Columbia Financial, Inc. (CLBK) experienced a significant surge of 5.09% during intraday trading on Wednesday, indicating strong positive investor sentiment.
The sharp increase follows the company's announcement of a proposed merger with Northfield Bancorp, Inc. The transaction, valued at approximately $597 million, is expected to create a regional community bank with around $18 billion in assets and over 100 branches across New Jersey and parts of New York City. The merger, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval, is anticipated to close in early Q3 2026, with Northfield shareholders expected to receive between $14.25 and $14.65 per share.