<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001193125-04-096982
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20040601
<ITEMS>5
<ITEMS>7
<FILING-DATE>20040601
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC
<CIK>0000887343
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6022
<IRS-NUMBER>911422237
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>WA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-20288
<FILM-NUMBER>04841682
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1102 BROADWAY PLAZA
<CITY>TACOMA
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98402
<PHONE>2533051900
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1102 BROADWAY PLAZA
<CITY>TACOMA
<STATE>WA
<ZIP>98402
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>d8k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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<HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="21%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE
COLOR="#000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="21%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"
ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="3"><B>the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>June 1, 2004 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="21%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE
COLOR="#000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="6"><B>COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM, INC. </B></FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR
WIDTH="21%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Washington </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="48%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="5%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="47%"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>0-20288</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>91-1422237</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Commission File Number)</B></FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>IRS Employer Identification No.</B></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>1301 A Street
</B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Tacoma, WA 98402 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="1"><B>(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code) </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (253) 305-1900 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P><HR SIZE="3" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">

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<HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item 5. OTHER EVENTS </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">On June 1, 2004, we issued a press release announcing that Andy McDonald has been named Chief Credit Officer for Columbia Bank. Mr. McDonald&#146;s main
areas of responsibility will be credit administration, special credits, and compliance and loan operations. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS </B></FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(a)</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Financial statements. &#150; not applicable </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(b)</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pro forma financial information. &#150; not applicable </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(c)</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Exhibits. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<TR>
<TD WIDTH="10%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">99.1</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Press Release dated June 1, 2004 announcing appointment of Andy McDonald as Chief Credit Officer </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2 </FONT></P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SIGNATURES </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="text-indent:2.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&nbsp;Dated: June 1, 2004</FONT></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="3"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM, INC.</FONT></TD></TR>
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<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">By:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Melanie J. Dressel</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="70%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Melanie J. Dressel</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Chief Executive Officer</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3 </FONT></P>

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<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>dex991.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
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<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Press Release</TITLE>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Exhibit 99.1 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>June 1, 2004&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Contacts: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Melanie J. Dressel,
President and </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Chief Executive Officer </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">(253) 305-1911 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">JoAnne Coy, Vice President, Marketing
</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">(253) 305-1965 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>COLUMBIA BANK NAMES ANDY MCDONALD </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2"><B>EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF CREDIT OFFICER </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Tacoma,
Washington. </B>Melanie J. Dressel, President and Chief Executive Officer, announced that Andy McDonald has been appointed Chief Credit Officer for Columbia Bank effective June 1, 2004. Mr. McDonald, 45, comes to Columbia from US Bank, where he was
Senior Vice President and Team Leader for the South Puget Sound Commercial Banking Group. The Chief Credit Officer position became open when Mark Nelson assumed the new position of Chief Banking Officer earlier this year. </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">&#147;We are delighted that Andy has joined our team, bringing his strong
commercial banking and credit background,&#148; Ms. Dressel said. &#147;We look forward to his positive contributions and able management.&#148; Mr. McDonald&#146;s main areas of responsibility will be credit administration, special credits, and
compliance and loan operations. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Mr. McDonald&#146;s experience
spans over 18 years and includes a variety of executive positions with US Bank, West One Bank Washington and Security Pacific Bank. He holds an MBA with the University of Notre Dame Graduate School of Business, and a BA with the University of
Washington. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Mr. McDonald is very active in the Pierce County
community, serving as a board member and Total Resource Campaign Vice Chair for the Tacoma/Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, as well as on the board of the Tacoma Actors Guild. He was a founding member of the American Cancer Society&#146;s Vertical
Challenge Campaign and served as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; text-indent:4%"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Columbia Bank is a Washington state-chartered full-service commercial bank with 34 banking offices in Pierce, King, Cowlitz, Kitsap and Thurston counties. It is wholly owned by Columbia Banking System, Inc. (Nasdaq:
COLB), a publicly traded registered bank holding company. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">###
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