NORTH BAY BANCORP
                               1500 Soscol Avenue
                           Napa, California 94559-1314



                                 March 22, 2002


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549

Dear Sir/Madam:

           Pursuant  to  Temporary  Note 3T to  Section  210.2-02  "Accountant's
Reports" - of the Securities and Exchange  Commission's  Regulation  S-X, Arthur
Andersen LLP has presented a report to the  shareholders  and directors of North
Bay  Bancorp  that  Arthur  Andersen  has  audited  the  consolidated  financial
statements of North Bay Bancorp and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and for
the year then ended and has issued its report  thereon dated  February 19, 2002.
Arthur  Andersen  LLP has  represented  that this  audit was  subject  to Arthur
Andersen's quality control system for the U.S.  accounting and auditing practice
to provide reasonable  assurance that the engagement was conducted in compliance
with professional  standards and that there was appropriate continuity of Arthur
Andersen  personnel  working on the audit and  availability  of national  office
consultation.  Arthur  Andersen has also  represented  that the  availability of
personnel  at foreign  affiliates  of Arthur  Andersen  was not relevant to this
audit.


                                        Very truly yours,


                                        Terry L. Robinson
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer












                                  Exhibit 99.1