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): January 24, 2006

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 January 24, 2006, Capital Corp of the West (Nasdaq: CCOW) announced that its board of directors had declared a $.05 per share first quarter 2006 cash dividend for shareholders of record as of February 7, 2006, payable on February 28, 2006. 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

99.1Copy of press release, dated January 24, 2006, 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: January 24, 2006	By/s/ David A. Curtis
	David A. Curtis
	Vice President and Controller

EX-99.1

PRESS RELEASE

Available for Immediate Publication: January 24, 2006

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 $.05 Cash Dividend

Merced, California, January 24, 2006 -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 $.05 cash dividend on the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on February 28, 2006 to stockholders of record as of February 7, 2006.

“This $.05 a share cash dividend marks our ninth 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. “This also marks the fourth consecutive quarter that we have maintained the $.05 cash dividend after our nine for five stock split in the second quarter of 2005. The robust economic forecast for the Central Valley remains very strong. We are positioned to continue capitalizing on this favorable economic environment as we expand our broad range of products and services to existing and new customers within the Central Valley,” continued Mr. Hawker. “The continuation of the pre-split $.05 cash dividend serves as a strong indicator of our financial strength.”

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-two branch offices serving the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Sacramento, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, San Francisco, Sacramento, 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-seven 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.

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