Tacoma-based Columbia Banking System Inc., the parent company of Columbia Bank, was recognized as the No. 1 top-performing bank in the $50 Billion in Assets and Above category in Bank Director‘s 2026 RankingBanking study, according to a Columbia news release today.
Bank Director’s RankingBanking study evaluates the 300 largest publicly traded banks in the country on four measures: return on average tangible common equity, return on average total assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets, and nonperforming assets to loans and other real estate owned, Columbia said. The 2026 ranking was compiled by Piper Sandler & Co. from S&P Global Market Intelligence using 2025 results.
Columbia finished No. 2 the past two years in the RankingBanking study, according to the release. In the latest study, Columbia also ranks No. 1 among large banks for asset quality and placed among the top three banks for profitability as measured by return on average assets, the release added.
The bank — which has offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington — had assets as of June 30 of $65.4 billion. It will release third-quarter earnings on Oct. 22.
“Being recognized as the top-performing large bank reflects the disciplined execution, financial strength, and customer focus that define our organization,” Clint Stein, CEO of Columbia Banking System and Columbia Bank, said in today’s release. “This recognition, along with our No. 1 ranking for asset quality, underscores the dedication of our team and the trust our customers place in us. While we’re proud of this achievement, we’re equally focused on continuing to invest in our capabilities and delivering long-term value for our shareholders, customers and communities across the western U.S.”
The report said Columbia was the only Western bank from outside California to be a top performer. The report’s full ranking for the category is on page 28 of the report.