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Columbia Banking System Announces Earnings for First Quarter 2009 and Declares Cash Dividend
 

Company is Very Well-Capitalized, with Strong Liquidity, Excellent Core Deposit Base

TACOMA, Wash., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Columbia Banking System, Inc. (Nasdaq: COLB) today announced net income applicable to common shareholders of $419,000 for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared to $11.0 million for the same quarter of 2008. On a diluted per common share basis, net income for the quarter was $0.02, a decline from $0.61 in 2008. Columbia paid $1.1 million in preferred stock dividends, compared to $470,000 in the fourth quarter, 2008, attributed to our participation in the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase Program, completed November 21, 2008. These results also reflect an elevated provision for loan losses of $11.0 million, primarily due to the continued deterioration of the Pacific Northwest economic environment and the resulting impact on Columbia's portfolio of real estate-related construction loans.

"We achieved a profitable first quarter despite the rapidly deteriorating economy and its ensuing challenges," said Melanie Dressel, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Reflecting our continued concern about this general decline and its impact on credit quality, we placed an additional $11 million in our provision for loan losses during the quarter. We continue to focus on our core strategies, expense control and our long-standing business model, which have served us well and, we believe, strongly position us for the future."

Ms. Dressel commented, "We remain very well capitalized, with a total risk-based capital ratio of 14.47% at March 31, 2009, enhancing our ability to lend and increasing our flexibility to pursue strategic opportunities which may arise due to the inevitable market disruptions resulting from the challenging economy. Our liquidity ratio remains strong as well at 35%, which translates into over $1 billion of available funding for the general operation of our bank and to meet the needs of our customers. Our core deposits, which result from the strong relationships we have built with our customers, represent a healthy 80% of our total deposits."

"While economic challenges persist, we have avoided concentration of risk in any one segment due to our diversified loan portfolio," Ms. Dressel noted. "Over 37% of our loans are commercial business loans, only 11% are real estate construction-related, and less than 9% of our loans are in the for-sale housing segment. Nonperforming assets to total assets ended the quarter at 3.99%. Until the economy stabilizes, we anticipate our annual provision for loan losses and net charge-offs to remain elevated."

Revenue (net interest income plus noninterest income) was $34.9 million for the first quarter of 2009, down 14% from $40.5 million one year ago. The decrease was primarily due to lower interest earned on our loan portfolio due to the decline in interest rates during the 4th quarter of 2008. Return on average assets and return on average common equity for the quarter was 0.20% and 0.49%, respectively, compared to 1.39% and 12.60%, respectively, for the same period in 2008.

At March 31, 2009, Columbia's total assets were $3.05 billion compared to $3.10 billion at December 31, 2008. Total loans were $2.19 billion at March 31, 2009, down 2% from December 31, 2008, and total securities increased $15.4 million to $556.0 million at March 31, 2009. Total deposits decreased 2% from December 31, 2008, ending at $2.34 billion at the end of the first quarter, 2009. Core deposits, defined as demand, savings, money market accounts and certificates of deposit under $100,000, totaled $1.87 billion at March 31, 2009, comprising 80.0% of total deposits, up slightly from first quarter, 2008. Ms. Dressel commented, "We are actively managing our loan and deposit portfolios, which have declined as we reposition the loan portfolio to further manage risk and maintain diligence around our deposit pricing."

Operating Results

Quarter ended March 31, 2009

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2009 was $27.9 million, a decrease of 8% from $30.3 million for the same quarter in 2008, primarily due to a decrease in earning assets from the prior year. Columbia's net interest margin decreased to 4.26% in the first quarter of 2009, from 4.38% for the same quarter last year. The net interest margin was negatively impacted by interest reversals for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009 related to nonaccrual loans totaling $625,000. Excluding the impact of interest reversals, net interest margin for the quarter would have been 4.35%.

Average interest-earning assets were $2.77 billion during the quarter, a decrease of 4.5% compared with $2.91 billion during the same quarter of 2008. The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased 144 basis points (a basis point equals 1/100 of 1%) to 5.45% during the quarter compared with 6.89% during the same quarter of 2008. During the same period, average interest-bearing liabilities decreased to $2.14 billion, or 9%, from $2.34 billion in 2008. The cost of average interest-bearing liabilities decreased 157 basis points to 1.54% during the quarter, from 3.11% in the same quarter of 2008.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $7.0 million, down from the first quarter of last year, which included a one-time redemption of Visa and MasterCard shares and a net gain on the sale of investment securities in the amount of $2.0 million and $882,000 respectively. After removing these nonrecurring items, noninterest income declined 5%, primarily due to a reduction in merchant services fees and other noninterest income. Service charges and other fees were $3.6 million for the quarter, a 1% increase from one year ago.

Noninterest Expense

Total noninterest expense for the first quarter was $23.2 million, a decrease of 2% from $23.6 million for the same quarter in 2008. Decreases of 12% in compensation and employees benefits, and 7% in occupancy expenses, were significantly offset by increases in legal and professional fees, and FDIC regulatory premium expenses which have more than doubled. Columbia's efficiency ratio was 63.59% for the first quarter of 2009, compared to 62.36% for the first quarter of 2008. Despite our success in managing expenses, the efficiency ratio increased as a result of lower net interest income due to interest rate reductions during the second half of 2008.

Nonperforming Assets and Loan Loss Provision

As of March 31, 2009, non-performing assets were $121.7 million, compared to $15.0 million at March 31, 2008 and $109.6 million at December 31, 2008. Residential construction loans continue to be the primary driver of nonperforming assets, representing $70.3 million, or 58%, of nonperforming assets. Commercial real estate loans account for another $36.9 million, or 30% of non-performing loans. These commercial real estate non-performing assets are primarily centered in condominium development loans of approximately $14.9 million and two retail development loans of approximately $14.9 million. The increase in the Commercial Real Estate category reflects the continued weakness in the for-sale housing industry, as $5.2 million of the $5.5 million increase in this category was related to a condominium project located along the Oregon coast.

In the residential construction segment, there was a modest reduction in non-performing assets of $2.2 million. For the quarter, the Company received $4.3 million in payments, transferred $1.7 million to OREO, returned approximately $745,000 to accrual status and had net charge-offs of $6.3 million. Approximately $3.0 million of these net charge-offs were related to credits where the bank had previously written down the loan amount; however, due to continued declines in residential real estate values, we continue to take the prudent step of marking these assets down as we receive updated information concerning the various projects we have financed. This decline in value reflects the market dynamics in the Pacific Northwest, which saw a significant decline in housing values toward the end of 2008 and during the first part of 2009. Prior to December and January, declines in housing values had been modest, ranging from 0.5% to 1.5% per month. This accelerated to 2.5% in December, 2008 and to 3.5% for the month of January, 2009. Given this trend, we reevaluated several non-performing loans and took appropriate action based upon the updated market information. As the market conditions change over the course of 2009, we will continually reevaluate our non-performing assets to ensure they are appropriately valued.

For the first quarter, Columbia continued to be successful in reducing its exposure to construction related assets, which declined $39.8 million from December 31, 2008. Construction related assets now account for approximately 11.5% of the loan portfolio, down from a peak of 19.3% as of June 30, 2008. This represents a $187.8 million reduction in construction related assets in the past nine months, demonstrating management's resolve to reduce Columbia's exposure in this segment of the portfolio.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2009, net loan charge-offs were approximately $9.5 million compared to $761,000 for the same period a year ago, and $6.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2008. Charge-offs outside of the residential construction portfolio was centered in the commercial business portfolio and was primarily related to one credit with a net charge-off of approximately $2.3 million. This credit is housing related, as the loan was secured by an assignment of a deed of trust on a housing related development. Within the commercial business portfolio, we have extended approximately $12.0 million in commitments as of March 31, 2009 to finance companies which have in turn financed residential related developments. Of this amount, approximately $7.4 million is associated with the credit in which we took the $2.3 million net charge-off during the first quarter.

Organizational Update

Ms. Dressel said, "We continue to execute on our efficiency initiatives, which are designed to reduce current expense while maintaining our level of customer service and our competitive position when the economy rebounds. During the first quarter, we consolidated three branches, primarily due to their proximity to our other locations. We are pleased with the progress of our Tillamook office, which opened during the fourth quarter of 2008. Our long standing strategy continues to focus on improving efficiencies without jeopardizing the strength of our customer relationships, which are the foundation of our bank. We are confident that our healthy core deposits, the diversity of our loan and deposit portfolios and our relationships with our customers, employees and communities will result in long-term benefits for our shareholders."

Cash Dividend Announcement

The Board of Directors has announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 per common share, down from $0.04 per common share in the previous quarter. The cash dividend will be paid on May 20, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 6, 2009.

William T. Weyerhaeuser, Chairman of the Board, commented, "We reviewed our dividend in light of our current market valuation, our dividend yield, payout ratio and our desire to conserve capital during this challenging economy. This dividend decision is difficult, but prudent, as we deal with this uncertain economic cycle. We hope to return to higher dividend levels as more normalized market conditions resume, subject, of course, to regulatory restrictions. We believe this action is in the best long-term interest of our shareholders."

Conference Call

Columbia Banking System management will discuss the company's first quarter 2009 results on a conference call scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. PDT (4:00 p.m. EDT). Interested parties may listen to this discussion by calling 1-888-318-7969; Conference ID code #94453464.

A conference call replay will be available from approximately 4:00 p.m. PDT on April 23, 2009 through midnight PDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009. The conference call replay can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering Conference ID code 94453464.

About Columbia

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank which was selected by Washington CEO magazine as one of 2008's "Washington's Best 100 Companies to Work For". With the 2007 acquisitions of Mountain Bank Holding Company and Town Center Bancorp and the 2008 internal merger of its subsidiary, Bank of Astoria, into Columbia Bank, Columbia Banking System has 50 banking offices in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap, Thurston and Whatcom counties in Washington State, and Clackamas, Clatsop, Tillamook 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. Columbia Bank does business under the Bank of Astoria name at the Bank of Astoria's former branches located in Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach in Clatsop County and 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, which management believes are a benefit to shareholders. These forward looking statements describe Columbia's management's expectations regarding future events and developments such as future operating results, growth in loans and deposits, continued success of Columbia's style of banking and the strength of the local economy. The words "will," "believe," "expect," "should," and "anticipate" and words of similar construction are intended in part to help identify forward looking statements. Future events are difficult to predict, and the expectations described above are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely. In addition to discussions about risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in Columbia's filings with the SEC, factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements include, among others, the following possibilities: (1) local, national and international economic conditions are less favorable than expected or have a more direct and pronounced effect on Columbia than expected and adversely affect Columbia's ability to continue its internal growth at historical rates and maintain the quality of its earning assets; (2) changes in interest rates reduce interest margins more than expected and negatively affect funding sources; (3) projected business increases following strategic expansion or opening or acquiring new branches are lower than expected; (4) costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquisitions are greater than expected; (5) competitive pressure among financial institutions increases significantly; (6) legislation or regulatory requirements or changes adversely affect the businesses in which Columbia is engaged.

    FINANCIAL STATISTICS
    Columbia Banking System, Inc.                     Three Months Ended
    Unaudited                                              March 31,
                                                          ----------
    (in thousands except per share)                     2009        2008
                                                        ----        ----
    Earnings
    --------
      Net interest income                             $27,903     $30,327
      Provision for loan and lease losses             $11,000      $2,076
      Noninterest income                               $6,974     $10,157
      Noninterest expense                             $23,181     $23,554
      Net income                                       $1,512     $10,977
      Net income applicable to common shareholders       $419     $10,977

    Per Common Share
    -----------------
      Net income (basic)                                $0.02       $0.61
      Net income (diluted)                              $0.02       $0.61

    Averages
    --------
      Total assets                                 $3,057,861  $3,186,013
      Interest-earning assets                      $2,774,259  $2,906,172
      Loans                                        $2,217,908  $2,304,588
      Securities                                     $543,403    $582,056
      Deposits                                     $2,324,853  $2,455,190
      Core deposits                                $1,867,001  $1,932,813
      Interest-bearing deposits                    $1,869,155  $2,004,095
      Interest-bearing liabilities                 $2,135,045  $2,338,159
      Noninterest-bearing deposits                   $455,698    $451,095
      Shareholders' equity                           $419,752    $350,271

    Financial Ratios
    ----------------
      Return on average assets                           0.20%       1.39%
      Return on average common equity                    0.49%      12.60%
      Return on average tangible common equity (1)       1.14%      18.33%
      Average equity to average assets                  13.73%      10.99%
      Net interest margin                                4.26%       4.38%
      Efficiency ratio (tax equivalent) (2)             63.59%      62.36%



                                           March 31,         December 31,
                                          ----------
    Period end                         2009        2008          2008
    ----------                         ----        ----          ----
      Total assets                  $3,045,757  $3,246,586    $3,097,079
      Loans                         $2,185,755  $2,300,465    $2,232,332
      Allowance for loan and lease
       losses                          $44,249     $27,914       $42,747
      Securities                      $555,974    $598,470      $540,525
      Deposits                      $2,344,406  $2,526,514    $2,382,151
      Core deposits                 $1,873,626  $1,997,975    $1,941,047
      Shareholders' equity            $415,717    $351,667      $415,385

    Book value per common share         $18.73      $19.45        $18.82
    Tangible book value per
     common share                       $13.19      $13.77        $13.23

    Nonperforming assets
    --------------------
      Nonaccrual loans                $109,292     $14,368      $106,163
      Restructured loans                 8,048         468           587
      Other personal property owned          -         187             -
      Other real estate owned            4,312           -         2,874
                                         -----         ---         -----
        Total nonperforming assets    $121,652     $15,023      $109,624
                                      --------     -------      --------
    Nonperforming loans to
     period-end loans                     5.37%       0.64%         4.78%
    Nonperforming assets to
     period-end assets                    3.99%       0.46%         3.54%
    Allowance for loan and lease
     losses to period-end loans           2.02%       1.21%         1.91%
    Allowance for loan and lease
     losses to nonperforming loans       37.71%     188.15%        40.04%
    Allowance for loan and lease
     losses to nonperforming assets      36.37%     185.81%        38.99%
    Net loan charge-offs                $9,498 (3)    $761 (4)   $25,028 (5)

    (1) Annualized net income, excluding core deposit intangible asset
        amortization and preferred dividends divided by average daily
        shareholders' equity, excluding average goodwill and average core
        deposit intangible asset.
    (2) Noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and
        noninterest income on a tax equivalent basis, excluding gain/loss on
        sale of investment securities, net cost of operation of other real
        estate, proceeds from redemption of Visa and Mastercard shares and
        reversal of previously accrued Visa litigation expense.
    (3) For the three months ended March 31, 2009.
    (4) For the three months ended March 31, 2008.
    (5) For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008.



    FINANCIAL STATISTICS
    Columbia Banking System, Inc.
    Unaudited                                            March 31,
                                                         ---------
    (in thousands)                                2009               2008
                                                  ----               ----
    Loan Portfolio Composition
    --------------------------
      Commercial business                  $812,557   37.2%   $780,177   33.9%

      Real Estate:
        One-to-four family residential       54,831    2.5%     62,733    2.7%
        Five or more family residential
         and commercial                     861,531   39.4%    843,148   36.7%
                                            -------   ----     -------   ----
          Total Real Estate                 916,362   41.9%    905,881   39.4%

      Real Estate Construction:
        One-to-four family residential      186,307    8.5%    282,797   12.3%
        Five or more family residential
         and commercial                      64,712    3.0%    155,362    6.8%
                                             ------    ---     -------    ---
          Total Real Estate Construction    251,019   11.5%    438,159   19.1%

      Consumer                              209,882    9.6%    180,016    7.8%
                                            -------    ---     -------    ---
          Subtotal loans                  2,189,820  100.2%  2,304,233  100.2%
      Less:  Deferred loan fees              (4,065)  -0.2%     (3,768)  -0.2%
                                             ------   ----      ------   ----
      Total loans                        $2,185,755  100.0% $2,300,465  100.0%
                                         ==========  =====  ==========  =====

      Loans held for sale                    $3,747             $5,944
                                             ======             ======



                                                         March 31,
                                                         ---------
                                                  2009               2008
                                                  ----               ----
    Deposit Composition
    -------------------
    Core deposits:
      Demand and other non-interest
       bearing                             $474,736   20.2%   $508,955   20.1%
      Interest bearing demand               454,723   19.4%    471,980   18.7%
      Money market                          528,990   22.6%    584,834   23.1%
      Savings                               133,517    5.7%    116,486    4.6%
      Certificates of deposit less
       than $100,000                        281,660   12.0%    315,720   12.5%
                                            -------   ----     -------   ----
        Total core deposits               1,873,626   79.9%  1,997,975   79.1%

    Certificates of deposit greater
     than $100,000                          314,721   13.4%    411,491   16.3%
    Wholesale certificates of
     deposit (CDARS(R))                      95,817    4.1%          -    0.0%
    Wholesale certificates of
     deposit                                 60,242    2.6%    117,048    4.6%
                                             ------    ---     -------    ---
    Total deposits                       $2,344,406  100.0% $2,526,514  100.0%
                                         ==========  =====  ==========  =====



    QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATISTICS
    Columbia Banking System, Inc.        Three Months Ended
    Unaudited                            ------------------
    (in thousands     Mar 31      Dec 31      Sept 30     Jun 30      Mar 31
    except per share)   2009        2008        2008        2008        2008
                        ----        ----        ----        ----        ----
    Earnings
    --------
      Net interest
       income         $27,903     $29,319     $29,593     $30,274     $30,327
      Provision
       for loan
       and lease
       losses         $11,000     $13,250     $10,500     $15,350      $2,076
      Noninterest
       income          $6,974      $6,334    $(10,946)     $9,305     $10,157
      Noninterest
       expense        $23,181     $21,813     $23,391     $23,367     $23,554
      Net income
       (loss)          $1,512      $1,814     $(8,759)     $1,936     $10,977
      Net income
       (loss)
       applicable
       to common
       shareholders      $419      $1,344     $(8,759)     $1,936     $10,977

    Per Common Share
    ----------------
      Net income
       (loss)
       (basic)          $0.02       $0.07      $(0.49)      $0.11       $0.61
      Net income
       (loss)
       (diluted)        $0.02       $0.07      $(0.49)      $0.11       $0.61

    Averages
    --------
      Total assets $3,057,861  $3,061,867  $3,106,556  $3,182,877  $3,186,013
      Interest-
       earning
       assets      $2,774,259  $2,767,854  $2,830,894  $2,902,449  $2,906,172
      Loans        $2,217,908  $2,214,918  $2,241,574  $2,297,661  $2,304,588
      Securities     $543,403    $535,763    $558,990    $584,780    $582,056
      Deposits     $2,324,853  $2,297,422  $2,365,222  $2,413,225  $2,455,190
      Core
       deposits    $1,867,001  $1,865,402  $1,925,780  $1,923,973  $1,932,813
      Interest-
       bearing
       deposits    $1,869,155  $1,837,166  $1,896,767  $1,950,123  $2,004,095
      Interest-
       bearing
       liabilities $2,135,045  $2,193,437  $2,259,655  $2,319,556  $2,338,159
      Noninterest-
       bearing
       deposits      $455,698    $460,257    $468,455    $463,102    $451,095
      Shareholders'
       equity        $419,752    $368,184    $344,158    $354,895    $350,271

    Financial Ratios
    ----------------
      Return on
       average
       assets            0.20%       0.24%      -1.12%       0.24%       1.39%
      Return on
       average
       common
       equity            0.49%       1.60%     -10.10%       2.19%      12.60%
      Return on
       average
       tangible
       common
       equity            1.14%       2.75%     -13.89%       3.56%      18.33%
      Average
       equity to
       average
       assets           13.73%      12.02%      11.08%      11.15%      10.99%
      Net interest
       margin            4.26%       4.39%       4.34%       4.39%       4.38%
      Efficiency
       ratio (tax
       equivalent)      63.59%      57.62%      60.34%      59.31%      62.36%

    Period end
    ----------
      Total
       assets      $3,045,757  $3,097,079  $3,104,980  $3,169,607  $3,246,586
      Loans        $2,185,755  $2,232,332  $2,216,133  $2,275,719  $2,300,465
      Allowance
       for loan
       and lease
       losses         $44,249     $42,747     $35,814     $41,724     $27,914
      Securities     $555,974    $540,525    $551,062    $549,755    $598,470
      Deposits     $2,344,406  $2,382,151  $2,355,821  $2,398,924  $2,526,514
      Core
       deposits    $1,873,626  $1,941,047  $1,944,779  $1,933,256  $1,997,975
      Shareholders'
       equity        $415,717    $415,385    $336,435    $344,270    $351,667

    Book value
     per common
     share             $18.73      $18.82      $18.54      $19.01      $19.45
    Tangible
     book value
     per common
     share             $13.19      $13.23      $12.94      $13.35      $13.77

    Nonperforming assets
    --------------------
      Nonaccrual
       loans         $109,292    $106,163     $76,164     $71,730     $14,368
      Restructured
       loans            8,048         587         746         540         468
      Other personal
       property
       owned                -           -           -           -         187
      Other real
       estate owned     4,312       2,874       1,288           -           -
                        -----       -----       -----         ---         ---
        Total
         nonperforming
         assets      $129,700    $109,624     $78,198     $72,270     $15,023
                     --------    --------     -------     -------     -------
    Nonperforming
     loans to
     period-end loans    5.37%       4.78%       3.47%       3.18%       0.64%
    Nonperforming
     assets to
     period-end assets   3.99%       3.54%       2.52%       2.28%       0.46%
    Allowance for loan
     and lease losses to
     period-end loans    2.02%       1.91%       1.62%       1.83%       1.21%
    Allowance for loan
     and lease losses
     to nonperforming
     loans              37.71%      40.04%      46.57%      57.73%     188.15%
    Allowance for loan
     and lease losses
     to nonperforming
     assets             36.37%      38.99%      45.80%      57.73%     185.81%
    Net loan charge-
     offs              $9,498      $6,317     $16,410      $1,540        $761



    CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME               Three Months
    Columbia Banking System, Inc.                                Ended
    (Unaudited)                                                March 31,
                                                               ---------
    (in thousands except per share)                           2009     2008
    -------------------------------                           ----     ----
    Interest Income
    Loans                                                  $29,801  $41,303
    Taxable securities                                       4,208    4,980
    Tax-exempt securities                                    2,013    2,001
    Federal funds sold and deposits in banks                     7      149
    ----------------------------------------                   ---      ---
      Total interest income                                 36,029   48,433

    Interest Expense
    Deposits                                                 6,892   14,835
    Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank
     borrowings                                                765    2,582
    Long-term obligations                                      351      487
    Other borrowings                                           118      202
    ----------------                                           ---      ---
      Total interest expense                                 8,126   18,106
      ----------------------                                 -----   ------

    Net Interest Income                                     27,903   30,327
    Provision for loan and lease losses                     11,000    2,076
    -----------------------------------                     ------    -----
      Net interest income after provision for loan and
       lease losses                                         16,903   28,251

    Noninterest Income
    Service charges and other fees                           3,614    3,568
    Merchant services fees                                   1,770    1,916
    Redemption of Visa and Mastercard shares                     -    1,962
    Gain on sale of investment securities, net                   -      882
    Bank owned life insurance ("BOLI")                         501      505
    Other                                                    1,089    1,324
    -----                                                    -----    -----
      Total noninterest income                               6,974   10,157

    Noninterest Expense
    Compensation and employee benefits                      11,852   13,396
    Occupancy                                                3,045    3,259
    Merchant processing                                        814      866
    Advertising and promotion                                  692      581
    Data processing                                            961      815
    Legal and professional fees                                967      (51)
    Taxes, licenses and fees                                   796      751
    Regulatory premiums                                      1,007      502
    Net cost of operation of other real estate                  47      (23)
    Other                                                    3,000    3,458
    -----                                                    -----    -----
      Total noninterest expense                             23,181   23,554
      -------------------------                             ------   ------

    Income before income taxes                                 696   14,854
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes                      (816)   3,877
    ------------------------------------                      ----    -----

    Net Income                                              $1,512  $10,977
    ==========                                              ======  =======
    Net Income Applicable to Common Shareholders (1)          $419  $10,977
    ================================================          ====  =======

    Earnings per common share
      Basic                                                  $0.02    $0.61
      Diluted                                                $0.02    $0.61
    Dividends paid per common share                          $0.04    $0.17
    Weighted average number of common shares outstanding    17,980   17,850
    Weighted average number of diluted common shares
     outstanding                                            17,987   17,978

    (1) For 2009, net income less preferred dividends ($961) and
        amortization of preferred stock discount ($132)



    CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
    Columbia Banking System, Inc.
    (Unaudited)                                       March 31, December 31,
    (in thousands)                                         2009         2008
    --------------                                         ----         ----
                         ASSETS
    Cash and due from banks                             $61,201      $84,787
    Interest-earning deposits with banks                    317        3,943
    ------------------------------------                    ---        -----
          Total cash and cash equivalents                61,518       88,730
    Securities available for sale at fair value
     (amortized cost of $538,835 and $525,110,
     respectively)                                      544,367      528,918
    Federal Home Loan Bank stock at cost                 11,607       11,607
    Loans held for sale                                   3,747        1,964
    Loans, net of deferred loan fees of ($4,065) and
     ($4,033), respectively                           2,185,755    2,232,332
        Less: allowance for loan and lease losses        44,249       42,747
        -----------------------------------------        ------       ------
          Loans, net                                  2,141,506    2,189,585
    Interest receivable                                  11,388       11,646
    Premises and equipment, net                          61,123       61,139
    Other real estate owned                               4,312        2,874
    Goodwill                                             95,519       95,519
    Core deposit intangible, net                          5,638        5,908
    Other assets                                        105,032       99,189
    ------------                                        -------       ------
          Total Assets                               $3,045,757   $3,097,079
          ============                               ==========   ==========
          LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Deposits:
    Noninterest-bearing                                $474,736     $466,078
    Interest-bearing                                  1,869,670    1,916,073
    ----------------                                  ---------    ---------
          Total deposits                              2,344,406    2,382,151
    Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank
     borrowings                                         183,000      200,000
    Securities sold under agreements to repurchase       25,000       25,000
    Other borrowings                                        275          201
    Long-term subordinated debt                          25,620       25,603
    Other liabilities                                    51,739       48,739
    -----------------                                    ------       ------
          Total liabilities                           2,630,040    2,681,694
    Commitments and contingent liabilities



                                March 31, December 31,
                                    2009         2008
                                    ----         ----
    Preferred stock (no par value,
     76,898 aggregate liquidation
     preference)
        Authorized shares          2,000        2,000
        Issued and outstanding        77           77    73,875       73,743
    Common Stock (no par value)
        Authorized shares         63,033       63,033
        Issued and outstanding    18,254       18,151   233,704      233,192
      Retained earnings                                 102,753      103,061
    Accumulated other comprehensive
     income                                               5,385        5,389
    -------                                               -----        -----
          Total shareholders'
           equity                                       415,717      415,385
          -------                                       -------      -------
          Total Liabilities and
           Shareholders' Equity                      $3,045,757   $3,097,079
          =====================                      ==========   ==========



    Contacts:           Melanie J. Dressel, President and
                                  Chief Executive Officer
                                           (253) 305-1911

              Gary R. Schminkey, Executive Vice President
                              and Chief Financial Officer
                                           (253) 305-1966


SOURCE Columbia Banking System, Inc.