Columbia Financial (CLBK) CEO adds stock-based deferral units and options

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. President & CEO Thomas J. Kemly reported a compensation-related stock award rather than an open-market trade. On March 20, 2026, a trustee for the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan acquired 107.9425 phantom stock units at $17.21 per unit on a non-discretionary basis for his account. This increased his indirect beneficial interest in that plan to 68,934.7367 stock unit interests, which will be settled in shares upon distribution. The filing also lists multiple outstanding stock option grants under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, with exercise prices between $15.60 and $18.28 and expirations from 2029 through 2036, some fully vested and others vesting in annual installments.

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^*

Kemly Thomas J.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

19-01 ROUTE 208 NORTH

(Street)

FAIR LAWN NEW JERSEY 07410

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

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

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/20/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

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	03/20/2026		A		107.9425(1)	A	$17.21	68,934.7367	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock								233,808	D
Common Stock								40,946	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock								8,689(2)	I	By ESOP
Common Stock								35,309(2)	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(3)
Common Stock								50,686	I	By Stock Award III(4)
Common Stock								54,690	I	By Stock Award IV(5)
Common Stock								53,842	I	By Stock Award V(6)

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(7)	07/23/2029	Common Stock	656,471		656,471	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$15.94							05/01/2024(8)	05/01/2033	Common Stock	37,894		37,894	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.49							03/06/2025(9)	03/06/2034	Common Stock	37,168		37,168	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$16.23							03/03/2026(10)	03/03/2035	Common Stock	94,749		94,749	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	$18.28							03/02/2027(11)	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. This form reflects increases in beneficial ownership resulting from exempt acquisitions pursuant to rule 16b-3(c).

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 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.

4. 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.

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 3, 2028.

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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	03/24/2026
	** 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.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What insider activity did Columbia Financial (CLBK) report for CEO Thomas J. Kemly?

Columbia Financial CEO Thomas J. Kemly reported a compensation-related stock award, not an open-market trade. A trustee acquired 107.9425 phantom stock units for his account under a stock-based deferral plan, increasing his indirect beneficial interest in that plan.

How many Columbia Financial stock units did the CEO acquire in the deferral plan?

The CEO had 107.9425 phantom stock units acquired on his behalf at $17.21 per unit through the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan. After this non-discretionary acquisition, his indirect interest in that plan rose to 68,934.7367 stock unit interests.

Were the Columbia Financial (CLBK) CEO’s Form 4 transactions open-market purchases?

No, the Form 4 shows an exempt acquisition under Rule 16b-3(c) via a stock-based deferral plan, not an open-market purchase. A trustee made the non-discretionary phantom stock acquisition in a rabbi trust maintained for the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan.

What stock options on Columbia Financial shares does the CEO hold?

The filing lists several stock option grants under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. They cover underlying common shares at exercise prices from $15.60 to $18.28, with expirations between 2029 and 2036, and various time- and performance-based vesting schedules.

How are Columbia Financial stock-based deferral plan units settled for the CEO?

Phantom stock units in the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan will be settled in shares of stock upon distribution to the reporting person. The units are held in a rabbi trust, and acquisitions are made on a non-discretionary basis by the trustee.

What vesting features apply to the Columbia Financial equity awards mentioned?

Stock awards and options under the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan include time-based vesting in three roughly equal annual installments and significant performance-based vesting criteria. Some options are already fully vested and exercisable, while others begin vesting on specified future dates.