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

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

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Lebel Joseph III   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP [OCFC] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below) 1st SVP, CLO, OceanFirst Bank (Last) (First) (Middle) 975 HOOPER AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 07/21/2009 (Street) TOMS RIVER, NJ 08754 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 07/21/2009   A   4,538 (2) A $ 0 5,373 D (1)   Common Stock               877 I By 401(k) (3) Common Stock               1,651 I By Esop (3) Common Stock               428 I By Matching ESOP (4) (5) Common Stock               500 I By Spouse

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

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

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

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

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

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

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

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

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

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

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

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 22.74

04/28/2007(6)

04/28/2016

Common Stock

10,000

10,000

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 20.25

03/02/2008(7)

03/02/2017

Common Stock

4,500

4,500

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 16.81

02/20/2009

02/20/2018

Common Stock

7,088

7,088

D (8)

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Lebel Joseph III 975 HOOPER AVENUE TOMS RIVER, NJ 08754				1st SVP, CLO, OceanFirst Bank

Signatures

/s/ John K. Kelly, Power of Attorney		07/23/2009
**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)	A total of 4,806 shares were acquired by award and are currently unvested.
(2)	Includes 873 shares of restricted stock that vest 100% on July 21, 2011, and 3,665 shares of restricted stock that vest at 0% or between 50% to 100% on July 21, 2011, depending upon the attainment of defined performance goals for the one year period ending June 30, 2010.
(3)	This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).
(4)	Represents shares acquired under the OceanFirst Bank Matching Contribution Employee Stock Ownership Plan established as part of a spin-off from the OceanFirst Employee Stock Ownership Plan effective December 27, 2006
(5)	This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions under the ESOP pursuant to Rule 16b-3(c).
(6)	Options vest at a rate of 20% per year commencing April 28, 2007.
(7)	Options vest at a rate of 20% per year commencing March 2, 2008.
(8)	Options awarded under the OceanFirst Financial Corp. 2000 Stock Option Plan vest in five equal annual installments beginning on February 20, 2009.

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