CLBK (CLBK) EVP & CIO receives stock options and cash-settled phantom units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. executive vice president and chief information officer Prabhu Manesh Balachandran reported new equity-based awards. He was granted 19,545 stock options on March 2, 2026 at no purchase price, with vesting in three approximately equal annual installments beginning on March 2, 2027 under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.

He also received 7,669 phantom stock units under the 2026 Phantom Stock Plan, each economically equivalent to one share of CLBK common stock and payable in cash based on the closing stock price on the determination date. The filing reflects increases in beneficial ownership from exempt acquisitions under Rule 16b-3(c).

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^*

Prabhu Manesh Balachandran

(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)
	EVP & CIO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/02/2026

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								545.5975	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								4,857	D
Common Stock								1,660(1)	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock								2,150	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								437	I	By SERP
Common Stock								9,690	I	By Stock Award II(2)
Common Stock								11,315	I	By Stock Award III(3)
Common Stock								11,018	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)	$18.28	03/02/2026		A		19,545		03/02/2027(5)	03/02/2036	Common Stock	19,545	$0	19,545	D
Phantom Stock Unit	(6)	03/02/2026		A		7,669		(7)	(7)	Common Stock	7,669	$0	7,669	I	Deferred Stock Unit Plan
Stock Options (right to buy)	$20.54							10/31/2023(8)	10/31/2032	Common Stock	12,985		12,985	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(9)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	8,459		8,459	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(10)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	8,296		8,296	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(11)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	19,086		19,086	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to rule 16b-3(c).

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 vest in three approximately equal annual installments commencing on March 2, 2027.

6. One phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of CLBK Common Stock. Phantom stock units were granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2026 Phantom Stock Plan and will be settled in cash upon distribution.

7. On the settlement date, phantom stock units will be payable in cash. The cash value will be calculated, in accordance with the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2026 Phantom Stock Plan, based on the closing stock price of the Company's Common Stock on the determination date.

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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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	03/04/2026
	** 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 did CLBK executive Prabhu Manesh Balachandran report on this Form 4?

He reported equity-based awards granted on March 2, 2026. These include 19,545 stock options and 7,669 phantom stock units tied to Columbia Financial, Inc. common stock, reflecting exempt acquisitions that increased his reported beneficial ownership.

How many stock options did CLBK grant to EVP & CIO Prabhu Balachandran?

He was granted 19,545 stock options on March 2, 2026. The options were issued under Columbia Financial, Inc.’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan and vest in three approximately equal annual installments starting March 2, 2027, with no purchase price paid at grant.

What are the terms of the phantom stock units reported by CLBK’s Prabhu Balachandran?

He received 7,669 phantom stock units under the 2026 Phantom Stock Plan. Each unit is economically equivalent to one CLBK share and will be settled in cash, calculated using the closing stock price on the determination date specified in the plan.

How will the CLBK phantom stock units granted to Prabhu Balachandran be settled?

The phantom stock units will be paid in cash on the settlement date. Their cash value will be determined under the 2026 Phantom Stock Plan using the closing price of Columbia Financial, Inc. common stock on the applicable determination date.

Under which plans were Prabhu Balachandran’s new CLBK awards granted?

The stock options were granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. The 7,669 phantom stock units were granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2026 Phantom Stock Plan and are designed to mirror CLBK common stock performance in cash form.

Does this CLBK Form 4 show insider buying or selling in the market?

The filing shows exempt grants of stock options and phantom stock units, not open-market buying or selling. Awards increased reported beneficial ownership under Rule 16b-3(c) through compensation-related grants rather than purchases or sales of existing CLBK shares.