# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001476034
**File Stem:** 0001104659-26-020615
**Filing Date:** 2026-2
**Character Count:** 197791
**Document Hash:** 6eba5c31135bf6e7a79fc1d0ffaf3c62
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001104659-26-020615.hdr.sgml**: 20260226

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001104659-26-020615

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 18

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260225

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Regulation FD Disclosure

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260226

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260226

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001476034
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 134042724
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** NY
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-38282
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26690300

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 99 PARK AVENUE
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10016
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 212-659-0600

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 99 PARK AVENUE
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10016

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'?

**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): February 25, 2026**

**METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP.**

**(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **New York** | **001-38282** | **13-4042724** |
| **(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)** | **(Commission File No.)** | **(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)** |
| **99 Park Avenue, New York, New York** |  | **10016** |
| **(Address of Principal Executive Offices)** |  | **(Zip Code)** |

---

**(212) 659-0600**

**(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)**

**N/A**

**(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)**

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

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

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

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

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

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share MCB | New York Stock Exchange |

---

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

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. ¨

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 1.01** | **Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement** |

---

On February 25, 2026, Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (the "Company") entered into an underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with UBS Securities LLC and Hovde Group, LLC as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the "Underwriters"). Pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell, and the Underwriters agreed to purchase, subject to and on the conditions set forth therein, 2,100,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), in a registered public offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283534) and a related prospectus, including the related prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Offering"). Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 315,000 shares of Common Stock. The Offering is expected to close on February 27, 2026.

The net proceeds from the Offering to the Company will be approximately $169.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the Underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The description of the Underwriting Agreement contained herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the Offering, the legal opinion as to the legality of the Common Stock sold in this Offering is being filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein and into the Registration Statement by reference.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 7.01** | **Regulation FD Disclosure.** |

---

On February 25, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of the Offering. A copy of the press release is furnished in this Current Report on 8-K, pursuant to this Item 7.01, as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information provided under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), nor shall it be incorporated by reference into a filing under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. The furnishing of the information under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission by the Company that the information in this report is material or complete, or that investors should consider this information before making an investment decision with respect to any security of the Company or any of its affiliates.

---

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

---

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit No.** | **Description** |
| [1.1](tm267033d2_ex1-1.htm) | [Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 25, 2026, by and among Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp., UBS Securities LLC and Hovde Group, LLC as representatives of the underwriters named therein.](tm267033d2_ex1-1.htm) |
| [5.1](tm267033d2_ex5-1.htm) | [Opinion of Duane Morris LLP](tm267033d2_ex5-1.htm) |
| [23.1](tm267033d2_ex5-1.htm) | [Consent of Duane Morris LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)](tm267033d2_ex5-1.htm) |
| [99.1](tm267033d2_ex99-1.htm) | [Press Release dated February 25, 2026](tm267033d2_ex99-1.htm) |
| 104 | The cover page from the Company's Form 8-K, formatted in Inline XBRL. |

---

**SIGNATURES**

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

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP.** | **METROPOLITAN BANK HOLDING CORP.** |
| Dated: February 26, 2026 | By: | /s/ Daniel F. Dougherty |
|  |  | Daniel F. Dougherty |
|  |  | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |

---

## Exhibit 1.1

**Exhibit 1.1**

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.

2,100,000 Shares of Common Stock

<u>Underwriting Agreement</u>

February 25, 2026

UBS Securities LLC

Hovde Group, LLC

As Representatives of the<br> several Underwriters listed<br> in <u>Schedule 1</u> hereto

<br> c/o UBS Securities LLC

11 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

c/o Hovde Group, LLC

1629 Colonial Parkway

Inverness, Illinois 60067

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp., a New York corporation (the "***Company***"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters listed in <u>Schedule 1</u> hereto (the "***Underwriters***"), for whom you are acting as representatives (the "***Representatives***"), an aggregate of 2,100,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "***Underwritten Shares***"). In addition, the Company proposes to issue and sell, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional 315,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the "***Option Shares***"). The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the "***Shares***." The shares of common stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein as the "***Stock***."

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. <u>Registration Statement</u>. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "***Commission***") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "***Securities Act***"), an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-283534), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness ("***Rule 430 Information***"), is referred to herein as the "***Registration Statement***"; and as used herein, the term "***Preliminary Prospectus***" means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term "***Prospectus***" means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the "***Rule 462 Registration Statement***"), then any reference herein to the term "***Registration Statement***" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this underwriting agreement (this "***Agreement***") to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to "amend," "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the "***Exchange Act***") that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on <u>Annex A</u>, the "***Pricing Disclosure Package***"): a Preliminary Prospectus dated February 25, 2026 and each "free-writing prospectus" (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on <u>Annex A</u> hereto.

"***Applicable Time***" means 9:00 P.M., New York City time, on February 25, 2026.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. <u>Purchase of the Shares</u>. (a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per share (the "***Purchase Price***") of $80.75 from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in <u>Schedule 1</u> hereto.

In addition, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in <u>Schedule 1</u> hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Company by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments among the Underwriters to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representatives in their discretion shall make.

The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company, to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on February 27, 2026, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the "***Closing Date***" and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the "***Additional Closing Date***".

Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("***DTC***") unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm's length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company for acting as advisor (whether financial, legal, tax, investment or regulatory), fiduciary or agent with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. <u>Representations and Warranties of the Company</u>. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) *Preliminary Prospectus.* No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; *provided*, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) *Pricing Disclosure Package*. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; *provided*, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. No statement of material fact required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) *Issuer Free Writing Prospectus*. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any "written communication" (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an "***Issuer Free Writing Prospectus***") other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the documents listed on <u>Annex A</u> hereto, (iii) the additional written communication listed on <u>Annex E</u> hereto, (iv) each electronic road show and (v) any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. The Company has taken all actions necessary so that any "road show" (as defined in Rule 433 under the 1933 Act) in connection with the offering of the Shares will not be required to be filed pursuant to the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; *provided*, that the Company has voluntarily filed a copy of the additional written communication listed on <u>Annex E</u> hereto on a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act.

Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; *provided*, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) [Intentionally Omitted].

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) *Testing-the-Waters Materials.* In connection with the offering of the Shares, the Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications and (ii) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications in connection with the offering of the Shares. "***Written Testing-the-Waters Communication***" means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. "***Testing-the-Waters Communication***" means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on either Section 5(d) of, or Rule 163B under, the Securities Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) *Registration Statement and Prospectus*. The Registration Statement is an "automatic shelf registration statement" as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof, and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; *provided*, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) *Incorporated Documents*. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) *Financial Statement*s*.* The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("***GAAP***") in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby; and all disclosures included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding "non-GAAP financial measures" (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) *No Material Adverse Change*. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of common stock of the Company upon exercise of equity awards described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders' equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) *Organization and Good Standing.* The Company and each of its subsidiaries other than Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the "***Bank***"), a New York commercial bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders' equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (a "***Material Adverse Effect***"). The Company is duly registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (together with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as applicable, the "***Federal Reserve***") as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq. and is in compliance with all applicable requirements. <u>Schedule 2</u> to this Agreement sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all of the Company's subsidiaries. Except for its subsidiaries, the Company does not own beneficially, directly or indirectly, more than five percent (5%) of any class of equity securities or similar interests of any corporation, business trust, association or similar organization, and is not, directly or indirectly, a partner in any partnership or party to any joint venture. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of its interests in each subsidiary free and clear of any and all liens. The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("***FDIC***") to the fullest extent permitted by the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 1811 et seq., and the rules and regulations of the FDIC thereunder, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable extensions), and no proceeding for the modification, termination or revocation of such insurance are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System and is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Company beneficially owns all of the outstanding capital securities of, and has sole control of, the Bank.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) *Bank Charter.* The Bank is a state chartered bank under the laws of the State of New York to transact business as a state chartered bank and the charter of the Bank is in full force and effect; the Bank has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the state of New York, except where the failure to be so organized, existing or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Bank has the corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Bank is "well-capitalized" as defined under applicable Federal Reserve regulations and has not been informed by any Regulatory Authorities (defined below) that its status as "well-capitalized" will change within one year, nor, to the Company's knowledge, has the Bank been informed other than in writing by any Regulatory Authority that its status as "well-capitalized" will change within one year.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) *Regulatory.* (i) Except as noted in the Consent Order from the New York State Department of Financial Services ("***NYSDFS***"), dated October 18, 2023, the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws administered by, and all rules, regulations, directives, orders and decrees of any federal, state, local or foreign regulatory, supervisory authority or enforcement, self-regulatory organization or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over or rulemaking authority with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a "***Regulatory Authority***" and collectively, the "***Regulatory Authorities***") (including, without limitation, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the NYSDFS, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury ("***OFAC***")) applicable to them, except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. For the last five years, the Company, the Bank and each of its subsidiaries have filed all material reports, registrations and statements, together with any required amendments thereto, that it was required to file with the Federal Reserve, the NYSDFS and the FDIC, and any other applicable Regulatory Authorities. All such reports and statements filed with any such Regulatory Authority are collectively referred to herein as the "***Company Reports***." As of their respective dates, the Company Reports complied as to form in all material respects with all the rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve, the NYSDFS and the FDIC and all other applicable Regulatory Authority, as the case may be. The Company is "well-capitalized" under applicable Federal Reserve regulations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Company, the Bank nor any of the Company's other subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise subject to any order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding, corrective or cease and desist order, order of prohibition or suspension, written agreement or other written statement as described under 12 U.S.C. 1818(u) or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding or order with or by, or is a party to or recipient of a commitment letter, supervisory letter or similar undertaking to or from, or is subject to any directive by, any Regulatory Authority (whether or not such Regulatory Authority has determined that publication would be contrary to the public interest) or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any of the Regulatory Authorities. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been advised by any such entity that it is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding, corrective or cease and desist order, order of prohibition or suspension, commitment letter, supervisory letter or similar undertaking or other written agreement or statement; and there is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Authority with respect to any examination of the Company and its subsidiaries which, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, is expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m) *Community Reinvestment Act and Privacy Requirements*. The Bank has received an overall Community Reinvestment Act ("***CRA***") rating of at least "Satisfactory" and has not been informed in writing by any Regulatory Authority that it may receive a less than "Satisfactory" rating for CRA purposes within one year, nor, to the Company's knowledge, has the Bank been informed other than in writing by any Regulatory Authority that it may receive a less than "Satisfactory" rating for CRA purposes within one year. The Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that exist that would cause the Bank to be, (i) not in satisfactory compliance in any material respect with the CRA, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or to be assigned a CRA rating by federal or state bank regulators of lower than "Satisfactory," or (ii) not in satisfactory compliance in any respect with the applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy laws and regulations, including, without limitation, in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the provisions of the information security program adopted by the Bank, pursuant to 12 C.F.R. Part 364.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n) *Capitalization.* The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading "Capitalization"; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(o) *Stock Options.* Except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, with respect to the stock options (the "***Stock Options***") granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "***Company Stock Plans***"), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "***Code***") so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the "Grant Date") by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of The New York Stock Exchange (the "***NYSE***") and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company's filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(p) *Due Authorization.* The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and all action required to be taken by the Company for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(q) *Underwriting Agreement.* This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(r) *The Shares.* The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(s) *Descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement.* This Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(t) *Regulatory Disclosure.* The statements set forth under the captions "Business––Regulation," "Business––Regulation of the Bank" and "Business––Holding Company Regulation" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to describe laws and regulations specifically referred to therein, and subject to the qualifications, exceptions, assumptions and limitations described therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(u) *No Violation or Default.* Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or bylaws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) *No Conflicts.* The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or bylaws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(w) *No Consents Required.* No consent, filing, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("***FINRA***"), the NYSE and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters. The Company is an "experienced issuer" as defined in FINRA Rule 5110(j)(6). The information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and, to the Company's knowledge, the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares is true, complete, correct in all material respects and compliant with FINRA's rules and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rules or NASD Conduct Rules is true, complete and correct in all material respects.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(x) *Legal Proceedings.* Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings ("***Actions***") pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or involving any of the properties of the Company or any of its or their subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such Actions are threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated or threatened by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(y) *Independent Accountants*. Crowe LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(z) *Title to Real and Personal Property.* The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(aa) *Intellectual Property.* Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own or have the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, domain names and other source indicators, copyrights and copyrightable works, know-how, trade secrets, systems, procedures, proprietary or confidential information and all other worldwide intellectual property, industrial property and proprietary rights (collectively, "***Intellectual Property***") used in the conduct of their respective businesses; (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries' conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any person; (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim relating to Intellectual Property; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property of the Company and their subsidiaries is not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(bb) *No Undisclosed Relationships.* No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(cc) *Investment Company Act.* The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof received by the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(dd) *Taxes.* The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state and local taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except with respect to any taxes for which extensions of time to file have been timely filed and for taxes that are currently being contested in good faith and with respect to which appropriate reserves have been made in accordance with GAAP, or as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for tax deficiencies that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, none of the tax returns or taxes of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently under audit or other examination and there are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, local or foreign tax return for any period.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ee) *Licenses and Permits.* The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course except where such revocation, modification or failure to renew would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ff) *No Labor Disputes.* No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries' principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any collective bargaining agreement to which it is a party.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(gg) *Certain Environmental Matters*. (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to pollution or the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, "***Environmental Laws***"); (y) have received and are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (z) have not received notice of any liability or obligation under or relating to, or any actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) (x) there is no proceeding that is pending, or that is known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (z) none of the Company or its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(hh) *Compliance with ERISA*. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("***ERISA***"), for which the Company or any member of its "Controlled Group" (defined as any entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or any entity that would be regarded as a single employer with the Company under Section 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Code) would have any liability (each, a "***Plan***") has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no Plan has failed (whether or not waived), or is reasonably expected to fail, to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) applicable to such Plan; (iv) no Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in "at risk status" (within the meaning of Section 303(i) of ERISA) and no Plan that is a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA is in "endangered status" or "critical status" (within the meaning of Sections 304 and 305 of ERISA); (v) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (vi) no "reportable event" (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (vii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification; (viii) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (ix) none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its Controlled Group affiliates in the current fiscal year of the Company and its Controlled Group affiliates compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company's and its Controlled Group affiliates' most recently completed fiscal year; or (B) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries' "accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations" (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries' most recently completed fiscal year, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (ix) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) *Disclosure Controls*. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(jj) *Accounting Controls.* The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of "internal control over financial reporting" (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Based on the Company's most recent evaluation of its internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Rule 13a-15(c) of the Exchange Act, there are no material weaknesses in the Company's internal controls. The Company's auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(kk) *eXtensible Business Reporting Language*. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ll) *Insurance.* The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company reasonably believes are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(mm) *Cybersecurity; Data Protection.* The Company and its subsidiaries' information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, "***IT Systems***") are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, and is, to the knowledge of the Company, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data ("***Personal Data***")) used in connection with their businesses, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same, except for those that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(nn) *No Unlawful Payments.* Neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee, agent, affiliate or other person authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(oo) *Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws*. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the "***Anti-Money Laundering Laws***"), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(pp) *No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws.* Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors or officers nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employees, agent, affiliate or other person authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, OFAC or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a "specially designated national" or "blocked person"), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty's Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, "***Sanctions***"), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, as of the date of this Agreement, the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, the so-called Luhansk People's Republic or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065 (each, a "***Sanctioned Country***"); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person, or with or in any Sanctioned Country, that at the time of the dealing or transaction was or is the subject or the target of Sanctions.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(qq) *Restrictions on Bank Dividends*. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Bank is not prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any statute, law, rule, regulation, directive, order, agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, or otherwise, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary's properties or assets to the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(rr) *No Broker's Fees.* Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ss) *No Registration Rights*. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company hereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(tt) *No Stabilization.* Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company's knowledge, affiliates have taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares or of any "reference security" (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act ("***Regulation M***")) with respect to the Shares, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise, and has taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(uu) *Margin Rules*. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vv) *Forward-Looking Statements.* No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ww) *Statistical and Market Data.* Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(xx) *Sarbanes-Oxley Act*. Except as previously disclosed in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 28, 2023, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company's directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans, to the extent applicable to the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(yy) *Status under the Securities Act*. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a *bona fide* offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company is and was (i) a "well-known seasoned issuer" and (ii) not an "ineligible issuer," and, in each case as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(zz) *Listing*. The Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the NYSE, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Stock from NYSE, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. To the Company's knowledge, it is in compliance with all applicable listing requirements of NYSE.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(aaa) *No Ratings*. There are (and prior to the Closing Date, will be) no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. <u>Further Agreements of the Company</u>. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) *Required Filings.* The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) *Delivery of Copies.* The Company will deliver electronically, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, one signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term "***Prospectus Delivery Period***" means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) *Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.* Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus, whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably objects.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) *Notice to the Representatives.* The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing-the-Waters Communication; (v) of the issuance by the Commission or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (viii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) *Ongoing Compliance.* (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) *Blue Sky Compliance.* The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; *provided*, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) *Earning Statement.* The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the "effective date" (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) *Clear Market.* For a period of ninety days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, hedge, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of UBS Securities LLC and Hovde Group, LLC, other than the Shares to be sold hereunder and any options or other share-based awards issued under Company Stock Plans described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus or any shares of Stock of the Company issued upon the exercise of options granted under Company Stock Plans described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) *Use of Proceeds.* The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading "Use of Proceeds."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) *No Stabilization*. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries or controlled affiliates will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) *Exchange Listing.* The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list the Shares on the NYSE.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) *Reports.* So long as the Shares are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; *provided*, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m) *Record Retention*. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n) *Shelf Renewal*. If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the "Renewal Deadline") of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Shares remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Representative. If the Company is not eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Representative, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within one hundred eighty days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the issuance and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Shares. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. <u>Certain Agreements of the Underwriters</u>. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any "free writing prospectus," as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no "issuer information" (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on <u>Annex A</u> or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), (iii) the additional written communication listed on <u>Annex E</u> hereto, or (iv) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an "***Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus***").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final pricing terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; *provided*, that Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of <u>Annex C</u> hereto without the consent of the Company; *provided*, *further*, that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company in writing if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. <u>Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.</u> The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) *Registration Compliance; No Stop Order.* No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) *Representations and Warranties.* The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) *No Downgrade*. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) *No Material Adverse Change.* No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(i) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) *Officers' Certificate.* The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations of the Company set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(e) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) *Comfort Letters.* On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Crowe LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a "cut-off" date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) *CFO Certificates*. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, of its Chief Financial Officer with respect to certain financial data contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing "management comfort" with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) *Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company.* Duane Morris LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in <u>Annex D</u> hereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) *Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters.* The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) *No Legal Impediment to Issuance and/or Sale.* No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) *Good Standing*. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) *Exchange Listing.* The Company has notified the NYSE of the listing of the Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and the NYSE has not notified the Company that it has any objections. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(m) *Lock-up Agreements*. The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of <u>Exhibit A</u> hereto, between you and officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(n) *Additional Documents.* On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7. <u>Indemnification and Contribution</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) *Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company.* The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any "issuer information" filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a "road show") or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) *Indemnification of the Company.* Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" and the information contained in the fourteenth and fifteenth paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) *Notice and Procedures.* If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7, such person (the "***Indemnified Person***") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the "***Indemnifying Person***") in writing; *provided*, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and *provided*, *further*, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified in writing the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than sixty days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least forty-five days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) *Contribution.* If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) *Limitation on Liability.* The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by *pro rata* allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) *Non-Exclusive Remedies.* The remedies provided for in this Section 7 paragraphs (a) through (e) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8. <u>Effectiveness of Agreement</u>. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9. <u>Termination</u>. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by written notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the NYSE or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10. <u>Defaulting Underwriter</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within thirty-six hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in <u>Schedule 1</u> hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter's pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11. <u>Payment of Expenses</u>*.*(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company's counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such state and foreign jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum; (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (viii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any "road show" presentation to potential investors; (ix) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the NYSE; (x) the costs and expenses of qualifying the Shares for inclusion in the book-entry settlement system of the DTC; (xi) all reasonable and documented fees, costs, expenses, and disbursements of the Underwriters, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto); and (xii) any other costs, fees and expenses incident to the performance of the Company's other obligations hereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to clause (ii) of Section 9, and trading generally shall not have been have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the NYSE or The Nasdaq Stock Market, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters (other than pursuant to clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) of Section 9) or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement (other than pursuant to clauses (i), (iii) and (iv) of Section 9), the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby; *provided*, *however*, if the conditions in clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section relate to the Option Shares only, then the obligation in this Section shall relate only to the reimbursement of out of pocket costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase of the Option Shares; *provided*, *further*, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 10, the Company shall have no obligation to reimburse a defaulting underwriter for such costs and expenses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12. <u>Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement</u>. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;13. <u>Survival</u>. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14. <u>Certain Defined Terms</u>. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term "affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term "business day" means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term "subsidiary" has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15. <u>Compliance with USA Patriot Act</u>. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16. <u>Miscellaneous</u>.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) *Notices.* All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o UBS Securities LLC, 11 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attention: Equity Syndicate and Hovde Group, LLC, 1629 Colonial Parkway, Inverness, Illinois 60067, Attention: Michael Hedre, e-mail: mhedrei@hovdegroup.com. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at 99 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10016, (fax: (212) 659-0610); Attention: Mark DeFazio, Dan Dougherty and Frederik Erikson.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) *Governing Law.* This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) *Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.* Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. The Company agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which Company is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) *Counterparts.* This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) *Amendments or Waivers.* No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) *Headings.* The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) *Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.*

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) In the event that any party that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such party of this Agreement and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) In the event that any party that is a Covered Entity or any BHC Act Affiliate of such party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. The requirements of this Section 16(g)(i) apply notwithstanding the following Section 16(g)(ii).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) *Limitation on the Exercise of Certain Rights Related to Affiliate Insolvency Proceedings.*

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other agreement, but subject to the requirements of Section 16(g)(i), no party to this Agreement shall be permitted to exercise any Default Right against a party that is a Covered Entity with respect to this Agreement that is related, directly or indirectly, to a BHC Act Affiliate of such party becoming subject to Insolvency Proceedings, except to the extent the exercise of such Default Right would be permitted under the creditor protection provisions of 12 C.F.R. § 252.84, 12 C.F.R. § 47.5, or 12 C.F.R. § 382.4, as applicable.

After a BHC Act Affiliate of a party that is a Covered Entity has become subject to Insolvency Proceedings, if any party to this Agreement seeks to exercise any Default Right against such Covered Entity with respect to this Agreement, the party seeking to exercise a Default Right shall have the burden of proof, by clear and convincing evidence, that the exercise of such Default Right is permitted hereunder.

As used in Sections 16(g) and (h):

"***BHC Act Affiliate***" has the meaning assigned to the term "affiliate" in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

"***Covered Entity***" means any of the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) a "***covered entity***" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) a "***covered bank***" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) a "***covered FSI***" as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

"***Default Right***" has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

"***Insolvency Proceeding***" means a receivership, insolvency, liquidation, resolution or similar proceeding.

"***U.S. Special Resolution Regime***" means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) *Integration*. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

[*Signature Pages Follow*]

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Very truly yours, | Very truly yours, |
| **Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.** | **Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.** |
| By: | /s/ Mark R. DeFazio |
|  | Mark R. DeFazio |
|  | President and Chief Executive Officer |

---

*Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement*

Accepted: As of the date first written above

**UBS SECURITIES LLC** 

**HOVDE GROUP, LLC**

For themselves and on behalf of the<br> several Underwriters listed<br> in <u>Schedule 1</u> hereto.

UBS SECURITIES LLC

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| By: | /s/ Carlos Alvarez |
|  | Authorized Signatory |
| By: | /s/ Alex Cahail |
|  | Authorized Signatory |

---

HOVDE GROUP, LLC

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| By: | /s/ Mike Hedrei |
|  | Authorized Signatory |

---

*Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement*

**<u>Schedule 1</u>**

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| <u>Underwriter</u> | <u>Number of Underwritten Shares</u> |
| UBS Securities LLC | 1260000 |
| Hovde Group, LLC | 840000 |
|  | 2100000 |
|  | Total |

---

**<u>Schedule 2</u>**

**Subsidiaries**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Name | Percent Ownership | State of Incorporation |
| Metropolitan Commercial Bank | 100% | New York |
| MCB 5102-13th Ave Brooklyn LLC | 100% | New York |
| MCB Management Solutions LLC | 100%\* | New York |
| MCB Payment Solutions LLC | 100%\* | New York |

---

\* Inactive subsidiary indirectly owned through Metropolitan Commercial Bank.

**<u>Annex A</u>**

a. **Issuer Free Writing Prospectus Included in Pricing Disclosure Package**

None

b. **Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters**

Price per share: $85.00

Number of Underwritten Shares: 2,100,000

Number of Option Shares: 315,000

**<u>Annex B</u>**

**Written Testing-the-Waters Communications**

None

**<u>Annex C</u>**

**Pricing Term Sheet**

None

**<u>Annex D</u>**

**Form Opinion of Counsel to the Company**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. The Company is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the State of New York.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries have corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate its respective properties and to conduct their businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package (as defined in the Agreement) and the Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries are duly qualified as a foreign corporation or foreign limited liability company, as the case may be, to transact business in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Agreement).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. The number of authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column entitled "*Actual*" under the caption "*Capitalization*" (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to the Agreement or pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus); the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (including the Shares, when paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Agreement) conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, to our knowledge, none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares, when paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of the Agreement) was issued in violation of the pre-emptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7. The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to the Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the Agreement against full payment of the consideration set forth in the Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8. To our knowledge, no person has the right to require the Company or any Company Subsidiary to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived and/or are described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9. The Bank has been duly chartered and is validly existing as a commercial bank organized under the laws of the State of New York and has the power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System. The Bank is an insured depository institution under the provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, and the deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the legal maximum, and no proceeding for the termination or revocation of such insurance is pending or, to our knowledge, threatened. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Bank has been duly authorized and, to our knowledge, has been validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; in addition, to our knowledge, none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank was issued in violation of the pre-emptive or similar rights of any securityholder of the Bank.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10. The Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11. The Registration Statement became automatically effective upon filing under the Securities Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and, to our knowledge, (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and (ii) no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12. The Registration Statement, the Rule 430A information, each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, as of their respective effective or issue dates (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need express no opinion), including all reports required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated by reference therein, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder as of their respective filing dates.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;13. To our knowledge, there is not pending or threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is a party, or to which the property of the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries is subject, before or brought by any court, any governmental or regulatory agency, or body, domestic or foreign, which might, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or that might, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14. The information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings "*Certain ERISA Considerations*", "*Material U.S. Federal Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders of Common Stock*", "*Business—Regulation*" (via incorporation by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025), and in Item 15 of the Registration Statement, to the extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the legal description of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, is accurate in all material respects as of the date of such statements.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15. All descriptions in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus of contracts and other documents to which the Company or the Company Subsidiaries are a party are accurate in all material respects.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority or agency or self-regulatory organization, domestic or foreign (other than under the Securities Act, which have been obtained, or as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of the various states and under the rules and regulations of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("**FINRA**"), as to which we express no opinion) is necessary or required to be obtained by the Company in connection with the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Agreement, compliance by the Company with the terms thereof, or for the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Shares contemplated thereby.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17. The execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Agreement) do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, each as set forth on <u>Exhibit A</u> (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or the Company Subsidiary Organizational Documents or any applicable law, statute, rule, or regulation known to us, of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or operations.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18. The Company is not, and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds received by the Company from the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "**1940 Act**").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19. The documents incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus Supplement (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they were filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20. The description of the Agreement contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conforms in all material respects to the Agreement.

*Negative Assurance*:

Subject to the foregoing, we confirm to you that, on the basis of the information we gained in the course of performing the legal services in connection with negotiating, documenting and reviewing the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, no facts have come to our attention which would lead us to believe (i) that the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule 430A information (except for financial statements and the related notes thereto, the financial statement schedules and other financial and accounting data included or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no view), at the time such Registration Statement or any such amendment became effective, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) that the Pricing Disclosure Package, taken together with the pricing information, or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and the related notes thereto, the financial statement schedules and other financial and accounting data included or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no view), at the Applicable Time (as defined in the Agreement), as of its date or the date hereof, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and the related notes thereto, the financial statement schedules and other financial and accounting data included or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no view), at the Applicable Time, as of its date or the date hereof, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

**<u>Exhibit A</u>**

**Form of Lock-Up Agreement**

February 20, 2026

UBS Securities LLC

Hovde Group, LLC

as Representatives of the several

Underwriters to be named in the within

mentioned Underwriting Agreement

c/o UBS Securities LLC

11 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

c/o Hovde Group, LLC

1629 Colonial Parkway

Inverness, Illinois 60067

Re: <u>Proposed Public Offering by Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.</u>

Dear Sirs and Madams:

The undersigned, a stockholder, officer and/or director of Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (the "***Company***"), understands that UBS Securities LLC ("***UBS***") and Hovde Group, LLC ("***Hovde***" and, together with UBS, the "***Representatives***") propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the "***Underwriting Agreement***") with the Company providing for the public offering (the "***Public Offering***") of shares of the Company's common stock (the "***Common Stock***"). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder, officer and/or director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with the Representatives on behalf of the underwriters (collectively, the "***Underwriters***") that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on, and including, the date that is ninety days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the "***Lock-Up Period***"), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, lend, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired during the Lock-Up Period by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires during the Lock-Up Period the power of disposition (including, without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "***Commission***") and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) (collectively, the "***Lock-Up Securities***"), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-Up Securities, or file, cause to be filed or cause to be confidentially submitted any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) enter into any hedging, swap, loan or any other agreement or any transaction (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such hedging, swap, loan or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing described in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may, without the prior written consent of the Representatives:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) transfer the Lock-Up Securities, *provided*, that (i) the Representatives receive
a signed lock-up agreement in the form of this lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from each donee,
trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (ii) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (iii) such
transfers are not required to be reported with the Commission on Form 4 in accordance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the "  ***Exchange Act*** "),
and (iv) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned
(for purposes of this lock-up agreement, "immediate family" shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not
more remote than first cousin); or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) if the undersigned is a trust, to the trustor or beneficiary of such trust or to the estate of a beneficiary
of such trust; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) as a distribution to partners, stockholders, members of or owners of similar equity interests of the undersigned;
or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4) to the undersigned's affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed
by the undersigned.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) transfer the Lock-Up Securities, provided that (i) the Representatives receive
a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lockup period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the
case may be, (ii) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, and (iii) any filing under the Exchange Act required
to be made during the Lock-Up Period shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to circumstances
described below, as applicable, and in the case of clause (1) below, the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public
filing or report regarding such transfers:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) as a bona fide gift or gifts; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) by will or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or any immediate family
of the undersigned; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) pursuant to a court or regulatory agency order, a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce
settlement.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) transfer the Lock-Up Securities to the Company pursuant to an agreement under which the Company
has the option to repurchase shares or a right of first refusal with respect to transfer of such shares upon termination of service of
the undersigned; *provided*, *however*, that (i) any filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act made during
the Lock-Up Period shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that (x) the filing relates to the circumstances described
above and (y) no Lock-Up Securities were sold by the undersigned, other than such transfers to the Company as described
and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any other public filings or report regarding such transfer during
the Lock-Up Period;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) transfer or surrender the Lock-Up Securities to the Company as forfeitures to satisfy tax withholding
and remittance obligations of the undersigned in connection with the vesting or exercise of equity awards granted pursuant to the Company's
equity incentive plans or pursuant to a net exercise or cashless exercise by the stockholder of outstanding equity awards pursuant to
the Company's equity incentive plans; *provided*, *however*, that (i) any filing under Section 16
of the Exchange Act made during the Lock-Up Period shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that (x) the filing
relates to the circumstances described above and (y) no Lock-Up Securities were sold by the undersigned, other than such
transfers to the Company as described and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any other public filings or
report regarding such transfer or surrender during the Lock-Up Period;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) transfer the Lock-Up Securities upon the completion of a bona fide third-party tender offer,
merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Company's securities involving a change of control
of the Company, provided that, in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction is not completed,
any Lock-Up Securities held by the undersigned shall remain subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this lock-up agreement
(for purposes hereof, "change of control" shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other
similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act) or group of affiliated persons, of shares of capital stock of the Company if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated
persons would hold more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity));

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) exercise any rights to purchase, exchange or convert any stock options granted to the undersigned pursuant
to the Company's equity incentive plans referred to in the Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), or exercise any
warrants or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, which warrants or other securities
are described in the Prospectus; *provided*, that (i) any shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange
of such option, warrant or other security shall continue to be subject to the restrictions set forth herein until the expiration of the Lock-Up Period and
(ii) any filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the shares of Common
Stock received from such purchase, exchange or conversion remain subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this lock-up agreement;
or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) transfer the Lock-Up Securities pursuant to a trading plan established under Rule 10b5-1 under
the Exchange Act ("  ***10b5-1 Trading Plan***") prior to the date hereof; *provided*, that such
trading plan was established prior to the entry into this letter agreement and such trading plan has been provided to the Representatives
and their legal counsel, and *provided*, *further*, that, to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange
Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding such transfer, such announcement
or filing shall include a statement that such transfer is in accordance with an established 10b5-1 Trading Plan.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing herein shall prevent the undersigned from establishing a 10b5-1 Trading Plan or from amending an existing 10b5-1 Trading Plan so long as either there are no sales of Lock-Up Securities under such plan during the Lock-Up Period or such 10b5-1 Trading Plan has been reviewed by the Representatives prior to the date of the Underwriting Agreement; and provided that the establishment of a 10b5-1 Trading Plan or the amendment of a 10b5-1 Trading Plan, in either case, providing for sales of Lock-Up Securities shall only be permitted if (i) the establishment or amendment of such plan is not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Commission, or otherwise, during the Lock-Up Period (other than the required disclosure on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as applicable, of the entrance into any 10b5-1 Trading Plan during the relevant fiscal quarter, provided that such disclosure includes a statement to the effect that no transfers may be made pursuant to such 10b5-1 Trading Plan during the Lock-Up Period) and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding the establishment or amendment of such plan.

Furthermore, the undersigned may sell shares of Common Stock of the Company purchased by the undersigned in the Public Offering or on the open market following the Public Offering if and only if (i) such sales are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Commission or otherwise (other than a filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act that is required to be filed during the Lock-Up Period and such filing clearly indicates in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause) and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters (including the Representatives) are relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned's heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Shares and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Underwriters may provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures or other related documentation to them in connection with the Public Offering, the Underwriters are not making a recommendation to the undersigned to participate in the Public Offering or sell any Shares at the price determined in the Public Offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures or documentation is intended to suggest that any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power, capacity and authority to enter into this lock-up agreement.

This lock-up agreement shall automatically terminate, and the undersigned shall be released from its obligations hereunder, upon the earliest to occur, if any, of: (i) the date either the Company, on the one hand, or the Representatives, on the other hand, advise the other in writing, prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, that they have determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) the date of the termination of the Underwriting Agreement prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, (iii) the date of the withdrawal of the registration statement furnished to or filed with the Commission with respect to the Public Offering, or (iv) March 31, 2026, in the event that the Underwriting Agreement has not been executed by such date.

The undersigned hereby agrees that, to the extent that the terms of this lock-up agreement conflict with or are in any way inconsistent with any registration rights agreement or similar agreement to which the undersigned and the Company may be a party, this lock-up agreement supersedes such registration rights agreement or similar agreement.

This lock-up agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

This lock-up agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same lock-up agreement. Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this lock-up agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com or www.echosign.com) or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this lock-up agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

[*Signature Page Follows*]

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| |
|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Very truly yours, |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[NAME OF STOCKHOLDER / OFFICER/ |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;DIRECTOR] |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;By: ___________________________ |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Name: |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Title: |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;If not signing in an individual capacity: |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;______________________________ |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Name of Authorized Signatory (Print) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;______________________________ |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Title of Authorized Signatory (Print) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;(Indicate capacity of person signing if |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;an entity.) |

---

[*Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement*]

**<u>Annex E</u>**

**Additional Written Communications:**

a. **Issuer Free Writing Prospectus Not Included in Pricing Disclosure Package**

Electronic (NetRoadshow) road show of the Company related to the offering of the Shares

## Exhibit 5.1

**Exhibit 5.1**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;NEW YORK<br> LONDON<br> SINGAPORE<br> PHILADELPHIA<br> CHICAGO<br> WASHINGTON, DC<br> SAN FRANCISCO<br> SILICON VALLEY<br> SAN DIEGO<br> LOS ANGELES<br> BOSTON<br> HOUSTON<br> DALLAS<br> FORT WORTH<br> AUSTIN | &nbsp;&nbsp;![](tm267033d2_ex5-1img001.jpg)<br>*FIRM and AFFILIATE OFFICES*<br>*www.duanemorris.com* | &nbsp;&nbsp;HANOI<br> HO CHI MINH CITY<br> SHANGHAI<br> ATLANTA<br> BALTIMORE<br> WILMINGTON<br> MIAMI<br> BOCA RATON<br> PITTSBURGH<br> NORTH JERSEY<br> LAS VEGAS<br> SOUTH JERSEY<br> LAKE TAHOE<br> MYANMAR<br>ALLIANCES IN MEXICO |

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February 25, 2026

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.

99 Park Avenue

12<sup>th</sup> Floor

New York, New York 10016

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Re:** | **<u>Exhibit 5.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3</u>** |

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Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. a New York corporation (the "Corporation"), in connection with the offering and sale of 2,100,000 shares, par value $0.01 per share (the "Firm Shares"), of the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283534) (the "Registration Statement") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the prospectus included within the Registration Statement dated November 29, 2024 (the "Base Prospectus"), and the prospectus supplement dated February 25, 2026, and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (together with the Base Prospectus, the "Prospectus"). Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below), the Company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the shares of common stock sold in connection with the offering (together with the Firm Shares, the "Shares").

For purposes of rendering this opinion letter, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and the exhibits filed in connection therewith or incorporated by reference therein;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. the Underwriting Agreement dated as of February 25, 2026, by and between UBS Securities LLC and Hovde Group, LLC, as the representatives of the several underwriters listed on <u>Schedule 1</u> thereto and the Company (the "Underwriting Agreement");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York on November 24, 1997 and amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York on July 6, 2018, as certified by an officer of the Company;

<u>Duane Morris llp</u> <br> 30 SOUTH 17TH STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103-4196 PHONE: +1 215 979 1000 FAX: +1 215 979 1020

![](tm267033d2_ex5-1img002.jpg)

February 25, 2026

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d. the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as certified by an officer of the Company; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e. resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, as attested to by an officer of the Company.

We have also examined such other certificates of public officials, such certificates of executive officers of the Company and such other records, agreements, documents and instruments as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions hereafter set forth.

In such examination, we have assumed (i) the genuineness of all signatures, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or other copies and the authenticity of the originals of such documents and (v) that all records and other information made available to us by the Company on which we have relied are complete in all material respects. As to all questions of fact material to the opinion expressed herein, we have relied solely upon the above-referenced certificates or comparable documents and upon the representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement and other documents delivered pursuant thereto, have not performed or had performed any independent research of public records and have assumed that certificates of or other comparable documents from public officials dated prior to the date hereof remain accurate as of the date hereof.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.

The opinion expressed herein is rendered as of the date hereof and is based on existing law, which is subject to change. Where our opinion expressed herein refers to events to occur at a future date, we have assumed that there will have been no changes in the relevant law or facts between the date hereof and such future date. We do not undertake to advise you of any changes in the opinion expressed herein from matters that may hereafter arise or be brought to our attention or to revise or supplement such opinions should the present laws of any jurisdiction be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

Our opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.

![](tm267033d2_ex5-1img002.jpg)

February 25, 2026

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission for incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement and to any and all references to our firm in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are "experts" within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act or within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

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| |
|:---|
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Duane Morris LLP |

---

## Exhibit 99.1

**Exhibit 99.1**

![](tm267033d2_ex99-1img001.jpg)

**Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. Prices Public Offering of Common Stock**

**NEW YORK, NEW YORK – February 25, 2026 – Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE: MCB)** (the "Company"), the holding company for Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the "Bank"), today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 2,100,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $85.00 per share. The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the shares of common stock sold in connection with the offering.

The aggregate gross proceeds of the offering will be approximately $178.5 million before discounts and expenses. Assuming full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares, the aggregate gross proceeds of the offering would be approximately $205.3 million before discounts and expenses. The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to support its organic growth initiatives, investments in the Bank, working capital for ongoing operations, and general corporate purposes. The offering is expected to close on February 27, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

UBS Investment Bank and Hovde Group, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283534) that became effective on November 29, 2024 and a preliminary prospectus supplement for the offering to which this press release relates. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference therein, and the other documents we have filed and will file with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and this offering. The proposed offering is being made only by means of an effective shelf registration statement, including a preliminary prospectus supplement and final prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained, when available, for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additionally, copies may be obtained from Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp., 99 Park Avenue, 12<sup>th</sup> Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attention: Corporate Secretary, (212) 659-0600, or by contacting UBS Securities LLC, 11 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attention: Equity Syndicate or toll-free at (212) 713-2000 or Hovde Group, LLC, 1629 Colonial Parkway, Inverness, Illinois 60067, or by telephone toll-free at (833) 587-4159, or by e-mail at prospectus@hovdegroup.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any offering of the securities is being made only by means of a written prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

**About Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.**

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE: MCB) is the parent company of Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the "Bank"), a New York City based full-service commercial bank. The Bank provides a broad range of business, commercial and personal banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, private and public middle-market corporate enterprises and institutions, municipalities, and local government entities.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank was named one of Newsweek's Best Regional Banks in 2024 and 2025. The Independent Community Bankers of America ranked the Bank as a top ten loan producer in 2024 among commercial banks with more than $1 billion in assets. Kroll affirmed a BBB+ (investment grade) deposit rating in January 2026. For the fourth time, MCB has earned a place in the Piper Sandler Bank Sm-All Stars Class of 2024.

The Bank is a New York State chartered commercial bank, a member of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and an equal housing lender. For more information, please visit the Bank's website at MCBankNY.com.

**Forward-Looking Statements** 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the Company's future financial condition and capital ratios, results of operations, outlook, business, share repurchases under the program, dividend payments, intention to conduct the proposed offering , and statements related to the timing of the proposed offering and the size and final terms of the proposed offering, the completion of the proposed offering and the anticipated use of proceeds from the proposed offering. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts. Such statements may be identified by the use of such words as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "continue" or similar terminology. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control and may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause our forward-looking statements to be materially inaccurate include, but are not limited to the following: the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve and other regulatory bodies; an unexpected deterioration in the performance of our loan or securities portfolios; changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio and the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; unexpected increases in our expenses; different than anticipated growth and our ability to manage our growth; global pandemics, or localized epidemics, could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations; potential recessionary conditions, including the related effects on our borrowers and on our financial condition and results of operations; an unanticipated loss of key personnel or existing clients, or an inability to attract key employees; increases in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions which may result in unanticipated changes in our loan or deposit rates; unanticipated increases in FDIC insurance premiums or future assessments; legislative, tax or regulatory changes or actions, which may adversely affect the Company's business; impacts related to or resulting from regional and community bank failures and stresses to regional banks; changes in deposit flows, funding sources or loan demand, which may adversely affect the Company's business; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines may cause the Company's financial condition or results of operation to be reported or perceived differently; general economic conditions, including unemployment rates, either nationally or locally in some or all of the areas in which the Company does business, or conditions in the securities markets or the banking industry being less favorable than currently anticipated; inflation, which may lead to higher operating costs; declines in real estate values in the Company's market area, which may adversely affect our loan production; an unexpected adverse financial, regulatory, legal or bankruptcy event experienced by our non-bank financial service clients or critical technology service providers; system failures or cybersecurity breaches of our information technology infrastructure and/or confidential information or those of the Company's third-party service providers; emerging issues related to the development and use of artificial intelligence that could give rise to legal or regulatory action, damage our reputation or otherwise materially harm our business or clients; failure to maintain current technologies or technological changes that may be more difficult or expensive to implement than anticipated, and failure to successfully implement future information technology enhancements; the costs, including the possible incurrence of fines, penalties, or other negative effects (including reputational harm) of any adverse judicial, administrative, or arbitral rulings or proceedings, regulatory enforcement actions, or other legal actions to which we or any of our subsidiaries are a party, and which may adversely affect our results; the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, terrorism or other geopolitical events; the successful implementation or consummation of new business initiatives, which may be more difficult or expensive than anticipated; the timely and efficient development of new products and services offered by the Company or its strategic partners, as well as risks (including reputational and litigation) attendant thereto, and the perceived overall value and acceptance of these products and services by clients; changes in consumer spending, borrowing or savings habits; the risks associated with adverse changes to credit quality; an unexpected failure to successfully manage our credit risk and the sufficiency of our allowance for credit losses; credit and other risks from borrower and depositor concentrations (e.g., by geographic area and by industry); difficulties associated with achieving or predicting expected future financial results; and the potential impact on the Company's operations and clients resulting from natural or man-made disasters, wars, acts of terrorism, cyberattacks and pandemics, as well as those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake (and expressly disclaim) any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by law.

**Investor Contact:**

212-365-6721

IR@MCBankNY.com