-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U820axwa6JP78tJUXNh/oBwLhdc9nyRP0tGQAxGBSXU/UWMKs8cQOYBfzaOsddal
 Rjjx3d1r6fG8d/Kv0SZ99Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001224427-03-000005.txt : 20030623
<SEC-HEADER>0001224427-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20030623
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030623151609
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001224427-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030610
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030623

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDBERG FREDERICK M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001224427

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20288
		FILM NUMBER:		03753229

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1301 A ST
		STREET 2:		MS 3100
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98402-4200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887343
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				911422237
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1102 BROADWAY PLAZA
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2533051900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1102 BROADWAY PLAZA
		CITY:			TACOMA
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98402
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-10</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-06-10</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887343</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COLB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224427</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLDBERG FREDERICK M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>500</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>17.81</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7976</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDeriva
tiveSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Contains 2,668 shares held in a partnership over which Mr. Goldberg exercises investment power and 1,708 shares held indirectly in Mr. Goldberg's IRA.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Kristy W. House</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----