<PAGE>
===============================================================================
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: May 20, 1998
REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP
(Exact number of Registrant as specified in its charter)
California File No. 0-19231 68-0166366
---------- ---------------- ----------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer)
of Incorporated or organization) Identification No.)
111 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95404-4905
- --------------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (707) 573-4800
--------------
===============================================================================
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
Press releases for the following (article attached):
Redwood Empire Bancorp declares reinstatement of quarterly cash
dividends on its Common Stock.
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.
5/20/98
Date: ------------------- REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP
----------------------
(Registrant)
/s/ James E. Beckwith
By: ---------------------
James E. Beckwith
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
<PAGE>
FOR: REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP
APPROVED BY: James Beckwith
Chief Financial Officer
(707) 522-5215
CONTACT: Morgen-Walke Associates, Inc.
John Swenson, Micah Epps
(415) 296-7383
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sandra Badurina
(212) 850-5600
REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDENDS
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (May 19, 1998) -- Redwood Empire Bancorp (AMEX: REB) today
announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of
4 cents per share on the Company's Common Stock. The dividend is payable on
July 15, 1998 to shareholders of record on June 30, 1998.
"This represents our first dividend paid to holders of Common Stock since
September 1994 and reflects the increased profitability of the Company," noted
Tom Whitaker, Chairman of Redwood Empire Bancorp. "The Common Stock dividend
also reflects our confidence in the Company's future and our commitment to
increasing shareholder value."
Redwood Empire Bancorp is the holding company for National Bank of the
Redwoods, a commercial bank. The Company operates through branches and loan
production offices in various northern California locations.
# # #