Columbia Bank Commemorates 20th Anniversary And Legacy Of Community Support With $20,000 For Pacific Northwest Non-Profit Groups

TACOMA, Wash., Nov. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Bank announced today the launch of its 20-year anniversary campaign to commemorate its two decades of history and legacy of community support in the Pacific Northwest, with a variety of celebrations this December.

Columbia Bank will grant a total of $20,000 to three charities throughout the bank's footprint in Washington and Oregon. Beginning today, the contest will encourage community members to nominate non-profit organizations in an effort to highlight three deserving groups. The first-place winner will receive $10,000 and two second-place winners will each receive $5,000.

Nomination forms are available online at www.columbiabank.com/20 and can be submitted until Sunday, December 8. The top three winners will be selected by a Columbia Bank committee and announced December 30.

"At Columbia Bank we feel it's a privilege to support each of the communities in which we serve," said Columbia Bank President and CEO Melanie Dressel. "And as we celebrate 20 years, we couldn't be more excited to recognize organizations doing great work throughout the Northwest."

During the week of December 1, Columbia Bank will host pop-up celebrations in Tacoma at a variety of museums the bank has supported during its 20-year history, including the Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum and the Children's Museum of Tacoma. Each establishment will don blue windows in honor of the bank's anniversary while offering complimentary admission and more.

For more information on the 20th anniversary grant and museum events, visit www.columbiabank.com/20.

About Columbia Bank

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc., is the holding company of Columbia Bank, a Washington State-chartered full-service commercial bank. For the seventh consecutive year, the bank was named in 2013 as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's "Washington's Best Workplaces."

Following its recent merger with West Coast Bank, Columbia Banking System now has 145 banking offices, including 80 branches in Washington State and 65 branches in Oregon. More information about Columbia can be found on its website at www.columbiabank.com.

SOURCE Columbia Bank