Umpqua Bank Associates Give Nearly 26,000 Community Service Hours in 2008

PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwire - February 9, 2009) - Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ), contributed 25,719 associate volunteer hours through its Connect Volunteer Network (Connect), an industry-leading volunteer program, in 2008. Connect provides each full-time associate 40 hours of paid time off per year to serve at youth focused organizations, schools and community development programs. During 2008, despite the challenging economic environment, 1,296 Umpqua associates volunteered through Connect. The 2008 numbers reflect a 10 percent increase in associate participation and a 16 percent increase in the program's total volunteer hours since 2007.

"I continue to be impressed by the incredible contributions our associates make in their communities through Umpqua's Connect Volunteer Network," said Ray Davis, president and CEO of Umpqua Bank. "As the economy continues to struggle and our schools and nonprofit partners face even greater strain, it is important for the business community to rally together and support their work. Our associates have taken full advantage of their Connect volunteer time and I hope to see other businesses encouraging their employees to do the same."

Five years after the program's inception, the Connect Volunteer Network has donated a combined 80,904 volunteer hours and assisted more than 800 nonprofit organizations and schools from Seattle to Sacramento.

"Connect offers unique opportunities for Umpqua associates to grow as individuals, establish genuine community relationships beyond those cultivated in their stores and to help advance the neighborhoods in which they live and work," said Garrett Bergby, Umpqua's 2008 Oregon volunteer of the year. "Connect is a terrific program that has the potential to make an even greater impact in our communities, particularly if more companies adopt volunteer programs." Bergby is a universal associate at Umpqua Bank's Century Drive store in Bend, Ore.

Umpqua associates continually rank the Connect program as one of the bank's most-valued employee benefits and nearly one-third of its participants say the program was their initial introduction to volunteerism. The program is also one of the most attributed factors FORTUNE magazine cited for including Umpqua on its list of "100 Best Companies To Work For" the past three years in a row.

About the Connect Volunteer Network

The Connect Volunteer Network provides full-time Umpqua Bank associates with 40 hours of paid time off per year to volunteer at youth focused organizations, schools and community development programs, which often have a hard time filling their daytime volunteer positions.

Through the Connect Volunteer Network, Umpqua associates are given the opportunity to choose the organization they would like to be involved with. Associates engage in a variety of activities such as spending time in schools, engaging in mentoring projects or dedicating their time to local food banks -- all during their regular working hours.

Umpqua Bank has a strong support system for the volunteer program with full board and executive backing, and extensive participation at every level of the organization.

About Umpqua Bank

Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ) and has 150 locations between Napa, Calif. and Bellevue, Wash., along the Oregon and Northern California Coast and in both Central California and Central Oregon. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for the past three years in a row on FORTUNE magazine's list of the country's "100 Best Companies To Work For." Umpqua Holdings also owns retail brokerage subsidiary Strand, Atkinson, Williams & York Inc., which has locations in Umpqua Bank stores and in dedicated offices throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. Umpqua Bank's Private Client Services Division provides tailored financial services and products to individual customers. Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in Portland, Ore. For more information, visit http://www.umpquabank.com/.

Contact Information: Media contacts: Nicole Stein Umpqua Bank 503-727-4130 NicoleStein@UmpquaBank.com Eve Callahan LANE PR 503-546-7867 Eve@lanepr.com