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) May 9, 2006

AMERICANWEST BANCORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

41 W. Riverside Avenue, Suite 400 Spokane, WA	99201
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (509) 467-6993

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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))

Section 7 – Regulation FD

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

AmericanWest Bancorporation is presenting at the D.A. Davidson Financial Services Conference in Seattle, Washington on May 9, 2006. A slide presentation that will be presented at the conference is included as Exhibit 99.1 and is furnished pursuant to Regulation FD.

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)	Exhibit No.	Exhibit Description
	99.1	AmericanWest Bancorporation’s Slide Presentation for May 9, 2006 at the D.A. Davidson’s Financial Services Conference.

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: May 9, 2006	/s/ Robert M. Daugherty
	Robert M. Daugherty,
	President and CEO

EX-99.1

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

AmericanWest

AmericanWest

Bancorporation

Bancorporation

Robert M. Daugherty

President and CEO

Exhibit 99.1

Safe Harbor Statement

•

During the course of this presentation we will make forward-looking

statements which are:

Subject to contingencies and uncertainties

Not a guarantee of future performance

Based on assumptions that may change

Not to be relied on unduly

•

Many factors are beyond our ability to control or predict, including

specific factors such as:

Interest rates

Economic conditions and regulatory requirements

Asset performance

•

For all risk factors see AWBC’s

Form 10-K as filed with the SEC

AWBC Overview

•

Founded in 1974 as United Security Bank

•

Operated acquired banks independently until 2001, when all were unified

under the single name of AmericanWest Bank

•

Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol AWBC

•

Included

in

the

Russell

2000

and

Russell

Microcap

Indexes

•

Headquartered in Spokane, Washington

•

43 Financial Centers located in Central & Eastern Washington and

Northern Idaho as of May 1, 2006

•

$1.338B in Total Assets and $1.082B in Total Deposits at March, 31 2006

•

501 Full Time Equivalent Employees as of May 1, 2006

100+

60-99

20-59

0-19

Population per Square Mile

A Turnaround Project in 2004

•

Faced with MOU for Compliance Violations

•

State Issued Directive to Improve Credit Quality

NPAs

Peaked at $33MM or 3.26

%

of Total Assets

Substandard Assets at $65MM or 6.26

%

of Total Assets

•

Three Regional Presidents

•

Dated Technology

•

No Retail Bank Strategy

•

Transactional vs. Relationship Focus

Turnaround Results:

•

MOU and Directive Lifted Fourth Quarter 2005

•

NPAs

Reduced to $17MM at 3/31/06 (a 48% Reduction)

•

Substandard Assets Reduced to $32MM (a 51% Reduction)

•

Dismantled Regions and Unified One Bank

•

Deployed Upgraded Technologies

Automated Teller Platform

Automated New Accounts Platform

Rolling Out Upgraded ATM’s Throughout Our Footprint

Results: Solidify Credit Culture

Turned Over Nearly Half of our Lenders and 80% of the

Bank’s Executive Officers

Standardized Credit Approval Documentation and Analysis

Tools

Centralized Credit Administration in Spokane

Modified Policies and Provided Training to Lenders

Centralized Appraisal Ordering and Review; Evaluation

Ordering and Review

Results: Retail Expansion

Launched Retail Banking in June 2005 with 30 Consumer

and Small Business Products

Supported Retail Banking with a new Marketing

Department

•

Launched Private Banking Initiative

•

Re-structured/Expanded Residential & Construction

Lending

•

Building Management Team that has Customer Sales and

Service Experience

Results: De Novo and Acquisition Growth

Expansion into Idaho is Underway

Construction of New Financial Center in Hayden, ID –

Anticipated Completion in Fall 2006

Opened New Financial Center in Sandpoint, ID

Opening New Financial Center in Coeur d’Alene, ID -

Anticipated Building Completion in Fall 2006

Completed Acquisition of Columbia Trust Bancorp to Expand

in the Tri-Cities and Yakima/Sunnyside Markets

Announced Expansion into Utah with an Initial Loan Office

and Ultimately Multiple Full-service Financial Centers

2005 Highlights

•

Improved Profitability to $13.9MM from $9.5MM in 2004, Up

45.9%

•

Nonperforming Assets Down $11.8MM or 41.3% from 2004

•

Decreased Provisions for Loan Losses from $13MM in 2004 to

$2.4MM, an 81.9% Improvement

•

Gross Loans up $36MM to $963MM from $927MM at 12/31/04

•

Noninterest

Bearing Deposits up 13%

•

Net Interest Margin of 5.47% compared to 6.04% at 12/31/04 is

Declining as Expected with Increased Credit Quality

•

Efficiency Ratio Higher than Peers due to Investments in

Technology, Infrastructure and Expansion to Support Growth

Deposit Market Share Opportunities (at 12-31-05)

3.7%

10

Yakima, WA

7.1%

3

Walla Walla, WA

1.1%

13

Kootenai, ID

1.1%

15

Tri-Cities, WA

3.4%

10

Spokane, WA

SHARE

AWBC RANK

COUNTY/MSA

Source: SNL Financial

Key Growth Markets (2000-2005)

61%

57%

13%

9%

5%

Walla

Walla

(WA)

18%

12%

15%

12%

13%

Median HH Income

Increase

15%

56%

3%

7%

Salt Lake

(UT)

18%

41%

5%

2%

Yakima

(WA)

38%

111%

23%

16%

North

Idaho

(ID)

29%

53%

Median Home Sale

Price Increase

52%

59%

Home Sales Increase

19%

7%

Total Employment

Increase

13%

6%

Households Increase

Tri-Cities

(WA)

Spokane

(WA)

GROWTH TYPE

Sources: US Census Bureau, Washington Center for Real Estate Research & Idaho Assoc of Realtors

Diversified Key Industries (percent of total employment)

Retail (9.3%)

Local Gov’t

(9.7%)

Agriculture

(12.1%)

Health Care &

Social Assistance

(12.8%)

Manufacturing

(14.5%)

Walla Walla

(WA)

Healthcare & Social

Assistance (8.4%)

Healthcare &

Social Assistance

(11.6%)

Leisure &

Hospitality

(13.5%)

Retail (10.7%)

Local Gov’t

(9.8%)

Administrative &

Support Services;

includes Airline

Reservations (7.0%)

Accommodation &

Food Services

(7.1%)

Manufacturing

(9.4%)

Retail (11.3%)

Salt Lake

(UT)

Retail (9.7%)

Manufacturing

(9.8%)

Local Gov’t

(13.0%)

Agriculture

(21.3%)

Yakima

(WA)

Educational &

Healthcare

(10.4%)

Prof & Business

Svc

(11.4%)

Total Gov’t

(18.0%)

Retail & Wholesale

(18.9%)

Kootenai

(WA)

Healthcare &

Social Assistance

(8.4%)

Accommodation &

Food Services

(8.1%)

Agriculture

(10.1%)

Manufacturing

(8.7%)

Prof & Technical

Svc (11.1%)

Retail (12.8%)

Local Gov’t

(12.9%)

Healthcare &

Social Assistance

(14.5%)

Tri-Cities

(WA)

Spokane

(WA)

Sources: Washington State Employment Security Dept., Idaho Dept.

of Commerce and Labor

Profit-Based Growth Strategy

•

Focus on Fundamental “Relationship-Based”

Community Banking

•

Solidify Credit Culture

•

Expansion of Retail Banking

•

Development of Sales Culture

•

Growth through de novo Branching and

Acquisitions

AWBC Net Income ($ in millions)

2001                      2002

2003                     2004               

2005

$9.2

$10.9

$14.0

$9.5

$13.9

AWBC Diluted Earnings per Share*

$0.92

$1.10

$1.34

$0.91

$1.31

*Adjusted for stock dividends

2001                        2002                    2003

2004                      2005

Trends in ROAA and ROAE (percentage)

2001                   2002                     2003            

2004

2005

13.87

15.08

15.87

9.37

12.34

1.46

1.41

1.47

0.88

1.29

Return on Average Equity

Return on Average Assets

AWBC vs. Peer Net Interest Margin

(percentage)

5.47

2001                    2002

2003                     2004                  2005

AWBC

Peer Group (average)

Source: Bank Holding Company Performance Report

6.08

5.85

6.36

6.04

4.07

4.16

4.25

4.05

3.99

AWBC vs. Peer Non-Performing Assets

1.73

2001                    2002

2003                    2004                   2005

AWBC

Peer Group (average)

Source: Bank Holding Company Performance Report

2.74

2.52

2.26

3.06

% of NPA Divided by Gross Loans and ORE

0.75

0.76

0.61

0.52

0.70

AWBC vs. Peer Capital Ratios (Tier I)

10.65

2001                    2002

2003                    2004                   2005

AWBC

Peer Group (average)

Source: Bank Holding Company Performance Report

8.54

9.84

9.18

9.03

8.56

8.68

8.65

8.80

8.55

AWBC Total Assets ($ in millions)

Grant

National

Bank of

Pullman

Bank of

Latah

Bank of

the West

1997          1998            1999                2000         

2001       2002

2003

2004          2005      Q1 2006

$487

$513

$528

$599

$659

$917

$1,024

$1,049

$1,109

$1,338

Columbia

Trust Bank

Q1 2006 Highlights

•

Completed Columbia Trust Bancorp Acquisition

Assets in excess of $200MM as of 3/15/06

Anticipated cost savings and accretion within 12 months

•

Opened de novo Financial Center in Sandpoint, ID

•

Grew Organic Loan Portfolio by 4.2%

•

Core Deposits Up $4.9MM

•

Nonperforming Loans to Total Gross Loans

Decreased to 1.33% from 1.50% at 12/31/05

Commercial RE

52.2%

Agriculture

12.8%

RE Construction

2.8%

Commercial &

Industrial

24.4%

RE Mortgage

5.5%

Installment and

Other

2.3%

Gross Loans and Leases, including HFS, $1.149B at 3-31-06

Loan Portfolio

Noninterest

Checking

21%

Time Deposits

35%

NOW & Savings

Accounts/MMDA

44%

Deposit Portfolio

Total Deposits $1.082B at of 3-31-06

$(1,490)

$3,139

$1,649

NET INCOME

(686)

1,566

880

Provision for Income Tax

(2,176)

4,705

2,529

INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAX

2,142

9,526

11,668

Noninterest Expense

(277)

2,033

1,756

Noninterest Income

243

12,198

12,441

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION

(293)

1,075

782

Provision for loan losses

(50)

13,273

13,223

NET INTEREST INCOME

2,548

3,595

6,143

TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE

539

568

1,107

Interest on borrowings

2,009

3,027

5,036

Interest on deposits

2,498

16,868

19,366

TOTAL INTEREST INCOME

156

353

509

Interest on investments and other

$2,342

$16,515

$18,857

Interest and fees on loans

$ Variance

3/31/2005

3/31/2006

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND 2005 ($ in thousands, unaudited)

Statements of Income

$228,883

$1,109,134

$1,338,017

TOTAL

LIABILITIES

and

STOCKHOLDERS’

EQUITY

22,932

121,477

144,409

Total

Stockholders’

Equity

205,951

987,657

1,193,608

TOTAL LIABILITIES

628

8,380

9,008

Other Liabilities

20,731

81,847

102,578

Borrowings

$184,592

$897,430

$1,082,022

Deposits

LIABILITIES

$228,883

$1,109,134

$1,338,017

TOTAL ASSETS

32,004

74,538

106,542

Other assets

184,509

951,288

1,135,797

Net Loans, including HFS

14,041

31,364

45,405

Securities

$(1,671)

$ 51,944

$50,273

Cash and cash equivalents

$ Variance

12/31/2005

3/31/2006

ASSETS

($ in thousands, unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheet

2006 Performance Targets

•

Drive Income Growth

Loan and deposit portfolio growth in the mid-high teens

Further diversify loans with growth in C&I and consumer loans

Target increase in non-interest checking accounts

•

Realize CTB Cost Savings and Target Accretion

•

Continue to Improve Credit Quality with NPAs/Loans < 1.00%

•

Improve Noninterest

Income/Revenues with Services

•

Decrease Noninterest

Expense/Assets through Growth

•

Optimally Deploy Capital to Enhance Shareholder Value while

Maintaining “Well-Capitalized”

Regulatory Ratios

•

Achieve Strong ROA > 1.30% and ROE > 13%

AWBC Share Price History (6-04 to 3-06)

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender

Thank You.

AmericanWest Bancorporation

AmericanWest Bank Building

41 W Riverside, Suite 400

Spokane, Washington 99201

(509) 467-6993

www.awbank.net

InvestorInfo@awbank.net