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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 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 24, 2008
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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
CALIFORNIA
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-9383 94-2156203
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
1108 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, California 94901
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(707) 863-6000
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
of the following provisions:
[] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4c))
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Exhibits
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99.1 Press release dated July 24, 2008
Item 8.01: Other Events
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On July 24, 2008 Westamerica Bancorporation declared a quarterly cash dividend.
A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is
incorporated herein by reference.
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Signatures
Pursuant to 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.
Westamerica Bancorporation
/s/ JOHN "ROBERT" THORSON
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John "Robert" Thorson
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
July 24, 2008
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Sequentially
Exhibit No. Description Number Page
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(99.1) Press release dated 5-6
July 24, 2008
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Exhibit 99.1:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2008
WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION ANNOUNCES
QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
San Rafael, CA: The Board of Directors of Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ:
WABC) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share on common
stock outstanding to shareholders of record at the close of business on August
4, 2008. The dividend is payable August 15, 2008.
"Westamerica's earnings are strong, with a margin now in excess of 5.10 percent.
Our balance sheet is solid with stable credit quality and a loan loss reserve
exceeding 2 percent of loans," stated Chairman, President and CEO David Payne.
"Our capital grew $11 million in the second quarter 2008, with total regulatory
capital exceeding 11.5 percent at June 30, 2008. We are proud to have delivered
an annualized return on average shareholders' equity of 19.4 percent in the
first half of 2008", added Payne.
Westamerica Bancorporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Westamerica
Bank, operates 86 branches throughout 21 Northern and Central California
counties.
Westamerica Bancorporation Web Address: www.westamerica.com
For additional information contact:
Westamerica Bancorporation
Robert A. Thorson - SVP & Chief Financial Officer
707-863-6840
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
The following appears in accordance with the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements about the Company,
including descriptions of plans or objectives of its management for future
operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings or
other measures of economic performance. Forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current
facts. They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate,"
"intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or
conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may."
Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and
uncertainties. A number of factors - many of which are beyond the Company's
control - could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ
significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. The
Company's most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2008 and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, describe some
of these factors, including certain credit, market, operational, liquidity and
interest rate risks associated with the Company's business and operations.
Other factors described in these reports include changes in business and
economic conditions, competition, fiscal and monetary policies,
disintermediation, legislation including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, and mergers and acquisitions.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company
does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances
or events that occur after the date forward looking statements are made.
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