SOUTH SOUND BUSINESS

Columbia Banking Appoints New Board Member

Aug 6, 2026, 1:41 PM

South Sound Business...

South Sound Business

Originally published on South Sound Business.

Tacoma-based Columbia Banking System, the parent company of Columbia Bank, has appointed financial-services executive Simone Lagomarsino to its board of directors, where she will serve on the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and Audit Committee.

Her new role is effective Sept. 1.

Lagomarsino has more than 40 years of leadership experience spanning finance, governance, and risk management. Most recently, she served as president and chief risk officer of First Foundation Inc. and First Foundation Bank until the company’s sale.

Before joining First Foundation, Lagomarsino served as president and CEO of Luther Burbank Corporation and Luther Burbank Savings. She also served as president and CEO of the California Bankers Association and as CEO of Heritage Oaks Bancorp.

Lagomarsino’s prior board service includes First Foundation Inc.; the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; Luther Burbank Corporation; Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.; Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc.; and Heritage Oaks Bancorp. She also served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Over the years, Lagomarsino has received numerous honors, including being named Community Banker of the Year by American Banker and a Banking & Finance Visionary by the Los Angeles Times, a press release noted.

“Columbia has built one of the West’s most respected banking franchises through disciplined growth and a commitment to prudent risk management,” said Lagomarsino in the release. “I’m honored to be appointed to its board of directors and look forward to working with other members and executive leadership to create lasting value for shareholders, customers, and communities.”

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