TACOMA, Wash., July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Bank announced the appointment of Senior Vice President and Branch Manager Stan Ausmus to its Retail Banking group. Mr. Ausmus' primary function will be to facilitate implementation of Columbia's new Business Banking program. He will work closely with the bank's branches, assisting them with training, loans, customer contact, and mentoring.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030714/SFM132 )

"This is a very important initiative for Columbia, and Stan's experience and passion make him the perfect person to ensure that it is implemented effectively and that it becomes a part of our culture" said Executive Vice President Hal Russell of Ausmus' appointment.

Mr. Ausmus has been with Columbia Bank since 1993, when became state- chartered and relocated its headquarters to Tacoma. Previous to joining Columbia Bank, Mr. Ausmus had been with Puget Sound Bank since 1981. He has 32 years of overall banking experience and is a 1993 graduate of the Pacific Coast Business School. He had been a Branch Manager for 25 years before accepting this position, and for the past year he also served as Puyallup Hub Manager for Columbia's east Pierce County branches.

Mr. Ausmus lives in Puyallup and has been a resident of Washington since 1980. He is involved locally with the Pierce County Community Investment Corporation, and was previously a board member of the Puyallup YMCA, as well as being a Pierce County Arts Commissioner.

Columbia Bank is a Washington state-chartered, full-service commercial bank providing products and services to individuals, business and the real estate community. A wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Banking System Inc., (Nasdaq: COLB) Columbia Bank currently operates 35 branches in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

     Contact:  JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing Director
               253-305-1965

               Columbia Bank
               1301 A Street
               Tacoma, WA 98402


SOURCE  Columbia Bank
    -0-                             07/14/2003
    /CONTACT:  JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing Director of Columbia
Bank, +1-253-305-1965/
    /Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030714/SFM132
              AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
              PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840/
    /Web site:  http://www.columbiabank.com /
    (COLB)

CO:  Columbia Bank; Columbia Banking System Inc.
ST:  Washington
IN:  FIN
SU:  PER



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1818 07/14/200320:08 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com