[Form 4] Stellar Bancorp, Inc. Insider Trading Activity

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. granted equity awards to Senior Executive VP and Chief Risk Officer Akin Okan I. on March 1, 2026. He acquired 2,855 restricted shares of common stock at $0.00 per share that vest in roughly equal installments on March 1, 2027, March 1, 2028 and March 1, 2029, subject to continued employment. He also received a separate award of 2,855 performance share units that are subject to both time- and performance-based vesting conditions. Following these awards, his directly held common stock balances reported in the filing increased to 83,714 shares and then 86,569 shares after the second grant.

Insider Trade Summary

2 transactions reported

Mixed 2 txns

Insider Akin Okan I.

Role Senior Executive VP, CRO

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Common Stock	2,855	$0.00	--
Grant/Award	Common Stock	2,855	$0.00	--

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 83,714 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

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. Represents award of performance share units subject to time and performance vesting conditions.

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

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.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Akin Okan I. report at Stellar Bancorp (STEL)?

Akin Okan I. reported two equity award acquisitions in Stellar Bancorp common stock. He received 2,855 restricted shares and 2,855 performance share units on March 1, 2026, both granted at zero cost as part of his executive compensation package.

How many Stellar Bancorp (STEL) shares did Akin Okan I. acquire in this Form 4?

The executive acquired 5,710 equity-linked shares in total through awards. This consists of 2,855 restricted common shares and 2,855 performance share units, each reflected as separate non-derivative common stock transactions granted on March 1, 2026, at a reported price of $0.00 per share.

What is the vesting schedule for Akin Okan I.’s restricted Stellar Bancorp (STEL) shares?

The restricted stock award of 2,855 shares vests in approximately equal installments on March 1, 2027, March 1, 2028, and March 1, 2029. Vesting is conditioned on Akin Okan I.’s continued employment with Stellar Bancorp through each respective vesting date.

What conditions apply to the performance share units awarded to Akin Okan I. at Stellar Bancorp (STEL)?

The 2,855 performance share units are subject to both time and performance vesting conditions. This means actual vesting will depend on meeting specified performance criteria over time, in addition to satisfying the required service period with Stellar Bancorp.

What was Akin Okan I.’s Stellar Bancorp (STEL) share ownership after these awards?

After the first grant, his directly held common stock position was 83,714 shares. Following the second, separate award, his reported total direct common stock holdings increased to 86,569 shares, reflecting the cumulative impact of both equity compensation transactions.

Did Akin Okan I. pay cash for the Stellar Bancorp (STEL) shares in this Form 4?

No cash payment was reported for these equity awards. Both the restricted stock and performance share unit grants list a transaction price of $0.00 per share, indicating they were issued as part of his compensation, rather than purchased on the open market.