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): December 15, 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 5.02 Departure or Directors of Principle Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principle Officers

On December 15, 2005 County Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Corp of the West, announced that Ed Rocha has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer for County Bank. Mr. Hawker will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of County Bank and Mr. Hawker will also continue his role as Chief Executive Officer and President of Capital Corp of the West. For more information related to this event, please see a copy of the press release as it appears in 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

Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated December 15, 2005

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: December 15, 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: December 15, 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

County Bank Names Ed Rocha as President and COO

- Tom Hawker to continue as CEO -

Merced, Calif., December 15, 2005 -- County Bank, a subsidiary of Capital Corp of the West (Nasdaq:CCOW), announced today that Ed Rocha has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Rocha, a valley native and banking veteran of 31 years, has been with County Bank for 10 years and previously served as Executive Vice President.

“Ed has diligently applied his skills and talents over 10 years with the Bank, starting as Manager of the Turlock-Geer Road branch,” said Tom Hawker, CEO of County Bank/Capital Corp of the West. “During the last two years, Ed has continued to take over more of the daily responsibilities involving oversight and management of County Bank, while also focusing on our continued growth. His strong core values set an excellent example for our team to follow and embody the essence of what County Bank stands for,” continued Hawker.

Mr. Hawker will continue as CEO of County Bank and CEO/President of Capital Corp of the West. The promotion of Mr. Rocha to President of County Bank, will allow Mr. Hawker to fully focus his attention on strategic planning, investor relations, risk management, and wealth management at County Bank in addition to the support functions of the parent company, as the Bank continues its aggressive growth strategy.

“The management team at County Bank has been together for a number of years and has developed a clear vision for the future of the Bank,” said Ed Rocha, newly appointed President/COO. “We will continue to deliver on what we believe in, as we work to better serve valley residents.”

Mr. Rocha was born and raised in Newman, 30 miles from Merced, and has seen the evolution of the Valley as a statewide economic factor. Mr. Rocha attended Modesto Jr. College and San Francisco State. He then went on to receive his Master’s in banking from Louisiana State University’s Graduate School of Banking. Currently, Mr. Rocha and his wife, Karen, reside in Turlock.

About County Bank

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.” County Bank ranks fifth out of thirty-nine banking institutions in this market area and is the largest community bank in the Central Valley. It operates 21 retail and 5 corporate lending centersmortgage lending offices serving the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Sacramento, San Francisco and Tuolumne.

For further information about County Bank, contact Tom Hawker, at (209) 725-2276.

Form 8-K