Banking
Columbia Banking System Executive Compensation (FY25)
COLB · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2023 to 2025
Data as of September 5, 2026Latest filing (8-K): May 15, 2026
273 figures on this page: 264 cited to the filing that reported them, 9 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations
Total compensation for Clint Stein, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and President, came to $7,712,345 in fiscal 2025, and Stein's total was 21.6% higher than the $6,340,928 reported for fiscal 2024. For fiscal 2025, the company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 101:1, against median employee compensation of $76,626. For fiscal 2025, shareholders backed the say-on-pay proposal with 94.9% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held May 14, 2026. Companies named in the disclosed peer group include Banc of California, Inc., BOK Financial Corporation, Cadence Bank, Comerica Incorporation and Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., among others.
What changed from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — Clint Stein: $6,340,928 → $7,712,345 (21.6% higher)
Say-on-pay support: 97.6% → 94.9% (2.7 points lower)
CEO pay ratio: 82:1 → 101:1 (23.2% higher)
Frequently asked questions
Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is Columbia Banking System's chief executive and what were they paid?
Total compensation for Clint Stein, Chair, Chief Executive Officer and President, came to $7,712,345 in fiscal 2025. Stein's total was 21.6% higher than the $6,340,928 reported for fiscal 2024.
What was Columbia Banking System's say-on-pay result?
For fiscal 2025, shareholders backed the say-on-pay proposal with 94.9% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held May 14, 2026.
Which companies are in Columbia Banking System's peer group?
Companies named in the disclosed peer group include Banc of California, Inc., BOK Financial Corporation, Cadence Bank, Comerica Incorporation and Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., among others.
What is Columbia Banking System's chief executive pay ratio?
For fiscal 2025, the company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 101:1, against median employee compensation of $76,626.
Executive compensation
Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2023
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cort O'Haver Former Executive Chair | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Clint Stein Chair, Chief Executive Officer and President | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Christopher Merrywell Senior Executive Vice President, Columbia Bank President of Consumer Banking | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Torran Nixon Senior Executive Vice President, Columbia Bank President of Commercial Banking | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Ron Farnsworth Former Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2024
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clint Stein President and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Cort O'Haver Former Executive Chair Departed during or after this year | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Torran Nixon Senior Executive Vice President and Umpqua Bank President of Commercial Banking | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2025
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cort O'Haver Former Executive Chair Departed during or after this year | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Clint Stein Chair, Chief Executive Officer and President | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Torran Nixon Senior Executive Vice President, Columbia Bank President of Commercial Banking | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Christopher Merrywell Senior Executive Vice President, Columbia Bank President of Consumer Banking | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Andrew Ognall Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Ron Farnsworth Former Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer Departed during or after this year | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Ivan Seda Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial 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 2025
| Officer | Award | Grant date | Threshold units | Target units | Units granted | Maximum units | Exercise price | Grant date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew H. Ognall | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Andrew H. Ognall | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Andrew H. Ognall | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Andrew H. Ognall | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Christopher M. Merrywell | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Christopher M. Merrywell | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Clint E. Stein | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Clint E. Stein | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Cort L. O Haver | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ |
| Cort L. O Haver | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Cort L. O Haver | — | ◇ | — | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
| Cort L. O’Haver | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Cort L. O’Haver | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Ivan A. Seda | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Ron L. Farnsworth | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Ron L. Farnsworth | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Torran B. Nixon | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Torran B. Nixon | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023, 2024 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 2025 year end
| Officer | Award | Unvested units | Market value of unvested units | Exercise price | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Merrywell | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Clint Stein | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Torran Nixon | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Andrew Ognall | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Ron Farnsworth | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Ivan Seda | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| Cort O'Haver | 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 2025
| Director | Fees earned in cash | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steven R. Gardner | — | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
S. Mae Fujita Numata | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Randal L. Lund | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Elizabeth W. Seaton | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Luis F. Machuca | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Maria M. Pope Lead independent director | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Hilliard C. Terry, III | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Mark A. Finkelstein | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Anddria Varnado | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
John F. Schultz | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Eric S. Forrest | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
M. Christian Mitchell | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Jaynie Miller Studenmund | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Craig D. Eerkes | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Peggy Y. Fowler | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Cort L. O'Haver and Clint E. Stein served on the board in fiscal 2025 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 | ◇ |
Stock ownership guideline: 5x annual cash retainer
Disclosed peer group
The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2025
- Banc of California, Inc. BANC
- BOK Financial Corporation BOKF
- Cadence Bank CADE
- Comerica Incorporation CMA
- Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. CFR
- East West Bancorp, Inc. EWBC
- F.N.B. Corporation FNB
- First Horizon Corp. FHN
- New York Community Bancorp, Inc. FLG
- Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. PNFP
- Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. PB
- SouthState Corporation SSB
- Synovus Financial Corp. SNV
- UMB Financial Corporation UMBF
- Valley National Bancorp VLY
- Western Alliance Bancorporation WAL
- Wintrust Financial Corporation WTFC
- Zions Bancorporation, NA ZION
Say-on-pay history
Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
| Year | Meeting | Support | Votes for | Votes against | Abstentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 14, 2026 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2024 | May 15, 2025 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2023 | May 8, 2024 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2022 | May 18, 2023 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2021 | April 27, 2022 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2020 | May 26, 2021 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2019 | May 27, 2020 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2018 | May 22, 2019 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2017 | May 23, 2018 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
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 Banking System disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where Columbia Banking System 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
Cross-company views, cohort screens, and data export across the industries we cover. This page is one company; the platform is all of them.
Velarion IntelligenceCitations
Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
273 figures on this page: 264 cited to the filing that reported them, 9 calculated from figures it prints.
264 cited to the filing
9 calculated from the filing
Documents cited
- 0000887343-26-000142Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0000887343-26-000126CEO Pay Ratio · Director Compensation · Director Compensation Table · Grants of Plan-Based Awards · and 2 more sections
- 0000887343-25-000169Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0000887343-25-000152Summary Compensation Table
- 0000887343-24-000187Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001193125-24-0787822023 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
- 0000887343-23-000253
- 0000887343-22-000102Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0000887343-21-000113Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001193125-20-157250Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001193125-19-159802Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0000887343-18-000089Item 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 Banking System executive compensation, FY2023–FY2025.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/COLB (accessed 2026).
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Peers Columbia Banking System discloses
The companies named in COLB's own disclosed peer group.
Banc of California, Inc.BOK Financial CorporationComerica IncorporationCullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.East West Bancorp, Inc.F.N.B. CorporationFirst Horizon Corp.New York Community Bancorp, Inc.Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.SouthState CorporationSynovus Financial Corp.UMB Financial CorporationValley National BancorpWestern Alliance BancorporationWintrust Financial CorporationZions Bancorporation, NA
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}
}