Columbia Financial Appoints New CFO
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 29 2026
0mins
Should l Buy CLBK?
Columbia Financial "announced that, effective immediately, Dennis E. Gibney, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank, has been promoted to First Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer of the Company and the Bank. In connection with Mr. Gibney's promotion, effective immediately, Thomas Splaine, Jr., First Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and the Bank, has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank."
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Analyst Views on CLBK
Wall Street analysts forecast CLBK stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CLBK is 17.00 USD with a low forecast of 17.00 USD and a high forecast of 17.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 17.980
Low
17.00
Averages
17.00
High
17.00
Current: 17.980
Low
17.00
Averages
17.00
High
17.00
About CLBK
Columbia Financial, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia Bank. Columbia Bank is a federally chartered savings bank in Fair Lawn, New Jersey that operates approximately 68 full-service banking offices and offers traditional financial services to consumers and businesses in its market area. It attracts deposits from the general public and uses those funds to originate a variety of loans, including multifamily and commercial real estate loans, commercial business loans, one-to-four family real estate loans, construction loans, home equity loans and advances, and other consumer loans.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Financial Performance: In the fourth quarter of 2025, Columbia's total revenue surged over threefold from the same period in 2024 to nearly $69 million, despite a substantial loss on securities transactions in the prior year, indicating a strong recovery in business operations.
- Net Income Rebound: The company's net income, in accordance with GAAP, reached just under $15.7 million, or $0.15 per share, contrasting sharply with a loss of over $21 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, showcasing the effectiveness of its strategic initiatives.
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- Cash Acquisition: Peakstone Realty Trust (NYSE: PKST) is being sold to Brookfield Asset Management for $21.00 per share in cash, and the law firm may seek to negotiate increased consideration and additional disclosures for shareholders.
- Merger Scrutiny: The merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLBK) and Northfield Bancorp, Inc. is also under investigation, with Halper Sadeh LLC encouraging shareholders to understand their legal rights and options.
- Legal Services Offered: The firm offers legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning shareholders incur no upfront costs, aiming to recover damages and implement corporate reforms, showcasing its expertise in securities fraud cases.
See More
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- Strategic Footprint Expansion: The merger will create a combined bank with about $18 billion in assets and over 100 branches across 14 New Jersey counties, plus Brooklyn and Staten Island, adding roughly $1.8 billion in deposits and aiming to accelerate normalized return on equity by eliminating the mutual minority discount.
- Financial Outlook & Risk Assessment: Management anticipates approximately 50% earnings accretion in 2027, with a tangible book dilution of 4.4% and an earnback period of about 1.8 years; due diligence revealed an $81 million credit mark, representing 2.1% of loans, and executives characterized the transaction as low risk due to conservative credit profiles.
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- Shareholder Rights Protection: The firm encourages shareholders of both Coterra and Devon to reach out to understand their legal rights and options in the merger, ensuring they receive fair compensation in the transaction.
- Additional Merger Cases: Halper Sadeh is also focusing on the merger between Columbia Financial, Inc. and Northfield Bancorp, Inc., aiming to protect the rights of all involved shareholders and prevent potential violations.
- Legal Fee Arrangement: The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning shareholders will not incur upfront legal costs, providing accessible legal support for affected investors.
See More
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