• Columbia Bank, unit of Columbia Banking System, launched Franchise Banking Team to expand franchise banking capabilities with initial focus on restaurants.
• James Short hired to co-lead group, strengthening coverage for franchisors and operators.
• Rich Watson hired as co-lead, adding restaurant banking experience to support middle-market clients.
• Move formalizes expansion of existing franchise support following last year’s acquisition of Pacific Premier Bank and its franchise banking portfolio.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Columbia Banking System Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via PR Newswire (Ref. ID: 202604301300PR_NEWS_USPR_____SF47473) on April 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.