Columbia Banking System to Present at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Bank Conference on February 29, 2012

TACOMA, Wash., Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Banking System, Inc. (NASDAQ: COLB) announced today that Melanie J. Dressel , President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to present at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods ("KBW") Bank Conference in Boston February 29 – March 1, 2012.

The Columbia Banking System presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 3:15 p.m. EST (12:15 p.m. PST).  The webcast of the presentation can be accessed through the KBW presentation link at http://cc.talkpoint.com/keef001/022912a_bb/?entity=44_75QG51F or by visiting www.columbiabank.com and clicking on the KBW Conference link.

About Columbia       

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the holding Company of Columbia State Bank, a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank which was again awarded one of Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For 2011 and was designated one of  Puget Sound Business Journal's "Washington's Best Workplaces 2011". 

Including the recent acquisitions of Bank of Whitman, Summit Bank and First Heritage Bank, Columbia Banking System has 102 banking offices, including 77 branches in Washington State and 25 branches in Oregon. Columbia Bank does business under the Bank of Astoria name in Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita and Tillamook in Oregon. 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, 2010, 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
253-305-1965

SOURCE Columbia Banking System, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.columbiabank.com