Columbia Financial (CLBK) director adds phantom stock via deferral plan

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. director Torres Daria Stacy-Walls reported additional stock-based compensation tied to the company’s common stock. On January 23, 2026, the trustee of Columbia Bank’s rabbi trust purchased 306.4111 phantom stock units under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan at $15.91 per unit, to be settled later in shares of stock when amounts are distributed to the director. Following this transaction, 27,790.7648 units are held indirectly through the stock-based deferral plan. The director also holds 8,048 shares directly and 3,207 shares indirectly through “Stock Award IV,” which consists of awards under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan that vest on March 11, 2026.

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
Estimated average burden
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^*

Torres Daria Stacy-Walls

(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
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

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		306.4111(1)	A	$15.91	27,790.7648	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								8,048	D
Common Stock								3,207	I	By Stock Award IV(2)

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

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 which vest in one year on March 11, 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).
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 activity did Columbia Financial (CLBK) report in this Form 4?

The filing shows that director Torres Daria Stacy-Walls received 306.4111 phantom stock units of Columbia Financial, Inc. common stock on January 23, 2026 through a stock-based deferral plan, at a reference price of $15.91 per unit.

How many Columbia Financial (CLBK) shares does the director hold after this transaction?

After the reported transaction, the director has 27,790.7648 units indirectly through the stock-based deferral plan, plus 8,048 common shares held directly and 3,207 common shares held indirectly via Stock Award IV.

What is the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan mentioned in the Form 4?

The Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan is a non-qualified stock-based deferral plan where phantom stock is purchased by the trustee of the Bank’s rabbi trust on a non-discretionary basis. The stock unit interests are settled in shares of stock when amounts are distributed to the reporting person.

Who executed the phantom stock purchase reported for Columbia Financial (CLBK)?

The Form 4 states that the trustee of the Bank’s rabbi trust purchased the 306.4111 phantom stock units on a non-discretionary basis under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan for the benefit of director Torres Daria Stacy-Walls.

What is Stock Award IV in the Columbia Financial (CLBK) Form 4?

Stock Award IV refers to stock awards granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. The filing notes that these awards vest in one year on March 11, 2026, and the director currently reports 3,207 shares held indirectly under this award.

Is this Columbia Financial (CLBK) Form 4 transaction a stock purchase or a grant?

The reported transaction involves phantom stock units purchased by the trustee of a rabbi trust within a stock-based deferral plan, rather than an open-market purchase by the director. The units are designed to be settled in shares of stock at distribution.