Pioneer Bancorp (NASDAQ: PBFS) buys The College Advisor of New York, starts new division
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. announced that on July 29, 2026 it acquired The College Advisor of New York and launched a dedicated College Advising Division. The acquired firm focuses on helping families manage college search, admissions and affordability decisions through personalized guidance.
Founder Dr. Dean Skarlis becomes Vice President of College Advising and will lead the new division with his existing team, integrating college planning with financial strategy for high school students and their parents. The move builds on Pioneer’s More Than a Bank strategy by extending services beyond traditional banking into education-focused advisory offerings.
Pioneer is a financial holding company with more than $2 billion in assets and 23 offices in New York’s Capital Region, providing diversified financial services through multiple subsidiaries.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Analyzing...
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 8.01, 9.01
2 items
Item 8.01
Other Events
Other
Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Total assets: more than $2 billion
Offices in Capital Region: 23 offices
Risk factor period: year ended December 31, 2025
3 metrics
Total assets
more than $2 billion
Financial holding company asset size described in About Pioneer
Offices in Capital Region
23 offices
Number of Pioneer Bank offices in New York’s Capital Region
Risk factor period
year ended December 31, 2025
Period referenced for Risk Factors in Pioneer’s Form 10-K
Key Terms
forward-looking statements, financial holding company, equipment finance platform, broker-dealer
4 terms
forward-looking statements regulatory
"Certain of the matters discussed in this communication constitute forward-looking statements"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
financial holding company financial
"Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. is a financial holding company with more than $2 billion in assets"
A financial holding company is a parent firm that owns and oversees banks and other financial businesses, such as lending, insurance, or investment services. It matters to investors because it bundles several money-making activities under one roof—like a parent managing several children—so returns, risks, and regulatory rules for banking apply to the whole group; trouble in one unit can affect the company’s profits, capital needs, and dividends.
equipment finance platform financial
"originator-centric equipment finance platform provides financing solutions nationwide"
broker-dealer financial
"Pioneer Capital Markets, Inc., is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer focused on municipal bond trading"
A broker-dealer is a licensed firm or individual that both executes trades on behalf of clients (acting as a broker) and buys or sells securities for its own account (acting as a dealer). Investors care because broker-dealers provide the plumbing of markets — they place orders, hold or move cash and securities, offer research or advice, and their stability and fees directly affect trade execution, costs, and the safety of client funds; think of them as a combined travel agent and taxi for your investments.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
FAQ
What transaction did Pioneer Bancorp (PBFS) disclose on July 29, 2026?
Pioneer Bancorp acquired The College Advisor of New York and launched a new College Advising Division. The acquired firm provides personalized college search, admissions and affordability guidance to families, now integrated with Pioneer’s broader financial services platform.
Who will lead the new College Advising Division at Pioneer Bancorp (PBFS)?
The division will be led by Dr. Dean Skarlis, founder and president of The College Advisor of New York, who becomes Vice President of College Advising. His existing team of experienced coaches will continue serving families under the Pioneer brand.
How does this acquisition align with Pioneer Bancorp (PBFS) strategy?
The deal supports Pioneer’s More Than a Bank strategy by expanding services beyond traditional banking into college admissions and affordability advising. It adds education-focused planning to existing banking, insurance, benefits, HR consulting, and wealth management offerings.
What services will Pioneer Bancorp (PBFS) College Advising Division offer families?
The College Advising Division will provide end-to-end college planning support, including identifying prospective schools, building admissions strategies, clarifying the financial picture, and helping families choose best-fit colleges that balance academic, personal, and financial considerations.
How large is Pioneer Bancorp (PBFS) and where does it operate?
Pioneer Bancorp is a financial holding company with more than $2 billion in assets and 23 offices in New York’s Capital Region. It delivers diversified financial services through Pioneer Bank and other specialized subsidiaries.
What other businesses does Pioneer Bancorp (PBFS) operate besides banking?
In addition to Pioneer Bank, Pioneer operates Targeted Lending Co., LLC, an equipment finance platform, and Pioneer Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA-registered broker-dealer focused on municipal bond trading, alongside insurance, benefits, HR consulting and wealth management services.
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): July 29, 2026
.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| | | | |||||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction) | | | (Commission File No.) | | (I.R.S. Employer | ||
| of Incorporation) | | | Identification No.) | ||||
| | | ||||||
| | (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | | (Zip Code) | ||||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (518 ) 730-3025
Not Applicable
(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 (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-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| | | |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
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 8.01 Other Events
On July 29, 2026, Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. (“Pioneer”), a leading financial institution in New York’s Capital Region, announced it has acquired The College Advisor of New York, a specialized firm that helps families navigate the college search and admissions process with personalized guidance, hands‑on support, and assistance identifying colleges that are the right academic, personal, and financial fit. Dr. Dean Skarlis, founder and president of The College Advisor of New York, will lead Pioneer’s newly launched College Advising Division as Vice President of College Advising, and his existing team of experienced coaches will continue delivering tailored college planning guidance to high school students and their parents by integrating the college selection process with financial strategy. Pioneer’s College Advising Division will offer families dedicated support through each step of the college planning journey, from identifying prospective schools, and developing a strong admissions strategy, to understanding the full financial picture, and ultimately choosing the best fit college.
A copy of the press release announcing the launch of Pioneer’s College Advising Division is included as exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
|
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
|
|
99.1
|
Press Release of Pioneer dated July 29, 2026
|
|
|
104
|
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as 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.
|
PIONEER BANCORP, INC.
|
||
|
DATE: July 29, 2026
|
By:
|
/s/ Patrick J. Hughes
|
|
Patrick J. Hughes
|
||
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
||
For Release: Immediate – Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Pioneer Announces Launch of College Advising Division through the Acquisition of The College Advisor of New York
Newly created division, under the leadership of industry expert Dr. Dean Skarlis, supports families as they navigate the college admissions process
Albany, NY – Pioneer (NASDAQ: PBFS), a leading financial institution in New York’s Capital Region, today announced it has acquired The College Advisor of New York, a specialized firm that helps families navigate the college search and admissions process with personalized guidance, hands‑on support, and assistance identifying colleges that are the right academic, personal, and financial fit.
Dr. Dean Skarlis, founder and president of The College Advisor of New York, will lead Pioneer’s newly launched College Advising Division as Vice President of College Advising, and his existing team of experienced coaches will continue delivering tailored college planning guidance to high school students and their parents by integrating the college selection process with financial strategy.
“Planning for college is one of the most emotionally and financially complex decisions families face, and Dean Skarlis and his team have a stellar reputation for helping families navigate that process,” said Thomas Amell, President and CEO of Pioneer. “By joining our services together, we can provide a holistic perspective that enables families to make the best decisions about their future.”
Pioneer’s College Advising Division will offer families dedicated support through each step of the college planning journey, from identifying prospective schools, and developing a strong admissions strategy, to understanding the full financial picture, and ultimately choosing the best fit college.
“College planning and financial guidance go hand-in-hand, and families need clear, unbiased guidance as they weigh academic fit and affordability,” said Dr. Dean Skarlis, Vice President of College Advising. “Pioneer understands that reality, and this affiliation reflects a shared commitment to helping families approach college decisions with context and confidence.”
The acquisition of The College Advisor of New York builds on Pioneer’s More Than a Bank® strategy by enhancing its core service offerings beyond traditional financial services and providing clients with access to college planning guidance as part of a broader, customer relationship‑based model.
#####
About Pioneer
Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. (“Pioneer”) is a financial holding company with more than $2 billion in assets that provides diversified financial services through its subsidiaries. Pioneer’s subsidiary, Pioneer Bank, National Association and its subsidiaries, with 23 offices in the Capital Region of New York State, offers a broad array of banking, insurance, employee benefit, human resources consulting, and wealth management services to individuals, businesses, and municipalities. Pioneer’s subsidiary, Targeted Lending Co., LLC, through its originator-centric equipment finance platform provides financing solutions nationwide for essential income-producing equipment to small and mid-sized businesses across diverse industries. Pioneer’s subsidiary, Pioneer Capital Markets, Inc., is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer focused on municipal bond trading. For more information on Pioneer, please visit www.pioneerny.com.
About The College Advisor of New York
The College Advisor of New York is a college admissions and affordability advising firm that supports families as they navigate the college search and application process to help identify best‑fit colleges and make informed, cost‑aware decisions with clarity and confidence. Led by founder and president Dr. Dean Skarlis, the firm draws on decades of higher education experience and firsthand insight from hundreds of college campuses nationwide. For more information visit https://collegeadvisorny.com.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the matters discussed in this communication constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project” or similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Pioneer’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. No assurance can be given that the future results covered by forward-looking statements will be achieved. These statements are based on the current expectations of our management, and it is important to note that our actual results could be materially different from those projected in such forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including those discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, under the heading “Risk Factors” and other filings made with the SEC, including our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication, unless noted otherwise. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Pioneer does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this communication or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For additional information contact:
Patrick J. Hughes
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(518) 730-3025
InvestorRelations@pioneerny.com