8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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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): July 26, 2005

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 July 26, 2005, Capital Corp of the West (Nasdaq: CCOW) announced that its board of directors had declared a $.05 per share third quarter 2005 cash dividend for shareholders of record as of August 5, 2005, payable on August 26, 2005. A copy of the press release related to this dividend announcement appears as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

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 July 26, 2005, 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

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(Registrant)

Dated: July 26, 2005	By /s/ R. Dale Mckinney
	R. Dale Mckinney
	Executive Vice President and Chief
	Financial Officer

EX-99.1

PRESS RELEASE

Available for Immediate Publication: July 26, 2005

Contacts:  Thomas T. Hawker, President / Chief Executive Officer (209) 725-2276

R. Dale McKinney, EVP / Chief Financial Officer (209) 725-7435

Web Site www.ccow.com

Capital Corp of the West Declares a $.05 per Share Third Quarter Cash Dividend

Merced, California, July 26, 2005 -Capital Corp of the West (NASDAQ:NMS: CCOW), the holding company for County Bank, Central California’s Community Bank, announced today,that its board of directors has declared a $0.05 per share third quarter 2005 cash dividend for shareholders of record as of August 5, 2005, payable on August 26, 2005.

“This $0.05 per share cash dividend marks our seventh consecutive quarter of cash dividends that began in the first quarter of 2004,” stated Tom Hawker Chief Executive Officer of Capital Corp of the West. “Our strong second quarter performance due in part to the unique growth characteristics of our operating region, combined with our forecast for the remainder of the year, indicates that the full year 2005 will be exceptional for shareholders, customers and the Team Members of CCOW. We are very pleased to be in the financial position that allows us to maintain this $0.05 cash dividend after our recent 2005 second quarter 9:5 stock split and thereby providing an 80% gain in the cash dividend we deliver to our shareholders.”

Capital Corp of the West, a bank holding company established November 1, 1995, is the parent company of County Bank, which has 28 years of service as “Central California’s Community Bank.”Currently County Bank has twenty branch offices serving the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, San Francisco and Tuolumne. As of the latest FDIC data, County Bank has a 6.5% market share in the six Central California counties in which it has significant retail branches. This ranks County Bank fifth out of thirty-nine financial institutions in this market area. For further information about the Company’s financial performance, contact Tom Hawker, President & Chief Executive Officer at (209) 725-2276, or R. Dale McKinney Chief Financial Officer, at (209) 725-7435.