UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                 ---------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

      Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 27, 2004

                            CAPITAL CORP OF THE WEST
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

          California                    0-27384                  77-0147763
(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission File           (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                 Number)              Identification No.)

                 550 West Main Street, Merced, California 95340
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (209) 725-2200
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

|_|   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

|_|   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

|_|   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



ITEM 8.01 Other Events

On December 21, 2004, the Board of Directors of Capital Corp of the West
(Nasdaq: CCOW) approved management's recommendation that two material earnings
adjustment be made in the fourth quarter of 2004. The first adjustment is
related to an other-than- temporary impairment of two Freddie Mac preferred
stock and one Fannie Mae preferred stock investments. The second adjustment is
related to write-off of an income tax benefit related to a REIT consent
dividend. A copy of the press release explaining these two adjustments is
contained in Exhibit 99.1

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

Not Applicable

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

Not Applicable

(c) Exhibits

99.1  Copy of press release, dated December 27, 2004, issued by Capital Corp of
      the West.

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                Capital Corp of the West
                                                     (Registrant)

Dated: December 27, 2004                        By /s/ David A. Curtis
                                                   -------------------
                                                   David A. Curtis
                                                   Vice President and Controller