EXHIBIT 99.1

[GRAPHIC OMITTED] WEST COAST BANK



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 CONTACT:
APRIL 4, 2005                                         ROBERT D. SZNEWAJS
                                                      PRESIDENT & CEO
                                                      503.598.3243

                                                      ANDERS GILTVEDT
                                                      CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                                      503.598.3250

     WEST COAST BANCORP TO RECORD OTHER-THAN-TEMPORARY IMPAIRMENT ON FREDDIE
                  MAC PREFERRED STOCK IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2005

Lake Oswego,  OR-- West Coast Bancorp  (NASDAQ:  WCBO) today  announced  that it
intends to record an  other-than-temporary  impairment  charge of  approximately
$803,000  after-tax,  or $.05 per fully diluted  share,  in the first quarter of
2005  related to its $5 million  investment  in Freddie Mac  preferred  stock it
purchased in November 1999. The impairment  charge is a non-cash,  non-operating
charge.  West  Coast  Bancorp  holds  this  investment  grade  security  in  its
available-for-sale  investment portfolio.  If the security had not been recorded
as  other-than-temporary  impaired, the $803,000 after-tax investment loss would
have been recorded as a reduction in other  comprehensive  income in our balance
sheet on March 31,  2005.  Therefore,  the  reclassification  of the  unrealized
investment  loss to an  other-than-temporary  impairment  charge does not affect
shareholders' equity.

President  and CEO Robert D.  Sznewajs  said,  "While this charge has a negative
effect on reported Generally Accepted Accounting  Principles (GAAP) earnings, we
remain  comfortable  with analysts' 2005 earnings  expectations  in the range of
$1.50 to $1.60 per  diluted  share  referred to in our  January  earnings  call,
excluding the current charge of $.05 per diluted share.  After  factoring in the
charge, GAAP earnings per diluted share expectations range is $1.45-$1.55."

The  company  based the  decision to record an  other-than-temporary  impairment
charge on the facts and  circumstances  surrounding  the  security at this time,
including the duration and amount of the  unrealized  loss in the  security,  as
well as the prospect for a change in market value within a reasonable  period of
time.  The charge  does not reflect  management's  current  expectation  for the
long-term value of the security.

Forward Looking Statements:
Statements  contained in this news release  which are not  historical  facts are
forward-looking  statements  as the term is  defined in the  Private  Securities
Litigation  Reform Act of 1995. Such  forward-looking  statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties which





could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated
due to a number of factors,  which  include,  but are not  limited  to,  factors
discussed  in reports  filed by the Company  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  from time to time,  including  our most  recent  Form 10-K.  Bancorp
undertakes no obligation to publicly review or update forward-looking statements
to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

West Coast Bancorp, one of Oregon Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work
For in 2004 and 2005, is a Northwest  bank holding  company with $1.8 billion in
assets, operating 52 offices in Oregon and Washington.  The company combines the
sophisticated  products and  expertise  of larger banks with the local  decision
making,  market  knowledge and customer  service of a community  bank.  For more
information, visit the Company web site at www.wcb.com.


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