2014Form11-K

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

[X]    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended         December 31, 2014                     

OR

[ ]    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______________ to ______________________

Commission File Number 001-31566

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

The Provident Bank 401(k) Plan

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Provident Financial Services, Inc.
239 Washington Street
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302



                                                




REQUIRED INFORMATION


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
  Page
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
1
 
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits ---December 31, 2014 and 2013
2
 
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits ---Years ended
    December 31, 2014 and 2013
3
 
 
Notes to Financial Statements
4
 
 
Supplemental Schedule
 
 
 
Schedule H, Line 4i---Schedule of Assets Held at End of Year
13
 
 
SIGNATURE OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
15
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX
16
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



                                                                                               






Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Audit Committee of Provident Financial Services, Inc
The Provident Bank 401(k) Plan:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Provident Bank 401(k) Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The supplemental information in the accompanying schedule, Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year), as of December 31, 2014, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s 2014 financial statements. The supplemental information is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but include supplemental information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information in the accompanying schedule, Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year), as of December 31, 2014, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the 2014 financial statements as a whole.  
/s/KPMG LLP
Short Hills, NJ
June 25, 2015





THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2014 and 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value
$
63,045,003
 
58,632,164
 
Loans receivable from participants
 
1,744,325
 
1,456,175
 
Employer contribution receivable
 
23,630
 
18,972
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets available for benefits
$
64,812,958
 
60,107,311
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
 
 
 



































2



The Provident Bank 401(k) Plan

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Years ended December 31,2014 and 2013

 
 
2014
 
2013
Additions to net assets attributable to :
 
 
 
 
Investment income:
 
 
 
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
 
1,588,407

 
9,664,085

Dividend income
 
809,995

 
710,365

Interest income
 
150,925

 
137,277

Net investment income
 
2,549,327

 
10,511,727

 
 
 
 
 
Interest on participant loans receivable
 
66,010

 
56,997

Contributions:
 
 
 
 
Employee contributions
 
3,882,533

 
3,525,726

Employer contributions
 
674,289

 
609,448

Rollover contributions
 
1,600,145

 
1,050,205

Total contributions
 
6,156,967

 
5,185,379

Total additions
 
8,772,304

 
15,754,103

 
 
 
 
 
Deductions from net assets attributable to:
 
 
 
 
Benefits paid to participants
 
4,155,803

 
4,922,144

Administrative expense
 
37,640

 
46,966

Total deductions
 
4,193,443

 
4,969,110

Increase in net assets available for benefits, before transfers
 
4,578,861

 
10,784,993

 
 
 
 
 
Transfers to the Plan
 
126,786

 
51,949

Increase in net assets available for benefits, after transfers
 
4,705,647

 
10,836,942

Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year
 
60,107,311

 
49,270,369

Net assets available for benefits at end of year
 
64,812,958

 
60,107,311

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




3


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013



(1)
Plan Description
The Provident Bank 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) is a voluntary, participant‑directed defined contribution plan sponsored by The Provident Bank (the “Bank”) and covers all eligible employees, as defined, of the Bank. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan. The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Eligible employees should refer to the Plan documents for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
(a)
Employee Contributions
Participants may elect to make tax deferred contributions up to the maximum amount allowed by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or Plan Document. Participants may also rollover account balances of previous employer sponsored qualified retirement plans.
Effective January 1, 2012, all new employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan 30 days after they first become eligible with an automatic contribution rate of 3% of eligible compensation. Enrolled participants may change their contribution rates at any time, including selecting not to contribute to the Plan.
A participant may make “catch‑up” contributions if the maximum annual amount of regular contributions is made and the participant is age 50 or older. The maximum allowable catch‑up contribution limit for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 is $5,500. Catch‑up contributions are not eligible for the employer’s matching contributions. Tax law requires that a participant’s catch‑up contributions be reclassified as regular contributions if the participant elects catch‑up contributions and fails to make the maximum allowable regular 401(k) contribution.
(b)
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) Diversification - Transfer to the Plan
Effective January 1, 2012, participants in the ESOP, a separate plan sponsored by the Bank, who have both attained age 55 and completed ten years of participation in the Plan, will have an option to diversify their holdings.
For each of the first five ESOP Plan years in the qualified participant election period of six years, the participant may elect to diversify an amount which does not exceed 25% of the number of shares allocated to their ESOP account since the inception of the ESOP, less all shares with respect to which an election under this provision has already been made. For the last year of the qualified election period, the participant may elect to have up to 50 percent of the value of their ESOP account, less all shares with respect to which an election under this provision has already been made. Once diversification is elected, the funds will be transferred from the ESOP to the Plan.
In 2014 and 2013, approximately $127,000 and $52,000 was transferred into the Plan, respectively, in connection with ESOP diversification.
(c)
Employer Contributions
In 2014 and 2013, employer matching contributions were made by the Bank in an amount equal to 25% of the first 6% of a participant’s eligible contributions. The Bank’s board of directors sets the matching contribution rate in its sole discretion.

4


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


(d)
Vesting
Participants are always fully vested in their contributions and income or losses thereon. Employer matching contributions to a participant’s account are also fully vested.
(e)
Participant Loans
Upon written application by a participant, the Plan administrator may direct that a loan be made from the participant’s account. The minimum permissible loan is $2,000. The maximum permissible loan available is limited to the lesser of: (i) $50,000 with certain reductions or (ii) 50% of the participant’s account balance. Any loan made must generally be repaid within a period, not to exceed the earlier of termination of employment or five years. The term of the loan may exceed five years for the purchase of a primary residence. Loans bear a rate of interest that remains in effect for the duration of the loan. As of December 31, 2014, the interest rate on all loans was at 4.25%. As of December 31, 2013, the interest rates on these loans ranged from 4.25% to 8.25%.
Principal and interest is paid ratably through bi‑weekly payroll deductions or directly by the participant to the Plan administrator.
(f)
Benefit Payments/Withdrawals
Upon retirement or termination of employment, participants may, under certain conditions, elect to receive vested amounts in: (i) a cash lump sum, or (ii) equal monthly, quarterly, semi‑annual or annual installments over a period not to exceed the life expectancy of the participant or the combined life expectancy of the participant and his or her designated beneficiary. During employment, participants may make cash withdrawals of post‑tax participant contributions and related vested employer matching contributions and earnings thereon once per year without penalty. Hardship withdrawals of pre‑tax participant contributions are also permitted once per year, but with a penalty.
(g)
Participants’ Accounts
Separate accounts for each participant are maintained and credited with the participant’s contributions, the Bank’s contributions made on behalf of that participant and the participant’s proportionate share, as defined, of Plan earnings or losses. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from his or her account.
(h)
Plan Changes
Effective May 22, 2014, the Plan was amended to provide credit for prior service for continuing employees of Team Capital Bank and to allow the rollover of participant loans from Team Capital Bank 401(k) plan into the Plan
Effective December 19, 2013, the Plan was amended to provide for elective deferral changes requested by participants to be effective each pay period. The Plan was further amended to remove the participation restriction for employees classified as temporary workers.
(i)
Funds and Accounts Managed by Principal Trust Company
Under the terms of a trust agreement between the Principal Trust Company (the “Custodian”) and the Bank, the Custodian manages funds on behalf of the Plan. The Custodian held the Plan’s investment assets and executed transactions relating to such assets.


5


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


(2)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a)
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
(b)
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires the Plan administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(c)
Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan invests in various investment instruments, including mutual funds, pooled separate accounts, guaranteed investment contracts, and common stocks. Investment securities in general are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and market risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investments will occur in the near‑term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.
The Plan provides for investment in the common stock of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”). At December 31, 2014 and 2013, approximately 18% and 20% of the Plan’s net assets were invested in the common stock of the Company, respectively. The underlying values of the Company common stock are entirely dependent upon the performance of the Company, and the market’s evaluation of such performance.
(d)
Loans Receivable from Participants
Participant loans are classified as loans receivable from participants, which are segregated from Plan investments and measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest.
(e)
Investment Securities
Investment securities are reported at fair value. Fair value is the amount at which an asset may be purchased or sold in an orderly transaction between market participants. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on the trade date and are stated at fair value.
Investment contracts held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value. However, for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The Plan’s investment in the Principal Fixed Income 401(a)/(k) at December 31, 2014 held investment contracts that were deemed to be fully benefit-responsive. As required by U.S. GAAP, the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits present the fair value, as well as the amount necessary to adjust this fair value to contract value. The contract value represents contributions plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Management has concluded that the current crediting rate of the contract approximates the fair value yield and that no fair value adjustment is required based on the credit worthiness of the issuer. Therefore contract value approximates fair value.

6


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


(f)
Income Recognition
Interest income is recorded as earned on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex‑dividend date.
(g)
Benefits Paid to Participants
Benefits are recorded when paid.
(3)
Plan Expenses
Certain costs of administrative services rendered on behalf of the Plan including accounting, tax, legal, audit and other administrative support were borne by the Bank. Contract administrator fees are paid from Plan assets. Investment management fees are paid to the funds offered by the Plan and reflected in the change in fair value of the Plan holdings.
(4)
Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed intent to do so, the Bank has the right to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.
(5)
Federal Income Taxes
On September 17, 2013, the Plan received a favorable Determination Letter from the Internal Revenue Service, which stated that the Plan and its underlying trust qualify under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore are exempt from federal income taxes. The Plan has been amended since the issuance of the IRS determination letter. The Plan administrator believes, the Plan and its underlying trust have operated within the terms of the Plan document and remain qualified under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
U.S. GAAP requires plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2011.
(6)
Investment Securities
Investment Securities at December 31, 2014 and 2013 consisted of mutual funds, pooled separate accounts, guaranteed investment contracts, and common stock issued by the Company. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, individual investments in excess of 5% of the fair value of the net assets available for plan benefits were as follows:


7


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


 
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
Investment in common stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provident Financial Services, Inc.:
 
 
$
11,699,793

 
$
12,238,301

 
Guaranteed investment contract:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Fixed Income 401(a)/(k)
 
 
9,093,712

 
8,286,191

 
Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
American Funds Europacific Growth Fund
 
 
3,400,202

 
3,466,790

 
Prudential Jennison Mid Cap Growth Fund
 
 
3,263,148

 
3,220,657

 
Columbia Dividend Income Fund
 
 
4,111,470

 
3,661,192

 
MainStay Large Cap Growth Fund
 
 
6,351,880

 
6,223,053

 
For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Plan’s net appreciation/(depreciation) in investments was as follows:
 
 
 
2014
 
2013
Mutual funds
 
 
$
1,986,284

 
$
5,991,053

Pooled separate accounts
 
 
386,763

 
838,164

Provident Financial Services, Inc. common stock
 
 
(784,640
)
 
2,834,868

 
 
 
$
1,588,407

 
$
9,664,085

U.S. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of fair value hierarchy under U.S. GAAP are as follows:
Level 1:
Unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2:
Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3:
Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
There have been no changes in valuation methodologies used at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value are as follows:
Mutual funds: Mutual Funds are measured based on exchange quoted prices available in active markets.
Pooled separate accounts: Valued by the NAV of the pooled separate accounts, based on the fair value of the underlying holdings.



8


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


Guaranteed investment contract: Valued at fair value based on the ability of the insurance carrier to honor its obligations under the contract. Management has concluded that the current crediting rate of the contract approximates the fair value yield and that no fair value adjustment is required based on the credit worthiness of the issuer. Therefore contract value approximates fair value.
Provident Financial Services Inc. common stock: Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded (New York Stock Exchange).
Common/collective trusts: Valued at the NAV of the trust, based on the fair value of the underlying holdings.
The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
The following tables present the Plan’s fair value hierarchy for those investments measured at fair value as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
Fair value measurements at December 31, 2014
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pooled separate accounts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Index funds large U.S. equity
 
$
2,597,254

 

 
2,597,254

 

Index funds small/mid U.S. equity
 
1,520,020

 

 
1,520,020

 

Mutual fund:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balanced funds
 
12,955,629

 
12,955,629

 

 

Fixed income funds
 
3,480,984

 
3,480,984

 

 

International funds
 
3,736,168

 
3,736,168

 

 

Large U.S. equity funds
 
11,875,291

 
11,875,291

 

 

Small/mid U.S. equity funds
 
6,086,152

 
6,086,152

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guaranteed Investment Contract
 
9,093,712

 

 

 
9,093,712

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provident Financial Services, Inc. common stock
 
11,699,793

 
11,699,793

 

 

 
 
$
63,045,003

 
$
49,834,017

 
$
4,117,274

 
$
9,093,712


9


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


 
 
Fair value measurements at December 31, 2013
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pooled separate accounts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Index funds large U.S. equity
 
$
1,926,160

 

 
1,926,160

 

Index funds small/mid U.S. equity
 
1,486,090

 

 
1,486,090

 

Mutual fund:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balanced funds
 
11,145,675

 
11,145,675

 

 

Fixed income funds
 
3,047,120

 
3,047,120

 

 

International funds
 
3,718,010

 
3,718,010

 

 

Large U.S. equity funds
 
10,826,862

 
10,826,862

 

 

Small/mid U.S. equity funds
 
5,957,755

 
5,957,755

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guaranteed Investment Contract
 
8,286,191

 

 

 
8,286,191

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provident Financial Services, Inc. common stock
 
12,238,301

 
12,238,301

 

 

 
 
$
58,632,164

 
$
46,933,723

 
$
3,412,250

 
$
8,286,191

The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Plan’s Level 3 assets for the year ended December 31, 2014:
 
 
Guaranteed
 
 
 
investment
 
 
 
contracts
 
Balance, beginning of year
 
$
8,286,191

 
Interest
 
150,925

 
Purchases
 
1,909,631

 
Sales
 
(1,253,036
)
 
Balance, end of year
 
$
9,093,712

 
 
 
 
 
The Plan’s mutual fund and pooled separate account investments in funds are valued and are redeemable daily. There are no restrictions on redemptions except if certain funds are held in participant accounts for less than specified periods, the account may be charged a trading fee of 1%‑2%.
(7)
Short‑Term Fixed Income Options
(a)
Principal Fixed Income 401(a)/(k)
The Plan invests in the Principal Fixed Income 401(a)/(k) (the “Contract”), a benefit‑responsive group annuity contract issued by the Principal Life Insurance Company. The Contract is not a portfolio of contracts whose yields are based on changes in the fair value of underlying assets, but is rather a single group annuity contract with a fixed rate of interest. As a result, the average yield earned by the Plan is the yield earned, or the interest credited, on the group annuity

10


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


contract. The underlying assets consist primarily of treasuries, commercial real estate mortgages, mortgage‑backed securities and short‑term cash equivalents.
The interest crediting rate is determined on a semiannual basis and is calculated based upon many factors, including current economic and market conditions, the general interest rate environment, and purchases and redemptions by unit holders. An employer‑level surrender of the Plan’s interest in the Principal Fixed Income Option or employer‑initiated transfer will be subject to either a 12‑month irrevocable advance notice or a 5% surrender charge, whichever the employer chooses.
The average market yield earned by the Contract, which is also the actual interest credited to participants in the Contract, for the year ending on December 31, 2014 and 2013 was 2.00% There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract issuer or otherwise. The fair value of the investment contract at December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $9,093,712 and $8,286,191, respectively. This Contract was reinstated on May 1, 2013.
(b)
Principal Stable Value Preferred Fund (Replaced by the Principal Fixed Income 401(a)(k))
The Plan’s investment in the Stable Value Preferred Fund was sold and replaced by the Fixed Income 401(a)/(k) on May 1, 2013.
The Plan invested in the Principal Stable Value Preferred Fund (the “Stable Value Preferred Fund”), which is a benefit‑responsive collective trust fund. The objective of the Stable Value Preferred Fund is to provide preservation of capital. The Stable Value Preferred Fund seeks to achieve this objective by investing primarily in a variety of high quality Stable Value Investment Contracts as well as cash and cash equivalents.
Investment income is accrued as earned. Investment income earned daily by the Stable Value Preferred Fund is recorded on an accrual basis and retains the character of income as earned by the underlying fund. Income from investment contracts in the fund is recorded at the contract rate, which is referred to as the crediting rate, which in the case of synthetic contracts is net of fees to the issuer of the wrap contract. For fully benefit‑responsive synthetic investment contracts, earnings on the underlying assets are factored into the next computation of the crediting reset.
The average market yield earned by the Stable Value Preferred Fund, which is also the actual interest credited to participants in the Stable Value Preferred Fund was 1.27% throughout the 2013 fiscal year.
(8)
Related‑Party Transactions
Certain Plan investments are investment contracts or shares of fixed income and pooled separate accounts managed or issued by The Principal Financial Group (“Principal”) or its affiliates. Investment fees were paid by the funds to Principal and are reflected in the change in fair value of the funds. Principal is also the trustee and record keeper as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party‑in‑interest transactions. Contract administrator fees that were paid from plan assets were $37,640 and $46,966, for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
The Plan had invested $11,699,793 and $12,238,301, at fair value, in the common stock of Provident Financial Services, Inc. as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
For the purposes of the Form 5500 and related supplemental schedules, Loans receivable from participants are reported as Participant loans which are included in Plan investments as opposed to being separately disclosed in the financial statements.    

11


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014 and 2013


(9)
Subsequent Events
In connection with the preparation of the financial statements, the Plan administrator has evaluated subsequent events after December 31, 2014 through June 25, 2015, the date the financial statements were issued, and concluded that no additional disclosures were required.




12


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Supplemental Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2014


Identity of issuer
 
Description of investment
 
Shares
 
Fair value
 
*
Principal Life Insurance Company
Pooled Separate Accounts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Small Cap S&P 600 Index
 
25,423   
$
 1,138,119  
 
*
Principal Life Insurance Company
Pooled Separate Accounts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Mid Cap S&P 400 Index
 
8,793  
 
 381,901 
 
*
Principal Life Insurance Company
Pooled Separate Accounts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Large Cap S&P 500
 
26,855 
 
    2,597,254
 
*
Principal Life Insurance Company
Insurance Company General Account
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Fixed Income Guarantee Option
 
723,103
 
9,093,712
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement Income Fund
 
164,526
 
      2,441,559
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2010 Fund
 
18,705
 
331,632
 
 
T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc
Registered Investment
Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2015 Fund
 
7,928 
 
114,721
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2020 Fund
 
115,743
 
2,397,030
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2025 Fund
 
82,446
 
1,295,221
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2030 Fund
 
122,243
 
2,814,036
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2035 Fund
 
22,917   
 
381,794   
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2040 Fund
 
64,489  
 
1,542,578   
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2045 Fund
 
25,266  
 
404,264   
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2050 Fund
 
76,298  
 
1,023,153  
 
 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement 2055 Fund
 
15,751  
 
209,641   
 

13


THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(k) PLAN
Supplemental Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2014


 
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Value
 
55,505   
 
1,592,444  
 
 
BMO Funds
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BMO Small-Cap Growth I Fund
 
9,958   
 
187,301  
 
 
Prudential Investments, LLC
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prudential Jennison Mid Cap Growth
 
85,624  
 
3,263,148  
 
 
JP Morgan Investment Mgmt Inc
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
JP Morgan US Equity
 
97,308  
 
1,411,941  
 
 
Mainstay
 
 
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mainstay Large Cap Growth
 
632,658  
 
6,351,880  
 
 
Columbia Funds
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Columbia Dividend Income
 
216,964   
 
4,111,470   
 
 
Invesco
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Invesco VanKampen Small Cap Value
53,119   
 
1,043,259   
 
 
PIMCO
 
 
 
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PIMCO Total Return
 
283,274   
 
3,019,695   
 
 
Capitol Research and Mgmt Co
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
American Funds Europacific Growth
 
73,502   
 
3,400,202  
 
 
Vanguard Group
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index
 
42,437   
 
461,289  
 
 
Vanguard Group
 
Registered Investment Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vanguard Total International Stock Index
21,606   
 
335,966   
 
*
Provident Financial Services, Inc.
 
Common Stock
 
647,829   
 
11,699,793  
 
*
Participant loans (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
1,744,325   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64,789,328   
*
A party-in-interest as defined by ERISA.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
As of December 31, 2014, the interest rate on all loans was at 4.25% with maturity dates through May 20, 2039
 
 
 
See accompanying Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 


14




Signatures


The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
THE PROVIDENT BANK 401(K) PLAN
 
 
By:
/s/ Sara Rispoli
 
 
Name:
Sara Rispoli
Title:
Plan Administrator
 
First Vice President
 
The Provident Bank
 
 
Date: June 25, 2015
        

    
    



15    




Exhibit Index



Exhibit Number
Exhibit
Location
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm
Page 17





















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