Columbia Financial (CLBK) risk chief receives new stock and option grants

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. executive John Klimowich, SEVP & Chief Risk Officer, reported equity compensation grants rather than open-market trades. On March 2, 2026, he acquired 20,227 stock options with a grant price of $0.00 per option and 11,906 shares of common stock through a stock award vehicle.

The options and stock awards were granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, with vesting schedules tied to time-based installments and performance-based criteria, in some cases over three years. The filing also lists updated totals for his existing option and stock holdings, both directly and through various company 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^*

Klimowich John

(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 & Chief Risk Officer

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		11,906	A	$0	11,906	I	By Stock Award V(1)
Common Stock								8,299.8427	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								60,769	D
Common Stock								17,130	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock								7,620	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								7,051	I	By SERP
Common Stock								4,214	I	By SIM
Common Stock								13,781	I	By Stock Award II(2)
Common Stock								12,068	I	By Stock Award III(3)
Common Stock								11,723	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		20,227		03/02/2027(5)	03/02/2036	Common Stock	20,227	$0	20,227	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.6							07/23/2020(6)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	188,235		188,235	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(7)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	12,030		12,030	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(8)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	8,850		8,850	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(9)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	20,310		20,310	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.
* 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 insider transactions did CLBK executive John Klimowich report?

John Klimowich reported equity compensation grants, not market trades. He received 20,227 stock options at a grant price of $0.00 and 11,906 shares of Columbia Financial common stock through a stock award structure under the company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

Were these CLBK Form 4 transactions open-market buys or sells?

These transactions were grants, not open-market buys or sells. The Form 4 shows stock options and common stock awarded under Columbia Financial’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, with a grant price of $0.00 per option and no reported sale of existing shares.

How many Columbia Financial stock options were granted to Klimowich?

Klimowich was granted 20,227 stock options with a reported grant price of $0.00 per option. These options were issued under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and are scheduled to vest in approximately three equal annual installments beginning March 2, 2027, per the footnote description.

How many CLBK common shares were awarded in this Form 4 filing?

The filing reports a grant of 11,906 shares of common stock to Klimowich through an indirect ownership vehicle labeled “By Stock Award V.” These shares are part of Columbia Financial’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to specified vesting conditions outlined in the plan footnotes.

What vesting terms apply to the new Columbia Financial equity awards?

The awards vest over time and based on performance. Footnotes state some stock awards vest 25% in three annual installments, with the remaining 75% tied to performance criteria that, if met, lead to full vesting three years after each award’s grant date under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

Does the Form 4 show Klimowich’s other CLBK holdings?

Yes, the filing lists updated totals for existing holdings. It shows various blocks of Columbia Financial stock and options held directly and indirectly through plans such as a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, stock-based deferral plan, and multiple stock award programs, reflecting post-transaction balances only.