Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports filed or submitted pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of December 31, 2025. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.
(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act. The Company’s internal control system is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management, Board of Directors and shareholders regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurances that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As part of the Company’s program to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 (the “Assessment”). In making this Assessment, management used the control criteria framework of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission published in its report entitled Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Management’s Assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Management reviewed the results of its Assessment with the Audit Committee.
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Based on this Assessment, management determined that, as of December 31, 2025, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2025, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the independent registered public accounting firm because Hanover Bancorp, Inc. is an emerging growth company.
Item 9B. Other Information
During the quarter ended December 31, 2025, none of our directors or officers informed us of the adoption or termination of a “ Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or “ non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as those terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
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Part III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information responsive to this Item 10 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2025.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information responsive to this Item 11 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2025.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information responsive to this Item 12 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2025.
The following table provides information with respect to the equity securities that are authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2025.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Number of securities
Number of securities
remaining available
to be issued upon
Weighted-average
for issuance under
exercise of
exercise price of
equity compensation
outstanding options,
outstanding options,
plans (excluding
warrants and rights
warrants and rights
securities reflected in
(A)
(B)
column (A)) (C)
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders
16,000
$
13.00
8,767
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders
—
—
157,445
Total
16,000
$
13.00
166,212
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information responsive to this Item 13 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2025.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information responsive to this Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement for its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of December 31, 2025.
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Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Financial Statements and Schedules:
The following financial statements and supplementary data are filed as part of this annual report:
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 173 )
67
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
68
Consolidated Statements of Income
69
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
70
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
71
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
72
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
73
(b) Exhibits. The following is a list of Exhibits to this annual report.
Exhibit
No.
Description
3.1
Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 27, 2025)
3.2
Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 27, 2025)
10.1
Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective as of the 1st day of January, 2015, by and between Michael P. Puorro and Hanover Community Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 30, 2021) *
10.2
Amended and Restated Change in Control Agreement with Kevin Corbett (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 30, 2021) *
10.3
Hanover Community Bank 2013 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2021) *
10.4
Savoy Bank 2013 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form S-8 filed on June 17, 2021) *
10.5
Hanover Community Bank 2016 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2021) *
10.6
2018 Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2021) *
10.7
Hanover Bancorp 2021 Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 30, 2021) *
10.8
Indenture between Hanover Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank, National Association dated October 7, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.8 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2021)
10.9
First Supplemental Indenture between Hanover Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association dated October 7, 2020 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.9 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2021)
10.10
Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with McClelland Wilcox (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 27, 2023) *
10.11
Employment Agreement with Lance P. Burke dated as of July 18, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2024) *
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10.12
Exchange Agreement with Castle Creek Capital Partners VIII, L.P. dated April 25, 2024 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2024)
10.13
Change in Control Agreement with Joseph Burns (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2025) *
10.14
Form of Change in Control Agreement with Lisa DiIorio (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2021) *
19
Insider Trading Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 19 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 14, 2025)
21.1
Subsidiaries (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on January 20, 2021)
23.1
Consent of Crowe LLP (filed herewith)
31.1
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
97
Compensation Recoupment Policy, as amended (filed herewith)
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (filed herewith)
* Management contract or compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
HANOVER BANCORP, INC.
Registrant
March 13, 2026
/s/ Michael P. Puorro
Michael P. Puorro
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
March 13, 2026
/s/ Lance P. Burke
Lance P. Burke
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
March 13, 2026
/s/ Lisa A. Diiorio
Lisa A. Diiorio
First Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
March 13, 2026
/s/ Michael P. Puorro
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Michael P. Puorro
March 13, 2026
/s/ Varkey Abraham
Director
Varkey Abraham
March 13, 2026
/s/ Robert Golden
Director
Robert Golden
March 13, 2026
/s/ Ahron Haspel
Director
Ahron Haspel
March 13, 2026
/s/ Michael Katz
Director
Michael Katz
March 13, 2026
/s/ Metin Negrin
Director
Metin Negrin
March 13, 2026
/s/ Philip Okun
Director
Philip Okun
March 13, 2026
/s/ Elena Sisti
Director
Elena Sisti
March 13, 2026
/s/ John Sorrenti
Director
John Sorrenti
March 13, 2026
/s/ Michael Thaden
Director
Michael Thaden
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