Solomon Ponniah to Join Dime as Group Leader

Rhea-AI Summary

Dime Community Bancshares announced the hiring of Solomon Ponniah as Senior Vice President and Group Leader, strengthening its commercial lending division. Ponniah brings over 15 years of experience in Commercial Lending and joins from Popular Bank, where he served as Director of Business Banking.

The strategic hire aligns with Dime's expansion plans in the NYC metro area. CEO Stuart H. Lubow emphasized that bringing Ponniah on board supports their growth objectives. Ponniah expressed enthusiasm about joining Dime, citing the bank's quick customer response, flat organizational structure, and growth trajectory as key factors in his decision.

Positive

• Strategic hire of Solomon Ponniah with 15+ years commercial lending experience strengthens NYC metro expansion
• Continued execution of geographic growth strategy in NYC metro market
• Addition of senior leadership from Popular Bank indicates successful talent acquisition

Negative

• None.

Dime Continues to Execute on Growth Plan and NYC Metro Buildout

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the “Company” or “Dime”), the parent company of Dime Community Bank (the “Bank”) announced that it has hired Solomon Ponniah as Senior Vice President and Group Leader. Solomon comes to Dime with over 15 years of experience in Commercial Lending, most recently as Director of Business Banking at Popular Bank.

“I am excited to join Dime and be a part of their growth story. Dime’s ability to respond to customers quickly, their flat organizational structure, and their growth trajectory attracted me to join the Bank,” said Solomon.

Stuart H. Lubow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dime, said “Hiring Solomon to our Commercial Lending division is consistent with our stated goal of growing our presence in the NYC metro area. Solomon is a well-regarded banker and bringing him on board is a solid win for Dime.”

ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Dime Community Bank, a New York State-chartered trust company with over $14 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share among community banks on Greater Long Island ⁽¹⁾.

Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
Investor Relations Contact:
Avinash Reddy
Senior Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 718-782-6200; Ext. 5909
Email: avinash.reddy@dime.com

 ¹ Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for community banks with less than $20 billion in assets.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.

FAQ

Who is Solomon Ponniah and what is his new role at Dime Community Bank (DCOM)?

Solomon Ponniah is joining Dime Community Bank as Senior Vice President and Group Leader. He brings over 15 years of Commercial Lending experience and was previously the Director of Business Banking at Popular Bank.

How will Solomon Ponniah's appointment impact DCOM's NYC metro expansion plans?

Solomon Ponniah's appointment aligns with Dime's strategic goal of expanding their presence in the NYC metro area. As an experienced commercial lender, his hiring strengthens their commercial lending division and supports their growth trajectory.

What attracted Solomon Ponniah to join Dime Community Bank (DCOM) in 2025?

Solomon Ponniah was attracted to Dime Community Bank due to three main factors: their quick customer response time, flat organizational structure, and strong growth trajectory.

What is Dime Community Bank's (DCOM) current growth strategy in 2025?

Dime Community Bank is executing a growth plan focused on expanding their presence in the NYC metropolitan area, with a particular emphasis on strengthening their Commercial Lending division through strategic hires.

What experience does Solomon Ponniah bring to DCOM's commercial lending team?

Solomon Ponniah brings over 15 years of Commercial Lending experience to DCOM, most recently serving as Director of Business Banking at Popular Bank, making him a well-regarded addition to Dime's commercial lending team.