Sec Form 4 Filing - PALAGIANO VINCENT F @ DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC - 2016-12-30

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 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 PALAGIANO VINCENT F 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC [ DCOM] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 300 CADMAN PLAZA WEST, 8TH FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/30/2016 (Street) BROOKLYN, NY11201 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 12/30/2016( 1 ) 12/30/2016( 1 ) A 2,825 A $ 20.1 354,760 I Bmp Common Stock 12/30/2016( 2 ) 12/30/2016( 2 ) A 23,819 A $ 20.1 84,759 I Esop Common Stock 03/31/2017 03/31/2017 J( 3 ) 16,157 D $ 20.3 68,602 I Esop Common Stock 03/31/2017 03/31/2017 J( 3 ) 16,157 A $ 20.3 698,089 D

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 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 Options (Right to Buy) $ 13.74 02/01/2008( 4 ) 05/01/2017 Common Stock 112 112 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other PALAGIANO VINCENT F 300 CADMAN PLAZA WEST 8TH FLOOR BROOKLYN, NY11201 X Signatures /s/ VINCENT F. PALAGIANO 04/04/2017 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Allocation of earned shares during the year ended December 31, 2016 in the Company's non-qualified Benefit Maintenance Plan. While the allocation is deemed effective as of December 31, 2016, the amount of shares allocated was not fully determined until on or about March 31, 2017. ( 2 )Allocation of earned shares during the year ended December 31, 2016 in the Company's qualified Employee Stock Ownership Plan. While the allocation is deemed effective as of December 31, 2016, the amount of shares allocated was not fully determined until on or about March 31, 2017. ( 3 )Shares received from the Company's Employee Stock Plan as part of retirement distributions. ( 4 )Options vest in equal 1/4th annual installments on May 1, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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