UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

______________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 626-2300

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).            

Emerging growth company      ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.           ⃞

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Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure

On December 2, 2021, the registrant issued a press release announcing the declaration of its fourth quarter cash dividend of $0.33 per share of common stock, $0.50 per share of Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.50 per share of Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.484375 per share of Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, and $0.50 per share of Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

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SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.