POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Brian L. Vance, Kaylene M.
Lahn and Donald J. Hinson, signing singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-
in-fact to:

(1) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as an
officer and / or director of Heritage Financial Corporation, ("HFC"), Forms 3,4, and 5
in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the
rules thereunder;

(2) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be
necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form 3,4 or 5 and timely
file such form with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
stock exchange or similar authority; and

(3) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing
which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact may be of benefit to, in the best
interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant
to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.

The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to
do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper
to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with
full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorney-in-fact , or such attorney-in-fact's substitute and substitutes, shall lawfully do
or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the rights and powers
herein granted. The "undersigned" acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact,
in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is
HFC assuming, any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the undersigned is not
longer required to file Forms 3,4 and 5 with respect to the undersigned's holdings of
and transactions in securities issued by HFC, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned
in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of this 9th day of August, 2008.

/s/ Gary B Christensen
Signature

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Christensen Gary B 4