incentive Plan. At the annual meeting of stockholders held on October 27, 2016, stockholders of the Company approved the 2016 Plan. Under the 2016 Plan, individuals may receive awards of restricted stock and grants of stock options to purchase shares of Company common stock at a specified exercise price during a specified time period. The 2016 Plan provides for a total share reserve of 5,211,324 shares (or 7.21% of the shares issued in the Company’s second-step conversion, excluding exchange shares), of which 1,523,696 may be issued as restricted stock awards shares (or 2.11% of the shares issued in the second-step, excluding exchange shares).

The Compensation Committee believes that stock ownership provides a significant incentive in building stockholder value by further aligning the interests of our officers and employees with stockholders because such compensation is directly linked to the performance of Company common stock. This element of compensation increases in importance as Kearny Financial Corp. common stock appreciates in value and serves as a retention tool for executives. The inclusion of performance-based vesting awards also encourages long-term strategic focus of our executives.

Why We Adopted the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan

• Our Prior Equity Plan Expired. Without the 2016 Plan, the Company could no longer grant any equity-based incentive awards. Our prior equity-based incentive plan, the 2005 Plan, expired on October 23, 2015, and no additional awards may be granted under such plan. Accordingly, without the 2016 Plan, we would have no way to provide tailored equity-based compensation grants to attract and retain qualified personnel and management. The expiration of the 2005 Plan resulted in the loss of an important compensation tool designed to align recipients’ interests with stockholder interests and to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified talent.

• Our Competitors Offer Equity-Based Compensation. The substantial majority of institutions with which we compete have the ability to attract and retain employees and management with equity-based compensation programs. Without the 2016 Plan, we would be at a significant disadvantage.

• Second-Step Converted Banks Routinely Adopt New Equity-Based Incentive Plans. We completed our second-step conversion to a fully public company in 2015 raising approximately $717 million in gross proceeds. The substantial majority of all second-step converted banks adopt additional equity-based incentive plans in connection with their second-step transaction. In this regard, our second-step prospectus and offering documents made clear that we intended to adopt such a type of plan, described the regulatory requirements applicable to such types of plans and we included the pro forma effect of awards made under such type of plan.

How We Determined the Size and Terms of the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan

When determining the size and terms of the 2016 Plan, the Board and Compensation Committee considered a number of factors, including: 1) the recommendations and analysis provided by Pearl Meyer, the independent compensation consultant engaged by the Compensation Committee to assist it with the design of the plan, 2) industry practices related to the adoption of equity-incentive plans by second-step converted banks, 3) applicable regulations related to the adoption of equity-incentive plans by converted institutions, 4) guidance provided by proxy advisory firms regarding equity-based incentive plans, and 5) the size and terms of our expired 2005 Plan and awards made thereunder.

When assessing the size of the share reserve under the 2016 Plan, the Compensation Committee noted that if an equity-based incentive plan is adopted within one year after completion of a second-step conversion, applicable federal banking regulations would allow the size of such plan to be up to 14% of the shares of stock issued in the second-step, excluding exchange shares, of which 10% could be reserved

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for stock options and 4% for stock awards. Additionally, the Compensation Committee considered that a substantial majority of second-step converted institutions adopt equity-based incentive plans with share reserves at such regulatory maximums. Despite the larger amounts allowed under the above-referenced regulatory limitations and the larger share reserves of the plans adopted by many second-step institutions, the Compensation Committee determined that the share reserve under the 2016 Plan should be lower than such allowable limits and plans adopted by such second-step institutions.

When making its determination to adopt a plan with a smaller share reserve, the Compensation Committee considered the size of the second-step stock offering proceeds, the size of the share reserve under the 2005 Plan relative to the shares issued in the Company’s first-step initial public offering, the aggregate share reserve under the 2005 Plan and the 2016 Plan on a combined basis, the future needs of the Company with regard to equity based compensation awards and the potential impact on stockholders.

Highlights of the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan

• Minimum Vesting Periods for Awards. Subject to limited exceptions, the 2016 Plan requires a one-year minimum vesting period for all awards.

• Performance-Based Vesting for Stock Awards. 50% of all restricted stock awards granted to our NEOs on December 1, 2016 under the 2016 Plan are subject to performance-based vesting in addition to a vesting schedule of 20% per year over a five-year period commencing one year from the date of grant.

• Share Reserve is Lower Than Similar Plans Adopted By Financial Institutions After a Second-Step Conversion. The number of restricted stock awards and stock options that may be granted under the 2016 Plan, measured as a percentage of outstanding new shares issued in the second-step stock offering, is lower than equity plans adopted by other financial institutions following a second-step conversion, as shown in the following table:

Regulatory Maximum Percentage	14.00	%*
Median Percentage**	14.00	%*
Average Percentage**	12.00	%*
Kearny Financial Corp. 2016 Plan	7.21	%*

* Percentage of shares reserved for issuance as equity awards (% of shares sold in offering)

** Represents banks that have completed second-step transactions from January 1, 2006 through September 1, 2016 and have adopted additional equity-based incentive plans.

• Limits on Grants to Directors and Employees. The maximum number of shares of stock, in the aggregate, that may be subject to stock options or restricted stock awards granted to any one non-employee director is 3% (30% in the aggregate for all non-employee directors) and for any employee is 25%, respectively, of the maximum number of shares of stock that may be delivered pursuant to stock options or restricted stock awards.

• Share Counting. The 2016 Plan provides that, if an award is forfeited or expires, the shares covered by the award will be available for future grant while shares withheld to cover taxes or used to pay the exercise price of stock options will not be available for future grant.

• No Single-Trigger Vesting Upon a Change in Control. The 2016 Plan does not provide for vesting of equity awards based solely on the occurrence of a change in control, without an accompanying job loss.

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• No Repricing. The Equity Incentive Plan prohibits repricing and exchange of underwater options for cash or shares without shareholder approval.

Emphasis on Retention of Key Management

In granting the December 2016 restricted stock awards and stock options to our NEOs, our Compensation Committee intended to recognize and reward what had been accomplished by our senior management team, but most importantly, the Compensation Committee wished to ensure the retention and stability of those high-performing key executives (who are individually and collectively responsible for the Company’s growth and success) going forward. These stock awards were made at an important milestone in the Company’s history, namely, its conversion to a fully public company, and were atypical in nature. The Company does not anticipate that any future awards of stock compensation to the NEOs will be similar to the 2016 grant in size or in potential compensation value.

Awards to Named Executive Officers

After stockholders of the Company approved the 2016 Plan, the Compensation Committee held three meetings to discuss potential awards under the 2016 Plan. The Compensation Committee was advised by Pearl Meyer, an independent compensation consultant, to: 1) assess recommendations for granting awards consistent with industry and peer practices, 2) assess whether and what percentage of restricted stock awards granted to NEOs should be subject to performance-based vesting, and 3) identify appropriate performance metrics for restricted stock awards subject to performance-based vesting. The Compensation Committee also reviewed survey data regarding awards made to directors and executives of other companies that had undertaken a second-step conversion. Pearl Meyer concluded that the Compensation Committee’s recommendations for the awards were consistent with the compensation philosophy of the Company and industry practices and represented reasonable compensation.

The Compensation Committee approved performance-based vesting requirements for fifty percent (50%) of the fiscal year 2017 restricted stock awards that were granted to our NEOs. These awards vest at rate of twenty percent (20%) per year over a five-year period commencing one year from the date of grant provided performance metrics are achieved. The performance-based restricted stock awards granted on December 1, 2016 to our NEOs will vest only if the performance metrics, as established by the Compensation Committee, are satisfied. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, the performance metric requires the Company’s return on average assets to be 0.36%.

The Compensation Committee believes that the high percentage of restricted stock awards subject to performance-based vesting (50% subject to performance-based vesting and 50% subject to time-based vesting) granted to our NEOs places a greater focus on performance-based awards than what is found in similar stock compensation programs among our competitors. No dividends will be paid with respect to any stock award subject to performance-vesting conditions unless and until the performance conditions are met and vesting occurs, and only on that portion of the stock award that actually vests.

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested. The following table sets forth information regarding the vesting of restricted stock awards and stock option exercises for each NEO during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

	Option Awards				Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)		Value Realized on Exercise ($)		Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#)		Value Realized on Vesting($)
Craig L. Montanaro		—		—		—		—
William C. Ledgerwood		—		—		—		—
Patrick M. Joyce		—		—		—		—
Eric B. Heyer		41,412		331,998		—		—
Erika K. Parisi		—		—		—		—

Pension Benefits. Kearny Bank is a participating employer in a multiple-employer pension plan sponsored by the Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan for Financial Institutions (the “Pension Plan”). Participants become fully vested in the Pension Plan upon the earlier of completion of five years’ service or attainment of the normal retirement age of 65. The Pension Plan is intended to comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). The Pension Plan provides for monthly payments to each participating employee at normal retirement age. A participant who is vested in the Pension Plan may take an early retirement and elect to receive a reduced monthly benefit beginning as early as age 45. The Pension Plan also provides for payments in the event of disability or death. The annual benefit amount upon retirement at age 65 equals 2% of the participant’s highest five-year average salary times years of service. Benefits are payable in the form of a monthly retirement benefit and a death benefit or an alternative form that is actuarially equivalent. Effective July 1, 2007, Kearny Bank “froze” all future enrollments and benefit accruals under the Pension Plan and related benefits equalization plan.

The following table provides information with respect to the payments that each NEO may receive following, or in connection with retirement, under the Pension Plan.

Name	Plan Name	Number of Years Credited Service		Present Value of Accumulated Benefit (1)($)		Payments During Last Fiscal Year($)
Craig L. Montanaro	Pension Plan		4		116,000		—
William C. Ledgerwood	Pension Plan		9		516,000		—
Patrick M. Joyce	Pension Plan		8		287,000		—
Eric B. Heyer(2)	Pension Plan		—		—		—
Erika K. Parisi	Pension Plan		8		309,000		—

(1) Assumes retirement at normal retirement age as defined in the Pension Plan. Present value is calculated using assumptions set forth in Note 16 to the audited consolidated financial statements.

(2) Mr. Heyer does not participate in the Pension Plan since he joined the Company after the Pension Plan was frozen.

ESOP. Kearny Bank maintains an ESOP, a tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, for all employees who have satisfied the ESOP’s eligibility requirements. Employees of Kearny Bank who have been credited with at least 1,000 hours of service during a 12-month period are eligible to participate in the ESOP. In 2005, the ESOP borrowed funds from Kearny Financial pursuant to a loan and used those funds to purchase 1,745,700 shares of common stock for the ESOP in connection with Kearny Financial’s initial public offering (the “2005 Loan”). In connection with the completion of the second-step stock offering and conversion on May 18, 2015, the ESOP purchased an additional 3,612,500 shares of Kearny Financial common stock. The ESOP funded its stock purchase with a loan from Kearny Financial equal to the aggregate purchase price of the common stock and the outstanding balance of the 2005 Loan (the 2005 Loan was refinanced into the new ESOP plan). This loan will be repaid principally through Kearny Bank’s contribution to the ESOP and dividends payable on the common stock held by the ESOP over the 20-year term of the loan. The interest rate for the ESOP loan is 3.25%.

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Shares purchased by the ESOP are held in an unallocated suspense account, and shares will be allocated to the participants’ accounts as the loan is repaid on a pro-rata basis. The trustee will allocate the shares released among the participants’ accounts on the basis of each participant’s proportional share of eligible plan compensation relative to all participants’ proportional share of eligible plan compensation. All shares of Kearny Financial common stock held by the ESOP prior to the completion of the second-step stock offering and conversion on May 18, 2015 were automatically converted to shares of Kearny Financial common stock pursuant to the exchange ratio of 1.3804.

Vested benefits will be payable generally upon the participants’ termination of employment, and will be paid generally in the form of common stock. Pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718-40, Kearny Financial will record a compensation expense each year in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares released from the unallocated suspense account.

401(k) Plan. Kearny Bank maintains a 401(k) Plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, for all employees who have satisfied the 401(k) Plan’s eligibility requirements. All eligible employees can begin participation in the 401(k) Plan on the first day of the month coinciding with or following the date on which the employee attains age 21 and has completed three months of service and 250 hours of service. A participant may contribute up to 75% of his or her compensation to the 401(k) Plan on a pre-tax basis, subject to the limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. For 2017, the salary deferral contribution limit is $18,000, provided, however, that a participant over age 50 may contribute an additional $6,000 to the 401(k) Plan. In addition to salary deferral contributions, the 401(k) Plan provides that Kearny Bank will make an employer matching contribution equal to 100% of a participant’s salary deferral contribution, provided that such amount does not exceed 1% of a participant’s compensation, plus 50% of a participant’s salary deferral contribution that exceeds 1% but does not exceed 6% of a participant’s compensation earned during the plan year. A participant is always 100% vested in his or her salary deferral contributions and employer matching contributions. Each participant has an individual account under the 401(k) Plan and may direct the investment of his or her account among a variety of investment options or vehicles available.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation. Kearny Bank has implemented a Benefits Equalization Plan related to the ESOP. This plan constitutes a defined contribution plan providing for deferral of compensation on a non-tax-qualified basis. The purpose of this plan is to provide a benefit to senior executives of Kearny Bank whose benefits under the ESOP are limited by Sections 401(a)(17) and 415 of the Internal Revenue Code. For example, this plan provides participants with a benefit for any compensation that they may earn in excess of $265,000 (as indexed) comparable to the benefits earned by all participants under the ESOP for compensation earned below that level. Kearny Bank may utilize a grantor trust in connection with this plan in order to set aside funds that ultimately may be used to pay benefits under the plan. The assets of the grantor trust will remain subject to the claims of Kearny Bank’s general creditors in the event of insolvency, until paid to a participant following termination of employment according to the terms of the plan. Benefits under the plan will be paid in a lump sum in the form of shares of common stock to the extent permissible under applicable regulations, or in the alternative, benefits will be paid in cash based upon the value of such shares at the time that such benefit payments are made. The actual value of benefits under this plan and the annual financial reporting expense associated with this plan are calculated annually based upon a variety of factors, including the actual value of benefits for participants determined under the ESOP each year, the applicable limitations under the Internal Revenue Code that are subject to adjustment annually and the compensation of each participant at such time. Generally, benefits under the plan are taxable to each participant at the time of receipt of such payment, and Kearny Bank will recognize a tax-deductible compensation expense at such time.

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The following table sets forth information with respect to NEOs with accumulated benefits under the Benefits Equalization Plan related to the ESOP:

Name	Executive Contributions In Last Fiscal Year($)		Company Contributions in Last Fiscal Year($)(1)		Aggregate Gain/Loss in Last Fiscal Year($)		Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions($)		Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End($)(2)
Craig L. Montanaro		—		24,778		14,612		—		123,988
William C. Ledgerwood		—		4,437		3,439		—		27,633
Patrick M. Joyce		—		1,914		1,350		—		11,044
Eric B. Heyer		—		429		42		—		751
Erika K. Parisi		—		98		653		—		4,422

(1) Contributions included in the “Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year” column are included as compensation for the individual in the Summary Compensation Table.

(2) Amounts included in the “Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End” have been reported as compensation for the individuals for years in which their summary compensation has been reported.

Employment Agreements. In connection with the second-step stock offering and conversion on May 18, 2015, Kearny Bank entered into new employment agreements with Messrs. Montanaro, Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi, which superseded their prior employment agreements. The Company entered into the agreements with Messrs. Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi solely as a guarantor. In addition, Kearny Financial entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Montanaro, which is substantially identical to the agreement Kearny Bank entered into with Mr. Montanaro, except the compensation payable under Mr. Montanaro’s agreement with the Company is reduced dollar-for-dollar for any compensation paid by Kearny Bank. Messrs. Montanaro and Ledgerwood’s agreements have a three-year term, and the other agreements have a two-year term. Commencing on the first anniversary of the agreements (which is defined as July 1 of each calendar year) and on each subsequent anniversary thereafter, the agreements may be renewed for an additional year so that the remaining term is three years for Messrs. Montanaro and Ledgerwood’s agreements and two years for the other agreements, provided that the disinterested members of the board of directors of Kearny Bank conduct a performance evaluation of the executive and affirmatively approve the extension.

The current base salary for Messrs. Montanaro, Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi, respectively, is $450,000, $300,600, $282,063, $271,160 and $268,730, respectively. In addition to base salary, each executive is generally entitled to participate in all discretionary bonuses, pension and other retirement benefit plans, welfare benefit plans and other equity, incentive and benefit plans and perquisites applicable to senior management of Kearny Bank. Upon the termination of an executive’s employment at any time on or after attainment of age 62 and until the executive becomes eligible for Medicare coverage, the executive is eligible to receive reimbursement for participation in medical coverage comparable to coverage under Kearny Bank’s plan.

In the event of the executive’s involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than cause, disability or death, the executive is entitled to a severance payment equal to the executive’s base salary for the remaining term of the agreement, payable in a lump sum within ten days of the executive’s termination of employment, and the executive is entitled to be reimbursed for medical and dental coverage for the remaining term of the agreement. If severance payments had been made under these agreements as of June 30, 2017 for these types of terminations, Messrs. Montanaro, Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi, respectively, would have received approximately $1,460,970, $980,664, $638,030, $616,176 and $611,306, respectively, and these amounts include the estimated cost of continued insurance coverage.

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In the event the executive voluntarily resigns during the term of the employment agreement for “good reason” (as defined in the agreement), the executive is entitled to a severance payment equal to the executive’s annual base salary, payable in a lump sum within ten days of the executive’s termination of employment. If severance payments had been made under these agreements as of June 30, 2017 for “good reason,” Messrs. Montanaro, Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi, respectively, would have received approximately $450,000, $300,600, $282,063, $271,160 and $268,730, respectively.

In the event of a change in control of Kearny Financial or Kearny Bank followed within 24 months by the executive’s involuntary termination of employment for any reason other than cause or the executive’s termination for good reason, then in lieu of the severance benefits described immediately above, Messrs. Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi are entitled to a severance benefit equal to two times (three times for Mr. Ledgerwood) the executive’s total compensation earned during the most recently completed calendar year ending on or prior to the date of the executive’s termination of employment and Mr. Montanaro is entitled to a severance benefit equal to 2.999 times his five-year average annual taxable cash compensation, payable in a lump sum within ten days of the executive’s date of termination of employment and the executives are entitled to continued participation in non-taxable medical and dental coverage for the remaining term of the agreement. Messrs. Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi’s agreements provide that change in control severance payments will be reduced, to the extent necessary, to avoid a penalty tax under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. If change in control severance payments had been made under these agreements as of June 30, 2017, Messrs. Montanaro, Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi, respectively, would have received approximately $1,549,746, $1,407,741, $843,932, $952,020 and $793,562, respectively, and these amounts include the estimated cost of continued insurance coverage. Such amounts do not reflect any applicable Section 280G cut-backs, and, accordingly, such amounts may be reduced.

For purposes of the employment agreements, “good reason” is defined as: (i) a material reduction in the executive’s base salary or benefits (other than a reduction that is part of a good faith, overall reduction applicable to all employees); (ii) a material reduction in the executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities; or (iii) a material breach of the employment agreement by Kearny Bank.

Upon any termination of employment (except following a change in control), the executives will each be required to adhere to non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for six months.

Kearny Bank also entered into new employment agreements with certain other individuals, which contain similar terms to the agreements for Messrs. Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi and change in control agreements with certain non-executive level officers, which provide, in the event of a change in control of the Company or Kearny Bank followed within 24 months by the individual’s involuntary termination of employment for any reason other than cause or the executive’s termination for good reason, a severance payment equal to the individual’s annual base salary and bonus, payable in a lump sum within ten days of the individual’s termination of employment.

Executive Life Insurance Agreements. Kearny Bank is party to Executive Life Insurance Agreements with each of the NEOs pursuant to which Kearny Bank has purchased life insurance policies on the NEOs. Under the agreements, the beneficiaries of the NEOs are entitled to a death benefit paid by the insurer from the policy proceeds equal to two times the NEO’s highest annual base salary in effect during the three calendar years prior to death, plus an additional one hundred thousand dollars, if the NEO dies while employed by Kearny Bank or in effect during the three calendar years prior to retirement if the NEO is retired at the time of death and meets certain age and service requirements. The maximum death benefit, however, may not exceed $1.5 million. In the event of a change in control of Kearny Bank prior to the NEO’s death or retirement, the death benefit shall remain in effect, regardless of whether the age and service requirements have been met.

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control. The table below reflects the amount of compensation payable to each of the NEOs in accordance with each individual’s employment agreement and certain other benefit plans and agreements as discussed in the preceding sections in the event of termination of such executive’s employment. The amounts shown assume that such termination was effective as of June 30, 2017, and thus includes amounts earned through such time and are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the executives upon their termination. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at the time of such executive’s termination of employment. The amounts shown below do not include the NEO’s account balances in the Benefits Equalization Plan related to the ESOP since the present value of the accumulated benefits under this plan is set forth in the above tables.

Name and Plan	Termination for Good Reason($)		Early Retirement (at age 62)($)		Termination w/o Cause No Change in Control($)		Termination w/o Cause With Change in Control($)			Death($)		Disability($)(6)
Craig L. Montanaro
Employment Agreement(1)		450,000		—		1,460,970		1,549,746			450,000		1,035,000
Exec. Life Ins. Agreement(2)		—		—		—		—			1,050,000		—
Restricted Stock Vesting(3)		—		—		—		3,712,500			3,712,500		3,712,500
Stock Option Vesting(4)		—		—		—		—			—		—
280G Cut-Back(5)		—		—		—		—			—		—
Name and Plan	Termination for Good Reason($)		Early Retirement (at age 62)($)		Termination w/o Cause No Change in Control($)		Termination w/o Cause With Change in Control($)			Death($)		Disability($)(6)
William C. Ledgerwood
Employment Agreement(1)		300,600		26,288		980,664		1,407,741			300,600		691,380
Exec. Life Ins. Agreement(2)		—		—		—		—			751,200		—
Restricted Stock Vesting(3)		—		—		—		1,930,500			1,930,500		1,930,500
Stock Option Vesting(4)		—		—		—		—			—		—
280G Cut-Back(5)		—		—		—		(1,574,556	)		—		—
Name and Plan	Termination for Good Reason($)		Early Retirement (at age 62)($)		Termination w/o Cause No Change in Control($)		Termination w/o Cause With Change in Control($)			Death($)		Disability($)(6)
Patrick M. Joyce
Employment Agreement(1)		282,063		—		638,030		843,932			282,063		465,404
Exec. Life Ins. Agreement(2)		—		—		—		—			714,126		—
Restricted Stock Vesting(3)		—		—		—		1,262,250			1,262,250		1,262,250
Stock Option Vesting(4)		—		—		—		—			—		—
280G Cut-Back(5)		—		—		—		(625,859	)		—		—

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Name and Plan	Termination for Good Reason($)		Early Retirement (at age 62)($)		Termination w/o Cause No Change in Control($)		Termination w/o Cause With Change in Control($)			Death($)		Disability($)(6)
Eric B. Heyer
Employment Agreement(1)		271,160		—		616,176		952,020			271,160		447,414
Exec. Life Ins. Agreement(2)		—		—		—		—			692,320		—
Restricted Stock Vesting(3)		—		—		—		1,410,750			1,410,750		1,410,750
Stock Option Vesting(4)		—		—		—		—			—		—
280G Cut-Back(5)		—		—		—		(1,013,852	)		—		—
Name and Plan	Termination for Good Reason($)		Early Retirement (at age 62)($)		Termination w/o Cause No Change in Control($)		Termination w/o Cause With Change in Control($)			Death($)		Disability($)(6)
Erika Parisi
Employment Agreement(1)		268,730		—		611,306		793,562			268,730		443,405
Exec. Life Ins. Agreement(2)		—		—		—		—			687,460		—
Restricted Stock Vesting(3)		—		—		—		742,500			742,500		742,500
Stock Option Vesting(4)		—		—		—		—			—		—
280G Cut-Back(5)		—		—		—		(307,207	)		—		—

(1) This amount includes the estimated cost for continued medical, dental, life and other insurance coverage in the event of a termination without cause before or after a change in control. Continued insurance coverage is not provided in the event of a termination for other reasons.

(2) The death benefit includes the amount payable under each individual’s Executive Life Insurance Agreement and a death benefit of $50,000 payable under Kearny Bank’s group term life insurance plan.

(3) This amount represents the value of unvested restricted stock awards that become fully vested upon certain events, including death, disability and an involuntary termination, other than for cause, or termination for good reason following a change in control of the Company.

(4) This amount represents the value of unvested stock options that become fully vested upon certain events, including death, disability and an involuntary termination, other than for cause, or termination for good reason following a change in control of the Company. The stock options do not have value since the exercise price exceeds the fair market value of the Company stock as of June 30, 2017.

(5) Messrs. Ledgerwood, Joyce, Heyer and Ms. Parisi’s agreements provide that change in control severance payments will be reduced, to the extent necessary, to avoid a penalty tax under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. The amount shown represents the estimated amount of the reduction to avoid a penalty tax under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code.

(6) Each executive is also covered by a long-term disability plan which, if payable, provides a monthly benefit of sixty percent (60%) of base salary, with a maximum benefit of $15,000 per month.

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Director Compensation

Set forth below is a table providing information concerning the compensation of the non-employee directors of the Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. Mr. Montanaro, our President and Chief Executive Officer, does not receive separate compensation for his service as a director, and information with respect to the compensation paid to Mr. Montanaro is included above in the Summary Compensation Table.

Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash($)		Stock Awards(1)($)		Option Awards(1)($)		Change in Pension Value(2)($)		All Other Compensation(3)($)		Total($)
John J. Mazur, Jr.		98,000		631,484		296,700		—		28,426		1,054,610
Matthew T. McClane		86,800		631,484		296,700		—		24,213		1,039,197
John F. McGovern		91,800		631,484		296,700		—		23,607		1,043,591
Theodore J. Aanensen		89,300		631,484		296,700		—		24,535		1,042,019
Joseph P. Mazza		90,800		631,484		296,700		—		24,979		1,043,963
John F. Regan		88,800		631,484		296,700		—		15,187		1,032,171
Leopold W. Montanaro		86,800		631,484		296,700		—		20,183		1,035,167
John N. Hopkins		86,800		631,484		296,700		—		32,314		1,047,298
Raymond E. Chandonnet		86,800		631,484		296,700		—		21,459		1,036,443
Christopher Petermann		92,800		631,484		296,700		—		17,231		1,038,215

(1) Represents an award under the 2016 Plan. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, the reported amount represents the full grant date value of each award. Since awards vest at a rate of 20% per year beginning December 1, 2017, none of the directors recognized any income from the awards during 2016. The assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 15 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. For stock option awards, amounts reported are grant date fair values computed based upon the Black-Scholes option valuation model, and the actual value, if any, that may be realized will depend on the excess of the stock price over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. Therefore, there is no assurance that the value of an option realized by a director will be at or near the value shown above. For restricted stock awards, the amount shown reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock awards granted to each director on December 1, 2016. As of June 30, 2017, each director (except for Mr. Craig Montanaro, whose compensation is reported in the Summary Compensation Table above) held 41,139 unvested shares of restricted stock and 100,000 unvested stock options.

(2) For more information concerning the Directors Consultation and Retirement Plan, please see Note 16 to the audited consolidated financial statements. Reflects the actuarial change in pension value in each individual’s accrued benefit under the defined benefit pension plan from June 30 of the prior year to June 30 of the reported year. Pension values may fluctuate significantly from year to year depending on a number of factors, including age and the assumptions used to determine the present value of an individual’s accumulated benefit. The change in pension value for Directors Mazur, McClane, McGovern, Aanensen, Mazza, Regan, Montanaro and Hopkins, respectively, was negative $49,000, $24,000, $7,000, $47,000, $37,000, $30,000, $18,000 and $28,000, respectively; however, applicable SEC rules require that we report a negative number as a zero in the above table.

(3) For fiscal year 2017, all other compensation included the following:

Name	Health Care and Dental Premiums($)		Dividends on Unvested Stock Awards($)		Bank Owned Life Insurance*($)		Total All Other Compensation($)
John J. Mazur, Jr.		24,839		2,468		1,119		28,426
Matthew T. McClane		15,569		2,468		6,176		24,213
John F. McGovern		20,496		2,468		643		23,607
Theodore J. Aanensen		18,768		2,468		3,299		24,535
Joseph P. Mazza		18,949		2,468		3,562		24,979
John F. Regan		9,420		2,468		3,299		15,187
Leopold W. Montanaro		15,578		2,468		2,137		20,183
John N. Hopkins		18,067		2,468		11,779		32,314
Raymond E. Chandonnet		18,991		2,468		—		21,459
Christopher Petermann		14,763		2,468		—		17,231

* For each director, other than Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Montanaro, the Company maintains life insurance arrangements providing for a death benefit of $500,000. Life insurance arrangements provide for a death benefit of $1,950,000 for Mr. Hopkins and $286,602 for Mr. Montanaro.

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Board Retainers. Each Director receives a quarterly retainer for service as follows: Non-employee directors receive $15,700 quarterly for service on the Kearny Bank’s Board and $6,000 for service on the Board of Kearny Financial Corp. The Chairman receives a higher retainer of $17,200 and $6,300 for service on Kearny Bank’s Board and the Board of Kearny Financial Corp., respectively.

Members of the Kearny Bank Executive Committee do not receive retainers for service. Each member of the Kearny Bank Board of Directors is also a member of the Executive Committee. Members of the Audit & Compliance Committee and the Chairman of this committee receive a quarterly retainer of $1,000 and $1,250, respectively. Members of the Compensation Committee and the Chairman of this committee receive a quarterly retainer of $500 and $625, respectively.

Directors who also serve as employees do not receive compensation as directors. Directors also receive coverage under the Company’s health, dental and long-term care insurance plans.

Director Life Insurance Agreements. Kearny Bank is party to Director Life Insurance Agreements with each director pursuant to which Kearny Bank has purchased life insurance policies on the directors. The directors become entitled to death benefits under the agreements if they (i) die while serving as a member of the Board of Directors, or (ii) retire from Board of Directors service on or after attaining age 70, or (iii) retire from Board of Directors service on or after attaining age 60 and at a time when the director’s years of service with Kearny Bank and the director’s age equals at least 75. Under the agreements, the director’s beneficiaries are entitled to a death benefit equal to $500,000 (and a death benefit of $1,950,000 for John N. Hopkins and $286,602 for Leopold W. Montanaro), which will be paid by the life insurance company. In the event of a change in control of Kearny Bank prior to the named director’s death or retirement, the death benefit shall remain in effect regardless of whether the age and service requirements have been met.

Directors Consultation and Retirement Plan. On December 23, 2015, the Company amended its Directors Consultation and Retirement Plan (the “DCRP”) to freeze the DCRP such that no additional benefits would accrue to any participant after December 31, 2015. Accordingly, the benefits payable to participating directors would not increase after December 31, 2015.

Equity Compensation Awarded Under the 2016 Plan. At the annual meeting of stockholders held on October 27, 2016, stockholders of the Company approved the 2016 Plan, as described above in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation - 2016 Equity Incentive Plan.” Directors are eligible to participate in the 2016 Plan. Under this plan, non-employee directors may receive awards of restricted stock and grants of stock options to purchase shares of Company common stock at a specified exercise price during a specified time period.

The maximum number of shares of stock, in the aggregate, that may be subject to stock options or restricted stock awards granted to any one non-employee director is 3% (30% in the aggregate for all non-employee directors) of the maximum number of shares of stock that may be delivered pursuant to stock options or restricted stock awards under the 2016 Plan. When assessing the non-employee director limit of 3%, the Compensation Committee noted that if an equity-based incentive plan is adopted within one year after completion of a second-step conversion, applicable banking regulations would allow a non-employee director limit of 5%. Despite the larger amounts allowed under the above-referenced regulatory limitations, the Compensation Committee determined that a non-employee director should be limited to 3% of the maximum number of shares of stock that may be delivered pursuant to stock options or restricted stock awards.

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The Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer, an independent compensation consultant, to assess the Committee’s recommendations for granting stock options and restricted stock awards to non-employee directors. In determining the amount of restricted stock awards and stock options non-employee directors would receive, the Compensation Committee considered the Board’s role in setting the strategic direction for the Company, most notably, their role in completing the second-step conversion and public offering in 2015 and transition to a fully public company. The Compensation Committee also considered the directors’ past contributions, their industry knowledge, their financial expertise and the role they would play in the Company’s future. The Committee also reviewed survey data regarding awards made to directors of other companies that had undertaken a second-step conversion and public offering.

The Compensation Committee determined that the awards to non-employee directors in fiscal year 2017 would better align the economic interest of the directors with that of other shareholders and the awards were consistent with prevailing director compensation practices in the competitive marketplace for similarly situated public companies that recently completed second-step conversions.

The awards to non-employee directors in fiscal year 2017 are subject to a vesting schedule of 20% per year over a five-year period commencing one year from the date of grant, and consequently the value of the award will be recognized over five years.    

During the five-year vesting term, the Compensation Committee does not anticipate making any additional equity awards to the incumbent directors.

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PROPOSAL II – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Kearny Financial’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended June 30, 2017 was BDO USA, LLP.

The Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Kearny Financial recently conducted a competitive selection process to determine the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. As a result of this process, on August 30, 2017, the Company dismissed BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The dismissal of BDO USA, LLP was approved by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

BDO USA, LLP’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. The audit reports of BDO USA, LLP on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

During the two fiscal years ended June 30, 2017 and the subsequent interim period through August 30, 2017, there were (i) no disagreements between the Company and BDO USA, LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of BDO USA, LLP, would have caused BDO USA, LLP to make reference thereto in their reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

On August 30, 2017, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors engaged Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective August 30, 2017. During the two fiscal years ended June 30, 2017 and the subsequent interim period preceding the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP, the Company did not consult with Crowe Horwath LLP regarding: (1) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed; (2) the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and Crowe Horwath LLP did not provide any written report or oral advice that Crowe Horwath LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any such accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or (3) any matter that was either the subject of a disagreement with BDO USA, LLP on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure or the subject of a reportable event.

Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditor. Stockholder ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP is not required by Kearny Financial’s Bylaws or otherwise. However, the Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP, the Audit & Compliance Committee will reconsider whether it should select another independent registered public accounting firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit & Compliance Committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change is in the best interests of Kearny Financial and its stockholders.

The Audit & Compliance Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services is compatible with maintaining the independence of Crowe Horwath LLP. The Audit & Compliance Committee concluded that performing such services does not affect the independence of Crowe Horwath LLP in performing its function as Kearny Financial’s independent registered public accounting firm.

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Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed to Kearny Financial for professional services rendered by BDO USA, LLP for the audit of the Kearny Financial’s annual financial statements, review of the financial statements included in the Kearny Financial’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided by BDO USA, LLP in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements were $438,500 and $424,000 for the years ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively.

Audit Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed to Kearny Financial for assurance and related services rendered by BDO USA, LLP that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of and review of the financial statements and that are not already reported in “Audit Fees,” above, were $57,027 and $55,987 for the years ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively.

Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed to Kearny Financial for professional services rendered by BDO USA, LLP for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning were $11,116 and $37,299 for the years ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively. Tax-related services consisted of tax return preparation and consultation.

All Other Fees. There were no “Other Fees” billed by BDO USA, LLP for services rendered to Kearny Financial during the years ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016.

Audit & Compliance Committee Approval Policies and Procedures. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all auditing services and non-audit services provided by an issuer’s independent auditor must be approved by the issuer’s audit committee prior to such services being rendered or be approved pursuant to pre-approval policies and procedures established by the issuer’s audit committee. The Company’s Audit & Compliance Committee approves each service prior to the engagement of the auditor for all audit and non-audit services. All of the services listed were approved by the Audit & Compliance Committee prior to the service being rendered. There were no non-audit services described that were not recognized as non-audit services at the time of engagement that were approved after the fact pursuant to the de minimus exception under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF CROWE HORWATH LLP AS

THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM.

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PROPOSAL III – ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis appearing earlier in this Proxy Statement describes the executive compensation program and the compensation decisions made by the Compensation Committee with respect to the Chief Executive Officer and other officers named in the Summary Compensation Table (who are referred to as the “Named Executive Officers”).

This proposal, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” proposal, gives you as a stockholder the opportunity to vote on our executive pay program. The Board of Directors is requesting stockholder to cast a non-binding advisory vote on the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Kearny Financial approve the compensation paid to Kearny Financial’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and narrative accompanying the tables.”

Our executive compensation program is based on a pay for performance philosophy that is designed to support our business strategy and align the interests of our executives with our stockholders. The Board of Directors believes that the link between compensation and the achievement of our long- and short-term business goals has helped our financial performance over time, while not encouraging excessive risk taking.

For these reasons, the Board of Directors is requesting stockholders to support this proposal. While this advisory vote is non-binding, the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Board of Directors value the views of the stockholders and will consider the outcome of this vote in future executive compensation decisions.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL ON AN ADVISORY BASIS OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.

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STOCKHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BOARD AND STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

All Stockholder communications to the Board of Directors and/or individual directors should be addressed to the Board of Directors and/or the individual director and mailed to:

Kearny Financial Corp.

120 Passaic Avenue

Fairfield, New Jersey 07004

The letter should indicate that the author is a Kearny Financial Corp. stockholder and, if shares are not held of record, should include appropriate evidence of stock ownership. Depending on the subject matter, the Corporate Secretary will:

• forward the communication to the director or directors to whom it is addressed;

• attempt to handle the inquiry directly (for example, where it is a request for information about the Company or a
stock-related matter); or

• not forward the communication if it is primarily commercial in nature, related to an improper or irrelevant topic, or is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or otherwise inappropriate.

Written communications received by the Company from stockholders will be shared with the full Board of Directors no later than the next regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting.

To be eligible for inclusion in the proxy materials for next year’s Annual Meeting, any stockholder proposal under SEC Rule 14a-8 to take action at such meeting must be received at our executive office at 120 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, New Jersey 07004 no later than May 16, 2018. Any such proposals shall be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Bylaws of Kearny Financial also provide an advance notice procedure for certain business, or nominations to the Board of Directors, to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders. In order for a stockholder to properly bring business before an annual meeting, the stockholder must give written notice to the Secretary of Kearny Financial not less than 110 days nor more than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s written notice shall be timely only if delivered or mailed to and received by the Secretary of Kearny Financial at the principal executive office of the corporation no earlier than the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made and no later than the tenth day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is first made.

The 2018 annual meeting of stockholders is expected to be held on October 25, 2018. It is expected that advance written notice for certain business, or nominations to the Board of Directors, to be brought before the next annual meeting must be given to us no earlier than June 28, 2018 and no later than July 8, 2018. If notice is received before June 28, 2018 or later than July 8, 2018, it will be considered untimely, and we will not be required to present the matter at the stockholders meeting.

Nothing in this proxy statement will be deemed to require us to include in our proxy statement and proxy relating to an annual meeting any stockholder proposal that does not meet all of the requirements for inclusion established by the Securities and Exchange Commission in effect at the time such proposal is received.

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Nothing in this proxy statement will be deemed to require us to include in our proxy statement and proxy relating to an annual meeting any stockholder proposal that does not meet all of the requirements for inclusion established by the Securities and Exchange Commission in effect at the time such proposal is received.

Unless unable to attend due to illness or other unforeseen circumstances, each member of the Board of Directors is present at annual meetings. Eleven directors attended the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

OTHER MATTERS

The Board of Directors is not aware of any other matters to come before the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments, it is intended that proxies in the accompanying form will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of the persons named in this Proxy Statement.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Company’s 2017 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, is being made available to stockholders with this Proxy Statement. Except to the extent specifically incorporated by reference, the Annual Report is not to be treated as part of the proxy solicitation material nor as having been incorporated by reference herein.

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Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. ☒

Electronic Voting Instructions Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy.
VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.
Proxies submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 25, 2017.
	Vote by Internet
	•  Go to www.investorvote.com/KRNY
	•  Or scan the QR code with your smartphone
	•  Follow the steps outlined on the secure website
Vote by telephone
•  Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories & Canada on a touch tone telephone •  Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message

q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

 A  Proposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” Proposals 1, 2 and 3.

1.	The election of the four nominees listed, each for a three-year term:
		For	Withhold		For	Withhold		For	Withhold	+
	01 - Theodore J. Aanensen	☐	☐	02 - Joseph P. Mazza	☐	☐	03 - John F. Regan	☐	☐
	04 - Christopher Petermann	☐	☐

		For	Against	Abstain
2.	Ratification of the appointment of Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.	☐	☐	☐
3.	Approval of an advisory, non-binding resolution to approve our executive compensation as described in the Proxy Statement.	☐	☐	☐
	Such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting of any adjournments thereof.

 B  Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below

Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign, but only one holder is required to sign.

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.	Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.	Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
/                /

⬛   +  

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING

The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card are available at

www.kearnybank.com or www.investorvote.com/KRNY

q IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. q

    REVOCABLE PROXY — KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP.   +  

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Kearny Financial Corp.

Proxy/Voting Instructions

This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors for the

2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, October 26, 2017

The undersigned stockholder, hereby appoints the Board of Directors of Kearny Financial Corp. with full powers of substitutions to act as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned to vote all shares of common stock of Kearny Financial Corp. that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Annual Meeting”), to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 690 Route 46 East, Fairfield, New Jersey 07004 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on Thursday, October 26, 2017.

The shares represented by this proxy will be voted as instructed by you and in the discretion of the proxies on all other matters that properly come before the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and any adjournment or postponement thereof. If not otherwise specified, shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Directors.

Kearny Bank ESOP and 401(k) Plan Participants. If you participate in the Kearny Bank 401(k) Plan or the Kearny Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and your plan account has investments in shares of Kearny Financial Corp. common stock, you must provide voting instruction to the plan trustee (by proxy card, the internet or telephone) for your shares to be voted according to your instructions. Each plan participant’s voting instruction will also direct the trustee to vote any unvoted shares and the unallocated shares held in the ESOP in the same ratio as the shares for which voting instructions have been received by the trustee, unless contrary to law. Your voting instructions to the plan trustee will be held in strict confidence and will not be revealed to any employee or director of Kearny Financial Corp. or Kearny Bank. The deadline to provide voting instructions for shares held in the foregoing plans is Thursday, October 19, 2017. You will not be able to submit voting instructions or change prior voting instructions after this deadline.

(Continued and to be marked, dated and signed on the other side)

C   Non-Voting Items

Change of Address — Please print your new address below.       Comments — Please print your comments below.        Meeting Attendance  

Mark the box to the right if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. ☐

⬛   IF VOTING BY MAIL, YOU MUST COMPLETE SECTIONS A - C ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS CARD. +