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                              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):
                             July 23, 2009
                             -------------

                       WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
                       --------------------------
          (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                CALIFORNIA
                                ----------
              (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


                001-9383                       94-2156203
                --------                       ----------
        (Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer Identification No.)


         1108 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, California          94901
         ----------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of Principal Executive Offices)        (Zip Code)


                               (707) 863-6000
                               --------------
            (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


   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))


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Exhibits
- ---------

99.1 Press release dated July 23, 2009

Item 8.01:  Other Events
- ------------------------

On July 23, 2009 Westamerica Bancorporation declared a quarterly cash
dividend.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this
Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.





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                              Signatures

Pursuant to 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.

Westamerica Bancorporation

/s/    JOHN "ROBERT" THORSON
- -------------------------------------------------
John "Robert" Thorson
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
July 23, 2009






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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
- -----------------

                                                         Sequentially
Exhibit No.             Description                      Number Page
- -----------             -------------------------        -------------
  (99.1)                 Press release dated                  5-6
                         July 23, 2009






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Exhibit 99.1:
- -------------


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2009


WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION DECLARES
QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND


San Rafael, CA:	The Board of Directors of Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ:
WABC) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share on common
stock outstanding to shareholders of record at the close of business on August
3, 2009.  The dividend is payable August 14, 2009.

Chairman, President and CEO David Payne stated, "This dividend recognizes
Westamerica's healthy level of capital, asset quality and operating earnings."

On July 14, 2009, Westamerica reported $22 million in net income for the three
months ended June 30, 2009, or $0.75 diluted earnings per common share.

Westamerica Bancorporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Westamerica
Bank, operates branches throughout Northern and Central California.

Westamerica Bancorporation Web Address: www.westamerica.com

For additional information contact:
            Westamerica Bancorporation
            Robert A. Thorson - SVP & Chief Financial Officer
            707-863-6840


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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
- ----------------------------

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Westamerica
Bancorporation for which it claims the protection of the safe harbor provisions
contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of
revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or
nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii)
statements of plans, objectives and expectations of the Company or its
management or board of directors, including those relating to products or
services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements
of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as "believes",
"anticipates", "expects", "intends", "targeted", "projected", "continue",
"remain", "will", "should", "may" and other similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of
identifying such statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Management's current knowledge and
belief and include information concerning the Company's possible or assumed
future financial condition and results of operations. A number of factors, some
of which are beyond the Company's ability to predict or control, could cause
future results to differ materially from those contemplated. The Company's most
recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and
annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission describe some of these factors. These factors
include but are not limited to (1) the length and severity of current
difficulties in the national and California economies and the effects of federal
and state government efforts to address those difficulties; (2) continued low
liquidity levels in capital markets; (3) fluctuations in asset prices including,
but not limited to, stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities; (4) the effect
of acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses including the recently
acquired County Bank; (5) economic uncertainty created by terrorist threats and
attacks on the United States, the actions taken in response, and the uncertain
effect of these events on the national and regional economies; (6) changes in
the interest rate environment; (7) changes in the regulatory environment; (8)
significantly increasing competitive pressure in the banking industry; (9)
operational risks including data processing system failures or fraud; (10)
volatility of rate sensitive loans, deposits and investments; (11)
asset/liability management risks and liquidity risks; and (12) changes in the
securities markets. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-
looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date
forward-looking statements are made.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

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