Columbia Financial (CLBK) EVP Jenifer White Reports Stock Acquisition and Option Holdings

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Insider purchase and holdings summary for Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK): On 09/05/2025, Jenifer White (EVP & CHRO) was reported to have acquired 35.489 units of common stock at a price of $15.01 under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan, with settlement to be made in shares upon distribution. The filing lists multiple classes of her current beneficial ownership across plans and awards, including direct holdings and indirect holdings through an ESOP, SERP, SIM and several stock award tranches.

The report also discloses outstanding stock options exercisable into common stock: 5,540 options at $20.54 (exp. 10/31/2032), 6,203 at $15.94 (exp. 05/01/2033), 5,107 at $16.49 (exp. 03/06/2034), and 11,297 at $16.23 (exp. 03/03/2035). The Form 4 was signed by a power of attorney on 09/09/2025.

Positive

• Insider acquisition recorded: 35.489 units purchased at $15.01
• Detailed transparency: Filing lists direct and indirect holdings across multiple plans and award tranches, aiding investor visibility
• Clearly disclosed option positions: 5,540; 6,203; 5,107; and 11,297 options with stated exercise prices and expirations

Negative

• None.

Insights

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: An insider purchase and a detailed breakdown of equity compensation holdings were reported; disclosure is routine and not clearly material.

The filing documents a small purchase executed through a deferred compensation plan and enumerates multiple indirect holdings and equity awards subject to vesting and performance conditions. This is consistent with typical executive compensation structures: phantom stock units, multiple tranches of performance- and time-based awards, and outstanding options with staggered expirations. The disclosure improves transparency about dilution and potential future share issuance but does not, by itself, indicate a material corporate event.

Securities Analyst

TL;DR: Reported acquisition at $15.01 plus several exerciseable option tranches; no earnings or transaction altering company valuation disclosed.

The transaction shows acquisition of 35.489 stock units at $15.01 via the Stock Based Deferral Plan and lists existing option positions totaling 28,147 exercisable shares across four option grants with exercise prices between $15.94 and $20.54. The disclosure allows investors to track insider exposure and potential future dilution from option exercises and deferred-plan settlements, but the filing contains no revenue, profit, or corporate-action data to change an investment thesis.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Walden Jenifer White

(Last) (First) (Middle)

19-01 ROUTE 208 NORTH

(Street)

FAIR LAWN NJ 07410

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Columbia Financial, Inc. [ CLBK ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	EVP & CHRO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
09/05/2025

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	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	09/05/2025		A		35.489(1)	A	$15.01	2,775.4336	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								3,352	D
Common Stock								2,073	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								45	I	By SERP
Common Stock								14	I	By SIM
Common Stock								649	I	By Stock Award(2)
Common Stock								7,106	I	By Stock Award II(3)
Common Stock								6,964	I	By Stock Award III(4)
Common Stock								6,521	I	By Stock Award IV(5)

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 (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	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 (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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: 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)	$20.54							10/31/2023(6)	10/31/2032	Common Stock	5,540		5,540	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(7)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	6,203		6,203	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(8)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	5,107		5,107	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(9)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	11,297		11,297	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents phantom stock purchased, on a non-discretionary basis, by the trustee of the Bank's rabbi trust maintained in connection with the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan, a non-qualified stock-based deferral plan. Stock unit interests under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan will be settled in shares of stock upon distribution to the reporting person.

2. Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, which vest in three equal annual installments commencing on October 31, 2023.

3. Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive plan, 25% of which vest in three approximately equal annual installments commencing on May 1, 2024; and the remaining 75% of which vest upon achievement of certain specified performance-based vesting criteria, which if achieved, such Awards would vest three years after the date of the Award.

4. Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive plan, 25% of which vest in three approximately equal annual installments commencing on March 6, 2025; and the remaining 75% of which vest upon achievement of certain specified performance-based vesting criteria, which if achieved, such Awards would vest three years after the date of the Award.

5. Stock Awards granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive plan, which vest upon achievement of certain specified performance-based vesting criteria, which if achieved, such Awards would vest three years after the date of the Award on March 3, 2028.

6. Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan vest in three equal annual installments commencing on October 31, 2023.

7. Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan vest in three approximately equal annual installments commencing on May 1, 2024.

8. Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan vest in three approximately equal annual installments commencing on March 6, 2025.

9. Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan vest in three approximately equal annual installments commencing on March 3, 2026.

Remarks:

	/s/ Dennis E. Gibney, Power of Attorney	09/09/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What did Jenifer White report on Form 4 for CLBK?

The Form 4 reports that Jenifer White acquired 35.489 units of common stock on 09/05/2025 at a price of $15.01 and discloses multiple existing equity awards and options.

How many stock options does the filing show for the reporting person?

The filing lists option holdings exercisable into common stock totaling 5,540, 6,203, 5,107, and 11,297 options across four grants with specified exercise prices and expirations.

Were the acquired shares purchased directly or via a plan?

The 35.489 units were acquired through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan and are phantom stock units to be settled in shares upon distribution.

Does the Form 4 disclose vesting or performance conditions?

Yes. Several stock awards are described as vesting in annual installments and/or subject to specified performance-based vesting criteria as stated in the explanations.

When was the Form 4 signed and by whom?

The Form 4 shows a signature by Dennis E. Gibney, as Power of Attorney, dated 09/09/2025.