Columbia Financial (CLBK) SEVP reports new deferred stock units and option holdings

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. executive John Klimowich, SEVP & Chief Risk Officer, reported an automatic acquisition of 43.0308 phantom shares of common stock on January 23, 2026 through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan at $15.91 per share. These stock unit interests are held in a rabbi trust and will be settled in shares of stock when they are distributed to him, bringing his deferred plan balance to 8,225.7493 units, reported as indirectly owned.

The filing also lists existing holdings, including 60,769 shares of common stock held directly and additional indirect holdings through a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, and stock awards. Klimowich also holds several blocks of stock options under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, such as 188,235 options at $15.60 expiring in 2029 and smaller grants at exercise prices of $15.94, $16.49, and $16.23, which vest over time according to service- and performance-based criteria.

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

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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^*

Klimowich John

(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)
	SEVP & Chief Risk Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/23/2026

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	01/23/2026		A		43.0308(1)	A	$15.91	8,225.7493	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								60,769	D
Common Stock								17,130	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock								7,620	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								7,051	I	By SERP
Common Stock								4,214	I	By SIM
Common Stock								13,781	I	By Stock Award II(2)
Common Stock								12,068	I	By Stock Award III(3)
Common Stock								11,723	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	188,235		188,235	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(6)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	12,030		12,030	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(7)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	8,850		8,850	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(8)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	20,310		20,310	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	01/27/2026
	** 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 insider transaction did CLBK executive John Klimowich report?

SEVP & Chief Risk Officer John Klimowich reported an automatic acquisition of 43.0308 phantom shares of Columbia Financial common stock on January 23, 2026 at a price of $15.91 per share.

How were the new Columbia Financial (CLBK) phantom shares acquired?

The 43.0308 phantom shares were purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee of the Bank's rabbi trust under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan, and are reported as indirectly owned by Klimowich.

What is the total deferred stock balance for the CLBK executive after this transaction?

Following the reported transaction, Klimowich’s balance under the Stock Based Deferral Plan is 8,225.7493 stock unit interests, which will be settled in shares of Columbia Financial common stock upon distribution.

What direct Columbia Financial (CLBK) share holdings does John Klimowich report?

In addition to deferred units, Klimowich reports holding 60,769 shares of Columbia Financial common stock directly, alongside several indirect holdings through benefit and incentive plans.

What stock options does the Columbia Financial SEVP & Chief Risk Officer hold?

Klimowich holds stock options to buy Columbia Financial common stock, including 188,235 options at $15.60 per share expiring on July 23, 2029, and additional grants of 12,030 options at $15.94, 8,850 options at $16.49, and 20,310 options at $16.23 that vest in approximately equal annual installments starting on dates in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

How are performance-based stock awards structured for CLBK’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan?

Certain stock awards granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan vest 25% in three approximately equal annual installments starting on specified dates, while the remaining 75% vest only upon achievement of performance-based criteria, generally three years after the award date.

Does this Form 4 show any sale of Columbia Financial (CLBK) shares by the executive?

The Form 4 describes an acquisition of phantom stock units through a deferral plan and lists existing share and option holdings. It does not report any disposition or sale of Columbia Financial common stock by Klimowich in the described transaction.