Richard R. Haggen Retires From Horizon Financial Board of Directors

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Sept. 5, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Horizon Financial Corp.
(Nasdaq:HRZB) today announced that Richard R. Haggen has resigned his position
on the Board of Directors for Horizon Financial Corp. and Horizon Bank. Mr.
Haggen did not cite any disagreement with the Company in announcing his
resignation.

"Rick Haggen has served our company as a director for more than 14 years, and
his contribution to our success is greatly appreciated," said V. Lawrence Evans,
Chairman. "We expect to appoint a replacement to fill his position on the Audit
Committee at a meeting to be held on Monday, September 8, 2008."

Horizon Financial Corp. is a $1.4 billion, bank holding company headquartered in
Bellingham, Washington. Its primary subsidiary, Horizon Bank, is a
state-chartered commercial bank that operates 19 full-service offices, four
commercial loan centers and four real estate loan centers throughout Whatcom,
Skagit, Snohomish and Pierce counties, Washington.

Safe Harbor Statement: Except for the historical information in this news
release, the matters described herein are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject
to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
Such risks and uncertainties include: the credit risks of lending activities,
including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs,
results of examinations by our banking regulators, our ability to manage loan
delinquency rates, the ability to successfully expand existing relationships,
deposit pricing and the ability to gather low-cost deposits, success in new
markets and expansion plans, expense management and the efficiency ratio,
expanding or maintaining the net interest margin, interest rate risk, the local
and national economic environment, and other risks and uncertainties discussed
from time to time in Horizon Financial's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date of this release. Horizon undertakes no obligation to update publicly
any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or
circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events. Investors are encouraged to read the SEC report of
Horizon, particularly its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008,
for meaningful cautionary language discussion why actual results may vary from
those anticipated by management.

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CONTACT: Horizon Financial Corp.
V. Lawrence Evans, Chairman
Rich Jacobson, CEO
Dennis Joines, President & COO
360.733.3050