Columbia Financial (NASDAQ: CLBK) CEO adds stock deferral units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. President & CEO Thomas J. Kemly acquired 1,800.2632 shares of Common Stock on March 13, 2026 at $17.48 per share through a stock-based deferral plan. These are phantom stock units held indirectly in a rabbi trust and will be settled in shares upon distribution to him.

Following this transaction, his indirect holdings in the stock-based deferral plan total 68,826.7942 shares. The filing also lists multiple outstanding stock option grants on Common Stock with exercise prices between $15.60 and $18.28 and expiration dates from 2029 through 2036, showing significant remaining equity-based compensation.

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^*

Kemly Thomas J.

(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
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	President & CEO

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		1,800.2632(1)	A	$17.48	68,826.7942	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								233,808	D
Common Stock								40,946	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock								7,620	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								32,597	I	By SERP
Common Stock								41,572	I	By SIM
Common Stock								5,933	I	By Spouse
Common Stock								43,411	I	By Stock Award II(2)
Common Stock								50,686	I	By Stock Award III(3)
Common Stock								54,690	I	By Stock Award IV(4)
Common Stock								53,842	I	By Stock Award V(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)	$15.6							07/23/2020(6)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	656,471		656,471	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(7)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	37,894		37,894	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(8)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	37,168		37,168	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(9)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	94,749		94,749	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$18.28							03/02/2027(10)	03/02/2036	Common Stock	91,477		91,477	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 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.

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.

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.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
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FAQ

What did Columbia Financial (CLBK) disclose in this Form 4 for its CEO?

Columbia Financial reported a stock-based award for its CEO. President & CEO Thomas J. Kemly acquired 1,800.2632 phantom stock units at $17.48 per share through a stock-based deferral plan, increasing his indirect deferral-plan holdings to 68,826.7942 shares.

Was the CLBK CEO’s March 13, 2026 Form 4 transaction an open-market purchase?

The reported CLBK CEO transaction was not an open-market buy. It reflects a grant of 1,800.2632 phantom stock units purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the plan trustee under a stock-based deferral plan, rather than a voluntary market purchase by the CEO.

How many Columbia Financial shares are held for the CEO in the stock deferral plan?

The CLBK CEO now has 68,826.7942 shares in the deferral plan. After acquiring 1,800.2632 additional phantom stock units at $17.48 per share, total indirect holdings in the stock-based deferral plan increased to 68,826.7942 shares to be settled later in stock.

What are the key terms of Thomas Kemly’s stock options at Columbia Financial?

The CLBK CEO holds several stock option grants on Common Stock. Exercise prices range from $15.60 to $18.28 per share, with expiration dates from July 23, 2029 through March 2, 2036, reflecting long-dated equity incentives tied to Columbia Financial’s share performance.

How does Columbia Financial’s stock-based deferral plan work for the CEO?

The CLBK deferral plan uses phantom stock units held in a rabbi trust. Units are purchased on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee and tracked as stock equivalents. According to the filing, these stock unit interests will be settled in actual shares upon distribution to the CEO.

Did the Columbia Financial CEO sell any shares in this Form 4 filing?

No CLBK CEO share sales were reported in this Form 4. The filing shows one acquisition of 1,800.2632 phantom stock units through a stock-based deferral plan and multiple holdings entries, with no transactions classified as sales or dispositions.