TACOMA, Wash., June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Banking System, Inc. (Nasdaq: COLB) announced today that Melanie J. Dressel, President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at the Fox-Pitt Kelton Small and Mid-Cap Bank and Insurance Conference in New York City.

Ms. Dressel's presentation at the conference is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, June 17, 2009 at 3:35 p.m. EDT (12:35 p.m. PDT). The live and archived presentation can be accessed at Columbia's website at www.columbiabank.com or http://www.wsw.com/webcast/fpk8/colb/.

About Columbia

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is a Tacoma-based bank holding company whose wholly owned banking subsidiaries are Columbia Bank and Bank of Astoria, which operate a combined total of 50 branches. Columbia Bank is a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank. With the July 23, 2007 completion of the acquisitions of Mountain Bank Holding Company and Town Center Bancorp, Columbia Bank has 50 banking offices in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap, Thurston and Whatcom counties in Washington State, and Clackamas and Multnomah counties in Oregon. Included in Columbia Bank are former branches of Mt. Rainier National Bank, doing business as Mt. Rainier Bank, with 5 branches in King and Pierce counties. Bank of Astoria, a federally insured commercial bank headquartered in Astoria, Oregon, operates four branches in Clatsop County: Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach; and two branches in Manzanita and Tillamook in Tillamook County. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com.

Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as "may," "expected," "anticipate," "continue," or other comparable words. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that Columbia expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Readers are encouraged to read the SEC reports of Columbia, particularly its form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2008, for meaningful cautionary language discussing why actual results may vary materially from those anticipated by management.

           Contact: Jo Anne Coy; Vice President:  Corporate Communications,
                                             Investor & Community Relations
                                                                253-305-196

SOURCE Columbia Banking System, Inc.

Contact: Jo Anne Coy, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Investor & Community Relations of Columbia Banking System, Inc., +1-253-305-1965