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 28, 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 28, 2006 Capital Corp of the West announced that R. Dale McKinney, Chief Financial Officer, will retire from the company effective May 12, 2006. 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.

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

------------------------------

(Registrant)

Dated: March 28, 2006	By: /s/ David Curtis
	David Curtis
	Vice President/Controller

EX-99.1

PRESS RELEASE

Available for Immediate Publication: March 28, 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

MERCED, California, March 28, 2006 -- Capital Corp of the West (NASDAQ: CCOW) today announced that R. Dale McKinney, Chief Financial Officer, will retire from the company effective May 12, 2006.

“The opportunity to become the Chief Financial Officer of Capital Corp of the West seven years ago came at an opportune time in my career and, professionally, was exactly what I was seeking,” stated Mr. McKinney. “The personal and financial rewards I’ve realized during my association with the company have far exceeded my initial expectations and allow me to move on to the next chapter in my life; devoting more time to my family, children and grandchildren and pursuing an extensive travel schedule.”

Tom Hawker, Chief Executive Officer, said, “I’m extremely grateful for Dale’s contributions to Capital Corp of the West during his tenure here. This has been an exciting time for the Company and Dale has been an integral part of our great Team. We all wish him much happiness in his retirement and thanks for his years of service.”

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 29 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. County Bank is listed under local stocks of interest under CapWest and traded on the NASDAQ as CCOW. It operates 23 retail, as well as 8 corporate lending centers and mortgage lending offices serving the counties of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Stanislaus and Tuolumne.

County Bank has made giving back to the community a company priority. Annually the Bank contributes five percent of its net income to the communities it serves.

For further information about County Bank, contact Tom Hawker, CEO of County Bank and Capital Corp of the West, at (209)725-2276.