OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP
10-Q, EX-3, 2000-08-11
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                                                     Exhibit 3.2

                           OceanFirst Financial Corp.

                                     BYLAWS

                            ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS


         Section 1.    Annual Meeting.
         ----------    ---------------

         An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to
succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business
as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such
date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date
shall be within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the later of the date of
incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.

         Section 2.    Special Meetings.
         ----------    -----------------

         Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the
Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a
resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the
Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors
(hereinafter the "Whole Board").

         Section 3.    Notice of Meetings.
         ----------    -------------------

         Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the
stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60)
days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or
required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by
the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation).

         When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written
notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time
thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken;
provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty
(30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a
new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place,
date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith.
At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the original meeting.

         Section 4.    Quorum.
         ----------    -------

         At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of
the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by
proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation), shall constitute a quorum for all
purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number
may be required by law. Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required,
a majority of the shares of such class or classes present in person or
represented by proxy (after giving effect to

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the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation) shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to
that vote on that matter.

         If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the
meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who
are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place,
date, or time.

         If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to
all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with
those present in person or by proxy constituting a quorum, then except as
otherwise required by law, those present in person or by proxy at such adjourned
meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a
majority of the votes cast at such meeting.

         Section 5.    Organization.
         ----------    -------------

         Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the
absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board of the Corporation or, in
his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of
the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call
to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In
the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting
shall be such person as the chairman appoints.

         Section 6.    Conduct of Business.
         ----------    --------------------

                  (a) The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall
determine the order of business and the procedures at the meeting, including
such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to
him or her in order. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls
for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be
announced at the meeting.

                  (b) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such
business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the
Corporation who is entitled to vote with respect thereto and who complies with
the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(b). For business to be
properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the business must
relate to a proper subject matter for stockholder action and the stockholder
must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the
Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered or mailed to
and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than
ninety (90) days prior to the date of the annual meeting; provided, however,
that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days notice or prior public
disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice
by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which such notice of the date of
the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A
stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such
stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description
of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons
for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address,
as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such
business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital
stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder, and (iv) any material
interest of such stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in these
Bylaws to the contrary, no

                                       2
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business shall be brought before or conducted at an annual meeting except in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b). The officer of the
Corporation or other person presiding over the annual meeting shall, if the
facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not
properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 6(b), and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting
and any such business so determined to be not properly brought before the
meeting shall not be transacted.

         At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be
conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors.

                  (c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as
directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are to
be elected only: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii)
by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of
Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in
this Section 6(c). Such nominations, other than those made by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing
to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall
be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days
notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such
notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made.
Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom such
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all
information relating to such person that would indicate such person's
qualification under Article II, Section 1, including an affidavit that such
person would not be disqualified under the provisions of Section 1(d), and such
information that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including
such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee
and to serving as a director if elected), and (ii) as to the stockholder giving
the notice (x) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books,
of such stockholder, and (y) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's
capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder. At the request of
the Board of Directors any person nominated by the Board of Directors for
election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that
information required to be set forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination
which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for election as a
director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the provisions
of this Section 6(c). The officer of the Corporation or other person presiding
at the meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine that a nomination was
not made in accordance with such provisions and, if he or she shall so
determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination shall be disregarded.

         Section 7.    Proxies and Voting.
         ----------    -------------------

         At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote
may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing filed in
accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any facsimile
telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission
created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the
original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original
writing or

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transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication
or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original
writing or transmission.

         All voting, including on the election of directors but excepting where
otherwise required by law or by the governing documents of the Corporation, may
be made by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a
stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken.
Every stock vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of
the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required
under the procedures established for the meeting. The Corporation shall, in
advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at
the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one
or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to
act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders,
the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act
at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his
duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of
inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

         All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and
except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, all
other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.

         Section 8.    Stock List.
         ----------    -----------

         A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing
the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his
or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any
purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of
at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city
where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of
the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be
held.
         The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during
the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such
stockholder who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity
of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares
held by each of them.

         Section 9.    Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
         ----------    -------------------------------------------

         Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of
Preferred Stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken
by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special
meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any
consent in writing by such stockholders.

                                       4
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                         ARTICLE II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         Section 1.    General Powers, Number and Term of Office and
         ---------     ---------------------------------------------
                        Qualifications.
                       ---------------

         (a) General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall
be under the direction of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall
annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members who shall, when
present, preside at its meetings.

         (b) Number. The number of directors who shall constitute the Whole
Board shall be such number as the Board of Directors shall from time to time
have designated, except that in the absence of such designation shall be nine
(9).

          (c) Term of Office. The directors, other than those who may be elected
by the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided, with
respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes,
with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting
of stockholders, the term of office of the second class to expire at the annual
meeting of stockholders one year thereafter and the term of office of the third
class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders two years thereafter, with
each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected
to succeed those directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term
of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after
their election, with each director to hold office until his or her successor
shall have been duly elected and qualified.

         (d) Qualifications. No person shall be eligible for election or
appointment to the Board of Directors: (i) if such person has, within the
previous 10 years, been the subject of supervisory action by a financial
regulatory agency that resulted in a cease and desist order or an agreement or
other written statement subject to public disclosure under 12 U.S.C. 1818(u), or
any successor provision; (ii) if such person has been convicted of a crime
involving dishonesty or breach of trust which is punishable by imprisonment for
a term exceeding one year under state or federal law; (iii) if such person is
currently charged in any information, indictment, or other complaint with the
commission of or participation in such a crime. No person may serve on the Board
of Directors and at the same time be a director or officer of another
co-operative bank, credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association,
trust company, bank holding company or banking association (in each case whether
chartered by a state, the federal government or any other jurisdiction) or any
affiliate thereof. No person shall be eligible for election to the Board of
Directors if such person is the representative or agent of a person or acting in
concert (as that term is used to describe relationships involved in either
presumptive or actual concerted action under 12 C.F.R. Section 574.4 (d)) with
respect to the Corporation or its subsidiaries, with a person who is ineligible
for election to the Board of Directors under this Subsection 1(d). No nomination
of any individual who would not be qualified to be elected or appointed to or
serve as a member of the Board of Directors under this Article II, Section 1(d)
shall be valid, accepted or voted upon. The Board of Directors shall have the
power to construe and apply the provisions of this Section 1(d) and to make all
determinations necessary to implement such provisions, including but not limited
to determinations as to whether any persons are a group acting in concert, as
defined by this Section 1(d). The Board may request from a nominee information
it deems relevant to assessing a nominee's satisfaction of the requirements of
this Section 1(d).

                                       5
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         Section 2.    Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.
         ----------    ------------------------------------------

         Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of
Preferred Stock, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly
created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of
directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause
may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though
less than a quorum, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term
expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of
the class to which they have been elected expires and until such director's
successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number
of authorized directors constituting the whole Board shall shorten the term of
any incumbent director.

         Section 3.    Regular Meetings.
         ----------    -----------------

         Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place
or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been
established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors. A
notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

         Section 4.    Special Meetings.
         ----------    -----------------

         Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-third
(1/3) of the directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number),
by the Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be held at such place,
on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix. Notice of the
place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given each director
by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days
before the meeting or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile transmission
of the same not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. Unless
otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be
transacted at a special meeting.

         Section 5.    Quorum.
         ----------    -------

         At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board
shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any
meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place,
date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

         Section 6.    Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone.
         ----------    --------------------------------------------------

         Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may
participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall
constitute presence in person at such meeting.

         Section 7.    Conduct of Business.
         ----------    --------------------

         At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted
in such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all
matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present,
except as otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by
the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof

                                       6
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consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

         Section 8.    Powers.
         ----------    -------

         The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law,
exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or
done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the unqualified power:

                  (1) To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with
         law;

                  (2) To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or
         privileges on such terms as it shall determine;

                  (3) To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such
         form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind,
         negotiable or non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all
         things necessary in connection therewith;

                  (4) To remove any officer of the Corporation with or without
         cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any
         officer upon any other person for the time being;

                  (5) To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to
         appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;

                  (6) To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock
         purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for directors, officers,
         employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may
         determine;

                  (7) To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and
         other benefit plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of
         the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and,

                  (8) To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent
         with these Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation's business and
         affairs.

         Section 9.    Compensation of Directors.
         ----------    --------------------------

         Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of
Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as directors,
including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the
Board of Directors.

         Section 10.       Director Emeritus.
         -----------       ------------------

         Any Director of this Corporation ceasing to be such Director and who
has attained the age of 72 years with 15 years continuous service with the
Company or any of its affiliates, or who has become incapacitated before the age
of 72, may be elected by the Board of Directors as "Director Emeritus" and such
persons who accept such election shall serve for life or until removed as
advisers and consultants to the Board of Directors of this Corporation, and,
when

                                       7
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invited, may sit with the Board of Directors at regular meetings and discuss any
questions under consideration provided, however, that such Director Emeritus
shall cast no vote.

                            ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES

         Section 1.    Committees of the Board of Directors.
         ----------    -------------------------------------

         The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Board of
Directors, may from time to time designate committees of the Board, with such
lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the
pleasure of the Board and shall, for these committees and any others provided
for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members,
designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace
any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee
so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to
declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate
of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law if the resolution which designates the committee or a
supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the
absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate
member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at
the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they
constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board
of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified
member.

         Section 2.    Conduct of Business.
         ----------    --------------------

         Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and
conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as
otherwise provided herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made
for notice to members of all meetings; one-third (1/3) of the members shall
constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2)
members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all
matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action
may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent
thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
the proceedings of such committee.

         Section 3.    Nominating Committee.
         ---------     ---------------------

         The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee of the
Board, consisting of not less than three (3) members. The Nominating Committee
shall have authority: (a) to review any nominations for election to the Board of
Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii)
of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw,
and (b) to recommend to the Whole Board nominees for election to the Board of
Directors to replace those directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of
stockholders next ensuing.

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                              ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

         Section 1.    Generally.
         ----------    ----------

                  (a) The Board of Directors as soon as may be practicable after
the annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a Chairman of the Board and a
Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary
and a Treasurer and from time to time may choose such other officers as it may
deem proper. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the directors.
Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

                  (b) The term of office of all officers shall be until the next
annual election of officers and until their respective successors are chosen but
any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the authorized number of directors then constituting the Board of
Directors.

                  (c) All officers chosen by the Board of Directors shall have
such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject
to the specific provisions of this ARTICLE IV. Such officers shall also have
such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of
Directors or by any committee thereof.

         Section 2.    Chairman of the Board of Directors.
         ----------    -----------------------------------

         The Chairman of the Board shall, subject to the provisions of these
Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, unless the Board has
designated another person, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall perform all
duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of the
Chairman of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of
Directors. He or she shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts
and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized.

         Section 3.    President and Chief Executive Officer.
         ----------    --------------------------------------

         The President and the Chief Executive Officer (the "President") shall
have general responsibility for the management and control of the business and
affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers
which are commonly incident to the offices of President and Chief Executive
Officer or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. Subject
to the direction of the Board of Directors, the President and Chief Executive
Officer shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other
instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general
supervision of all of the other officers (other than the Chairman of the Board),
employees and agents of the Corporation.

         Section 4.    Vice President.
         ----------    ---------------

         The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall perform the duties of the
President in his absence or during his inability to act. In addition, the Vice
Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to
their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be properly
assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the
President. A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated as Executive
Vice President or Senior Vice President.

                                       9
<PAGE>

         Section 5.    Secretary.
         ----------    ----------

         The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings,
shall keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books,
shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually
incident to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly
assigned thereto by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the
President. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary
shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.

         Section 6.    Treasurer.
         ----------    ----------

         The Treasurer shall be the Comptroller of the Corporation and shall
have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the
Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the
Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of
all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The
Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may
from time to time prescribe. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors,
the Treasurer shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.

         Section 7.    Assistant Secretaries and Other Officers.
         ----------    -----------------------------------------

         The Board of Directors may appoint one or more assistant secretaries
and such other officers who shall have such powers and shall perform such duties
as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be assigned to them by the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.

         Section 8.    Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
         ----------    --------------------------------------------------------

         Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or
any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President shall have power to
vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at
any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of
any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and
otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may
possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

                                ARTICLE V - STOCK

         Section 1.    Certificates of Stock.
         ----------    ----------------------

         Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in
the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President, and
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or Assistant
Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any or all of
the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile.

         Section 2.    Transfers of Stock.
         ----------    -------------------

         Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the
Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents
designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation. Except where a
certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of

                                       10
<PAGE>

these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall
be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.

         Section 3.    Record Date.
         ----------    ------------

         In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of
any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any
rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the
purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than
sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of
stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other
action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is
fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or,
if notice is waived, at the close of business on the next day preceding the day
on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or rights or
to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any
other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on
which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.

         A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to
vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.

         Section 4.    Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
         ----------    ---------------------------------------

         In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of
stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the
Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or
destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of
indemnity.

         Section 5.    Regulations.
         ----------    ------------

         The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of
stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may
establish.

                                       11
<PAGE>

                              ARTICLE VI - NOTICES

         Section 1.    Notices.
         ----------    --------

         Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law,
all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee
or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by
hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails,
postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other
courier. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director,
officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears
on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand
delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or
mailgram or other courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.

         Section 2.    Waivers.
         ----------    --------

         A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, director,
officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for
which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required
to be given to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent. Neither
the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.

                           ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS

         Section 1.        Facsimile Signatures.
         ----------        ---------------------

         In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere
specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or
officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board
of Directors or a committee thereof.

         Section 2.        Corporate Seal.
         ----------        ---------------

         The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name
of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and
when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of
the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or
an assistant to the Treasurer.

         Section 3.        Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records.
         ----------        -----------------------------------------

         Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of
Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his
or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of
account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or
employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any
other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably
believes are within such other person's professional or expert competence and
who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

                                       12
<PAGE>

         Section 4.    Fiscal Year.
         ----------    ------------

         The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of
Directors.

         Section 5.    Time Periods.
         ----------    -------------

         In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be
done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act
be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event,
calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded,
and the day of the event shall be included.

                            ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

         The Board of Directors may amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any
meeting of the Board, provided notice of the proposed change was given not less
than two days prior to the meeting. The stockholders shall also have power to
amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of stockholders provided
notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting; provided,
however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Bylaws or any
provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in
addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or
series of the voting stock required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation,
any Preferred Stock designation or these Bylaws, the affirmative votes of the
holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares
of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to
alter, amend or repeal any provisions of these Bylaws.



         The above Bylaws are effective as of November 21, 1995, the date of
incorporation of Ocean Financial Corp., as amended June 16, 1999 to change the
corporate title from Ocean Financial Corp. to OceanFirst Financial Corp. and as
amended May 17, 2000 to add director qualifications.



                                            /s/ John K. Kelly
                                            -------------------------
                                                John K. Kelly
                                               Corporate Secretary


                                            May 17, 2000
                                            ------------
                                                Date

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