Columbia Financial (NASDAQ: CLBK) approves 1.8M-share stock repurchase

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. disclosed that its Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program to buy up to 1,800,000 shares of common stock, described as approximately 1.7% of currently issued and outstanding shares. The program was adopted after the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia issued a notice of non-objection.

The repurchases may occur over a one-year period through open market or private transactions, including trades under any Rule 10b5-1 plan. The company is not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares and may suspend or discontinue the program at any time, depending on price, regulatory and corporate requirements, market conditions, and liquidity priorities.

Insights

Bank capital management analyst

Columbia Financial adds a modest, flexible buyback tool.

Columbia Financial received non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and authorized a stock repurchase program for up to 1,800,000 common shares, about 1.7% of currently issued and outstanding stock. This indicates regulatory comfort with the company’s current capital position.

The one-year program allows purchases via open market, private deals, and Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, but with no obligation to buy any amount. Actual repurchases will depend on price, regulatory and corporate requirements, market conditions, and internal liquidity priorities, so the realized impact will only become clear in later disclosures.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 8.01, 9.01

2 items

Item 8.01 Other Events Other

Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 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): September 8, 2025

Columbia Financial, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware			001-38456			22-3504946
(State or other jurisdiction			(Commission			(IRS Employer
of incorporation)			File Number)			Identification Number)

19-01 Route 208 North, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410

(Address of principal executive offices)

(800) 522-4167

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class			Trading symbol(s)			Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share			CLBK			The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events

On September 5, 2025, Columbia Financial, Inc. (the "Company"), the holding Company for Columbia Bank, issued a press release announcing that the Company's Board of Directors has authorized a new stock repurchase program to acquire up to 1,800,000 shares, or approximately 1.7% of the Company's currently issued and outstanding common stock.

The stock repurchase program was adopted following the receipt of a notice of non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

The stock repurchase program permits shares to be repurchased in open market or private transactions, privately negotiated transactions, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The stock repurchase program will be in effect for a one-year period, and the timing and actual number of shares repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, market conditions, and other corporate liquidity requirements and priorities. The stock repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

A copy of the Company’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

        (d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number						Description
99.1						Press release dated September 8, 2025
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

2

SIGNATURE

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

Date:

September 8, 2025

/s/Dennis E. Gibney

Dennis E. Gibney

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

3

FAQ

What stock repurchase program did Columbia Financial (CLBK) authorize?

Columbia Financial’s Board authorized a stock repurchase program for up to 1,800,000 common shares, described as about 1.7% of issued and outstanding stock. The program provides flexibility to return capital through share repurchases over a defined period, subject to various business and market conditions.

How long will Columbia Financial’s new stock repurchase program be in effect?

The Columbia Financial stock repurchase program will be in effect for a one-year period. During this time, the company may repurchase shares at its discretion, considering price, regulatory and corporate requirements, market conditions, and other liquidity needs and priorities before executing any buybacks.

What methods can Columbia Financial (CLBK) use to repurchase shares under this program?

Columbia Financial may repurchase shares in open market or private transactions, through privately negotiated deals, and under any trading plan adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1. This mix of methods gives the company flexibility in how and when it executes repurchases.

Is Columbia Financial required to buy the full 1,800,000 shares under the repurchase plan?

Columbia Financial is not obligated to purchase any specific number of shares under the program. The company can suspend or discontinue repurchases at any time, depending on share price, regulatory and corporate requirements, market conditions, and overall liquidity priorities.

Did regulators approve Columbia Financial’s new stock repurchase program?

Columbia Financial adopted the stock repurchase program after receiving a notice of non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. This non-objection indicates regulators did not oppose the plan, allowing the company to proceed within the program’s stated parameters and conditions.