 ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Oct. 29, 2020 GLOBE NEWSWIRE -- ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. Nasdaq: CNOB the Company or ConnectOne, parent company of ConnectOne Bank the Bank, today reported net income of 24.8 million for the third quarter of 2020 compared with 14.8 million for the second quarter of 2020 and 21.7 million for the third quarter of 2019. Diluted earnings per share were 0.62 in the third quarter of 2020 compared with 0.37 in the second quarter of 2020 and 0.61 in the third quarter of 2019. Included in net income were provisions for loan losses of 5.0 million for the third quarter of 2020, 15.0 million for the second quarter of 2020, and 2.0 million for the third quarter of 2019. Also included in net income were merger and restructuring expenses of 5.1 million for the second quarter of 2020 and 0.2 million for the third quarter of 2019, while there were no such charges in the third quarter of 2020. On a pre-tax, pre-provision and pre-merger charges basis, earnings were 37.6 million for the third quarter of 2020, 37.5 million for the second quarter of 2020, and 30.3 million for the third quarter of 2019. 