EXHIBIT 23.6

                    CONSENT OF HOEFER & ARNETT INCORPORATED

    We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter dated May 9, 2000,
to the Board of Directors of Heritage Commerce Corp. as Exhibit B-1 to the Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the proposed agreement and plan of
reorganization and merger among Heritage Commerce Corp. and Western Holdings
Bancorp contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to the references to our firm and our
opinion in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. In giving our consent, we do
not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we
admit that we are expects with respect to any part of such Registration
Statement within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.

                                          HOEFER & ARNETT INCORPORATED

                                          By: /s/ JEAN-LUC SERVAT
                                               Managing Director

                                          Dated: June 21, 2000