Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Smith Gregory Martin 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PEAPACK GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORP [PGC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SEVP, President Comml Banking (Last) (First) (Middle) 500 HILLS DRIVE, SUITE 300, PO BOX 700 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/20/2026 (Street) BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/20/2026 M 1,640 A (1) 7,068 D Common Stock 03/20/2026 F(2) 562 D $33.18 6,506 D Common Stock 03/20/2026 M 1,570 A (3) 8,076 D Common Stock 03/20/2026 F(2) 538 D $33.18 7,538 D Common Stock 03/20/2026 M 1,559 A (4) 9,097 D Common Stock 03/20/2026 F(2) 534 D $33.18 8,563 D Common Stock 03/20/2026 M 8,075 A (5) 16,638 D Common Stock 03/20/2026 F(2) 2,766 D $33.18 13,872 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units	(1)	03/20/2026		M			1,640	(1)	(1)	Common Stock	1,640	(1)	3,282	D
Restricted Stock Units	(6)	03/20/2026		A		6,863		(6)	(6)	Common Stock	6,863	(6)	6,863	D
Restricted Stock Units	(3)	03/20/2026		M			1,570	(3)	(3)	Common Stock	1,570	(3)	1,573	D
Restricted Stock Units	(4)	03/20/2026		M			1,559	(4)	(4)	Common Stock	1,559	(4)	3,120	D
Restricted Stock Units	(5)	03/20/2026		M			8,075	(5)	(5)	Common Stock	8,075	(5)	0	D
Restricted Stock Units	(7)							(7)	(7)	Common Stock	7,383		7,383	D
Restricted Stock Units	(8)	03/20/2026		A		10,294		(8)	(8)	Common Stock	10,294	(8)	10,294	D
Phantom Stock	(9)	03/20/2026		M			1,801	(9)	(9)	Common Stock	1,801	(9)	1,801	D
Phantom Stock	(10)	03/20/2026		M			754	(10)	(10)	Common Stock	754	(10)	0	D
Phantom Stock	(11)							(11)	(11)	Common Stock	8,103		8,103	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Smith Gregory Martin 500 HILLS DRIVE, SUITE 300 PO BOX 700 BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921			SEVP, President Comml Banking

Signatures

Gregory M. Smith		03/24/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	On March 20, 2025, the reporting person was granted 4,922 restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting in three equal annual installments beginning on March 20, 2026. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of PGC common stock.
(2)	Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising from settlement of restricted stock units.
(3)	On March 20, 2022, the reporting person was granted 7,853 restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting in five equal annual installments beginning on March 20, 2023. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of PGC common stock.
(4)	On March 20, 2023, the reporting person was granted 7,797 restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting in five equal annual installments beginning on March 20, 2024. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of PGC common stock.
(5)	On March 20, 2023, the reporting person was granted 11,695 restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting on the third anniversary of the grant if certain performance conditions are met. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of PGC common stock. 8,075 restricted stock units vested.
(6)	On March 20, 2026, the reporting person was granted 6,863 restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting in three equal annual installments beginning on March 20, 2027. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of PGC common stock.
(7)	On March 20, 2025, the reporting person was granted 7,383 restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting on the third anniversary of the grant if certain performance conditions are met. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of PGC common stock.
(8)	On March 20, 2026, the reporting person was granted 10,294 restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting on the third anniversary of the grant if certain performance conditions are met. Upon vesting, each RSU converts into one share of PGC common stock.
(9)	On March 20, 2024, the reporting person was granted 5,402 phantom stock shares, vesting in three equal annual installments beginning on March 20, 2025. Upon vesting, each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock.
(10)	On March 20, 2021, the reporting person was granted 3,762 phantom stock shares, vesting in five equal annual installments beginning on March 20, 2022. Upon vesting, each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock.
(11)	On March 20, 2024, the reporting person was granted 8,103 phantom stock shares, vesting on the third anniversary of the grant if certain performance conditions are met. Upon vesting, each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure. Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.