EXHIBIT 99.1

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. Announces Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2012

HIGHLIGHTS:

• All time record earnings for the current quarter of $19.0 million, an increase of 60 percent from the prior year second quarter.
• Current quarter diluted earnings per share of $0.26, an increase of 53 percent from the prior year second quarter.
• Annualized return on average equity was 8.69 percent for the current quarter compared to 5.54 percent for the prior year second quarter.
• Loan portfolio increased $12.0 million, or 1 percent annualized, during the current quarter.
• Non-interest deposits increased $27.6 million, or 11 percent annualized, during the current quarter from the prior quarter.
• Non-interest income increased $1.5 million, or 7 percent, during the current quarter compared to the prior quarter.
• Converted eleven bank charters into eleven bank divisions.
• Dividend declared of $0.13 per share during the quarter.

Results Summary

KALISPELL, Mont., July 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glacier Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:GBCI) reported net income for the current quarter of $19.0 million, an increase of $7.1 million, or 60 percent, compared to $11.9 million for the prior year second quarter. The earnings improvement for the current quarter and the first half of 2012 was reflective of the reduction in the provision for loan losses as a result of the improvement in the credit quality. Diluted earnings per share for the current quarter was $0.26 per share, an increase of 53 percent from the prior year second quarter earnings per share of $0.17. "This was our best quarter ever from an earnings perspective and the highest return on average assets since March 2009," said Mick Blodnick, President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, loans also grew in the quarter for the first time in three years. We also achieved great growth in both the number and balances of our checking accounts, something our staff works very hard at," Blodnick said. "Unfortunately, our net interest margin continues to contract as the premium amortization continues to cause a significant decrease to our margin. We were wrong in assuming that by now refinance activity would have slowed. Instead, the quarter saw a substantial increase in the refinancing index which caused the much higher premium amortization and much more pressure on our net interest margin," Blodnick said.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was $35.3 million, which was an increase of $13.1 million, or 59 percent, over the prior year first six months. Diluted earnings per share of $0.49 was an increase of $0.18, or 58 percent, earned in the first half of 2011. 

During the current quarter, the Company combined its eleven bank subsidiaries into eleven bank divisions under one bank charter. The bank subsidiaries now operate as separate divisions of Glacier Bank under the same names and management teams as before the combination.   

Asset Summary

Investment securities increased $165 million, or 5 percent, during the current quarter and increased $620 million, or 22 percent, from June 30, 2011. During the current quarter and previous twelve months, the Company purchased investment securities to primarily offset the lack of loan growth and to maintain interest income. The increase in investment securities for the current quarter occurred in collateralized mortgage obligation ("CMO"), corporate and municipal bonds. The majority of the purchases were CMOs which were significantly offset by CMO principal paydowns during the quarter. Investment securities represent 46 percent of total assets at June 30, 2012 versus 44 percent at December 31, 2011 and 40 percent at June 30, 2011. 

A real positive for the current quarter was the loan portfolio grew for the first time in several years. The loan portfolio increased during the current quarter by $12.0 million, or 1 percent annualized, to a total of $3.445 billion at June 30, 2012. Excluding net charge-offs of $7.1 million and loans of $5.4 million transferred to other real estate owned, loans increased $24.5 million, or 3 percent annualized, during the current quarter. The largest increase in dollars during the current quarter was in commercial loans which increased $10.4 million, or 0.5 percent, from March 31, 2012. The largest increase by percentage during the current quarter was in residential real estate loans which increased $10.1 million, or 2 percent, from March 31, 2012. The decrease in consumer and other loans was primarily driven by the Company reducing its exposure to consumer land and lot loans in combination with customers paying down lines of credit and reducing other debt. "It was good to see growth in our loan portfolio finally after three years of declines," said Blodnick. "However, loan demand is still soft and competition for good credits is intense. It was good to see loan volume pickup in the current quarter, but it is premature to think that it will sustain itself. We certainly hope it will." The continued slowness in the economy and low levels of loan demand could continue to place pressure on the Company in future periods and was the cause of the decrease in the loan portfolio over the prior periods. During the past twelve months, the loan portfolio decreased $157 million, or 4 percent, from total loans of $3.602 billion at June 30, 2011. The Company continues to reduce its exposure to land, lot and other construction loans which totaled $346 million as of June 30, 2012, a decrease of $92.9 million, or 21 percent, since the prior year second quarter. 

Credit Quality Summary

The Company continues to actively and methodically manage the disposition of non-performing assets which has resulted in a reduction of $15.7 million, or 7 percent, during the current quarter to a total of $198.9 million in non-performing assets. The non-performing assets also decreased $62.6 million, or 24 percent, from the prior year second quarter. The Company's early stage delinquencies (accruing loans 30-89 days past due) of $48.7 million continue to fluctuate and at June 30, 2012 increased $6.1 million from the prior quarter early stage delinquencies of $42.6 million and increased $7.6 million from the prior year second quarter early stage delinquencies of $41.2 million. At June 30, 2012, the allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL" or "allowance") was $137 million, a decrease of $57 thousand from the prior year end and a decrease of $2.3 million from a year ago. The allowance was 3.99 percent of total loans outstanding at June 30, 2012, compared to 3.97 percent at December 31, 2011 and 3.88 percent at June 30, 2011. The allowance was 106 percent of non-performing loans at June 30, 2012, an increase from 102 percent at December 31, 2011 and an increase from 86 percent at June 30, 2011. 

The largest category of non-performing assets was the land, lot and other construction category which was $100 million, or 50 percent, of the non-performing assets at June 30, 2012. Included in this category was $47.2 million of land development loans and $28.9 million in unimproved land loans at June 30, 2012. Although land, lot and other construction loans the past three years put pressure on the Company's credit quality, the Company has continued to reduce this category. During the current quarter, land, lot and other construction non-performing assets were reduced by $7.2 million, or 7 percent. 

Credit Quality Trends and Provision for Loan Losses

The levels of net-charged off loans continue to trend lower as the Company continues to work through the non-performing assets. Net charged-off loans during the current quarter of $7.1 million decreased $2.5 million compared to the prior quarter and decreased $13.1 million, or 65 percent, compared to the prior year second quarter.   The current quarter provision for loan losses was $7.9 million, which decreased $700 thousand compared to the $8.6 million for the prior quarter and a decrease of $11.2 million from the second quarter of 2011. Loan portfolio growth, composition, average loan size, credit quality considerations, and other environmental factors will continue to determine the level of provision for loan loss expense. 

For additional information regarding credit quality and identification of the loan portfolio by regulatory classification, see the exhibits at the end of this press release.

Liability Summary

At June 30, 2012, non-interest bearing deposits of $1.067 billion increased $27.6 million, or 3 percent, since March 31, 2012 and increased $150 million, or 16 percent, since June 30, 2011. Interest bearing deposits of $3.916 billion at June 30, 2012 included $646 million of wholesale deposits of which $180 million were reciprocal deposits (e.g., Certificate of Deposit Account Registry System deposits). In addition to reciprocal deposits, wholesale deposits include brokered deposits classified as NOW, money market deposit and certificate accounts. Interest bearing deposits increased $105 million, or 3 percent, since December 31, 2011 and included an increase of $38.2 million in wholesale deposits. Interest bearing deposits increased $128 million, or 3 percent, from June 30, 2011 and included a decrease of $43.4 million in wholesale deposits. The increase in deposits during the first half of 2012 and throughout 2011 has been driven by the Company's success in generating new personal and business customer relationships, as well as existing customers retaining cash deposits for liquidity purposes due to the continued uncertainty in the current economic environment. These deposit increases have been beneficial to the Company in funding the investment securities portfolio growth at lower cost over the prior twelve months. 

The Company's level and mix of borrowings has fluctuated as needed to supplement deposit growth and to fund the growth in investment securities. Since the prior year end, Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") advances decreased $163 million and have decreased $19.0 million since the prior year second quarter. The increase in funding through repurchase agreements from the prior year end and the prior year second quarter was primarily due to the $195 million in wholesale repurchase agreements as of current quarter end compared to no wholesale repurchase agreements as of year end and only $15.0 million of wholesale repurchase agreements as of the prior year second quarter. The wholesale repurchase agreements were utilized as a source of low cost alternative funding. 

Stockholders' Equity Summary

Tangible stockholders' equity and book value per share increased $27.0 million and $0.38 per share from the prior year end, resulting in tangible stockholders' equity to tangible assets of 10.42 percent and tangible book value per share of $10.61 as of June 30, 2012.    The increases came from earnings retention and an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income. Tangible stockholders' equity increased $53.8 million, or $0.75 per share since June 30, 2011, primarily a result of an increase in accumulated other comprehensive income. The $8.0 million decrease in common equity from June 30, 2011 included a third quarter 2011 goodwill impairment charge (net of tax) of $32.6 million.

Cash Dividend

On June 27, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.13 per share, payable July 19, 2012 to shareholders of record on July 10, 2012. Future cash dividends will depend on a variety of factors, including net income, capital, asset quality, general economic conditions and regulatory considerations.

Operating Results for Three Months Ended June 30, 2012 

Compared to March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2011

Revenue Summary

Net Interest Income

The current quarter net interest income of $55.1 million decreased $3.1 million, or 5 percent, over the prior quarter and decreased $5.1 million, or 8 percent, over the prior year second quarter. The current quarter interest income of $64.2 million decreased $3.7 million, or 5 percent, over the prior quarter and decreased $7.4 million, or 10 percent, over the prior year second quarter. A primary driver of the decrease in interest income was the $15.9 million of premium amortization (net of discount accretion) on investment securities in the current quarter which was an increase of $2.6 million over the prior quarter and an increase of $8.3 million over the prior year second quarter. The decrease in interest expense of $554 thousand, or 6 percent, from the prior quarter and the decrease of $2.3 million, or 20 percent, in interest expense from the prior year second quarter was the result of a decrease in interest rates on deposits as a result of the Company's continued focus on reducing deposit and borrowing costs. The funding cost for the current quarter was 68 basis points compared to 72 basis points for the prior quarter and 89 basis points for the prior year second quarter. 

The current quarter net interest margin as a percentage of earning assets, on a tax-equivalent basis, was 3.49 percent, a decrease of 24 basis points from the prior quarter net interest margin of 3.73 percent. Although there was a reduction in funding costs of 4 basis points during the current quarter compared to the prior quarter, the reduction was not enough to offset the 28 basis points reduction in yield on earning assets during the current quarter compared to the prior quarter. The decrease in yield on earning assets during the current quarter compared to the prior quarter was the result of a 12 basis points reduction in yield on the loan portfolio and a 41 basis points reduction in yield on the investment securities. Of the 41 basis points reduction in yield on the investment securities, 28 basis points was due to the increase in premium amortization. The premium amortization in the current quarter accounted for a 94 basis points reduction in the net interest margin compared to a 79 basis points reduction in the prior quarter and 48 basis points reduction in the net interest margin in the prior year second quarter. As a result of fewer loans moving to non-accrual status and the greater dispositions of existing non-accrual loans, the reversal of interest income on non-accrual loans accounted for a 2 basis points reduction in the net interest margin during the current quarter. "The accelerated premium amortization during the current and prior quarters reflects the growth in the CMO investment securities over the course of the prior year as well as the increased mortgage refinance activity as mortgage rates have declined significantly to record lows over the same time period, " said Ron Copher, Chief Financial Officer. 

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income for the current quarter totaled $21.8 million, an increase of $1.5 million over the prior quarter and an increase of $3.9 million over the same quarter last year. Gain on sale of loans increased $709 thousand, or 10 percent, over the prior quarter and $3.2 million, or 75 percent, over the prior year second quarter as there was an increase in origination and refinance volume due to lower interest rates and borrowers taking advantage of government assistance programs.  Service charge fee income increased $966 thousand from the linked quarter, the majority of which was from higher overdraft fees driven by the increased number of deposit accounts. Service charge fee income increased $146 thousand, or 1 percent, from the prior year second quarter.  Other income of $1.9 million for the current quarter was a decrease of $222 thousand from the prior quarter as a result of small changes in several categories. Included in other income was operating revenue of $186 thousand from other real estate owned and gains of $228 thousand on the sale of other real estate owned, which total $414 thousand for the current quarter compared to $528 thousand for the prior quarter and $697 thousand for the prior year second quarter.

Non-interest Expense Summary

Non-interest expense of $46.2 million for the current quarter decreased by $2.9 million, or 6 percent, from the prior quarter and decreased by $30 thousand from the prior year second quarter. The changes over the prior quarter and the prior year second quarter were driven primarily by other real estate owned expense. Other real estate owned expense decreased $4.6 million, or 68 percent, from the prior quarter and decreased $2.9 million, or 57 percent, from the prior year second quarter. The current quarter other real estate owned expense of $2.2 million included $639 thousand of operating expense, $1.2 million of fair value write-downs, and $316 thousand of loss on sale of other real estate owned. Other real estate owned expense will fluctuate as the Company continues to work through non-performing loans and dispose of foreclosed properties.

Excluding other real estate owned expense, non-interest expense increased $1.8 million, or 4 percent, from the prior quarter and increased $2.8 million, or 7 percent, from the prior year second quarter. Compensation and employee benefits increased by $2.5 million, or 12 percent, from the prior year second quarter and was attributable to a revised Company incentive program and the restoration in 2012 of certain compensation cuts made in 2011. Advertising and promotion expense of $1.7 million for the current quarter increased $311 thousand over the                                                prior quarter as the Company typically spends less on advertising in the first quarter. Other expense increased $2.0 million, or 24 percent, from the prior quarter primarily due to expenses associated with New Markets Tax Credit investments. Other expense increased $1.1 million, or 12 percent, from the prior year second quarter as a result of increases in several categories including loan expenses and miscellaneous expenses. The Company continues to work diligently in reducing expenses in areas of direct control.

Efficiency Ratio

The efficiency ratio for the current quarter was 54 percent compared to 52 percent for the prior year second quarter. The higher efficiency ratio was the result of a decrease in net interest income, primarily from an increase in premium amortization on investment securities, and an increase in non-interest expense, largely from higher compensation and other expenses.

Operating Results for Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 Compared to June 30, 2011 

Revenue Summary

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the first half of 2012 decreased $3.5 million, or 3 percent, over the same period last year. During 2012, interest income decreased $7.9 million, or 6 percent, while interest expense decreased $4.4 million, or 19 percent from the first half of 2011. The decrease in interest income from the first half of the prior year was due to the increase in premium amortization on investment securities coupled with the reduction in loan balances, the combination of which put further pressure on earning asset yields. Interest income was reduced by $29.2 million in premium amortization (net of discount accretion) on investment securities which was an increase of $11.7 million from the first six months of the prior year. This increase in premium amortization was the result of both the increased purchases of investment securities combined with the continued refinance activity. The decrease in interest expense during the current year was primarily attributable to the decreases in rates on interest bearing deposits and borrowings. The funding cost for the first half of 2012 was 70 basis points compared to 92 basis points for the first half 2011. 

The net interest margin, on a tax-equivalent basis, for the first half of 2012 was 3.61 percent, a 35 basis points reduction from the net interest margin of 3.96 percent for the first half of 2011. The reduction was attributable to a lower yield and volume of loans coupled with an increase in lower yielding investment securities and higher premium amortization on investment securities. The premium amortization in 2012 accounted for an 87 basis points reduction in the net interest margin which is an increase of 31 basis points compared to a 56 basis points reduction in the net interest margin for the same period last year. 

Non-interest Income

Non-interest income of $42.1 million for 2012 increased $6.9 million, or 20 percent, over non-interest income of $35.2 million for the first half of 2011. Gain on sale of loans for the first half of 2012 increased $5.4 million, or 60 percent, from the first half of 2011 due to greater refinance and loan origination activity. Other income for the first half of 2012 increased $667 thousand, or 20 percent, over the first half of 2011 of which $573 thousand of the increase was from debit card income. Included in other income was operating revenue of $237 thousand from other real estate owned and gains of $704 thousand on the sale of other real estate owned, which aggregated $942 thousand for the first half of 2012 compared to $965 thousand for the same period in the prior year.

Non-interest Expense Summary

Compensation and employee benefits for the first half of 2012 increased $4.5 million, or 10 percent, and was attributable to a revised Company incentive program and the restoration in the first half of 2012 of certain compensation cuts made in the first half of 2011. Other real estate owned expense of $9.0 million in the first six months of 2012 increased $1.9 million, or 26 percent, from the first half of the prior year. The other real estate owned expense for the first half of 2012 included $1.5 million of operating expenses, $6.7 million of fair value write-downs, and $865 thousand of loss on sale of other real estate owned. Other expense in the first six months of 2012 increased $1.8 million, or 11 percent, from the first half of the prior year and was primarily driven by increases in loan expenses and several miscellaneous categories. 

Provision for loan losses

The provision for loan losses was $16.6 million for the first half of 2012, a decrease of $22.1 million, or 57 percent, from the same period in the prior year. Net charged-off loans during the first half of 2012 was $16.6 million, a decrease of $19.4 million from the first half of 2011. The largest category of net charge-offs was in land, lot and other construction loans which had net charge-offs of $6.3 million, or 38 percent of total net charged-off loans. 

Efficiency Ratio

The efficiency ratio was 53 percent for the first half of 2012 and 52 percent for the first half of 2011. Although there were significant increases in non-interest income from the first half of the prior year, it was not enough to offset the decrease in net interest income and the increase in non-interest expense in the first half of 2012. 

About Glacier Bancorp, Inc.

Glacier Bancorp, Inc. is a regional bank holding company providing commercial banking services in 60 communities in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Colorado. Glacier Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered in Kalispell, Montana, and  is the parent company for Glacier Bank, Kalispell and bank divisions First Security Bank of Missoula; Valley Bank of Helena; Big Sky Western Bank, Bozeman; Western Security Bank, Billings; and First Bank of Montana, Lewistown; all operating in Montana; as well as Mountain West Bank, Coeur d'Alene operating in Idaho, Utah and Washington; Citizens Community Bank, Pocatello, operating in Idaho; 1st Bank, Evanston, operating in Wyoming and Utah;  First Bank of Wyoming, Powell, operating in Wyoming; and Bank of the San Juans, Durango operating in Colorado.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about management's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions that are not historical facts, and other statements identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "should," "projects," "seeks," "estimates" or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations in the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in this news release:

the risks associated with lending and potential adverse changes of the credit quality of loans in the Company's portfolio, including as a result of declines in the housing and real estate markets in its geographic areas;

• increased loan delinquency rates;
• the risks presented by a continued economic downturn, which could adversely affect credit quality, loan collateral values, other real estate owned values, investment values, liquidity and capital levels, dividends and loan originations;
• changes in market interest rates, which could adversely affect the Company's net interest income and profitability;
• legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company's business, ability to complete pending or prospective future acquisitions, limit certain sources of revenue, or increase cost of operations;
• costs or difficulties related to the integration of acquisitions;
• the goodwill we have recorded in connection with acquisitions could become impaired, which may have an adverse impact on our earnings and capital;
• reduced demand for banking products and services;
• the risks presented by public stock market volatility, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to raise additional capital in the future;
• competition from other financial services companies in our markets; 
• loss of services from the senior management team; and
• the Company's success in managing risks involved in the foregoing.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if it later becomes aware that actual results are likely to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statement.

Visit our website at www.glacierbancorp.com

CONTACT: Michael J. Blodnick
         (406) 751-4701
         Ron J. Copher
         (406) 751-7706