FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: January 31, 2005 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * BABCOCK JOHN P   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PEAPACK GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORP [PGC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) SEVP & Pres of Priv Wealth Mgt (Last) (First) (Middle) 500 HILLS DRIVE, SUITE 300, PO BOX 700 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/11/2018 (Street) BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921-1538 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/11/2018   F(6)   1,693 D $ 34.71 73,381.67 D (2)   Common Stock 03/11/2018   F(6)   1,309 D $ 34.71 72,072.67 D (2)   Common Stock 03/11/2018   F(6)   810 D $ 34.71 73,719.67 D (2)   Common Stock 03/11/2018   F(6)   165 D $ 34.71 74,052.67 D (2)   Common Stock 03/11/2018   F(6)   457 D $ 34.71 74,981.17 D (2)   Common Stock               3,842 I Rabbi Trust (7) Common Stock               5,324.9854 (1) I 401(K)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Restricted Stock Unit

(3)

(4)

(4)

Common Stock

10,455

10,455

D

Restricted Stock Unit

(3)

(5)

(5)

Common Stock

1,995

1,995

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
BABCOCK JOHN P 500 HILLS DRIVE, SUITE 300 PO BOX 700 BEDMINSTER, NJ 07921-1538			SEVP & Pres of Priv Wealth Mgt

Signatures

John P. Babcock		03/13/2018
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Includes 401(K) contributions used to purchase PGC stock.
(2)	10,804 shares held in trust
(3)	Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock of Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation.
(4)	The restricted stock units vest and settle in stock in three approximately equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date.
(5)	The restricted stock units vest and settle in stock in five approximately equal installments on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date.
(6)	Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising from settlement of restricted stock units.
(7)	Held indirectly through a rabbi trust pursuant to a non-qualified deferred compensation plan.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.