8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): August 31, 2005

AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Washington	0-18561	91-1259511
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

41 West Riverside Avenue, Suite 400

Spokane, Washington 99201

(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(509) 467-6993

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ 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))

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

(b) On August 31, 2005, the Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Gary M. Bolyard as a director. Mr. Bolyard resigned due to health reasons.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits. Attached is a press release announcing the resignation of Mr. Bolyard.

99.1 AmericanWest Bancorporation Announces Retirement of Board Member

2

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of 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.

	AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION, a Washington Corporation
Dated: September 2, 2005	By: /s/ Robert M. Daugherty
	Robert M. Daugherty, President and Chief Executive Officer

3

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION
CONTACT:	Robert M. Daugherty President and Chief Executive Officer (509) 467-6993

NEWS RELEASE

AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF BOARD MEMBER

SPOKANE, WA – SEPTEMBER 2, 2005 – AmericanWest Bancorporation (Nasdaq:AWBC) today announced the retirement of Gary M. Bolyard from its Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of its subsidiary, AmericanWest Bank, for health reasons.

Mr. Bolyard was elected to the AWBC Board in January of 2004 and served through August 2005. A retired banker with 39 years of experience, he served for 21 of those years as president of two banks, and as a director on eight bank boards.

“Gary Bolyard has served AmericanWest Bancorporation well and will be greatly missed,” Board Chairman Donald Swartz said. “Gary brought not only a great deal of valuable experience from a distinguished career in the industry, but also was an inspirational force and a good mentor at an important time for our company.”

At its meeting yesterday, at which Mr. Bolyard’s letter of resignation was accepted, the Board extended him its best wishes for the future and expressed its gratitude for his many contributions, stating that Mr. Bolyard brought to AmericanWest Bancorporation and AmericanWest Bank invaluable experience in and knowledge of the banking business, and contributed significantly to the Company.

AmericanWest Bancorporation is a community bank holding company with 44 offices located in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. For further information on the Company or to access Internet banking, please visit our web site at www.awbank.net.