TACOMA, Wash., May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Bank announced the hiring of Karl Probst for the position of Vice President and Equipment Finance Officer. He will act as Manager of Columbia's new Equipment Finance Department where his primary duties will focus on the production of equipment loans to businesses, generated through an existing network of brokers.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040511/SFTU147 )

"We are very excited that we will be able to expand our equipment financing service to our business customers -- both commercial and small business. Karl and Heidi are a great team and work with an established group of brokers whom they trust and who rely on Karl and Heidi to treat their customer's right. Karl and Heidi both believe very strongly in great customer service, so they will fit right in at Columbia. It's a win for us and for our business customers," said Mark Nelson, Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer.

Prior to joining Columbia Bank, Mr. Probst was the Credit Administrator for Pinnacle Capital LLC. He has over 25 years of experience in the banking and equipment financing industry, beginning his career at Seattle First National Bank and then moving to Financial Pacific Leasing.

Mr. Probst is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He lives in Olympia where he has been active with the United Way of Thurston County. In Tacoma with Financial Pacific Leasing, Karl was a Team Captain for the company's American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team and the company was the number one fundraiser for 5 consecutive years. Karl is not only excited about starting this new Division of Columbia Bank, but also about getting married to Kathi O'Neil on May 16, 2004.

Joining Mr. Probst at Columbia is Heidi DeFord, a Loan Support Specialist who has worked with Probst as a team for the last 2 years. Ms. DeFord is a graduate of Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Operations Management. Heidi's previous financial experience with Westar Financial will enable her to contribute much to the new department. She has lived in Thurston County all of her life, where she is active in organized volleyball and basketball.

Columbia Bank is a Washington state-chartered, full-service commercial bank providing products and services to individuals, businesses and the real estate community. A wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Banking System Inc., (Nasdaq: COLB) Columbia Bank currently operates 34 branches in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

Contact: JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing Director

              253-305-1965


SOURCE  Columbia Bank
    -0-                             05/11/2004
    /CONTACT:  JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing Director of Columbia
Bank, +1-253-305-1965/
    /Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040511/SFTU147
             AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
             PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.columbiabank.com /
    (COLB)

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

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3995 05/11/200413:15 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com