8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 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): May 10, 2018

COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California	000-23575	77-0446957
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

445 Pine Avenue, Goleta, California	93117
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

(805) 692-5821

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General instruction A.2.below):

☐ 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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On May 10, 2018, Community West Bancshares (the “Company”) posted a newsletter on its website and sent the newsletter to its shareholders.  A copy of the newsletter is provided at Exhibit 99-1 to this current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this report, including Exhibit 99-1 is being furnished pursuant to item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other use subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Community West Bancshares newsletter.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 11, 2018

COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES
By:	/s/	Susan C. Thompson
		Susan C. Thompson
		Executive Vice President and CFO

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Community West Bancshares newsletter.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

May 10, 2018

To the Shareholders of Community West Bancshares:

We are happy to report that Community West Bancshares recently released its financial results for the first quarter of 2018.  Among the highlights was net income of $1.8 million for the first three months, an increase of 33% from $1.4 million for the first quarter of last year.  Please review the attached investor fact sheet for information about growth in loans, deposits and other benchmarks.

The Board of Directors increased its quarterly cash dividend by 25% to $0.05 per common share, payable May 31, 2018 to common shareholders of record on May 11, 2018.  The current annualized yield, based on the closing price of Community West Bancshares (CWBC) shares of $11.35 on March 31, 2018, was 1.8%.

We are also very proud to note that Community West was awarded a “Premier” rating in April 2018, by The Findley Reports.  For 50 years, Findley has been recognizing the financial performance of banking institutions in California and the western United States.  In making their annual selections, The Findley Reports focuses on four ratios: growth, return on beginning equity, net operating income as a percentage of average assets, and loan losses as a percentage of gross loans.  It is an honor for our bank to be once again recognized so favorably by The Findley Reports.

With new Community West Bank branch offices in Oxnard and Santa Maria last year, and a new branch opening this summer in Paso Robles, we are expanding our reach throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and positioning the bank for long-term growth.

As we focus on growing our franchise, and aim to secure our vision of being the leading community bank serving California’s Central Coast, we continue to deliver improved operating results.

The future is bright for Community West.  We appreciate the continued support from you, our shareholders, as we pursue our growth opportunities.

Sincerely,

William R. Peeples	Martin E. Plourd
Chairman of the Board	President and Chief Executive Officer

 NASDAQ: CWBC  $11.35  April 27, 2018  FACT SHEET  FIRST QUARTER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS  Net Loan Portfolio  $737 Million at 3/31/18  2.6%  14.7%  30.7%  3.4% 48.6%  Commercial  Commercial Real EstateSBA  Manufactured housingOther  Deposit Portfolio  $710 Million at 3/31/18  16.7%  33.4%  36.4%  11.5%  2.0%  Non-interest-bearingInterest-bearing  Savings  CDs over 250KCDs under 250K  ¡ Net income increased 33.8% to $1.8 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, in 1Q18, compared to $1.4 million, or $0.16 per diluted  share in 1Q17.  ¡ Return on average common equity of 10.30%.¡ Return on average assets of 0.91%.  ¡ Net loans increased $11.1 million to $737.3 million at March 31, 2018, compared to $726.2 million three months earlier and  increased $76.6 million compared to $660.8 million a year ago.¡ Total deposits increased $10.4 million to $710.0 million at March  31, 2018, compared to $699.7 million three months earlier and increased $69.9 million compared to $640.1 million a year ago.¡ Net interest margin was 4.25%.  ¡ Book value per common share increased to $8.73 at March 31, 2018, compared to $8.22 a year ago.  FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  Nonaccrual  loans, ALL/loans Net  EPS Total net/total held for Interest  Period diluted assets* loans investment Margin  1Q18 $ 0.21 $ 866 0.57% 1.22% 4.25%  1Q17 $ 0.16 $ 748 0.34% 1.28% 4.45%  2017 $ 0.57 $ 833 0.61% 1.24% 4.34%  2016 $ 0.62 $ 711 0.38% 1.31% 4.60%  2015 $ 0.30 $ 621 0.92% 1.44% 4.80%  2014 $ 0.75 $ 557 2.23% 1.84% 4.50%  $ in millions except per share data  * at end of period  ABOUT COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES  Coast area of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Communi-ty West Bank has seven full-service California branch banking offices, in Goleta,Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura, Westlake Village, San Luis Obispo andOxnard and a loan production office in Paso Robles. The principal business ac-  tivities of the Company are Relationship business banking, Manufactured Hous-  ing lending and Government Guaranteed lending. 

 CWBC April 27, 2018  Recent Price $11.35  Shares Outstanding 8.2M  Estimated Float 6.9M52-Week Price Range $9.95-$12.97  Net Interest Margin* 4.25%  *most recent quarter  Market Cap $93.3MBook Value per  Common Share $8.73  Price/Book 1.30x  Institutional Ownership 23.4%  Insider Ownership 20.3%  CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS  Community West Bank 445 Pine Avenue  Goleta, CA 93117Phone (805) 692-5821  www.communitywestbank.com  FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  (in thousands, except per share)  Income Statement Three Months Ended  31-Mar-18 31-Dec-17 31-Mar-17  Interest income $ 9,988 $ 9,927 $ 8,703  Interest expense 1,638 1,451 929Net interest income  before provision for loan losses 8,350 8,476 7,774  Provision for loan losses (144) (12) 144Net interest income  after provision for loan losses 8,494 8,488 7,630  Non-interest income 639 896 641  Non-interest expenses 6,533 6,421 5,923  Income before income taxes 2,600 2,963 2,348  Provision for income taxes 786 2,514 992  Net income 1,814 449 1,356  Earnings per common share:  Basic $ 0.22 $ 0.05 $ 0.17  Diluted $ 0.21 $ 0.05 $ 0.16  Balance Sheet 31-Mar-18 31-Dec-17 31-Mar-17  Total assets $ 865,689 $ 833,315 $ 748,300  Total stockholders' equity $ 71,711 $ 70,070 $ 66,567  Total deposits $ 710,037 $ 699,684 $ 640,130  Net loans $ 737,319 $ 726,189 $ 660,761  Asset Quality 31-Mar-18 31-Dec-17 31-Mar-17  Nonaccrual loans, net $ 4,220 $ 4,472 $ 2,302  Nonaccrual loans, net/total loans 0.57% 0.61% 0.34%Nonaccrual loans plus other assets  acquired through foreclosure, net $ 4,453 $ 4,844 $ 2,447Nonaccrual loans plus other assets  acquired through foreclosure, net/total assets 0.51% 0.58% 0.33%  Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs in the quarter $ (182) $ (120) $ (177)Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs  in the quarter/total loans (0.02%) (0.02%) (0.03%)  TOP INSTITUTIONAL  SHAREHOLDERS *  First Securities America 6.95%  Stieven Capital 6.20%  Siena Capital 3.77%  Maltese Capital Mgmt. 3.33%  AllianceBernstein 1.79%  Cutler Capital 1.73%  Dimensional Fund 1.58%  M3F 1.22%  Context BH Capital 0.71%  Bridgeway Capital 0.53%  Wedbush Asset Mgmt. 0.50%  Wellington 0.38%  *information from SNL as of 31--Dec-17  MANAGEMENT TEAM  Martin E. Plourd  President & Chief Executive OfficerSusan C. Thompson  EVP & Chief Financial OfficerMaureen C. Clark  EVP , Chief Operating Officer & ChiefInformation Officer  William F. FilippinEVP & Chief Banking Officer  The company described in this report is a client of Len Cereghino & Co., d.b.a. The IR Group, a securities industry relations firm. This report was prepared using information obtained from management and from publications available tothe public. This report does not purport to be a complete statement of all material facts and is not to be construed as a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell securities of the company described herein. Upon receiving a writtenrequest sent to its website www.theIRgroup.com. The IR Group will provide a package of detailed information on the client company. The IR Group is compensated by the client company for services rendered on a continuing basis andconsequently, the amount of such compensation related to the preparation and distribution of this report is not separately determinable. The IR Group and/or its employees and/or members of their families, may have a long position in  the securities of the company described herein.  Issued: April 27, 2018