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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LrSJvq4ViGtuwKq1P/jOxSR8suL4ZAkirOQbeBrKN0dksdl2uaGcPQ/QsV82i7zR
 8MUUTKG55nQ3OpE/QfBMrg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-004509.txt : 20030730
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-004509.hdr.sgml : 20030730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030730170643
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-004509
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030730

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST COMMUNITY BANCORP /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001102112
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				330885320
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6110 EL TORDO
		CITY:			RANCHO SANTA FE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8587563023

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMPSON MICHAEL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179839

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30747
		FILM NUMBER:		03812263

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 WILSHIRE BLVD
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3104581531

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		120 WILSHIRE BLVD
		CITY:			SANTA MONICA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001102112</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST COMMUNITY BANCORP /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCBP</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179839</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMPSON MICHAEL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6110 EL TORDO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 2388</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Performance Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-07-28</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-01-01</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2010-07-28</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>55000</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Performance Stock converts 1 for 1 into shares of Issuer common stock upon vesting.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Reporting Person received a Performance Stock grant of 25,000 shares under the Issuer's 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").  The award will vest in full or in part on the date the Compensation Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors, as Administrator of the Plan, determines that the Issuer achieved annual Cash EPS goals (as defined in and pursuant to the terms of the Plan). Fifty percent (50%) of the Perfomance Stock will vest upon reaching annual Cash EPS of $2.48; seventy-five percent (75%) of the Performance Stock will vest upon reaching annual Cash EPS of $2.89; and the Performance Stock will vest in full upon reaching annual Cash EPS of $3.30.  As of the date of the grant, the Reporting Person holds dividend and voting rights with respect to the Performance Stock, subject to termination of such rights under the terms of the Plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Reporting Person beneficially owns 25,000 shares of Performance Stock and 30,000 options convertible into Issuer's common stock.  The Performance Stock will vest as set forth above.  15,000 options at $14.81 have vested or will vest in one-third increments on December 12, 2001, 2002 and 2003, 5,000 options at $17.85 have vested or will vest in one-third increments on April 26, 2002, 2003 and 2004, and 10,000 options at $26.81 have vested or will vest in one-third increments on July 24, 2003, 2004 and 2005.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Michael L. Thompson</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-29</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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