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Stellar Bancorp (NYSE: STEL) awards restricted and performance shares to CRO

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

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Akin Okan I. reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. reported that Senior Executive VP and CRO Akin Okan I. received two equity awards on March 1, 2026, each for 2,855 shares of common stock (total 5,710 shares) granted at no cash cost. The awards include restricted shares that vest in approximately equal installments on March 1, 2027, 2028 and 2029, subject to continued employment, and performance share units subject to time and performance vesting conditions. After these awards, he directly holds 86,569 shares of Stellar Bancorp common stock.

Positive

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Negative

  • None.
Insider Akin Okan I.
Role Senior Executive VP, CRO
Type Security Shares Price Value
Grant/Award Common Stock 2,855 $0.00 $0.00
Grant/Award Common Stock 2,855 $0.00 $0.00
Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 86,569 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (2)
  1. F1. Represents restricted shares of common stock, which vest in approximately equal installments on March 1, 2027, 2028 and 2029, subject to continued employment with the issuer on such date.
  2. F2. Represents award of performance share units subject to time and performance vesting conditions.
Award 1 shares 2,855 shares First grant of Stellar Bancorp common stock on March 1, 2026
Award 2 shares 2,855 shares Second grant of Stellar Bancorp common stock on March 1, 2026
Total shares awarded 5,710 shares Combined size of the two reported common stock awards
Post-transaction holdings 86,569 shares Direct common stock held by Akin Okan I. after the reported awards
First vesting date March 1, 2027 Initial vesting installment for restricted shares
Second vesting date March 1, 2028 Second vesting installment for restricted shares
Third vesting date March 1, 2029 Final vesting installment for restricted shares
restricted shares financial
"Represents restricted shares of common stock, which vest in approximately equal installments"
Restricted shares are company stock that cannot be sold or transferred immediately because they are subject to legal or contractual limits, such as a required holding period or performance conditions. They matter to investors because these locked-up shares can affect a company’s available stock for trading, future dilution, and insider incentives—imagine a gift that can’t be cashed until certain conditions are met, which changes when and how much supply can suddenly enter the market.
performance share units financial
"Represents award of performance share units subject to time and performance vesting conditions"
Performance share units are a type of company stock award given to employees that depend on the company meeting specific goals or targets. If these goals are achieved, the employee receives shares or the value of shares; if not, they may receive little or no compensation. This aligns employees’ interests with the company's success and encourages performance that benefits investors.
vesting conditions financial
"award of performance share units subject to time and performance vesting conditions"
Vesting conditions are the rules that determine when someone earning company stock or stock options actually gains the right to keep or sell them, typically based on staying with the company for a set time or meeting performance targets. Think of it like keys that unlock gradually — some unlock by calendar date, others only after agreed milestones. Investors care because vesting shapes management incentives, the timing of share sales, and the number of shares that can enter the market, which can affect a company's valuation and ownership mix.
continued employment financial
"subject to continued employment with the issuer on such date"
Continued employment means that an individual remains in their current job without interruption. For investors, it signals stability and ongoing work that can affect company performance and future prospects. Like a steady heartbeat for a business, sustained employment helps ensure consistent operations and financial health.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

FAQ

How many Stellar Bancorp (STEL) shares were awarded to Akin Okan I.?
Akin Okan I. received two equity awards totaling 5,710 Stellar Bancorp shares, granted on March 1, 2026. Each award covered 2,855 shares of common stock and was granted at a price of $0.00 per share as part of his compensation.

What is the vesting schedule for the Stellar Bancorp (STEL) restricted shares?
The restricted shares vest in approximately equal installments on March 1, 2027, 2028 and 2029, subject to continued employment. This means a portion of the award becomes fully owned each year if he remains employed on the applicable vesting date.

What types of equity awards did Stellar Bancorp (STEL) grant to Akin Okan I.?
The awards include restricted shares of common stock and performance share units. The restricted shares vest over time, while the performance share units are subject to both time-based and performance vesting conditions according to the company’s compensation terms.

How many Stellar Bancorp (STEL) shares does Akin Okan I. hold after these awards?
Following the reported awards, Akin Okan I. directly holds 86,569 shares of Stellar Bancorp common stock. This post-transaction holding reflects his direct ownership position as reported in the insider filing’s canonical holdings data.

Were the Stellar Bancorp (STEL) awards to Akin Okan I. market purchases or compensation grants?
These transactions are compensation grants, not market purchases. They are reported with transaction code “A,” indicating grants or awards, at a price of $0.00 per share, consistent with stock-based compensation rather than open-market buying.
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*
Akin Okan I.
(Last) (First) (Middle)
9 GREENWAY PLAZA, SUITE 110
(Street)
HOUSTON TX 77046
(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Stellar Bancorp, Inc. [ STEL ] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Senior Executive VP, CRO
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/01/2026
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 03/01/2026 A 2,855(1) A $0 83,714 D
Common Stock 03/01/2026 A 2,855(2) A $0 86,569 D
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
Explanation of Responses:
1. Represents restricted shares of common stock, which vest in approximately equal installments on March 1, 2027, 2028 and 2029, subject to continued employment with the issuer on such date.
2. Represents award of performance share units subject to time and performance vesting conditions.
Remarks:
/s/ Justin M. Long, attorney-in-fact 03/03/2026
** 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.

Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR