TACOMA, Wash., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Bank announced the promotion of Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager, Michael Block, to Vice President. He will continue his duties as branch manager at the bank's 43rd and Meridian location.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040701/SFTH007 )

Mr. Block has been with Columbia bank for 5 years and has over 16 years of banking experience. Prior to his current position, he was Manager of Columbia's Broadway and 13th and A St. branches in downtown Tacoma.

Michael is a Board Member of the Eastern Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, the Salvation Army Advisory Board and a member of the South Hill Rotary Club. He resides in the South Hill area of Puyallup with his wife and 2 children.

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 34 branches in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

CONTACT: JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing Director of Columbia Bank, +1-253-305-1965

SOURCE  Columbia Bank
    -0-                             07/01/2004
    /CONTACT:  JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing Director of Columbia
Bank, +1-253-305-1965/
    /Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040701/SFTH007
              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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4356 07/01/200420:03 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com