CLBK President & CEO reports phantom stock buy and options detail

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) President & CEO and director reported updated ownership of company stock in a Form 4 filing. On 11/14/2025, the reporting person acquired 118.6674 shares of phantom stock at $15.06 per share through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan, a non-qualified stock-based deferral plan where units are settled in shares upon distribution. Following this, they report 66,160.9033 shares in the stock-based deferral plan and additional indirect holdings in a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, SIM, spouse account, and several performance-based stock award programs. The filing also lists stock options to purchase 656,471 shares at $15.60, 37,894 shares at $15.94, 37,168 shares at $16.49, and 94,749 shares at $16.23, with vesting schedules set under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

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
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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^*

Kemly Thomas J.

(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)

X	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	President & CEO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
11/14/2025

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	11/14/2025		A		118.6674(1)	A	$15.06	66,160.9033	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								233,808	D
Common Stock								40,946	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock								7,620	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								32,597	I	By SERP
Common Stock								41,572	I	By SIM
Common Stock								5,933	I	By Spouse
Common Stock								43,411	I	By Stock Award II(2)
Common Stock								50,686	I	By Stock Award III(3)
Common Stock								54,690	I	By Stock Award IV(4)

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)	$15.6							07/23/2020(5)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	656,471		656,471	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(6)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	37,894		37,894	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(7)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	37,168		37,168	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(8)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	94,749		94,749	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, 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.

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 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.

4. 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.

5. Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan are fully vested and exercisable.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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	11/18/2025
	** 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).
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FAQ

What did Columbia Financial (CLBK) report in this Form 4 filing?

The Form 4 shows that the President & CEO, who is also a director, updated their ownership in Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK), including a new phantom stock purchase and detailed indirect holdings and stock options.

How many phantom stock units did the CLBK CEO acquire and at what price?

The CEO acquired 118.6674 phantom stock units at a price of $15.06 per unit through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan.

What are the CEO’s reported stock-based deferral plan holdings in CLBK?

After the reported transaction, the CEO holds 66,160.9033 shares indirectly through the Stock-Based Deferral Plan, which will be settled in stock upon distribution.

What CLBK stock option grants are reported in this Form 4?

The filing lists stock options to buy 656,471 shares at $15.60, 37,894 shares at $15.94, 37,168 shares at $16.49, and 94,749 shares at $16.23, all relating to Common Stock.

How do the Columbia Financial (CLBK) stock awards for the CEO vest?

The stock awards are granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, with portions vesting in approximately equal annual installments and the remaining portions vesting upon achievement of specified performance-based criteria, generally three years after the award date.

Are the CLBK stock options in this filing vested or subject to vesting schedules?

One grant of stock options under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan is stated as fully vested and exercisable, while others vest in three approximately equal annual installments starting on specified dates such as May 1, 2024, March 6, 2025, and March 3, 2026.

What types of indirect ownership in CLBK stock does the CEO report?

The CEO reports indirect ownership through a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, SIM, a spouse’s account, stock-based deferral plans, and multiple performance-based stock award programs.