EXHIBIT 99


                                 NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Further Information Contact:     Donald V. Rhodes
                                     Chairman, President and CEO
                                     360/943-1500

            HERITAGE FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF
                     PETER FLUETSCH TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS



Olympia, Washington - December 15, 1999 - Donald V. Rhodes, Chairman, President
and CEO of Heritage Financial Corporation announced today that Peter Fluetsch,
President and CEO of Sunset Air in Lacey, a heating and air conditioning
contractor which he founded in 1976, has been appointed to the Board of
Directors of Heritage Financial Corporation and Heritage Savings Bank effective
December 16, 1999.  In 1998, Sunset Air was named Thurston County Corporate
Employer of the Year by the Economic Development Council.  "Peter's longtime
involvement in the Thurston and Pierce County business markets makes him a
valuable addition to our Board of Directors.  In addition to his business
success, he also brings a history of community service, which we highly value,"
said Mr. Rhodes.

Mr. Fluetsch was recently awarded the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning
Contractors' National Association Contractor of the Year award.  Mr. Fluetsch is
an honorary life director of the Olympia Master Builders Board and is a former
mayor of Tumwater.  Previously he was named business leader of the year by the
Olympia Chamber of Commerce and received the Home Builders Norm Paulson Man of
the Year award.  He has served as a board member of the Washington Center for
the Performing Arts and has occupied several chairs and state district offices
for the Knights of Columbus.

Heritage Financial Corporation is a financial service holding company which owns
Heritage Bank based in Olympia, Washington and Central Valley Bank, N.A. based
in Toppenish, Washington.  Through its two subsidiaries, Heritage has about $495
million in assets and operates 17 full service banking offices in the South
Puget Sound area and in Yakima County in central Washington.  Heritage's stock
trades on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol "HFWA".