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): July 22, 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).



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The Exhibit Index is on Page 4



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Item 5.  Other Events.

The Registrant issued a press release dated July 22, 2003 announcing net income
of $2,884,000 for the second quarter of 2003.  Net income  increased  13.2% over
the  $2,547,000  reported for the second quarter of 2002.  Diluted  earnings per
share for the second quarter of 2003 increased  12.0% to $0.28 from $0.25 in the
prior  year  period.  The  annualized  return on equity  (ROE) and the return on
assets (ROA) for the second quarter of 2003 were 13.95% and 1.26% as compared to
14.47% and 1.20% for the same period in 2002.

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 July 22, 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:  July 22, 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 July 22, 2003            5



                                       4