SEC FORM 4 SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
 
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
BASSWOOD PARTNERS, L.L.C.

(Last) (First) (Middle)
C/O BASSWOOD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.L.C.
645 MADISON AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR

(Street)
NEW YORK NY 10022

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. /NY/ [ DCOM ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) X Other (specify below)
Director-by-Deputization
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/16/2021
4. If Amendment, Date of 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
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, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock") 02/16/2021 P 13,131 A $27.02 464,808 I See footnotes(1)(2)
Common Stock 203,584 I See footnotes(1)(3)
Common Stock 89,585 I See footnotes(1)(4)
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 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: 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
Explanation of Responses:
1. See Exhibit 99.1
2. See Exhibit 99.1
3. See Exhibit 99.1
4. See Exhibit 99.1
Remarks:
Due to the limitations on the number of Reporting Persons allowed on Form 4, BFF, BOP, BFLOF and certain other affiliates of the Reporting Person, which may be deemed to have pecuniary interests in the shares of Common Stock reported herein by the Reporting Person, are reporting their beneficial ownership on a separate Form 4. Exhibit List: ------------ Exhibit 99.1 - Explanation of Responses
BASSWOOD PARTNERS, L.L.C., /s/ Matthew Lindenbaum 02/16/2021
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* 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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
Exhibit 99.1 – Explanation of Responses

1.
This Form 4 is filed on behalf of Basswood Partners, L.L.C. (the “Reporting Person”). Basswood Partners, L.L.C. is the general partner of BFF, BOP and BFLOF (as defined below and together, the “Funds”), and may be deemed to have a pecuniary interest in the Common Stock held directly by BFF, BOP and BFLOF. In accordance with Instruction 4(b)(iv), the entire amount of Common Stock held by the Funds is reported herein. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares of Common Stock that are beneficially owned by the Funds, except to the extent, if any, of any direct or indirect pecuniary interest therein.  The inclusion of these securities in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of any securities reported herein for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise.

Matthew Lindenbaum of Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C., serves on the board of directors of the Issuer as a representative of the Reporting Person.  As a result, the Reporting Person is a “director-by-deputization” solely for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.  Matthew Lindenbaum, a managing member of Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C, serves on the board of directors of the Issuer as a representative of the Reporting Person.  As a result, the Reporting Person is a “director-by-deputization” solely for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
 
2.
Common Stock held directly by Basswood Opportunity Partners, LP (“BOP”).

3.
Common Stock held directly by Basswood Financial Fund, LP (“BFF”).

4.
Common Stock held directly by Basswood Financial Long Only Fund, LP (“BFLOF”).