Columbia Financial (CLBK) executive gains phantom stock units at $17.12

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. reported that its SEVP & Head of Consumer Banking acquired 19.5456 phantom stock units tied to common stock on 12/12/2025 through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan at $17.12 per unit. After this trustee-directed purchase in the plan’s rabbi trust, the executive beneficially owns 13,522.6081 shares indirectly via the deferral plan, 64,281 shares directly, and additional indirect holdings through the ESOP, SERP, SIM, and several performance-based stock awards. The filing also lists stock options to buy 155,294 shares at an exercise price of $15.60 expiring on 07/23/2029, plus option grants for 12,632, 9,292 and 21,289 shares at exercise prices between $15.94 and $16.49 expiring between 2033 and 2035.

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^*

Schlesinger Allyson Katz

(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&Head of Consumer Banking

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/12/2025

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	12/12/2025		A		19.5456(1)	A	$17.12	13,522.6081	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								64,281	D
Common Stock								6,683	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								6,459	I	By SERP
Common Stock								4,683	I	By SIM
Common Stock								14,470	I	By Stock Award II(2)
Common Stock								12,672	I	By Stock Award III(3)
Common Stock								12,288	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	155,294		155,294	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(6)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	12,632		12,632	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(7)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	9,292		9,292	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(8)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	21,289		21,289	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	12/16/2025
	** 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 insider transaction did Columbia Financial (CLBK) report on December 12, 2025?

The report shows that the SEVP & Head of Consumer Banking acquired 19.5456 phantom stock units related to Columbia Financial, Inc. common stock on 12/12/2025 at a price of $17.12 per unit through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan.

How many Columbia Financial shares does the executive beneficially own after this transaction?

After the reported transaction, the executive beneficially owns 13,522.6081 shares indirectly via the stock-based deferral plan, 64,281 shares directly, and additional indirect positions of 6,683 shares through the ESOP, 6,459 through the SERP, 4,683 through the SIM, and 14,470, 12,672, and 12,288 shares through separate stock awards.

What is the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan mentioned for CLBK?

The Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan is described as a non-qualified stock-based deferral plan where phantom stock is purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee of the bank’s rabbi trust. Stock unit interests under this plan will be settled in shares of stock upon distribution to the reporting person.

What stock awards under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan are disclosed for Columbia Financial (CLBK)?

The filing describes stock awards under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. For certain awards, 25% vest in three approximately equal annual installments starting on May 1, 2024 or March 6, 2025, and the remaining 75% vest upon achievement of specified performance-based criteria, in which case they would vest three years after the award date. Another award vests upon performance-based criteria and, if achieved, would vest three years after the award date on March 3, 2028.

What stock options held by the Columbia Financial officer are disclosed in this Form 4?

The officer holds stock options granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, including 155,294 options at an exercise price of $15.60 expiring on 07/23/2029, 12,632 options at $15.94 expiring on 05/01/2033, 9,292 options at $16.49 expiring on 03/06/2034, and 21,289 options at $16.23 expiring on 03/03/2035. Some option grants are fully vested, while others vest in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on the grant-related dates.