Columbia Financial, the holding company for the $10 billion Fair Lawn-based Columbia Bank, on Friday announced a significant expansion of its executive leadership team to support its continued growth across the New Jersey market.
In a strategic move effective immediately, Dennis Gibney has been promoted to first senior executive vice president and chief banking officer. Succeeding him as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer is Thomas Splaine, Jr., a seasoned veteran of the Garden State’s banking industry.
In his elevated role, Gibney moves beyond the traditional CFO function to partner directly with CEO Thomas Kemly on the bank’s high-level administration. His new portfolio is extensive, covering:
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Core operations: Oversight of commercial and consumer banking.
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Innovation: Management of the Company’s technology and legal functions.
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Financial health: Continued supervision of credit and special assets.
Gibney was a primary architect of Columbia’s 2018 Initial Public Offering. During his decade-long tenure as CFO, he helped double the bank’s asset base from $5 billion to more than $10 billion through a series of four successful acquisitions.
“Dennis has been a key leader in our growth strategy,” Kemly said. “His leadership was instrumental in our IPO and the expansion of our footprint.”
To fill the CFO vacancy, Columbia has tapped Thomas Splaine, Jr., who joined the organization in 2025. Splaine brings a formidable 35-year track record in New Jersey banking, having previously served as CFO for both Lakeland Bancorp and Investors Bancorp.
A Rider University alumnus and former Senior Audit Manager at KPMG, Splaine will now command the company’s accounting and treasury departments. His deep expertise in mergers, acquisitions, and regulatory relations is expected to provide a stable foundation as Columbia continues its upward trajectory.
Columbia Bank currently operates 71 full-service offices throughout New Jersey, maintaining its status as one of the state’s most prominent community-focused financial institutions.
