EXHIBIT 99.1
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 21, 2000
AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES 4% INCREASE IN CASH DIVIDEND
Sacramento, CA - December 21, 2000 - In accordance with their Shareholder Value
Plan established in 1992, the Board of Directors of American River Holdings
(Nasdaq: AMRB) just declared a cash dividend of $0.130 (thirteen cents) per
common share, representing a 4% increase from the last dividend declared in
June.
Since 1996 it has been the Company's practice to increase their semi-annual cash
dividends. Semi-annual cash dividends have been declared since 1992.
This 13-cent per share cash dividend will be payable to shareholders of record
on January 17, 2001 and distributed on January 31, 2001.
American River Holdings is the parent company of American River Bank, a business
bank in Sacramento with four offices, North Coast Bank, a business bank in
Sonoma County with three offices, and first source capital, a business equipment
lease financing company.
On November 30, 2000, total assets of the Company were $273 million.
Related web sites: www.amrb.com, www.americanriverbank.net,
www.northcoastbank.com, www.firstsourcecapital.com
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THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ABOUT AMERICAN
RIVER HOLDINGS' AND SUBSIDIARIES' FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,
PLANS, OBJECTIVES AND FUTURE PERFORMANCE. A NUMBER OF FACTORS, ANY OF WHICH ARE
BEYOND THE CONTROL OF AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, COULD CAUSE
ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS.
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