UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

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

☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒ Definitive Proxy Statement

☐ Definitive Additional Materials

☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

Blue Foundry Bancorp

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

☒ No fee required.

☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

☐ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11.

Blue Foundry Bancorp 2023 ANNUAL REPORT FORM 10-K & PROXY STATEMENT

All board members and nearly all of our employees are shareholders… we have a vested interest in our Company. -Jim Nesci, President & CEO

 

April 15, 2024

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

Thank you for taking the time to review our company’s 2023 performance. We remain focused on creating long-term value for our key stakeholders – our communities, customers, colleagues, and our shareholders.

Beginning with our communities, the Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation has had a positive impact on the neighborhoods we serve. Since 2021, our first year as a publicly-traded company, we have contributed over $1 million through more than 200 grants to charities across six counties within New Jersey. The Foundation focuses on four pillars – Affordable Housing, Education, Health & Human Services, and Youth Programs. These four pillars reinforce our commitment to Community Reinvestment. The staff and management team at Blue Foundry Bank further support these financial grants with their volunteerism.

Our customers are critical to our success, and we continue to provide great products and services from our devoted and enthusiastic team members. With the customer experience always top of mind, we implemented many customer-friendly services by introducing Early Pay, and eliminating ATM Fees Worldwide, Overdraft Fees, and monthly service fees for most deposit accounts. In addition, deposit accounts can now be opened online in less than three minutes for most retail customers.

At Blue Foundry Bank, we foster a culture of ethical and fair standards for our colleagues. In turn, our team has dedicated themselves to working tirelessly and diligently with our customer base. They actively engage with our customers to keep them informed of the financial services we can offer to enhance their banking experience. Through this direct outreach, we endeavor to form lasting relationships.

To further highlight our continued focus and commitment to business ethics; consumer financial protection; data privacy & cyber security; human capital management; and board composition, we are pleased that our first corporate sustainability report will be released early next month. This report will be published on our investor relations website https://ir.bluefoundrybank.com/overview/.

Economy

I believe some context is useful as we walk through our year-end results. From March 2022 through July 2023, the Federal Reserve raised rates at an unprecedented speed with 11 rate increases resulting in a 525 basis point tightening in monetary policy. During March 2023, three large banks failed: the first failure involved a cryptocurrency-focused bank, followed by the failure of a technology-focused bank on the west coast, and finally, an east coast, cryptocurrency-related bank failed. In May, 2023, another large bank failed at which point the United States Department of Treasury stepped in to shore up the banking system. By then, many deposits had left the banking system altogether and had relocated directly into US Treasuries and US Government Money Market Funds or to the nation’s largest banking institutions while deposit interest rates continued to climb on a national level for many of the community banks.

While the short side of the interest rate curve stepped higher, the longer side of the curve, 5 years out and further, gyrated higher and lower. The difference between 3-month treasury interest rates and 5-year treasury interest rates was negative for the entire 2023 calendar year – the interest rate curve was inverted at extraordinary levels. Much of what was seen throughout 2023 was unprecedented.

Company Performance

Even with massive pressure on funding costs, our Bank remained, and still remains, well capitalized. While we did sustain some operational losses due to the higher cost of funding our balance sheet, our asset quality remained strong, with minimal charge offs.

We have been focused on the items we can best control – technology investment, people, underwriting standards, and asset selection. While the complexities of running a publicly traded financial institution have increased dramatically over the last few years, our investment in technology has enabled us to provide operating efficiency without adding staff. Around the time of our initial public offering in 2021, we employed 173 full-time employees and as of year-end 2023 we had 176 full-time employees. We strive to control our headcount and add staff when necessary to maintain service level quality and respond to the regulatory framework in which we operate. Through the control of our head count, we have been able to withstand inflationary pressures across many of our other expense items.

 Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement        i         

 

Letter to Shareholders        

Similarly, our underwriting standards have served us well. Our credit quality has remained strong. We continue to shift our asset production into more commercial loans. In 2021, the Bank’s loan portfolio consisted of approximately 44% of long term 1-4 family residential mortgages. As of December 31, 2023, we have reduced our 1-4 family residential mortgages exposure to approximately 35% of the loan portfolio. This reduction has helped shorten the duration of our assets as we continue the transformation to a more commercially oriented institution. Further, our interest rate hedging program has helped to dampen interest rate volatility in our financial metrics.

Managing a bank through macroeconomic volatility is not always easy but our investment in Audit and Risk Oversight has enabled us to ride out the more challenging periods in the economic cycle. On an annual basis, our bank completes over 30 internal audits related to our operating policies and procedures. Our external auditors complete an annual audit as well as quarterly financial reviews. In addition, annual Information and Technology Audits and Risk Assessments are accomplished with external specialists. We are also examined by the FDIC as well as the State of New Jersey Department of Banking. The investment in this area is important as it has enabled us to operate in a safe and sound manner.

Strategy

We continue to emphasize growing and diversifying our funding sources and remain dedicated to shifting our assets to become more commercially oriented. We expect that our focus on serving small and medium-sized businesses as well as municipalities will allow us to generate more deposits at lower costs and produce assets with higher yields. We believe this strategy will effectively cause our net interest margin to widen from today’s levels.

Where possible, we will look to improve operating leverage and our efficiency ratio. We believe our efficiency ratio will show improvement as short-term rates decline or perhaps more precisely when the interest rate curve begins to revert to more normal conditions.

Today, all employees are accountable for executing our strategy. Variable compensation components that tie directly to our strategic goals are in place. Many of our customer facing team members receive compensation based directly on loan production and/or deposit growth. The metrics we utilize to incentivize other staff include Net Interest Margin, Core Deposit Growth, Deposit Growth, and Loan Growth. These metrics, that are reviewed with the entire workforce quarterly, are understood by our employees as key drivers in achieving our strategic initiatives.

Enhancing Shareholder Value

The Board and I believe that enhancing shareholder value is paramount. To that end, we have engaged a nationally recognized investment banking firm to assist us in identifying ways to further increase the long-term value for our shareholders. We continually review our strategic plan, financial performance, trends compared to peers, and uses of capital, including share repurchases, in evaluating potential opportunities to further return value to our shareholders. We are committed to continue being good stewards of capital.

To gain a better understanding of our share price performance, an analysis of Blue Foundry Bancorp (NASDAQ: BLFY) was completed, comparing BLFY to a peer group comprised of banks and thrifts headquartered in New Jersey and traded on a national exchange, and to the NASDAQ Bank Index. An investment in the initial public offering of BLFY on July 15, 2021 priced at $10 per share, compared to the $9.02 closing share price on April 9, 2024, represents a decline of 9.8%. The New Jersey peer group declined 11.0% and the NASDAQ Bank Index declined 17.7% for the same period. While our stock’s price performance has been better than the median New Jersey bank peer group and the NASDAQ Bank Index, I believe this indicates that investing in bank stocks has been difficult on a national and state level over the last few years.

Capital

Our capital levels have remained solid with the Bank’s tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 20.13%, well above the 8% required to be considered well capitalized. Our capital strength has allowed us to complete three share repurchase programs. Through December 31, 2023, we repurchased over 5 million shares or 17.6% of shares from our initial public offering. These shares were repurchased at a weighted average price of $10.26, which represents 70.8% of tangible book value per share of $14.49 at December 31, 2023. On February 21, 2024, we announced our fourth share repurchase program.

All board members and nearly all of our employees are shareholders either through personal investments, our employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), or equity provided to them that vests over time or that is earned if certain performance metrics are achieved. We have a vested interest in our Company and will continue to seek ways to improve shareholder value.

Thank you for your continued trust.

Jim

    James D. Nesci President & CEO Member, Board of Directors

       ii   Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement  

 

Blue Foundry Bancorp	19 Park Avenue  Rutherford, New Jersey 07070  (201) 939-5000
Notice of Annual  Meeting of Shareholders    TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2024

April 15, 2024

To Our Shareholders:

Notice is hereby given that the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Blue Foundry Bancorp will be held via live webcast only on May 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time. To participate in the meeting you must register by visiting, www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024 and entering the 16 digit control number included on your proxy card. If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other nominee, you will need to take additional steps to participate in the meeting, as described in the proxy statement.

A Proxy Card and Proxy Statement for the annual meeting are enclosed. The annual meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon:

MEETING AGENDA	BOARD RECOMMENDATION
1.  The election as directors of the two nominees specified in the accompanying proxy statement	✓ FOR
2.  The ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024	✓ FOR
3.  Shareholder Non-Binding Proposal Recommending Sale or Merger of the Company, if properly presented; and	× AGAINST

such other matters as may properly come before the annual meeting, or any adjournments thereof. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business to come before the annual meeting.

Any action may be taken on the foregoing proposals at the annual meeting on the date specified above, or on the date or dates to which the annual meeting may be adjourned. Shareholders of record at the close of business on April 5, 2024 are the shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and any adjournments thereof.

Each shareholder is requested to sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card without delay in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Any proxy given by the shareholder may be revoked at any time before it is voted. A proxy may be revoked by filing with the Corporate Secretary of Blue Foundry Bancorp a written revocation or a duly executed proxy card bearing a later date. Any shareholder present at the online annual meeting may revoke his or her proxy and vote personally on each matter brought before the annual meeting. However, if you are a shareholder whose shares are not registered in your own name, you will need additional documentation from your record holder in order to vote online at the annual meeting. Virtual attendance at the annual meeting will not in itself constitute revocation of your proxy.

If you have any questions regarding this information or the proxy materials, please call Elyse Beidner, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for the Company at (201) 939-5000; or Georgeson at (866) 356-2957.

By Order of the Board of Directors		Important: the prompt return of the proxies will save the expense of further requests for proxies. A self-addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience. No postage is required if mailed within the United States.
	Elyse D. Beidner Corporate Secretary
Rutherford, New Jersey

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 16, 2024.

The proxy statement, including the notice of the annual meeting of shareholders, and Blue Foundry Bancorp’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 are each available on the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024.

 Table of Contents

PROXY STATEMENT	1
Annual Meeting of Shareholders	1
Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting	1
Principal Shareholders and Stock Ownership of Management	7
PROPOSAL 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS	9
Director Information	10
Directors	11
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY (“ESG”) MATTERS	17
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE	21
Engagement	21
Code of Ethics for Senior Officers	21
Board Leadership Structure and the Board’s Role in Risk Oversight	22
Board Diversity	22
Sunsetting of the Classified Board	22
Employee, Officer and Director Hedging and Pledging	23
Director Independence	23
Attendance at Annual Meetings of Shareholders	23
Communications with the Board of Directors	23
Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors	23
Compensation Consultants	25
Other Compensation Guidelines, Practices and Policies	25
Compensation and Risk Management	26
Committee Charters	26
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Procedures	26
Audit Committee Report	28
Transactions with Certain Related Persons	29
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports	29

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION	30
Compensation Discussion and Analysis	30
Executive Summary	30
Elements of Executive Compensation for 2023	30
Base Salary	30
Annual Incentive Plan	30
Equity Incentive Plans	31
Retirement Plans	32
Employment and Change in Control Agreements	33
Summary Compensation Table	34
Grants of Plan-Based Awards	35
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End	36
DIRECTORS’ COMPENSATION	37
Annual Board Retainer	37
Board Committee and Committee Retainer	37
Director Equity Awards	37
Director Emeritus Plan	37
Director Retirement Plan II	37
Director Compensation Table	38
PROPOSAL 2—RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM	39
PROPOSAL 3—SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL	40
PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS	43
OTHER MATTERS	44
MISCELLANEOUS	45

Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement            

 

Blue Foundry Bancorp	19 Park Avenue Rutherford, New Jersey 07070 (201) 939-5000
Proxy Statement

May 16, 2024

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

MEETING INFORMATION
DATE AND TIME:	LOCATION:	RECORD DATE:
Thursday, May 16, 2024 10:00 a.m., Eastern time	Virtual Meeting: This year’s meeting is a virtual shareholders meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024	April 5, 2024

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING

Why am I receiving this proxy statement?

The Board of the Company is soliciting your proxy for use at the Company’s annual meeting to be held via live webcast only on May 16, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and at such other meeting upon any postponements or adjournments thereof. Only holders of record of shares at the close of business on April 05, 2024 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting or such other meeting upon any adjournments or postponements thereof. As of the Record Date, there were 23,930,547 shares issued and outstanding, and entitled to vote, as further described in this Proxy Statement.

We intend to mail these proxy materials, including the proxy card, on or about April 15, 2024, to all shareholders of record entitled to vote at the annual meeting.

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Proxy Statement       

What proposals are to be presented at the Annual Meeting and what are the Board’s voting recommendations?

As described in further detail later in this Proxy Statement, the purpose of the annual meeting is to consider and vote upon the following proposals. The Board’s recommendation on each of the proposals is indicated below.

PROPOSAL		BOARD RECOMMENDATION
Management Proposals
PROPOSAL 1	Election of two nominees for director for a term to end as of the 2027 annual meeting and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.	FOR ALL NOMINEES
PROPOSAL 2	Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.	FOR
Shareholder Proposal
PROPOSAL 3	Shareholder non-binding proposal recommending sale or merger of the Company	AGAINST

As of the date of the Notice of Annual Meeting, we knew of no other matters to be presented at the annual meeting.

How do I vote?

The Company encourages shareholders to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card or vote by proxy via telephone or the Internet as instructed on your proxy card in advance of the Annual Meeting, even if you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting.

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that, subject to certain exceptions, record owners of the Company’s common stock that is beneficially owned by a person who beneficially owns in excess of 10% of the Company’s outstanding shares are not entitled to any vote in respect of the shares held in excess of the 10% limit.

What is the required vote to approve each proposal?

In accordance with the bylaws of the Company, directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast. Proxies marked “WITHHELD” and broker non-votes will have no effect on the election of a director.

As to the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024, by checking the appropriate box, a shareholder may: (i) vote FOR the ratification; (ii) vote AGAINST the ratification; or (iii) ABSTAIN from voting on the matter. The ratification of this matter shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Broker non-votes and abstentions will not affect the outcome of the vote.

As to the approval of the shareholder proposal, by checking the appropriate box, a shareholder may: (i) vote FOR the proposal; (ii) vote AGAINST the proposal; or (iii) ABSTAIN from voting on the matter. The approval of this matter shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Broker non-votes and abstentions will not affect the outcome of the vote.

How many shares must be present to conduct the Annual Meeting?

The presence in person or by proxy of holders of a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a quorum at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present. A broker non-vote, as further explained below, occurs when a broker holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the broker does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.

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       Proxy Statement

What is the difference between holding shares as a “shareholder of record” and as a “beneficial owner”?

If your shares are registered in your name on the Record Date, you are a shareholder of record. When you properly vote in accordance with the instructions provided on the proxy card, you are instructing the named proxies to vote your shares in the manner you indicate on your proxy.

If your shares are held in the name of your bank, broker or other nominee (also referred to herein as a “Broker”), which is usually the case if you hold your shares in a brokerage or similar account, your shares are held in “street name.” Your Broker is the shareholder of record for your shares. As the holder of record, only your Broker is authorized to vote or grant a proxy for your shares. If your shares are held in “street name,” you should follow the instructions on your voting instruction form and provide specific instructions to your Broker on how to vote the shares they hold for you.

What is a “Broker Non-Vote”?

A broker non-vote occurs when a Broker submits a proxy on behalf of a beneficial owner for the annual meeting but does not vote on a particular proposal because such Broker does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that proposal and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner. Brokers have discretionary authority to vote on routine matters, such as the ratification of auditors, but do not have discretionary authority to vote on non-routine matters. Broker non-votes (like abstentions and withheld votes) are counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum.

Such Broker has the discretion to vote your shares only on “routine” matters without your voting instructions, but not on non-routine matters such as Proposal 1 (Election of Directors) and Proposal 3 (Shareholder Proposal). Proposal 2 (Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024) is considered a routine matter. For the proposals to be presented at the Annual Meeting that are considered “non-routine”, Brokers will not have discretionary authority to vote your shares with respect to those proposals. Therefore, it is important that you instruct your Broker how to vote your shares. We encourage you to instruct your Broker to vote your shares by following the instructions shown on the enclosed voting instruction form.

If you are a shareholder of record with respect to shares on the Record Date, you may vote by one of the following four options:

• Vote via the Internet. Go to the web address specified on the enclosed proxy card and follow the instructions indicated on the site. Your vote by Internet authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had signed, dated and returned a proxy card.

• Vote by Telephone. On a touch-tone phone, dial the number indicated on the enclosed proxy card and follow the voice prompts. Have your proxy card available for reference when you call, and follow the voting instructions to vote your shares. Your vote by telephone authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had signed, dated and returned a proxy card.

• Vote by Proxy Card. Complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the postage pre-paid envelope provided.

• Vote in Person. Complete a ballot at the virtual annual meeting.

If you submit a proxy card to us without indicating instructions with respect to specific proposals, we will vote your shares consistent with the recommendations of our Board stated in this Proxy Statement. If the proxy card is signed and returned without direction, your shares will be voted FOR the director nominees proposed by the Board, and FOR Proposal 2 and AGAINST Proposal 3. If any other matters are properly presented at the annual meeting for consideration, then the persons named as the Company’s designated proxies will be voted as determined by the Board.

Even if you plan to attend the virtual annual meeting, we encourage you to vote your shares in advance via the Internet, by telephone or by signing, dating and returning your proxy card.

If your shares are held by a Broker in “street name,” please follow the instructions you receive from your Broker to vote your shares. You may need to contact your Broker to determine whether you will be able to vote electronically via the Internet or by telephone. If you want to vote at the Annual Meeting, you may visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024; press the “Attend Meeting” button and follow the instructions. You may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of the meeting. Further instructions will be provided to you via email.

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Proxy Statement       

If you return your proxy by mail, please ensure you leave enough time for your proxy to be mailed and received by the inspector of election. Also note that if your shares are held through a Broker, such entity may have even earlier deadlines by which to submit your vote. Please follow their instructions accordingly.

Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual annual meeting, please vote promptly by Internet or telephone by following the instructions set forth on the enclosed proxy card or by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Your promptness in voting using the proxy card will assist in the expeditious and orderly processing of the proxy and will assure that you are represented at the virtual annual meeting even if you cannot attend the virtual meeting.

We are encouraging shareholders to submit their proxies electronically (by Internet or by telephone) if possible.

If you return your proxy card by mail or vote by telephone or Internet, you may nevertheless attend the virtual annual meeting and vote your shares in person.

What do I need for admission to attend the Annual Meeting?

If you were a shareholder as of the close of business on April 5, 2024 you may attend the meeting. As a registered shareholder, you received a proxy card with this proxy statement. The proxy card contains instructions on how to attend the virtual annual meeting, including the website along with your control number. You will need your control number for access.

If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee (that is, in street name), you will receive instructions from your broker, bank or nominee that you must follow in order to submit your voting instructions and have your shares voted at the annual meeting. If you want to vote at the Annual Meeting, you may visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024; press the “Attend Meeting” button and follow the instructions. You may be instructed to obtain a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee and to submit a copy in advance of the meeting. Further instructions will be provided to you via email.

In order to attend the Annual Meeting, you must visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024. Upon entry of your 16-digit control number and other required information, you will receive further instructions via email that provides you access to the Annual Meeting and to vote and submit questions during the Annual Meeting.

As part of the attendance process, you must enter the control number located on your proxy card. If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, you may also need to provide the registered name on your account and the name of your broker, bank or other nominee as part of the attendance process.

Only the latest-dated, validly executed proxy that you submit will be counted — any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise at the annual meeting by following the instructions under “Can I change my vote?” below. If you have any questions regarding this information or the proxy materials, please call Elyse Beidner, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for the Company at (201) 939-5000; or Georgeson at (866) 356-2957.

What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?

If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted FOR each of the two nominees for director, FOR ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 and AGAINST the shareholder proposal that is to be presented at the annual meeting. If any other matter is properly presented at the annual meeting, your proxyholder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares as determined by a majority of the Board.

Can I change my vote?

If your shares are registered in your name, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote prior to the completion of voting at the Annual Meeting by:

• submitting a valid, later dated proxy card in a timely manner that is received no later than the time of the commencement of the annual meeting;

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       Proxy Statement

• submitting a later dated vote by telephone or through the Internet in a timely manner (and in any event no later than the commencement of the annual meeting);

• giving written notice of such revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary, which written notice is received prior to the time of the commencement of the annual meeting; or

• attending and voting at the virtual annual meeting (although attendance at the annual meeting will not by itself revoke a proxy without also voting).

If your shares are held by a Broker in “street name” and you wish to revoke a proxy, you should contact your Broker and follow its procedures for changing your voting instructions. You also may vote at the virtual annual meeting to revoke an earlier proxy if you provide an executed proxy from your Broker indicating that you were the beneficial owner of the shares on the Record Date, and that such Broker is giving you its proxy to vote the shares.

If you submit more than one proxy, only the latest dated validly executed proxy that you submit will count.

How can I find out the results of the voting at the annual meeting?

We expect to report the preliminary voting results of the annual meeting within four business days following the annual meeting in a Current Report on Form 8-K. Once the independent inspector of election has determined the final voting results of the annual meeting, we will file an amendment to the Current Report on Form 8-K reporting the final voting results within four business days following such determination.

Who will pay the costs of solicitation?

The Company will pay all expenses in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the annual meeting. To aid in the solicitation of proxies in conjunction with the annual meeting, the Company has retained Georgeson and will pay a base fee of $13,500, plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and certain incremental costs, for its proxy solicitation services. Our directors, executive officers and other employees may solicit proxies by mail, personally, by telephone, by press release, by facsimile transmission or by other electronic means. No additional compensation will be paid to our directors, executive officers or employees for such services.

Georgeson may ask brokerage houses, banks and other custodians and nominees whether other persons are beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock. If so, the Company will reimburse brokers, banks and other custodians and nominees for their costs of sending our proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our common stock.

What if I own shares of the Company via the ESOP or the 401(k) Plan?

If you participate in the Blue Foundry Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”), you will receive a proxy card for the ESOP that reflects all of the shares you may direct the trustee to vote on your behalf under the ESOP. Under the terms of the ESOP, the ESOP trustee votes all shares held by the ESOP, but each ESOP participant may direct the trustee how to vote the proportionate interest of shares of our common stock allocated to his or her account. The ESOP trustee, subject to the terms of the trust agreement, will vote all unallocated shares of our common stock held by the ESOP and allocated shares for which no voting instructions are received in the same proportion as shares for which it has received timely voting instructions, subject to a determination that such vote is in the best interest of ESOP participants. If you hold shares of common stock in the 401(k) Plan, you will receive a proxy card that reflects all shares that you may direct the 401(k) Plan trustee to vote on your behalf under the 401(k) Plan. Under the terms of the 401(k) Plan, you may direct the 401(k) Plan trustee how to vote the shares allocated to your account. If the 401(k) Plan trustee does not receive your voting instructions, the 401(k) Plan trustee will be instructed to vote your shares in the same proportion as the voting instructions received from other 401(k) Plan participants. The deadline for returning your ESOP and 401(k) proxy card is May 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time. The telephone and internet voting deadline for ESOP participants is also 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 9, 2024.

Why did I receive multiple copies of the proxy card and proxy materials?

If you receive more than one package of our proxy materials including the proxy card, it may mean that you have multiple accounts holding your common shares. These may include accounts with our transfer agent and accounts with a Broker. In order to vote all of the shares held by you in multiple accounts, you will need to vote the shares held in each account separately. Please

Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement   5         

 

Proxy Statement       

follow the voting instructions provided on the proxy card and any voting instruction card from your Broker that you received to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

How can I get assistance with questions relating to the proxy or voting?

If you have any questions regarding this information or the proxy materials, please call Elyse Beidner, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for the Company at (201) 939-5000; or Georgeson at (866) 356-2957.

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND STOCK OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT

PRINCIPAL HOLDERS

Persons and groups who beneficially own in excess of 5% of the shares of common stock are required to file certain reports with the SEC regarding such ownership. The following table sets forth, as of April 5, 2024, the shares of common stock beneficially owned by our directors and executive officers, individually and as a group, and by each person who was known to us as the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock. The mailing address for each of our directors and executive officers is 19 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070.

	Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned as of the Record Date(1)			Percent of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding(2)
Persons Owning Greater than 5%
T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. 100 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201		2,741,702	(3)	9.10%
Blue Foundry Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust 19 Park Avenue Rutherford, NJ 07070		2,273,299	(4)	9.30%
BlackRock, Inc. 55 East 52nd Street New York, New York 10055		1,778,114	(5)	7.10%
Driehaus Capital Management LLC 25 East Erie Street Chicago, Illinois 60611		1,697,740	(6)	6.80%
The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd Malvern, PA 19355		1,307,759	(7)	5.30%
Directors
James Nesci		353,668	(8)	1.48%
Patrick Kinzler		103,505	(9)	*
Mirella Lang		69,940	(10)	*
J Christopher Ely		89,541	(11)	*
Robert Goldstein		100,562	(12)	*
Kenneth Grimbilas		122,357	(13)	*
Jonathan Shaw		90,654	(14)	*
Margaret Letsche		85,302	(15)	*
Elizabeth Varki Jobes		23,749		*
Executive Officers who are not Directors
Kelly Pecoraro		104,006	(16)	*
Jason Goldberg		57,305	(17)	*
All directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons)				5.98%

* Less than 1%.

(1) In accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, a person or entity is deemed to be the beneficial owner, for purposes of this table, of any shares of Blue Foundry Bancorp common stock if they have shared voting or investment power with respect to such common stock or has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time within 60 days from April 5, 2024. As used herein, “voting power” is the power to vote or direct the voting of shares and “investment power” is the power to dispose or direct the disposition of shares. Except as otherwise noted, ownership is direct and the named individuals and group exercise sole voting and investment power over the shares of Blue Foundry Bancorp common stock.

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Proxy Statement       

(2) Based on a total of 23,930,547 shares of common stock outstanding as of April 5, 2024.

(3) As disclosed in Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024.

(4) As disclosed in Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 9, 2024.

(5) As disclosed in Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 26, 2024.

(6) As disclosed in Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024.

(7) As disclosed in Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024.

(8) Includes 36,882 shares held in an individual retirement account, 8,500 shares held in our 401(k) Plan, 6,779 shares allocated under the Blue Foundry Bank’s ESOP, 157,295 unvested restricted stock awards, 57,045 unvested performance awards and 81,493 vested options.

(9) Includes 8,202 shares held in individual retirement accounts 21,392 vested options.

(10) Includes 21,392 vested options.

(11) Includes 10,366 shares held in an individual retirement account and 21,392 vested options.

(12) Includes 8,500 shares held in an individual retirement account, 27,887 shares held in a 401(k) Plan and 21,392 vested options.

(13) Includes 41,117 shares held in an individual retirement account and 21,392 vested options.

(14) Includes 14,238 shares held in an individual retirement account, 9,100 shares held by his spouse’s individual retirement account, 116 shares held as custodian for his child and 21,392 vested options.

(15) Includes 1,500 shares held in an individual retirement account, 800 shares held by her spouse’s individual retirement account and 21,392 vested options.

(16) Includes 1,490 shares allocated under the Blue Foundry Bank’s ESOP, 48,990 unvested restricted stock awards, 22,500 unvested performance awards and 25,286 vested options.

(17) Includes 1,000 shares held in an individual retirement account, 2,459 shares allocated under the Blue Foundry Bank’s ESOP, 27,143 unvested restricted stock awards, 10,000 unvested performance award and 15,429 vested options.

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  Election of Directors

Our Board of Directors is comprised of nine members. Our Bylaws provide for declassification of the Board such that directors whose terms expire at this 2024 Annual Meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders that is held in calendar year 2027 and until such directors’ successors shall have been elected and qualified.

We regret to announce that Ms. Margaret Letsche, a member of our Board, will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting due to her reaching the mandatory retirement age, per Company’s Bylaws. Ms. Letsche will step down from her position on the Board effective as of the Annual Meeting on May 16, 2024.

Ms. Letsche has served on our Board since 2015 and has made significant contributions to the Company. We are grateful for her dedication and leadership over the past 9 years.

Following Ms. Letsche’s departure from the Board, the Company will reduce the size of the Board to eight and Ms. Letsche will become a director emerita as part of the Company’s Director Emeritus program.

Two directors have been nominated for election at the Annual Meeting to serve for a three-year period and until their respective successors shall have been elected and qualified. The Board of Directors has nominated Kenneth Grimbilas and Jonathan Shaw to serve as directors for three-year terms. Each nominee is currently a director of Blue Foundry Bancorp.

The following sets forth certain information regarding the nominees, the other current members of our Board of Directors, and executive officers who are not directors, including the terms of office of board members. Shares represented by properly executed proxies will be voted in favor of these persons unless contrary instructions are provided. If a nominee is unable to serve, the shares represented by all such proxies will be voted for the election of such substitute as the Board of Directors may determine. At this time, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why any of the nominees might be unable to serve, if elected. Except as indicated herein, there are no arrangements or understandings between any nominee or continuing director and any other person pursuant to which such nominee or continuing director was selected. Age information is as of December 31, 2023, and term as a director includes service with Blue Foundry Bank (the “Bank”).

With respect to directors and nominees, the biographies contain information regarding the person’s business experience and the experiences, qualifications, attributes and skills that caused the Board of Directors to determine that the person should serve as a director. Each director of Blue Foundry Bancorp is also a director of the Bank.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

DIRECTOR INFORMATION

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors currently consists of nine (9) members and is divided into three classes, with one class of directors elected each year until 2027. The following table states our directors’ names, their ages as of December 31, 2023, the years when they began serving as directors of Blue Foundry and the years when their current terms expire.

Name	Position(s) Held With Blue Foundry Bancorp and Blue Foundry Bank	Age		Director Since		Current Term Expires
J. Christopher Ely	Vice Chairman		67		1997		2026
Robert T. Goldstein	Director		61		2015		2026
Kenneth Grimbilas	Chairman of the Board		70		1997		2024
Elizabeth Varki Jobes	Director		57		2023		2025
Patrick H. Kinzler	Director		65		2012		2025
Mirella Lang	Director		45		2020		2025
Margaret Letsche	Director		71		2015		2024
James D. Nesci	President, Chief Executive Officer and Director		51		2019		2025
Jonathan M. Shaw	Director		58		2010		2024

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

The nominees for director are:

Kenneth Grimbilas

AGE: 70   DIRECTOR SINCE: 1997     POSITION: Chairman of the Board     Kenneth Grimbilas is the Chairman of Blue Foundry Bank Board of Directors and has served as a Director for over 20 years. Mr. Grimbilas is the Chief Executive Officer of Tornqvist, Inc., a boutique fabrication and machine shop that has served many clients in the pharmaceuticals, government, transportation, aerospace, entertainment, and consumer goods industries. In addition, Mr. Grimbilas has been a member of the board of the Chilton Memorial Hospital Foundation, now Chilton Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health. Mr. Grimbilas’ success in developing and sustaining a manufacturing business in New Jersey provides the Board of Directors with knowledge of business and operational matters as well as the Northeastern New Jersey market area.

Jonathan M. Shaw

AGE: 58   DIRECTOR SINCE: 2010   POSITION: Director     Jonathan M. Shaw is President and Owner of Salon Development Corp, a regional chain of hair salons founded in 1964, and President and Owner of Lemon Tree Development, the national franchisor of Lemon Tree Hair Salons. Mr. Shaw received a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University. He also has received his NACD Fellowship certificate. Mr. Shaw’s experience as a business owner and entrepreneur offers a valuable perspective on developing a successful business as well as the challenges and risks an organization may face as it grows its product offerings and markets into new areas.

      THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES.  

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

The following directors have terms ending at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

James D. Nesci

AGE: 51   DIRECTOR SINCE:   2019   POSITION: President,   Chief Executive Officer   and Director     James D. Nesci serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Foundry Bank, a position he has held since 2018. In addition, he is a board member of the New Jersey Bankers Association. Mr. Nesci has been instrumental in developing the Blue Foundry Bank brand. Prior to his role at Blue Foundry Bank, he served as Head of National Sales for TD Bank’s $20 billion U.S. wealth management business. Before joining TD Bank, Mr. Nesci served as Executive Vice President and Chief Wealth Management Officer of Provident Bank and was President of Beacon Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Bank. Prior to this, Mr. Nesci was Chief Operating Officer with Wilmington Trust Company, National Wealth Management. Mr. Nesci earned two separate MBAs from Columbia Business School and the London Business School, respectively, as well as a Bachelors degree in Business Administration in Finance from Hofstra University in New York. He also has received his NACD Fellowship certificate.   Mr. Nesci’s positions as President and Chief Executive Officer foster clear accountability, effective decision-making, a clear and direct channel of communication from senior management to the full Board of Directors, and alignment on corporate strategy.

Patrick H. Kinzler

AGE: 65   DIRECTOR SINCE: 2012   POSITION: Director     Patrick H. Kinzler has been Managing Principal at HLW International LLP, an architectural firm, since 2006. His areas of responsibility include Finance, Legal, and Information Technology. Mr. Kinzler served as Treasurer of KPMG Consulting / BearingPoint from January 2000 until December 2005. From 1997 until 2000, Mr. Kinzler served as Assistant Treasurer of SmithKline Beecham. Mr. Kinzler began his corporate career in 1986 with PNC Financial Corp., first in the credit training program and then as a Corporate Banker in PNC’s New York office. His last position was a Manager of Large Corporate Banking in the New Jersey marketplace. Mr. Kinzler received a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Shippensburg State University and an MBA in Finance from Temple University. Mr. Kinzler’s valuable experience in banking and corporate treasury greatly assists the Board of Directors with its assessment of our risk management efforts and operational needs.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

Mirella Lang

AGE: 45   DIRECTOR SINCE: 2020   POSITION: Director     Mirella Lang is Managing Director of AQR’s Business Development team, representing the firm’s investment strategies to institutional investors throughout the United States. Prior to AQR, Ms. Lang was a Director in the Financial Institutions Group in the investment banking division at UBS, and earlier at Merrill Lynch & Co. While in investment banking, Ms. Lang advised banks, asset management and insurance companies on corporate initiatives, such as M&A, capital raising, restructuring, and leveraged buyouts. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Washington & Lee University and received an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. Ms. Lang serves on the Board of ASSIST, a non-profit organization focused on high school exchange education for exceptionally gifted international students.   Ms. Lang’s experience with investment management, investment banking and the financial institutions industry brings valuable skills to our board.

Elizabeth Varki Jobes, Esq.

AGE: 57   DIRECTOR SINCE: 2023   POSITION: Director   Elizabeth Jobes is Chief Compliance Officer at Immunocore, having joined in January 2024. Most recently, Ms. Jobes worked at Amryt Pharmaceuticals which was sold in 2023. She has also had Compliance Officer roles at EMD Serono, Spark Therapeutics, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Adolor Inc. and Cephalon Inc. Ms. Jobes is also a non-executive board member of Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, Ampio Pharmaceuticals and Blue Foundry Bank. Ms. Jobes obtained her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Service and International Politics from Pennsylvania State University, State College PA.   Ms. Jobes is a member of the South Asian Bar Association and is a past board member of Women’s Way and Support Center for Child Advocates.   Ms. Jobes’ years of combined legal and compliance experience leading large, global companies, as well as her service on a public board, brings additional perspective to our board.

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

The following directors have terms ending at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

J. Christopher Ely

AGE: 67   DIRECTOR SINCE: 1997     POSITION: Vice Chairman     J. Christopher Ely has been a Director of Blue Foundry Bank for over 25 years. Mr. Ely, a licensed real estate agent, is President of One Madison Management Corp., a real estate management and consulting firm that serves the needs of residential, commercial and industrial property owners in Northern New Jersey. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Accounting from Montclair State College, began his career with Price Waterhouse and Co. and earned his Certified Public Accounting license. He serves as an Assistant Treasurer for the Glen Ridge Congregational Church. Mr. Ely chairs the Audit Committees of both the Company and Blue Foundry Bank.   Mr. Ely provides the Board of Directors with extensive knowledge of accounting, real estate and small business management matters.

Robert T. Goldstein

AGE: 61   DIRECTOR SINCE: 2015   POSITION: Director   Robert T. Goldstein currently serves as the Group Benefit Specialist at Astorino Financial Group, Inc. having previously been an Investment Advisory Representative at the firm. Prior to those positions, he was the President and Owner of R.J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc., an employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm, which he sold to World Insurance Associates, LLC (WIA) in 2017. He remains a Principal at WIA.   Mr. Goldstein received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Fairfield University. He also has received his Fellowship certificate from the National Association of Corporate Directors.   Mr. Goldstein offers a valuable perspective and experience with respect to human capital and employee benefits matters as well as with respect to developing a successful business.

Shareholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of all proxy statements, any amendments or supplements thereto and any other documents (including the proxy card) when filed by the applicable party with the SEC in connection with the annual meeting at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov).

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS

Kelly Pecoraro, age 55, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since May 2022. Prior to joining Blue Foundry Bank, Ms. Pecoraro served as Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Comptroller from January 2019 until April 2022 at Investors Bank, Short Hills, New Jersey, when Investors Bank was acquired by Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Ms. Pecoraro joined Investors Bank in May 2005 as part of the Financial Reporting team, holding various positions prior to

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

becoming the Chief Accounting Officer in January 2010. Prior to joining Investors Bank, Ms. Pecoraro served as an audit professional at KPMG LLP. Ms. Pecoraro received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from St. Peter’s College.

Jason Goldberg, age 49, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer since September 2021. As previously disclosed, Mr. Goldberg tendered his resignation effective April 19, 2024 to assume a senior leadership position at a large national institution. Prior to joining Blue Foundry Bank, Mr. Goldberg held a senior vice president position at Israel Discount Bank of New York where he worked from October 2015 to September 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Goldberg held a senior vice president position at Crestmark Bank where he worked from October 2010 to September 2015, and was vice president at Westgate Financial Corporation from 2001 to 2010.

Elyse D. Beidner, age 70, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer since 2004. Prior to joining Blue Foundry Bank, Ms. Beidner has gained more than 25 years of experience providing legal support for various financial institutions including JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish from Goucher College, her Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law, and her Masters in Corporate Law from New York University School of Law.

Alex Malkiman, age 49, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer since March 2022. Prior to joining Blue Foundry Bank, Mr. Malkiman acted as the Executive Director and Head of IT Infrastructure and Security at CIFC Asset Management and as Director of Global Infrastructure and Client Services at ITG. Mr. Malkiman earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science from Brooklyn College, and later earned an MBA in Information Systems Management and Financial Management from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University.

Thomas Packwood, age 58, has been our Senior Vice President and Chief Audit Executive since 2011. Prior to joining Blue Foundry Bank, Mr. Packwood held senior positions at Deloitte, U.S.B. Holding Co., USA Bank, and RSM US LLP. Mr. Packwood received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Villanova University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Additionally, he invented and implemented a patented quarterly Risk Assessment and Management System.

Acela Roselle, age 63, has been our Executive Vice President and Human Resources Director since 1999. Prior to joining Blue Foundry Bank, Ms. Roselle acted as the Employment Manager at Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center. Ms. Roselle attended The Wood Business School in New York and obtained a SHRM PHR Certification through Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2000.

Robert Rowe, age 62, has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer since November 2022. Prior to joining Blue Foundry Bank, Mr. Rowe served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Webster Financial Corporation, and as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Sterling National Bank from July 2019 until Sterling’s merger with Webster Bank in 2022. Prior to that, Mr. Rowe was Chief Credit Officer and subsequently Chief Risk Officer at CIT Group Inc. from 2010 through 2018. Prior to joining CIT Group, Mr. Rowe served as Chief Credit Officer at National City Corporation until its acquisition by PNC Corporation. Mr. Rowe received a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Boston College and an MBA in Finance from Indiana University.

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

Corporate Responsibility (“ESG”) Matters

Summary. We recognize and are committed to our corporate responsibility to conduct business in an environmentally sustainable and socially appropriate manner. We deeply care about the environment and the communities in which we operate and in that regard we carefully consider how we do business and who we do business with. We believe this commitment and focus supports long-term shareholder value.

The Bank conducts its business activities with a view to ensuring that the interests of all stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, and communities, are considered. ESG matters are discussed at the Board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Bank’s Executive Leadership Committee meetings, and the recently formed management ESG Committee, where ideas and actions are generated and monitored.

The Bank has traditionally prioritized a highly engaged and diverse employee base serving its communities and customers in a safe, prudent and risk-disciplined manner. It has developed a robust enterprise risk management and compliance function that includes cybersecurity and privacy policies. It maintains strong and proactive relationships with its regulators.

We have continued to focus on several key priorities as part of our ESG initiatives:

• Business ethics are of manifest importance to us. Every director and employee is expected to comply with the Code of Conduct and recertifies their compliance on an annual basis.

• Safeguarding the privacy of customer data has always and continues to be a significant focus. The Company makes ongoing investments in systems and technology, and we have implemented a strong, multi-layered perimeter to safeguard customer data. We regularly conduct tests to ensure that staff remain vigilant with respect to Company and customer information privacy. In addition, we regularly monitor the adequacy of our consumer financial protection measures.

• To combat cybersecurity threats, training and education is frequently provided to the Board as well as employees so that they remain aware of possible threats to Company and customer information privacy.

• Diversity of the Board is of paramount importance. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee continually assesses the diverse attributes (such as geographic, professional, ethnic/racial) of the existing Board and identifies opportunities for expanding its diversity. Board-level discussions remain a continuing agenda item. While the Committee does not have a formal policy or specific guidelines regarding board diversity, applicable laws, rules, and listing standards are monitored regularly to ensure the Board’s ongoing compliance and the Company has included its board diversity matrix in this proxy in accordance with applicable NASDAQ rules.

Being a solid citizen in corporate social responsibility was and has always been an integral part of the Bank’s core principles. Even prior to the formalization of ESG-related initiatives, we always operated keeping our customers, communities, employees and shareholders top of mind: the Company eliminated corporate-owned vehicles; digitized records enterprise-wide to reduce the amount of paper utilized; minimized reliance on printers through increased use of technology; converted to electronic statements to reduce the number of paper statements generated and disseminated to customers saving paper and emissions from equipment and delivery channels; and increased waste-management and recycling efforts in its premises.

The administrative headquarters were designed with a focus specifically geared toward ESG. For example, all lighting throughout the space is energy-efficient and designed to be illuminated only when workspaces and offices are occupied. Window coverings were designed to operate in a manner geared to efficiently manage energy usage. Similar initiatives have been utilized in all branch builds and renovations. The Bank continuously seeks to optimize branch strategy by determining the appropriate physical footprint while offering digital banking services to the communities. The Company’s and the Bank’s focus on ESG initiatives continues to be expanded and remains a priority for the Board and management.

HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

The success of our business is highly dependent on our employees; they are dedicated to our mission to inspire and enable the communities we serve to achieve financial stability and success. We seek to hire and retain well qualified employees to sustain and build on our culture of service and performance. Our selection and promotion processes do not discriminate as we focus on placing the most qualified candidate in the appropriate position. The Bank maintains a job posting and referral program as well as an Affirmative Action Program, and, in an effort to attract and retain qualified applicants, particularly in areas where a shortage of personnel exists, the Bank provides additional incentives to employees who assist in the recruitment of new hires.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

Our workforce is 60% female and 40% male. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

We encourage the growth and development of our employees and, whenever possible, seek to fill positions by promotion and transfer from within. Continual learning and career development are advanced through annual performance and development conversations between employees and their managers. The Bank encourages all employees to utilize internally developed training programs, customized corporate training engagements and educational reimbursement programs to improve their skills and qualifications to enable them to be considered for promotion or advancement. We offer employees an in-house leadership program, led by Rutgers University instructors, that includes critical thinking, emotional intelligence, management and leadership skills.

The safety, health, and physical and mental wellness of our employees is a top priority. We promote the health and wellness of our employees by strongly encouraging work-life balance, offering flexible and hybrid work schedules, subsidizing health care premiums, and sponsoring various wellness programs through which employees are encouraged to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines. The administrative office space was designed with the health and well-being of our workforce in mind in that it was configured to maximize natural light, provide flexible and collaborative workstations, as well as access to meditation rooms, a fitness center, and private space for nursing mothers.

Employee retention is important to our continued success and helps us operate efficiently and achieve our business objectives. We provide competitive wages, annual incentive bonuses, a 401(k) Plan with an employer matching contribution, equity ownership in our Company via an employee stock ownership plan and equity incentive plan, healthcare and wellness programs, a life assistance program, flexible spending accounts, group term life insurance, identity fraud coverage, generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and an educational assistance program. At December 31, 2023, nearly 18% of our team had been with us for 10 years or more. Our hybrid/remote work schedule has not only assisted with recruitment efforts but has reduced employee travel expense by an average of 40%.

DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND RESPECT IN THE WORKPLACE

Management and staff at all levels of the Company and the Bank are expected to behave in a fair, ethical and lawful manner in all circumstances. This includes both internal interactions with other members of the organization and external interactions with customers, members of the community, vendors, and applicants for employment. We firmly believe that our high standard of ethical behavior will sustain the favorable reputation of Blue Foundry Bank in the marketplace and ensure the Bank remains a great place to work, invest in and do business with.

We communicate our expectations for honest, fair and ethical behavior through numerous policies within the organization. The commitment of our directors and executive management team to moral and ethical behavior means that the proper tone is set from the top of the organization. This begins with our Code of Conduct which describes the moral, ethical, legal and regulatory requirements by which all personnel must conduct themselves. The Code of Conduct establishes the expectation that employees conduct themselves with integrity, at all times. It provides employees with governing principles to guide their conduct with clients, customers, suppliers, vendors, shareholders, co-workers, regulators, markets, and the communities in which we operate. It applies to the employees and directors of the Company, the Bank, and their direct and indirect subsidiaries. Importantly, each officer at the Vice President level and above, and each director, must also abide by the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy. This Policy recognizes the importance of fostering a culture of transparency, integrity and honesty and, as such, mandates that all such parties avoid any actions that appear to interfere with good judgment concerning the Bank’s best interests. These Policies are reviewed on an annual basis and updated as warranted or appropriate; and all employees and directors are required to certify/recertify their acknowledgement with these Policies annually. 

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

Blue Foundry Bank is dedicated to ensuring that all personnel decisions are made in accordance with equal employment opportunity. We adhere to the principle that equal employment opportunity is not only a legal principle, it is a moral commitment as well. Our policy for Equal Employment and Affirmative Action states that the Bank will recruit, hire, train and promote, in all job classifications, without regard to any classification protected by applicable federal, state or municipal law. It is the policy of the Bank that there shall be no discrimination with respect to employment, or any of the terms and conditions of employment, because of an individual’s race, color, sex, pregnancy or breastfeeding, sexual or affectional orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, national origin, nationality or ancestry, citizenship, age, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, disability (including AIDS and HIV infection), marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, veteran status, refusal to submit to a genetic test or to make available the results of a genetic test to an employer, or liability for service in the armed forces, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all employment actions including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, training, promotion, transfer, layoff and termination, and job-related social or recreational programs. The Bank’s policy statement is required to be displayed in an area which is readily accessible to both employees and applicants. Blue Foundry Bank maintains all facilities in such a manner that illegal segregation on the basis of any protected characteristic does not result.

Our Anti-Harassment Policy states that the Bank is unequivocally opposed to and will not tolerate any harassment of a sexual, racial, ethnic, age or religious nature, or based on any other personal characteristics protected by law from such harassment, that is directed toward any employee or applicant for employment or any other person in the workplace by any other employee or person in the workplace. The Bank will not permit any employee to harass others with whom they have business interactions, including but not limited to other employees, customers and vendors, nor will it permit any outsider to harass Bank employees. This is true not only in the workplace, but during any event outside work involving Bank employees. All employees and supervisors must comply with this Policy and take appropriate measures to ensure that such conduct does not occur.

Additional policies that communicate the importance and expectations of honest, ethical and fair behavior include the Insider Trading Policy which prohibits directors, officers and other employees from trading shares of the Company’s common stock based on material nonpublic information.

To reinforce the importance of the policies above, annual training programs are provided to all employees. These programs help employees understand how the policies apply on a day-to-day basis and how to deal with events and situations that may occur. Employees are encouraged to report concerns without fear of retaliation and may do so in a confidential manner.

The Company’s diversity is demonstrated throughout the organization, including by the members of the Executive Management team. Of our eight executives, three are women, one of whom, Acela Roselle, is a member of an underrepresented minority group. Ms. Roselle, competing against entrants from financial institutions throughout the State of New Jersey, was recently selected by the New Jersey Bankers Association as recipient of the NJ Bankers Excellence in Diversity award and was honored at the NJ Bankers Economic Leadership Forum in Q1 2024. Overall, the Bank’s staff is 60% female and 40% male. In keeping with the Board’s commitment to further diversify, the Board’s composition currently includes three women, one of whom is a member of an underrepresented minority group. The Board has made it a continuing priority to further expand its diversity.

Community Engagement. A key element of our mission is to encourage the stability and success of our communities. The Company continues to support organizations that provide healthcare, economic assistance, education and other vital resources. Some of our more significant community-oriented efforts included support of food pantries across all of our markets, local law enforcement and emergency squads. The Company establishes important relationships in each of its communities by inviting the public to attend Bank branch opening events at which Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation makes significant donations to selected local non-profit organizations. The Company also encourages volunteerism through Company and Bank-coordinated opportunities including donation drives, fundraisers and trail clean-up days. We also continue to support our communities through the many donations made by the Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation, which cultivates partnerships with non-profit organizations and fosters development within our diverse communities with a focus on four key giving pillars — Affordable Housing, Education, Youth Programs, and Health and Human Services. In 2023, Blue Foundry Charitable Foundation awarded grants totaling $416,651 to 66 non-profit organizations.

Further information related to Blue Foundry Bank’s support of its communities through volunteerism and philanthropic activities can be found in the ‘In the News’ section of Blue Foundry Bank’s website: www.bluefoundrybank.com.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

REFERENCES TO OUR WEBSITE ADDRESS

References to our website address, www.bluefoundrybank.com, throughout this proxy statement and the accompanying materials are for informational purposes only, or to fulfill specific disclosure requirements of the SEC’s rules. These references are not intended to, and do not, incorporate the contents of our websites by reference to this proxy statement or the accompanying materials.

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

Corporate Governance

Blue Foundry is committed to maintaining sound corporate governance guidelines and very high standards of ethical conduct and is in compliance with applicable corporate governance laws and regulations. The following are key features of our corporate governance practices.

• Of our current 9 Directors, 8 are independent.

• The Board and management regularly focus on strategic planning.

• New directors are onboarded with an orientation package and are assigned an existing member of the board as their mentor during an integration period.

• The Board follows a robust Director Education Program to keep abreast of significant risks and compliance issues; laws, regulations and requirements applicable to the Company; corporate governance best practices; products and services offered by the Company; changes in the financial services industry; enhancements in technology and platforms relating to the financial services industry; and the delivery and availability of banking products and services. Each director completed between 17 and 24 hours of relevant education and training in 2023.

• Stock ownership and retention policies are in place for directors and executive officers.

• We have a clawback policy as well as a supplemental clawback policy that apply to the bonus and incentive compensation paid to our executive officers.

• The Board conducts annual self-evaluations for the full board, individual board members and each of the board committees.

• The Board reviews management talent and succession planning at least annually.

• The Board actively utilizes internal and external experts in the matters of audit, governance, compensation, shareholder interests and risk management.

• The Board understands the importance of maintaining regular, open, and transparent communications with our federal and state regulators.

• We have practices to align executive compensation with long-term shareholder interests; these practices are routinely reviewed and appropriately revised by the Compensation Committee in conjunction with an independent compensation consultant.

• We oversee our risk management with a focus on the most significant enterprise risks facing our Company, including compliance, credit, legal, liquidity, market, operational, cybersecurity, reputational, and strategic risks.

• We have guidelines governing the use of pre-established trading plans for transactions in our securities.

ENGAGEMENT

Our Board and management’s active engagement with our shareholders in soliciting their perspectives is critical to providing long-term value to all of our Company’s stakeholders. We are committed to constructive and meaningful communication with our shareholders.

Throughout 2023, management and directors proactively engaged with a number of our institutional shareholders as well as retail shareholders. This was accomplished through outreach, meetings, investor presentations and quarterly earnings calls. In addition, we host quarterly town hall meetings with our employees, nearly all of whom are shareholders.

CODE OF ETHICS FOR SENIOR OFFICERS

Blue Foundry Bancorp has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Officers that applies to Blue Foundry Bancorp’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics for Senior Officers is available on our website at www.bluefoundrybank.com and can be accessed by clicking “Investor Relations” and then “Governance—Governance Documents.” The Code is reviewed and re-approved annually. Amendments to and waivers from the Code of Ethics for Senior Officers will also be disclosed on our website.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AND THE BOARD’S ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

Our Board believes that sound corporate governance calls for an independent oversight function. The role of chairman has always been filled by an independent director.

Under the Board of Directors leadership structure, the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer are held by separate individuals. The Chairman of the Board is Kenneth Grimbilas, who is an independent director and does not serve in any executive capacity with the Company. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is James D. Nesci. This current structure provides for a greater role of the independent directors in the oversight of Blue Foundry Bancorp and Blue Foundry Bank, and active participation of the independent directors in setting agendas and establishing priorities and procedures for the work of the Board. The Board conducts regular executive sessions of independent directors.

To further assure effective independent oversight, the Board of Directors has adopted a number of governance practices, including:

• a majority independent Board of Directors;

• regular meetings of the independent directors;

• annual board, board member, and board committee self-assessments; and

• annual performance evaluations of the President and Chief Executive Officer by the independent directors.

The Board of Directors recognizes that, depending on the circumstances, other leadership models might be appropriate. Accordingly, the Board of Directors periodically reviews its leadership structure.

The entire Board of Directors is actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect the Company. However, the Board established a separate standing Enterprise Risk Committee to facilitate its risk oversight responsibilities. The full Board retains the responsibility for general oversight of risks. The Board satisfies this responsibility through reports by the committee chair of each board committee regarding the committees’ considerations and actions, through review of minutes of committee meetings, and through regular reporting directly from officers responsible for oversight of particular risks within the Company. Risks relating to the direct operations of the Bank are further overseen by the Board of Directors of the Bank, whose directors are the same individuals who serve on the Board of Directors of Blue Foundry Bancorp. All management committees including enterprise risk management, loan and loan oversight, asset liability/investment, and information technology, are responsible for the establishment of policies that guide management and staff in the day-to-day operation of the Company and the Bank.

BOARD DIVERSITY

The Board is committed to continuing to diversify the composition and skill sets of the Board. During 2022, the Board embarked on a mission to find a qualified, diverse candidate, to complement the current Board of Directors. That search resulted in finding an extremely qualified candidate, Elizabeth Jobes, Esq. Ms. Jobes was appointed to the Boards of Directors of the Bancorp and Bank in January 2023. Of the nine current members of the Board of Directors, three directors (33% of the Board) are women, one of whom is a member of an underrepresented minority (Ms.  Jobes).

SUNSETTING OF THE CLASSIFIED BOARD

As a newly-public company, the Board had determined that continuing its classified board structure was important to support the Company’s stability and oversight during the initial period following its public offering in July, 2021. In 2022, the Board approved a plan to phase in the declassification of the Board so that by the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, a period of five (5) annual meetings following the 2021 initial public offering, all directors will be elected for one-year terms.

In 2023, at the annual shareholder meeting, the Company obtained shareholder approval to implement the declassification of the Board.

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EMPLOYEE, OFFICER AND DIRECTOR HEDGING AND PLEDGING

The Company has adopted an anti-hedging and anti-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.

The anti-hedging and anti-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.

The Company does not have anti-hedging policies or procedures that are applicable to the Company’s employees who are not executive officers and as such, hedging transactions by non-executive employees are not prohibited.

The information provided under this Employee, Officer and Director Hedging and Pledging section shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference.

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The Board of Directors has determined that each of our directors, with the exception of Chief Executive Officer James D. Nesci, is “independent” as defined in the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Mr. Nesci is not independent because he is one of our executive officers. In determining the independence of our directors, the Board of Directors considered relationships between Blue Foundry Bank and our directors that are not required to be reported under “—Transactions With Certain Related Persons,” below.

ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

Blue Foundry Bancorp does not have a written policy regarding director attendance at annual meetings of shareholders, although directors are expected to attend these meetings absent unavoidable scheduling conflicts. All directors attended the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and we anticipate that all of our directors will attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Any shareholder who wishes to contact our Board of Directors or an individual director may do so by writing to: Blue Foundry Bancorp, 19 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070, Attention: Board of Directors. The letter should indicate that the sender is a shareholder and, if shares are not held of record, should include appropriate evidence of stock ownership. Communications are reviewed by the Corporate Secretary and are then distributed to the Board of Directors or the individual director, as appropriate, depending on the facts and circumstances outlined in the communications received. The Corporate Secretary may attempt to handle an inquiry directly (for example, where it is a request for information about Blue Foundry Bancorp or it is a stock-related matter). The Corporate Secretary has the authority not to forward a communication if it is primarily commercial in nature, relates to an improper or irrelevant topic, or is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or otherwise inappropriate. At each Board of Directors meeting, the Corporate Secretary shall present a summary of all relevant communications received since the last meeting that were not forwarded and make those communications available to the Directors on request.

MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The business of Blue Foundry Bancorp is conducted at regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees. In addition, the “independent” members of the Board of Directors (as defined in the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market) meet in executive sessions. The standing committees of the boards of directors are the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, and the Enterprise Risk Management Committee.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

The Board of Directors of Blue Foundry Bancorp held four regular meetings and eleven special meetings during the year ended December 31, 2023 and its annual shareholder meeting on May 18, 2023. The Board of Directors of Blue Foundry Bank held twelve regular meetings and one organizational meeting during the year ended December 31, 2023. No member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of: (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors (held during the period for which he or she has been a director); and (ii) the total number of meetings held by all committees on which he or she served (during the periods that he or she served).

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee consists of Directors Ely, Grimbilas, Kinzler, Lang, and Jobes. Mr. Ely serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. Each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” as defined in our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Ely qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is used in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Our Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee, which is available on our website at www.bluefoundrybank.com and can be accessed by clicking “Investor Relations” and then “Governance—Governance Documents.” As more fully described in the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee reviews the financial records and affairs of Blue Foundry Bancorp and monitors adherence in accounting and financial reporting to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Audit Committee met ten times during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee consists of Directors Grimbilas, Ely, Goldstein, Lang, Letsche and Shaw. Mr. Goldstein serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee. No member of the Compensation Committee is a current or former officer or employee of Blue Foundry Bancorp or Blue Foundry Bank. The Compensation Committee met six times during the year ended December 31, 2023.

With regard to compensation matters, the Compensation Committee’s primary purposes are to discharge the Board’s responsibilities relating to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, to oversee Blue Foundry Bancorp’s compensation and incentive plans, policies and programs, and to oversee Blue Foundry Bancorp’s management development and succession plans for executive officers. Blue Foundry Bancorp’s Chief Executive Officer will not be present during any committee deliberations or voting with respect to his compensation. The Compensation Committee may form and delegate authority and duties to subcommittees as it deems appropriate.

The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter which is available on our website at www.bluefoundrybank.com and can be accessed by clicking “Investor Relations” and then “Governance—Governance Documents.” This charter sets forth the responsibilities of the Compensation Committee and reflects the Compensation Committee’s commitment to create a compensation structure that encourages the achievement of long-range objectives and builds long-term value for our shareholders.

The Compensation Committee considers a number of factors in its decisions regarding executive compensation, including, but not limited to, the level of responsibility and performance of the individual executive officers, the overall performance of Blue Foundry Bancorp and a peer group analysis of other financial institutions. In order to identify the appropriate compensation level necessary to attract and retain the talent to build the institution, we consulted with our compensation consultant in developing our peer group. Our peer group is comprised of institutions of similar complexity, within the tri-state geographic area with a median asset size of approximately $3.5 billion.

Our executive compensation program is designed to:

• Attract and retain talented employees in leadership positions by recognizing the importance of these individuals to Blue Foundry Bancorp.

• Support our strategic performance objectives. Our goal is to provide executive officers with a total compensation package competitive with the market and industry in which we operate, and to promote the long-term goals and performance of Blue Foundry Bancorp. With this in mind, we implemented a new, formal annual incentive plan in 2020 that pays cash awards to the executive officers based on certain performance metrics without encouraging them to take unnecessary risks. In addition, at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders approved the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan. We believe the use of these plans aligns the interests of management with those of our shareholders.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of Directors Grimbilas, Goldstein, Letsche and Shaw with Mr. Shaw serving as Chair. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2023.

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The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a written charter which is available on our website at www.bluefoundrybank.com and can be accessed by clicking “Investor Relations” and then “Governance—Governance Documents.”

As more fully described in its charter, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in identifying qualified individuals to serve as Board members, in determining the composition of the Board of Directors and its committees, in developing, recommending and overseeing a process to assess Board effectiveness and in developing and recommending the Company’s corporate governance guidelines. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers and recommends the nominees for director to stand for election at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders.

Enterprise Risk Committee. The Enterprise Risk Committee consists of Directors Grimbilas, Jobes, Kinzler, Lang and Shaw with Mr. Kinzler serving as Chair. The Enterprise Risk Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2023.

The Enterprise Risk Committee has the responsibility of risk oversight and determining that significant risks of Blue Foundry Bancorp are monitored by the Board of Directors or one of its standing committees. The Enterprise Risk Committee is responsible for reviewing and monitoring enterprise risk including interest rate, liquidity, operational, compliance, strategic and reputational risks.

COMPENSATION CONSULTANTS

Independent Compensation Consultant. Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC, our compensation consultant, reports directly to the Compensation Committee and provides no other services to the Company, Blue Foundry Bank or management. The Committee considered the firm’s independence under the relevant SEC and stock exchange factors, and determined the firm satisfied the requirements for independence.

Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant. Pearl Meyer provides independent compensation consulting services to the Committee related to executive, officer, and board of director compensation. In 2022, Pearl Meyer assisted Blue Foundry in the development of its new equity compensation program that was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the 2022 annual meeting and provided competitive market information on equity practices in banks comparable to Blue Foundry Bank. In 2023, Pearl Meyer assisted Blue Foundry in review of restricted and performance stock awards to management as well as management base salary.

OTHER COMPENSATION GUIDELINES, PRACTICES AND POLICES

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

Position	Guideline
Chief Executive Officer	One times (1x) of base salary
Other Executive Officers	One times (1x) of base salary
Non-Employee Directors	Three times (3x) the annual retainer paid to the Director for their board membership

Newly appointed senior executive officers and directors have five years from the time they are appointed, promoted or elected, as the case may be, to meet these guidelines. In order to expedite this process, a minimum of 50% of shares (net of taxes) acquired through the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan will be required to be held upon each vesting until the guidelines are met. For the purpose of determining if the ownership guidelines are met, unvested performance shares and underlying outstanding stock options will not be considered. Stock ownership for executive officers and directors is reviewed on an annual basis and the Compensation Committee maintains responsibility for the administration of this Policy at its full discretion.

“Clawback” Provision. The executive compensation program includes a clawback provision. In the event the Company or Blue Foundry 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 Board has discretion in determining the application of clawbacks and the amounts to be reclaimed under this provision. The Board also adopted a supplemental clawback policy in December 2023 reflecting specific standards provided under the Dodd-Frank Act. The supplemental clawback policy is designed to supplement the Company’s current existing clawback policy.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

COMPENSATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Our Chief Risk Officer evaluated all incentive-based compensation for employees of the Company and prepared a report for the Compensation Committee indicating that none of our incentive-based awards individually, or taken together, was reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Blue Foundry. None of the compensation or incentives for Blue Foundry employees were considered as encouraging undue or unwarranted risk. The Compensation Committee accepted the Chief Risk Officer’s report.

COMMITTEE CHARTERS

The Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Enterprise Risk Committee each operate pursuant to a separate written charter adopted by the Board. All of the committee charters are available on our website: www.bluefoundrybank.com. The information contained on the website is not incorporated by reference or otherwise considered a part of this document.

NOMINATING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE PROCEDURES

It is the policy of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors to consider director candidates recommended by shareholders who appear to be qualified to serve on the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may choose not to consider an unsolicited recommendation if no vacancy exists on the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not perceive a need to increase the size of the Board of Directors. To avoid the unnecessary use of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s resources, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider only those director candidates recommended in accordance with the procedures set forth below.

Diversity Considerations. The Board of Directors does not have a formal policy or specific guidelines regarding diversity among board members. However, the Board of Directors seeks members who represent a mix of backgrounds that will reflect the diversity of our shareholders, employees, and customers, and experiences that will enhance the quality of the Board of Directors’ deliberations and decisions. As the holding company for a community-oriented bank, the Board of Directors also seeks directors who can continue to strengthen Blue Foundry Bank’s position in its communities and can assist Blue Foundry Bank with business development through business and other community contacts. The Board of Directors is committed to continuing to diversify the composition of the Board.

Process for Identifying and Evaluating Nominees; Director Qualifications. The Board of Directors considers the following criteria in evaluating and selecting candidates for nomination:

• Contribution to Board—Blue Foundry Bancorp endeavors to maintain a Board of Directors that possesses a wide range of abilities. Thus, the Board of Directors will assess the extent to which the candidate would contribute to the range of talent, skill and expertise appropriate for the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will also take into consideration the number of public company boards of directors, other than Blue Foundry Bancorp’s, and committees thereof, on which the candidate serves. The Board of Directors will consider carefully the time commitments of any candidate who would concurrently serve on the boards of directors of more than two public companies other than Blue Foundry Bancorp.

• Experience—Blue Foundry Bancorp is the holding company of Blue Foundry Bank, an insured depository institution. Because of the complex and heavily regulated nature of Blue Foundry Bancorp’s business, the Board of Directors will consider a candidate’s relevant financial, regulatory and business experience and skills, including the candidate’s knowledge of the banking and financial services industries, familiarity with the operations of public companies and ability to read and understand fundamental financial statements, as well as real estate and legal experience.

• Familiarity with and Participation in Local Community—Blue Foundry Bancorp is a community-oriented organization that serves the needs of local consumers and businesses. In connection with the local character of Blue Foundry Bancorp’s business, the Board of Directors will consider a candidate’s familiarity with Blue Foundry Bancorp’s market area (or a portion thereof), including without limitation the candidate’s contacts with and knowledge of local businesses operating in Blue Foundry Bancorp’s market area, knowledge of the local real estate markets and real estate professionals, experience with local governments and agencies and political activities, and participation in local business, civic, charitable or religious organizations.

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

• Integrity—Due to the nature of the financial services provided by Blue Foundry Bancorp and its subsidiary, Blue Foundry Bancorp is in a special position of trust with respect to its customers. Accordingly, the integrity of the Board of Directors is of utmost importance to developing and maintaining customer relationships. In connection with upholding that trust, the Board of Directors will consider a candidate’s personal and professional integrity, honesty and reputation, including, without limitation, whether a candidate or any entity controlled by the candidate is or has in the past been subject to any regulatory orders, involved in any regulatory or legal action, or been accused or convicted of a violation of law, even if such issue would not result in disqualification for service under Blue Foundry Bancorp’s Bylaws.

• Shareholder Interests and Dedication—A basic responsibility of directors is the exercise of their business judgment to act in what they reasonably believe to be in the best long-term interests of Blue Foundry Bancorp and its shareholders. In connection with such obligation, the Board of Directors will consider a candidate’s ability to represent the best long-term interests of Blue Foundry Bancorp and its shareholders, including past service with Blue Foundry Bancorp or Blue Foundry Bank and contributions to their operations, the candidate’s experience or involvement with other local financial services companies, the potential for conflicts of interest with the candidate’s other pursuits, and the candidate’s ability to devote sufficient time and energy to diligently perform his or her duties, including the candidate’s ability to personally attend board and committee meetings.

• Independence—The Board of Directors will consider the absence or presence of material relationships between a candidate and Blue Foundry Bancorp (including those set forth in applicable listing standards) that might impact objectivity and independence of thought and judgment. In addition, the Board of Directors will consider the candidate’s ability to serve on any Board committees that are subject to additional regulatory requirements (e.g. SEC regulations and applicable listing standards). If Blue Foundry Bancorp should adopt independence standards other than those set forth in the NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards, the Board of Directors will consider the candidate’s potential independence under such other standards.

• Gender, Ethnic, and other Diversity—Blue Foundry Bancorp understands the importance and value of diversity, including gender, ethnicity, skills, and other status, on a board of directors and will consider highly qualified candidates and their demographic backgrounds, including women and individuals from minority groups, to include in the pool from which candidates are chosen. The Board of Directors is committed to continuing to diversify the composition of the Board.

• Additional Factors—The Board of Directors will also consider any other factors it deems relevant to a candidate’s nomination, including the extent to which the candidate helps the Board of Directors reflect the diversity of Blue Foundry Bancorp’s shareholders, employees, customers and communities. The Board of Directors also may consider the current composition and size of the Board of Directors, the balance of management and independent directors, and the need for audit committee expertise.

The Board of Directors identifies nominees by first evaluating the current members of the Board of Directors willing to continue in service, including the current members’ board and committee meeting attendance and performance, length of board service, experience and contributions, and independence. Current members of the Board of Directors with skills and experience that are relevant to Blue Foundry Bancorp’s business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of the Board of Directors with that of obtaining a new perspective. If there is a vacancy on the Board of Directors because any member of the Board of Directors does not wish to continue in service or if the Board of Directors decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the Board of Directors would determine the desired skills and experience of a new nominee (including a review of the skills set forth above), may solicit suggestions for director candidates from all board members and may engage in other search activities.

The Board of Directors may consider qualified candidates for director suggested by our shareholders. Shareholders can suggest qualified candidates for director by writing to our Corporate Secretary at 19 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070. The Board of Directors has adopted a procedure by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Board of Directors. Shareholders who wish to recommend a nominee must write to Blue Foundry Bancorp’s Corporate Secretary and such communication must include:

• A statement that the writer is a shareholder and is proposing a candidate for consideration by the Board of Directors;

• The name and address of the shareholder as they appear on Blue Foundry Bancorp’s books, and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made;

• The class or series and number of shares of Blue Foundry Bancorp’s capital stock that are owned beneficially or of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner;

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

• A description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such shareholder;

• A representation that such shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the nominee named in the shareholder’s notice;

• The name, age, personal and business address of the candidate and the principal occupation or employment of the candidate;

• The candidate’s written consent to serve as a director;

• A statement of the candidate’s business and educational experience and all other information relating to such person that would indicate such person’s qualification to serve on Blue Foundry Bancorp’s Board of Directors; and

• Such other information regarding the candidate or the shareholder as would be required to be included in Blue Foundry Bancorp’s proxy statement pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A.

To be timely, the submission of a candidate for director by a shareholder must be received by the Corporate Secretary at least 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the proxy statement relating to the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders. If the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed more than 60 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a shareholder’s submission of a candidate shall be timely if delivered or mailed to and received by the Corporate Secretary of Blue Foundry Bancorp no later than the 10^th day following the day on which public disclosure (by press release issued through a nationally recognized news service, a document filed with the SEC, or on a website maintained by Blue Foundry Bancorp) of the date of the annual meeting is first made.

Submissions that are received and that satisfy the above requirements are forwarded to the Board of Directors for further review and consideration, using the same criteria to evaluate the candidate as it uses for evaluating other candidates that it considers.

There is a difference between the recommendations of nominees by shareholders pursuant to this policy and a formal nomination (whether by proxy solicitation or in person at a meeting) by a shareholder. Shareholders have certain rights under applicable law with respect to nominations, and any such nominations must comply with applicable law and provisions of the Bylaws of Blue Foundry Bancorp. See “Shareholder Proposals and Nominations.”

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee has issued a report that states as follows:

• We have reviewed and discussed with management our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023.

• We have discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard.

• We have received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by PCAOB Rule 3526, “Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence,” and have discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for filing with the SEC.

This report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that Blue Foundry Bancorp specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.

This report has been provided by the Audit Committee:

J. Christopher Ely (Chair)

Kenneth Grimbilas

Elizabeth Varki Jobes

Patrick H. Kinzler

Mirella Lang

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

TRANSACTIONS WITH CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 generally prohibits publicly traded companies from making loans to their executive officers and directors, but it contains a specific exemption from such prohibition for loans made by federally insured financial institutions, such as Blue Foundry Bank, to their executive officers and directors in compliance with federal banking regulations. Federal regulations permit executive officers and directors to receive the same terms that are widely available to other employees as long as the director or executive officer is not given preferential treatment compared to the other participating employees. All transactions between the Company and its executive officers, directors, holders of 10% or more of the shares of its common stock and affiliates thereof, are on terms no less favorable to the Company than could have been obtained by it in arms-length negotiations with unaffiliated persons. Such transactions must be approved by a majority of the independent directors of the Company not having any interest in the transaction. In the ordinary course of business, Blue Foundry Bank makes loans available to its directors, officers and employees. At December 31, 2023, there were no loans outstanding to any of our executive officers, directors, or their related entities.

Other than described above, we and our subsidiary have not had any transaction or series of transactions, or business relationships, nor are any such transactions or relationships proposed, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which our directors or executive officers have a direct or indirect material interest.

Pursuant to our Policy and Procedures for Approval of Related Person Transactions, the Audit Committee reviews and approves all related party transactions in accordance with, and as required by, the NASDAQ corporate governance listing standards.

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS

Our executive officers and directors and beneficial owners of greater than 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock are required to file reports with the SEC disclosing beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of our common stock. SEC rules require disclosure if an executive officer, director or 10% beneficial owner fails to file these reports on a timely basis. Based solely on its review of copies of the reports the Company has received and written representations provided to it from the individuals required to file Section 16(a) reports, the Company believes that each individual who, at any time during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, served as an executive officer or director of the Company has complied with applicable reporting requirements for transactions in Company common stock during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. We believe that no executive officer, director or 10% beneficial owner of our shares of common stock failed to file ownership reports on a timely basis.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

Executive Compensation

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Our compensation program is specifically designed to provide executives with competitive compensation packages that include elements of both reward and retention. The Compensation Committee routinely reviews our executive compensation practices to remain market competitive and be able to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified and talented executives who will help maximize Blue Foundry’s financial performance.

ELEMENTS OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION FOR 2023

The Compensation Committee used a total compensation approach in establishing our elements of executive compensation, which consists of base salary, annual cash incentive awards, long-term incentive awards (such as stock options and restricted stock awards), a competitive benefits package and limited perquisites.

BASE SALARY

Annual salary is the only fixed component of Blue Foundry’s executive compensation program. In setting salary, the Committee looks at current pay practices, peer group comparisons and general market analysis in consultation with its compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer. The Committee then establishes salaries that are competitive to the Peer Group and the external market for similar positions. The Committee reviews the salaries on an annual basis.

As part of the Committee’s annual salary review, salaries were determined to be in line with the median when compared with the actual proxy data of the Peer Group and benchmark survey information. As a result, no adjustments were made to the NEO’s base salaries.

ANNUAL INCENTIVE PLAN

Blue Foundry Bank has instituted an Annual Incentive Plan as a short-term incentive plan for our executive officers to incentivize personal performance in conjunction with Blue Foundry Bank’s overall performance. Payments under the Annual Incentive Plan are based on both Blue Foundry Bank’s overall performance and the executive’s personal performance.

The Compensation Committee has set incentive opportunities for each of the Named Executive Officers based on a percentage of base salary. The actual amount of an award is based on the level of business results and personal performance.

For 2023, the Compensation Committee weighted each Named Executive Officer’s annual cash incentive award opportunity with respect to the corporate financial target and individual goals as follows:

($ in millions)				Performance Goals
Performance Measures	Weight			Threshold (50%)				Target (100%)				Superior (150%)				Result				Payout
Net Loan Growth		25	%		$	100			$	150			$	200			$	16			0	%
Core Deposit Growth		10	%		$	47			$	70			$	90			$	(221	)		0	%
Total Deposit Growth		20	%		$	57			$	100			$	133			$	(44	)		0	%
Net Interest Margin		25	%			2.30	%			2.50	%			2.70	%			2.09	%		0	%
Individual Performance		20	%			Discretionary											Discretionary
Grand Total		100	%

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

Under the 2023 Annual Incentive Plan, Mr. Nesci’s award opportunity is 60% of base salary and the award opportunities for Ms. Pecoraro and Mr. Goldberg are 35% of base salary. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Named Executive Officers received an Annual Incentive Plan payment as detailed below:

	2023
Named Executive Officer	Annual Incentive Plan Actual Payment			Actual Payment % of Base Salary			Annual Incentive Plan  Target %
James D. Nesci		$	126,000		18.0	%		60	%
Kelly Pecoraro			42,000		10.5	%		35	%
Jason Goldberg			24,500		7.0	%		35	%

EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

The 2022 Equity Plan was approved by shareholders of the Company at the annual meeting of shareholders held on August 25, 2022. Under the 2022 Equity Plan, individuals including officers and directors are eligible to receive awards of restricted stock and stock options to purchase shares of Blue Foundry Bancorp common stock (at an exercise price of no less than the market price of the common stock at the time of grant). A total of 3,993,150 shares (1,140,900 restricted stock awards and 2,852,250 stock options) of Blue Foundry Bancorp common stock were authorized for issuance under the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan. Restricted stock awards and options granted under the 2022 Equity Plan generally vest in equal installments, over a service period between five and seven years beginning one year from the date of grant. The vesting of the awards and options accelerate upon death, disability or an involuntary termination at or following a change in control.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company, under the 2022 Equity Plan, awarded 372,021 time-based restricted stock awards to officers and employees and 360,759 performance-based restricted stock awards to officers. The Compensation Committee believes that officer and employee stock ownership provides a significant incentive for building shareholder value by further aligning the interest of our officers and employees with shareholders because such compensation is directly linked to the performance of Blue Foundry common stock. In determining the equity awards, the Compensation Committee consulted with its compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer.

In order to create a stronger link between the performance of Blue Foundry Bancorp and Blue Foundry Bank and each Named Executive Officer’s realizable pay and increase the share ownership of the Named Executive Officers, the Compensation Committee granted the following equity awards to the Named Executive Officers in 2023:

Named Executive Officer	Time-Based Restricted Stock		Performance-Based Restricted Stock
James D. Nesci		114,090		114,090
Kelly Pecoraro		35,000		35,000
Jason Goldberg		20,000		20,000

The time-based restricted awards vest ratably over a seven-year period, which will incentivize the continued service of our key executive talent.

The performance-based awards are dependent on achieving performance targets for the one-year period ended December 31, 2023 and the number of shares actually distributed thereafter is based on the satisfaction of the following performance metrics: (1) Loan Growth; (2) Net Deposit Growth; (3) Core Deposit Growth; and (4) Net Interest Margin.

• Net Loan Growth. Up to 30% of the performance-based restricted stock can be earned if net loan growth of $150 million is achieved.

• Net Deposit Growth. Up to 25% of the performance-based restricted stock can be earned if net deposit growth of $100 million is achieved.

• Core Deposit Growth. Up to 15% of the performance-based restricted stock can be earned if core deposit growth of $70 million is achieved.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

• Net Interest Margin. Up to 30% of the performance-based restricted stock can be earned if a net interest margin of 2.50% is achieved.

Following the completion of the one-year performance period, the Performance-Based Restricted Stock that had been earned based on the satisfaction of the foregoing performance metrics would have converted into time-based restricted stock awards that would vest ratably over a six-year service period.

Based upon the measurement of the metrics, none of the performance targets were met and therefore the Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards were all forfeited on January 1, 2024.

As Mr. Goldberg has tendered his resignation, he will forfeit all unvested and unearned equity grants upon his termination on April 19, 2024, as is stipulated in the plan document.

RETIREMENT PLANS

Deferred Compensation Plan. Blue Foundry Bank has entered into an Executive Deferred Compensation Agreement with Mr. Nesci (the “Deferred Compensation Agreement”). Under the Deferred Compensation Agreement, each year Blue Foundry Bank will credit a contribution of at least $50,000 to an account for the benefit of Mr. Nesci. The amounts credited to the account will earn an annual rate interest equal to the Prime Rate (as reported in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of the year) plus two percent (2%), compounded monthly. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, change the rate used to credit interest on the account from time to time. Mr. Nesci is always 100% vested in his account under the Deferred Compensation Agreement. Mr. Nesci generally will become entitled to a lump sum distribution of his account under the plan within 30 days following a separation from service. If Mr. Nesci dies prior to receiving a distribution from the plan, his beneficiary will be entitled to receive the account balance in a single lump sum payment. In certain situations that would constitute an unforeseeable emergency, Mr. Nesci may be entitled to receive an in-service distribution of a portion of his account under the Deferred Compensation Agreement.

401(k) Plan. Blue Foundry Bank maintains the Blue Foundry Bank 401(k) Plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution plan for eligible employees (the “401(k) Plan”). The named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan on the same terms as other eligible employees of Blue Foundry Bank.

Under the 401(k) Plan, a participant may elect to defer, on a pre-tax basis, the maximum amount of compensation permitted by the Internal Revenue Code. For 2023, the salary deferral contribution limit was $22,500, provided, however, that a participant over age 50 could contribute an additional $7,500 to the 401(k) Plan for a total of $30,000. In addition to salary deferral contributions, Blue Foundry Bank makes safe harbor matching contributions equal to 100% of a participant’s salary deferrals, up to 4% of the participant’s compensation, and 50% of a participant’s salary deferrals that exceed 4% but do not exceed 6% of the participant’s compensation. A participant is always 100% vested in his or her salary deferral contributions and safe-harbor matching contributions.

Blue Foundry Bank may also make other discretionary matching contributions and other discretionary employer contributions to the 401(k) Plan, including profit sharing contributions, which vest based on a participant’s years of service at the rate of 0% through three years of service and 100% after completing three years of service. Eligible employees must be 18 years of age and complete 12 months of service (in which they complete at least 1,000 hours of service) to receive profit sharing contributions under the 401(k) Plan.

Employee Stock Ownership Plan. In connection with the conversion and related stock offering, Blue Foundry Bank adopted an ESOP for eligible employees. The named executive officers are eligible to participate in the ESOP on the same terms as other eligible employees. Eligible employees begin participation in the ESOP upon the first entry date commencing on or after the eligible employee’s completion of one year of service and attainment of age 18.

The ESOP trustee purchased, on behalf of the ESOP, 8.0% of the total number of shares of Blue Foundry Bancorp common stock issued in the conversion and related stock offering, or 2,281,800 shares. The ESOP funded its stock purchase with a loan from Blue Foundry Bancorp equal to the aggregate purchase price of the common stock. The trustee repays the loan principally through Blue Foundry Bank’s contributions to the ESOP and any dividends payable on common stock held by the ESOP over the anticipated 25-year term of the loan.

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

The trustee holds the shares purchased by the ESOP in an unallocated suspense account, and shares will be released from the suspense account on a pro-rata basis as the trustee repays the loan. The trustee allocates the shares released among participants’ accounts based on each participant’s proportional share of compensation relative to all participants. Participants vest in his or her account balance based on his or her years of service with the bank, at the rate of 20% per year though the first five years of service, so that the participant will be 100% vested after completing five years of service. Participants who were employed by Blue Foundry Bank immediately prior to the closing of the stock offering received credit for vesting purposes for years of service prior to adoption of the ESOP. Participants also will automatically become fully vested upon attainment of their normal retirement age (age 65), death or disability, a change in control, or termination of the ESOP. Generally, participants will receive distributions from the ESOP upon terminating employment in accordance with the terms of the plan document. The ESOP reallocates any unvested shares forfeited upon a participant’s termination of employment among the remaining participants.

Under applicable accounting requirements, Blue Foundry Bank records compensation expense for the ESOP at the fair market value of the shares as they are committed to be released from the unallocated suspense account, which may be more or less than the original issue price.

EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENTS

Employment Agreement. Blue Foundry Bank entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Nesci, effective January 1, 2021. The employment agreement has an initial term of three years, which extends automatically for one additional year on each anniversary of the effective date of the agreement, so that the remaining term is again three years, unless either Blue Foundry Bank or Mr. Nesci give notice to the other party of non-renewal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Blue Foundry Bancorp or Blue Foundry Bank enters into a transaction that would constitute a change in control, as defined under the employment agreement, the term of the agreement will automatically extend so that it would expire no less than three years following the effective date of the change in control.

The employment agreement specified Mr. Nesci’s initial base salary of $700,000. The Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of Blue Foundry Bank will review Mr. Nesci’s salary no less than annually and may increase, but not decrease, Mr. Nesci’s base salary. In addition to the base salary, the agreement provides that Mr. Nesci will participate in an annual bonus plan with a target amount determined annually that is not less than 20% of his base salary. Mr. Nesci is also eligible to participate in any long-term incentive plan adopted by Blue Foundry. Mr. Nesci is also entitled to participate in all employee benefit plan arrangements and perquisites offered to employees and officers of Blue Foundry Bank and the reimbursement of reasonable business expenses incurred in the performance of his duties with Blue Foundry Bank. Blue Foundry Bank will also provide Mr. Nesci with an annual automobile allowance of $1,100 per month and an annual country club membership allowance of $22,050. Both the automobile and country club membership allowances will increase by 5% each year.

Blue Foundry Bank may terminate Mr. Nesci’s employment, or Mr. Nesci may resign from his employment, at any time with or without good reason. In the event Blue Foundry Bank terminates Mr. Nesci’s employment without cause or Mr. Nesci voluntary resigns for “good reason” (i.e., a “qualifying termination event”), Blue Foundry Bank will pay Mr. Nesci a severance payment equal to the greater of (i) the sum of one times Mr. Nesci’s base salary plus the target amount of the annual incentive bonus (as set by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee for the calendar year in which Mr. Nesci’s termination occurs) or (ii) the sum of Mr. Nesci’s base salary that would have been paid during the remaining term of the employment agreement, plus the target amount of the annual incentive bonus that would have been paid during the remaining term of the employment agreement. The severance payment will be paid as salary continuation in substantially equal installments over the twelve-month period following the date of Mr. Nesci’s termination of employment. In addition, if Mr. Nesci elects continued bank-provided group health plan coverage pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), Blue Foundry Bank will reimburse him for the monthly COBRA premium less the active employee premium for the coverage. Mr. Nesci must sign a general release of claims to receive the severance payment. A “good reason” condition for purposes of the employment agreement includes a material reduction in base salary or target bonus opportunity, a material reduction in authority, duties or responsibilities associated with Mr. Nesci’s position with Blue Foundry Bank, a relocation of his principal place of employment resulting in Mr. Nesci performing his services outside of certain counties listed in the employment agreement.

If a qualifying termination event occurs following a change in control of Blue Foundry Bancorp or Blue Foundry Bank, Mr. Nesci would be entitled to (in lieu of the payments and benefits described in the previous paragraph) a severance payment equal to three times the sum of (i) his base salary, plus (ii) the greater of his highest actual annual incentive bonus for the three calendar years immediately preceding his termination of employment or the target amount of the annual incentive bonus set by the Board of

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

Directors or the Compensation Committee for the calendar year in which his termination occurs. If Mr. Nesci’s termination of employment occurs within two years after the change in control, the severance will be paid in one lump-sum payment on the next pay date that is at least seven days following his termination. In addition, if Mr. Nesci elects continued bank-provided group health plan coverage pursuant to COBRA, Blue Foundry Bank will reimburse him for the monthly COBRA premium less the active employee premium for the coverage.

The employment agreement terminates upon Mr. Nesci’s death. Also, upon termination of employment (other than a termination in connection with a change in control), Mr. Nesci will be required to adhere to one-year non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions set forth in his employment agreement.

Change in Control Agreements. Blue Foundry Bank has entered into a Change in Control Agreement with each of Jason Goldberg and Kelly Pecoraro. Each of the change in control agreements has a term of one year that extends each day by one day until either party gives the other notice of non-renewal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Blue Foundry Bancorp or Blue Foundry Bank enters into a transaction that would constitute a change in control, as defined under the change in control agreements, the term of the agreements will automatically extend so that it would expire no sooner than one year (in the case of Mr. Goldberg) or three years (in the case of Ms. Pecoraro) following the effective date of the change in control.

Upon termination of the executive’s employment by Blue Foundry Bank without “cause” or by the executive with “good reason” on or after the effective date of a change in control of Blue Foundry Bank or Blue Foundry Bancorp, the executive would be entitled to a severance payment equal to three times (in the case of Ms. Pecoraro) or one times (in the case of Mr. Goldberg) the sum of the executive’s: (i) base salary in effect as of the date of termination or immediately prior to the change in control, whichever is higher; and (ii) the highest annual cash bonus earned for the three most recently completed performance periods prior to the change in control. The severance will be paid in a lump sum within 30 days following the executive’s date of termination. In addition, the executive would receive twelve consecutive monthly cash payments (in the case of Mr. Goldberg) and thirty six consecutive monthly cash payments (in the case of Ms. Pecoraro) equal to the executive’s monthly COBRA premium.

A “good reason” condition for purposes of the change in control agreement includes a material reduction in base salary, a material reduction in authority, duties or responsibilities associated with the executive’s position with Blue Foundry Bank, a relocation of the executive’s principal place of employment resulting in an increase in his or her commute by 30 miles or more.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, certain information as to the total compensation paid to James D. Nesci, who serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Pecoraro, who serves as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Jason Goldberg, who serves as our Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. Each of the individuals listed in the table below is referred to as a “Named Executive Officer (NEO).”

Name and principal position	Year		Salary			Stock Awards(1)		Option Awards(2)		Non-Equity Incentive Compensation		All Other Compensation(3)		Total
James D. Nesci		2023		$	700,000		$2,738,160		$—		$126,000		$131,470		$3,695,630
President and Chief Executive Officer		2022			700,000		—		2,430,117		415,485		123,774		3,669,376
Kelly Pecoraro		2023			400,000		840,000		—		42,000		18,306		1,300,306
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer(4)		2022			246,154		—		754,020		85,228		11,057		1,096,459
Jason Goldberg		2023			350,000		480,000		—		24,500		17,040		871,540
Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer		2022			350,000		—		460,080		121,182		15,540		946,802

(1) The amounts shown reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of time-vesting and performance-vesting awards computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The grant date fair values of the performance-vesting portion of the awards are computed at target performance achievement. The performance shares, with a grant date fair value of $1,369,080, $420,000 and $240,000 for Mr. Nesci, Ms. Pecoraro and Mr. Goldberg, respectively, were all forfeited on January 1, 2024.

(2) The amounts shown represent the aggregate grant date fair value of time-vesting stock options, which vest ratably over seven years, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

(3) The compensation represented by the amounts for 2023 and 2022 set forth in the “All Other Compensation” column for the Named Executive Officers is detailed in the following table.

(4) Ms. Pecoraro has been our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since May 2022. Ms. Pecoraro’s full year salary is $400,000.

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

All Other Compensation
Name	Year		401(k) Plan Matching Contributions		Deferred Compensation Plan Contributions		Automobile Usage		Country Club Membership		Life Insurance Premiums		Total All Other  Compensation
James D. Nesci		2023		$16,500		$80,328		$14,586		$18,262		$1,794		$131,470
		2022		15,250		74,546		13,892		18,292		1,794		123,774
Kelly Pecoraro		2023		16,500		—		—		—		1,806		18,306
		2022		10,462		—		—		—		595		11,057
Jason Goldberg		2023		16,500		—		—		—		540		17,040
		2022		15,000		—		—		—		540		15,540

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

At the annual meeting of shareholders held on August 25, 2022, a majority of the shareholders of the Company approved the Blue Foundry Bancorp 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (“2022 Equity Plan”). The following table summarizes grants made in 2023 to our NEOs.

Name	Grant Date		Estimated Payouts under Non- Equity Incentive Plan Awards						Estimated Payouts under Equity Incentive Plan Awards				All Other Stock Awards Number of Shares or Units (#)(2)		Exercise or Base Price of Awards		Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards ($)(3)
			Threshold ($)		Target ($)		Superior ($)		Threshold		Target(1)
James D. Nesci		2/15/2023		210,000		420,000		630,000
		3/6/2023								57,045		114,090		114,090	$	12.00		2,738,160
Kelly Pecoraro		2/15/2023		70,000		140,000		210,000
		3/6/2023								17,500		35,000		35,000		12.00		840,000
Jason Goldberg		2/15/2023		61,250		122,500		183,750
		3/6/2023								10,000		20,000		20,000		12.00		480,000

(1) The Performance-Based Restricted Stock Awards that had been earned based on the satisfaction of the performance metrics would have converted into time-based restricted stock awards that would vest ratably over a six-year service period provided the executive remains employed by the Company or the Bank. All performance based restricted stock awards granted on March 6, 2023 were forfeited on January 1, 2024 as the performance metrics were not met.

(2) The Restricted stock awards granted on March 6, 2023, will ratably vest in one-seventh increments beginning one year from the date of grant.

(3) The grant date fair value of the stock awards granted in 2023 is calculated by multiplying the number of shares by the closing stock price on the date of grant.

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Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

The following table shows information regarding all outstanding equity awards held by our NEOs on December 31, 2023.

Name	Grant Date		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable (#)		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable (#)(1)		Option Exercise Price ($)		Option Expiration Date(2)		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(1)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(3)		Equity Incentive Plan Awards Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have not Vested (#)(4)		Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(3)
James D. Nesci		10/19/2022		81,493		488,957		11.69		10/19/2032
		3/6/2023										114,090		1,103,250		114,090		1,103,250
Kelly Pecoraro		10/19/2022		25,286		151,714		11.69		10/19/2032
		3/6/2023										35,000		338,450		35,000		338,450
Jason Goldberg		10/19/2022		15,429		108,000		11.69		10/19/2032
		3/6/2023										20,000		193,400		20,000		193,400

(1) Stock options and restricted stock awards generally vest over a seven-year period commencing on the first anniversary of the date granted.

(2) Stock options expire, if unexercised, 10 years after the grant date.

(3) Amounts shown are based on the fair market value of Blue Foundry Bancorp common stock on December 31, 2023 of $9.67.

(4) Amounts shown represent the number of stock awards that would vest if performance goals are achieved; however, all awards were forfeited on January 1, 2024.

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       Proposal 1: Election of Directors

Directors’ Compensation

ANNUAL BOARD RETAINER

Currently, each person who serves as a director of Blue Foundry Bancorp also serves as a director of Blue Foundry Bank.

Directors currently receive a base annual retainer of $51,000. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual retainer of $15,000. These retainers are for service on both the Bancorp and Bank Boards pursuant to an expense allocation agreement.

BOARD COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE CHAIR RETAINERS

Committee compensation is detailed below:

	Audit		Nomination and Corporate Governance		Compensation		Enterprise Risk
Committee Member	$	10,500	$	6,000	$	7,000	$	6,000
Committee Chair		20,000		11,500		12,000		13,500

DIRECTOR EQUITY AWARDS 

At the 2022 annual meeting, shareholders approved the 2022 Equity Plan, which specifically provided for a grant, to each non-employee director at the time, of 42,783 shares of restricted stock and 106,959 options which were awarded in 2022.

For the year ended 2023 there were no grants awarded to directors.

DIRECTOR RETIREMENT PLAN

As a mutual institution, in 2007 Blue Foundry Bank entered into a Restated Director Retirement Plan with each of directors Ely and Grimbilas. In June 2022 Blue Foundry Bank and Messrs. Ely and Grimbilas amended and froze the plans so that there will be no further benefit accruals. As amended, at the later of the director’s separation of service as a director or attaining age 70, Messrs. Ely and Grimbilas (having satisfied the ten years of service requirement under the plans) will receive a monthly benefit equal to $3,643.84 and $4,038.67, respectively, which was the value of the accrued benefit under the plans as of the date that the plans were frozen. The benefit will be paid for the greater of the director’s life or five years, provided, however, that if the director dies within five years of terminating service with the board of directors, his beneficiary will continue to receive the monthly payments until the end of the five-year period. Each director will be entitled to the same benefit if he terminates service on account of becoming disabled if he has completed ten years of continuous service.

DIRECTOR RETIREMENT PLAN II

As a mutual institution, in 2018 Blue Foundry Bank also established the Boiling Springs Savings Bank Director Retirement Plan II (the “Director Retirement Plan”) for eligible directors (i.e., a “participant”) who are not covered under the Director Emeritus Plan. All current directors, other than directors Ely, Grimbilas, and Jobes, participate in the Director Retirement Plan. In June 2022, Blue Foundry Bank amended and froze the plan so that there will be no further benefit accruals under the plan and to provide that no new directors will participate. Under the Director Retirement Plan, as amended, a participant who terminates service after completing ten consecutive years of service will receive an annual benefit based on the value of the accrued benefit under the plan as of the date the plan was frozen. The annual benefit amounts range from $942 to $17,767. The benefits will be paid in substantially monthly installments, for ten years. Following a participant’s separation from service, Blue Foundry Bank will begin making the payments to the participant on the first business day of the month following the later of (i) the day the participant attains age 70 or (ii) the date of the participant’s separation from service. Each participant is entitled to the same level of benefit upon death or disability or upon a termination of service within 24 months following a change in control of Blue Foundry Bank; provided that the benefits paid upon the death of the participant while in service and in connection with a change in control will be paid in a lump sum. Benefits paid upon the participant’s death or disability will be paid the first day of the month following the later of (i) the day the participant attains age 70 or (ii) the date that is ten years from the date the participant first became a member of the board of directors. The change in control benefit is paid within 30 days of the participant’s termination from service following a change in control.

Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement   37         

 

Proposal 1: Election of Directors       

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

The total 2023 compensation of our non-employee directors is shown in the following table.

Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash			Stock Awards(1)			Option Awards(2)			All Other Compensation(3)			Total
J. Christopher Ely		$	78,000		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	78,000
Robert T. Goldstein			69,000			—			—			—			69,000
Kenneth Grimbilas			95,500			—			—			1,298			96,798
Elizabeth Varki Jobes			63,375			—			—			—			63,375
Patrick H. Kinzler			75,000			—			—			—			75,000
Mirella Lang			74,500			—			—			—			74,500
Margaret Letsche			64,000			—			—			—			64,000
Jonathan M. Shaw			75,500			—			—			—			75,500

(1) Messrs. Grimbilas, Ely, Shaw, Kinzler and Goldstein and Mses. Lang and Letche each has unvested stock awards of 34,226 as of December 31, 2023.

(2) Messrs. Grimbilas, Ely, Shaw, Kinzler and Goldstein and Mses. Lang and Letche each has unexercised stock option awards of 106,959 as of December 31, 2023.

(3) Represents payments of medical premiums on behalf of Mr. Grimbilas.

       38   Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement  

 

    Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public    Accounting Firm  

Blue Foundry Bancorp’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2023 was KPMG LLP, (“KPMG”). The Audit Committee has re-appointed KPMG to continue as the independent registered public accounting firm for Blue Foundry Bancorp for the year ending December 31, 2024. At the annual meeting, shareholders will consider and vote on the ratification of the Audit Committee’s engagement of KPMG for the year ending December 31, 2024. A representative of KPMG is expected to be available during the annual meeting and may respond to appropriate questions and make a statement if he or she so desires.

The Board of Directors is submitting the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. Even if the engagement of KPMG is ratified, the Audit 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 change would be in the best interests of Blue Foundry Bancorp and its shareholders.

During the Company’s fiscal years 2023 and 2022 (i) there were no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to KPMG’s satisfaction, would have caused KPMG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports, and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Set forth below is certain information concerning aggregate fees for professional services rendered by KPMG during fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed to the Company for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements, review of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements were $940,000 and $835,000 during fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Audit Related Fees. There were $1,780 aggregate fees billed to the Company by KPMG during the fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively, for assurance and related services rendered that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of and review of the consolidated financial statements services.

Tax Fees. The were no aggregate fees billed to the Company by KPMG for professional services rendered for tax compliance during the fiscal years 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Other Fees. There were no aggregate fees billed to the Company by KPMG for other professional services rendered during fiscal years 2023 and 2022.

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accountants. The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accountants. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a specific budget. The Audit Committee has delegated pre-approval authority to its Chair when necessary, with subsequent reporting to the Audit Committee. The independent registered public accountants and management are required to report to the Audit Committee quarterly regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accountants in accordance with this pre-approval policy, and the fees for the services performed to date.

      THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF KPMG AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024.  

Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement   39         

 

  Shareholder Proposal

We have been advised that a shareholder who owns of 18,512 shares of the Company’s common stock, intends to present the following non-binding proposal at the Annual Meeting. If the proponent (or a representative of the proponent who is qualified under state law) is present at the Annual Meeting and submits the proposal for a vote, then the proposal will be voted on at the Annual Meeting.

The name and address of the proponent will be furnished upon receipt by the Corporate Secretary of an oral or written request for that information.

The shareholder proposal contains assertions about the Company and other matters that the Company believes are incorrect, but the Company has not attempted to refute all of those assertions. All statements contained in the shareholder proposal and supporting statement are the sole responsibility of the proponent. The Company disclaims responsibility for the content of the proposal and the supporting statement.

Stockholder Proposal Recommending Sale or Merger of the Company

Resolved that the Stockholders of Blue Foundry Bancorp (“BLFY”) strongly recommend that the Board of Directors immediately engage an investment banking firm experienced in community bank mergers and acquisitions to guide the Company in promptly (after BLFY’s three year sale prohibition ends on July 15, 2024) taking steps to merge or sell BLFY on terms that will maximize stockholder value.

Supporting Statement for Recommending the Sale or Merger of Blue Foundry Bancorp

BLFY completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) on July 15, 2021. Since the completion of its IPO, BLFY has failed to earn a satisfactory return on stockholders invested capital. I think it is unlikely BLFY stockholders will receive an acceptable return on their investment in the foreseeable future through BLFY’s continued independent operation. Moreover, independent third-party analyses by each Wall Street analyst who publishes estimates on BLFY expect continued losses for as long as they forecast. If they are right, book value and franchise value will continue to erode the longer BLFY exists as an independent company. In contrast, the sale or merger of BLFY with a larger financial institution likely will provide stockholders with a substantial premium over present market value.

Banks similar to BLFY have merged with larger financial institutions, and stockholders of the acquired banks have received significant premiums over the pre-merger market price of their shares. Cost efficiencies associated with scalable technology reward larger institutions disproportionately, incenting banks to grow larger, faster.

BLFY’s Tangible Book Value per share declined from $15.71 on September 30, 2021, its first quarter as a public company, to $14.24 ($1.47 reduction) at September 30, 2023. For the fiscal years ended on December 31, 2020 and 2021 BLFY had net losses of $31,506,024 and $36,342,000 respectively.

In the first three quarters of 2023 BLFY continued to lose money. BLFY’s loss was $4,466,000. A significant contributor to BLFY’s poor financial performance is its poor efficiency ratio.

BLFY’s disappointing performance is evidenced in the price of its stock. Its closing price on July 16, 2021 was $12.90 and on November 2, 2023 (the day before this stockholder proposal was submitted) BLFY’s closing price was $7.83, a 39.30% decline.

Based upon the Company’s Efficiency Ratio, Return on Average Assets, and Return on Average Equity for calendar years 2021 and 2022, and the first three quarters of 2023, the Company is one of the worst performing publicly traded financial institutions between $1 and $3 billion in assets reported by S&P Global.

       40   Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement  

 

       Proposal 3: Shareholder Proposal

This poor financial performance did not stop the Compensation Committee, and the Board, from rewarding each director of the Company with approximately $970,000 in compensation comprised of cash, stock awards and option awards, for calendar year 2022, and $12 million in stock options granted to senior management.

The greatest long-term value for BLFY stockholders will be realized through the prompt sale or merger of the Company. Please vote FOR this proposal.

      THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THE FOREGOING PROPOSAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:  

This proposal is unnecessary, and in our opinion is being used to further the proponent’s personal campaign against the Company rather than serve the interests of all shareholders.

This Proposal is Unnecessary. Your Board of Directors is focused on delivering value to the shareholders in this very difficult environment for community banking. In June of 2023, before the proponent’s threat to submit his “sell the bank” proposal, the Board in fact engaged a nationally recognized investment banking firm to provide advice and assistance in connection with enhancing shareholder value, including in connection with a possible merger and acquisition transaction. Under applicable banking regulation, steps cannot be taken toward a “sale” of the Company during the first three years following completion of the Company’s conversion, which occurred in July 2021. The Board is open-minded to a merger as a means of maximizing shareholder value. But the proponent’s antics and this proposal have the effect of placing a “for sale” sign on the Company’s door, which we do not believe is the best way to maximize shareholder value, even if a merger transaction is pursued by the Board. The Board recommends that you send a message to the proponent by voting Against this proposal. It is unnecessary and not in the best interests of all of the shareholders!

This Proposal is the proponent’s payback for our refusal to appoint his friend to the Board, whose nomination has already been rejected by the shareholders. What the proponent doesn’t tell you, is that the threat of the submission of this proposal for a “sale of the Company” was used by him in a last ditch effort to have his personal accountant and friend of 25 years appointed to your Board with a full conversion grant of stock options and stock grants. In 2021, the proponent threatened to oppose the Company’s equity incentive plan unless the Company agreed to appoint his personal accountant and friend for 25 years to the Board of Directors and give him a full equity allocation. When the Company refused this demand, the proponent conducted a solicitation in opposition to the equity plan presented to shareholders in August 2022.

The shareholders overwhelmingly approved the equity plan. In 2022 he again sought the appointment of his personal accountant and friend for 25 years, and threatened a full-blown proxy contest if the Company refused. The Company again declined his demand, and in May 2023 the proponent conducted his proxy campaign as threatened.

The shareholders overwhelmingly rejected the proponent’s candidates and elected the Board’s nominees. In late 2023, the proponent once more demanded the appointment of his personal accountant and friend for 25 years to the Board with a full equity award allocation, and this time threatened to submit a shareholder proposal to sell the Company and take other actions against the Company if it refused his demand. This is why shareholders are being asked to vote on this proposal – we again declined to appoint his personal friend and accountant to the Board. Given this background and the fact that this proposal is unnecessary, the Board recommends that you vote Against this proposal.

We are working hard for the Shareholders. From the moment we completed our IPO, the proponent has attacked the Company and its performance, including the trading performance of our stock. We acknowledge the difficult operating environment that the Bank finds itself in, converting to stock form in 2021 and continuing with its efforts to transform the company from a thrift-like structure and balance sheet to a more commercial bank like business model. Unfortunately, shortly following the completion of our IPO the Federal Reserve commenced its unprecedented increase in interest rates, raising rates 11 times in under eighteen months. Like many institutions with a liability sensitive balance sheet, this has had an adverse effect on our earnings and turn-around plans.

In his proposal, the proponent refers to a stock price of $7.83 per share. As of April 9, 2024, the closing price of our stock was $9.02 per share, an increase of 15.2% from that cited by the proponent. Compared to our IPO price of $10 per share (July 15, 2021), our stock price has declined 9.8% through April 9, 2024. However, we would contrast this with the decline in total returns (defined as

Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement   41         

 

Proposal 3: Shareholder Proposal       

the stock price plus the reinvestment of dividends) of a comparable peer group of banks and thrifts headquartered in New Jersey and traded on a national exchange, and the NASDAQ Bank Index, which declines were (11.0 %) and (17.7%), respectively, over that same period of time. The Company’s stock price has declined less than similarly situated community banks in New Jersey and less than the NASDAQ Bank Index. We are working to enhance shareholder value, including through an active stock repurchase program, which is enabled by the Company’s strong capital position, and we have an investment banker engaged to review merger and acquisition opportunities when permitted. Our credit quality remains strong, our head count has remained flat and we are working hard to control our expenses, and we have shortened the duration of our assets to become less liability sensitive.

      FOR THE ABOVE REASONS, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.  

       42   Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement  

 

Proposals and Nominations

Bylaw Provisions Regarding Shareholder Proposals and Nominations. The Company’s Bylaws generally provide that any shareholder desiring to make a proposal for new business at a meeting of shareholders or to nominate one or more candidates for election as directors at a meeting of shareholders must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company. The Secretary must receive such written notice no less than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the Company’s proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting. Based on the April 15, 2024 date of this Proxy Statement, the notice with respect to the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders will be required to be provided to the Company by December 16, 2024.

The notice with respect to shareholder proposals that are not nominations for director must set forth as to each matter such shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interests in such business of such shareholder and any beneficial owner; (ii) the name and address of such shareholder as they appear on our books and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (iii) the class and number of shares of our capital stock which are owned beneficially or of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner; and (iv) a representation as to whether such shareholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to shareholders who in the aggregate own enough shares to legally carry the proposal.

The notice with respect to director nominations must include: (a) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, such information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation and a written consent of each proposed nominee to be named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected; and (b) as to the shareholder giving the notice: (i) the name and address of such shareholder as they appear on our books and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made; (ii) the class and number of shares of our capital stock which are owned beneficially or of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner; and (iii) a representation as to whether such shareholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to shareholders who in the aggregate own a sufficient number of shares to elect such nominee.

Failure to comply with these advance notice requirements will preclude such new business or nominations from being considered at the meeting.

Nothing in this proxy statement shall be deemed to require us to include in our proxy statement and proxy relating to an annual meeting any shareholder proposal or nomination that does not meet all of the requirements for inclusion established by the SEC in effect at the time such proposal or nomination is received.

Requirement for Shareholder Proposal to be Included in 2025 Proxy Statement. Generally, in order to be eligible for inclusion in the proxy materials for an annual meeting of shareholders, any shareholder proposal submitted pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8 must be received at Blue Foundry Bancorp’s executive office, 19 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070, no later than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the Company’s proxy materials relating to the prior year’s annual meeting. Any proposals of shareholders intended to be submitted at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders under SEC Rule 14a-8 must be no later than December 16, 2024 in order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy for such meeting. Any such proposals will be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Shareholder Solicitation of Proxies in Support of Nominees Other Than Company Nominees. A shareholder intending to engage in a director election contest at next year’s annual meeting must give the Company notice of their intent to solicit proxies by providing the names of its nominees and certain other information 60 days before the anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting. This deadline is March 22, 2025. Notice should be provided to our executive office, 19 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070. Any such notice and solicitation will be subject to the requirements of the proxy rules adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement   43         

 

Other Matters

The Board of Directors is not aware of any business to come before the annual meeting other than the matters described above in the Proxy Statement. However, if any matters should properly come before the annual meeting, it is intended that the Board of Directors, as holders of the proxies, will act as determined by a majority vote.

       44   Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement  

 

Miscellaneous

A copy of Blue Foundry Bancorp’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 will be furnished without charge to shareholders as of the record date upon written request to the Corporate Secretary, 19 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070 (regular mail), or 19 Park Avenue, Rutherford, New Jersey 07070 (overnight delivery) or by calling (201) 939-5000.

Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement   45         

 

Important Notice Regarding

the Availability of Proxy

Materials

Blue Foundry Bancorp’s Proxy Statement, including the Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K are each available on the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Elyse D. Beidner

Corporate Secretary

Rutherford, New Jersey

April 15, 2024

       46   Blue Foundry Bancorp | 2024 Proxy Statement  

 

Board of Directors James D. Nesci PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kenneth Grimbilas CHAIRMAN J. Christopher Ely VICE CHAIRMAN Robert T. Goldstein Elizabeth V. Jobes Patrick H. Kinzler Mirella Lang Margaret Letsche Jonathan M. Shaw Executive Management James D. Nesci PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Kelly Pecoraro EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Elyse D. Beidner EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER Alex Malkiman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER Thomas Packwood SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVE Acela Roselle EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR Robert Rowe EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF RISK OFFICER Investor Contacts Transfer Agent Continental Stock Transfer & Trust 1 State Street, 30th Floor New York, NY 1004-1561 212-509-4000 cstmail@continentalstock.com Corporate Counsel Luse Gorman, PC 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite 780 Washington, DC 20015 Investor Relations Elyse Beidner, Investor Relations MSC 269744 PO Box 105168 Atlanta, GA 30348-5168 888-931-BLUE InvestorRelations@bluefoundrybank.com

Blue Foundry Bancorp ir.bluefoundrybank.com 888-931-BLUE

BLUE FOUNDRY BANCORP 7 SYLVAN WAY, SUITE 200 PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054
VOTE BY INTERNET
Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
During The Meeting—Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BLFY2024
You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions.
VOTE BY PHONE—1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
V47044-P11056 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
BLUE FOUNDRY BANCORP
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal:
Nominees: For Withhold
1a. Kenneth Grimbilas
1b. Jonathan Shaw
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal:
For Against Abstain
2. Ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
The Board of Directors recommends you vote AGAINST the following proposal:
For Against Abstain
3. Shareholder Non-Binding Proposal Recommending Sale or Merger of the Company, if properly presented.
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] Date
Signature (Joint Owners) Date

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Combined Document is available at www.proxyvote.com.
V47045-P11056
BLUE FOUNDRY BANCORP
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MAY 16, 2024 10:00 A.M.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints J. Christopher Ely, Robert T. Goldstein, Mirella Lang, Elizabeth Jobes, Patrick Kinzler, and James D. Nesci (the "Named Proxies"), and each or either of them, as the true and lawful attorneys of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and revocation, and authorizes them, and each of them, to vote all the shares of capital stock of Blue Foundry Bancorp which the undersigned is entitled to vote at said meeting and any adjournment thereof upon the matters specified and upon such other matters as may be properly brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof, conferring authority upon such true and lawful attorneys to vote in their discretion on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting and revoking any proxy heretofore given.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations.
If you hold shares in any ESOP or 401(k) savings plan of the Company (the “Plans”), then this proxy card, when signed and returned, or your telephone or Internet proxy, will constitute voting instructions on matters properly coming before the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof in accordance with the instructions given herein to the trustee for shares held in any of the Plans. Shares in each of the Plans for which voting instructions are not received by May 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, or if no choice is specified, will be voted by an independent fiduciary.
Continued and to be signed on reverse side