TACOMA, Wash., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Bank announced the promotion of Residential Lending Officer, Michelle Welsh, to Assistant Vice President. She will continue as a residential lender in her market areas of Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, and Gig Harbor.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040701/SFTH080 )

"Michelle has been with Columbia for over five years, and has been a wonderful partner to both home buyers and realtors in this area. Her experience and commitment to great customer service and to truly helping people get into a home are the secret to her success," said Racardo McLaughlin, Senior Vice President and Residential Lending Manager for Columbia Bank.

Ms. Welsh has more than 15 years of mortgage lending experience, and has been with Columbia Bank since 1999. Previous to Columbia Bank, she was a Private Mortgage Banker with Wells Fargo and has also been a senior underwriter for more than seven years, at both Wells Fargo and Columbia Banks. She began her career at Mortgage Services America.

Welsh attended Newbury College in Brookline, Massachusetts, and the Mortgage Bankers Association. She is involved with Habitat for Humanity, and is past President and Board Member of the Puget Sound Mortgage Lenders Association.

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

               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/SFTH080
              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

ND-GK 
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4352 07/01/200419:47 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com