West Coast Bank Has Been Nominated to Receive the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Lake Oswego, OR— West Coast Bank has been nominated to receive the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award along with 23 other Oregon businesses. The award was created to publicly recognize employers who provide exceptional support to their National Guard and Reserve employees. It is the highest in a series of employer recognition awards given by the Department of Defense.

The Freedom Award is particularly significant because only members of the National Guard and Reserve or their family members are eligible to nominate employers they believe have gone above and beyond requirements in their support of military employees. The Department of Defense will announce the 2009 Freedom Award recipients this summer. For more information, see www.FreedomAward.mil.

Robert D. Sznewajs, President & CEO, said, "It is an honor to both support our military personnel and be nominated for this prestigious award. Providing a rewarding environment for our employees is part of West Coast Bank's mission statement and this award nomination reflects our dedication to that goal."

West Coast Bancorp, (NASDAQ: WCBO), is a Northwest bank holding company with $2.5 billion in assets, operating 65 locations in Oregon and Washington. The company combines the sophisticated products and expertise of larger banks with the local decision making, market knowledge and customer service of a community bank. For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.wcb.com.