-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VpVFQeOPe4C8W0tSpP/xtM0DLsA4x5UEZ19GssWILeV2NMnHz3wbc97biitfRGzz
 BdAyguCsLdaGnyYx1gFNow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000726990-06-000031.txt : 20060516
<SEC-HEADER>0000726990-06-000031.hdr.sgml : 20060516
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060516123057
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000726990-06-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060425
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060516
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060516

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000726990
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				911259511
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		41 W. RIVERSIDE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201-3631
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(509)467-6993

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		41 W. RIVERSIDE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201-3631

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNITED SECURITY BANCORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SWARTZ DONALD H II
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001225426

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18561
		FILM NUMBER:		06844819

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5094676993

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9506 N NEWPORT HIGHWAY
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99218
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-25</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000726990</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AWBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001225426</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SWARTZ DONALD H II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>41 W. RIVERSIDE AVE. SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.92</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-04-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>by R. Blair Reynolds, Pursuant to Power of Attorney on File</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----