Capital Corp of the West Common Stock Sold

Business Wire, Sept 5, 1997

MERCED, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 1997--Capital Corp of the West, parent company for County Bank and Town & Country Finance & Thrift, recently sold 1,725,000 shares of common stock at $11.50 per share in a public offering.

The offering, underwritten by Sutro & Co. Incorporated, was completed on August 28 and netted approximately $18 million after underwriters' discounts and expenses. The funds will be used to finance the acquisition of three branches of Bank of America in Livingston, Dos Palos and Mariposa in California's Central Valley, and for general corporate purposes. The conversion of these offices is scheduled for December 1997.

At June 30, 1997, Capital Corp of the West (NASDAQ:CCOW) had consolidated assets of $293 million, net loans of $193 million and deposits of $258 million. Capital Corp of the West's common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol CCOW.

County Bank, celebrating 20 years of quality service, currently has nine offices located in Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties. Town & Country Finance & Thrift has four offices located in Fresno, Visalia, Turlock and Modesto. This year is also an anniversary year for Town & Country Finance & Thrift, as they celebrate 40 years as a leading service provider. Both organizations are members FDIC and are equal housing lenders.

For further information, please contact Janey Boyce, SVP/Chief Financial Officer or Tom Hawker/CEO/President at 209/725-2269.

CONTACT: Capital Corp of the West

Jo Linda Thompson, 209/725-2219