TACOMA, Wash., May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Bank welcomes Brian Baldwin as Vice President and new Manager of its Redmond Branch. He will manage and lead the Redmond Branch staff in its daily operations as well as develop new banking relationships in Redmond and outlying communities.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040510/SFM127 )

"Brian has the right background and experience to ensure that our Redmond branch will continue to be successful and provide outstanding service to our existing customers. The Redmond branch will also continue to develop new business and be a positive force in the community. He has big shoes to fill, due to Judi Lindsay's retirement, but we feel we have the right person for the job," said Avery Johnson, Senior Vice President of Retail Banking.

Mr. Baldwin has over 25 years of banking experience, beginning his career in 1979 with Rainier Bank and ending up at Key Bank through a series of mergers, before moving to Columbia Bank.

Mr. Baldwin is active in his hometown Kirkland community, serving as President of the Kirkland American Little League, and on the Board of Lake Washington High School's "Select Basketball" program. He has been involved with the Junior Achievement Bowl-a-thon and March Of Dimes Walk-a-thon on a regular basis, as well as participating in local Chamber of Commerce events throughout the years.

Mr. Baldwin was born on the eastside and currently resides in Kirkland with is wife and three children. He has lived in Kirkland since 1989.

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, Columbia Bank, +1-253-305-196

SOURCE  Columbia Bank
    -0-                             05/10/2004
    /CONTACT:  JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing Director, Columbia Bank,
+1-253-305-1965/
    /Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040510/SFM127
             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

GK-UC 
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1984 05/10/200415:16 EDThttp://www.prnewswire.com