SEATTLE, WA--(MARKET WIRE)--Jul 31, 2008 -- HomeStreet Bank and KOMO 1000 News are pleased to announce the six winning businesses for the third annual HomeStreet Bank Small Business Spotlight Awards. The program recognizes businesses of 100 employees or less, located in the Puget Sound or Greater Portland regions, that demonstrate significant community involvement and are a great place to work.

"Small business owners are often the unsung heroes of our communities," said Joan Enticknap, president and COO of HomeStreet Bank. "This is our opportunity to celebrate the achievements of small business and recognize those individuals and companies that make our region a better place to live and work."

The 2008 HomeStreet Bank Small Business Spotlight Award winners are:

 
--  Geo Resources, LLC (Fife) -- GeoResources, LLC is a geotechnical
    engineering company serving the Puget Sound region since 1995.
    GeoResources owners, Brad and Gretchen Biggerstaff, work diligently to
    ensure that the company's staff is well cared for and treated with respect.
    This includes generous benefits, opportunities for professional development
    and flexible work schedules.  Each year, Brad Biggerstaff participates on
    the Team Seattle car racing team that raises funds to benefit Children's
    Hospital.

--  Gravity Payments (Seattle) -- Gravity Payments provides full spectrum
    payment processing solutions, including to small- and medium-sized
    merchants throughout the U.S.  The company provides its employees with
    unique benefits including 401(k) contributions regardless of the level of
    employee contribution, regular deliveries of fresh produce, and free bus
    passes.  Since its inception in 2004, Gravity Payments has contributed two
    percent of revenue to nonprofit organizations throughout the Puget Sound
    region.

--  GreenWorks Realty (Seattle) -- GreenWorks Realty was founded in 2002
    with the vision of creating a full-service real estate agency to promote
    greener lifestyles and sustainable communities.  Staff and agents for
    GreenWorks actively support nonprofit environmental organizations through
    volunteerism, board memberships, educational forums and public speaking.
    Though agents are considered independent contractors, GreenWorks has
    created a profit sharing reward system for both its staff and agents.

--  Kalani Packaging, Inc. (Everett) -- Kalani Packaging's President and
    co-founder, Lono Dickson, is a Native Hawaiian who brings much of the
    culture of the islands into the company.  A national distributor of
    industrial and retail packaging, Kalani Packaging is a full service packing
    company from design to finished product.  Kalani Packing offers its
    employees full benefits and a matching 401(k).  The company has contributed
    packing materials for relief shipments to countries such as Thailand after
    it experienced the tsunami.  Kalani Packaging also supports its local
    community through a variety of nonprofit organizations in Snohomish County.

--  Sustainable Business Consulting (Seattle) -- Sustainable Business
    Consulting (SBC) works with companies to find ways to maintain and increase
    profitability while incorporating sustainable business practices.  A
    company that is committed to leading by example, SBC employees are paid for
    up to 50 hours of volunteer service each year.  Additionally, SBC
    contributes 10 percent of its net profits to nonprofit organizations.  SBC
    offers employees full health benefits, generous vacation and holiday time
    off, including time to participate in up to two charitable races or
    triathlons and one free ski day each year.  SBC also purchases bus passes
    for staff and provides cash incentives to employees who use alternative
    transportation for commuting.

--  Tom's Automotive Service (Seattle) -- Since 1971, Tom's Automotive
    Service has provided customers with quality automotive service and repair
    on most foreign and domestic vehicles.  The company offers medical and
    dental insurance, 401(k), disability plan, Costco memberships, a shoe
    allowance for work boots and up to four weeks of paid vacation.  Tom's
    Automotive Services is active in the West Seattle community.  It offers
    discounts to customers who bring in canned food for the West Seattle Food
    Bank, and it also services and repairs the food bank's van at no charge.
    Tom's Automotive has been designated a Five Star EnviroStar business for
    reducing waste and proper handling of hazardous materials.

A celebration to honor the six outstanding winning businesses will be held at a luxury suite in Safeco Field on August 1, 2008 when the Mariners play the Orioles. Winning business owners and their guests will be photographed with 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee, Dave Niehaus, and presented with a commemorative home plate plaque. The businesses will also be profiled on KOMO "Small Business Spotlight" segments.

Founded in 1921, family- and employee-owned HomeStreet Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. Headquartered in Seattle, the company has assets of $2.9 billion and a network of 30 branch and mortgage offices. HomeStreet Bank is one of the only banks in the country that has consistently received an "outstanding" rating under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

     Contact:
     Monica Roland
     (206) 587-5006
     Email Contact
     Online newsroom: http://www.homestreet.com/newsroom