UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________________________________________

Form 8-K

____________________________________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): February 25, 2026

Stellar Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


Texas	001-38280	20-8339782
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 110

Houston, Texas 77046

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(713) 210-7600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


☐			Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading

Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share

STEL

New York Stock Exchange

NYSE Texas

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Declaration of Dividend

On February 25, 2026, the Stellar Bancorp, Inc. issued a press release announcing that on February 25, 2026, its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.15 per share of common stock payable on March 31, 2026, to the shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2026. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference, including the cautionary language regarding forward-looking statements.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. The following are furnished as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K:


Exhibit Number			Description of Exhibit
99.1			Dividend Declaration Press Release
104			Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


	STELLAR BANCORP, INC.

Date: February 25, 2026	By:	/s/ Paul P. Egge
		Paul P. Egge
		Chief Financial Officer

Stellar Bancorp, Inc. 8-K