Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) officer reports phantom stock purchase

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. reported that its SEVP & Chief Risk Officer acquired 37.2932 phantom stock units representing common stock on 12/12/2025 at $17.12 through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan. The units were purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee of the bank’s rabbi trust and will be settled in shares of stock upon distribution to the reporting person.

After this transaction, the officer indirectly holds 8,101.3824 stock-based deferral plan units, in addition to 60,769 common shares held directly and further indirect holdings through a 401(k), ESOP, SERP, SIM and several stock award programs. The report also lists stock options under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, including 188,235 fully vested options at $15.6 expiring on 07/23/2029, plus additional grants of 12,030, 8,850 and 20,310 options at exercise prices of $15.94, $16.49 and $16.23, vesting in installments through 2035.

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)
12/12/2025

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	12/12/2025		A		37.2932(1)	A	$17.12	8,101.3824	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	12/16/2025
	** 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.
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FAQ

What insider transaction did CLBK disclose on 12/12/2025?

The filing shows that the SEVP & Chief Risk Officer of Columbia Financial, Inc. acquired 37.2932 phantom stock units representing common stock on 12/12/2025 at $17.12 through a stock-based deferral plan.

Who is the reporting person in this Columbia Financial (CLBK) Form 4 and what is their role?

The reporting person is an officer of Columbia Financial, Inc., serving as SEVP & Chief Risk Officer, as indicated in the relationship section of the report.

How many stock-based deferral plan units does the CLBK officer hold after the reported transaction?

Following the 12/12/2025 transaction, the officer beneficially owns 8,101.3824 common stock-equivalent units indirectly through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan.

What other Columbia Financial (CLBK) common stock holdings does the officer report?

In addition to the deferral plan units, the officer reports 60,769 common shares held directly and indirect holdings of 17,130 shares via a 401(k), 7,620 via an ESOP, 7,051 via a SERP, 4,214 via a SIM, and stock awards of 13,781, 12,068, and 11,723 shares under Stock Award II, III, and IV, respectively.

What stock options on CLBK shares does the officer beneficially own?

The officer holds stock options under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, including 188,235 fully vested options at an exercise price of $15.6 expiring on 07/23/2029, plus grants of 12,030 options at $15.94 expiring on 05/01/2033, 8,850 options at $16.49 expiring on 03/06/2034, and 20,310 options at $16.23 expiring on 03/03/2035.

How do Columbia Financial (CLBK) stock awards under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan vest?

Certain stock awards vest 25% in three approximately equal annual installments starting on 05/01/2024 or 03/06/2025, with the remaining 75% vesting upon achievement of specified performance-based criteria, three years after the award date. Another set of awards vests upon achievement of performance-based criteria, three years after the award date on 03/03/2028, as described in the explanations.

What is meant by phantom stock in the CLBK officer’s deferral plan?

The explanation states that the transaction represents phantom stock purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee of the bank’s rabbi trust under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan. These stock unit interests will be settled in shares of stock upon distribution to the reporting person.