Exhibit 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            Contact:  Thomas J. Reddish
                                                           Vice President & CFO
                                                           (530) 898-0300

              TRICO BANCSHARES SELECTS KPMG AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR


     Chico, CA - March 27, 2002. TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ:  TCBK) parent company
of Tri Counties Bank, today announced that KPMG LLP has been named the Company's
independent  auditor for the fiscal year ending  December 31,  2002,  subject to
ratification by the Company's shareholders at its annual meeting May 14, 2002.

     KPMG's selection  follows a 13-year  relationship  between TriCo and Arthur
Andersen LLP, during which time Andersen served TriCo well and adhered to a high
standard of professionalism.

     TriCo  Bancshares  is filing a Form 8-K with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission detailing the change in independent auditor.

     Tri Counties Bank headquartered in Chico, California, has a 26 year history
in the banking  industry.  As of December 31, 2001,  Tri Counties  Bank has over
$1,003,000,000  in assets,  and operates 30 traditional  branch  locations and 7
in-store branch locations,  in 18 California counties.  Tri Counties Bank offers
financial  services and provides a diversified  line of products and services to
consumers and  businesses,  which  include  demand,  savings and time  deposits,
consumer  finance,  online banking,  mortgage  lending,  and commercial  banking
throughout  its  market  area.  It  operates a network of 45 ATMs and a 24-hour,
seven days a week telephone  customer  service  center.  Brokerage  services are
provided at the Bank's  offices by the Bank's  association  with  Raymond  James
Financial,  Inc. For further  information  please  visit the Tri  Counties  Bank
web-site at http://www.tricountiesbank.com

                 63 Constitution Drive, Chico, California 95973