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 *
GARBARINO JOHN R
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP [OCFC]
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 and CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
975 HOOPER AVENUE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
07/21/2009
(Street)

TOMS RIVER, NJ 08754
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
Common Stock 07/21/2009   A   27,051 (2) A $ 0 347,456 D (1)  
Common Stock               87,620 I By 401(k) (3)
Common Stock               52,583 I By Esop (4)
Common Stock               363 I By Matching ESOP (4) (5)
Common Stock               14,445 I By Spouse
Common Stock               2,204 I Son 1 Trust
Common Stock               9,584 I Son 2 Trust

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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
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 9.607             02/04/1998 02/04/2007 Common Stock 0   0 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 17.88             02/20/2003 02/20/2012 Common Stock 120,000   120,000 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 23.44             05/30/2004 05/30/2013 Common Stock 90,000   90,000 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 22.525             05/28/2005 05/28/2014 Common Stock 90,000   90,000 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 23.07             01/19/2006 01/19/2015 Common Stock 3,430   3,430 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 20.795             04/20/2006 04/20/2015 Common Stock 3,806   3,806 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 23.475             02/15/2007 02/15/2016 Common Stock 63,000   63,000 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 22.17             02/21/2008 02/21/2017 Common Stock 60,750   60,750 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 16.81             02/20/2009 02/20/2018 Common Stock 63,788   63,788 D (6)  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
GARBARINO JOHN R
975 HOOPER AVENUE
TOMS RIVER, NJ 08754
  X     Chairman, President and CEO  

Signatures

 /s/ John K. Kelly, Power of Attorney   07/23/2009
**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) A total of 33,658 shares were acquired by award and are currently unvested.
(2) Includes 14,398 shares of restricted stock that vest 100% on July 21, 2011, and 12,653 shares of restricted stock that vest at 0% or between 50% to 100% on July 21, 2011, depending upon the attainment of defined performance goals for the one year period ending June 30, 2010.
(3) This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).
(4) This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions under the ESOP pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).
(5) Represents shares acquired under the OceanFirst Bank Matching Contribution Employee Stock Ownership Plan established as part of a spin-off from the OceanFirst Employee Stock Ownership Plan effective December 27, 2006.
(6) Options awarded under the OceanFirst Financial Corp. 2000 Stock Option Plan, vest in five equal annual installments beginning on February 20, 2009.

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