Banner Corporation Completes Oregon Business Bank Acquisition.

Business Editors

WALLA WALLA, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2002

Banner Corporation (Nasdaq:BANR), the parent company of Banner Bank, today announced it has completed the acquisition of Oregon Business Bank (OBB) of Lake Oswego, Oregon. The $10.0 million cash transaction closed on schedule, January 1, 2002.

"We are excited to welcome Oregon Business Bank as a division of our franchise, Banner Bank. The addition of OBB increases and strengthens the services we can make available to the Portland-area customers of our growing construction and mortgage lending subsidiary, Community Financial Corporation, as well as expands our position in the vital I-5 corridor," said Gary Sirmon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Banner Corporation. "Oregon Business Bank was the fastest growing financial institution in Oregon in 2000 and experienced additional strong growth during 2001. We expect this growth to continue, especially given the additional resources available to OBB as a division of Banner Bank. The acquisition should be immediately accretive to earnings and return on equity."

"This combination will improve our ability to serve customers in the Portland metropolitan area, as well as provide efficiencies and cost savings for back office functions," said James W. Shires, President of the Oregon Business Bank Division. "I am delighted to be a part of the Banner organization as are all the staff members of OBB."

A state-chartered commercial bank, opened in October 1999, Oregon Business Bank had $38.8 million in assets at December 31, 2001. OBB specializes in meeting the financial needs of small and medium sized businesses as well as professionals in its market area.

Banner Corporation is the parent of Banner Bank, a Washington state chartered commercial bank, which operates a total of 39 branch offices and six loan offices in 18 counties in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Banner serves the Pacific Northwest region with a full range of deposit services and business, commercial real estate, construction, residential, agricultural and consumer loans. Visit Banner Bank on the web at www.banrbank.com.

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events, expectations for earnings, growth and market forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's control and might cause actual results to differ materially from stated objectives. These factors include but are not limited to: competition in the financial services market for both deposits and loans as well as regional and general economic conditions; and Banner's ability to successfully complete consolidation and conversion activities, incorporate acquisitions into its operations, retain key employees, increase its customer base, achieve cost savings and successfully generate commercial, consumer and real estate loans. Banner undertakes no responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statements.