8-K

                       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): January 27, 2004
                                                        ----------------


                             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 5

The Exhibit Index is on Page 4



                                       1




Item 5.  Other Events.

         On January 26, 2004, the Board of Directors of Central Coast Bancorp
(NASDAQ/CCBN) approved a 10% stock dividend.  Shareholders will receive
one (1) additional share of Common Stock for every ten (10) shares outstanding.

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 January 27, 2004




                                       2


                                  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:  January 27, 2004                By: /s/ ROBERT M. STANBERRY
                                       ----------------------------
                                       Robert M. Stanberry, CFO



                                       3


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

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

99.1                Press Release dated January 27, 2004         5



                                       4

EX-99

CENTRAL COAST BANCORP

CENTRAL COAST BANCORP ANNOUNCES 10% STOCK DIVIDEND

PRESS RELEASE	Contact: Rob Stanberry
	Chief Financial Officer
For Release 9:00 am EDT	(831) 422-6642

Salinas, California — January 27, 2004. At its regularly scheduled meeting on January 26, 2004, the Board of Directors of Central Coast Bancorp (Nasdaq/CCBN) approved a 10% stock dividend. The dividend is payable on February 27, 2004 to holders of record at the close of business on February 12, 2004.

Nick Ventimiglia, Chairman and CEO, noted that this will be the 18^th stock dividend or split in the twenty-one years of the Company’s existence. The Board feels the dividend will help improve market liquidity of its common shares, as total shares outstanding will increase to approximately 10,921,000 shares from 9,928,000 at December 31, 2003.

Central Coast Bancorp operates as a holding company for Community Bank of Central California. Community Bank, headquartered in Salinas, has branch offices located in: the Monterey County communities of Salinas (2), Monterey (2), Seaside, Marina, Castroville, Gonzales and King City; the Santa Clara County community of Gilroy; the Santa Cruz County community of Watsonville; and in the San Benito County community of Hollister. The Bank provides traditional deposit, lending, mortgage and commercial products and services to business and retail customers throughout the California Central Coast area.

Information on the Company and its subsidiary Bank may be obtained from the Company’s website www.community-bnk.com.

301 Main Street, Salinas, California 93901