Columbia Financial (NASDAQ: CLBK) CEO awarded options and stock

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Kemly Thomas J. reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Columbia Financial, Inc. President and CEO Thomas J. Kemly reported equity awards on common stock dated March 2, 2026. He received stock options covering 91,477 shares and a separate grant of 53,842 shares of common stock through "Stock Award V."

The options were issued under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and vest in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on March 2, 2027. The Stock Award V shares vest only if specified performance-based criteria are met and, if achieved, would vest three years after the award date on March 2, 2029.

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

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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^*

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)
03/02/2026

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	03/02/2026		A		53,842	A	$0	53,842	I	By Stock Award V(1)
Common Stock								66,923.6689	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)	$18.28	03/02/2026		A		91,477		03/02/2027(5)	03/02/2036	Common Stock	91,477	$0	91,477	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.6							07/23/2020(6)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	656,471		656,471	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(7)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	37,894		37,894	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(8)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	37,168		37,168	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(9)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	94,749		94,749	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. 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 2, 2029.

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 vest in three approximately equal annual installments commencing on March 2, 2027.

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

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	03/04/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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FAQ

What insider transactions did CLBK CEO Thomas J. Kemly report?

Thomas J. Kemly reported equity awards in Columbia Financial, Inc. common stock. These included newly granted stock options and a performance-based stock award, all issued under the company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan with multi-year vesting schedules tied to time and performance conditions.

How many stock options were granted to the CLBK CEO in this Form 4?

The CEO received stock options covering 91,477 shares of Columbia Financial common stock. These options were granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and are scheduled to vest in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on March 2, 2027, subject to continued service.

How many Columbia Financial (CLBK) shares were granted under Stock Award V?

Stock Award V granted 53,842 shares of Columbia Financial common stock. The award is performance-based, vesting only upon achievement of specified criteria and, if those goals are met, the shares would vest three years after the award date on March 2, 2029.

What is the vesting schedule for the new CLBK stock options granted to the CEO?

The newly granted stock options vest in three approximately equal annual installments starting March 2, 2027. This means one-third of the options becomes exercisable each year over three years, incentivizing longer-term alignment with Columbia Financial’s performance and shareholder interests.

Are the CLBK CEO’s reported transactions open-market buys or compensation awards?

The reported transactions are compensation-related equity awards, not open-market purchases or sales. They include stock options and performance-based stock awards granted under Columbia Financial’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, with vesting tied to time in role and meeting defined performance conditions.

Under what plan were the CLBK CEO’s 2026 equity awards granted?

All reported equity awards were granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. This plan governs stock options and stock awards, including time-based vesting and performance-based vesting structures aligned with longer-term company goals and executive retention incentives.