Columbia Financial (CLBK) EVP reports 382-share tax withholding, updates awards

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. executive vice president and chief information officer Prabhu Manesh Balachandran reported a small, non-market transaction. On a Form 4 dated for a transaction on March 6, 2026, 382 shares of common stock were withheld at $18.06 per share to cover tax obligations, leaving 5,504 common shares held directly. The filing also lists several outstanding stock option grants with exercise prices between $15.94 and $20.54 and expiration dates from 2032 through 2036, plus 7,669 phantom stock units and various indirect share holdings in company benefit and stock award plans.

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^*

Prabhu Manesh Balachandran

(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 & CIO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/06/2026

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	03/06/2026		F		382	D	$18.06	5,504(1)	D
Common Stock								545.5975	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								1,680(2)	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock								2,150	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								437	I	By SERP
Common Stock								9,690	I	By Stock Award II(3)
Common Stock								10,286	I	By Stock Award III(4)
Common Stock								11,018	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	12,985		12,985	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(7)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	8,459		8,459	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(8)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	8,296		8,296	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(9)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	19,086		19,086	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$18.28							03/02/2027(10)	03/02/2036	Common Stock	19,545		19,545	D
Phantom Stock Unit	(11)							(12)	(12)	Common Stock	7,669		7,669	I	Deferred Stock Unit Plan

Explanation of Responses:

1. The number of shares held directly includes certain shares that were previously held by Stock Award and that have subsequently vested.

2. This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to rule 16b-3(c).

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 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.

10. 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.

11. One phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of CLBK Common Stock. Phantom stock units were granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2026 Phantom Stock Plan and will be settled in cash upon distribution.

12. On the settlement date, phantom stock units will be payable in cash. The cash value will be calculated, in accordance with the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2026 Phantom Stock Plan, based on the closing stock price of the Company's Common Stock on the determination date.

Remarks:

	/s/ Dennis E. Gibney, Power of Attorney	03/10/2026
	** 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 transaction did Columbia Financial (CLBK) report for Prabhu Manesh Balachandran?

Columbia Financial reported that EVP & CIO Prabhu Manesh Balachandran had 382 common shares withheld at $18.06 per share on March 6, 2026 to cover tax obligations. This was a non-market, tax-withholding disposition rather than an open-market sale or purchase.

How many Columbia Financial (CLBK) shares does the EVP & CIO hold after this Form 4?

After the March 6, 2026 tax-withholding event, Prabhu Manesh Balachandran directly holds 5,504 shares of Columbia Financial common stock. The Form 4 also discloses additional indirect holdings through plans such as a 401(k), ESOP, stock awards, and a stock-based deferral plan.

Was the Columbia Financial (CLBK) Form 4 a buy or sell transaction?

The Form 4 records a tax-withholding disposition of 382 shares at $18.06 per share, coded “F.” This represents shares retained by the company to satisfy tax liabilities and is not an open-market buy or sell decision by the executive.

What stock options for Columbia Financial (CLBK) does the EVP & CIO report holding?

The filing lists several stock option grants on Columbia Financial common stock, with exercise prices from $15.94 to $20.54 and expiration dates between 2032 and 2036. Underlying share amounts range from 8,296 to 19,545 for each option grant.

What are the phantom stock units disclosed in the Columbia Financial (CLBK) Form 4?

The Form 4 shows 7,669 phantom stock units, each economically equivalent to one Columbia Financial common share. They were granted under the 2026 Phantom Stock Plan and will be settled in cash based on the stock’s closing price on a specified determination date.

Does the Columbia Financial (CLBK) insider filing show any open-market trades?

The insider filing does not show any open-market purchases or sales. It reports a single tax-withholding event of 382 shares and updates various direct, option, phantom unit, and plan-based holdings, which are primarily compensation and benefit-related positions.