UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 14A


                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.   )

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement          [_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to
[_]  Confidential, For Use of the              ss. 240.14a-12
     Commission Only (as permitted
     by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[_]  Definitive Additional Materials



                     PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)



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    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

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1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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     to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
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[_]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting  fee was paid
     previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

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                     PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                               158 ROUTE 206 NORTH
                          GLADSTONE, NEW JERSEY 07934
                          ---------------------------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                      TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007

To Our Shareholders:

         NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation will be held at Hamilton Farm Golf Club,
1040 Pottersville Road,  Gladstone,  New Jersey, on Tuesday,  April 24, 2007, at
2:00  p.m.  local  time for the  purpose  of  considering  and  voting  upon the
following matters:

     1.  Election of  eleven  directors to serve until the  expiration  of their
         terms  and  thereafter  until  their  successors  shall  have been duly
         elected and qualified.

     2.  Such other   business  as may  properly  come before the meeting or any
         adjournment thereof.

         Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2007,
are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.

         You are urged to read carefully the attached proxy  statement  relating
to the meeting.

         Shareholders  are  cordially  invited to attend the  meeting in person.
Whether or not you expect to attend  the  meeting,  we urge you to date and sign
the enclosed  proxy form and return it in the  enclosed  envelope as promptly as
possible.  You may revoke your proxy by filing a later-dated  proxy or a written
revocation of the proxy with the Corporate Secretary of Peapack-Gladstone  prior
to the meeting. If you attend the meeting, you may revoke your proxy by filing a
later-dated  proxy  or  written  revocation  of the  proxy  with  the  Corporate
Secretary of the meeting prior to the voting of such proxy.

                       By Order of the Board of Directors

                               ANTOINETTE ROSELL,
                               CORPORATE SECRETARY

Gladstone, New Jersey
March 23, 2007

               YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THE
                    ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.



                     PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                               158 ROUTE 206 NORTH
                           GLADSTONE, NEW JERSEY 07934

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                              DATED MARCH 23, 2007


                       GENERAL PROXY STATEMENT INFORMATION

         This   proxy   statement   is   furnished   to  the   shareholders   of
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation ("Peapack-Gladstone") in connection with
the solicitation by the Board of Directors of  Peapack-Gladstone  of proxies for
use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at Hamilton Farm Golf Club,
1040 Pottersville Road, Gladstone, New Jersey on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 2:00
p.m. local time.  This proxy  statement is first being mailed to shareholders on
approximately March 23, 2007.

                               VOTING INFORMATION

Outstanding Securities and Voting Rights

         The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of, and
to vote at, the meeting is March 12, 2007. Only shareholders of record as of the
record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting.

         On the  record  date  8,273,335  shares of  Peapack-Gladstone's  common
stock, no par value,  were  outstanding and eligible to be voted at the meeting.
Each share of Peapack-Gladstone's common stock is entitled to one vote.

Required Vote

         The election of directors  requires the affirmative vote of a plurality
of  Peapack-Gladstone's  common  stock voted at the  meeting,  whether  voted in
person or by proxy.  At the meeting,  inspectors  of election will tabulate both
ballots  cast by  shareholders  present and voting in person,  and votes cast by
proxy.  Under applicable New Jersey law and  Peapack-Gladstone's  certificate of
incorporation  and by-laws,  abstentions  and broker  non-votes  are counted for
purpose of establishing a quorum but otherwise do not count.

         All shares  represented  by valid  proxies  received  pursuant  to this
solicitation  will be voted FOR the election of the 11 nominees for director who
are named in this proxy statement,  unless the shareholder specifies a different
choice  by  means of the  proxy or  revokes  the  proxy  prior to the time it is
exercised. Should any other matter properly come before the meeting, the persons
named as proxies will vote upon such matters according to their discretion.

Revocability of Proxy

         Any  shareholder  giving a proxy has the right to attend and to vote at
the meeting in person.  A proxy may be revoked  prior to the meeting by filing a
later-dated  proxy or a written  revocation  if it is sent to the  Secretary  of
Peapack-Gladstone,  Antoinette  Rosell, at 158 Route 206 North,  Gladstone,  New
Jersey, 07934, and is received by Peapack-Gladstone in advance of the meeting. A
proxy may be revoked at the meeting by filing a  later-dated  proxy or a written
revocation with the Secretary of the meeting prior to the voting of such proxy.

Solicitation of Proxies

         This proxy solicitation is being made by the Board of Peapack-Gladstone
and the  costs  of the  solicitation  will be  borne  by  Peapack-Gladstone.  In
addition to the use of the mails,  proxies  may be  solicited  personally  or by
telephone, e-mail or facsimile transmission by directors, officers and employees
of Peapack-Gladstone  and its subsidiaries who will not be specially compensated
for such solicitation activities.  Peapack-Gladstone will also make arrangements
with brokers,  dealers,  nominees,  custodians and  fiduciaries to forward proxy
soliciting  materials to the beneficial  owners of shares held of record by such
persons, and  Peapack-Gladstone may reimburse them for their reasonable expenses
incurred in forwarding the materials.



                       PROPOSAL 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

                              DIRECTOR INFORMATION

         Peapack-Gladstone's  certificate of incorporation and by-laws authorize
a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 25  directors,  but leave the exact number to be
fixed by resolution  of  Peapack-Gladstone's  Board of Directors.  The Board has
currently  fixed  the  number  of  directors  at 11 and the  Board is  presently
comprised of 11 members.  Directors are elected annually by the shareholders for
one-year terms.  Peapack-Gladstone's Nominating Committee has recommended to the
Board the 11  current  directors  for  reelection  to serve for  one-year  terms
expiring at  Peapack-Gladstone's  2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders  and until
their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. If, for any reason,
any of the nominees become unavailable for election,  the proxy solicited by the
Board will be voted for a substitute  nominee  selected by the Board.  The Board
has no reason to believe that any of the named nominees is not available or will
not serve if elected.

         Unless a shareholder  indicates  otherwise on the proxy, the proxy will
be voted for the persons named in the table below to serve until the  expiration
of their terms, and thereafter until their successors have been duly elected and
qualified.

         The  following  table  sets  forth the  names  and ages of the  Board's
nominees for election,  the nominees' position with  Peapack-Gladstone (if any),
the  principal  occupation or employment of each nominee for the past five years
and  the  period  during  which  each  nominee  has  served  as  a  director  of
Peapack-Gladstone.  The  nominee's  prior service as a director  includes  prior
service  as a  director  of  Peapack-Gladstone  Bank (the  "Bank")  prior to the
formation of the holding company.




                                   NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS

   Name and Position            Director       Principal Occupation or Employment for the Past Five Years;
With Peapack-Gladstone   Age      Since                     Other Company Directorships
=================================================================================================================
                                
Anthony J. Consi, II      61      2000   Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations, Weichert Realtors;

Pamela Hill               69      1991   President of Ferris Corp., a real estate management company; previously
                                         Vice President of Ferris Corp.

Frank A. Kissel           56      1989   Chairman and CEO of Peapack-Gladstone and the Bank
Chairman and CEO

John D. Kissel            54      1987   Real Estate Broker, Turpin Real Estate, Inc.

James R. Lamb             64      1993   Principal of James R. Lamb, P.C., Attorney at Law.

Edward A. Merton          66      1981   President of Merton Excavating and Paving Co.

F. Duffield Meyercord     60      1991   Partner of Carl Marks Advisory Group, LLC; President,
                                         Meyercord Advisors, Inc.; Director of Wayside Technology
                                         Group (formerly Programmer's Paradise, Inc.)

John R. Mulcahy           68      1981   Retired; previously President of Mulcahy Realty and Construction.

Robert M. Rogers,         48      2002   President and COO of Peapack-Gladstone and the Bank
President and COO

Philip W. Smith, III      51      1995   President, Phillary Management, Inc., a real estate management company.

Craig C. Spengeman,       51      2002   President, PGB Trust and Investments, a division of the Bank and
President, PGB Trust                     Executive Vice President of Peapack-Gladstone
and Investments

Frank A. Kissel and John D. Kissel are brothers.



                                       2


                 RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED ON PROPOSAL 1

         THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS  A  VOTE  `FOR'  THE
NOMINATED  SLATE OF DIRECTORS  INCLUDED IN PROPOSAL 1. Directors will be elected
by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting.

                              CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

General

         The business  and affairs of  Peapack-Gladstone  are managed  under the
direction of the Board of  Directors.  Members of the Board are kept informed of
Peapack-Gladstone's   business   through   discussions  with  the  Chairman  and
Peapack-Gladstone's  other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and
by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. All members of the
Board  also  served  as  directors  of   Peapack-Gladstone's   subsidiary  bank,
Peapack-Gladstone Bank, during 2006. The Board of Directors of Peapack-Gladstone
held 12 meetings  during 2006.  During 2006, all directors of  Peapack-Gladstone
attended   no  fewer   than   75%  of  the   total   number   of   meetings   of
Peapack-Gladstone's  Board and  meetings of  committees  on which such  director
served. It is Peapack-Gladstone's policy to encourage director attendance at the
Annual  Meeting absent a compelling  reason such as illness.  Last year, all but
one director attended the Annual Meeting.

         Our  Board  of  Directors   believes  that  the  purpose  of  corporate
governance is to maximize  shareholder  value in a manner  consistent with legal
requirements.  The Board has adopted corporate governance principles,  which the
Board and senior management believe promote this purpose. We periodically review
these  governance  principles,  the rules and listing  standards of the American
Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") and Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC")
regulations.

Director Independence

         The Board has  determined  that a  majority  of the  directors  and all
current  members  of the  Nominating,  Compensation,  and Audit  Committees  are
"independent" for purposes of Section 121 of the American Stock Exchange Company
Guide,  and that the members of the Audit Committee are also  "independent"  for
purposes of Section 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 803
of  the  American   Stock  Exchange   Company  Guide.   The  Board  based  these
determinations  primarily  on a review of the  responses  of the  directors  and
executive officers to questions  regarding  employment and transaction  history,
affiliations  and family and other  relationships  and on  discussions  with the
directors.  The  independent  directors  are Anthony J. Consi,  II, Pamela Hill,
James R. Lamb, Edward A. Merton,  F. Duffield  Meyercord,  John R. Mulcahy,  and
Philip W. Smith, III.

         To assist it in making  determinations  of independence,  the Board has
concluded  that the following  relationships  are immaterial and that a director
whose only relationships with  Peapack-Gladstone fall within these categories is
independent:

         o  A loan made by the Bank to a director,  his or her immediate  family
            member  or an  entity  affiliated  with  a  director  or  his or her
            immediate  family member,  or a loan  personally  guaranteed by such
            persons if such loan (i) complies with state and federal regulations
            on insider loans,  where  applicable;  and (ii) is not classified by
            the Bank's credit  committee or by any bank regulatory  agency which
            supervised the Bank as substandard, doubtful or loss.

         o  A deposit,  trust,  insurance  brokerage,  securities  brokerage  or
            similar  customer  relationship  between  Peapack-Gladstone  or  its
            subsidiaries  and a director,  his or her immediate family member or
            an  affiliate  of  his  or  her  immediate  family  member  if  such
            relationship is on customary and usual market terms and conditions.

         o  The  employment  by  Peapack-Gladstone  or its  subsidiaries  of any
            immediate family member of the director if the employee serves below
            the level of a senior vice president.

         o  Annual contributions by Peapack-Gladstone or its subsidiaries to any
            charity  or  non-profit   corporation   with  which  a  director  is
            affiliated  if the  contributions  do not  exceed  an  aggregate  of
            $20,000 in any  calendar  year and the  contribution  is made in the
            name of Peapack-Gladstone.

         o  Purchases  of goods or services by  Peapack-Gladstone  or any of its
            subsidiaries  from a  business  in  which a  director  or his or her
            immediate family member is a partner, shareholder or officer, if the
            director or his or her immediate  family member owns five percent or
            less of the equity  interests of that business and does not serve as
            an executive officer of the business.

         o  Purchases of goods or services by  Peapack-Gladstone,  or any of its
            subsidiaries, from a director or a business in which the director or
            his or her  immediate  family  member is a partner,  shareholder  or
            officer if the annual aggregate  purchases of goods or services from
            the director, his or her immediate family member or such business in
            the last calendar year does not exceed the greater of $60,000 or two
            percent of the gross revenues of the business.

                                       3


         o  Fixed  retirement  benefits  paid or payable  to a  director  either
            currently or on retirement.

         The following  categories or types of  transactions,  relationships  or
arrangements  were  considered  by the Board in  determining  that  each  listed
director is  independent  in  accordance  with the AMEX  listing  standards  and
Peapack-Gladstone's Corporate Governance Principles.

    Independent Director                   Category or Type
    --------------------                   ----------------

          Mr. Consi                             Deposits

          Ms. Hill                           Deposits, Trust

          Mr. Lamb               Loans, Deposits, Trust, Legal Services

         Mr. Merton              Loans, Deposits, Trust, Paving Services

        Mr. Meyercord                    Loans, Deposits, Trust

         Mr. Mulcahy                     Loans, Deposits, Trust

          Mr. Smith      Loans, Deposits, Trust, Employment of Immediate Family
                               Member below level of Senior Vice President

Executive Sessions of Non-Management Directors

         Our Corporate Governance Principles require the Board to provide for at
least semi-annual  executive sessions to include  non-management  directors.  At
least  once a  year,  the  Board  holds  an  executive  session  including  only
independent  directors.  Peapack-Gladstone's  Board has  chosen  to  rotate  the
presiding  director  for  each  meeting  among  the  Chairperson  of the  Audit,
Compensation, and Nominating Committees.

Shareholder Communication with Directors

         The Board of Directors has  established  the following  procedures  for
shareholder communications with the Board of Directors:

         o  Shareholders  wishing  to  communicate  with the Board of  Directors
            should   send  any   communication   to  the  Board  of   Directors,
            Peapack-Gladstone   Financial   Corporation,    c/o   Secretary   of
            Peapack-Gladstone,  Antoinette  Rosell,  at  158  Route  206  North,
            Gladstone,  New Jersey,  07934. Any such communication  should state
            the number of shares owned by the shareholder.

         o  The Corporate Secretary will forward such communication to the Board
            of Directors or as appropriate to the particular Committee Chairman,
            unless the  communication  is a personal  or  similar  grievance,  a
            shareholder  proposal  or  related  communication,   an  abusive  or
            inappropriate  communication,  or a communication not related to the
            duties or responsibilities of the Board of Directors,  in which case
            the   Corporate   Secretary  has  the  authority  to  disregard  the
            communication.  All such communications will be kept confidential to
            the extent possible.

         o  The Corporate  Secretary  will maintain a log of, and copies of, all
            communications,  for inspection and review by any Board member,  and
            shall regularly review all such communications with the Board or the
            appropriate Committee Chairman.

         The Board of Directors has also  established  the following  procedures
for  shareholder  communications  with the  rotating  chairman of the  executive
sessions of the non-management directors of the Board:

         o  Shareholders  wishing to communicate with the presiding  director of
            executive  sessions should send any  communication  to the presiding
            director  of   executive   sessions,   Peapack-Gladstone   Financial
            Corporation,   c/o   Corporate   Secretary   of   Peapack-Gladstone,
            Antoinette Rosell, at 158 Route 206 North, P.O. Box 178,  Gladstone,
            New Jersey, 07934. Any such communication should state the number of
            shares owned by the shareholder.


                                       4


         o  The Corporate  Secretary will forward such communication to the then
            presiding  director,  unless  the  communication  is a  personal  or
            similar grievance,  a shareholder proposal or related communication,
            an abusive or inappropriate  communication,  or a communication  not
            related  to the  duties or  responsibilities  of the  non-management
            directors,  in which case the Corporate  Secretary has the authority
            to disregard the communication. All such communications will be kept
            confidential to the extent possible.

         o  The Corporate  Secretary  will maintain a log of, and copies of, all
            communications,  for inspection and review by the presiding director
            of  executive   sessions,   and  shall  regularly  review  all  such
            communications with the presiding director at the next meeting.

Committees of the Board of Directors

         In 2006,  the  Board of  Directors  maintained  an Audit  Committee,  a
Nominating Committee and a Compensation Committee.

Audit Committee
---------------

         Mr. Consi serves as Chair of the Audit Committee.  Other members of the
Audit Committee are Messrs.  Mulcahy,  Smith and, beginning in June of 2006, Ms.
Hill. The Audit Committee met 11 times during 2006.

         The Board of Directors has  determined  that at least one member of the
Audit Committee meets the American Stock Exchange  standard of being financially
sophisticated.  The Board of Directors has also  determined that Mr. Consi meets
the SEC criteria of an "audit committee financial expert."

         The Audit Committee operates pursuant to a charter.  The charter can be
viewed at the Investor Relations link on our website www.pgbank.com. The charter
gives the Audit Committee the authority and  responsibility for the appointment,
retention,  compensation  and oversight of our independent  auditors,  including
pre-approval  of  all  audit  and  non-audit  services  to be  performed  by our
independent auditors.  Other responsibilities of the Audit Committee pursuant to
the  charter  include:  reviewing  the scope and  results  of the audit with our
independent  auditors;  reviewing with management and our  independent  auditors
Peapack-Gladstone's  interim and  year-end  operating  results  including  press
releases;  considering  the  appropriateness  of  the  internal  accounting  and
auditing  procedures of  Peapack-Gladstone;  considering  our outside  auditors'
independence;   reviewing  examination  reports  by  bank  regulatory  agencies;
reviewing  audit  reports  prepared by the  accounting  firm which  conducts the
internal audit  functions for  Peapack-Gladstone;  and reviewing the response of
management  to those  reports.  The Audit  Committee  reports  to the full Board
concerning pertinent matters coming before it.

Nominating Committee
--------------------

         Peapack-Gladstone's  Nominating  Committee  consists  of Messrs.  Smith
(Chair), Consi, Lamb, Merton, Meyercord, Mulcahy and, beginning in June of 2006,
Ms. Hill. The Nominating Committee met two times during 2006.

         The Nominating  Committee  operates under a written charter setting out
the functions and responsibilities of this committee.  The charter can be viewed
at the Investor  Relations  link on our website  www.pgbank.com.  The Nominating
Committee  reviews  qualifications of and recommends to the Board candidates for
election  as  director  of   Peapack-Gladstone   and  the  Bank,  considers  the
composition  of the  Board,  recommends  committee  assignments,  and  discusses
management  succession  for the Chairman and the CEO  positions.  The Nominating
Committee  develops  corporate  governance  principles  which  include  director
qualifications and standards;  director  responsibilities;  director orientation
and  continuing  education;  limitations  concerning  service  on other  boards;
director access to management and records,  criteria for annual  self-assessment
of the  Board,  its  committees,  management  and  the  effectiveness  of  their
functioning.  The committee is also charged with reviewing the Board's adherence
to the  Corporate  Governance  Principles  and the Code of Business  Conduct and
Ethics.  The Nominating  Committee  reviews  recommendations  from  shareholders
regarding  corporate  governance  and director  candidates.  The  procedure  for
submitting  recommendations of director  candidates is set forth below under the
caption "Nomination of Directors."

Compensation Committee
----------------------

         Peapack-Gladstone's   Compensation   Committee   consists   of  Messrs.
Meyercord (Chair), Merton and Consi. During 2006, the Compensation Committee met
two times.

                                       5


         The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter setting out
the functions and responsibilities of this committee.  The charter can be viewed
at the Investor Relations link on our website  www.pgbank.com.  The Compensation
Committee determines CEO compensation,  sets general compensation levels for all
officers and employees and sets specific compensation for executive officers. It
also  administers our stock option plans and makes awards under those plans. The
Board has approved its charter,  which delegates to the  Compensation  Committee
the responsibility to recommend Board compensation.

         The Compensation  Committee annually reviews,  considers,  and approves
all  compensation  and awards to  executive  officers,  including  the CEO,  the
President,  Executive  Vice  Presidents,  Senior Vice  Presidents and First Vice
Presidents. Included in this process is a thorough analysis and consideration of
overall Bank  performance,  individual job performance,  the overall need of the
Bank to attract,  retain and incent executive talent,  and the total cost of the
compensation programs.

Nomination of Directors

         Nominations  for director may be made only by the Board of Directors or
a committee of the Board or by a  shareholder  of record  entitled to vote.  The
Board of Directors has established minimum criteria for members of the Board.

         These include:

         o  Directors  are  encouraged  to live and/or  work in the  communities
            served by Peapack-Gladstone's subsidiary bank.

         o  Directors  shall  beneficially  own or  agree  to  acquire  at least
            $25,000 (market value) of Peapack-Gladstone stock.

         o  Directors  shall be  experienced  in business,  shall be financially
            literate and shall be respected members of their communities.

         o  Directors  shall be of high  ethical  and moral  standards  and have
            sound personal finances.

         o  A Director may not serve on the board of directors of any other bank
            that serves the same market area as  Peapack-Gladstone  and may only
            serve on the boards of three other publicly-traded companies.

         o  If there is a vacancy,  the Nominating  Committee shall evaluate the
            qualifications  of persons who may be recommended to it as potential
            candidates based on information the Committee may deem relevant.

         The Nominating  Committee has adopted a policy regarding  consideration
of director  candidates  recommended by shareholders.  The Nominating  Committee
will consider  nominations made by  shareholders.  In order for a shareholder to
make a  nomination,  the  shareholder  must  provide  a  notice  along  with the
additional  information and supporting  materials to our Corporate Secretary not
less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first  anniversary of the
date of the preceding year's annual meeting.  The shareholder wishing to propose
a candidate for consideration by the Nominating  Committee must have significant
stake in  Peapack-Gladstone.  To qualify  for  consideration  by the  Nominating
Committee,  the shareholder submitting the candidate must demonstrate that he or
she has been the beneficial owner of at least one percent of Peapack-Gladstone's
outstanding  shares  for a minimum of one year  prior to the  submission  of the
request.  In addition,  the  Nominating  Committee  has the right to require any
additional  background or other  information from any director  candidate or the
recommending shareholder, as it may deem appropriate.  For our annual meeting in
the year 2008, we must receive this notice on or after November 26, 2007, and on
or before December 26, 2007. The following factors, at a minimum, are considered
by the Nominating Committee as part of its review of all director candidates and
in recommending potential director candidates to the Board:

         o  appropriate mix o educational  background,  professional  background
            and business  experience to make a significant  contribution  to the
            overall composition of the Board;

         o  if the Committee deems it applicable, whether the candidate would be
            able to read and  understand  fundamental  financial  statements and
            considered to be financially  sophisticated as described in the AMEX
            rules,  or considered to be an audit committee  financial  expert as
            defined pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

         o  if the Committee deems it applicable, whether the candidate would be
            considered   independent  under  the  AMEX  rules  and  the  Board's
            additional  independence guidelines set forth in Peapack-Gladstone's
            Corporate Governance Principles;

         o  demonstrated   character   and   reputation,   both   personal   and
            professional, consistent with that required for a bank director;

         o  willingness to apply sound and independent business judgment;

         o  ability to work productively with the other members of the Board;

         o  availability for the substantial  duties and  responsibilities  of a
            Peapack-Gladstone director; and

                                       6


         o  meets the additional  criteria set forth in the  Peapack-Gladstone's
            Corporate Governance Principles.

         You  can  obtain  a copy  of the  full  text  of our  policy  regarding
shareholder   nominations   by  writing   to   Antoinette   Rosell,   Secretary,
Peapack-Gladstone  Financial  Corporation,  158 Route 206 North,  P.O.  Box 178,
Gladstone, New Jersey 07934.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Corporate Governance Principles

         Peapack-Gladstone  has adopted a Code of  Business  Conduct and Ethics,
which  applies  to  Peapack-Gladstone's   chief  executive  officer,   principal
financial   officer,   principal   accounting   officer   and   to   all   other
Peapack-Gladstone  directors,  officers  and  employees.  The  Code of  Business
Conduct  and  Ethics  is  available  in  the  Investor   Relations   section  of
Peapack-Gladstone's  website  located at  www.pgbank.com.  The Code of  Business
Conduct and Ethics is also  available in print to any  shareholder  who requests
it. Peapack-Gladstone will disclose any substantive amendments to or waiver from
provisions  of the Code of Business  Conduct  and Ethics made with  respect to a
director or executive  officer on our website and to the extent required by AMEX
and SEC rules, in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

         We  have  also  adopted  Corporate  Governance  Principles,  which  are
intended to provide  guidelines for the governance of  Peapack-Gladstone  by the
Board and its committees.  The Corporate Governance  Principles are available at
the  Investor  Relations  section  of  Peapack-Gladstone's  website  located  at
www.pgbank.com.

                              DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

         The following table  summarizes the  compensation  of the  non-employee
directors of Peapack-Gladstone.



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Fees Earned or Paid in        Change in Pension Value and
                                  Cash (2)           Nonqualified Deferred Compensation     Total
    Name (1) (3) (5)                ($)                       Earnings (4) (6)               ($)
           (a)                      (b)                              (c)                     (d)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   
Anthony J. Consi, II               41,800                            5,000                  46,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pamela Hill                        26,200                            8,000                  34,200
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T. Leonard Hill                     3,800                               --                   3,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John D. Kissel                     33,100                            2,000                  35,100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James R. Lamb, Esq.                22,400                            7,000                  29,400
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward A. Merton                   19,000                            8,000                  27,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F. Duffield Meyercord              25,700                            5,000                  30,700
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John R. Mulcahy                    54,100                           15,000                  69,100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip W. Smith, III               34,200                            2,000                  36,200
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack D. Stine                      25,800                           10,000                  35,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         (1)  Outstanding  options  held by each  director at December  31, 2006
totaled:  Consi 19,502  options;  P. Hill 26,843;  Kissel 20,014  options;  Lamb
22,581 options; Merton 22,582 options;  Meyercord 22,582 options; Mulcahy 16,952
options; Smith 16,375 options; and Stine 22,582 options.

         (2) Peapack-Gladstone  pays its directors an $8,000 annual retainer for
service on the Board,  and $500 for each regular Bank Board  meeting they attend
and $400 for each  committee  meeting  they attend.  Committee  Chairs and Audit
Committee  members  receive an  additional  $2,000  annual  retainer.  The Audit
Committee Chair receives an additional $16,000 annual retainer. The Compensation
Committee  Chair  receives  an  additional   $10,000  annual  retainer  and  the
Compensation  Committee  members receive an additional  $1,000 annual  retainer.
Frank A.  Kissel,  Robert  M.  Rogers  and  Craig  C.  Spengeman,  as  full-time
employees, were not compensated for services rendered as directors.

                                       7


         (3) The 1998 and 2002 Stock Option Plans for Outside  Directors provide
for the award of non-qualified stock options to each non-employee  director. The
2006  Long-Term  Stock  Incentive  Plan provides for the award of  non-qualified
stock  options,   stock   appreciation   rights  or  restricted  stock  to  each
non-employee  director.  The plans  provide  that  grants  are made  based  upon
recommendations from the Compensation Committee to the Board and a vote from the
full Board. In 2006, there were no awards to the outside directors.

         Under each of the plans,  the exercise  price for the option shares may
not be less than the fair market  value of the common stock on the date of grant
of  the  option.  The  options  granted  under  these  plans  are,  in  general,
exercisable  not earlier than one year after the date of grant, at a price equal
to the fair market  value of the common  stock on the date of grant,  and expire
not more than ten years after the date of grant.  On December 8, 2005, the Board
of Directors  accelerated  the vesting of 79,200 of the unvested  stock  options
awarded to outside directors under the Corporation's  1998 and 2002 Stock Option
Plans for Outside Directors.

         (4)  Peapack-Gladstone  has a retirement plan for eligible non-employee
directors of  Peapack-Gladstone  and/or its  Subsidiaries.  The plan  provides 5
years of annual  benefits to directors  with 10 or more years of service,  which
commence  after a director  has retired  from the Board.  The annual  benefit is
equal to 25 percent of the  director's  final  compensation  and  increases by 5
percent for each year of service in excess of 10. The maximum benefit is limited
to 50 percent of final compensation.  No director was credited with more than 10
years of service  when the plan  became  effective,  regardless  of how long the
person had served as director as of the  effective  date.  If a director with 10
years of service ceases to be a director as a result of death or disability,  or
a director with 5 years of service ceases to be a director following a change in
control,  the director  will be credited with a total of 15 years of service for
plan  purposes.  In the event  that the  director  dies  prior to receipt of all
benefits, the payments continue to the director's beneficiary or estate.

         (5) Peapack-Gladstone has a nonqualified deferred compensation plan for
non-employee  directors covering retainer fees and the aggregate of all fees for
service  and  attendance  at Board  and  committee  meetings.  Participation  is
optional. As of January 1, 2005, the plan is frozen and no further contributions
may be made.  Interest  is paid on the  deferred  fees equal to that which would
have been credited if such deferred fees were invested in the  Peapack-Gladstone
Money Market  Account,  which  yields 5.03 percent as of February 28, 2007.  The
provisions of the deferred compensation plan are designed to comply with certain
rulings of the Internal Revenue Service under which the deferred amounts are not
taxed until received.  Under the deferred  compensation  plan, the directors who
elect to defer their fees receive the fees either (i) in a lump sum on the first
day of the calendar quarter following  termination of service as director, or on
the first day of a calendar  quarter that is at least 5 years following the date
of the  original  deferral  election,  or (ii)  in  substantially  equal  annual
installments  over a period of between 2 to 10 years,  commencing  in January of
the calendar year  following the calendar year during which the director  ceases
serving as director.  In the event the director dies, within a reasonable period
of time  following  his or her death,  the  amount  credited  to the  director's
deferred  compensation  account  shall be paid in a lump  sum to the  director's
beneficiary or estate.

         (6) The amount in this column  represents  the change in pension value.
There were no nonqualified deferred compensation earnings.

                                       8


                      BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK

Certain Beneficial Owners

         The  following  table  sets  forth  as of  February  28,  2007  certain
information as to beneficial ownership of each person known to Peapack-Gladstone
to own  beneficially  more than 5 percent  of the  outstanding  common  stock of
Peapack-Gladstone.  The beneficial  owner in the table below has sole voting and
investment power as to all his shares.

                                         Number of Shares
Name of Beneficial Owner                Beneficially Owned      Percent of Class
================================================================================
James M. Weichert                            801,435                 9.69%

Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

         The  following  table sets forth as of February  28, 2007 the number of
shares of  Peapack-Gladstone's  common stock  beneficially  owned by each of the
directors/nominees,   the  executive  officers  of  Peapack-Gladstone  for  whom
individual  information is required to be set forth in this proxy statement (the
"named executive  officers")  pursuant to the regulations of the SEC, and by all
directors and executive officers as a group.

                                      Number of Shares
Name of Beneficial Owner           Beneficially Owned (1)   Percent of Class (2)
Arthur F. Birmingham                 45,778           (3)             *

Garrett P. Bromley                   45,539           (4)             *

Anthony J. Consi, II                 73,503           (5)             *

Pamela Hill                         119,183           (6)           1.44%

Frank A. Kissel                     143,636           (7)           1.72%

John D. Kissel                       61,158           (8)             *

James R. Lamb                        45,827           (9)             *

Edward A. Merton                     47,806           (10)            *

F. Duffield Meyercord                43,673           (11)            *

John R. Mulcahy                      35,891           (12)            *

Robert M. Rogers                     55,346           (13)            *

Philip W. Smith, III                 47,817           (14)            *

Craig C. Spengeman                   57,518           (15)            *

All directors and executive         820,272                         9.49%
officers as a group (13 persons)

                                       9



NOTES:

*    Less than one percent

(1)      Beneficially  owned shares  include  shares over which the named person
         exercises  either  sole or  shared  voting  power  or  sole  or  shared
         investment power. It also includes shares owned (i) by a spouse,  minor
         children or by relatives  sharing the same home, (ii) by entities owned
         or  controlled  by the named  person and (iii) by other  persons if the
         named person has the right to acquire such shares within 60 days by the
         exercise of any right or option. Unless otherwise noted, all shares are
         owned of record or beneficially by the named person.

(2)      The number of shares of common stock used in calculating the percentage
         of the class owned  includes  shares of common stock  outstanding as of
         February 28, 2007, and 395,169 shares  purchasable  pursuant to options
         exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

(3)      This total includes 936 shares owned by Mr.  Birmingham's  wife,  3,260
         shares  allocated to Mr.  Birmingham under  Peapack-Gladstone's  Profit
         Sharing  Plan  and  36,508  shares  purchasable   pursuant  to  options
         exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

(4)      This  total  includes  2,793  shares  allocated  to Mr.  Bromley  under
         Peapack-Gladstone's  Profit Sharing Plan and 37,349 shares  purchasable
         pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

(5)      This total  includes  19,502  shares  purchasable  pursuant  to options
         exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

(6)      This total  includes  26,843  shares  purchasable  pursuant  to options
         exercisable  within 60 days of February 28, 2007 and 24,945 shares held
         in a trust for which Ms. Hill is a beneficiary.

(7)      This total  includes  3,348 shares owned by Mr. Frank A. Kissel's wife,
         8,670 shares allocated to Mr. Kissel under  Peapack-Gladstone's  Profit
         Sharing  Plan  and  74,661  shares  purchasable   pursuant  to  options
         exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

(8)      This total  includes  1,609 shares owned by Mr. John D. Kissel's  wife,
         5,547  shares  owned  by  Mr.  Kissel's   children  and  20,014  shares
         purchasable  pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of February
         28, 2007.

(9)      This total includes 3,232 shares owned by Mr. Lamb's wife, 2,404 shares
         owned by Mr.  Lamb's  son and 22,581  shares  purchasable  pursuant  to
         options  exercisable  within 60 days of  February  28,  2007.  Mr. Lamb
         disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by his son.

(10)     This total  includes  22,582  shares  purchasable  pursuant  to options
         exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

(11)     This total  includes  22,582  shares  purchasable  pursuant  to options
         exercisable  within 60 days of  February  28,  2007 and of this  total,
         19,705 shares were pledged as security to a loan with Peapack-Gladstone
         Bank.

(12)     This total includes 2,061 shares owned by Mr. Mulcahy's wife and 13,952
         shares  purchasable  pursuant to options  exercisable within 60 days of
         February 28, 2007.

(13)     This  total  includes  5,203  shares  allocated  to  Mr.  Rogers  under
         Peapack-Gladstone's  Profit Sharing Plan and 43,767 shares  purchasable
         pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

(14)     This total  includes  6,835 shares  owned by Mr.  Smith's  wife,  1,321
         shares  owned by Mr.  Smith's  children and 14,164  shares  purchasable
         pursuant to options exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007 and
         of this total,  15,102  shares were  pledged as security to a loan with
         Peapack-Gladstone Bank.

(15)     This total  includes 859 shares owned by Mr.  Spengeman's  wife,  5,910
         shares  allocated to Mr.  Spengeman  under  Peapack-Gladstone's  Profit
         Sharing  Plan  and  40,664  shares  purchasable   pursuant  to  options
         exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2007.

                                       10


                      COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

         The  fundamental  objective  of  Peapack-Gladstone's   named  executive
officer  compensation  program  is to  fairly  compensate  our  named  executive
officers  in a way  that  best  advances  the  interests  of  the  shareholders.
Peapack-Gladstone feels that shareholder interests are best advanced through the
retention of superior  executive  talent and the  alignment of  shareholder  and
executive interests.

         Peapack-Gladstone  compensates our named executive  officers with a mix
of base salary,  bonus and equity  compensation  designed to be competitive with
comparable employers and to align management's  incentives with the interests of
our shareholders.

         The  base  salary  we pay  our  named  executives  is  determined  by a
combination  of  factors,  including  but not  limited to an  analysis of market
comparables,  skill set, level of  responsibility,  individual  performance  and
Peapack-Gladstone's overall performance.

         We design the incentive compensation (bonus and equity compensation) to
align the interests of our named executive officers with the short and long-term
interests of  shareholders.  We align named  executive  officer and  shareholder
short-term  interests by linking  bonus  awards to  individual  performance  and
Peapack-Gladstone's  overall  performance  over the prior  year.  We align named
executive  officer  and  shareholder  long-term  interests  by  awarding  equity
compensation to our named executive officers. Both bonus and equity compensation
are awarded on a discretionary basis.

         Peapack-Gladstone  feels that our salary, bonus and equity compensation
is both fair and  reflective  of  market  conditions  within  our  business  and
geography.

The Decision Process

         The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for
establishing and overseeing policies governing annual and long-term compensation
programs for the named executive officers, and for making recommendations to the
Board of Directors on actual named executive officer  compensation  levels.  The
Chief Executive Officer provides advice to the Compensation  Committee  relative
the compensation of the four other named executive officers.

         After the Compensation Committee makes its recommendations to the Board
of  Directors,  the  Board of  Directors  (without  the  presence  of the  named
executive  officers)  makes  the final  determination  of  compensation  paid to
Peapack-Gladstone's named executive officers.

Elements of Compensation

         Peapack-Gladstone's  direct  compensation  consists of base salary,  an
annual cash award (our bonus),  and equity  compensation.  Our base salaries are
linked to  individual  performance,  level of  responsibility,  the  competitive
market and Peapack-Gladstone's overall performance.

         We design our base salaries in  significant  part to attract and retain
talented executives who can help drive long-term  shareholder value. Because the
markets in which we operate present  current and potential  executives with many
other employment options, we believe we must keep our base salaries competitive,
or risk losing executive talent. The Compensation  Committee reviews competitive
pay studies on an annual basis to ensure our base salaries align with the median
of the competitive  market.  Our competitive market consists of banks of similar
assets and lines of business  operating in similar markets.  While target salary
is linked to the market median,  actual salaries will vary to reflect individual
responsibility and performance as well as Peapack-Gladstone's  budget restraints
and performance.

         Our  cash  bonuses  are  linked  to  individual  performance,  level of
responsibility,  and Peapack-Gladstone's overall performance.  The assessment of
these factors is subjective and is made by the  Compensation  Committee.  On the
basis of this  assessment,  the  Compensation  Committee  uses its discretion to
determine  the amount of the cash bonus.  We feel that  linking  cash bonuses to
individual  performance and  Peapack-Gladstone's  overall  performance  places a
portion  of  individual  compensation  at  risk--thereby  motivating  individual
performance  while  at the same  time  correlating  Peapack-Gladstone's  overall
compensation to Peapack-Gladstone's overall performance.

                                       11


         Our equity  compensation is linked to the degree to which the executive
is in a position to influence Peapack-Gladstone's long-term performance. We feel
the rationale  behind equity  compensation is  straightforward:  by allowing our
executives to participate  in the long-term  appreciation  of our shares,  these
executives  will  work  and  make  decisions  to  maximize   Peapack-Gladstone's
long-term  performance.  The Compensation Committee in its discretion determines
the amount, type and timing of our equity  compensation.  In the past our equity
compensation  has  consisted  of stock  options.  From  this  year  forward  the
Committee  intends to make smaller stock option grants every year, as opposed to
the recent practice of larger stock option grants once every two or three years.

Establishing 2006 Compensation

         In  establishing   compensation  for  named  executive  officers,   the
Compensation  Committee  considers many factors  including,  but not limited to,
Peapack-Gladstone's  overall performance,  individual performance and peer group
compensation  practices,  all as more  specifically  set forth in the  preceding
section.

         During 2006, Mr. Frank A. Kissel served as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer   of  the  Bank  and   Chairman   and   Chief   Executive   Officer   of
Peapack-Gladstone.  Mr. Kissel's base salary for 2006 of $311,017 was set by the
Compensation   Committee   based   on   his   performance   in   executing   his
responsibilities in those positions in 2005 and the performance anticipated from
him in 2006 and future years. The Committee also considered Mr. Kissel's ability
to  develop  and  motivate  employees  to  meet  Peapack-Gladstone's  short  and
long-term objectives. The Committee also considered  Peapack-Gladstone's overall
performance.  Mr.  Kissel  was  awarded a bonus in 2006 equal to 12% of his base
salary,  based on his individual  performance  and  Peapack-Gladstone's  overall
performance in 2006. This bonus level was significantly  lower than Mr. Kissel's
bonus level in 2005,  which  equaled 30% of his base salary.  The  Committee was
pleased with Mr.  Kissel's  individual  performance in 2006, but felt that named
executive  officer  bonus  levels  should be  reduced  significantly  to reflect
Peapack-Gladstone's  results in the current challenging business conditions.  To
further align Mr. Kissel's and the shareholders'  long-term  interests the Board
voted in 2006 to award Mr. Kissel 5,000 stock options in 2007. This stock option
award was significantly less than Mr. Kissel's prior stock option award, made in
2004, which consisted of 25,000 stock options. The Committee, in its discretion,
felt that Mr.  Kissel  was in a strong  position  to  positively  influence  the
long-term performance of  Peapack-Gladstone,  but also felt that named executive
officer equity  compensation  awards,  including Mr. Kissel's  award,  should be
reduced in light of currently  challenging business conditions and in light of a
change to an accounting rule which requires Peapack-Gladstone to account for the
grant of such options as an expense. The Committee, in its discretion, felt that
the  timing  of the  award,  coming  three  years  after  the  last  grant,  was
appropriate  given  Peapack-Gladstone's  new  practice of granting  options each
year, as opposed to the recent practice of larger stock option grants once every
two or three years.

         With respect to 2006  salaries for Mr.  Robert M. Rogers,  Mr. Craig C.
Spengeman, Mr. Arthur F. Birmingham and Mr. Garrett P. Bromley, the Compensation
Committee based its  recommendations,  and the full Board based its actions,  on
the  duties  and  responsibilities  of the  officer  in  question,  the  overall
performance  of  Peapack-Gladstone  and of  the  performance  of the  particular
officer in 2005, and the  performance  anticipated  from the officer in 2006 and
future years. Each of Mr. Rogers, Mr. Spengeman,  Mr. Birmingham and Mr. Bromley
was  awarded  a bonus  in 2006  equal to 12% of his  base  salary,  based on his
individual performance and Peapack-Gladstone's overall performance in 2006. This
bonus  level was  significantly  lower  than the bonus  level  awarded  to these
individuals  in  2005,  which  in each  case  equaled  30% of base  salary.  The
Committee  was  pleased  with the  individual  performance  of Mr.  Rogers,  Mr.
Spengeman, Mr. Birmingham and Mr. Bromley in 2006, but felt that named executive
officer   bonus   levels   should   be   reduced    significantly   to   reflect
Peapack-Gladstone's  results in the current challenging business conditions.  To
further align their and the shareholders'  long-term  interests,  and because of
their ability to positively influence Peapack-Gladstone's long-term performance,
the Board voted in 2006 to award Mr. Rogers,  Mr. Spengeman,  Mr. Birmingham and
Mr. Bromley 4,000, 4,000, 3,500 and 3,500 stock options,  respectively, in 2007.
These stock option  awards were  significantly  less than the prior stock option
awards to Mr. Rogers,  Mr. Spengeman,  Mr.  Birmingham and Mr. Bromley,  made in
2004,  which  consisted of 20,000,  20,000,  17,500,  and 17,500 stock  options,
respectively.  The  Committee,  in its  discretion,  felt that Mr.  Rogers,  Mr.
Spengeman,  Mr. Birmingham and Mr. Bromley were each in meaningful  positions to
positively influence the long-term  performance of  Peapack-Gladstone,  but also
felt that named executive officer equity compensation  awards,  including awards
to these  individuals,  should  be  reduced  in light of  currently  challenging
business  conditions  and in light  of a  change  to an  accounting  rule  which
requires  Peapack-Gladstone  to  account  for the  grant of such  options  as an
expense.  The Committee,  in its discretion,  felt that the timing of the award,
coming   three   years   after   the   last   grant,   was   appropriate   given
Peapack-Gladstone's recent practice of awarding stock options every two or three
years. From this year forward the Committee intends to make smaller stock option
grants  every year,  as opposed to the recent  practice of larger  stock  option
grants once every two or three years.

                                       12


Peapack-Gladstone Benefit Plans

         Peapack-Gladstone  provides  bank-sponsored  insurance,  retirement and
severance  benefit plans to our named executive  officers.  The benefit packages
are  designed to assist  named  executive  officers in  providing  for their own
financial  security in a way that recognizes  individual  needs and preferences.
The basic insurance  package includes  health,  dental,  vision,  disability and
basic   group   life   insurance.   These   benefits   are   available   to  all
Peapack-Gladstone employees equally.

         In addition to providing a term life  insurance  benefit to each of the
named executive officers,  Peapack-Gladstone  has also purchased bank owned life
insurance and entered into a split-dollar plan with the named executive officers
and  certain  other  employees  to  provide  current  and  post-employment  life
insurance  in an amount  which  ranges from a minimum  benefit of $25,000 to 2.5
times the executive's  annual base salary. A life insurance benefit of 2.5 times
a  participant's  annual  base  salary  vests  if prior  to the  termination  of
employment there is a change in control or the participant  becomes disabled.  A
benefit of 2.5 times the  participant's  salary is paid if the participant  dies
while  employed  by  Peapack-Gladstone.  The  participant  also is entitled to a
vested  post-employment life insurance benefit based on years of service and the
participant's  age as of the date of  termination  of  employment.  This  vested
benefit  ranges  from a minimum of 1.0 times base  annual  salary at age 50 to a
maximum of 2.5 times annual base salary at age 65, in each case after completion
of 15 years of service. There is a minimum benefit of $25,000 if the participant
does not  reach the  vesting  levels.  Bank  owned  life  insurance  assists  in
offsetting  the rising costs of employee  benefits by providing  current  income
prior to the death of an insured,  and a lump-sum  payment  upon the death of an
insured.  Peapack-Gladstone  owns the cash  surrender  value of the policies and
records the increases in the cash surrender  value as income.  Upon the death of
an insured,  Peapack-Gladstone  will  receive  cash equal to the cash  surrender
value of the policy  and  excess  life  insurance  over the  amount  paid to the
insured's beneficiary.

         Peapack-Gladstone  provides  retirement  benefits  to  named  executive
officers  through a combination of plans that qualify under the Internal Revenue
Code.  Peapack-Gladstone  maintains a traditional  defined  benefit pension plan
designed to provide financial  security to substantially all salaried  employees
in  retirement.  Named  executive  officers  who are age 21 or  older  and  have
completed  one year of service and worked at least 1,000 hours are  eligible for
the defined benefit plan. Participants are eligible for monthly benefit payments
upon reaching age 65. The plan permits early  retirement at age 50 with 15 years
of service.  If a participant  terminates  employment  before he is eligible for
normal or early retirement,  he will be entitled to 100% of the accrued benefit,
provided he has  completed  five or more years of service.  Employees  with less
than five years of service receive no benefit.  Monthly retirement  benefits are
equal to the sum of the following:  (a) a participant's  accrued pension benefit
as of January  1,  1989;  (b) 2.2% of the  participant's  average  compensation,
multiplied by his benefit years,  on or after January 1, 1989, but not to exceed
25  benefit  years;  and (c) 0.75%  (0.6875%  effective  January  1,  1994) of a
participant's average excess compensation, multiplied by his benefit years on or
after  January  1,  1989,  but not to exceed  25  benefit  years.  The plan also
provides death and disability benefits to or on behalf of eligible participants.
It is the policy of  Peapack-Gladstone to fund not less than the minimum-funding
amount required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

         Peapack-Gladstone has established a qualified defined contribution plan
under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  covering
substantially  all salaried  employees over the age of twenty-one  with at least
twelve months of service and whose participation is not prohibited by the 401(k)
plan. Under the savings portion of the 401(k) plan,  employees may contribute up
to 15  percent  of  their  pay (up to a  maximum  of  $15,000  in 2006) to their
elective account via payroll  withholding.  Annually,  Peapack-Gladstone  adds a
matching contribution equal to fifty percent of the employee contribution, up to
a  maximum  of $250  per  year.  In  addition,  the  Board  may  elect to make a
discretionary contribution to the profit sharing portion of the 401(k) plan. The
profit sharing portion is based on base salary with a cap ($220,000 in 2006) and
is non-contributory. Contributions to the profit sharing portion are invested in
Peapack-Gladstone's common stock.

Change in Control Agreements

         We believe it is important to protect our management  team in the event
of a change in control so they can devote  their time and energy to the business
of   Peapack-Gladstone   without   being   distracted   by  personal   concerns.
Peapack-Gladstone  also feels these  agreements  are  necessary to encourage our
named  executive  officers to approach an advantageous  acquisition  transaction
without  regard to immediate  loss of salary and benefits.  Moreover,  change in
control  agreements are common in the competitive  market and  Peapack-Gladstone
feels it would be at a competitive  disadvantage,  in  attracting  and retaining
management talent, if it failed to offer change in control agreements to its top
executives.

                                       13


         Peapack-Gladstone  has entered into change in control  agreements  with
the named executive officers. Each of these agreements require Peapack-Gladstone
or its successor to pay certain termination benefits if (a) there is a change in
control and (b) a named  executive  officer  either resigns for good reason (the
term "good reason" means a change in job description,  location, compensation or
benefits) or is terminated without cause (the term "cause" means (i) willful and
continued  failure by a named executive officer to perform the officer's duties,
(ii) willful  misconduct by the named  executive  officer which causes  material
injury to the  Corporation  or its successor or (iii) the conviction of a crime,
other  than  a  traffic  violation,   drunkenness,   drug  abuse,  or  excessive
absenteeism other than for illness).  In these  agreements,  the term "change in
control" means (i) the acquisition of the Corporation's  securities representing
25% or more of the voting power of all its  securities,  (ii) the first purchase
of the Corporation's  common stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, (iii)
the  shareholder  approval of (a) a merger or  consolidation  of the Corporation
into another  corporation  wherein the other corporation  exercises control over
the Corporation,  (b) a sale or disposition of all or  substantially  all of the
Corporation's  assets  or  (c) a  plan  of  liquidation  or  dissolution  of the
Corporation,  (iv) a change in board membership such that over a two year period
the  directors  constituting  the Board at the  beginning  of such period do not
constitute two thirds of the Board of the Corporation or a successor corporation
at the  end of  such  period,  or (v) a sale  of (a)  the  common  stock  of the
Corporation following which a person or entity other than the Corporation or its
affiliates  owns a  majority  thereof  or (b)  all or  substantially  all of the
Corporation's  assets.  Pursuant to the  agreements,  under these  circumstances
Peapack-Gladstone  or its successor  would be required to pay aggregate  amounts
equal to three  times the  highest  annual  salary and  bonuses  paid during any
calendar  year  during  the three  years  prior to the  change in  control  plus
continue  certain  health and other  benefits.  In the event that the  severance
payments and benefits under the  agreements,  together with any other  parachute
payments, would constitute an excess parachute payment under Section 280G of the
Internal  Revenue Code, the payments would be increased in an amount  sufficient
to pay the excise  taxes and other income and payroll  taxes  necessary to allow
the named executive officers to retain the same net amount, after such taxes, as
each was otherwise entitled to receive.

Employment Contracts

         Peapack-Gladstone  has entered into employment  agreements with each of
the name executive  officers,  for a one-year term.  Employment  agreements with
named executive officers are customary in the marketplace, and Peapack-Gladstone
feels it would be at a  competitive  disadvantage  if it did not enter into such
agreements.

         The  employment  agreements  provide,   among  other  things,  for  (i)
participation  during  the  employment  term in all  compensation  and  employee
benefits  plans  for which  any  salaried  employees  of  Peapack-Gladstone  are
eligible, (ii) an annual base salary, (iii) annual increases to base salary, and
(iv) discretionary  bonus payments with respect to each calendar year determined
by the Board of Directors.  If each executive's employment is terminated without
cause,  Peapack-Gladstone  shall pay the  executive's  base  salary for a period
equal to the longer of (i) the  remainder of the term, or (ii) one year from the
effective  date  of  such  termination.  In  the  event  that  Peapack-Gladstone
terminates  a named  executive  officer's  employment  for cause or  pursuant to
retirement, permanent disability or death, Peapack-Gladstone shall pay the named
executive  officer  any  earned  but  unpaid  base  salary  as of  the  date  of
termination of  employment.  In these  agreements,  the term "cause" means (a) a
material  failure to perform  duties,  and such  failure to perform  constitutes
self-dealing,  willful  misconduct or recklessness,  (b) commission of an act of
dishonesty in the performance of duties or conduct materially detrimental to the
business  of the  Corporation,  (c)  conviction  of a  felony  or a  misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude, (d) material failure to perform duties, which failure
is not cured within 30 days of written  demand by the  Corporation,  (e) knowing
failure to follow  lawful,  written  directives of the Board of Directors or (f)
commission  of a material act or practice,  including  but not limited to sexual
harassment,  forbidden by the Corporation's  employment  manual.  The employment
agreements also include certain  non-compete  and  non-solicitation  provisions,
which extend for two years following the executive's termination of employment.

                                       14


                      REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

         The  Compensation  Committee of the Company has reviewed and  discussed
with  management  the  Compensation  Discussion  and  Analysis and based on such
review and discussions the  Compensation  Committee has recommended to the Board
that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in Peapack-Gladstone's
annual report on Form 10-K and the Proxy Statement.

                                       The Compensation Committee
                                       of the Board of Directors


                                       F. Duffield Meyercord, Chairman
                                       Edward A. Merton
                                       Anthony J. Consi, II




                                       15


                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

         The   following   table  sets  forth   compensation   information   for
Peapack-Gladstone's named executive officers.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Change in Pension Value
                                                        and Nonqualified Deferred
                                                        Compensation Earnings
  Name and Principal               Salary      Bonus               (1)                All Other             Total
       Position           Year      ($)         ($)                ($)             Compensation ($)          ($)
         (a)              (b)       (c)         (d)                (e)                   (f)                 (g)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         
Frank A.                  2006    311,017     37,322             70,276                 8,146              426,761
Kissel
Chairman of the Board
and CEO of
Peapack-Gladstone and
the Bank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur F.                 2006    169,646     20,358             59,961                 4,559              254,524
Birmingham
Executive Vice
President and CFO of
Peapack-Gladstone and
the Bank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Craig C.                  2006    226,195     27,143             51,519                 10,018             314,875
Spengeman
President of PGB
Trust and Investments
and Executive Vice
President of
Peapack-Gladstone
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert M.                 2006    197,920     23,750             48,227                 9,343              279,240
Rogers
President and COO of
Peapack-Gladstone and
the Bank
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garrett P.                2006    148,234     17,788             73,603                 9,942              249,567
Bromley
Executive Vice
President
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(1) The amount in this column represents the change in pension value. There were
no nonqualified deferred compensation earnings.

                                       16


Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

         The following table represents stock options outstanding for each named
executive officer as of December 31, 2006.




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           Option Awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Number of Securities
                         Underlying Unexercised
                         Options Exercisable (#)       Option Exercise Price
      Name                        (1)                           ($)                Option Expiration Date
       (a)                        (b)                           (c)                         (d)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
Frank A. Kissel                  12,491                        11.85                     8/14/2007
                                 29,347                        18.28                     2/19/2009
                                  5,324                        16.86                     1/11/2011
                                 27,499                        28.89                      1/9/2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur F. Birmingham              7,396                        11.85                     8/14/2007
                                  5,870                        18.66                      2/5/2009
                                  3,993                        16.86                     1/11/2011
                                 19,249                        28.89                      1/9/2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Craig C. Spengeman                4,744                        11.85                     8/14/2007
                                  5,870                        18.66                      2/5/2009
                                  1,398                        13.68                     9/14/2010
                                  3,992                        16.86                     1/11/2011
                                  2,661                        13.62                     5/10/2011
                                 21,999                        28.89                      1/9/2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert M. Rogers                  9,244                        11.85                     8/14/2007
                                  5,870                        18.66                      2/5/2009
                                  3,993                        16.86                     1/11/2011
                                  2,661                        13.62                     5/10/2011
                                 21,999                        28.89                      1/9/2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garrett P. Bromley                8,237                        11.85                     8/14/2007
                                  5,870                        18.66                      2/5/2009
                                  3,993                        16.86                     1/11/2011
                                 19,249                        28.89                      1/9/2014
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         (1) The options granted under these plans are, in general,  exercisable
not earlier than one year after the date of grant,  at a price equal to the fair
market value of the common stock on the date of grant,  and expire not more than
ten years after the date of grant.  Stock options may vest during a period of up
to five years after the date of grant;  however,  some options  granted to named
executive  officers were  immediately  exercisable at the date of grant.  In the
event of a Change in Control, all Options outstanding on the date of such Change
in Control shall become immediately and fully exercisable.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

         The following  table shows the stock options  exercised in 2006 and the
value realized upon exercise.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Option Awards
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Number of Shares            Value Realized
          Name              Acquired on Exercise (#)       on Exercise ($)
           (a)                        (b)                        (c)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Frank A. Kissel                   6,000                     80,400
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Arthur F. Birmingham                 --                         --
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Craig C. Spengeman                4,500                     71,280
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Robert M. Rogers                     --                         --
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Garrett P. Bromley                   --                         --
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                       17


Pension Benefits

         The  following  table  shows  the  pension  plan in  which  each  named
executive officer participates,  the number of years of credited service and the
present value of the accumulated benefits.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Number of Years         Present Value of
            Name                    Plan Name            Credited Service (#)   Accumulated Benefit ($)
            (a)                        (b)                       (c)                      (d)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
Frank A. Kissel            Peapack-Gladstone Bank
                           Employees' Retirement Plan             17                    537,621
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur F. Birmingham       Peapack-Gladstone Bank
                           Employees' Retirement Plan             10                    311,241
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Craig C. Spengeman         Peapack-Gladstone Bank
                           Employees' Retirement Plan             21                    372,129
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert M. Rogers           Peapack-Gladstone Bank
                           Employees' Retirement Plan             19                    279,898
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garrett P. Bromley         Peapack-Gladstone Bank
                           Employees' Retirement Plan             9                     367,583
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Peapack-Gladstone  maintains a traditional defined benefit pension plan
designed to provide financial  security to substantially all salaried  employees
in  retirement.  Named  executive  officers  who are age 21 or  older  and  have
completed  one year of service and worked at least 1,000 hours are  eligible for
the defined benefit plan. Participants are eligible for monthly benefit payments
upon reaching age 65. The plan permits early  retirement at age 50 with 15 years
of service.  If a participant  terminates  employment  before he is eligible for
normal or early retirement,  he will be entitled to 100% of the accrued benefit,
provided he has  completed  five or more years of service.  Employees  with less
than five years of service receive no benefit.  Monthly retirement  benefits are
equal to the sum of the following:  (a) a participant's  accrued pension benefit
as of January  1,  1989;  (b) 2.2% of the  participant's  average  compensation,
multiplied by his benefit years,  on or after January 1, 1989, but not to exceed
25  benefit  years;  and (c) 0.75%  (0.6875%  effective  January  1,  1994) of a
participant's average excess compensation, multiplied by his benefit years on or
after  January  1,  1989,  but not to exceed  25  benefit  years.  The plan also
provides death and disability benefits to or on behalf of eligible participants.

Change-In-Control Arrangements

         Peapack-Gladstone  and the  Bank  entered  into  Amended  and  Restated
Change-in-Control Agreements with Frank A. Kissel, Craig C. Spengeman, Robert M.
Rogers,  Arthur F.  Birmingham,  and Garrett P. Bromley as of December 11, 2003,
each of which  provides  for  benefits  in the  event of a  termination  without
"cause"  or  for  "good   reason"   following   a  merger  or   acquisition   of
Peapack-Gladstone.   The  Change-in-Control   Agreements  also  include  certain
non-disclosure  provisions,  which survive the  termination  of the  Executives'
employment and the expiration of the Agreements.

         Each of these agreements require  Peapack-Gladstone or its successor to
pay certain  termination  benefits if (a) there is a change in control and (b) a
named  executive  officer either resigns for good reason (the term "good reason"
means a change in job  description,  location,  compensation  or benefits) or is
terminated  without  cause (the term  "cause"  means (i) willful  and  continued
failure by a named  executive  officer to perform  the  officer's  duties,  (ii)
willful  misconduct by the named executive  officer which causes material injury
to the  Corporation or its successor or (iii) the  conviction of a crime,  other
than a traffic  violation,  drunkenness,  drug abuse,  or excessive  absenteeism
other than for illness). In these agreements, the term "change in control" means
(i) the acquisition of the Corporation's  securities representing 25% or more of
the  voting  power  of all  its  securities,  (ii)  the  first  purchase  of the
Corporation's  common stock  pursuant to a tender or exchange  offer,  (iii) the
shareholder  approval of (a) a merger or  consolidation  of the Corporation into
another  corporation  wherein the other  corporation  exercises control over the
Corporation,  (b) a sale  or  disposition  of all  or  substantially  all of the
Corporation's  assets  or  (c) a  plan  of  liquidation  or  dissolution  of the
Corporation,  (iv) a change in board membership such that over a two year period
the  directors  constituting  the Board at the  beginning  of such period do not
constitute two thirds of the Board of the Corporation or a successor corporation
at the  end of  such  period,  or (v) a sale  of (a)  the  common  stock  of the
Corporation following which a person or entity other than the Corporation or its
affiliates  owns a  majority  thereof  or (b)  all or  substantially  all of the
Corporation's  assets.  Pursuant to the  agreements,  under these  circumstances
Peapack-Gladstone  or its successor  would be required to pay aggregate  amounts
equal to three  times the  highest  annual  salary and  bonuses  paid during any
calendar  year  during  the three  years  prior to the  change in  control  plus
continue certain health and other benefits.

                                       18


         In the  event  that the  severance  payments  and  benefits  under  the
agreements,  together with any other  parachute  payments,  would  constitute an
excess  parachute  payment under Section 280G of the Code, the payments would be
increased in an amount  sufficient  to pay the excise taxes and other income and
payroll taxes necessary to allow Messrs. Kissel, Spengeman,  Rogers, Birmingham,
and  Bromley  to retain  the same net  amount,  after  such  taxes,  as each was
otherwise  entitled to receive.  Section 280G limits payments generally to three
times the last five-year average W-2 compensation.  The estimate of Section 280G
gross-up payments does not reflect  mitigation for compensation  attributable to
non-competition agreements.

         The following table shows the potential payments under each executive's
change-in-control agreement at December 31, 2006.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Potential
                          Change-in-Control     Excise Tax
           Name                Payment           Gross-up           Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frank A. Kissel             $ 1,350,255          $ 442,188       $ 1,792,443
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur F. Birmingham            689,457            227,127           916,584
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Craig C. Spengeman              951,102            317,441         1,268,543
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert M. Rogers                804,366            266,711         1,071,077
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garrett P. Bromley              602,889            201,318           804,207
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Note: The excise tax gross-up was calculated using marginal tax rate of
57.15% (37.15% income and employment taxes, plus the 20% excise tax).

         Under  Peapack-Gladstone's  various stock option plans,  unvested stock
options  would  immediately  vest in the  event of a change  in  control.  Named
executive officers would have three years from the date of termination following
a change in control to exercise the vested options.

Employment Agreements

         Peapack-Gladstone  and the Bank entered into employment agreements (the
"Employment  Agreements")  with  each of Frank A.  Kissel,  Craig C.  Spengeman,
Robert M. Rogers,  Arthur F.  Birmingham and Garrett P. Bromley as of January 1,
2007 for a period of one year to expire on December 31, 2007.

         Peapack-Gladstone  has entered into employment  agreements with each of
the name executive  officers,  for a one-year term.  Employment  agreements with
named executive officers are customary in the marketplace, and Peapack-Gladstone
feels it would be at a  competitive  disadvantage  if it did not enter into such
agreements.

         The  employment  agreements  provide,   among  other  things,  for  (i)
participation  during  the  employment  term in all  compensation  and  employee
benefits  plans  for which  any  salaried  employees  of  Peapack-Gladstone  are
eligible, (ii) an annual base salary, (iii) annual increases to base salary, and
(iv) discretionary  bonus payments with respect to each calendar year determined
by the Board of Directors.  If each executive's employment is terminated without
cause,  Peapack-Gladstone  shall pay the  executive's  base  salary for a period
equal to the longer of (i) the  remainder of the term, or (ii) one year from the
effective  date  of  such  termination.  In  the  event  that  Peapack-Gladstone
terminates  a named  executive  officer's  employment  for cause or  pursuant to
retirement, permanent disability or death, Peapack-Gladstone shall pay the named
executive  officer  any  earned  but  unpaid  base  salary  as of  the  date  of
termination of  employment.  In these  agreements,  the term "cause" means (a) a
material  failure to perform  duties,  and such  failure to perform  constitutes
self-dealing,  willful  misconduct or recklessness,  (b) commission of an act of
dishonesty in the performance of duties or conduct materially detrimental to the
business  of the  Corporation,  (c)  conviction  of a  felony  or a  misdemeanor
involving moral turpitude, (d) material failure to perform duties, which failure
is not cured within 30 days of written  demand by the  Corporation,  (e) knowing
failure to follow  lawful,  written  directives of the Board of Directors or (f)
commission  of a material act or practice,  including  but not limited to sexual
harassment,  forbidden by the Corporation's  employment  manual.  The employment
agreements also include certain  non-compete  and  non-solicitation  provisions,
which extend for two years following the executive's termination of employment.

                                       19


Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

         Section  16(a) of the Exchange Act  requires  that  Peapack-Gladstone's
executive  officers,  directors  and  persons who own more than ten percent of a
registered class of Peapack-Gladstone's  common stock, file reports of ownership
and changes in ownership with the SEC. Based upon copies of reports furnished by
insiders, all Section 16(a) reporting requirements applicable to insiders during
2006 were satisfied on a timely basis.

    TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS, PROMOTERS AND CERTAIN CONTROL PERSONS

         The Bank may  purchase an  undetermined  amount of mortgage  loans from
Weichert Mortgage Company ("Weichert  Mortgage") during 2007.  Weichert Mortgage
is wholly  owned by James M.  Weichert,  who  beneficially  owns 9.69 percent of
Peapack-Gladstone's  outstanding  common  stock.  Anthony  J.  Consi  is  not  a
shareholder,  officer,  or director of Weichert  Mortgage.  Any purchases by the
Bank from Weichert Mortgage will be on terms that are substantially the same, or
at least as  favorable  to, the Bank as those  offered by  Weichert  Mortgage to
other unaffiliated entities.  During 2006, the Bank purchased $26.8 million from
Weichert  Mortgage.  There are no guarantees  that any purchases will be made in
the future.

         In addition  to the matters  discussed  above and  discussed  under the
caption "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation," directors
and officers and their  associates were customers of and had  transactions  with
the Bank during the year ended  December 31, 2006,  and it is expected that such
persons  will  continue to have such  transactions  in the  future.  All deposit
accounts,  loans, and commitments  comprising such transactions were made in the
ordinary  course  of  business  of the Bank on  substantially  the  same  terms,
including  interest rates and  collateral,  as those  prevailing at the time for
comparable transactions with other persons, and, in the opinion of management of
Peapack-Gladstone,  did not involve more than normal risks of  collectibility or
present other unfavorable features.

                                       20


                          REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

To the Board of Directors of Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation:

         We have  reviewed and  discussed  with  management  Peapack-Gladstone's
audited consolidated  financial statements as of and for the year ended December
31, 2006.

         We have discussed with the  independent  registered  public  accounting
firm the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No.
61,  Communication with Audit Committees,  as amended, by the Auditing Standards
Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

         We have  received and reviewed the written  disclosures  and the letter
from the independent  registered public accounting firm required by Independence
Standard No. 1, Independence  Discussions with Audit Committee,  as amended,  by
the  Independence  Standards  Board,  and have  discussed  with the auditors the
auditors' independence.

         Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, we recommend to
the Board of Directors that the consolidated  financial  statements  referred to
above be included in Peapack-Gladstone's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2006.

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

ANTHONY J. CONSI, II, CHAIRMAN
JOHN R. MULCAHY
PHILIP W. SMITH, III
PAMELA HILL

February 27, 2007


                                       21


                  INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

         The Audit  Committee  of the Board of Directors  appointed  KPMG LLP as
independent  registered  public  accounting firm to examine  Peapack-Gladstone's
consolidated  financial  statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006
and to render other professional services as required.

         Aggregate  fees billed by  Peapack-Gladstone's  independent  registered
public  accounting firm, KPMG LLP, for audit services related to the most recent
two fiscal years, and for other professional  services billed in the most recent
two fiscal years, were as follows:

                    Type of Service            2006       2005
                ------------------------     --------   --------
                Audit Fees (1)               $222,750   $190,000
                Audit-Related Fees (2)         25,000     23,000
                Tax Fees (3)                       --      4,500
                All Other Fees (4)              4,500         --
                                             --------   --------
                            Total            $252,250   $217,500
                                             ========   ========

(1)   Comprised of the audit of Peapack-Gladstone's  annual financial statements
      and reviews of Peapack-Gladstone's quarterly financial statements, as well
      as statutory audits of Peapack-Gladstone's  subsidiaries, attest services,
      and   consents   to   SEC   filings.    Also   includes   the   audit   of
      Peapack-Gladstone's internal control over financial reporting for 2006.
(2)   Comprised of fees for audit of retirement and 401(k) plans.
(3)   Comprised  of services for tax  compliance,  tax return  preparation,  tax
      advice, and tax planning.
(4)   Comprised of fees for consents.

         On November 10, 2006, the Audit  Committee of the Board of Directors of
Peapack-Gladstone  dismissed KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as the principal  accountants for
Peapack-Gladstone   upon   completion   of  the  audit  of   Peapack-Gladstone's
consolidated  financial  statements  as of and for the year ended  December  31,
2006,  and the  issuance  of their  reports  thereon.  Concurrently,  the  Audit
Committee  appointed  Crowe  Chizek and  Company  LLC  ("Crowe  Chizek")  as the
principal  accountants  for  Peapack-Gladstone  for the year ending December 31,
2007. The dismissal of KPMG as the principal  accountants for  Peapack-Gladstone
became effective on March 16, 2007.

         The audit reports of KPMG on the consolidated  financial  statements of
Peapack-Gladstone and subsidiary as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006
and 2005 did not contain an adverse  opinion or  disclaimer  of opinion and were
not  qualified  or  modified  as to  uncertainty,  audit  scope,  or  accounting
principles,  except that KPMG's report on the consolidated  financial statements
of  Peapack-Gladstone  and subsidiary as of and for the years ended December 31,
2006 and 2005, contained a separate paragraph stating that "as discussed in Note
14  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  effective  January  1,  2006,
Peapack-Gladstone adopted SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the
Effects of Prior Year  Misstatements  when Quantifying  Misstatements in Current
Year Financial Statements." The audit reports of KPMG on management's assessment
of the  effectiveness  of internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and the
effectiveness  of internal  control over financial  reporting as of December 31,
2006 and 2005 did not contain an adverse  opinion or  disclaimer  of opinion and
were not  qualified  or modified as to  uncertainty,  audit scope or  accounting
principles.

         During the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, and the subsequent
interim period through March 16, 2007, there were no (1) disagreements with KPMG
on any  matter  of  accounting  principles  or  practices,  financial  statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements if not resolved
to KPMG's  satisfaction  would have caused KPMG to make  reference in connection
with  their  opinion to the  subject  matter of the  disagreements  in its audit
reports on the consolidated  financial  statements of  Peapack-Gladstone  or (2)
"reportable events" as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

         During the fiscal  years ended  December  31,  2006 and 2005,  and from
December  31, 2006 to the date of filing of this Form  8-K/A,  Peapack-Gladstone
has not consulted  with Crowe Chizek  regarding  either (a) the  application  of
accounting principles to any completed or contemplated transaction,  or the type
of audit  opinion  that might be  rendered on  Peapack-Gladstone's  consolidated
financial  statements;  or (b)  any of  the  other  matters  specified  in  Item
304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K.

         Peapack-Gladstone  has requested and received from KPMG a letter, dated
March 16,  2007,  addressed  to the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission")  stating whether or not KPMG agrees with the above  statements.  A
copy of the KPMG letter will be attached to Peapack-Gladstone's Form 8-K/A to be
filed.

                                       22


         Peapack-Gladstone has provided a copy of the disclosures in this report
to Crowe  Chizek  and  offered  it the  opportunity  to  furnish a letter to the
Commission contemplated by Item 304(a)(2)(ii)(D) of Regulation S-K. Crowe Chizek
has advised that it does not intend to furnish such a letter to the Commission.

                     AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL PROCEDURES

         The  Audit  Committee  has  adopted  a  formal  policy  concerning  the
pre-approval  of audit and non-audit  services to be provided by the independent
registered public accounting firm to Peapack-Gladstone. The policy requires that
all  services  to be  performed  by KPMG  LLP,  Peapack-Gladstone's  independent
registered  public  accounting  firm,  including audit  services,  audit-related
services  and  permitted  non-audit  services,  be  pre-approved  by  the  Audit
Committee. Specific services being provided by the independent registered public
accounting  firm are  regularly  reviewed in  accordance  with the  pre-approval
policy. At subsequent Audit Committee  meetings,  the Committee receives updates
on  the  services  actually  provided  by  the  independent   registered  public
accounting  firm, and management may present  additional  services for approval.
All services  rendered by KPMG LLP are  permissible  under  applicable  laws and
regulations.  Each new  engagement  of KPMG LLP was  approved  in advance by the
Audit Committee.

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         New Jersey  corporate  law  requires  that the notice of  shareholders'
meeting  (for  either a regular  or  special  meeting)  specify  the  purpose or
purposes of such meeting. Thus, any substantive proposals, including shareholder
proposals,  must be referred to in  Peapack-Gladstone's  notice of shareholders'
meeting  for  such   proposal  to  be  properly   considered  at  a  meeting  of
Peapack-Gladstone.

         Proposals of shareholders which are eligible under the rules of the SEC
to be included in Peapack-Gladstone's year 2008 proxy materials must be received
by the Secretary of Peapack-Gladstone no later than November 23, 2007.

         If  Peapack-Gladstone  changes its 2008 Annual  Meeting  date to a date
more than 30 days from the date of its 2007 Annual  Meeting,  then the  deadline
referred to in the  preceding  paragraph  will be changed to a  reasonable  time
before  Peapack-Gladstone  begins  to print  and mail its  proxy  materials.  If
Peapack-Gladstone  changes the date of its 2008 Annual  Meeting in a manner that
alters the deadline,  Peapack-Gladstone  will so state under Item 5 of the first
quarterly  report  on Form 10-Q it files  with the SEC after the date  change or
notify its shareholders by another reasonable means.

            OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING

         The Board of Directors  knows of no business that will be presented for
consideration  at the meeting  other than that  stated in this proxy  statement.
Should any other  matter  properly  come before the  meeting or any  adjournment
thereof,  it is  intended  that  proxies in the  enclosed  form will be voted in
respect  thereof in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons voting
the proxies.

         WHETHER YOU INTEND TO BE PRESENT AT THE  MEETING OR NOT,  YOU ARE URGED
TO RETURN YOUR SIGNED PROXY PROMPTLY.

                       By Order of the Board of Directors

                                FRANK A. KISSEL,
                                    CHAIRMAN

Gladstone, New Jersey
March 23, 2007


PEAPACK-GLADSTONE'S  ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR-ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 IS BEING
MAILED TO THE  SHAREHOLDERS  WITH THIS PROXY  STATEMENT.  HOWEVER,  SUCH  ANNUAL
REPORT IS NOT  INCORPORATED  INTO THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND IS NOT DEEMED TO BE A
PART OF THE PROXY SOLICITING MATERIAL.


                                       23



[X]PLEASE MARK VOTES
   AS IN THIS EXAMPLE
                                 REVOCABLE PROXY
                     PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                      THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
                             THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The undersigned hereby appoints John D. Kissel, James R. Lamb and Philip W.
Smith,  III, or any one of them,  as Proxy,  each with full power to appoint his
substitute  and hereby  authorizes  them to represent and to vote, as designated
below,  all of  the  shares  of  common  stock  of  Peapack-Gladstone  Financial
Corporation  (the  "Corporation"),  standing  in the  undersigned's  name at the
Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  of the Corporation to be held on April 24, 2007
at 2:00 p.m. or any adjournment  thereof. The undersigned hereby revokes any and
all proxies heretofore given with respect to the meeting.

                                                                With-    For
                                                                hold     All
1.  ELECTION OF ELEVEN (11) DIRECTORS                   For   Authority Except
                                                        [_]      [_]     [_]

                                                        
Anthony J. Consi, II  Pamela Hill            Frank A. Kissel     John D. Kissel
James R. Lamb         Edward A. Merton F.    Duffield Meyercord  John R. Mulcahy
Robert M. Rogers      Philip W. Smith, III   Craig C. Spengeman


INSTRUCTION:To  withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, mark "For
All Except"and write that nominee's name in the space provided below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.  In their  discretion,  the  Proxies are  authorized  to vote upon such other
    business as may properly come before the Meeting.

This Proxy,  when properly signed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned  shareholder.  IF NO DIRECTION is made, this Proxy will be voted
"FOR" the election of all eleven nominees for Director.

PLEASE CHECK BOX IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING.                      [_]

     Please sign  exactly as names appear  above.  When shares are held by joint
tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, as executor, administrator,
trustee or  guardian,  please give full  corporate  names by  President or other
authorized officer.  If a partnership or limited liability company,  please sign
in the entity name by an authorized person.

                                                        ------------------------
         Please be sure to sign and date                | Date                 |
           this Proxy in the box below.                 |                      |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|                                                                              |
|                                                                              |
-----------Shareholder sign above----------Co-holder (if any) sign above-------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ^Detach above card, sign, date and mail in postage paid envelope provided.^

                     PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               PLEASE ACT PROMPTLY
                     SIGN, DATE &MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD TODAY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IF YOUR ADDRESS HAS CHANGED,  PLEASE  CORRECT THE ADDRESS IN THE SPACE  PROVIDED
BELOW AND RETURN THIS PORTION WITH THE PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED.


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