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):  December 22, 2016

DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
0-27782
 
11-3297463
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

209 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, New York   11211
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:           (718) 782-6200

None
(Former name or former address, 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:

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 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 


Item 8.01.
Other Events

On December 22, 2016 the Board of Directors of Dime Community Bank (the “bank”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, voted to prepay the outstanding balance on the Registrant’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) Share Acquisition Loan as of December 31, 2016.  The Registrant issued a press release on December 28, 2016 describing the transaction and the impact to earnings, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
 
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

  (d)
Exhibits
 
Exhibit No.
 
 
99.1
Press release of the Registrant, dated December 28, 2016, announcing the prepayment of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan Share Acquisition Loan.
 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Form 8-K Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.
   
By:
/s/ MICHAEL PUCELLA
 
Michael Pucella
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 Dated: December 28, 2016
 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number

Press release of the Registrant, dated December 28, 2016, announcing the prepayment of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan Share Acquisition Loan.