Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.10

                              SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

     THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into effective
this ___ day of _________, 2000, by and between  COLUMBIA STATE BANK, a
Washington banking corporation (the "Bank") and _______________."Executive").

                                   RECITALS

     1.   The Bank (collectively referred to as the "Company") currently
receives the exclusive services of Executive as its employee, and Executive
desires that this employment relationship continue.

     2.   The Bank desires to provide a severance benefit to Executive (i) to
encourage Executive to continue his/her employment relationship with the Bank;
(ii) to continue obtaining his/her services in the event of a potential Change
in Control (as defined below) of Columbia Banking System, Inc. ("CBSI") that may
be detrimental to the Executive; and (iii) to allow CBSI to maximize the
benefits obtainable by its shareholders from any Change in Control.

     In consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, agreements and
undertakings contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby contract and agree
as follows:

                                   AGREEMENT

     1.   Term.     The term of this Agreement ("Term") shall commence as of the
          ----
date first above written and shall end on the earlier of the termination of
Executive's employment in a manner that does not constitute a Termination Event
or on the fifth anniversary of the date first above written, unless extended in
writing by the parties.

     2.   Severance Benefit.    In the case of a Termination Event, as defined
          -----------------
in Section 4, (i) the Bank shall pay to Executive all salary and benefits earned
through the effective date of Executive's termination and a severance benefit
("Severance Benefit") in an amount equal to the ___times the amount of
Executive's then-current annual base salary, and (ii) vesting of all stock
options and lapse of all restrictions with respect to restricted stock awards
shall occur.  Payment of the Severance Benefit shall begin, and vesting and
lapse of restrictions described in the preceding sentence shall occur, (i) in
the case of a Termination Event described in paragraph 4.1, upon the effective
date of termination, and (ii) in the case of a Termination Event described in
paragraph 4.2, upon the effective date of the Change of Control which is then
pending (or announced within sixty days) of the date when the Executive's
employment terminated.  The Severance Benefit shall be paid over a _____year
period in equal regular periodic payments without interest on the same dates
that other salaried employees of the Bank are paid.

     3.   Other Compensation and Terms of Employment.  Except with respect to
          ------------------------------------------
the Severance Payment, this Agreement shall have no effect on the determination
of any
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compensation payable by the Bank to the Executive, or upon any of the other
terms of Executive's employment with the Bank.

     4.   Termination Events.  A Termination Event shall be deemed to occur
          ------------------
upon, and only upon, one or more of the following:

          4.1  Termination of Executive's employment by the Bank without Cause
(as defined below) or by Executive for Good Reason (as defined below) within 730
days following the effective date of a Change of Control; or

          4.2  Termination of Executive's employment by the Bank without Cause
prior to a Change of Control if such termination occurs at any time from and
after sixty days prior to the public announcement by the CBSI or any other party
of a transaction which will result in a Change in Control; provided that the
effective date of the Change of Control occurs within eighteen (18) months of
Executive's termination.

     5.   Restrictive Covenant.
          --------------------

          5.1  Noncompetition.   Executive agrees that he will not, during his
               --------------
employment with the Bank and for a period of ____ years after commencement of
the payment to Executive of the Severance Benefit, directly or indirectly become
interested in, as a principle shareholder, director, or officer, any financial
institution, now existing or organized hereafter, that competes or will compete
with the Bank, including any successor, or any of the Bank's affiliates within
any county in which the Bank does business; provided that Executive's covenant
                                            --------
not to compete shall terminate in the event Executive waives the right to
payment of any balance of the Severance Benefit then payable; and provided
                                                                  --------
further, that Executive shall not be deemed a "principle shareholder" unless (i)
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his investment in such an institution exceeds 2% of the institution's
outstanding voting securities or (ii) Executive is active in the Organization,
management or affairs of such institution. The provisions restricting
competition by Executive may be waived by action of the Board. Executive
recognizes and agrees that any breach of this covenant by Executive will cause
immediate and irreparable injury to the Bank, and Executive hereby authorizes
recourse by the Bank to injunction and/or specific performance, as well as to
other legal or equitable remedies to which the Bank may be entitled.

          5.2  Noninterference.  During the noncompetition period described in
               ---------------
Section 5.1, Executive shall not solicit or attempt to solicit any other
employee of the Bank or its affiliates to leave the employ of those companies,
or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Bank and any other
employee of the Bank.

          5.3  Interpretation.  If a court or any other administrative body
               --------------
with jurisdiction over a dispute related to this Agreement should determine that
the restrictive covenant set forth in Section 5.1 above is unreasonably broad,
the parties hereby authorize and direct said court or administrative body to
narrow same so as to make it reasonable, given all relevant circumstances, and
to enforce same.  The covenants in this paragraph shall survive termination of
this Agreement.
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     6.   Definitions.
          -----------

          6.1. Cause.     "Cause" shall mean only (i) willful misfeasance or
               -----
gross negligence in the performance of Executive's duties, (ii) conduct
demonstrably and significantly harmful to the Bank (which would include willful
violation of any final cease and desist order applicable to the Bank), or (iii)
conviction of a felony.

          6.2. Change of Control.    "Change of Control" shall mean the
               -----------------
occurrence of one or more of the following events:

               6.2.1.  One person or entity acquiring or otherwise becoming the
owner of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of  CBSI's outstanding common stock;

               6.2.2.  Replacement of incumbent directors or election of newly-
elected directors constituting a majority of the Board of CBSI where such
replacement or election has not been supported by the Board; or

               6.2.3.  Dissolution, or sale of fifty percent (50%) or more in
value of the assets, or either CBSI or the Bank.

          6.3. Good Reason.  "Good Reason" shall mean (i) any reduction of
               -----------
Executive's salary or any reduction or elimination of any other compensation or
benefit plan, which reduction or elimination is not of general application to
substantially all employees of the Bank or such employees of any successor
entity or of any entity in control of the Bank, (ii) any changes in Executive's
authority or duties substantially inconsistent with Executive's then office
location.

     7.   Miscellaneous.
          -------------

          7.1  This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the subject matter, and is subject to modification or amendment
only upon amendment in writing signed by both parties.

          7.2  This agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the heirs,
legal representatives, successors, and assign of the parties.

          7.3  If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or otherwise
unenforceable, all other provisions shall remain unaffected and shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

          7.4  This Agreement is made with reference to and is intended to be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington.  Venue for any
action arising out of or concerning this Agreement shall lie in Pierce County,
Washington.  In the event of a dispute under this agreement, the disputes shall
be arbitrated pursuant to the Superior Court Mandatory Arbitration Rules ("MAR")
adopted by the Washington State Supreme Court, irrespective of the amount in
controversy.  This Agreement shall be deemed as stipulation to that effect
pursuant to
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MAR 1.2 and 8.1. The arbitrator, in his or her discretion, may award attorney's
fees to the prevailing party or parties.

          7.5  Any notice required to be given under this Agreement to either
party shall be given by personal service or by depositing a copy thereof in the
United States registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the
following address or such other address as addressee shall designate in writing:

               Company:       Columbia Bank
                              1102 Broadway Plaza
                              Tacoma, WA 98401
                              Attn: (Corporate Secretary)
                                     -------------------

               Executive:     ______________________________
                              ______________________________
                              ______________________________

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on
the date first above written.

          COLUMBIA STATE BANK

          By: _________________________
          Its: _________________________

          EXECUTIVE

          ____________________________
          (_____________ )<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.11

                                PROMISSORY NOTE

$__________                                                   Tacoma, Washington

                                                               ___________, 2000

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ___________ (the "Maker") hereby promises to pay to
Columbia Banking System, Inc. ("CBSI") at Tacoma, Washington, or such other
place as the Payee may in writing designate, the principal sum of
___________________________($_________), and to pay interest on the outstanding
principal sum commencing on the date hereof at the rate of 5.87% per annum (the
applicable federal rate) commencing on December 21, 2000 until this note is paid
in full.  Interest only shall be due on each anniversary of this note and the
full amount of principal and accrued interest shall be due on or before December
21, 2007.

     This Note may be prepaid, in whole or in part, any time or from time to
time.  All such prepayments shall be applied first to accrued and unpaid
interest.  The balance, if any, shall be applied to principal.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Note, upon Maker's default
under this Promissory Note, Payee may declare the outstanding principal amount
hereof, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, immediately due and
payable, and commence suit to recover the same or exercise any other remedy that
Payee may have in law or equity. Default under this Promissory Note shall occur
if any payment due is unpaid ten (10) days after its due date.  Default under
this Promissory Note shall also occur if the Maker does not, at all times during
the term of this Promissory Note, own, in his own name and not pledged or
otherwise hypothecated to any other party, a minimum of ____________ (________)
shares of CBSI common stock.

     The failure or delay of CBSI to enforce any provision of this Note shall
not be deemed a waiver of any such provision, and CBSI shall not be prevented
from enforcing any such provision at a later time.  Any waiver of any provision
hereof must be in writing and signed by CBSI.  Any such waiver, consent or
approval shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which it is given.

     This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Washington.

     In the event of any failure by the Maker to make payments of principal and
interest when due hereunder, the Maker agrees to pay all costs and expenses of
collection of the holder of this Note including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorneys' fees and costs.

                                              ___________________________

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