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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * KENNEDY DOUGLAS L   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PEAPACK GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORP [PGC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President & CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) 500 HILLS DRIVE, SUITE 300, PO BOX 700 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/26/2018 (Street) BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921-0700 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 03/26/2018   D   35,491 (1) D $ 33.5 104,423.749 D (2)   Common Stock               7,423.8142 (3) I 401 (K) Common Stock               4,135.0507 I Employee Stock Purchase Plan Common Stock               11,877 I Rabbi Trust (4)

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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

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

(6)

(6)

Common Stock

14,010

30,875

D

Restricted Stock Units

(5)

(7)

(7)

Common Stock

2,660

2,660

D

Restricted Stock Units

(8)

(9)

(9)

Common Stock

14,010

14,010

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
KENNEDY DOUGLAS L 500 HILLS DRIVE, SUITE 300 PO BOX 700 BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921-0700	X		President & CEO

Signatures

Douglas L. Kennedy		03/28/2018
**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)	On December 4, 2013, 35,491 shares of restricted stock were granted subject to reaching certain performance conditions over the 5 year vesting period. On March 26, 2018 these shares were forfeited due to those certain performance conditions not being satisfied.
(2)	18,284 shares held in trust
(3)	Includes 401 (K) contributions to purchase PGC stock.
(4)	Held indirectly through a rabbi trust pursuant to a non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
(5)	Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock of Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation.
(6)	The restricted stock units vest and settle in stock in three approximately equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date.
(7)	The restricted stock units vest and settle in stock in five approximately equal installments on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date.
(8)	Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of common stock of Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation subject to certain performance conditions. The units will cliff vest, after three years, if the conditions are met.
(9)	The restricted stock units will cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date subject to certain performance conditions being satisfied.

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