8-K

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): March 21, 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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

On March 21, 2006, the parent company of County Bank, Capital Corp of the West (NASDAQ:NMS:CCOW) announced the appointment of Katherine Wohlford as its new executive vice president and chief administrative officer.

Ms. Wohlford has more than 20 years of banking experience, most recently serving as first vice president - marketing with Washington Mutual Bank in Seattle, Wash.  She began her career in banking with Bank of America in 1978. In 1985, Ms. Wohlford joined Glendale Federal as senior vice president - retail marketing. In 1995, she joined Home Savings of America as senior vice president, director of product development and management. While with Home Savings, she oversaw a consumer and business deposits portfolio in excess of $32 billion and business products that served over 2 million households.  Ms. Wohlfordholds a MBA from Chapman University, a B.A. from California State University, Fullerton and has received numerous awards over her career.  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 

99.1Copy of press release, dated March 21, 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: March 21, 2006	By: /s/ David Curtis
	David Curtis
	Vice President/Controller

EX-99.1

PRESS RELEASE

Available for Immediate Release

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 / Media Contact: Danielle LeBouef (559) 438-2040

Capital Corp of the West Names New Chief Administrative Officer

Merced, California, March 20, 2006 - The parent company of County Bank, Capital Corp of the West (NASDAQ:NMS:CCOW) has announced the appointment of Katherine Wohlford as its new executive vice president and chief administrative officer.

Ms. Wohlford has more than 20 years of banking experience, most recently serving as first vice president - marketing with Washington Mutual Bank in Seattle, Wash. In making the announcement, Tom Hawker, chief executive officer of Capital Corp of the West (CCOW) said, “We are very pleased to be able to attract someone with Ms. Wohlford’s extensive experience and broad background. She has a solid background in many facets of banking and exceptional experience in ALCO, training, electronic banking and marketing. She will be a valued addition to the CCOW/County Bank team.”

She began her career in banking with Bank of America in 1978. In 1985, Ms. Wohlford joined Glendale Federal as senior vice president - retail marketing. In 1995, she joined Home Savings of America as senior vice president, director of product development and management. While with Home Savings, she oversaw a consumer and business deposits portfolio in excess of $32 billion and business products that served over 2 million households.

Ms. Wohlfordholds a MBA from Chapman University, a B.A. from California State University, Fullerton and has received numerous awards over her career.

Capital Corp of the West, a bank holding company established November 1, 1995, is the parent company of County Bank, which has more than 29 years of service as “Central California’s Community Bank.” Currently County Bank has 23 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 6.5% market share in the six Central California counties in which it has significant retail branches. This ranks County Bank fifth out of 37 banking 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.