TACOMA, Wash., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Bank welcomed Catherine Jensen-Varnadore to its Columbia Private Banking team in Tacoma. She joins Columbia as an Assistant Vice President and Private Banking Officer and will work directly with Private Banking clients.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070514/SFM103 )

Ms Jensen-Varnadore offers her clients over 25 years of extensive banking experience. Prior to joining Columbia, she was an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager for Anchor Bank. She has earned a Certificate in Operation and Lending from the American Institute of Banking, as well as an AA Degree in Leadership from the Wisdom for Life Leadership School.

She is active in her community with active membership in the Puyallup and Tacoma-Pierce County Chambers of Commerce, and volunteers her time to the Multiple Sclerosis Walk, American Cancer Society Relay For Life, March of Dimes and is active in her church. She resides in Puyallup and is a lifelong resident of Pierce County. She has two grown daughters and a granddaughter.

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