As a result of the foregoing considerations, modest adjustments to each of the named executive officer’s salary in the range of 2.6% to 4.2% (except for Mr. Graham’s whose increase of 25.9% was larger since it reflected his promotion to Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer) were deemed appropriate in light of both such officers’ performances over the past fiscal year and the role they played in the Company’s continued strong operational performance especially in light of the ongoing challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, in keeping with the Committee’s philosophy to maintain flexibility with regard to compensation and to reward exceptional performance, the Committee determined to recognize and reward the various executive officers’ roles in the Company’s continued favorable performance through the use of bonuses rather than significant upward adjustments of salaries. Consequently, the Compensation Committee established salaries for fiscal 2021 for Messrs. Pollack, Migliorino and Graham of $450,000, $375,000 and $185,000, respectively, which amounted to increases of 14.3%, 14.1% and 1.6%, respectively, for such officers. In addition, discretionary bonuses amounting to $275,000, $200,000 and $5,000 were awarded to Messrs. Pollack, Migliorino and Graham, respectively, based on Prudential Bancorp’s continued favorable performance during fiscal 2021 and the individual officer’s roles in producing such performance. Mr. Graham’s bonus was modest due to the significant level of non-equity compensation earned by him during fiscal 2021 as a senior loan officer prior to being promoted to Chief Lending Officer.
The Compensation Committee determined to not grant any equity awards (stock options or restricted stock awards) to named executive officers during fiscal year 2020 and 2021, in light of, among other things, the challenges facing Prudential Bancorp in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as the level of prior equity grants. During fiscal years 2019 and 2018, the Compensation Committee granted equity awards to the named executive officers (other than Mr. Graham who was not a named executive at such period) as well as to other officers. Until fiscal 2018, after the initial grant of equity awards in February 2015 shortly after receipt of shareholder approval of the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (“2014 SIP”), subsequent equity awards had been used on a case-specific basis generally to reflect either the recent hiring of an executive officer or in connection with the promotion of an executive officer.
At the annual meeting of shareholders of Prudential Bancorp held on February 20, 2019, the shareholders recommended, on an advisory basis, that future advisory votes on executive compensation should be held every three years. Consistent with the shareholder recommendation, the Board of Directors of the Company determined that it will hold an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years. The next advisory vote on the compensation of the named executive officers will be presented at the next annual meeting. Prudential Bancorp is required to hold shareholder advisory votes on the frequency interval every six years.
Compensation Policies and Practices as They Relate to Risk Management
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has reviewed the Company’s policies and practices applicable to employees, including the Company’s benefit plans, arrangements and agreements, and does not believe that they are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Committee does not believe that the Company’s policies and practices encourage officers or employees to take unnecessary or excessive risks or behavior focused on short-term results rather than the creation of long-term value.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.
Determinations regarding compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, our senior management and our employees are reviewed and approved by Prudential Bancorp’s Compensation Committee. Messrs. Fanelli, Hosier, who is the Committee’s Chairman, and Miller currently serve as members of the Compensation Committee.
No person who served as a member of the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2021 was a current or former officer or employee of Prudential Bancorp or Prudential Bank or engaged in certain transactions with Prudential Bancorp or Prudential Bank required to be disclosed by regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, there were no Compensation Committee “interlocks” during fiscal 2021, which generally means that no executive officer of Prudential Bancorp served as a director or member of the compensation committee of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director or member of Prudential Bancorp’s Compensation Committee.
Equity Compensation Plans
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for the Year Ended September 30, 2021. No grants of restricted stock awards or stock options were made to any of the named executive officers during fiscal 2021.