TACOMA, Wash., Melanie J. Dressel, president and CEO of Columbia Bank and Columbia Banking System Inc., owner of Bank of Astoria, has been selected for the fourth time as one of The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker magazine.

Now in its ninth year, the award honors the business acumen, professional achievements and creative intelligence of the financial industrys leading women. The ranking pays tribute to the executives whose contributions to their institutions and their communities are most profound.

For Dressels inclusion as number 25 on the prestigious list, American Banker cited Columbia Banking Systems performance, including nearly doubling the number of branches through five acquisitions and organic growth over an 18-month period.

In addition, the honor reflected her focus on superior customer service, commitment to local communities, her appointment in April to the board of directors of the American Bankers Association, as well as activities that promote the economic well-being of the Pacific Northwest.