8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 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): April ___, 1997



                           CAPITAL CORP OF THE WEST
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            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        CALIFORNIA                 0-27384                   77-0405791
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  State of Incorporation      Commission File No.     IRS Employer ID Number


          1160 WEST OLIVE AVENUE, SUITE A, MERCED, CALIFORNIA 95348
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    Address, including zip code, of registrant's principal executive office


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




ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

          See attached press release.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.


     (c)  EXHIBITS.

          No.    Description
          ---    -----------

          99.    Press release issued by the Company on April __, 1997


                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
Company has caused this current report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned duly authorized person.


     Date: April __, 1997         Capital Corp of the West



                                  By: /s/ Thomas T. Hawker
                                      -------------------------------
                                      Its President and Chief Executive Officer




                                       2

EX-99

                                        [LOGO]


PRESS RELEASE
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION: APRIL 1, 1997
CONTACT: JO LINDA THOMPSON, MARKETING COORDINATOR
    (209)725-2219


CAPITAL CORP OF THE WEST ANNOUNCES STOCK SPLIT

  Upon review of the successful 1996 year, the Board of Directors of Capital
Corp of the West (traded on NASDAQ as CCOW) has declared a three for two stock
split for shareholders of record on April 11, 1997 payable on May 2, 1997.

  "BASED UPON THE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH OF THE COMPANY AND OUR EXPANSION INTO 
NEW MARKETS SUCH AS THE CITY OF MODESTO, WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE STOCK 
SPLIT. STOCK PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN STRONG RECENTLY FOR THE COMPANY AND THE 
INDUSTRY IN GENERAL.  IN TAKING THIS STEP, THE PRICE OF OUR STOCK WILL RETURN 
TO A PRICE RANGE WE BELIEVE WILL BE MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THE MARKETS WE ARE 
CURRENTLY SERVING", says Thomas Hawker, President and CEO of Capital Corp of 
the West.

  This dividend was preceded by a 5% stock dividend and a five cents per share
cash dividend paid to shareholders of record August 16, 1996.  With the stock
split, the total number of shares outstanding will be increased by 50% to
approximately 2.6 million shares.  The book value of the Company's stock which
was $12.09 at December 31, 1996, will be adjusted accordingly.

  Capital Corp of the West, a bank holding company established November 1, 1995,
is the parent company to: COUNTY BANK, celebrating 20 years of service as
central California's Community Bank, CAPITAL WEST GROUP, a financial and
management consulting subsidiary, and TOWN & COUNTRY FINANCE & THRIFT COMPANY,
an industrial loan company headquartered in Turlock serving the Central Valley
for forty years.  Currently, County Bank has nine branch offices to serve the
communities of Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties.  Town & Country has
four offices located in Turlock, Modesto, Visalia and its newest office in
Fresno.  For further information about the Company's financial performance,
contact Tom Hawker, President and Chief Executive Officer, or Janey Boyce, Chief
Financial Officer at 209-725-2200.
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         1160 West Olive Avenue / / Suite A / / Merced, California 95348 / / 
                        (209) 725-2200 / / Fax: (209) 725-4550