Columbia Banking System Reports Strong Fourth-Quarter Earnings

Columbia Banking System Inc. (COLB) announced a fourth-quarter profit of $143.3 million, surpassing analyst expectations. Earnings per share reached 68 cents, with adjusted earnings reaching 71 cents per share.

The bank's revenue for the period was $726.3 million, while its net interest income was $487.1 million, slightly below market forecasts. For the full year, Columbia Banking System reported a profit of $533.7 million ($2.55 per share) and revenue of $1.93 billion.