Stellar Bancorp (STEL) President receives new restricted stock and PSU awards

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. President Ramon A. Vitulli III reported equity compensation awards of common stock. On March 1, 2026, he acquired two separate awards of 6,041 shares each at a price of $0.00 per share, reflecting stock-based compensation rather than open-market buying.

One award represents restricted shares of common stock that vest in approximately equal installments on March 1, 2027, 2028 and 2029, subject to his continued employment on each vesting date. The other award consists of performance share units that are subject to both time-based and performance vesting conditions. Following these awards, his directly held common stock increased to 120,998 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

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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^*

Vitulli, III Ramon A.

(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)
	President

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		6,041(1)	A	$0	114,957	D
Common Stock	03/01/2026		A		6,041(2)	A	$0	120,998	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).
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FAQ

What insider transaction did Stellar Bancorp (STEL) report for Ramon A. Vitulli III?

Stellar Bancorp’s President Ramon A. Vitulli III reported two equity compensation awards of 6,041 common shares each on March 1, 2026. These were stock-based grants at $0.00 per share, not open-market purchases, and increased his directly held common stock position.

Were the STEL shares acquired by Ramon A. Vitulli III open-market purchases?

No, the 6,041-share awards reported by Ramon A. Vitulli III were equity compensation grants at $0.00 per share. One grant is restricted stock and the other is performance share units, both subject to future vesting conditions instead of being bought in the market.

How do the restricted Stellar Bancorp (STEL) shares granted to Ramon A. Vitulli III vest?

The restricted common stock granted to Ramon A. Vitulli III vests in roughly equal installments on March 1, 2027, March 1, 2028 and March 1, 2029. Vesting is contingent on his continued employment with Stellar Bancorp on each relevant vesting date.

What are the terms of the performance share units granted to the STEL President?

The second 6,041-share award represents performance share units subject to both time-based and performance vesting conditions. Actual vesting depends on meeting specified performance criteria over time, rather than vesting immediately or simply based on continued service alone.

How many Stellar Bancorp (STEL) shares does Ramon A. Vitulli III hold after these awards?

After the March 1, 2026 equity awards, Ramon A. Vitulli III directly holds 120,998 shares of Stellar Bancorp common stock. This figure reflects his updated direct ownership following the reported restricted stock and performance share unit grants.

What transaction code was used for the STEL President’s equity awards?

The filing uses transaction code “A,” indicating a grant, award, or other acquisition. This confirms the 6,041-share entries for Ramon A. Vitulli III are compensation-related equity awards, not discretionary open-market purchases or sales of Stellar Bancorp common stock.