Mergers & Acquisitions

Columbia Financial Completes Merger With Northfield Bancorp

Columbia Financial completed its merger with Northfield Bancorp on July 20, 2026, followed immediately by the merger of Northfield Bank into Columbia Bank.

By Carter Hayes · July 23, 2026

Holding company and bank mergers close

Columbia Financial completed its previously announced merger with Northfield Bancorp on July 20, 2026. Northfield Bancorp merged into Columbia Financial, which continued as the surviving corporation.

Immediately after the merger became effective, Northfield Bank, Northfield Bancorp’s wholly owned banking subsidiary, merged into Columbia Bank, Columbia Financial’s wholly owned banking subsidiary. Columbia Bank continued as the surviving bank.

The filing describes the legal completion of the two mergers but does not provide details about customer accounts, loan products, branch operations or servicing arrangements.

Share conversion and equity-award treatment

Each outstanding share of Northfield common stock was converted into the right to receive, at the holder’s election and subject to the merger agreement’s proration and allocation procedures, $14.25 in cash, 1.425 shares of Columbia Financial common stock, or a combination of cash and stock.

Holders otherwise entitled to a fractional Columbia Financial share will receive cash instead, under the merger agreement. Northfield shareholders ceased to have rights related to their former Northfield shares other than the right to receive the merger consideration, subject to the agreement’s terms and conditions.

Time-based Northfield restricted stock fully vested immediately before the effective time. Performance-based restricted stock units accelerated and vested under the performance treatment specified in the merger agreement. Outstanding Northfield options were converted into options to purchase Columbia Financial common stock, with share amounts and exercise prices adjusted using the merger exchange ratio.

Nasdaq listing and governance changes

Nasdaq was notified of the merger’s effectiveness and was asked to suspend trading in Northfield common stock, withdraw the shares from listing after the close of trading on July 20, 2026, and file a delisting notification with the SEC. Northfield common stock is no longer listed on Nasdaq.

Columbia Financial, as Northfield Bancorp’s successor, intends to file Form 15 certifications with the SEC requesting deregistration of Northfield common stock and the immediate suspension of Northfield Bancorp’s reporting obligations. The filing states that Northfield no longer exists as a separate legal entity following the merger.

The boards of Columbia Financial and Columbia Bank each expanded by four members. Steven M. Klein, John P. Connors, Jr., Timothy C. Harrison and Paul V. Stahlin, who had served on Northfield Bancorp’s board immediately before the merger, were appointed to both boards. Klein also became senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Columbia Financial and Columbia Bank.