PRESS RELEASE
January 21, 2005

Contact
Cathy Reines, Chief Financial Officer
(360) 459 -1100
(360) 459 - 0137 (fax)

Venture Financial Group Announces Cash Dividend

Olympia, Wash. - January 21, 2005 - Venture Financial Group, Inc., parent company of Venture Bank, announced that on January 19, 2005, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.065 per share payable February 11, 2005 to all shareholders of record as of January 31, 2005.

The declared dividend is an eight (8%) increase over the previous quarterly dividend, and marks the twenty-fourth consecutive quarterly dividend to be paid.

Venture Bank, with 14 financial centers in three western Washington counties, offers a full spectrum of financial services including commercial, construction, residential and consumer lending, deposit products, and other banking services. The bank also provides a broad range of investment services through its subsidiary Venture Wealth Management, Inc. Further information about the bank may be found on the Internet at www.venture-bank.com.

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