Columbia Financial (CLBK) director awarded new stock units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. director Noel R. Holland reported a compensation-related stock grant. On March 6, 2026, a trustee purchased 9.4364 shares of phantom stock at $18.06 per share under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan, raising his indirect deferral-plan interest to 10,030.3765 stock units.

Holland also reports holdings but no new trades in other positions, including 83,294 stock options with a $15.60 exercise price expiring on July 23, 2029, which are fully vested and exercisable. Additional common stock is held directly and through a SEP-IRA and Stock Award IV accounts.

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^*

Holland Noel R.

(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)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

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		A		9.4364(1)	A	$18.06	10,030.3765	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								33,519	D
Common Stock								46,280	I	By SEP-IRA
Common Stock								3,207	I	By Stock Award IV(2)

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(3)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	83,294		83,294	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 which vest in one year on March 11, 2026.

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

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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What did Columbia Financial (CLBK) director Noel R. Holland report on this Form 4?

He reported a small stock-based compensation grant. A trustee acquired 9.4364 phantom stock units at $18.06 each under a deferral plan, increasing his plan balance to 10,030.3765 units while other reported holdings remained unchanged.

How many phantom stock units does Noel R. Holland now hold in Columbia Financial (CLBK)?

He now holds 10,030.3765 stock unit interests in the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan. This reflects the addition of 9.4364 phantom stock units purchased on a non‑discretionary basis by the plan’s trustee at $18.06 per unit.

Were there any open-market buys or sells by Noel R. Holland in Columbia Financial (CLBK)?

No open‑market buying or selling is shown. The filing records a grant-type acquisition of 9.4364 phantom stock units under a stock-based deferral plan, plus several holding entries that simply restate existing common stock and option positions.

What stock options does Noel R. Holland hold in Columbia Financial (CLBK)?

He holds stock options covering 83,294 shares of Columbia Financial common stock, with a $15.60 exercise price and a July 23, 2029 expiration date. The filing states these options, granted under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, are fully vested and exercisable.

How are the new phantom stock units in Columbia Financial (CLBK) settled for Noel R. Holland?

The phantom stock units are part of a non‑qualified stock-based deferral plan. According to the filing, stock unit interests under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan will be settled in actual shares of Columbia Financial common stock upon distribution to the reporting person.

What other Columbia Financial (CLBK) share holdings does Noel R. Holland report?

He reports direct ownership of 33,519 common shares, plus indirect holdings of 46,280 shares through a SEP‑IRA and 3,207 shares via Stock Award IV. These entries are listed as holdings only, with no new transactions indicated in the filing.