JERSEY CITY, NJ – As America prepares to observe Memorial Day and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation, The Provident Bank is partnering with Operation XO to send much-needed care packages to our troops serving in remote locations in Iraq and Afghanistan. From May 21 to June 8, each of Provident’s 80 plus branches will collect donations of toiletries, snacks and other in-demand items.

Operation XO is a nonprofit organization – started by two Army wives, Heather McKnight Hamilton and Amanda Riker – that provides basic items, including non-perishable single-serve meals and toiletries, to troops stationed in hard-to-reach areas. Amanda’s mother, Doreen Noonan, is a commercial loan coordinator at Provident and suggested that the bank serve as a donation site. Noonan’s husband is also currently serving overseas.

“Thousands of troops stationed in remote locations and combat zones have limited or no access to basic items, like deodorant and sun block. The military can only supply so much,” said Noonan. “Some don’t even have access to running water – something we take for granted every day. With help from the community, Operation XO will send packages of snacks, toiletries and other necessities to our troops to help improve their quality of life.”

In addition to branches serving as drop-off locations, Provident will cover the shipping costs for the first 100 packages collected.

Richard Vaill, business development officer at Provident, served on active duty as a Logistics Officer with the 2nd Marine Division in Desert Storm, and said receiving packages from “home” is always deeply appreciated.

“Care packages help bring some of the comforts of home to our troops. It’s important for us to let them know that we’re thinking of them and appreciate their service,” said Vaill. “These small items can make a big difference. What better time to show our support than in the spirit of Memorial Day?”

For a list of items to donate, visit www.operationxo.org and click on Get Involved. To find a Provident branch location, visit www.ProvidentNJ.com or call 800-448-PROV (7768).

About The Provident Bank

With $4.9 billion in deposits, The Provident Bank (www.providentnj.com) serves its customers via a network of more than 80 branches throughout northern and central New Jersey. The Provident Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS), which reported assets of $6.8 billion as of March 31, 2010.

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JERSEY CITY, NJ – For one day, volunteers from The Provident Bank (www.providentnj.com) headed back to the classroom to help teach life skills at Martin Luther King Jr. School, Public School #11 in Jersey City.

Once again partnering with Junior Achievement of New Jersey (JANJ), 26 Provident employee volunteers visited 13 classrooms as part of the JA Day program to offer financial literacy and teach basic economics to students. 

As part of the program, Provident volunteers broke from the standard public school curriculum to teach basic business, economics and other important life skills to 291 students ranging from kindergarten to third grade. JA Day is JANJ’s elementary school-level program, giving community volunteers the opportunity to teach financial literacy and workplace readiness. After receiving program training and lesson plans from a JANJ staff person, Provident employees met their classes and team-taught the interactive lessons during one half-school day.

“We are honored to once again partner with the Junior Achievement of New Jersey to help teach financial literacy in our schools and help provide our youth with essential life skills,” said Christopher Martin, president and CEO of The Provident Bank. “Our employees are always happy to have the opportunity to get involved within the community and head back to school for the day, too!”

Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12 to offer workforce readiness programs. This year, JANJ will reach more than 33,000 students. More information about Junior Achievement programs is available at www.jaofnj.org. 

“We are grateful to once again receive volunteer support from The Provident Bank. These volunteers serve as exemplary role models while conveying their professional experience and financial knowledge to students beginning to learn the importance of financial literacy,” said Dawn Schwartz, vice president of development at Junior Achievement of NJ.

About The Provident Bank

With $4.9 billion in deposits, The Provident Bank serves its customers via a network of 84 branches throughout northern and central New Jersey. The Provident Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS), which reported assets of $6.8 billion as of September 30, 2009.

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Reverend Jessica Lambert, president of The Sharing Place food pantry and pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, was pleased to accept a $650 donation from The Provident Bank President and CEO Chris Martin, just in time for Thanksgiving. In place of their annual food drive, Provident employees opted this year to make financial contributions to the food pantry, so that needy families would have the pleasure of choosing their own holiday favorites. Bank employees purchased Provident VISA gift cards for the food pantry to hand out to those in need, enabling pantry patrons to follow their individual family traditions. Provident also donated reusable cloth grocery bags to help families carry their groceries home.

The Sharing Place, located in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 440 Hoboken Avenue in Jersey City, is the largest food pantry in Hudson County, serving about 700 families a month. For information on The Sharing Place, visit www.stpauljerseycity.org.

About The Provident Bank

With $4.9 billion in deposits, The Provident Bank serves its customers via a network of 84 branches throughout northern and central New Jersey.  The Provident Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS), which reported assets of $6.8 billion as of September 30, 2009.

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