TACOMA, Wash., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Bank announced the promotion of Matt Ralston from Letter of Credit Specialist to Business Development Officer in its International Banking department. In addition to developing new business and serving existing customer relationships, he will also provide internal training to other Columbia Bank departments and employees.

(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070424/SFTU111 )

Previous to joining Columbia Bank, Ralston and his wife owned their own business. He began his career in the wholesale importing and exporting field. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business from Washington State University, where his studies included schooling in Vienna, Austria and an internship in Odense, Denmark.

He is involved locally in the World Trade Center in Tacoma, International Financial Services Association, Propeller Club and the Western States Letter or Credit Committee.

He and his wife have lived in University Place for 8 years and are expecting their first child in October.

Columbia Bank is a Washington state-chartered, full-service commercial bank providing financial 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. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com.

     Contact:  JoAnne Coy, Vice President
               Marketing and Communications Director
               Columbia Bank
               253-305-1965

SOURCE Columbia Bank

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