SECURITIES & 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): April 24, 2003


                         CENTRAL COAST BANCORP
         -----------------------------------------------------
         (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



STATE OF CALIFORNIA                    0-25418                77-0367061
-------------------                   ---------            ----------------
(State or other jurisdiction)       (Commission file       (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)    number)                Identification No.)



301 Main Street, Salinas, California                            93901
--------------------------------------                         --------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)

Registrants telephone number including area code:    (831) 422-6642
                                                   --------------------

                             Not Applicable
     -------------------------------------------------------------
     (Former name or former address, if changed since last report).



Page 1 of 9

The Exhibit Index is on Page 4



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Item 5.  Other Events.

         The Registrant issued a press release dated April 21, 2003
announcing record net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.  Net
income for first quarter 2003 increased 8.5% to $2,969,000 versus
$2,736,000 in 2002.  Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter
of 2003 increased 11.5% to $0.29 from $0.26 in the prior year period.
The earnings per share for the 2002 quarter have been adjusted for the
10% stock dividend distributed in February 2003.

Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

        (a)   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

              Not Applicable.

        (b)   PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

              Not Applicable.

        (c)   EXHIBITS.

              (99.1)    Press Release dated April 21, 2003





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                               SIGNATURES

         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.



                                        CENTRAL COAST BANCORP


Date:  April 24, 2003                   By: /s/ ROBERT M. STANBERRY
                                        ----------------------------
                                        Robert M. Stanberry, CFO



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                            EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                   Sequential
Exhibit No.               Description                               Page No.
-----------               -----------                               --------

99.1                      Press Release dated April 21, 2003            5



                                       4