John Klimowich, serving as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at Columbia Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLBK), has executed a notable increase in his ownership stake within the organization. The transaction, reported on July 20, 2026, involves the acquisition of 35,000 shares of the company's common stock. Each share was purchased at a price of $10.00, resulting in a total transaction value of $350,000.
The structure of this acquisition was twofold. Klimowich directly acquired 5,000 shares of common stock. The remaining 30,000 shares were obtained indirectly through a 401(k) plan. This activity is particularly notable given the current market valuation of CLBK, which trades at $10.94 per share. This price point reflects a 63% gain over the past year, according to data from InvestingPro.
Following this latest purchase, Klimowich's beneficial ownership profile is extensive. He holds a direct stake of 145,056 common shares. His indirect holdings are distributed across several vehicles: 67,686 shares are held through his 401(k) plan, 20,339 shares are in a Stock-Based Deferral Plan, 16,779 shares are located in a SERP, 19,115 shares are in an ESOP, and 9,270 shares are held in a SIM.
Furthermore, Klimowich possesses stock awards granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive plan. These awards include 24,136 shares from Stock Award III (1), 25,790 shares from Stock Award IV (2), and 26,193 shares from Stock Award V (3). The vesting schedules for these awards are varied. Some vest in installments, while others vest upon the achievement of specified performance-based criteria.
In addition to stock awards, Klimowich holds several tranches of stock options, which provide the right to purchase additional common stock. This includes 414,117 options with an exercise price of $7.10 and 26,466 options with an exercise price of $7.25. Both of these option tranches are fully vested and exercisable. Other options, with exercise prices ranging from $7.38 to $8.31, are scheduled to vest in approximately equal annual installments. This vesting commences between March 2025 and March 2027.
The insider purchase occurs during a period of significant structural transition for Columbia Financial. The company recently announced the completion of its conversion from a mutual holding company structure. This process included a merger with Northfield Bancorp, Inc. As a result of this merger, Columbia Bank is now fully owned by the company. The company is entirely held by public stockholders, with Northfield Bank merged into Columbia Bank. The Federal Reserve Board approved these applications, allowing Columbia Financial to convert to stock form and acquire Northfield Bancorp. This action effectively made Columbia Financial a savings and loan holding company.
Further operational changes include the company's agreement with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (KBW). KBW has been designated to manage the sale of Columbia Financial's common stock through subscription and community offerings. KBW will serve as the lead-left book running manager for any firm commitment underwritten offering.
In leadership appointments, Columbia Financial's Board of Directors designated Thomas Splaine, Jr. as the principal financial officer and principal accounting officer for U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting matters. Splaine had previously been appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer earlier this year. These developments highlight the company's strategic moves in the financial sector.
Despite the strong returns delivered by the stock, analysis from InvestingPro indicates that CLBK appears overvalued at current levels. The company trades at a P/E ratio of 20. The platform offers 11 additional ProTips for investors seeking deeper insights into the company's valuation and performance metrics.