[January 30, 2014]

Umpqua Bank's Connect Volunteer Network Marks 10 Years of Community Engagement

Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: UMPQ), is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of its Connect Volunteer Network™, which provides associates with paid time off to volunteer at youth-focused organizations, schools and community development programs. To date, Umpqua associates have invested more than 280,000 hours of volunteerism in the communities they serve. Annually, more than 80% of Umpqua associates participate, more than double the national average, according to the Carroll School of Management Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College.

"We created the Connect program ten years ago with a simple idea in mind: to make it possible for every Umpqua associate to give back to their community in a meaningful way," said Ray Davis, Umpqua Bank president and CEO. "Since then, Connect has become an essential part of Umpqua's culture and one of the benefits our associates value most. Its success reflects their passion and generosity, and I'm incredibly proud of how their efforts are leading to stronger, healthier communities."

2013 Milestones

• At the end of 2013, Umpqua associates had invested 282,838 total hours of volunteer time in the communities they serve;
• 43,345 hours were volunteered in 2013, with more than 82% of the company's associates participating;
• In April of 2013, an Umpqua associate in Roseburg, Ore., logged the 250,000^th hour of volunteerism at Brockway Elementary School in Winston, Ore.

2014 Challenge: Join In + Give Back

To share what Umpqua has learned through the Connect Volunteer Network, Umpqua is kicking off a year-long initiative to inspire other businesses and individuals take action and give back.

Today Umpqua is introducing a new platform to share tips, ideas and volunteer opportunities. Umpqua invites others to add their insight and ideas by commenting, tweeting and sharing using the #UBgood tag (News - Alert) at facebook.com/umpquabank or @UmpquaBank on Twitter (News - Alert).

To start the conversation, Umpqua has developed eight tips to help any organization or team give back.

Tips to Inspire Employees

• Give them an incentive. This might include paid time off, like Umpqua's Connect program, or a financial contribution to the organization or school of their choice.
• Be clear about the intent. When introducing the idea of volunteerism during regular work hours, your staff may wonder if you really mean it. Be specific about what you're offering, whether it's a formal program with a policy or shared through an email with a small team.
• Make it easy. Make information about volunteer needs easily available on your intranet, in team meetings or other forums for discussion.
• Set up a group activity. Getting started is the hardest part, so remove that hurdle by setting up a team volunteer time where everyone feels comfortable.
• Get them talking. Create ways to celebrate success, from sharing stories at a team meeting to honoring those who go above and beyond. One employee's story can inspire others to act.
• Make it personal. People get hooked on volunteerism that's personally meaningful. Empower your employees to find what they're passionate about.
• Follow through. When your employees find a volunteer opportunity they're interested in, help them make it a priority.
• Show them. By demonstrating your personal commitment through a volunteer activity, you show that you mean what you say.

In addition, from September through November, Umpqua will host events at select stores in Oregon, Washington, California and Nevada to share detailed insights on how to engage teams around giving back. The series will be accessible to businesses of all sizes, and will include practical tips based on Umpqua's experience, and examples of national best practices.

About Umpqua Bank

Umpqua Bank, headquartered in Roseburg, Ore., is a subsidiary of Umpqua Holdings Corporation with locations between California's Central Coast and the Puget Sound, along the Oregon and Northern California Coast, and in Central Oregon and Northern Nevada. Umpqua Bank has been recognized for its innovative customer experience and banking strategy by national publications including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fast Company and CNBC. The company has been recognized for the past eight years in a row on FORTUNE magazine's list of the country's "100 Best Companies to Work For," and was recently named by The Portland Business Journal the Most Admired Financial Services Company in Oregon for the ninth consecutive year.

Umpqua Holdings also owns a retail brokerage subsidiary, Umpqua Investments, Inc., which offers services through Umpqua Bank stores and in dedicated offices throughout Oregon, and Financial Pacific Leasing, a nationally-recognized commercial finance company that provides equipment leases to small businesses. Umpqua's Wealth Management Division serves high net worth individuals and nonprofits by providing customized financial solutions and offerings. Umpqua Holdings Corporation is headquartered in Portland, Ore. For more information, visit http://www.umpquabank.com.

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