STOCK TITAN

Columbia Financial (CLBK) CEO receives phantom stock award in deferral plan

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Columbia Financial, Inc. President & CEO Thomas J. Kemly reported a routine compensation-related share award rather than a market trade. On June 26, 2026, 89.0552 shares of Common Stock, valued at $20.86 per share, were credited to his holdings through the Columbia Bank Stock-Based Deferral Plan as phantom stock units.

Following this acquisition, indirect holdings under the stock-based deferral plan totaled 69,601.9984 shares. The filing also lists Kemly’s existing direct ownership of 249,269 shares of Common Stock and several blocks of stock options with exercise prices between $15.60 and $18.28 per share that vest over future years.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider Kemly Thomas J.
Role President & CEO
Type Security Shares Price Value
Grant/Award Common Stock 89.055 $20.86 $2K
holding Stock Options (right to buy) -- -- --
holding Stock Options (right to buy) -- -- --
holding Stock Options (right to buy) -- -- --
holding Stock Options (right to buy) -- -- --
holding Stock Options (right to buy) -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
holding Common Stock -- -- --
Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 69,601.998 shares (Indirect, By Stock-Based Deferral Plan); Stock Options (right to buy) — 656,471 shares (Direct, null); Common Stock — 249,269 shares (Direct, null)
Footnotes (1)
  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. 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. 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. 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. Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan are fully vested and exercisable. 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. 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. 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.
Phantom stock units granted 89.0552 shares at $20.86 Grant under stock-based deferral plan on June 26, 2026
Indirect deferral plan holdings 69,601.9984 shares Total stock-based deferral plan units after grant
Direct common stock holdings 249,269 shares Common Stock held directly by CEO after reported entries
Largest option block 656,471 shares at $15.60 Stock options exercisable into Common Stock, expiration July 23, 2029
Option grant at $18.28 91,477 underlying shares Stock options with $18.28 exercise price, expiration March 2, 2036
Option grant at $16.23 94,749 underlying shares Stock options with $16.23 exercise price, expiration March 3, 2035
phantom stock financial
"Represents phantom stock purchased, on a non-discretionary basis, by the trustee of the Bank's rabbi trust"
A phantom stock is a form of compensation that gives employees or executives the benefits of stock ownership, such as the increase in stock value, without actually giving them real shares. It acts like a promise to pay the employee the equivalent value of company stock later, often as a bonus or incentive. This allows companies to motivate and reward staff without diluting ownership or transferring actual shares.
rabbi trust financial
"purchased, on a non-discretionary basis, by the trustee of the Bank's rabbi trust maintained in connection"
A rabbi trust is a special account a company sets up to hold promised future pay for executives, like bonus or retirement money, so those employees can see there are funds earmarked for them. It matters to investors because it signals the company’s commitment to keep key people, but the money is still part of the company’s assets and can be claimed by creditors if the company goes bankrupt—think of it as a labeled jar that isn’t completely off-limits.
non-qualified stock-based deferral plan financial
"maintained in connection with the Columbia Bank Stock Based Deferral Plan, a non-qualified stock-based deferral plan"
Stock Options (right to buy) financial
"security_title": "Stock Options (right to buy)""
2019 Equity Incentive Plan financial
"Stock Options granted pursuant to the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan"
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SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED 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 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)
XDirector10% Owner
XOfficer (give title below)Other (specify below)
President & CEO
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/26/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm 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)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
Common Stock06/26/2026A89.0552(1)A$20.8669,601.9984IBy Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock249,269D
Common Stock40,946IBy 401(k)
Common Stock8,689IBy ESOP
Common Stock35,309IBy SERP
Common Stock41,572IBy SIM
Common Stock5,933IBy Spouse
Common Stock46,078IBy Stock Award III(2)
Common Stock54,690IBy Stock Award IV(3)
Common Stock53,842IBy Stock Award V(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)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (right to buy)$15.607/23/2020(5)07/23/2029Common Stock656,471656,471D
Stock Options (right to buy)$15.9405/01/2024(5)05/01/2033Common Stock37,89437,894D
Stock Options (right to buy)$16.4903/06/2025(6)03/06/2034Common Stock37,16837,168D
Stock Options (right to buy)$16.2303/03/2026(7)03/03/2035Common Stock94,74994,749D
Stock Options (right to buy)$18.2803/02/2027(8)03/02/2036Common Stock91,47791,477D
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 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.
3. 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.
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 2, 2029.
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 March 6, 2025.
7. 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.
8. 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 Attorney06/30/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
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 transaction did Columbia Financial (CLBK) report for Thomas J. Kemly?

Columbia Financial reported a small compensation-related share award for CEO Thomas J. Kemly. He acquired 89.0552 phantom stock units at $20.86 each under a stock-based deferral plan, increasing his indirect holdings associated with that plan to 69,601.9984 shares.

Was the CLBK Form 4 filing a stock purchase or sale by the CEO?

The Form 4 did not show an open-market purchase or sale by the CEO. It recorded a grant or award acquisition of 89.0552 phantom stock units through a non-qualified stock-based deferral plan, rather than a discretionary trade in Columbia Financial common shares.

How many Columbia Financial shares does the CEO hold directly after this filing?

After the reported transactions, Thomas J. Kemly held 249,269 shares of Columbia Financial common stock directly. This direct position is separate from his indirect holdings in various plans, including stock awards, an ESOP, a 401(k), and the stock-based deferral plan.

What stock option positions for CLBK are reported for the CEO?

The filing lists multiple stock option grants for the CEO with exercise prices between $15.60 and $18.28 per share. Underlying share amounts include 656,471 shares at $15.60, 94,749 shares at $16.23, and smaller blocks expiring between 2029 and 2036.

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

The stock-based deferral plan credits the CEO with phantom stock units held in a rabbi trust. These units track Columbia Financial’s common stock and will be settled in shares upon distribution to the reporting person, aligning long-term compensation with the company’s share performance.