Columbia Bancorp Names Richard E. Betz Chairman of the Board

    Business Editors

    THE DALLES, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2005--Columbia Bancorp (Nasdaq:CBBO), the financial holding company for Columbia River Bank, today announced that the Board of Directors has named Richard E. Betz to succeed Donald T. Mitchell as Chairman of the Board. Columbia traditionally rotates its Board Chairman approximately every five years, and Mitchell will continue to serve as a Director.
    "Under Don Mitchell's leadership, we have built a highly profitable and solid community bank, which has become one of the top performing community banks in the nation. He is a mentor to many of our management team, myself included, and we are fortunate to have him continue as a member of our Board," said Roger Christensen, President and CEO.
    A lifelong entrepreneur, Betz founded two highly successful agricultural businesses in Hermiston, Oregon. His farming and packing operations are now second-generation family owned and operated businesses in the Columbia Basin. Betz has been a Director of Columbia Bancorp since 2000 and has served as Chairman of the Audit Committee and has also served on the Loan Committee. He is a past chairman of the Hermiston School District, a former Hermiston Business Person of Year, former Trustee of Good Shepherd Community Hospital, and past chairperson of Oregon Potato Commission. A graduate of Washington State University, Betz earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He and his wife Theresa, have lived in Hermiston, Oregon, for more than 35 years. Their son, Troy, is managing the family business, and their daughter, Tricia, has been an employee at Columbia River Bank in Hermiston since 1998.
    "Rich Betz is one of the most hardworking, thoughtful and strategic members of our Board and will make the transition seamless," commented Mitchell. "Our policy of rotating the chairmanship of our Board is a common and proven approach to strong corporate governance, and I have every confidence that our Board will continue to be a strong steward of shareholders' interest under Rich's leadership."
    "To be chosen by my peers is a humble experience. Don Mitchell was outstanding as a chairperson these past six years. My goal is to develop and provide that same kind of leadership for success," commented Betz.
    On April 27, 2005, Columbia reported excellent asset quality, a solid net interest margin and a 64% increase in profits in the first quarter of 2005 as compared to the same quarter a year ago. First quarter net income increased to $3.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, from $2.0 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2004 and down from $3.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2004.

    ABOUT COLUMBIA BANCORP

    Columbia Bancorp (www.columbiabancorp.com) is the financial holding company for Columbia River Bank, which operates 20 branches located in The Dalles (2), Hood River, Bend (4), Madras, Redmond (2), Pendleton, Hermiston, McMinnville (3), Canby and Newberg, Oregon, and in Goldendale, White Salmon and Kennewick, Washington. Columbia River Bank also provides mortgage-lending services through CRB Mortgage Team and brokerage services through CRB Financial Services Team.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Forward-looking statements about the financial condition, results of operations, plans and business of Columbia are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in this release. These include, without limitation, changes in the overall economic condition and interest rate markets that would impact our interest rate margins and our operating expenses; our ability to accurately assess the value of intangible assets and to monitor loan quality and loan loss reserve adequacy; our ability to timely collect non-performing loans or to realize on the underlying collateral; the impact of competition on revenues and margins and on our expansion strategy, Columbia's ability to open and generate growth from new branches, achieve resolution on non-performing assets, and other risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to the year 2005, some of which are described from time to time in our public announcements and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Some forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believe," "will," should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "plans," "hope," or other similar terminology. Forward-looking statements offered in this release are accurate only as of the date released, and we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

--30--APG/se*

CONTACT: Columbia Bancorp Roger L. Christensen, President and CEO 541-298-6633 or rchristensen@columbiabancorp.com Greg B. Spear, Executive Vice President and CFO 541-298-6612 or gspear@columbiabancorp.com

KEYWORD: OREGON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING MANAGEMENT CHANGES SOURCE: Columbia Bancorp

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