Banking
Columbia Financial Executive Compensation (FY24)
CLBK · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2024
Data as of September 7, 2026Latest filing (8-K): June 25, 2026
249 figures on this page: 244 cited to the filing that reported them, 5 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations
Total compensation for Thomas Kemly, President and Chief Executive Officer, came to $2,759,021 in fiscal 2024, and compared with the $3,695,655 reported for fiscal 2023, Kemly's total was 25.3% lower. For fiscal 2024, the company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 27.1:1, against median employee compensation of $101,757. The say-on-pay proposal drew 99.1% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held June 25, 2026 for fiscal 2025. The disclosed peer group names Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp., Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., Brookline Bancorp, Inc., Community Financial System, Inc. and ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., among others.
What changed from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2024
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — Thomas Kemly: $3,695,655 → $2,759,021 (25.3% lower)
Say-on-pay support: 99.2% → 99.1% (0.1 points lower)
CEO pay ratio: 39:1 → 27.1:1 (30.5% lower)
Frequently asked questions
Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is Columbia Financial's chief executive and what were they paid?
Total compensation for Thomas Kemly, President and Chief Executive Officer, came to $2,759,021 in fiscal 2024. Compared with the $3,695,655 reported for fiscal 2023, Kemly's total was 25.3% lower.
What was Columbia Financial's say-on-pay result?
The say-on-pay proposal drew 99.1% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held June 25, 2026 for fiscal 2025.
Which companies are in Columbia Financial's peer group?
The disclosed peer group names Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp., Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., Brookline Bancorp, Inc., Community Financial System, Inc. and ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc., among others.
What is Columbia Financial's chief executive pay ratio?
For fiscal 2024, the company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 27.1:1, against median employee compensation of $101,757.
Executive compensation
Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2022
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Kemly President and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
E. Thomas Allen SEVP, Chief Operating Officer | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Dennis Gibney SEVP, Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Allyson Schlesinger SEVP, Head of Consumer Banking | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
John Klimowich SEVP, Chief Risk Officer | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Kemly President and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
E. Thomas Allen Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
John Klimowich Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Dennis Gibney Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Allyson Schlesinger Executive Vice President, Head of Consumer Banking | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2024
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Kemly President and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
E. Thomas Allen Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Dennis Gibney Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Allyson Schlesinger Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Consumer Banking | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
John Klimowich Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. A negative change in pension value is shown but, as the company reports it, not included in the total.
Equity awards granted
Individual awards as disclosed: type, date, unit counts at each level, and grant date value.
Fiscal 2024
| Officer | Award | Grant date | Threshold units | Target units | Units granted | Maximum units | Exercise price | Grant date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis E. Gibney | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| E. Thomas Allen Jr. | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| PAIP Allyson Schlesinger | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| PAIP Dennis E. Gibney | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| PAIP John J. Klimowich | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| PRSA | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| PRSA | OPTION | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
| PRSA | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| PRSA | OPTION | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
| Thomas J. Kemly | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023 are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. Threshold, target and maximum apply only to performance awards and are never shown for time-based or option awards.
Outstanding awards
Awards still held at fiscal year end.
As disclosed at fiscal 2024 year end
| Officer | Award | Unvested units | Market value of unvested units | Exercise price | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allyson Schlesinger | Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 05/01/2033 |
| Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 03/06/2034 | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| John Klimowich | Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 05/01/2033 |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 03/06/2034 | |
| E. Thomas Allen | Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 05/01/2033 |
| Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 03/06/2034 | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Dennis Gibney | Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 03/06/2034 |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 05/01/2033 | |
| Thomas Kemly | Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 05/01/2033 |
| Option | ◇ | — | ◇ | 03/06/2034 | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Director compensation
What each non-employee director was paid.
Fiscal 2024
| Director | Fees earned in cash | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noel R. Holland Board chair | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Michael Massood | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Lucy Sorrentini | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Daria S. Torres | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Elizabeth E. Randall | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Paul Van Ostenbridge | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
James M. Kuiken | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Robert Van Dyk | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Thomas J. Kemly served on the board in fiscal 2024 and received no compensation for board service. Executive directors are typically paid through their executive roles, shown above.
Earlier years are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Director fee schedule
The standing retainers and premiums the board pays, as published.
| Board cash retainer | ◇ |
| Board equity retainer | ◇ |
| Total board retainer | ◇ |
| Board chair premium | ◇ |
| Audit committee chair | ◇ |
| Audit committee member | ◇ |
| Compensation committee chair | ◇ |
| Compensation committee member | ◇ |
| Nominating and governance chair | ◇ |
| Nominating and governance member | ◇ |
Equity is delivered as restricted stock units.
Disclosed peer group
The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2024
- Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp. AUB
- Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. BBT
- Brookline Bancorp, Inc. BRKL
- Community Financial System, Inc. CBU
- ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. CNOB
- Customers Bancorp, Inc. CUBI
- Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. DCOM
- E. Thomas Allen symbol not shown
- Eagle Bancorp, Inc. EGBN
- First Commonwealth Financial Corporation FCF
- Flushing Financial Corp. FFIC
- Independent Bank Corp. INDB
- Independent Bank Group, Inc. IBTX
- Kearny Financial Corp. KRNY
- Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. LBAI
- NBT Bancorp, Inc. NBTB
- Northfield Bancorp, Inc. NFBK
- OceanFirst Financial Corp. OCFC
- Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp. PGC
- Provident Financial Services, Inc. PFS
- S&T Bancorp, Inc. STBA
- Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. SASR
- WSFS Financial Corp. WSFS
Say-on-pay history
Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
| Year | Meeting | Support | Votes for | Votes against | Abstentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 25, 2026 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2024 | June 5, 2025 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2023 | June 6, 2024 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2022 | June 7, 2023 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2021 | June 22, 2022 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Chief executive pay ratio
As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇
What this page does not include
Everything above is a fact Columbia Financial disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where Columbia Financial sits against its disclosed peers — percentile position by role and by pay element, and the ranking behind it. The disclosed peer group is free; comparisons across it are part of the Velarion platform.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500Written compensation analysis
A read of the pay program as designed and as paid: incentive structure, goal rigor, the alignment between the committee's stated philosophy and what the numbers show.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500Board and governance analysis
Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
Board Governance Report — $1,200Realizable pay
What the awards above are actually worth today against what they were valued at on grant, and what the gap says about the pay-for-performance link.
Velarion IntelligenceAdviser switching and vote outcomes
Two datasets covering compensation-adviser changes and what followed a contested vote. Both are part of the Velarion platform.
Enquire about accessMultiple companies at once
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Velarion IntelligenceCitations
Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
249 figures on this page: 244 cited to the filing that reported them, 5 calculated from figures it prints.
244 cited to the filing
5 calculated from the filing
Documents cited
- 0001723596-26-000029Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001723596-25-000244Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001104659-25-0393862024 Director Compensation · CEO Pay Ratio · DIRECTOR COMPENSATION · Grants of Plan Based Awards · and 3 more sections
- 0001723596-24-000254Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001104659-24-052992Summary Compensation Table
- 0001723596-23-000274Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001104659-23-052960Summary Compensation Table
- 0001723596-22-000282Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Cite this data
This page is free to cite. Attribution we ask for:
Velarion, “Columbia Financial executive compensation, FY2022–FY2024.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/CLBK (accessed 2026).
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Peers Columbia Financial discloses
The companies named in CLBK's own disclosed peer group.
Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp.Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.Community Financial System, Inc.ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.Customers Bancorp, Inc.Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.Eagle Bancorp, Inc.First Commonwealth Financial CorporationFlushing Financial Corp.Independent Bank Corp.Kearny Financial Corp.NBT Bancorp, Inc.Northfield Bancorp, Inc.OceanFirst Financial Corp.Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corp.Provident Financial Services, Inc.S&T Bancorp, Inc.WSFS Financial Corp.
Terms on this page
Cite this data
APA
Velarion Company Intelligence. (2026). Velarion database: executive and board compensation data (Version 2026Q3) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854
BibTeX
@misc{velarionData2026,
author = {{Velarion Company Intelligence}},
title = {Velarion database: executive and board compensation data},
year = {2026},
version = {2026Q3},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22283854},
publisher = {Zenodo},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854}
}