BEDMINSTER, NJ--(Marketwire - Nov 9, 2011) - Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: [ PGC ]) announces the appointment of Stephen M. Kozuch, a resident of Glen Rock, New Jersey, to the position of first vice president and co-director of wealth management at PGB Trust & Investments, the wealth management division of the holding company's wholly owned community bank, Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

Mr. Kozuch joins PGB Trust & Investments from U.S. Trust/Bank of America Private Wealth Management, where he most recently served as Market Trust Director. His career began in public accounting however, he made the transition to wealth management early on holding positions at Fleet Trust & Investment Services and Citigroup Trust in Palm Beach, Florida, as well as Bessemer Trust in both Palm Beach and New York, New York, and Arthur Andersen & Company in Roseland, NJ. With more than 25 years of wealth management experience, he is now part of the team responsible for directing and guiding PGB Trust & Investments wealth advisory services and solutions.

Mr. Kozuch received his Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Peter's College in NJ and attended Seton Hall University-School of Law, J.D. He is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accounts (NJSCPA) and the Estate Planning Councils of Bergen County, NJ and Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association-Trusts and Estates Section and the Florida Bar Association. Kozuch is an active member of the Glen Rock community who enjoys coaching youth sports. He is a past president of the Glen Rock Youth Basketball League and is a parent volunteer for sports activities at Saint Joseph Regional High School, Montvale, NJ.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation is a bank holding company with total assets of $1.58 billion as of September 30, 2011. Peapack-Gladstone Bank, its wholly owned community bank, has 23 branch locations throughout Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties. The bank was established in 1921 and is celebrating its 90^th anniversary in 2011. The wealth management division, PGB Trust & Investments, with $2.0 billion in assets under administration, operates at the bank's corporate offices located at 500 Hills Drive in Bedminster and at four additional locations in Clinton, Morristown and Summit, NJ, as well as in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. To learn more about Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation, Peapack-Gladstone Bank or PGB Trust & Investments please visit www.pgbank.com or call 908-234-0700.