Ownership Submission
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

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
GARDNER STEVEN R
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP INC [PPBI]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chairman, President & CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
17901 VON KARMAN AVE., SUITE 1200
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/28/2018
(Street)

IRVINE, CA 92614
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction 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
PPBI Common Stock 02/28/2018   A   26,754 (1) A $ 0 252,569 (2) D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction 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
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(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
PPBI Restricted Stock Unit (3) 02/28/2018   A   26,754     (3)   (4) PPBI Common Stock 26,754 $ 0 26,754 D  
PPBI Restricted Stock Unit (5)               (5)   (4) PPBI Common Stock 4,875   4,875 D  
PPBI Restricted Stock Unit (6)               (6)   (4) PPBI Common Stock 9,364   9,364 D  
Options on PPBI Common Stock $ 6.3               (7) 01/05/2021 PPBI Common Stock 5,000   5,000 D  
Options on PPBI Common Stock $ 7.87               (8) 06/05/2022 PPBI Common Stock 72,000   72,000 D  
Options on PPBI Common Stock $ 10.44               (9) 01/02/2023 PPBI Common Stock 50,000   50,000 D  
Options on PPBI Common Stock $ 15.68               (10) 01/02/2024 PPBI Common Stock 50,000   50,000 D  
Options on PPBI Common Stock $ 15.16               (11) 01/28/2025 PPBI Common Stock 50,000   50,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
GARDNER STEVEN R
17901 VON KARMAN AVE., SUITE 1200
IRVINE, CA 92614
  X     Chairman, President & CEO  

Signatures

 Steven R. Gardner   03/02/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Restricted Stock with an evenly distributed 3 year vesting schedule.
(2) Includes 83,178 shares of restricted stock subject to a vesting schedule set forth in the restricted stock grant and subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the restricted stock grant.
(3) Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock. The amount reported reflects the maximum number of Restricted Stock Units that may vest upon achievement of certain predetermined performance goals and assuming continued employment through the vesting period. The Restricted Stock Units will vest annually, if at all, commencing February 28, 2019. Vesting will be tied entirely to performance, measured by a 3-year average relative total shareholder return percentile range compared to the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. Regional Banking Index.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock. The Restricted Stock Units will vest annually, if at all, commencing January 25, 2017 in three installments ranging between 1/5 and 1/3 of the reported number of Restricted Stock Units.
(6) Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock. The Restricted Stock Units will vest annually, if at all, commencing January 26, 2018 in three installments ranging between 1/5 and 1/3 of the reported number of Restricted Stock Units.
(7) The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on 1/5/2012.
(8) The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on 6/5/2013.
(9) The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on 1/2/2014.
(10) The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on 1/2/2015.
(11) The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on 1/28/2016.

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