Columbia Financial (CLBK) EVP & CIO reports new stock-based awards

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial EVP & CIO Prabhu Manesh Balachandran reported a compensation-related increase in indirect holdings. On March 13, 2026, a grant of 476.7191 shares of Columbia Financial, Inc. common stock at $17.48 per share was credited under a stock-based deferral plan, raising that plan balance to 1,022.3166 shares. He also reports outstanding stock options, including 12,985 underlying shares at an exercise price of $20.54, plus additional option grants and phantom stock units detailed in the filing. There were no open-market purchases or sales.

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)
03/13/2026

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	03/13/2026		A		476.7191(1)	A	$17.48	1,022.3166	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								5,504	D
Common Stock								1,914(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. 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. 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	03/17/2026
	** 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 did Columbia Financial (CLBK) EVP & CIO report on this Form 4?

Columbia Financial EVP & CIO Prabhu Manesh Balachandran reported a compensation-related award, not a market trade. He acquired 476.7191 shares of common stock at $17.48 through a stock-based deferral plan, increasing his indirect balance in that plan to 1,022.3166 shares.

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

The Form 4 does not show any open-market buy or sell. It reports an exempt acquisition under a stock-based deferral plan, where 476.7191 phantom stock units tied to CLBK common stock were credited as compensation, rather than purchased or sold on an exchange.

How many Columbia Financial (CLBK) shares are in the EVP & CIO’s stock-based deferral plan?

After the reported award, the stock-based deferral plan shows 1,022.3166 share-equivalent units linked to CLBK common stock. These are phantom stock interests that will be settled in shares of stock upon distribution to the reporting person, according to the plan description.

What stock options does the Columbia Financial (CLBK) EVP & CIO hold according to this filing?

The filing lists several stock option grants under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. One example is an option on 12,985 underlying CLBK shares at a $20.54 exercise price, with other option grants at exercise prices of $15.94, $16.49, $16.23, and $18.28 per share.

What are the phantom stock units mentioned for Columbia Financial (CLBK)?

Phantom stock units are compensation instruments that mirror CLBK’s common stock value. One unit equals one share economically, but they are settled in cash on distribution. The filing notes 7,669 underlying shares in phantom units under the 2026 Phantom Stock Plan, payable based on closing stock prices.

Is the Columbia Financial (CLBK) Form 4 transaction considered routine compensation?

The reported acquisition is described as an exempt award under Rule 16b-3(c) and tied to company equity and phantom stock plans. That language indicates a routine, plan-based compensation event, rather than a discretionary open-market trade by the EVP & CIO.