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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Olmsted-Columbia Credit Union
Phone: (360) 619-3057
Fax: (360) 619-3203
Email: nancyo@columbiacu.org

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Columbia Credit Union Awarded for Excellence in Corporate Community Support

Vancouver, WA, September 21, 2011 – Columbia Credit Union was awarded the 2011 Nonprofit Excellence Award for Corporate Community Support by the Nonprofit Network of Southwest Washington. The credit union was recognized for outstanding work in the community, providing support for the nonprofit sector with contributions, volunteer support, and in-kind services targeted to helping one or more nonprofits achieve greater sustainability. Columbia's philanthropy serves a wide span of community needs including health, the hungry, education, business and animal welfare.

"We were impressed with Columbia Credit Union's significant reach across the community, touching many organizations with a commitment of time and financial resources," said Jeanne Kojis, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Network Southwest Washington. Each award recipient received a check for $1,000. The credit union matched their $1,000 award with another $1,000, then requested that the entire amount be directed to Support for Early Learning and Families, an organization dedicated to supporting children and families, located in Vancouver, Washington.

"Columbia is committed to improving the quality of life for the families living and working in our branch communities," said Columbia Vice President of Social Responsibility, Laurie Kusch.

In addition to providing financial support, Columbia's management staff is tasked with performing a minimum of 16 hours of community service in 2011. Through August they have collectively logged over 840 service hours. Other commitments include management staff serving on various local nonprofit boards, performing maintenance on an adopted transitional home for Second Step Housing, and staffing a Meals On Wheels route. In 2010, Columbia worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations to raise over $2.6 million for the community.

Also in 2010, Columbia staff staged "Making Life Better" moments throughout Clark County, surprising nearly 3,000 local residents with everything from free gas, oil changes, groceries and pizza, to hair cuts, frozen yogurt and Christmas trees. On the product side, Columbia offers the Better Community Debit Card, where $5 is donated to the selected organization for each card purchased.

As a financial cooperative, education plays a large part of Columbia's community commitment. Financial workshops are free and open to the public on topics such as Budgeting, Basic Retirement, Estate Planning, Home Buying, Identity Theft and more. Additionally, Columbia is the only financial institution in the area offering Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, teaching people how to get out of debt and build wealth.

Since 1952, Columbia has been striving to "Make Life Better" for our members, our community and our credit union. More than a motto, it is our core purpose and guides our approach to everything we do. For more information, please visit www.columbiacu.org.

About Columbia Credit Union: Established in 1952, Columbia Credit Union has $769 million in assets and 12 Clark County, WA locations. Columbia serves more than 65,000 members with a 2011 satisfaction rating of 95.8 percent - an industry benchmark. Columbia is nationally recognized by PBS Companies for Workplace Excellence and was voted Clark County's "Best Financial Institution" in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and "Best Overall Customer Service" in 2010. Columbia is a top local lender for auto and home loans, and was named the SBA "Credit Union Lender of the Year" for 2009 and 2010 in the Portland, Oregon district. Committed to sustainability, Columbia built Clark County's first financial institution branches to strict LEED standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Individuals and businesses in Washington State are eligible for membership. For more information visit www.columbiacu.org.