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PRESS RELEASE
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Each Depositor insured to at least $250,000

Media Contact:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2011

Greg Hernandez
(202) 898-6993
mediarequests@fdic.gov

Columbia State Bank, Tacoma, Washington, Assumes
All of the Deposits of Bank of Whitman, Colfax, Washington

En Español
Bank of Whitman, Colfax, Washington, was closed today by the Washington State
Department of Financial Institutions, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a
purchase and assumption agreement with Columbia State Bank, Tacoma, Washington,
to assume all of the deposits of Bank of Whitman.
Eight of the 20 branches of Bank of Whitman will reopen during their normal business
hours beginning on Monday as branches of Columbia State Bank. The eight branches
reopening are located at: 233 Bridge Street, Clarkston; 201 S. Main Street, Colfax; 605
E. Main Street, Othello; 795 SE Bishop Blvd., Pullman; 201 W Main Street, Ritzville; 618
W Riverside Avenue, Spokane (Downtown); 12812 N Addison, Spokane; and, 500 W
Main Street, Walla Walla.
While all deposits were transferred to Columbia State Bank, the remaining 12 branches
of the former Bank of Whitman will not reopen. Customers of the 12 branches not
reopening should utilize the eight branches that are reopening, except customers of
Pasco and Kennewick, who should utilize the local Columbia State Bank Branches
listed on the page in the link below. Depositors also can access their accounts and
other banking services through the use of checks, ATM and debit cards and the
Internet. Please also note that ATMs at the branches not reopening will remain
operational only throughout the weekend. Columbia State Bank will notify depositors of
the Bank of Whitman once it fully integrates its systems to allow the failed bank's
customers to use other Columbia State Bank branches in the state, in addition to the
branches referenced above.

Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation's
banking system. It promotes the safety and soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing
risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars — insured financial institutions fund its
operations.
FDIC press releases and other information are available on the Internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically
(go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html ) and may also be obtained through the FDIC's Public Information
Center (877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR-132-2011

For additional information, customers of the 12 branches not reopening should see
http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/whitman-branches-closed.html.
All depositors of Bank of Whitman will automatically become depositors of Columbia
State Bank. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for
customers to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance
coverage up to applicable limits.
As noted, this evening and over the weekend, depositors of Bank of Whitman can
access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on
the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their
payments as usual.
As of June 30, 2011, Bank of Whitman had approximately $548.6 million in total assets
and $515.7 million in total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the
failed bank, Columbia State Bank agreed to purchase approximately $314.4 million of
the failed bank's assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.
Customers with questions about today's transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 1800-881-7816. The phone number will be operational this evening until 9:00 p.m.,
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT); on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., PDT; on Sunday
from noon to 6:00 p.m., PDT; and thereafter from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., PDT.
Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's Web site at
http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/whitman.html.
The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $134.8
million. Compared to other alternatives, Columbia State Bank's acquisition was the least
costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Bank of Whitman is the 63rd FDIC-insured
institution to fail in the nation this year, and the third in Washington. The last FDICinsured institution closed in the state was First Heritage Bank, Snohomish, on May 27,
2011.