Columbia Financial (CLBK) CRO reports tax withholding and stock award

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. executive John Klimowich reported routine compensation-related share movements. On March 6, 2026, 402 shares of common stock were withheld at $18.06 per share to cover tax obligations, a non-market disposition, and 37.9081 common shares were credited under a stock-based deferral plan at the same price.

Following these transactions, he directly holds 61,464 common shares and indirectly holds 8,337.7508 deferral-plan shares, plus additional indirect common stock through plans such as a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, and multiple stock award programs. He also retains stock options over 188,235 underlying shares at an exercise price of $15.60 expiring in 2029, along with several newer option grants over 12,030, 8,850, 20,310, and 20,227 underlying shares with exercise prices between $15.94 and $18.28 expiring between 2033 and 2036.

Insights

Equity compensation analyst

Routine tax withholding and small award, with sizable options retained.

These transactions for John Klimowich, SEVP & Chief Risk Officer of Columbia Financial, Inc., are largely administrative. The F-code entry shows 402 shares withheld at $18.06 to satisfy tax obligations, which is not an open-market sale and carries little signaling value.

The A-code entry reflects a modest grant of 37.9081 deferred-plan shares at $18.06, consistent with ongoing stock-based compensation. More importantly, the filing lists substantial remaining stock options over 188,235, 12,030, 8,850, 20,310, and 20,227 underlying shares, with exercise prices between $15.60 and $18.28 expiring from 2029 through 2036.

Overall, the activity appears routine and compensation-driven rather than discretionary trading. Future company filings may further detail vesting progress on the stock awards and options granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, which govern when additional shares could become available to him.

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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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^*

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)
03/06/2026

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	03/06/2026		F		402	D	$18.06	61,464(1)	D
Common Stock	03/06/2026		A		37.9081(2)	A	$18.06	8,337.7508	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
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(3)
Common Stock								10,971	I	By Stock Award III(4)
Common Stock								11,723	I	By Stock Award IV(5)
Common Stock								11,906	I	By Stock Award V(6)

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(7)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	188,235		188,235	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(8)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	12,030		12,030	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(9)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	8,850		8,850	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(10)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	20,310		20,310	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$18.28							03/02/2027(11)	03/02/2036	Common Stock	20,227		20,227	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The number of shares held directly includes certain shares that were previously held by Stock Award and that have subsequently vested.

2. 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.

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 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.

7. Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan are fully vested and exercisable.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

Remarks:

	/s/ Dennis E. Gibney, Power of Attorney	03/10/2026
	** 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 transactions did Columbia Financial (CLBK) report for John Klimowich?

The filing shows 402 Columbia Financial common shares withheld at $18.06 to cover tax obligations and 37.9081 shares credited under a stock-based deferral plan at the same price, plus updated holdings and option positions across several incentive and retirement plans.

Was the Columbia Financial (CLBK) insider activity a stock sale or routine tax withholding?

The key disposition was routine tax withholding, not an open-market sale. 402 shares were withheld at $18.06 to satisfy tax liabilities, which is a mechanical process tied to equity compensation rather than a discretionary decision to sell shares in the market.

How many Columbia Financial (CLBK) shares does John Klimowich hold after these transactions?

After the reported activity, he holds 61,464 Columbia Financial common shares directly and 8,337.7508 shares via a stock-based deferral plan, in addition to indirect holdings through a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, and several stock award programs established under the company’s equity plans.

What stock options does Columbia Financial (CLBK) executive John Klimowich retain?

He retains multiple option grants over 188,235, 12,030, 8,850, 20,310, and 20,227 underlying Columbia Financial common shares, with exercise prices from $15.60 to $18.28 and expiration dates ranging from July 2029 through March 2036, reflecting substantial remaining equity incentives.

What does the stock-based deferral plan mean for Columbia Financial (CLBK) insider holdings?

The stock-based deferral plan uses phantom stock purchased non-discretionarily by a rabbi trust. These stock unit interests, like the 37.9081-share credit reported, will be settled in actual Columbia Financial shares upon distribution to the executive, aligning deferred compensation with future share performance.

How do Columbia Financial (CLBK) stock awards for Klimowich vest over time?

Stock awards under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan generally vest partly in three annual installments and largely based on performance criteria. Some awards begin vesting on May 1, 2024 or March 6, 2025, while others vest three years after grant if specified performance-based vesting conditions are achieved.