Columbia Financial (CLBK) SEVP receives new phantom stock units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. reported an insider equity change for SEVP & Chief Risk Officer John Klimowich. On February 6, 2026, 36.9665 phantom shares of common stock at $18.52 were purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee of the bank’s rabbi trust under a stock-based deferral plan and credited to his account.

Following this transaction, he beneficially held 8,262.7158 common-stock-denominated units through the Stock-Based Deferral Plan, along with additional common stock positions held directly and through a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, and stock award programs, plus several tranches of stock options granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

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

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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)
02/06/2026

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	02/06/2026		A		36.9665(1)	A	$18.52	8,262.7158	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)	$15.6							07/23/2020(5)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	188,235		188,235	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(6)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	12,030		12,030	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(7)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	8,850		8,850	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(8)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	20,310		20,310	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	02/10/2026
	** 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 transaction did CLBK disclose for John Klimowich?

Columbia Financial, Inc. disclosed that SEVP & Chief Risk Officer John Klimowich had 36.9665 phantom common shares credited at $18.52 each. These were purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee under a stock-based deferral plan and settled in stock later.

How were the new CLBK phantom shares acquired for the SEVP?

The 36.9665 phantom shares were purchased by the trustee of Columbia Bank’s rabbi trust on a non-discretionary basis. They relate to the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan and represent stock unit interests that will be settled in Columbia Financial common stock upon distribution.

How many CLBK deferral-plan units does Klimowich hold after the transaction?

After the transaction, John Klimowich beneficially owned 8,262.7158 common-stock-denominated units through the Stock-Based Deferral Plan. These units are phantom stock interests that track Columbia Financial’s common shares and will ultimately be settled in stock when distributed under the plan’s terms.

What other CLBK common stock holdings are reported for Klimowich?

Beyond the deferral-plan units, Klimowich is reported as holding 60,769 common shares directly, and additional indirect holdings through a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, a SIM account, and multiple stock awards. Each category reflects different compensation or retirement arrangements tied to Columbia Financial stock.

What stock option grants in CLBK does Klimowich hold?

Klimowich holds several Columbia Financial stock option grants under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, including 188,235 options at $15.60, 12,030 at $15.94, 8,850 at $16.49, and 20,310 at $16.23. These options have vesting schedules and expiration dates extending through 2035.

How do CLBK stock awards for Klimowich vest under the 2019 plan?

The stock awards under Columbia Financial’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan generally vest 25% in three annual installments starting in 2024 or 2025. The remaining 75% vests only if specified performance-based criteria are achieved, typically three years after the award date, including awards vesting around March 3, 2028.