# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000712771
**File Stem:** 0001437749-25-037725
**Filing Date:** 2025-12
**Character Count:** 19631
**Document Hash:** 9ce5ed248dcc471cebd78dece44d9884
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001437749-25-037725.hdr.sgml**: 20251212

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001437749-25-037725

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 15

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251211

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251212

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251212

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000712771
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 521273725
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** NJ
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-40751
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251567969

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 301 SYLVAN AVENUE
- **CITY:** ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
- **STATE:** NJ
- **ZIP:** 07632
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 2018168900

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 301 SYLVAN AVENUE
- **CITY:** ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS
- **STATE:** NJ
- **ZIP:** 07632

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** CENTER BANCORP INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19920703

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? cnob20251212_8k.htm

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

**FORM 8-K**

**CURRENT REPORT**

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): <u>December 11, 2025</u>

![newlogo01.jpg](newlogo01.jpg)

**<u>CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC.</u>**

(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **<u>New Jersey</u>** | **<u>000-11486</u>** | <u>**52-1273725**</u> |
| (State or other jurisdiction | (Commission | (IRS Employer |
| of incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No |
| **301 Sylvan Avenue** |  |  |
| **<u>Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey</u>** |  | **<u>07632</u>** |
| (Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Zip Code) |

---

Company's telephone number, including area code <u>(201) 816-8900</u>

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

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

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Title of each class&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock | CNOB | NASDAQ |
| Depositary Shares (each representing a 1/40th interest in a share of 5.25% Series A Non-Cumulative, perpetual preferred stock) | CNOBP | NASDAQ |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 5.02**  | **Departure Of Directors Or Principal Officers; Election Of Directors; Appointment Of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements Of Certain Officers** |

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*Separation and Release Agreement with Michael O*'*Malley*

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. (the "<u>Company</u>") announced that Michael O'Malley, who currently serves as the Company's Chief Risk Officer, will separate employment with the Company effective December 31, 2025 (the "<u>Separation Date</u>") to pursue other opportunities. In order to ensure an orderly transition, the Company and Mr. O'Malley entered into a Separation and Release Agreement (the "<u>Agreement</u>") as of December 11, 2025, which among other items, provides for the following:

● Mr. O'Malley will continue to serve as Chief Risk Officer until the Separation Date and will be entitled to receive such 2025 cash incentive as he is awarded by the Company's Compensation Committee pursuant to the terms of the Company's Executive Incentive Plan;

● Certain equity awards outstanding as of the Separation Date, as specified in the Agreement, will continue to vest until their next vesting date, in March of 2026;

● Mr. O'Malley's departure will be treated as a "termination without cause" under the terms of that certain Employment Agreement dated November 30, 2020 between Mr. O'Malley, the Company and ConnectOne Bank (the "Employment Agreement"), entitling Mr. O'Malley to a severance payment equal to $389,813 and continuation of certain insurance benefits for a period of twelve (12) months; and

● Effective as of the Separation Date, the Employment Agreement is terminated (except with respect to certain provisions set forth therein with respect to competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality, which shall survive).

The foregoing description of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Separately, the Company announced that it had appointed Mark Pappas, who has served as the Company's Chief Internal Auditor for the past three years, to serve as the Company's Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Pappas has over 30 years of experience as a risk and audit professional, including prior experience as a Chief Risk Officer of a multi-billion dollar asset New York metropolitan area bank. With his appointment as Chief Risk Officer, Mr. Pappas will no longer serve as the Company's Chief Internal Auditor.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 9.01** | **Financial Statements and Exhibits.** |

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(d) Exhibits

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| 10.1 | [Separation and Release Agreement by and between ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., ConnectOne Bank and Michael O'Malley dated December 11, 2025.](ex_898302.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |

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**SIGNATURES**

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

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **<u>CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC.</u>** | **<u>CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC.</u>** |
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Registrant) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Registrant) |
| Dated: December 12, 2025 | By:  | /s/ William S. Burns |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **WILLIAM S. BURNS** |
|  |  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

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## Exhibit 10.1

**Exhibit 10.1**

<u>SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT</u>

This Separation and Release Agreement ("Agreement") is made as of this 11th day of December, 2025 by and among Michael O'Malley ("Employee"), ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., a New Jersey corporation ("CNOB") and ConnectOne Bank, a New Jersey chartered commercial bank ("Bank", and with CNOB, collectively the "Employer").

WHEREAS, Employee has dutifully served as an executive officer of Employer;

WHEREAS, Employer and Employee are currently parties to that certain Employment Agreement dated as of November 30, 2020 (the "Employment Agreement");

WHEREAS, upon a review of the Employer's staffing and strategic direction upon completion of its merger with The First of Long Island Corporation and The First National Bank of Long Island, Employer and Employee determined that the parties should terminate the Employee Agreement, and Employee's employment with Employer, amicably;

WHEREAS, Employer and Employee wish to ensure an orderly transition of Employee's position with Employer;

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Employee's last day of employment with Employer will be December 31, 2025 (the "Separation Date");

WHEREAS, Employee and the Employer desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth their respective agreements regarding Employee's separation from employment;

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Employee and the Employer agree as follows:

1. <u>Employment Until Separation Date.</u> From the date hereof until the Separation Date, Employee will remain employed as an executive officer of Employer on the same terms and conditions, including base salary, as he is employed under as of the date of this Agreement, provided that Employee will at all times continue to comply with all of Employer's policies, procedures and requirements applicable to employees and the terms of this Agreement as well as the terms of the Employment Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. <u>2025 Cash Incentive Plan Award.</u> Provided Employee remains employed in good standing by the Employer through the Separation Date, Employee will remain eligible to receive a cash bonus under the Employer's Executive Incentive Plan for his performance in 2025, despite the fact that the Employee will not be an employee of the Employer on the date the bonus is paid, currently expected to be in the first quarter of 2026. Employee's performance in 2025 will be evaluated by the Employer's Board Compensation Committee under the terms of the Executive Incentive Plan, and Employee will be eligible to receive such bonus award as the Compensation Committee shall determine in good faith based on Employee's performance during 2025.

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3. <u>Payment Under Employment Agreement</u>. For purposes of the Employment Agreement, provided Employee remains employed in good standing with the Employer through the Separation Date, the termination of Employee's employment with Employer on the Separation Date shall be deemed a "termination without cause" under Section 6(d) of the Employment Agreement, and, provided that Employee complies with Section 11(g) of the Employment Agreement in accordance with its terms, Employer shall make the payments, and provide the benefits, provided for under Section 6(d) of the Employment Agreement to Employee under the terms provided for therein.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. <u>Equity Awards Outstanding as of Separation Date.</u> Employer agrees that, provided Employee remains employed in good standing by the Employer through the Separation Date, those certain time vested equity awards listed on Exhibit A hereto will be deemed vested as of their vesting date as set forth on Exhibit A, notwithstanding the fact that Employee's employment has terminated as of the Separation Date. In addition, Employee shall be entitled to settlement of the Performance Units noted on Exhibit A as and when determined by Employer's Compensation Committee in accordance with the terms of the Performance Units. Employee acknowledges that all unvested equity awards as of the Separation Date (other than those listed on Exhibit A) will terminate as of the Separation Date and be of no further force or effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. <u>Termination of Existing Agreement; Preservation of Certain Provisions.</u> Effective as of the Separation Date, except as set forth herein, the Employment Agreement shall be deemed terminated, and provided that each party has until such date complied with all of its or his obligations under the Employment Agreement and this Agreement until such date, all obligations of the Employee and the Employer to one another shall be deemed satisfied. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11(f) and (g) of the Employment Agreement will remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and are deemed incorporated herein.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. <u>Employer Property</u>. As of the Separation Date, Employee shall turn over or return to Employer any and all property in Employee's possession, custody or control that belongs to the Employer.

7. <u>Non-Disparagement</u>. Employee agrees to forever refrain from making any disparaging remarks or other negative or derogatory statements, written or oral, to any third party relating to the Employer, or its parents, subsidiaries, officers, employees, members or agents or customers;. Employer agrees to forever refrain from making any disparaging remarks or other negative or derogatory statements, written or oral, to any third party relating to the Employee; provided, however that the forgoing shall not prohibit Employee or Employer from providing truthful testimony in any judicial or administrative proceeding, if Employee or Employer, as appropriate, is legally compelled to so testify. For purposes hereof, only statements made by the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Human Resources (or comparable position) of the Employer shall be deemed statements made by or on behalf of the Employer.

------

8. <u>Resignation From All Employer Positions;</u> <u>No Obligation to Re-Hire</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) By executing this Agreement, Employee is resigning from any and all additional positions Employee may hold with Employer, its affiliates or subsidiaries, including but not limited to (i) any positions with any compensation or benefit plans for the benefit of employees or directors of the Employer or (ii) any positions with any subsidiary or joint venture of the Employer, effective as of the Separation Date, or, with regard to positions with affiliates or subsidiaries of Employer, sooner if requested by Employer.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) Employee agrees that the Employer shall have no obligation, contractual or otherwise to hire, re-hire or re-employ Employee in the future.

9. <u>Employee's Release</u>. Upon the Separation Date, as a condition to receiving the payments under Section 6(d) of the Employment Agreement, as well as the benefits provided for hereunder, Employee shall provide Employer with a general release as required by section 11(g) of the Employment Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10. <u>Equitable and other Remedies</u>. Employee agrees that the Employer will suffer irreparable harm in the event that Employee breaches any of Employee's obligations under this Agreement, and that it is impossible to measure in money the damages that will accrue to the Employer in the event of such a breach or threatened breach. Accordingly, if any action or proceeding is commenced by or on behalf of the Employer to enforce any of the provisions contained in this Agreement, Employee hereby waives the claim or defense that the Employer has an adequate remedy at law or has not been or is not being irreparably injured by such breach or threatened breach, and Employee agrees to not raise such claim or defense in any such action or proceeding. Employee further agrees that the Employer shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief to restrain any breaches or further violations of this Agreement, without the posting of any bond, and that this right to injunctive relief shall be in addition to any and all of the Employer's other remedies and damages, including, but not limited to, costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred as a result of said breach or threatened breach.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11. <u>Entire Agreement</u>. This Agreement and the exhibits hereto are the complete agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter herein, and, except as otherwise provided for herein, supersedes all agreements previously made between the parties relating to its subject matter. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an agreement in writing signed by both parties.

12. <u>Liability for Breach of Agreement</u>. Any party found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be in breach of this Agreement shall be liable for all reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the non-breaching party in connection with any efforts to enforce this Agreement against the party found to be in breach.

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13. <u>Voluntary Nature of Agreement</u>. Employee warrants, represents and acknowledges that this Agreement is entered into by Employee knowingly and voluntarily as an act of Employee's own free will; that Employee is of sound mind; and that Employee is laboring under no physical or mental infirmity that would affect either Employee's capacity to understand the terms of this Agreement or to freely enter into and be bound by the provisions of this Agreement**. Employee has been advised that Employee should have this Agreement reviewed by a legal representative of Employee**'**s choice.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14. <u>Governing Law/Forum Selection</u>. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey. The parties agree that all disputes arising under this Agreement shall be resolved in the courts of the state of New Jersey sitting in Bergen County, or the federal district court for the District of New Jersey sitting on Newark, New Jersey.

15. <u>Counterparts</u>. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original and together which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

16. <u>409A</u>. The payments and benefits described herein are intended to either comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the parties intend that this Agreement will be administered and interpreted consistent with that intention.

I have read the foregoing Agreement and I accept and agree to its provisions and hereby execute it voluntarily with full understanding of its consequences.

*[Signatures on Next Page]*

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*[Signature Page to Separation and Release Agreement]* 

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC. | CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC. | CONNECTONE BANCORP, INC. |
| By:  | /s/ Robert Schwartz | /s/ Robert Schwartz |
|  | Name: | Robert Schwartz |
|  | Title: | Executive Vice President and General Counsel |
| CONNECTONE BANK | CONNECTONE BANK | CONNECTONE BANK |
| By: | /s/ Robert Schwartz | /s/ Robert Schwartz |
|  | Name: | Robert Schwartz |
|  | Title: | Executive Vice President and General Counsel |
|  | /s/ Michael O'Malley | /s/ Michael O'Malley |
| Michael O'Malley | Michael O'Malley | Michael O'Malley |

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**EXHIBIT A** 

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| GRANT DATE | VESTING DATE | NUMBER OF SHARES | TYPE OF AWARD |
| 03/20/25 | 03/20/26 | 1,029 | TIME VESTED DEFERRED STOCK UNITS |
| 03/22/24 | 03/22/26 | 1,160 | TIME VESTED DEFERRED STOCK UNITS |
| 03/20/23 | 03/20/26 | 1,796 | TIME VESTED DEFERRED STOCK UNITS |
| 03/20/23 | 12/31/25 | 3,592 | PERFORMANCE UNITS (SEE NOTE) |

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NOTE: ACTUAL AWARD WILL EITHER BE ZERO OR 50-55% OF TARGET, PAYABLE APPROXIMATELY 3/31/26<br>