SEC FORM 3

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

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:			3235-0104
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Prabhu Manesh Balachandran

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

19-01 ROUTE 208 NORTH

(Street)

FAIR LAWN

07410

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
07/20/2026

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Columbia Financial, Inc./MD/ [ CLBK ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	EVP & CIO

5. 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 Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	2,248	I	By Stock-Based Deferral Plan
Common Stock	15,613	D
Common Stock	4,547	I	By 401(k)
Common Stock	7,084	I	By ESOP
Common Stock	1,903	I	By SERP
Common Stock	22,630	I	By Stock Award III
Common Stock	24,239	I	By Stock Award IV

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Stock Options (right to buy)	10/31/2023	10/31/2032	Common Stock	28,567	$9.34	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	05/01/2024	05/01/2033	Common Stock	18,609	$7.25	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	03/06/2025	03/06/2034	Common Stock	18,251	$7.5	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	03/03/2026	03/03/2035	Common Stock	41,989	$7.38	D
Stock Options (right to buy)	03/02/2027	03/02/2036	Common Stock	42,999	$8.31	D
Phantom Stock Unit	⁽¹⁾	⁽¹⁾	Common Stock	16,871	⁽²⁾	I	Deferred Stock Unit Plan

Explanation of Responses:

1. On the settlement date, phantom stock units will be payable in cash. The cash value will be calculated, in accordance with the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2026 Phantom Stock Plan, based on the closing stock price of the Company's Common Stock on the determination date.

2. One phantom stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of CLBK Common Stock. Phantom stock units were granted under the Columbia Financial, Inc. 2026 Phantom Stock Plan and will be settled in cash upon distribution.

Remarks:

Exhibit List: Exhibit 24 Power of Attorney

	/s/ Thomas F. Splaine, Jr., Power of Attorney	07/22/2026
	** 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 5 (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.