Columbia Financial insider files Form 4 showing option holdings and share moves

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Kemly Thomas J., President & CEO and a director of Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK), filed a Form 4 reporting insider transactions dated 09/05/2025. The filing shows an acquisition of 119.0626 common stock units at $15.01 under the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan. The report also lists multiple direct and indirect beneficial holdings, including several stock option positions exercisable into common stock: 656,471, 37,894, 37,168, and 94,749 options with strikes of $15.60, $15.94, $16.49 and $16.23 respectively. The form is signed by Dennis E. Gibney, as power of attorney.

Positive

• Acquired 119.0626 common stock units at $15.01 under the Stock Based Deferral Plan
• Substantial stock option positions identified, including 656,471 exercisable options, indicating long-term executive equity alignment
• Multiple equity award types listed (deferral plan, 401(k), ESOP, SERP, stock awards) showing diversified compensation sources

Negative

• Reported disposition of 233,808 common shares (listed as 'D' in the filing)

Insights

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Insider filed a routine Form 4 showing a small acquisition under a deferral plan and sizable outstanding option holdings.

The filing documents a purchase under a non-qualified stock-based deferral plan and enumerates the holder's significant option positions. This is consistent with executive compensation and long-term retention structures used by public banks. The presence of exercisable options and performance-based awards demonstrates multi-year incentive alignment without revealing any corporate governance changes.

Executive Compensation Analyst

TL;DR: Transaction details reflect routine compensation settlement and existing long-term equity incentives.

Details show a $15.01 unit purchase and multiple option tranches with strikes between $15.60 and $16.49, several of which vest over multi-year schedules or are performance-conditioned. The scale of exercisable options (notably 656,471 shares) is material to the officer's equity exposure and future dilution, and the filing also records a reported disposition line of 233,808 common shares.

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
Estimated average burden
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^*

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)
09/05/2025

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	09/05/2025		A		119.0626(1)	A	$15.01	65,555.6656	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)

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	656,471		656,471	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(6)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	37,894		37,894	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(7)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	37,168		37,168	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(8)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	94,749		94,749	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	09/09/2025
	** 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.
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 transaction did Kemly Thomas J. report on Form 4 for CLBK?

The filing reports an acquisition of 119.0626 common stock units at a price of $15.01 on 09/05/2025 under the Stock Based Deferral Plan.

How many stock options does the filing show for the reporting person?

The filing lists option holdings exercisable into 656,471, 37,894, 37,168, and 94,749 common shares with strikes of $15.60, $15.94, $16.49, and $16.23 respectively.

Does the Form 4 show any dispositions by the reporting person?

Yes, the filing includes a line showing a reported disposition of 233,808 common shares (marked 'D').

Are any equity awards performance‑based or time‑vesting?

Yes. The filing describes certain stock awards that vest 25% in approximately equal annual installments and the remainder upon achievement of specified performance criteria, and other awards vest upon achievement of performance-based criteria.

Who signed the Form 4 filing?

The form was signed by Dennis E. Gibney, acting as Power of Attorney, on 09/09/2025.