Sep 26, 2014
Columbia Bank reviews
2.8
33% would recommend to a friend
Clint Stein
30% approve of CEO
28% positive business outlook
Columbia Bank has an employee rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars, based on 965 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The Columbia Bank employee rating is 25% below average for employers within the Financial Services industry (3.7 stars).
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Reviews by job title
965 reviews
4.0
Aug 10, 2014
Community bank with great vision and many associates who try to achieve that vision
Anonymous employee
Current employee, more than 1 year
Portland, OR
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
Benefits are pretty darn good! Besides your typical health insurance, 401(k), etc., the company offers the following: 40 hours of paid time off to volunteer, Trimet pass reimbursements, and professional dress advances, to name a few. The company also has a lot of good associates that bring a lot of great experience with bigger and more mature companies to the table. Many of the associates are very passionate about working for the bank and want to go above and beyond every day and work together to help each other out to get the job done. Growth potential within the company is also excellent. Although there is no formal mentorship programs in place, there are many good managers who ensure that they find out what their associates' short and long term goals are and they help them get there, even if it means moving outside their current department eventually.
Cons
The bank is big on culture, but with the acquisition of Sterling, the culture is struggling a little bit. Everyone is working hard (on both sides) to combine teams, take on new processes, and yet still get the job done and it is weighing on everyone. There is a lot of extra work being done and sometimes it is daunting. Also, the bank still struggles with some old-school mentalities. For instance, although work from home opportunities are offered in certain instances, it is not consistent and probably isn't nearly enough to remain competitive with other companies that offer the benefit. A lot of times it is up to individual managers to determine if they offer work from home. Therefore, some have no problem with it and some you have to nearly beg to work from home for a day. Also, despite the integration activities going on, there is a lot of overwork anyways and a lot of people do not feel they are paid fairly for the amount of hours that they put in.
2.0
Mar 14, 2013
All the Cons of working for a big commercial bank with none of the benefits
Former employee, more than 1 year
Seattle, WA
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook
Pros
At corporate level Umpqua can be a fun company to work for, but at local level experiences will vary depending on market leadership. Avoid big city markets (ie Seattle, San Fran, etc) and you will have a much more positive experience during your employment. There is a great culture with an emphasis on community involvement and new marketing strategies, which didn't translate into the larger markets.
Cons
Advancement is next to impossible because there isn't a clear path or policy which is followed by upper management at local level. Promotions are based on personal relationships rather than performance, and almost all higher paying positions are filled through external hiring in the larger markets. If you aren't hired into the position and pay level desired employees are not likely at achieve same goal through promotion or raises unless willing to move to undesirable area (ie middle of nowhere). Experience in the Universal Associate position is not considered useful by any internal departments within Umpqua or other banks regardless of whatever you are told during the interviewing process. It is 100% a retail position, and candidates will get the exact same experience working at a retail department store. If you are truly looking for a long term career in banking spend a few years getting experience in a more corporate bank (ie Bank Of America, Chase, etc) before looking into Umpqua. You will leave with skills, knowledge, and useful contacts that is truly impossible to attain within Umpqua. In the end you will be better qualified for upper level positions within Umpqua, and you'll have a company on your resume which other potential employers recognize and have confidence in.
Viewing 172 - 174 of 965 Reviews
