Cascade Financial Corporation Appoints Marion R. Foote to Board of Directors

EVERETT, Wash., April 22, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cascade Financial Corporation
(Nasdaq:CASB), parent company of Cascade Bank, today announced that it has
appointed Marion R. ("Robin") Foote to its board of directors. Ms. Foote was
appointed by Cascade's board of directors and will stand for election at the
company's next annual meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

"Robin has extensive commercial banking and marketing experience with a deep
background in financial services and we are pleased to add someone of her
caliber to our board of directors," said David Duce, Chair of Cascade's
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. "Her wide ranging business
experience and prior public board service will be a valuable asset to Cascade."

"Cascade is a venerable franchise in the local community, distinguished by its
talented employees, solid branch network, strong, growing deposit base, and
longstanding commitment to excellent customer service, and I am very pleased to
be joining as a director," said Ms. Foote. "While it is a challenging time for
all community banks operating in the Pacific Northwest, Cascade has a vital role
to play in the local economy in the years ahead."

Ms. Foote, a resident of Bellingham, Washington, is currently a Managing
Director and Partner at New York based Novantas, LLC, an international
consulting company serving the financial services industry. She has worked for
more than 28 years in the industry, including a 16 year career in commercial
banking, holding senior executive level positions at Bank of America and First
Chicago/NBD (now part of JP Morgan Chase). She has over 12 years of experience
as a Managing Director in firms specializing in consulting with financial
services companies, focusing on creating value through profitable deposit and
loan growth, targeted market and wallet share gains, distinctive relationship
development programs, and improved customer loyalty, profitability and
experience.

She has held board positions with a wide range of business, civic and community
groups, including current service as a director of Saturna Trust Company, a
subsidiary of Saturna Capital, headquartered in Bellingham, Washington. Ms.
Foote also serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of St. Joseph's Hospital
Foundation, Bellingham, Washington. She is an advisory director of
privately-held Diacor, Inc., and a former director of CFSBdirect (now part of
E*Trade) and chaired its Audit and Compensation Committees while it had public
ownership.

Ms. Foote earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Economics Honors Program from
Smith College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa in 1967 and a
Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School where she
graduated with High Distinction as a Baker Scholar in 1969.

About Cascade Financial

Established in 1916, Cascade Bank, the only operating subsidiary of Cascade
Financial Corporation, is a state chartered commercial bank headquartered in
Everett, Washington. Cascade Bank has proudly served the Puget Sound region for
over 90 years and operates 22 full service branches in Everett, Lynnwood,
Marysville, Mukilteo, Shoreline, Smokey Point, Issaquah, Clearview, Woodinville,
Lake Stevens, Bellevue, Snohomish, North Bend, Burlington and Edmonds.

In October 2009, Cascade Bank was named Favorite Snohomish County Company in the
fourth annual NW.Jobs.com People's Picks awards. In June 2009, Cascade was
ranked #55 on the Seattle Times' Northwest 100 list of public companies. In
April 2010, Cascade was ranked #8 on the Puget Sound Business Journal's list of
largest bank companies headquartered in the Puget Sound area.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements contained herein that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform
Act. CASB's actual results may differ materially from those included in the
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified
by words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "may increase," "may
fluctuate," and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as
"will," "should," "would," and "could." These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, economic conditions,
portfolio growth, the credit performance of the portfolios, including
bankruptcies, and seasonal factors; changes in general economic conditions
including the performance of financial markets, prevailing inflation and
interest rates, realized gains from sales of investments, gains from asset
sales, and losses on commercial lending activities; results of various
investment activities; the effects of competitors' pricing policies, of changes
in laws and regulations on competition and of demographic changes on target
market populations' savings and financial planning needs; industry changes in
information technology systems on which we are highly dependent; failure of
acquisitions to produce revenue enhancements or cost savings at levels or within
the time frames originally anticipated or unforeseen integration difficulties;
the adoption by CASB of an FFIEC policy that provides guidance on the reporting
of delinquent consumer loans and the timing of associated credit charge-offs for
financial institution subsidiaries; and the resolution of legal proceedings and
related matters. In addition, the banking industry in general is subject to
various monetary and fiscal policies and regulations, which include those
determined by the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, and state regulators, whose policies and regulations could affect
CASB's results. These statements are representative only on the date hereof, and
CASB undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made.

CONTACT: Cascade Bank
Investor Contacts:
Carol K. Nelson, CEO
Rob Disotell, CCO
425.339.5500
www.cascadebank.com

Sard Verbinnen & Co
Media Contacts:
Paul Kranhold
Diane Henry
415.618.8750