Columbia Bancorp Submits Application for Another Branch.

Business Editors

THE DALLES, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 2003

Columbia Bancorp (Nasdaq:CBBO) announced that its subsidiary, Columbia River Bank, has submitted an application to the FDIC to establish a new full-service branch in Kennewick, Wash.

"Kennewick is a growing and diversified area that fits our community profile and allows us the opportunity to continue our tradition of community banking for which Columbia River Bank is known," stated Roger Christensen, president and CEO. "In many ways, Kennewick is similar to other communities we currently serve."

According to Craig Ortega, executive vice president, "Columbia River Bank specializes in high touch relationship banking, providing personalized service for both business and personal clients and having experienced lenders and officers. Kennewick will be our third branch in the State of Washington and will enhance the banking relationships already in existence through our Hermiston and Pendleton branches located in Oregon. Once we receive approval from the FDIC, we plan to open a temporary branch at 1408 N. Louisiana, Suite 102, Kennewick, and are in the process of finalizing an agreement for a permanent location"

Columbia Bancorp (www.columbiabancorp.com) is the financial holding company for Columbia River Bank, which operates 17 branches located in The Dalles (2), Hood River, Bend (3), Madras, Redmond, Pendleton, Hermiston, McMinnville (3), Canby and Newberg, Oregon, and in Goldendale and White Salmon, Washington. To supplement its community banking services, Columbia River Bank also provides mortgage-lending services through its Columbia River Bank Mortgage Group and brokerage services through its affiliation with CRB Financial Services.

Forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and the business of Columbia are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in such statements. These include, without limitation, the impact of competition and interest rates on revenues and margins, and other risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to the year 2003, as may be detailed from time to time in Columbia's public announcements and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "continue", "plans", "intends", or other similar terminology. Columbia does not intend to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, other than in its periodic filings with the SEC, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.