[Form 4] Columbia Financial, Inc. Insider Trading Activity

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) Form 4 summary: On 08/22/2025 Allyson Katz Schlesinger, SEVP & Head of Consumer Banking and a director/officer, is reported as acquiring 21.7993 units under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan at a price of $15.35 per unit. The filing shows various categories of beneficial ownership across plans and awards, including indirect ownership of 13,346.307 shares via the Stock Based Deferral Plan and multiple other holdings reported as ESOP (6,683), SERP (6,459), SIM (4,683), and several stock awards and option pools.

The report also discloses outstanding company stock options exercisable into common stock (totaling 198,507 options across four grants) with exercise prices ranging from $15.60 to $16.49 and various vesting schedules. The form was signed by power of attorney on 08/26/2025.

Positive

• Insider acquisition reported (21.7993 units purchased at $15.35) indicating participation in company equity programs
• Detailed disclosure of indirect and direct holdings across multiple compensation vehicles helps assess potential dilution
• Large pool of options includes fully vested instruments (155,294 exercisable from 07/23/2020), providing clarity on exercisable dilution

Negative

• None.

Insights

Securities Analyst

TL;DR: Routine insider acquisition via a non-qualified deferral plan; holdings include substantial vested and unvested equity, limited immediate market impact.

The filing documents a small purchase (21.7993 units at $15.35) executed through the trustee of a rabbi trust under the Stock Based Deferral Plan rather than an open-market buy, indicating compensation-related deferral activity. The reporting person holds sizeable option positions (aggregate 198,507 options) with exercise prices between $15.60 and $16.49, including fully vested options from 2020. For investors, these are standard equity‑compensation movements rather than an independent market signal; the disclosure is material for modeling potential dilution and future share issuance timing.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Disclosure aligns with compensation plan settlements and award schedules; documentation of indirect holdings and vesting conditions is clear.

The Form 4 provides explicit allocation of indirect beneficial ownership across the Stock Based Deferral Plan, ESOP, SERP, SIM and multiple stock award tranches with performance-based vesting conditions. The explanations note which awards are performance-contingent and the settlement mechanics for deferred phantom units. From a governance perspective, the filing meets Section 16 transparency expectations and clarifies the nature and timing of potential share settlements tied to compensation 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

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
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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^*

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)
08/22/2025

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	08/22/2025		A		21.7993(1)	A	$15.35	13,346.307	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	08/26/2025
	** 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).
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FAQ

What transaction did Allyson Katz Schlesinger report on Form 4 for CLBK?

The reporting person acquired 21.7993 units under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan on 08/22/2025 at a price of $15.35 per unit.

How many shares or units does the Form 4 show as beneficially owned via the Stock Based Deferral Plan?

The filing shows 13,346.307 shares beneficially owned indirectly through the Stock Based Deferral Plan.

What stock options does the reporting person hold according to the filing?

The reporting person holds options exercisable into common stock totaling 198,507 options across four grants with exercise prices of $15.60, $15.94, $16.49, and $16.23 and varying vesting schedules.

Are any awards subject to performance-based vesting?

Yes. Several stock awards listed in the explanations vest partially over time and 75% of certain awards vest only upon achievement of specified performance-based criteria with potential three-year performance periods.

Who signed the Form 4 and when was it filed?

The form bears the signature of Dennis E. Gibney as Power of Attorney and is dated 08/26/2025.