Ameritrust CDC Named Heritage Bank as the 2011 Financial Institution of the Year

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Dec 02, 2011, 04:33 ET

OLYMPIA, Wash., Dec. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: HFWA), the bank holding company for Heritage Bank, today announced that Heritage Bank, was named the Ameritrust CDC 2011 Financial Institution of the Year. Ameritrust CDC is a Certified Development Company, promoting the profitability and prosperity of small businesses in Washington State by providing low cost, fixed rate commercial real estate financing in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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Ameritrust CDC commented, "Heritage Bank helped enhance our economy here in Washington State through its use of the SBA 504 program. With Ameritrust CDC, Heritage Bank closed nine loans in fiscal year 2011 for a total of $9,911,945. Projects include dental, chiropractic, accounting, and ophthalmologists offices, a gas station, a manufacturer, a therapy center and a labor ready service operation. This is benefiting the community with rural development, women and minority owned businesses, and job creation adding up to 85 new jobs throughout Thurston, King, and Pierce counties."

Mr. Greg Patjens, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Heritage Bank stated that, "We appreciate the partnership with Ameritrust CDC to provide the Bank and more importantly our borrowers with enhanced financing options such as the SBA 504 program. This important partnership enhances the communities we serve through financing options and ultimately job creation."

About Heritage Financial
Heritage Financial Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Olympia, Washington. The Company operates two community banks, Heritage Bank and Central Valley Bank. Heritage Bank serves western Washington and the greater Portland, Oregon area through its twenty-seven full-service banking offices and its Online Banking Website www.HeritageBankWA.com. Central Valley Bank serves Yakima and Kittitas counties in central Washington through its six full-service banking offices and its Online Banking Website www.CVBankWA.com. The Company's stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "HFWA". Additional information about Heritage Financial Corporation is available on its Internet Website www.HF-WA.com.

SOURCE Heritage Financial Corporation