OCFC OceanFirst Financial Corporation

FORM 4 [ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).         
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES                                                                                   
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940                       

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ESTEP MICHELE B	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP [ OCFC ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director                    _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below)    __X__ Other (specify below) EVP & CAO, OceanFirst Bank
(Last)          (First)          (Middle) 110 WEST FRONT STREET	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 2/26/2021
(Street) RED BANK, NJ 07701 (City)        (State)        (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. 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	2/26/2021		A		16568	A	$0	75014	D (1)
Common Stock	2/26/2021		A		13252	A	$0	88266	D (2)
Common Stock	2/26/2021		D		1468	D	$0	86798	D (3)
Common Stock	2/26/2021		D		2446	D	$0	84352	D (4)
Common Stock								1022	I	By ESOP (5)

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. 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		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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
Stock Option (right to buy)	$23.25							3/1/2012	3/1/2021	Common Stock	3716.0		3716	D
Stock Option (right to buy)	$15.34							3/1/2013	3/1/2022	Common Stock	1771.0		1771	D
Stock Option (right to buy)	$20.79							3/26/2017	3/26/2025	Common Stock	7503.0		7503	D
Stock Option (right to buy)	$22.69							3/1/2018	3/1/2026	Common Stock	7875.0		7875	D
Stock Option (right to buy)	$25.2							3/1/2020	3/1/2029	Common Stock	50335.0		50335	D (6)
Stock Option (right to buy)	$20.44							3/1/2021	2/28/2030	Common Stock	76790.0		76790	D (6)

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	Restricted shares awarded. Such shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning on March 1, 2022. Total includes other restricted shares that vest in the future.
(2)	Restricted shares awarded vest in four equal installments beginning on March 1, 2022 at approximately 67% or approximately 83% to 100% depending on the attainment of defined performance criteria for each of the calendar years ended 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, or are forfeited if threshold performance is not met. Total includes other unvested restricted shares that vest in the future.
(3)	Represents forfeiture of unvested performance-based restricted shares, originally awarded on February 28, 2019, for failure to satisfy performance conditions. Remaining shares earned under this award will vest on each of March 1 of 2022, 2023, and 2024, subject to the satisfaction of performance criteria. Total includes other unvested shares that vest in the future.
(4)	Represents forfeiture of unvested performance-based restricted shares, originally awarded on February 28, 2020, for failure to satisfy performance conditions. Remaining shares earned under this award will vest on each of March 1 of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, subject to the satisfaction of performance criteria. Total includes other unvested shares that vest in the future.
(5)	This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).
(6)	Options vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the date first exercisable.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ESTEP MICHELE B 110 WEST FRONT STREET RED BANK, NJ 07701				EVP & CAO, OceanFirst Bank

Signatures
/s/ Steven J. Tsimbinos, Power of Attorney		3/2/2021
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date