Ameritrust Named Mr. Ben Howeiler as the 2010 Lender of the Year

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Jan 31, 2011, 01:07 ET

OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Heritage Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: HFWA), the bank holding company for Heritage Bank, today announced that Mr. Ben Howeiler, Senior Vice President Commercial Lender with Heritage Bank was named the Ameritrust 2010 Lender of the Year.

Ameritrust is a nationally recognized financial services company and this was the third annual lender award luncheon. Mr. Howeiler was recognized as a two time award winner and Ameritrust congratulated him for his continued participation in the Small Business Administration ("SBA") 504 loan program. Mr. Howeiler has worked in the financial services industry since 1994 and has been a commercial lender with Heritage Bank since 1997.

Mr. Greg Patjens, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Heritage Bank stated that, "We are fortunate to have Ben as a lender for Heritage Bank and he has played an integral part in the production of SBA 504 loans. Due to Ben's achievements with obtaining lending for SBA borrowers his efforts have served the borrowers, the Bank and the community well."

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. With the FDIC-assisted acquisitions of Cowlitz Bank and Pierce Commercial Bank, Heritage Bank now serves western Washington and the greater Portland, Oregon area through its twenty-five 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. Additional information about Heritage Financial Corporation is available on its Internet Website www.HF-WA.com.

SOURCE Heritage Financial Corporation