SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

                Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year                               Commission File Number 0-10661
ended December 31, 1996

                                TriCo Bancshares
                                ----------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      California                                                 94-2792841
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)

15 Independence Circle, Chico, California                           95973
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:(916) 898-0300
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                         Common Stock, without par value
                         -------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  periods that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. 

                                YES  X     NO
                                   -----     -----

The  aggregate  market value of the voting stock held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant,  as  of  March  25,  1997,  was  approximately   $92,538,574.   This
computation excludes a total of 1,382,097 shares which are beneficially owned by
the officers and directors of Registrant  who may be deemed to be the affiliates
of Registrant under applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The number of shares outstanding of Registrant's  classes of common stock, as of
March 25, 1997, was 4,641,623 shares of Common Stock, without par value.

The following  documents are incorporated  herein by reference into the parts of
Form 10-K indicated:  Registrant's  Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1996, for Item 7 and  Registrant's  Proxy  Statement for
use in connection with its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for Part III.

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best  of  the  Registrant's   knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in  Part  III of the  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. 



 
                                     PART I

1.  BUSINESS

Formation of Bank Holding Company

         TriCo  Bancshares  (hereinafter  the  "Company"  or  "Registrant")  was
incorporated  under the laws of the State of  California on October 13, 1981. It
was  organized at the  direction of the Board of Directors of Tri Counties  Bank
(the "Bank") for the purpose of forming a bank holding company.  On September 7,
1982, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company was merged with and into the Bank
resulting  in the  shareholders  of the Bank  becoming the  shareholders  of the
Company and the Bank becoming the wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company.  (The
merger of the  wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Company with and into the Bank is
hereafter   referred   to  as  the   "Reorganization.")   At  the  time  of  the
Reorganization,  the  Company  became  a bank  holding  company  subject  to the
supervision  of the  Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System  (the
"Board") in  accordance  with the Bank Holding  Company Act of 1956, as amended.
The Bank remains  subject to the  supervision  of the  California  State Banking
Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation (the "FDIC"). The Bank
currently  is the only  subsidiary  of the  Company  and the Company has not yet
commenced any business operations independent of the Bank.

Provision of Banking Services

         The Bank was incorporated as a California  banking  corporation on June
26, 1974, and received its Certificate of Authority to begin banking  operations
on March 11, 1975.

         The Bank  engages in the  general  commercial  banking  business in the
California counties of Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mendocino,
Merced,  Shasta,  Siskiyou,  Stanislaus,  Sutter, Tehama, and Yuba counties. The
Bank currently has 24 traditional and seven in-store  branch offices.  It opened
its first  banking  office  in Chico,  California  in 1975,  followed  by branch
offices in  Willows,  Durham and Orland,  California.  The Bank opened its fifth
banking  office at an  additional  location in Chico in 1980. On March 27, 1981,
the Bank  acquired  the assets of Shasta  County Bank and thereby  acquired  six
additional  offices.  These  offices are located in the  communities  of Bieber,
Burney,  Cottonwood,  Fall River Mills, Palo Cedro and Redding,  California.  On
November 7, 1987,  the Bank  purchased  the  deposits  and premises of the Yreka
Branch of Wells Fargo Bank,  thereby  acquiring an additional  branch office. On
August 1, 1988,  the Bank  opened a new office in Chico at East 20th  Street and
Forest  Avenue.  The Bank opened a branch  office in Yuba City on September  10,
1990.  The Bank opened four  supermarket  branches  in 1994.  These  supermarket
branches  were  opened  on March 7,  March 28,  June 6 and June 13,  1994 in Red
Bluff,  Yuba  City,  and  two  in  Redding  respectively.  The  Bank  added  one
conventional  branch in Redding through its acquisition of Country National Bank
on July 21, 1994. On November 7, 1995,  the Bank opened a supermarket  branch in
Chico.  In March  1996 the Bank  opened  its sixth  supermarket  branch in Grass
Valley.  The  acquisition  of Sutter Buttes Savings Bank in October 1996 added a
branch in  Marysville.  In 1996 the Bank entered  into an  agreement  with Wells
Fargo Bank,  N.A. to purchase nine branches.  This  acquisition was completed on
February 21, 1997. The acquired branches are located in Crescent City, Weed, Mt.
Shasta, Susanville, Covelo, Middletown,  Patterson, Gustine and Chowchilla. This
acquisition  expanded  the Bank's  market  area from the  Sacramento  Valley and
intermountain  areas to include  parts of the  northern  coastal  region and the
northern San Joaquin Valley.

         General  Banking  Services.  The Bank  conducts  a  commercial  banking
business  including  accepting  demand,  savings  and time  deposits  and making
commercial,  real estate,  and consumer loans. It also offers  installment  note
collection, issues cashier's checks and money orders, sells travelers checks and
provides  safe deposit boxes and other  customary  banking  services.  Brokerage
services  are  provided  at the Bank's  offices by the Bank's  association  with
Investment  Service of America  (ISFA) under the name INVEST.  The Bank does not
offer trust services or international banking services.

         The Bank's operating  policy since its inception has emphasized  retail
banking.  Most of the  Bank's  customers  are  retail  customers  and  small  to
medium-sized  businesses.  The business of the Bank emphasizes serving the needs
of local businesses, farmers and ranchers, retired individuals and wage earners.
The  majority  of the Bank's  loans are direct  loans  made to  individuals  and
businesses in the area. At December 31, 1996,  the total of the Bank's  consumer
installment loans outstanding was $75,498,000  (17.2%),  the total of commercial
loans outstanding was $176,868,000  (40.3%),  and the total of real estate loans
including  construction loans of $26,348,000 was $186,923,000  (42.5%). The Bank
takes real estate,  listed and unlisted  securities,  savings and time deposits,
automobiles,  machinery,  equipment,  inventory,  accounts  receivable and notes
receivable secured by property as collateral for loans.

                                       2


         Most  of  the  Bank's  deposits  are  attracted  from  individuals  and
business-related  sources.  No single  person  or group of  persons  provides  a
material  portion of the Bank's  deposits,  the loss of any one or more of which
would have a materially  adverse  effect on the  business of the Bank,  nor is a
material  portion of the Bank's loans  concentrated  within a single industry or
group of related industries.

         In order to attract  loan and deposit  business  from  individuals  and
small to  medium-sized  businesses,  branches  of the Bank  set  lobby  hours to
accommodate  local demands.  In general,  lobby hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Certain
branches with less activity open later and close earlier. Some Bank offices also
utilize  drive-up  facilities   operating  from  9:00  a.m.  to  7:00  p.m.  The
supermarket  branches  are open  from  9:00 a.m.  to 7:00  p.m.  Monday  through
Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

         The Bank  offers 24 hour  ATMs at all  branch  locations.  The ATMs are
linked to several  national and regional  networks  such as CIRRUS and STAR.  In
addition, banking by telephone on a 24 hour toll-free number is available to all
customers.  This service  allows a customer to inquire for account  balances and
most recent transactions,  transfer moneys between accounts, make loan payments,
and obtain interest rate information.

         Other  activities.  The Bank  presently  offers  the  banking  services
referred  to above and  pursuant  to  California  legislation,  TCB Real  Estate
Corporation,  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of the Bank,  engages in limited real
estate investment. Such investment consists of holding certain real property for
the purpose of development or as income earning assets. The amount of the Bank's
assets  committed  to such  investment  does not  exceed the total of the Bank's
capital and surplus. In 1996 the FDIC directed the Bank to divest the properties
held by TCB Real Estate Corp. and to terminate its operations. The Bank and FDIC
have agreed to a plan that will accomplish the divestiture by June 30, 1999.

         The Bank may in the future engage in other  businesses  either directly
or  indirectly  through  subsidiaries  acquired or formed by the Bank subject to
regulatory constraints. See "Regulation, Supervision and Permitted Activities of
the Company."

         Employees.  At December 31, 1996, the Company and the Bank employed 339
persons,  including four executive officers.  No employees of the Company or the
Bank  are  presently  represented  by a union  or  covered  under  a  collective
bargaining  agreement.  Management  believes  that its  employee  relations  are
excellent.

         Competition.  The banking business in California generally,  and in the
Bank's primary service area specifically,  is highly competitive with respect to
both loans and deposits.  It is dominated by a relatively  small number of major
banks  with  many  offices  operating  over a wide  geographic  area.  Among the
advantages such major banks have over the Bank are their ability to finance wide
ranging advertising campaigns and to allocate their investment assets to regions
of high yield and demand. By virtue of their greater total  capitalization  such
institutions have  substantially  higher lending limits than does the Bank since
legal lending limits to an individual  customer are limited to a percentage of a
Bank's total capital accounts.

         In addition to competing with savings  institutions,  commercial  banks
compete  with  other  financial  markets  for  funds.  Yields on  corporate  and
government  debt  securities  and other  commercial  paper affect the ability of
commercial banks to attract and hold deposits. Commercial banks also compete for
available  funds with money market  instruments  and mutual  funds.  During past
periods of high interest  rates,  money market funds have  provided  substantial
competition  to banks for deposits and they may continue to do so in the future.
In today's stock market  environment  mutual funds have become a major source of
competition for savings dollars.

         The Bank relies substantially on local promotional  activity,  personal
contacts by its officers, directors, employees and shareholders, extended hours,
personalized  service  and its  reputation  in the  communities  it  services to
compete effectively.

                                       3


Regulation and Supervision

         As a registered bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act
of 1956  (the  "BHC  Act"),  the  Company  is  subject  to the  regulations  and
supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB"). The
BHC Act requires the Company to file reports with the FRB and provide additional
information  requested  by the FRB. The Company must receive the approval of the
FRB before it may acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any bank, or
ownership or control of the voting shares of any bank if, after giving effect to
such acquisition of shares, the Company would own or control more than 5 percent
of the voting shares of such bank.

         The Company  and any  subsidiaries  it may acquire or organize  will be
deemed to be  affiliates  of the Bank within the Federal  Reserve Act.  That Act
establishes  certain  restrictions  which limit the extent to which the Bank can
supply  its funds to the  Company  and other  affiliates.  The  Company  is also
subject to restrictions on the underwriting and the public sale and distribution
of securities.  It is prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in
connection  with  any  extension  of  credit,  sale or  lease  of  property,  or
furnishing of services.

         The Company is  prohibited  from  engaging in, or  acquiring  direct or
indirect  control of any company engaged in non-banking  activities,  unless the
FRB by order or regulation  has found such  activities to be closely  related to
banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto.

         Under California law, dividends and other  distributions by the Company
are subject to  declaration  by the Board of Directors at its  discretion out of
net assets.  Dividends  cannot be declared and paid when such payment would make
the Company insolvent.

         FRB policy  prohibits a bank holding company from declaring or paying a
cash  dividend  which would impose undue  pressure on the capital of  subsidiary
banks or would be funded only  through  borrowings  or other  arrangements  that
might adversely  affect the holding  company's  financial  position.  The policy
further  declares that a bank holding  company  should not continue its existing
rate of cash  dividends on its common stock unless its net income is  sufficient
to fully fund each  dividend  and its  prospective  rate of  earnings  retention
appears  consistent with its capital needs,  asset quality and overall financial
condition.  Other FRB policies forbid the payment by bank  subsidiaries to their
parent companies of management fees which are unreasonable in amount or exceed a
fair market  value of the services  rendered  (or, if no market  exists,  actual
costs plus a reasonable profit).

         In addition,  the FRB has authority to prohibit banks that it regulates
from  engaging  in  practices  which in the  opinion  of the FRB are  unsafe  or
unsound.  Such  practices  may  include  the  payment  of  dividends  under some
circumstances.  Moreover,  the payment of  dividends  may be  inconsistent  with
capital adequacy guidelines. The Company may be subject to assessment to restore
the capital of the Bank should it become impaired.

         Federal  Reserve  Regulation "Y" (12 C.F.R.  Part 225) sets forth those
activities  which are  regarded  as closely  related to banking or  managing  or
controlling  banks and, thus, are permissible  activities that may be engaged in
by bank holding  companies  subject to approval in individual  cases by the FRB.
Litigation has challenged the validity of certain  activities  authorized by the
FRB  for  bank  holding  companies,  and the FRB  has  various  regulations  and
applications in this regard still under consideration.

         The Company is subject to the minimum capital  requirements of the FRB.
As a result of these  requirements,  the  growth in  assets  of the  Company  is
limited by the amount of its  capital  accounts  as defined by the FRB.  Capital
requirements   may  have  an  affect  on   profitability   and  the  payment  of
distributions  by the  Company.  If the Company is unable to increase its assets
without  violating  the  minimum  capital  requirements,  or is forced to reduce
assets, its ability to generate earnings would be reduced. Furthermore, earnings
may need to be retained rather than paid as distributions to shareholders.

         The  FRB  has  adopted   guidelines   utilizing  a  risk-based  capital
structure.  These  guidelines  apply on a  consolidated  basis  to bank  holding
companies  with  consolidated  assets of $150 million or more.  For bank holding
companies  with less than $150 million in  consolidated  assets,  the guidelines
apply on a bank-only  basis  unless the  holding  company is engaged in non-bank
activity  involving   significant  leverage  or  has  a  significant  amount  of
outstanding debt that is held by the general public.  The Company  currently has
consolidated  assets of more  than $150  million;  accordingly,  the  risk-based
capital guidelines apply to the Company.

                                       4


         Qualifying  capital is divided into two tiers.  Tier 1 capital consists
generally of common stockholder's  equity,  qualifying  noncumulative  perpetual
preferred  stock,  qualifying  cumulative  perpetual  preferred  stock (up to 25
percent of total Tier 1 capital) and minority  interests in the equity  accounts
of consolidated  subsidiaries less goodwill and certain other intangible assets.
Tier 2 capital  consists of, among other  things,  allowance  for loan and lease
losses up to 1.25 percent of weighted risk assets,  perpetual  preferred  stock,
hybrid  capital  instruments,   perpetual  debt,   mandatory   convertible  debt
securities,  subordinated  debt and  intermediate-term  preferred stock.  Tier 2
capital  qualifies  as part of total  capital up to a maximum of 100  percent of
Tier 1  capital.  Amounts  in excess of these  limits  may be issued but are not
included in the  calculation of risk-based  capital  ratios.  As of December 31,
1996 the  Company  must have a minimum  ratio of  qualifying  total  capital  to
weighted  risk assets of 8 percent,  of which at least 4 percent  must be in the
form of Tier 1 capital.

         The Federal regulatory  agencies have adopted a minimum Tier 1 leverage
ratio which is intended to supplement  risk-based  capital  requirements  and to
ensure that all financial institutions,  even those that invest predominantly in
low-risk assets,  continue to maintain a minimum level of Tier 1 capital.  These
regulations provide that a banking  organization's minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio
be  determined  by dividing its Tier 1 capital by its  quarterly  average  total
assets,  less goodwill and certain other  intangible  assets.  Under the current
rules,  TriCo is  required  to  maintain a minimum  Tier 1  leverage  ratio of 4
percent.

Insurance of Deposits.

         The Bank's deposit accounts are insured up to a maximum of $100,000 per
depositor by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The FDIC issues
regulations and generally  supervises the operations of its insured banks.  This
supervision  and  regulation  is  intended   primarily  for  the  protection  of
depositors.

         Effective June 1, 1995,  deposit insurance premiums decreased from $.23
per $100.00 of deposits to $.04 per $100.00 of  deposits.  Effective  January 1,
1996, the insurance rate was reduced to $0.00 per $100.00. This rate will remain
in effect as long as the Bank  Insurance Fund is capitalized at its legal limit.
In November 1990,  federal  legislation  was passed which removed the cap on the
amount of deposit insurance premiums that can be charged by the FDIC. Under this
legislation,  the FDIC is able to increase deposit insurance premiums as it sees
fit. This could result in a significant  increase in the cost of doing  business
for the Bank in the  future.  The  FDIC  now has  authority  to  adjust  deposit
insurance premiums paid by insured banks every six months.

Risk-Based Capital Requirements.

         The Bank is subject to the minimum capital requirements of the FDIC. As
a result of these  requirements,  the growth in assets of the Bank is limited by
the amount of its capital accounts as defined by the FRB.  Capital  requirements
may have an effect on  profitability  and the payment of dividends on the common
stock  of the  Bank.  If the Bank is  unable  to  increase  its  assets  without
violating the minimum capital  requirements  or is forced to reduce assets,  its
ability to generate earnings would be reduced.  Further, earnings may need to be
retained rather than paid as dividends to the Company.

         Federal  banking law requires the federal  banking  regulators  to take
"prompt  corrective  action"  with  respect  to banks  that do not meet  minimum
capital  requirements.  In response to this requirement,  the FDIC adopted final
rules based upon the five capital tiers defined by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation  Improvement  Act of 1991  (FDICIA);  well  capitalized,  adequately
capitalized,  under capitalized,  significantly under capitalized and critically
under capitalized.  For example, the FDIC's rules provide that an institution is
"well-capitalized" if its risk-based capital ratio is 10 percent or greater; its
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is 6 percent or greater; its leverage ratio is 5
percent or greater; and the institution is not subject to a capital directive or
an enforceable written agreement or order. A bank is "adequately capitalized" if
its  risk-based  capital  ratio is 8 percent or greater;  its Tier 1  risk-based
capital  ratio is 4 percent or greater;  and its leverage  ratio is 4 percent or
greater (3 percent or greater for "one" rated  institutions).  An institution is
"significantly  undercapitalized" if its risk-based capital ratio is less than 6
percent;  its Tier 1  risk-based  capital  ratio is less than 3 percent;  or its
tangible  equity  (Tier 1  capital)  to total  assets is equal to or less than 2
percent. An institution may be deemed to be in a capitalization category that is
lower than is indicated by its actual  capital  position if it engages in unsafe
or unsound banking practices.

                                       5


         No sanctions  apply to  institutions  which are "well" or  "adequately"
capitalized under the prompt corrective  action  requirements.  Undercapitalized
institutions  are required to submit a capital  restoration  plan for  improving
capital.  In order to be accepted,  such plan must include a financial  guaranty
from the  institution's  holding  company  that the  institution  will return to
capital  compliance.  If such a  guarantee  were  deemed to be a  commitment  to
maintain  capital  under the federal  Bankruptcy  Code, a claim for a subsequent
breach of the  obligations  under  such  guarantee  in a  bankruptcy  proceeding
involving the holding  company would be entitled to a priority over  third-party
general   unsecured   creditors   of  the  holding   company.   Undercapitalized
institutions  are  prohibited  from  making  capital   distributions  or  paying
management fees to controlling  persons;  may be subject to growth  limitations;
and  acquisitions,  branching  and  entering  into  new  lines of  business  are
restricted.  Finally,  the  institution's  regulatory  agency has  discretion to
impose  certain  of  the  restrictions  generally  applicable  to  significantly
undercapitalized institutions.

         In  the  event  an   institution   is   deemed   to  be   significantly
undercapitalized,  it may be  required  to: sell  stock;  merge or be  acquired;
restrict  transactions  with affiliates;  restrict interest rates paid; divest a
subsidiary;  or dismiss specified directors or officers. If the institution is a
bank holding company, it may be prohibited from making any capital distributions
without prior approval of the FRB and may be required to divest a subsidiary.  A
critically  undercapitalized  institution  is generally  prohibited  from making
payments on  subordinated  debt and may not,  without the  approval of the FDIC,
enter into a material transaction other than in the ordinary course of business;
engage in any covered  transaction;  or pay excessive  compensation  or bonuses.
Critically  undercapitalized  institutions  are  subject  to  appointment  of  a
receiver or conservator.

Bank Regulation.

         The federal regulatory agencies are required to adopt regulations which
will establish safety and soundness standards which will apply to banks and bank
holding  companies.  These standards must address bank  operations,  management,
asset  quality,  earnings,  stock  valuation and employee  compensation.  A bank
holding  company  or  bank  failing  to meet  established  standards  will  face
mandatory regulatory enforcement action.

         The  grounds  upon which a  conservator  or  receiver  of a bank can be
appointed  have been  expanded.  For example,  a conservator  or receiver can be
appointed for a bank which fails to maintain  minimum  capital levels and has no
reasonable prospect of becoming adequately capitalized.

         Federal law also requires, with some exception,  that each bank have an
annual  examination  performed by its primary federal  regulatory agency, and an
outside  independent  audit.  The outside audit must  consider  bank  regulatory
compliance in addition to financial statement reporting.

         Federal law also  restricts  the  acceptance  of  brokered  deposits by
insured  depository  institutions  and  contains  a number of  consumer  banking
provisions,   including  disclosure  requirements  and  substantive  contractual
limitations with respect to deposit accounts.

Recent Legislation

         As a  consequence  of the extensive  regulation  of commercial  banking
activities  in  the  United  States,   the  business  of  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries  are  particularly  susceptible  to being  affected by enactment of
federal  and state  legislation  which  may have the  effect  of  increasing  or
decreasing  the cost of doing  business,  modifying  permissible  activities  or
enhancing the competitive position of other financial institutions.

         In 1994 the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act
of 1994 was enacted by Congress. Under the act, beginning on September 29, 1995,
bank holding companies may acquire banks in any state,  notwithstanding contrary
state law, and all banks  commonly  owned by a bank  holding  company may act as
agents for one another. An agent bank may receive deposits, renew time deposits,
accept  payments,  and close and service loans for its principal  banks but will
not be considered to be a branch of the principal banks.

         In response to the Riegle-Neal Act,  California  enacted the California
Interstate  Banking  and  Branching  Act of  1995.  This  act  became  effective
September  29, 1995.  Under this act, an  out-of-state  bank can only enter into
interstate  branch  banking  within  California  by acquiring  an existing  bank
operating within California. The California bank must have been in existence for
five years at the time of acquisition.

                                       6


Governmental Monetary Policies and Economic Conditions

         The principal  sources of funds  essential to the business of banks and
bank holding  companies are deposits,  stockholder's  equity and borrowed funds.
The availability of these various sources of funds and other potential  sources,
such as preferred  stock or commercial  paper,  and the extent to which they are
utilized,  depends on many  factors,  the most  important of which are the FRB's
monetary  policies  and the  relative  costs of  different  types of  funds.  An
important  function of the FRB is to regulate the national supply of bank credit
in  order  to  combat  recession  and  curb  inflationary  pressure.  Among  the
instruments  of monetary  policy used by the Federal  Reserve Board to implement
these  objections  are  open  market  operations  in  United  States  Government
securities,  changes in the  discount  rate on bank  borrowings,  and changes in
reserve  requirements  against bank deposits.  The monetary  policies of the FRB
have had a significant  effect on the operating  results of commercial  banks in
the past and are  expected to  continue  to do so in the future.  In view of the
recent changes in regulations  affecting  commercial banks and other actions and
proposed  actions  by  the  federal  government  and  its  monetary  and  fiscal
authorities,  including  proposed  changes  in the  structure  of banking in the
United States, no prediction can be made as to future changes in interest rates,
credit availability,  deposit levels, the overall performance of banks generally
or the Company and its subsidiaries in particular.





                                       7


General

         The Company  conducts  all of its business  operations  within a single
geographic area and within a single industry segment.


2.  PROPERTIES

         As the Company has not yet acquired any  properties  independent of the
Bank,  its  only  subsidiary,   the  properties  of  the  Bank  and  the  Bank's
subsidiaries comprise all of the properties of the Company.

Bank Properties

         The Bank owns and leases properties which house administrative and data
processing  functions and 31 banking offices.  Major owned and leased facilities
are listed below.

Park Plaza Branch                                 Pillsbury Branch
780 Mangrove Avenue                               2171 Pillsbury Road
Chico, CA 95926                                   Chico, CA 95926
10,000 square feet                                5,705 square feet
Leased - term expires 2010                        Owned

Purchasing and Printing Department                Hilltop Branch
2560-C Dominic Drive                              1250 Hilltop Drive
Chico, CA 95928                                   Redding, CA 96049
8,400 square feet                                 6,252 square feet
Leased - term expires 1995                        Owned

Burney Branch                                     Cottonwood Branch
37093 Main Street                                 3349 Main Street
Burney, CA 96013                                  Cottonwood, CA 96022
3,500 square feet                                 4,900 square feet
Owned                                             Owned

Information Administration                        Fall River Mills Branch
110 Independence Circle                           43308 Highway 299 East
Chico, CA 95926                                   Fall River Mills, CA 96028
7,480 square feet                                 2,200 square feet
Owned                                             Owned

Orland Branch                                     Durham Branch
100 E. Walker Street                              9411 Midway
Orland, CA 95963                                  Durham, CA 95938
3,000 square feet                                 2,150 square feet
Owned                                             Owned

Redding Branch                                    Willows Branch
1810 Market Street                                210 North Tehama Street
Redding, CA  96001                                Willows, CA 95988
14,000 square feet                                4,800 square feet
Owned                                             Owned

Palo Cedro Branch                                 Yuba City Branch
9125 Deschutes Road                               1441 Colusa Avenue
Palo Cedro, CA  96073                             Yuba City, CA  9599
34,000 square feet                                6,900 square feet
Owned                                             Owned

Chowchilla Branch                                 Covelo Branch
305 Trinity Street                                76405 Covelo Road
Chowchilla, CA 93610                              Covelo, Ca 95428
6,000 square feet                                 3,000 square feet
Leased - term expires 2009                        Leased - term expires 1997



                                       8


Crescent City Branch                              Gustine Branch
936 Third Street                                  319 Fifth Street
Crescent City, CA 95531                           Gustine, CA 95322
4,700 square feet                                 5,100 square feet
Owned                                             Owned

Marysville Branch                                 Middletown Branch
729 E Street                                      21097 Calistoga Street
Marysville, CA 95901                              Middletown, CA 95461
1,600 square feet                                 2,600 square feet
Leased - term expires 2001                        Leased - term expires 2002

Mt. Shasta Branch                                 Patterson Branch
204 Chestnut Street                               17 Plaza
Mt. Shasta, CA 96067                              Patterson, CA 95363
6,500 square feet                                 4,000 square feet
Leased - term expires 2007                        Owned

Susanville Branch                                 Weed Branch
1605 Main Street                                  303 Main Street
Susanville, CA 96130                              Weed, CA 96094
7,200 square feet                                 6,200 square feet
Leased - term expires 2002                        Owned

TriCo Offices                                     Yreka Branch
15 Independence Circle                            165 South Broadway
Chico, CA  95926                                  Yreka, CA  96097
7,000 square feet                                 6,000 square feet
Leased - term expires 2011                        Owned

Administration Offices                            Data Processing Center
40 Philadelphia Drive                             1103 Fortress
Chico, CA 95926                                   Chico, CA  95926
7,000 square feet                                 13,600 square feet
Owned                                             Leased - term expires 2011


3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

         Neither  the  Company  nor the  Bank is a party to any  material  legal
proceedings,  other than ordinary routine litigation  incidental to the business
of the Company  and the Bank,  nor is any of their  property  the subject of any
such proceedings.

4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

         Not applicable.





                                       9


                                     PART II

5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Market Information
     The Common Stock of the Company trades on the NASDAQ  National Market under
the symbol  "TCBK." The shares were first  listed in the NASDAQ  Stock Market in
April  1993.  The  active  market  makers  on NASDAQ  include:  Hoefer & Arnett,
Incorporated,  Piper Jaffray  Companies Inc.,  Sutro & Co. Inc. and Van Kasper &
Co. Inc.
     The following table summarizes the Common Stock high and low trading prices
and volume of shares  traded by quarter as reported  by NASDAQ.  The prices have
been  adjusted to reflect  the  five-for-four  stock  split  effected as a stock
dividend in September 1995.


                                   Prices of the             Approximate
                                 Company's Common              Trading
                                       Stock                   Volume
Quarter Ended:(1),(2)          High              Low         (in shares)

March 31, 1995              $ 12.80           $ 10.80          118,010
June 30, 1995                 13.20             12.20          213,026
September 30, 1995            16.60             12.00          535,140
December 31, 1995             16.40             14.50          236,821
March 31, 1996                18.50             15.75          579,810
June 30, 1996                 18.75             16.88          266,608
September 30, 1996            22.25             17.00          478,820
December 31, 1996             22.50             19.50          365,032


(1) Quarterly trading activity has been compiled from NASDAQ trading reports.
(2) Adjusted to reflect the 5-for-4 stock split effected on September 22, 1995.

Holders
     As of December 31, 1996, there were  approximately  1,832 holders of record
of the Company's Common Stock.

Dividends
     The Company has paid  quarterly  dividends  since March 1990. For the first
two quarters of 1996, the Company paid dividends of $0.13 per share. A quarterly
dividend of $0.16 per share was paid in the third and fourth  quarters.  In 1995
the  Company  paid  quarterly  dividends  at $.08 per share for the first  three
quarters  (adjusted  for the  5-for-4  split)  and $.13 per share in the  fourth
quarter. The holders of Common Stock of the Company are entitled to receive cash
dividends  when and as declared by the Board of Directors,  out of funds legally
available  therefor,  subject to the  restrictions  set forth in the  California
General  Corporation Law (the  "Corporation  Law"). The Corporation Law provides
that  a  corporation  may  make  a  distribution  to  its  shareholders  if  the
corporation's  retained  earnings  equal at least  the  amount  of the  proposed
distribution.
     The Company, as sole shareholder of the Bank, is entitled to dividends when
and as declared by the Bank's Board of Directors, out of funds legally available
therefore,  subject to the powers of the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation
(the "FDIC") and the  restrictions  set forth in the  California  Financial Code
(the "Financial Code"). The Financial Code provides that a bank may not make any
distributions in excess of the lessor of: (i) the bank's retained  earnings,  or
(ii) the bank's net income for the last three fiscal  years,  less the amount of
any  distributions  made by the bank to its  shareholders  during  such  period.
However, a bank may, with the prior approval of the California Superintendent of
Banks (the  "Superintendent"),  make a distribution to its shareholders of up to
the greater of (A) the bank's retained  earnings,  (B) the bank's net income for
its last fiscal year, or (C) the bank's net income for its current  fiscal year.
If the  Superintendent  determines  that the  shareholders'  equity of a bank is
inadequate  or that a  distribution  by the  bank to its  shareholders  would be
unsafe or unsound,  the Superintendent may order a bank to refrain from making a
proposed  distribution.  The FDIC may also order a bank to refrain from making a
proposed  distribution  when,  in its  opinion,  the payment of such would be an
unsafe or unsound practice.  The Bank paid dividends totaling  $4,800,000 to the
Company in 1996.  As of December  31, 1996 and  subject to the  limitations  and
restrictions under applicable law, the Bank had funds available for dividends in
the amount of $12,767,000.
     The  Federal  Reserve Act limits the loans and  advances  that the Bank may
make to its affiliates. For purposes of such Act, the Company is an affiliate of
the Bank.  The Bank may not make any loans,  extensions of credit or advances to
the  Company  if the  aggregate  amount of such  loans,  extensions  of  credit,
advances  and any  repurchase  agreements  and  investments  exceeds  10% of the
capital stock and surplus of the Bank. Any such permitted loan or advance by the
Bank must be secured by  collateral of a type and value set forth in the Federal
Reserve Act.

                                       10







6.  FIVE YEAR SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
     (in thousands, except share data)

                                                1996             1995              1994             1993(4)         1992(4)
                                                                                                    
Statement of Operations Data:(1)
Interest income                              $49,148          $46,011           $43,240          $40,947         $40,272
Interest expense                              19,179           17,988            15,680           13,996          15,600

Net interest income                           29,969           28,023            27,560           26,951          24,672
Provision for loan losses                        777              335               316            1,858           2,101

Net interest income after
  provision for loan losses                   29,192           27,688            27,244           25,093          22,571
Noninterest income                             6,636            5,933             5,025            6,726           5,572
Noninterest expense                           23,485           21,661            22,058           20,225          18,031

Income before income taxes                    12,343           11,960            10,211           11,594          10,112
Provision for income taxes                     5,037            4,915             4,350            4,779           4,112

Net income                                    $7,306           $7,045            $5,861           $6,815          $6,000

Share Data:(2)
Primary earnings per share                    $ 1.56            $1.46             $1.18            $1.42           $1.46
Cash dividend paid per share                    0.59             0.37              0.32             0.31            0.28
Common shareholders' equity
  at year end                                  13.10            11.92             10.10            10.05            8.46

Balance Sheet Data at year end5:
Total loans, gross                          $439,218         $318,766          $307,103         $305,902        $317,518
Total assets                                 694,859          603,554           593,834          575,897         492,404
Total deposits                               595,621          516,193           491,172          515,999         451,346
Total shareholders' equity                    60,777           53,213            48,231           47,068          36,545

Selected Financial Ratios:
Return on average assets                        1.18 %           1.22 %             .99 %           1.25 %          1.25 %
Return on average common
  shareholders' equity                         13.03 %          13.95 %           12.42 %             15.81%       19.48 %
Leverage ratio                                  8.99 %           8.92 %            8.75 %           8.18 %          7.39 %
Total risk-based capital ratio                 13.58 %          15.17 %           14.65 %          14.02 %         11.94 %
Net interest margin(3)                          5.37 %           5.36 %            5.18 %           5.49 %          5.76 %
Allowance for loan losses to total
  loans outstanding at end of year              1.39 %           1.75 %            1.83 %           1.95 %          1.51 %

1  Tax-exempt securities are presented on an actual yield basis.
2  Retroactively adjusted to reflect 5-for-4 stock split effected in 1995, and the 12% and 15% stock
   dividends declared in 1993 and 1992, respectively.
3  Calculated on a tax equivalent basis.
4  Restated on a historical basis to reflect the July 21, 1994 acquisition of Country National Bank on a
         pooling-of-interests basis.
5  The 1996 data reflects changes due to the purchase of Sutter Buttes Savings Bank.  See Note R of Registrant's
         1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.






                                       11




7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
    OPERATION

         Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of  Operations,  included in  Registrant's  1996 Annual Report to  Shareholders,
(pages 29 through 46 of Exhibit 13.1 as  electronically  filed) is  incorporated
herein by reference.


8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

         The following  financial  statements and independent  auditor's report,
included in Registrant's  1996 Annual Report to  Shareholders,  are incorporated
herein by reference:


                                                    Pages of Exhibit 13.1
                                                   as Electronically Filed

Report of Independent Public Accountants                      28

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995                                     1

Consolidated Statements of Income
for the three years ended December 31,
1996, 1995 and 1994                                            2

Consolidated Statements of Changes in
Shareholders' Equity for the three
years ended December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994                                                  3

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1995 and 1994                                                  4

Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements                                                     6


9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
    DISCLOSURE

         None







                                       12




                                    PART III

10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

         Information  regarding  Registrant's  directors and executive  officers
will be set forth under the caption,  "Proposal No. 1 - Election of Directors of
the Company" in  Registrant's  Proxy  Statement for use in  connection  with the
Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  to be held on or  about  May 20,  1997.  Said
information is incorporated herein by reference.

11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         Information  regarding   compensation  of  Registrant's  directors  and
executive  officers  will be set forth  under  the  caption,  "Proposal  No. 1 -
Election of Directors of the Company" in Registrant's Proxy Statement for use in
connection  with the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held on or about May
20, 1997. Said information is incorporated herein by reference.

12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         Information  regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners,
directors  and  executive  officers  of  Registrant  will be set forth under the
caption,   "Information  concerning  the  Solicitation"  in  Registrant's  Proxy
Statement for use in connection  with the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  to be
held on or about  May 20,  1997.  Said  information  is  incorporated  herein by
reference.

13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

         Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is
set forth under the  caption,  "Proposal  No. 1 - Election of  Directors  of the
Company" in  Registrant's  Proxy Statement for use in connection with the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on or about May 20, 1997. Said information is
incorporated herein by reference.
















                                       13




                                     PART IV

14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

         (a)      1.       Index to Financial Statements:

                           A list of the  consolidated  financial  statements of
Registrant incorporated herein is included in Item 8 of this Report.


                  2.       Financial Statement Schedules:

                           Schedules  have  been  omitted  because  they are not
applicable or are not required  under the  instructions  contained in Regulation
S-X or because the  information  required to be set forth therein is included in
the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.


                  3.       Exhibits Filed herewith:

Exhibit No.                                           Exhibits

         3.1         Articles  of  Incorporation,  as amended to date,  filed as
                     Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K, filed for
                     the year ended December 31, 1989, are  incorporated  herein
                     by reference.

         3.2         Bylaws,  as  amended  to  1992,  filed  as  Exhibit  3.2 to
                     Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K, filed for the year ended
                     December 31, 1992, are incorporated herein by reference.

         4.2         Certificate  of  Determination  of  Preferences of Series B
                     Preferred  Stock,  filed  as  Appendix  A  to  Registrant's
                     Registration  Statement  on Form  S-1  (No.  33-22738),  is
                     incorporated herein by reference.

         10.1        Lease for Park Plaza  Branch  premises  entered  into as of
                     September  29,  1978,  by and  between  Park Plaza  Limited
                     Partnership  as lessor  and Tri  Counties  Bank as  lessee,
                     filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the TriCo Bancshares  Registration
                     Statement  on  Form  S-14  (Registration  No.  2-74796)  is
                     incorporated herein by reference.

         10.2        Lease for Administration Headquarters premises entered into
                     as of April 25, 1986, by and between  Fortress-Independence
                     Partnership (A California  Limited  Partnership)  as lessor
                     and Tri Counties  Bank as lessee,  filed as Exhibit 10.6 to
                     Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K  filed for the year ended
                     December 31, 1986, is incorporated herein by reference.

         10.3        Lease for Data Processing premises entered into as of April
                     25, 1986, by and between Fortress-Independence  Partnership
                     (A  California  Limited  Partnership)  as  lessor  and  Tri
                     Counties   Bank  as  lessee,   filed  as  Exhibit  10.7  to
                     Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K  filed for the year ended
                     December 31, 1986, is incorporated herein by reference.

                                       14


         10.4        Lease for Chico Mall premises  entered into as of March 11,
                     1988,  by and between  Chico Mall  Associates as lessor and
                     Tri  Counties  Bank as  lessee,  filed as  Exhibit  10.4 to
                     Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K  filed for the year ended
                     December 31, 1988, is incorporated by reference.

         10.5        First amendment to lease entered into as of May 31, 1988 by
                     and between Chico Mall  Associates  and Tri Counties  Bank,
                     filed as Exhibit 10.5 to  Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K
                     filed for the year ended December 31, 1988, is incorporated
                     by reference.

         10.9        Employment Agreement of Robert H. Steveson,  dated December
                     12, 1989 between Tri Counties Bank and Robert H.  Steveson,
                     filed as Exhibit 10.9 to  Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K
                     filed for the year ended December 31, 1989, is incorporated
                     by reference.

         10.11       Lease  for  Purchasing  and  Printing  Department  premises
                     entered into as of February 1, 1990, by and between  Dennis
                     M.  Casagrande  as lessor and Tri Counties  Bank as lessee,
                     filed as Exhibit 10.11 to Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K
                     filed for the year ended December 31, 1991, is incorporated
                     herein by reference.

         10.12       Addendum to  Employment  Agreement  of Robert H.  Steveson,
                     dated April 9, 1991, filed as Exhibit 10.12 to Registrant's
                     Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended  December  31,
                     1991, is incorporated herein by reference.

         10.13       The 1993  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan filed as Exhibit
                     4.1, the  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan filed as Exhibit
                     4.2 and the  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan filed as Exhibit
                     4.3 to  Registrant's  Form S-8  Registration  No.  33-88704
                     dated January 19, 1995 and the 1995 Incentive  Stock Option
                     Plan  filed  as  Exhibit  4.1  to  Registrant's  Form  S-8,
                     Registration  No.  33-62063  dated  August  23,  1995,  are
                     incorporated herein by reference.

         11.1        Computation of earnings per share.

         13.1        TriCo Bancshares 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.*

         21.1        Tri Counties Bank, a California banking corporation, is the
                     only subsidiary of Registrant.

         23.1        Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP



*        Deemed filed only with respect to those portions thereof incorporated
         herein by reference.

         (b)         Reports on Form 8-K:

                     1.  8-K filed October 25, 1996 for the acquisition of
                         Sutter Buttes Savings Bank. No financial statements
                         were required to be filed.




                                       15




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date:  March 11,1997                                 TRICO BANCSHARES


                                            By: /s/  Robert H. Steveson
                                            Robert H. Steveson, President
                                            and Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
this  report has been  signed  below by the  following  persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Robert H. Steveson
                           -----------------------------------
                           Robert H. Steveson, President, Chief Executive
                           Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Robert M. Stanberry
                           -----------------------------------
                           Robert M. Stanberry, Vice President and Chief
                           Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting
                           Officer)

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Everett B. Beich
                           -----------------------------------
                           Everett B. Beich, Director and Vice Chairman of
                           the Board

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     William J. Casey
                           -----------------------------------
                           William J. Casey, Director

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Craig S. Compton
                           -----------------------------------
                           Craig S. Compton, Director

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Richard C. Guiton
                           -----------------------------------
                           Richard C. Guiton, Director

Date: March 11, 1997
                           -----------------------------------
                           Douglas F. Hignell, Secretary and Director

                                       16


Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Brian D. Leidig
                           -----------------------------------
                           Brian D. Leidig, Director

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Wendell J. Lundberg
                           -----------------------------------
                           Wendell J. Lundberg, Director

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Donald E. Murphy
                           -----------------------------------
                           Donald E. Murphy, Director

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Rodney W. Peterson
                           -----------------------------------
                           Rodney W. Peterson, Director

Date: March 11, 1997       /s/     Alex A. Vereschagin
                           -----------------------------------
                           Alex A. Vereschagin, Jr., Director and
                           Chairman of the Board



                                       17






                                                                  EXHIBIT 11.1
                                                       COMPUTATIONS OF EARNINGS PER SHARE

                                                             Years ended December 31

                                                  1996          1995          1994          1993          1992
                                                  ----          ----          ----          ----          ----
                                                                                        
        Shares used in the
          computation of
          earnings per share(1)
            Weighted daily average
            of shares outstanding            4,513,157     4,430,092     4,389,802     4,094,009     3,534,855

            Shares used in the
            computation of primary
            earnings per shares
                                             4,689,751     4,656,893     4,641,383     4,338,255     3,556,836
                                             =========     =========     =========     =========     =========
            Shares used in the
            computation of fully diluted
            earnings per share               4,709,080     4,693,188     4,642,197     4,416,135     3,556,836
                                            ==========      =========    =========     =========     =========

        Net income used in the
          computation of earnings
            per common stock:
              Income before adjustment
              for interest expense on
              convertible capital               $7,306        $7,045        $5,861        $6,815        $6,000
              Adjustment for preferred
              stock dividend                         0          (245)         (420)         (630)         (797)

              Net income, as adjusted           $7,306        $6,800        $5,441        $6,185        $5,203
                                             =========     =========     =========     =========     =========

              Primary earnings per share        $ 1.46        $ 1.18        $ 1.42        $ 1.46        $ 1.56            
                                             =========     =========     =========     =========    ==========
                                            
              Fully diluted earnings
                 per share                      $ 1.55        $ 1.45        $ 1.18        $ 1.40        $ 1.46
                                            ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========    ==========



       (1) Retroactively adjusted for stock dividends and stock splits.









                                                                  EXHIBIT 13.1

TRICO BANCSHARES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share amounts)



                                                                                                        December 31,
Assets                                                                                           1996                 1995

                                                                                                                 
Cash and due from banks                                                                      $ 52,231             $ 39,673
Federal funds sold                                                                                 --               25,600
                                                                                             ------------------------------
    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                  52,231               65,273

Securities held-to-maturity (approximate fair value $103,488 and $116,576), respectively      104,713              116,865
Securities available-for-sale                                                                  65,316               76,246

Loans:
  Commercial                                                                                  176,868              152,173
  Consumer                                                                                     75,498               64,445
  Real estate mortgages                                                                       160,575               81,888
  Real estate construction                                                                     26,348               20,260
                                                                                             ------------------------------
                                                                                              439,289              318,766
    Less:  Allowance for loan losses                                                            6,097                5,580
                                                                                             ------------------------------
    Net loans                                                                                 433,192              313,186
Premises and equipment, net                                                                    14,717               13,189
Investment in real estate properties                                                            1,173                1,173
Other real estate owned                                                                         1,389                  631
Accrued interest receivable                                                                     4,572                4,609
Deferred income taxes                                                                           4,267                3,106
Other assets                                                                                   13,289                9,276
                                                                                             ------------------------------
    Total assets                                                                             $694,859             $603,554
                                                                                             ==============================
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Deposits:
  Noninterest-bearing demand                                                                 $100,879             $ 90,308
  Interest-bearing demand                                                                      97,178               84,314
  Savings                                                                                     172,789              161,479
  Time certificates, $100,000 and over                                                         32,889               13,439
  Other time certificates                                                                     191,886              166,653
                                                                                             ------------------------------
    Total deposits                                                                            595,621              516,193
Federal funds purchased                                                                         4,900                   --
Accrued interest payable                                                                        3,047                3,162
Other liabilities                                                                               6,233                4,694
Long-term debt and other borrowings                                                            24,281               26,292
                                                                                             ------------------------------
    Total liabilities                                                                         634,082              550,341
Commitments and contingencies (Note H)

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value:  Authorized 20,000,000 shares;
    issued and outstanding 4,641,223 and 4,464,828 shares, respectively                        47,652               44,315
Retained earnings                                                                              14,076                9,548
Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale, net                                            (951)               (650)
                                                                                             ------------------------------
    Total shareholders' equity                                                                 60,777               53,213
                                                                                             ------------------------------
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                               $694,859             $603,554
                                                                                             ==============================
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements








                                  Exhibit 13.1

TRICO BANCSHARES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except earnings per share)




                                                                                         Years Ended December 31,
                                                                              1996                  1995               1994
                                                                                                          
Interest income:
  Interest and fees on loans                                              $ 38,227              $ 33,776           $ 30,641
  Interest on investment securities--taxable                                10,409                11,706             12,247
  Interest on investment securities--tax exempt                                120                   158                229
  Interest on federal funds sold                                               392                   371                123
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
    Total interest income                                                   49,148                46,011             43,240

Interest expense:
  Interest on interest-bearing demand deposits                               2,226                 2,000              2,066
  Interest on savings                                                        5,032                 5,167              6,442
  Interest on time certificates of deposit                                   8,820                 8,736              5,333
  Interest on time certificates of deposit, $100,000 and over                1,123                   328                 61
  Interest on short-term borrowing                                             359                   526                719
  Interest on long-term debt                                                 1,619                 1,231              1,059
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
    Total interest expense                                                  19,179                17,988             15,680
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
    Net interest income                                                     29,969                28,023             27,560

Provision for loan losses                                                      777                   335                316
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
    Net interest income after provision for loan losses                     29,192                27,688             27,244

Noninterest income:
  Service charges and fees                                                   4,924                 4,163              3,570
  Other income                                                               1,712                 1,770              1,455
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
    Total noninterest income                                                 6,636                 5,933              5,025

Noninterest expenses:
  Salaries and related expenses                                             11,989                10,787             10,550
  Other, net                                                                11,496                10,874             11,508
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
    Total noninterest expenses                                              23,485                21,661             22,058
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
    Net income before income taxes                                          12,343                11,960             10,211

Income taxes                                                                 5,037                 4,915              4,350
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
Net income                                                                 $ 7,306               $ 7,045            $ 5,861

Preferred stock dividends                                                       --                   245                420
                                                                          --------------------------------------------------
Net income available to common shareholders                                $ 7,306               $ 6,800            $ 5,441
                                                                          ==================================================
Primary earnings per common share                                         $   1.56              $   1.46           $   1.18

Fully diluted earnings per common share                                   $   1.55              $   1.45           $   1.18


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements









                                Exhibit 13.1 - 2


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
(in thousands, except share amounts)


                                    Series B
                                 Preferred Stock     Common Stock

                                 Number             Number                        Unrealized
                                   of                 of            Retained      Loss on
                                 Shares  Amount     Shares  Amount  Earnings      Securities, Net     Total
                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                    
Balance, December 31, 1993       8,000  $ 3,899  3,436,254 $42,818     $ 351          $--            $47,068

Exercise of Common Stock options    --       --     77,453     403        --           --                403

Series B Preferred Stock cash
  dividends                         --       --                         (420)          --               (420)
  
Common  Stock  cash dividends       --       --         --      --    (1,304)          --             (1,304)

Cumulative effect of change in
  accounting method for investment
  securities                        --       --         --    --          --          270                270

Change in unrealized holding loss
  on securities                     --       --         --      --        --       (3,978)            (3,978)
 
Stock option amortization           --       --         --     331        --           --                331

Net income                          --       --         --      --     5,861           --              5,861
                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance, December 31, 1994       8,000    3,899  3,513,707  43,552     4,488       (3,708)            48,231

Redemption of  Preferred Stock  (8,000)  (3,899)        --      --      (101)          --             (4,000)

Exercise of Common Stock options    --       --     72,694     554        --           --                554

5-for-4 Common Stock split          --       --    878,427      --        --           --                 --

Series B Preferred Stock cash
  dividends                         --       --         --      --      (245)          --               (245)

Common Stock cash dividends         --       --         --      --    (1,639)          --             (1,639)

Change in unrealized holding loss
  on securities                     --       --         --      --        --        3,058              3,058

Stock option amortization           --       --         --     209        --           --                209

Net income                          --       --         --      --     7,045           --              7,045
                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance, December 31, 1995          --       --  4,464,828  44,315     9,548         (650)            53,213

Issuance of Common Stock            --       --    102,868   2,134        --           --              2,134

Exercise of Common Stock options    --       --     89,950   1,157        --           --              1,157

Repurchase of Common Stock          --       --    (16,423)   (163)     (132)          --               (295)

Common  Stock  cash dividends       --       --         --      --    (2,646)          --             (2,646)

Change in unrealized loss
  on securities                     --       --         --      --        --         (301)              (301)

Stock option amortization           --       --         --     209        --           --                209

Net income                          --       --         --      --     7,306           --              7,306
                                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Balance, December 31, 1996          --      $--  4,641,223 $47,652   $14,076       $ (951)           $60,777
                                =============================================================================

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements



                                Exhibit 13.1 - 3



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)



                                                                                              Years ended December 31,
                                                                                      1996            1995            1994
                                                                                                           
Operating activities:
  Net income                                                                      $ 7,306          $ 7,045         $ 5,861
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
    by operating activities:
      Provision for loan losses                                                       777              335             316
      Provision for losses on other real estate owned                                 202               99              53
      Depreciation and amortization                                                 1,809            1,600           1,405
      (Accretion) amortization of investment
        security (discounts) premiums, net                                             28              117             450
      Deferred income taxes                                                          (930)            (134)            (90)
      Investment security losses, net                                                 --                10              23
      (Gain) loss on sale of loans                                                      3              (56)           (173)
      (Gain) loss on sale of other real estate owned, net                              (5)             (78)             54
      Origination of loans held for sale                                          (31,959)          (9,666)         (8,943)
      Proceeds from loan sales                                                     17,147            9,835           8,186
      Amortization of stock options                                                   209              209             331
      Change in assets and  liabilities  net of effects from  purchase of Sutter
         Buttes:
          (Increase) decrease in interest receivable                                  344              139          (1,106)
           Increase (decrease) in interest payable                                   (495)           1,402              30
         (Increase) decrease in other assets and liabilities                       (6,239)            (876)         (1,777)
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
        Net cash provided (used) by operating activities                          (11,803)           9,981           4,620
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
Investing activities :
  Proceeds from maturities of securities held-to-maturity                          19,179           19,516          15,374
  Purchases of securities held-to-maturity                                         (5,516)          (2,740)        (22,439)
  Proceeds from maturities of securities available-for-sale                        24,353           12,427          23,282
  Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale                                --             6,993          36,490
  Purchases of securities available-for-sale                                      (13,704)          (5,638)        (74,619)
  Net (increase) decrease in loans                                                (47,292)         (12,529)         (1,968)
  Purchases of premises and equipment                                              (2,526)          (1,335)         (2,025)
  Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned                                       673            1,862           2,408
  Purchase of Sutter Buttes net of cash acquired                                     (997)              --              --
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
        Net cash provided (used) by investing activities                          (25,830)          18,556         (23,497)
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
Financing activities:
  Net increase (decrease) in deposits                                              23,486           25,021         (24,827)
  Net increase in federal funds  borrowed                                           4,900               --              --
  Borrowings (payments) under repurchase agreements                                    --          (30,457)         30,457
  Borrowings under long-term debt agreements                                           --            9,828          11,400
  Payments of principal on long-term debt agreements                               (2,011)          (2,035)            (45)
  Redemption of Preferred Stock                                                        --           (4,000)             --
  Repurchase of Common Stock                                                         (295)              --              --
  Cash dividends-- Preferred                                                           --             (245)           (420)
  Cash dividends-- Common                                                          (2,646)          (1,639)         (1,304)
  Issuance of Common Stock                                                          1,157              554             403
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
        Net cash provided (used) by financing activities                           24,591           (2,973)         15,664
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
        Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                          (13,042)          25,564          (3,213)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                     65,273           39,709          42,922
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                                         $ 52,231         $ 65,273        $ 39,709
                                                                                  =========================================


Supplemental information
  Cash paid for taxes                                                            $  5,727        $   5,240       $   3,809
  Cash paid for interest expense                                                 $ 19,908        $  16,586       $  15,650
  Non-cash assets acquired through foreclosure                                   $  1,628        $     390       $   1,016


                                Exhibit 13.1 - 4




Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
On October 16, 1996,  the Company  purchased  all of the capital stock of Sutter
Buttes  Savings  Bank in  exchange  for  cash of  approximately  $2,036,000  and
approximately  102,900 shares of the Company's stock. Based on the average value
of the Company's  stock for the ten days  preceding the  transaction,  the total
purchase  price  was   approximately   $4,171,000.   In  conjunction   with  the
acquisition, liabilities were assumed as follows:

         (in thousands)
         Fair value of assets acquired                 $64,931
         Cash and stock paid for capital stock          (4,171)
         Liabilities assumed                           $60,760


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements





                                Exhibit 13.1 - 5





NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995
and 1994

Note A - General Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     The accounting and reporting  policies of TriCo  Bancshares (the "Company")
conform to generally accepted accounting principles and general practices within
the banking  industry.  The following are  descriptions of the more  significant
accounting and reporting policies.

Principles of Consolidation
     The consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of the Company,
its  wholly-owned   subsidiary,   Tri  Counties  Bank  (the  "Bank"),   and  the
wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Bank. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  All data have been restated
on a  historical  basis to  reflect  the July 21,  1994  acquisition  of Country
National Bank on a pooling-of-interests basis.

Nature of Operations
     The Company operates twenty four branch offices and seven in-store branches
in the California  counties of Butte, Del Norte,  Glenn, Lake,  Lassen,  Madera,
Mendocino,  Merced, Shasta, Siskiyou,  Stanislaus,  Sutter, Tehama and Yuba. The
Company's  operating  policy since its inception has emphasized  retail banking.
Most of the Company's  customers are retail  customers and small to medium sized
businesses.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
     The  preparation  of financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  Management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported  amounts of assets and  liabilities  and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Securities
     The Company  classifies its debt and marketable  equity securities into one
of three categories:  trading,  available-for-sale or held-to-maturity.  Trading
securities  are bought and held  principally  for the  purpose of selling in the
near term.  Held-to-maturity  securities are those  securities which the Company
has the  ability and intent to hold until  maturity.  All other  securities  not
included in trading or held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale.
In 1996 and 1995 the Company did not have any securities classified as trading.
     Available-for-sale  securities are recorded at fair value. Held-to-maturity
securities  are recorded at amortized  cost,  adjusted for the  amortization  or
accretion  of premiums or  discounts.  Unrealized  gains and losses,  net of the
related tax effect, on available-for-sale  securities are reported as a separate
component of shareholders' equity until realized.
     Premiums  and  discounts  are  amortized  or accreted  over the life of the
related  investment  security  as an  adjustment  to yield  using the  effective
interest  method.  Dividend  and  interest  income are  recognized  when earned.
Realized  gains and losses for  securities  are  included  in  earnings  and are
derived using the specific  identification  method for  determining  the cost of
securities sold.
     The Company  adopted the  provisions  of Statement of Financial  Accounting
Standards  No.115,  Accounting  for  Certain  Investments  in  Debt  and  Equity
Securities (SFAS 115) as of January 1, 1994. The effect of adopting SFAS 115 was
to  recognize  an  unrealized  gain (net of tax) of  $270,000  as an increase in
shareholders' equity.

                                Exhibit 13.1 - 6


Loans
     Loans are reported at the  principal  amount  outstanding,  net of unearned
income and the allowance for loan losses.  Loan  origination and commitment fees
and certain direct loan  origination  costs are deferred,  and the net amount is
amortized as an adjustment of the related  loan's yield over the estimated  life
of the loan.  Loans on which the accrual of interest has been  discontinued  are
designated  as  nonaccrual  loans.  Accrual of  interest  on loans is  generally
discontinued  either  when  reasonable  doubt  exists  as to  the  full,  timely
collection  of interest or principal or when a loan becomes  contractually  past
due by 90 days or more with respect to interest or principal.  When loans are 90
days past due, but in Management's  judgment are well secured and in the process
of collection,  they may not be classified as nonaccrual.  When a loan is placed
on  nonaccrual  status,  all interest  previously  accrued but not  collected is
reversed.  Income on such loans is then  recognized only to the extent that cash
is received and where the future  collection of principal is probable.  Interest
accruals are resumed on such loans only when they are brought fully current with
respect to interest and principal and when, in the judgment of  Management,  the
loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to both principal and interest.

Allowance for Loan Losses
     The allowance for loan losses is  established  through a provision for loan
losses  charged to expense.  Loans are charged  against the  allowance  for loan
losses when  Management  believes  that the  collectibility  of the principal is
unlikely  or,  with  respect to  consumer  installment  loans,  according  to an
established  delinquency  schedule.  The allowance is an amount that  Management
believes will be adequate to absorb  probable losses inherent in existing loans,
leases  and   commitments  to  extend  credit,   based  on  evaluations  of  the
collectibility,  impairment  and prior  loss  experience  of loans,  leases  and
commitments to extend  credit.  The  evaluations  take into  consideration  such
factors as changes in the nature and size of the  portfolio,  overall  portfolio
quality, loan concentrations,  specific problem loans, commitments,  and current
and anticipated  economic  conditions that may affect the borrower's  ability to
pay.
     The Company adopted  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 114,
Accounting  by Creditors for  Impairment of a Loan (SFAS 114),  and Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 118, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment
of a Loan-Income  Recognition and Disclosures (SFAS 118), as of January 1, 1995.
Under these statements,  a loan is impaired when it is probable the Company will
be unable to collect all amounts due according to the  contractual  terms of the
loan agreement.  SFAS 114 requires that certain impaired loans be measured based
on the present  value of expected  future  cash flows  discounted  at the loan's
original  effective interest rate. As a practical  expedient,  impairment may be
measured  based on the loan's  observable  market price or the fair value of the
collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. When the measure of the impaired
loan is less  than the  recorded  investment  in the  loan,  the  impairment  is
recorded through a valuation allowance.
     The Company had  previously  measured the  allowance  for loan losses using
methods  similar to those  prescribed in SFAS 114. As a result of adopting these
statements,  no additional  allowance for loan losses was required as of January
1, 1995.

Mortgage Operations
     The Company sold  substantially all of its conforming long term residential
mortgage loans originated  during 1996, 1995 and 1994 for cash proceeds equal to
the fair value of the loans.  In May 1995,  the Financial  Accounting  Standards
Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 122, Accounting for
Mortgage  Servicing  Rights (SFAS 122).  SFAS 122 requires  the  recognition  of
originated  mortgage  servicing  rights as assets by allocating  the total costs
incurred  between the loan and the servicing  right based on their relative fair
values.  Historically,  the  cost of the  originated  servicing  rights  was not
recognized  as an asset and was  charged to earnings  when the related  loan was
sold.

     The cost of mortgage  servicing  rights is amortized in proportion  to, and
over the period of,  estimated  net  servicing  revenues.  SFAS 122 requires the
Company to assess  capitalized  mortgage  servicing  rights for impairment based
upon the fair value of those  rights at each  reporting  date.  For  purposes of
measuring  impairment,  the rights are  stratified  based upon the product type,
term and interest rates.  Fair value is determined by discounting  estimated net
future cash flows from mortgage  servicing  activities using discount rates that
approximate  current market rates and estimated  prepayment  rates,  among other
assumptions.  The  amount of  impairment  recognized  is the amount by which the
capitalized  mortgage  servicing  rights for a stratum exceeds their fair value.
Impairment,  if any,  is  recognized  through  a  valuation  allowance  for each
individual stratum.

                                Exhibit 13.1 - 7


     The Company  adopted  SFAS 122 on Jnauray 1, 1996.  The  overall  impact of
adopting this Statement on the Company's financial  statements was not material.
At December  31, 1996,  mortgage  loans held for sale  totaled  $1,165,000.  The
Company had entered into  commitments to sell all of these loans at year end. At
December 31, 1996 and 1995, the Company  serviced real estate mortgage loans for
others of $148 million and $136 million, respectively.

Premises and Equipment
     Premises and equipment,  including those acquired under capital lease,  are
stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization.  Depreciation and
amortization  expenses  are  computed  using the  straight-line  method over the
estimated  useful lives of the related assets or lease terms.  Asset lives range
from  3-10  years  for   furniture  and  equipment  and  15-30  years  for  land
improvements and buildings.

Investment in Real Estate Properties
     Investment  in real  estate  properties  is  stated at the lower of cost or
market and consists of properties  either acquired  directly or transferred from
other  real  estate  owned  for  the  purpose  of  development  or to be held as
income-earning assets.
     Subsequent  to  acquisition  or  transfer,   properties   included  in  the
investment in real estate  properties  account are periodically  evaluated.  Any
decline in value  below the  carrying  amount of a property is included in other
expenses.  Income and expenses on the  investment in real estate  properties are
included in other expenses.

Other Real Estate Owned
     Real estate acquired by foreclosure is carried at the lower of the recorded
investment in the property or its fair value less estimated  disposition  costs.
Prior to  foreclosure,  the value of the underlying  loan is written down to the
fair value of the real estate to be acquired less estimated disposition costs by
a charge to the  allowance  for loan  losses,  when  necessary.  Any  subsequent
write-downs  are  recorded  as a  valuation  allowance  with a  charge  to other
expenses in the income  statement.  Expenses related to such properties,  net of
related income, and gains and losses on their disposition, are included in other
expenses.

Identifiable Intangible Assets
     Identifiable  intangible  assets  that are  included  in other  assets  are
amortized using an accelerated method over a period of ten years.

Income Taxes
     The  Company's  accounting  for  income  taxes is  based  on an  asset  and
liability  approach.  The  Company  recognizes  the  amount of taxes  payable or
refundable for the current year, and deferred tax assets and liabilities for the
future tax consequences that have been recognized in its financial statements or
tax  returns.  The  measurement  of tax assets and  liabilities  is based on the
provisions of enacted tax laws.

Earnings Per Common Share
     Earnings per common share are computed based on the weighted average number
of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding. The weighted
average number of shares used in the computation of primary  earnings per common
share were:  4,689,751 for 1996,  4,656,893 for 1995 and 4,641,384 for 1994. The
weighted  average  number of shares  used in the  computation  of fully  diluted
earnings  per common  share were:  4,709,080  for 1996,  4,693,188  for 1995 and
4,642,197  for 1994.  The 1995 and 1994 share amounts have been adjusted for the
1995  five-for-four  stock split.  Common  stock  equivalent  shares  consist of
options outstanding under the Company's qualified and non-qualified stock option
plans.

                                Exhibit 13.1 - 8


Cash Flows
     For purposes of reporting  cash flows,  cash and cash  equivalents  include
cash on hand, amounts due from banks and Federal funds sold.

Stock-based Compensation
     The Company adopted  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 123,
Accounting for Stock-based  Compensation  (SFAS 123) as of January 1, 1996. This
Statement  defines a fair  value  based  method of  accounting  for  stock-based
compensation.  As  permitted  by SFAS 123,  the  Company  elected to continue to
account for stock options under APB Opinion No. 25, under which no  compensation
cost has been recognized.

Reclassifications
     Certain amounts previously  reported in the 1995 financial  statements have
been reclassified to conform to the 1996 presentation.

Note B - Restricted Cash Balances

     Reserves  (in the  form of  deposits  with  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank) of
$8,345,000  and  $7,909,000  were  maintained  to  satisfy  Federal   regulatory
requirements  at December 31, 1996 and December  31,  1995.  These  reserves are
included in cash and due from banks in the accompanying balance sheet.





                                Exhibit 13.1 - 9



Note C - Investment Securities

The amortized cost and estimated  fair values of investments in debt  securities
are summarized in the following tables:



                                                                                     December 31, 1996
                                                                                  Gross            Gross         Estimated
                                                              Amortized        Unrealized       Unrealized         Fair
                                                                Cost              Gains           Losses           Value
                                                                                      (in thousands)
                                                                                                      
Securities Held-to-Maturity
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
  U.S. government corporations and agencies                  $  22,792           $   223        $     (33)       $  22,982
Obligations of states and political subdivisions                   719                --               (5)             714
Mortgage-backed securities                                      81,202               349           (1,759)          79,792

    Totals                                                    $104,713           $   572          $(1,797)        $103,488

Securities Available-for-Sale
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
  U.S. government corporations and agencies                  $  30,219            $  101        $      (9)        $ 30,311
Obligations of states and political subdivisions                 1,453                27               --            1,480
Mortgage-backed securities                                      30,260                93           (1,203)          29,150
Other securities                                                 4,375                --               --            4,375

    Totals                                                   $  66,307            $  221        $  (1,212)        $ 65,316


                                                                                     December 31, 1995
                                                                                  Gross            Gross         Estimated
                                                              Amortized        Unrealized       Unrealized         Fair
                                                                Cost              Gains           Losses           Value

                                                                                      (in thousands)
Securities Held-to-Maturity

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
  U.S. government corporations and agencies                   $ 29,744            $  588           $  (34)        $  30,298
Obligations of states and political subdivisions                   849                --               (9)              840
Mortgage-backed securities                                      86,272               493           (1,327)           85,438

    Totals                                                    $116,865           $ 1,081          $(1,370)         $116,576

Securities Available-for-Sale

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
  U.S. government corporations and agencies                   $ 42,038             $ 225            $ (45)        $  42,218
Obligations of states and political subdivisions                 1,700                42               --             1,742
Mortgage-backed securities                                      29,076                28             (486)           28,618
Other securities                                                 3,668                --               --             3,668

    Totals                                                    $ 76,482             $ 295          $  (531)       $  76,246


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 10




     The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt  securities at December
31, 1996 by contractual  maturity are shown below.  Actual maturities may differ
from  contractual  maturities  because  borrowers  may have the right to call or
prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.


                                                                                                                 Estimated
                                                                                         Amortized                 Fair
                                                                                           Cost                    Value
                                                                                                   (in thousands)

                                                                                                             
Securities Held-to-Maturity
Due in one year                                                                        $    1,275                $    1,275
Due after one year through five years                                                      26,132                    26,250
Due after five years through ten years                                                      9,207                     9,186
Due after ten years                                                                        68,099                    66,777

Totals                                                                                   $104,713                  $103,488

Securities Available-for-Sale
Due in one year                                                                         $  14,514                 $  14,517
Due after one year through five years                                                      17,927                    18,047
Due after five years through ten years                                                      1,226                     1,152
Due after ten years                                                                        28,265                    27,225

                                                                                           61,932                    60,941
Other Securities                                                                            4,375                     4,375

Totals                                                                                   $ 66,307                 $  65,316

     Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale:

                           Gross             Gross             Gross
For the Year             Proceeds            Gains            Losses
                                        (in thousands)

     1996                $      0            $    0           $    0
     1995                $  6,993            $   40           $   50
     1994                $ 36,490            $  117           $  140

     On  November  17,  1995,  the  Company  adopted  the  FASB  Special  Report
concerning  the  implementation  of SFAS 115 and it elected to transfer  certain
treasury securities with an amortized cost of $10,062,266 and an unrealized gain
of $1,034,922 from the held-to-maturity to the available-for-sale category.
     Investment  securities with an aggregate  carrying value of $75,125,000 and
$35,930,000  at  December  31,  1996 and 1995,  respectively,  were  pledged  as
collateral for specific borrowings, lines of credit and local agency deposits.

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 11



Note D - Allowance for Loan Losses

     Activity in the allowance for loan losses was as follows:


                                                                                         Years Ended December 31,
                                                                                  1996             1995             1994
                                                                                              (in thousands)
                                                                                                              
Balance, beginning of year                                                        $5,580           $5,608           $5,973
Balance acquired from Sutter Buttes                                                  623               --               --
Provision for loan losses                                                            777              335              316
Loans charged off                                                                 (1,192)            (581)          (1,050)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off                                           309              218              369
                                                                                  -----------------------------------------
Balance, end of year                                                              $6,097           $5,580           $5,608


Loans classified as nonaccrual amounted to approximately $9,044,000, $2,213,000,
and  $1,122,000  at  December  31,  1996,  1995 and  1994,  respectively.  These
nonaccrual  loans were  classified  as impaired as of December 31, 1996 and 1995
and included in the recorded  balance in impaired loans for the respective years
shown below. If interest on those loans had been accrued, such income would have
been  approximately  $902,000,  $166,000,  and $123,000 in 1996,  1995 and 1994,
respectively.
     As of December 31, the Company's recorded  investment in impaired loans and
the related valuation allowance calculated under SFAS 114 were as follows:

                                                      1996
                                       Recorded                 Valuation
                                      Investment                Allowance
Impaired loans -
  Valuation allowance required        $   2,525                    $605
  No valuation allowance required        13,829                      --
                                      -----------------------------------
    Total impaired loans              $  16,354                    $605


                                                      1995
                                       Recorded                 Valuation
                                      Investment                Allowance
Impaired loans -
  Valuation allowance required        $     552                    $380
  No valuation allowance required         4,534                      --
                                      -----------------------------------
    Total impaired loans              $   5,086                    $380


This  valuation  allowance  is included in the  allowance  for loan losses shown
above for the respective year. The average recorded investment in impaired loans
was  $10,720,000  and $3,579,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.  The  Company  recognized  interest  income on  impaired  loans of
$729,000  and  $345,000  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  1996  and  1995,
respectively.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 12



Note E - Premises and Equipment

     Premises and equipment were comprised of:

                                          December 31,
                                 1996                     1995
                                         (in thousands)
Premises                        $11,227                 $10,366
Furniture and equipment          11,036                   9,118

                                 22,263                  19,484
Less:
  Accumulated depreciation
    and amortization            (10,369)                 (8,964)

                                 11,894                  10,520
Land and land improvements        2,823                   2,669

                                $14,717                 $13,189

     Depreciation  and  amortization  of  premises  and  equipment  amounted  to
$1,497,000, $1,344,000 and $1,202,000 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.


Note F - Time Deposits

At December 31, 1996, the scheduled  maturities of time deposits were as follows
(in thousands):

                                                     Scheduled
                                                    Maturities

1997                                                  $214,915
1998                                                     5,324
1999                                                     2,143
2000                                                     2,178
2001 and thereafter                                        215

   Total                                              $224,775






                               Exhibit 13.1 - 13



Note G - Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowings

Long-term debt is as follows:



                                                                                                 December 31,
                                                                                             1996              1995
                                                                                                (in thousands)
                                                                                                       
FHLB loan, fixed rate of 5.14% payable on March 21, 1996                                      --             2,000
FHLB loan, fixed rate of 5.53% payable on March 21, 1997                                    3,000            3,000
FHLB loan, effective rate of 4.38% payable on April 28, 1998                                5,000            5,000
FHLB loan, fixed rate of 5.62% payable on February 4, 1999                                    400              400
FHLB loan, fixed rate of 6.14% payable on March 21, 1999                                    3,000            3,000
FHLB loan, fixed rate of 5.84% payable on November 6, 2000                                  1,500            1,500
FHLB loan, fixed rate of 5.90% payable January 16, 2001                                     1,000            1,000
FHLB repurchase agreements, fixed rate of 5.85% payable on July 17, 1997                    9,828            9,828
Capital lease obligation on premises, effective rate of 13% payable
  monthly in varying amounts through December 1, 2009                                         553              564
                                                                                          ------------------------
Total long-term debt                                                                      $24,281          $26,292



     The Company maintains a collateralized line of credit with the Federal Home
Loan Bank of San Francisco. Based on the FHLB stock requirements at December 31,
1996,  this  line  provided  for  maximum  borrowings  of  $63,690,000  of which
$13,900,000  was  outstanding,   leaving  $49,790,000  available.   The  maximum
month-end  outstanding balances of short term repurchase  agreements in 1996 and
1995 were $0 and  $25,475,000,  respectively.  The Company has available  unused
lines of credit totaling $45,100,000 for Federal funds transactions.


Note H - Commitments and Contingencies (See also Note O)

     At December 31,  1996,  future  minimum  commitments  under  non-cancelable
capital and operating leases with initial or remaining terms of one year or more
are as follows:

                                         Capital              Operating
                                         Leases                Leases
                                                 (in thousands)

1997                                      $   84          $       803
1998                                          85                  767
1999                                          86                  586
2000                                          87                  376
2001                                          88                  281
Thereafter                                   741                2,192
                                          ----------------------------
Future minimum lease payments              1,171          $     5,005
Less amount representing interest            618
                                          -------
Present value of future lease payments    $  553

Rent expense under operating leases was $799,000 in 1996,  $887,000 in 1995, and
$767,000 in 1994.
     The Company is a defendant in legal  actions  arising from normal  business
activities. Management believes that these actions are without merit or that the
ultimate  liability,  if any, resulting from them will not materially affect the
Company's financial position.

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 14


Note I - Dividend Restrictions

     The Bank paid to the Company  cash  dividends in the  aggregate  amounts of
$4,800,000,  $3,200,000 and none ($0) in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.  The
Bank is regulated by the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (FDIC) and the
California State Banking  Department.  California  banking laws limit the Bank's
ability to pay  dividends  to the  lesser of (1)  retained  earnings  or (2) net
income for the last three fiscal years, less cash distributions paid during such
period. Under this regulation,  at December 31, 1996, the Bank may pay dividends
of $12,767,000.


Note J - Stock Options

In May 1995,  the Company  adopted the TriCo  Bancshares  1995  Incentive  Stock
Option Plan (`95 Plan) covering key employees. Under the `95 Plan 187,500 shares
as  adjusted  for the  September  1995  5-for-4  stock split were  reserved  for
issuance.  The option  price  cannot be less than the fair  market  value of the
Common Stock at the date of grant.  Options for the `95 Plan expire on the tenth
anniversary of the grant date.

The Company also has outstanding options under one plan approved in 1993 and two
plans approved in 1989. Options under the 1993 plan vest over a six year period.
Options under the 1989 plan vest 20% annually.  Unexercised options for the 1993
and 1989 plans terminate 10 years from the date of the grant.

Stock option activity is summarized in the following table:



                                                                                             Weighted         Weighted
                                                                                              Average         Average
                                                Number              Option Price             Exercise        Fair Value
                                              of Shares*              Per Share                Price         of Grants

                                                                                                 
Outstanding at December 31, 1994                560,274          $ 7.43  to      $ 7.86          $ 7.72
    Options granted                              31,250            7.86  to       13.20          $10.81         $5.07
    Options exercised                           (72,694)           7.43  to        7.86          $ 7.60
Outstanding at December 31, 1995                518,830            7.43  to       13.20          $ 7.93
    Options granted                              20,000           18.38  to       18.38          $18.38         $5.35
    Options exercised                           (89,950)           7.43  to        7.86          $ 7.63
    Options forfeited                           (23,030)           7.86  to        7.86          $ 7.86
Outstanding at December 31, 1996                425,850          $ 7.43  to      $18.38          $ 8.48

*1995 activity is adjusted for the 5-for-4 Common Stock split effected September 22, 1995



Of the stock  options  outstanding  as of  December  31,  the  number of options
exercisable are as follows:

                                   Number          Option Price         Wtd Ave.
                                  of Shares          Per Share         Ex. Price

Exercisable at December 31, 1995   272,794     $ 7.43    to   $13.20    $ 7.69
Exercisable at December 31, 1996   268,772     $ 7.43    to   $18.38    $ 7.89

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 15


The Company has stock options  outstanding under the four option plans described
above.  The Company  accounts  for these  plans under APB Opinion No. 25,  under
which no compensation cost has been recognized.  Had compensation cost for these
plans been determined in accordance SFAS 123, the additional  compensation  cost
that would  have been  recorded  in 1996 and 1995 would not have been  material.
However,  because the Statement 123 method of accounting has not been applied to
options  granted prior to January 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma  compensation
cost may not be representative of that to be expected in future years.

The fair value of each option  grant is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes   option   pricing  model  with  the  following   weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 1996 and 1995,  respectively:  risk-free interest
rates  of 6.76 and  5.92  percent;  expected  dividend  yields  of 3.48 and 2.46
percent; expected lives of 6 and 6 years; expected volatility of 30.22 and 31.38
percent, respectively.


Note K - Other Noninterest Expenses and Income

     The components of other noninterest expenses were as follows:

                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                         1996              1995             1994
                                                      (in thousands)
Equipment and data processing         $ 2,483            $ 2,508         $ 2,497
Occupancy                               1,682              1,573           1,469
Professional fees                         901                593           1,172
Advertising                               713                563             650
Telecommunications                        653                361             418
Postage                                   436                405             335
Net other real estate owned expense       261                201             190
Assessments                                80                727           1,199
Other                                   4,287              3,943           3,578
                                      ------------------------------------------
     Total other operating expenses   $11,496            $10,874         $11,508

     Commissions  on sales of  annuities  and  mutual  funds in the  amounts  of
$1,255,000,  $900,000,  and  $988,000  for the  years  1996,  1995  and 1994 are
included in other income.

Note L - Income Taxes

     The  current  and  deferred  components  of the income tax  provision  were
comprised of:

                                        Years Ended December 31,
                                 1996             1995              1994
                                             (in thousands)
Current Tax Provision:
  Federal                     $ 4,439           $ 3,640          $ 3,189
  State                         1,528             1,409            1,251
                              -------------------------------------------
    Total current               5,967             5,049            4,440

Deferred Tax Benefit:
  Federal                        (769)              (36)             (21)
  State                          (161)              (98)             (69)
                              -------------------------------------------
    Total deferred               (930)             (134)             (90)
                              -------------------------------------------
Total income taxes            $ 5,037           $ 4,915          $ 4,350

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 16


     Taxes  recorded  directly to  shareholders'  equity are not included in the
preceding table.  These taxes  (benefits)  relating to changes in the unrealized
gains and  losses  on  available-for-sale  investment  securities  amounting  to
$231,000 in 1996 and $2,473,000 in 1995 were recorded  directly to shareholders'
equity.
     The provisions  for income taxes  applicable to income before taxes for the
years ended December 31, 1996,  1995,  and 1994 differ from amounts  computed by
applying the statutory Federal income tax rates to income before taxes.
     The  effective  tax  rate and the  statutory  federal  income  tax rate are
reconciled as follows:

                                                      Years Ended December 31,
                                                     1996      1995      1994

Federal statutory income tax rate                    34.2%     34.2%     34.0%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit        7.4       7.4       8.0
Tax-exempt interest on municipal obligations          (.3)      (.4)      (.8)
Merger expenses not deductible for tax purposes        --        --       1.5
Other                                                 (.5)      (.1)      (.1)
                                                     -------------------------
Effective Tax Rate                                   40.8%     41.1%     42.6%

     The  components of the net deferred tax asset of the Company as of December
31, were as follows:

                                                  1996             1995
                                                      (in thousands)

Deferred Tax Assets:
  Loan losses                                  $ 2,050           $ 2,151
  Unrealized loss on securities                    731               500
  Deferred compensation                          1,693             1,348
  OREO write downs                                 244               178
  Loss on investment in real estate                232               228
  Other                                            586               162
                                               --------------------------
    Total deferred tax assets                    5,536             4,567

Deferred Tax Liabilities:
  Depreciation                                    (798)             (608)
  Capital leases                                   (86)              (78)
  Securities accretion                            (385)             (273)
  Other                                             --              (502)
                                               --------------------------
    Total deferred tax liability                (1,269)           (1,461)
                                               --------------------------
    Net deferred tax asset                     $ 4,267           $ 3,106


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 17


Note M - Retirement Plans

     Substantially  all employees  with at least one year of service are covered
by a discretionary employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).  Contributions are made
to the plan at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  Country National Bank,
acquired by the Company in 1994, had an ESOP which was merged into the Company's
plan in 1995.  Contributions to the plan(s) totaling $500,000 in 1996,  $432,000
in 1995, and $378,000 in 1994 are included in salary expense.
     The  Company  has  a  supplemental  retirement  plan  for  directors  and a
supplemental executive retirement plan covering key executives.  These plans are
non-qualified defined benefit plans and are unsecured and unfunded.  The Company
has purchased  insurance on the lives of the participants and intends to use the
cash values of these  policies  ($5,163,000  and $3,926,000 at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively) to pay the retirement obligations.

     The following table sets forth the plans' status:


                                                                                       December 31,
                                                                                 1996              1995
                                                                                      (in thousands)
                                                                                            
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
  Vested benefit obligation                                                    $(3,113)          $(2,795)
                                                                               ==========================
  Accumulated benefit obligation                                                (3,289)           (2,795)
                                                                               ==========================
  Projected benefit obligation for service rendered to date                     (3,704)           (2,795)
                                                                               ========================== 
 Plan assets at fair value                                                     $    --           $    --
                                                                               ==========================   
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets                          $(3,704)          $(2,795)
Unrecognized net loss from past experience different
  from that assumed and effects of changes in assumptions                        1,296               664
Prior service cost not yet
  recognized in net periodic pension cost                                          113               123
Unrecognized net obligation at transition                                          287               322
                                                                               --------------------------
Accrued pension cost included in other liabilities                             $(2,008)          $(1,686)
                                                                               ==========================



                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
                                                          1996              1995            1994
                                                                      (in thousands)
                                                                                   
Net pension cost included the following components:
  Service cost-benefits earned during the period          $135              $100            $114
  Interest cost on projected benefit obligation            204               159             158
  Net amortization and deferral                             72                46              69
                                                         ----------------------------------------
  Net periodic pension cost                               $411              $305            $341
                                                         ========================================

     The  net  periodic  pension  cost  was  determined  using a  discount  rate
assumption  of 7.0% for 1996,  7.0% for 1995,  and 7.75% for 1994.  The rates of
increase in compensation used in each year were 0% to 5%.
     The  Company  has an  Executive  Deferred  Compensation  Plan which  allows
directors and key executives designated by the Board of Directors of the Company
to defer a portion of their compensation. The Company has purchased insurance on
the  lives of the  participants  and  intends  to use the cash  values  of these
policies to pay the compensation obligations.  At December 31, 1996 and 1995 the
cash values exceeded the recorded liabilities.

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 18



Note N - Related Party Transactions

     Certain directors,  officers,  and companies with which they are associated
were  customers  of,  and had  banking  transactions  with,  the  Company or its
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business.  It is the Company's  policy that
all  loans  and  commitments  to  lend  to  officers  and  directors  be made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral,  as those
prevailing at the time for comparable  transactions  with other borrowers of the
Bank.

     The following table summarizes the activity in these loans for 1996.

           Balance                                   Balance
        December 31,   Advances/                  December 31,
            1995       New Loans     Payments         1996
                             (in thousands)

           $ 8,472      $ 2,003       $ 2,553        $ 7,922




Note O - Financial Instruments With Off-Balance Sheet Risk

     The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk
in the normal course of business to meet the financing  needs of its  customers.
These  financial  instruments  include  commitments to extend credit and standby
letters of credit.  Those instruments  involve, to varying degrees,  elements of
credit  risk in  excess of the  amount  recognized  in the  balance  sheet.  The
contract  amounts of those  instruments  reflect the extent of  involvement  the
Company has in particular classes of financial instruments.
     The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the
other party to the financial  instrument  for  commitments  to extend credit and
standby  letters of credit written is represented by the  contractual  amount of
those  instruments.  The  Company  uses  the  same  credit  policies  in  making
commitments  and  conditional  obligations  as  it  does  for  on-balance  sheet
instruments.

                                                     Contractual Amount
                                                        December 31,
                                                   1996              1995
                                                       (in thousands)

Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:

  Commitments to extend credit:
    Commercial loans                             $37,923          $27,763
    Consumer loans                                61,113           39,114
    Real estate mortgage loans                       428              335
    Real estate construction loans                18,415           10,815
  Standby letters of credit                        1,112              414

     Commitments  to extend credit are  agreements to lend to a customer as long
as  there  is no  violation  of  any  condition  established  in  the  contract.
Commitments  generally have fixed  expiration dates of one year or less or other
termination  clauses  and  may  require  payment  of a fee.  Since  many  of the
commitments  are  expected  to  expire  without  being  drawn  upon,  the  total
commitment amounts do not necessarily  represent future cash  requirements.  The
Company evaluates each customer's credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The
amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Company upon extension
of  credit,  is  based  on  Management's  credit  evaluation  of  the  customer.
Collateral  held  varies,  but  may  include  accounts  receivable,   inventory,
property, plant and equipment and income-producing commercial properties.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 19


     Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company
to guarantee the  performance of a customer to a third party.  Those  guarantees
are primarily  issued to support private  borrowing  arrangements.  Most standby
letters of credit are issued for one year or less.  The credit risk  involved in
issuing  letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending
loan  facilities  to customers.  Collateral  requirements  vary,  but in general
follow the requirements for other loan facilities.


Note P - Concentration of Credit Risk

     The  Company  grants  agribusiness,  commercial  and  residential  loans to
customers  located  throughout  the  northern  Sacramento  Valley  and  northern
mountain  regions of  California.  The Company has a diversified  loan portfolio
within the business segments located in this geographical area.


Note Q - Disclosure of Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Cash & Short-Term Investments
     For these  short-term  instruments,  the  carrying  amount is a  reasonable
estimate of fair value.

Securities
     For all securities, fair values are based on quoted market prices or dealer
quotes. See Note C for further analysis.

Loans
     The fair value of variable rate loans is the current carrying value.  These
loans are regularly  adjusted to market rates.  The fair value of other types of
fixed rate loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using current
rates at which  similar  loans would be made to borrowers  with  similar  credit
ratings for the same  remaining  maturities.  The allowance for loan losses is a
reasonable  estimate of the valuation  allowance  needed to adjust computed fair
values for credit quality of certain loans in the portfolio.

Accrued Interest Receivable
     For these  short-term  instruments,  the  carrying  amount is a  reasonable
estimate of fair value.

Deposit Liabilities and Long-Term Debt
     The fair value of demand  deposits,  savings  accounts,  and certain  money
market  deposits is the amount  payable on demand at the reporting  date.  These
values do not consider the estimated  fair value of the  Company's  core deposit
intangible,  which is a significant  unrecognized asset of the Company. The fair
value of time deposits and debt is based on the discounted  value of contractual
cash flows.

Other Liabilities
     Other liabilities represent short-term instruments.  The carrying amount is
a reasonable estimate of fair value.

Commitments to Extend Credit and Standby Letters of Credit
     The fair value of letters  of credit and  standby  letters of credit is not
significant.

Accrued Interest Payable
     For these  short-term  instruments,  the  carrying  amount is a  reasonable
estimate of fair value.





                               Exhibit 13.1 - 20


     The estimated  fair values of the Company's  financial  instruments  are as
follows:

                                                  December 31, 1996
                                             Carrying            Fair
Financial assets:                             Amount            Value
                                                   (In thousands)
  Cash and short-term investments             $ 52,231         $ 52,231
  Securities:
    Held-to-maturity                           104,713          103,488
    Available-for-sale                          65,316           65,316
  Loans, net                                   433,192          434,250
  Accrued interest receivable                    4,572            4,572

Financial liabilities:

  Deposits                                     595,621          595,696
  Accrued interest payable                       3,047            3,047
  Other liabilities                              6,233            6,233
  Long-term borrowings                          24,281           24,403


                                                  December 31, 1995
                                             Carrying            Fair
Financial assets:                             Amount            Value
                                                   (In thousands)
  Cash and short-term investments             $ 65,273         $ 65,273
  Securities:
    Held-to-maturity                           116,865          116,576
    Available-for-sale                          76,246           76,246
  Loans, net                                   313,186          316,764
  Accrued interest receivable                    4,609            4,609

Financial liabilities:

  Deposits                                     516,193      516,653
  Accrued interest payable                       3,162            3,162
  Other liabilities                              4,694            4,694
  Long-term borrowings                          26,292           26,430


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 21


Note R - Acquisitions

On October 16, 1996,  the Company  acquired  all of the capital  stock of Sutter
Buttes  Savings  Bank  (Sutter  Buttes) in  exchange  for cash of  approximately
$2,036,000 and approximately 102,900 shares of the Company's stock. Based on the
average value of the Company's stock for the ten days preceding the transaction,
the total purchase  price was  approximately  $4,171,000.  The  transaction  was
accounted for as a purchase, with the excess of the purchase price over the fair
value of Sutter  Buttes' net assets being  assigned to core  deposit  intangible
assets.  Results of operations of Sutter Buttes are included in the consolidated
financial  statements  subsequent to October 16, 1996.  Sutter Buttes was merged
into the Bank concurrent with the acquisition.

Pro forma  operating  results of the Company,  assuming the acquisition had been
made as of January 1, 1995 is as follows:

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA
(in thousands, except per share data)               Year ended December 31,
                                                   1996                1995
Summary of Income:
 Net interest income                            $ 31,503            $ 29,458
 Provision for loan losses                           997                 334
 Noninterest income                                6,924               6,422
 Noninterest expense                              25,466              23,394
 Net income                                        7,056               7,290
 Net income available to common shareholders     $ 7,056             $ 7,045

Per Common Share:
 Primary earnings per common share                 $1.48               $1.48
 Fully diluted earnings per common share           $1.47               $1.47

Selected Balance Sheet Data:
 Investment securities                          $170,029            $194,897
 Loans                                           439,289             376,906
 Assets                                          694,771             667,137
 Deposits                                        595,621             573,599
 Equity                                         $ 60,689            $ 55,480


Note S - Future Financial Accounting Standards

     In June 1996,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (FASB)  issued
Statement of Financial Accounting  Standards No. 125 (SFAS 125),  Accounting for
Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and  Extinguishments of Liabilities.
This statement  establishes new criteria for  determining  whether a transfer of
financial  assets should be accounted for as a sale or as a pledge of collateral
in a secured  borrowing.  The statement was subsequently  amended by SFAS 127 to
defer the effective date of the statement's  provisions  relevant to the Company
until 1998. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this Statement will
have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.






                               Exhibit 13.1 - 22



Note T - TriCo Bancshares Financial Statements

TriCo Bancshares (Parent Only) Balance Sheets



                                                                   December 31,
Assets                                                        1996             1995
                                                                  (in thousands)
                                                                            
Cash                                                        $   517          $    134
Investment in Tri Counties Bank                              60,171            52,868
Other assets                                                    460               303
                                                            -------------------------
  Total assets                                              $61,148           $53,305
                                                            =========================
Liabilities and shareholders' equity

  Total liabilities                                           $ 371              $ 92

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value:
    Authorized 20,000,000 shares;
    issued and outstanding 4,641,223
    and 4,464,828 shares, respectively                       47,652            44,315
Retained earnings                                            14,076             9,548
Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale, net          (951)            (650)
                                                            -------------------------
      Total shareholders' equity                             60,777            53,213
                                                            -------------------------
      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity            $61,148           $53,305
                                                            =========================


Statements of Income



                                                                     Years Ended December 31,
                                                             1996              1995              1994
                                                                          (in thousands)
                                                                                         
Interest income                                             $   --           $    --          $    --

Administration expense                                         296               282              334
                                                            ------------------------------------------
Loss before equity in net income of Tri Counties Bank         (296)             (282)            (334)
Equity in net income of Tri Counties Bank:
  Distributed                                                4,800             3,200               --
  Undistributed                                              2,654             4,010            6,103

Income tax credits                                             148               117               92
                                                            ------------------------------------------
  Net income                                                $7,306           $ 7,045          $ 5,861
                                                            ==========================================








                               Exhibit 13.1 - 23



Statements of Cash Flows



                                                                                         Years ended December 31,
                                                                                 1996              1995             1994
                                                                                              (in thousands)
                                                                                                            
Operating activities:
  Net income                                                                    $7,306             $7,045          $5,861
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
    by (used for) operating activities:
      Undistributed equity in Tri Counties Bank                                 (2,654)            (4,010)         (6,103)
      Deferred income taxes                                                       (157)              (117)            (92)
      Increase (decrease) in other operating assets and liabilities                279                 19            (168)
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
          Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities                   4,774              2,937            (502)
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
Investing activities:
  Capital contributed to
    Tri Counties Bank                                                           (4,741)                --            (183)
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
          Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities                  (4,741)                --            (183)
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
Financing activities:
  Issuance of common stock                                                       3,291                554             403
  Repurchase of common stock                                                      (295)                --              --
  Redemption of preferred stock                                                     --             (4,000)             --
  Cash dividends-- preferred                                                        --               (245)           (420)
  Cash dividends-- common                                                       (2,646)            (1,639)         (1,304)
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
          Net cash provided by (used for)  financing activities                    350             (5,330)         (1,321)
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
          Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                         383             (2,393)         (2,006)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                                     134              2,527           4,533
                                                                                ------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                                         $ 517               $134          $2,527
                                                                                ==========================================








                               Exhibit 13.1 - 24



Note U - Regulatory Matters

The Company is subject to various regulatory capital  requirements  administered
by federal banking  agencies.  Failure to meet minimum capital  requirements can
initiate certain mandatory,  and possibly  additional  discretionary  actions by
regulators  that,  if  undertaken,  could have a direct  material  effect on the
Company's  financial  statements.  Under  capital  adequacy  guidelines  and the
regulatory  framework  for  prompt  corrective  action,  the  Company  must meet
specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative  measures of the Company's
assets,  liabilities  and certain  off-balance-sheet  items as calculated  under
regulatory   accounting   practices.   The   Company's   capital   amounts   and
classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about
components, risk weightings and other factors.

Quantitative  measures  established  by  regulation to ensure  capital  adequacy
require  the Company to  maintain  minimum  amounts and ratios (set forth in the
table  below) of total and Tier I capital  (as  defined in the  regulations)  to
risk-weighted assets (as defined), and of Tier I capital (as defined) to average
assets (as  defined).  Management  believes,  as of December 31, 1996,  that the
Company meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.

As of December 31, 1996, the most recent  notification from the FDIC categorized
the  Bank  as  well  capitalized  under  the  regulatory  framework  for  prompt
corrective  action. To be categorized as well capitalized the Bank must maintain
minimum total  risk-based,  Tier I risk-based and Tier I leverage  ratios as set
forth  in the  table  below.  There  are no  conditions  or  events  since  that
notification that management believes have changed the institution's category.

The Bank's actual capital amounts and ratios are also presented in the table.


                                                                                                           To Be Well
                                                                                                        Capitalized Under
                                                                                 For Capital            Prompt Corrective
                                                        Actual                Adequacy Purposes         Action Provisions
                                                  Amount       Ratio           Amount      Ratio         Amount      Ratio
                                                                                                  
As of December 31, 1996:
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets):
  Consolidated                                     $66,690    13.58%         =>$39,280    =>8.0%       =>$49,100   =>10.0%
  Tri Counties Bank                                $66,084    13.47%         =>$39,244    =>8.0%       =>$49,055   =>10.0%
Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets):
  Consolidated                                     $60,593    12.34%         =>$19,640    =>4.0%       =>$29,460   => 6.0%
  Tri Counties Bank                                $59,987    12.23%         =>$19,622    =>4.0%       =>$29,433   => 6.0%
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
  Consolidated                                     $60,593     8.99%         =>$26,960    =>4.0%       =>$33,700   => 5.0%
  Tri Counties Bank                                $59,987     8.91%         =>$26,930    =>4.0%       =>$33,663   => 5.0%


As of December 31, 1995:
Total Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets):
  Consolidated                                     $58,700    15.17%         =>$30,958    =>8.0%       =>$38,698   =>10.0%
  Tri Counties Bank                                $58,350    15.09%         =>$30,935    =>8.0%       =>$38,669   =>10.0%
Tier I Capital (to Risk Weighted Assets):
  Consolidated                                     $53,863    13.92%         =>$15,479    =>4.0%       =>$23,219   => 6.0%
  Tri Counties Bank                                $53,517    13.84%         =>$15,468    =>4.0%       =>$23,201   => 6.0%
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
  Consolidated                                     $53,863     8.92%         =>$24,142    =>4.0%       =>$30,178   => 5.0%
  Tri Counties Bank                                $53,517     8.87%         =>$24,130    =>4.0%       =>$30,163   => 5.0%


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 25



Note V - Subsequent Events

On February 21, 1997,  the Bank purchased and assumed  substantially  all of the
deposit  liabilities of nine branches from Wells Fargo Bank, N.A, San Francisco.
In connection with the acquisition of such deposit  liabilities and related cash
balances,  Tri Counties Bank also acquired certain other assets of the branches,
including real estate (four  branches),  furniture and fixtures and a relatively
insignificant amount of loans which were secured by deposit accounts. All assets
constituting  plant and equipment or other physical property will continue to be
used in the  banking  business.  Wells  Fargo Bank  retained  all other  revenue
producing assets which had originated from these branches.

A preliminary  summary of the deposit liabilities and limited assets acquired by
Tri Counties Bank is shown below:

Total deposits (liabilities) acquired                    $150,090,000

Less assets acquired
         Furniture and fixtures                               214,000
         Land and premises                                    585,000
         Loans                                                183,000
                                                           ----------
                  Total assets acquired                       982,000

Less premium paid for deposits                              9,108,000
                                                           ----------
Net cash received by Tri Counties Bank
  for the deposits acquired                              $140,000,000





                               Exhibit 13.1 - 26



Note W - Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)

The following  table sets forth the results of operations  for the four quarters
of 1996 and 1995 and is unaudited;  however,  in the opinion of  management,  it
reflects  all  adjustments  (which  include only normal  recurring  adjustments)
necessary to present fairly the summarized results for such periods.




                                                                    1996 Quarters Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)    December 31,      September 30,    June 30,     March 31,

                                                                                           
Interest income                                        $13,276        $12,584        $11,744       $11,629
Interest expense                                         5,290          4,856          4,498         4,535
                                                      --------       --------       --------      --------
Net interest income                                      7,986          7,728          7,246         7,094
Provision for loan losses                                  150            537             50            40
                                                     ---------      ---------      ---------     ---------
Net interest income after
     provision for loan losses                           7,836          7,191          7,196         7,054
Noninterest income                                       1,845          1,745          1,580         1,466
Noninterest expense                                      6,339          5,817          5,824         5,505
                                                      --------       --------       --------      --------
Income before income taxes                               3,342          3,119          2,952         3,015
Taxable-equivalent adjustment                               17             22             22            24
Income tax expense                                       1,288          1,276          1,226         1,247
                                                      --------       --------       --------      --------
Net income                                             $ 2,037        $ 1,821        $ 1,704       $ 1,744
                                                       =======        =======        =======       =======

Net income applicable to common stock                  $ 2,037        $ 1,821        $ 1,704       $ 1,744
                                                       =======        =======        =======       =======
Per common share:
    Net income                                         $  0.43        $  0.39       $  0.37        $  0.38
                                                       =======        =======       =======        =======
    Dividends                                          $  0.16        $  0.16       $  0.13        $  0.13
                                                       =======        =======       =======        =======




                                                                   1995 Quarters Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)    December 31,      September 30,    June 30,     March 31,

                                                                                           
Interest income                                        $11,800        $11,658        $11,334       $11,333
Interest expense                                         4,645          4,529          4,441         4,373
                                                      --------       --------       --------      --------
Net interest income                                      7,155          7,129          6,893         6,960
Provision for loan losses                                  100            160             35            40
                                                      --------       --------      ---------     ---------
Net interest income after
     provision for loan losses                           7,055          6,969          6,858         6,920
Noninterest income                                       1,421          1,442          1,638         1,432
Noninterest expense                                      5,382          5,252          5,471         5,556
                                                      --------       --------       --------      --------
Income before income taxes                               3,094          3,159          3,025         2,796
Taxable-equivalent adjustment                               21             29             32            32
Income tax expense                                       1,266          1,286          1,229         1,134
                                                      --------       --------       --------      --------
Net income                                             $ 1,807        $ 1,844        $ 1,764       $ 1,630
                                                       =======        =======        =======       =======

Net income applicable to common stock                  $ 1,807        $ 1,809        $ 1,659       $ 1,525
                                                       =======        =======        =======       =======

Per common share:
    Net income                                         $  0.38        $  0.39       $  0.36        $  0.33
                                                       =======        =======       =======        =======
    Dividends                                          $  0.13        $  0.08       $  0.08        $  0.08
                                                       =======        =======       =======        =======


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 27



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of TriCo Bancshares and Subsidiary:

     We have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets of TriCo
Bancshares (a California corporation) and Subsidiary as of December 31, 1996 and
1995,   and  the  related   consolidated   statements  of  income,   changes  in
shareholders'  equity and cash  flows for each of the three  years in the period
ended December 31, 1996. These financial  statements are the  responsibility  of
the  Corporation's  management.  Our  responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audits.
     We conducted  our audits in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
     In our opinion, the  consolidated  financial  statements  referred to above
present  fairly,  in all  material  respects,  the  financial  position of TriCo
Bancshares  and  Subsidiary as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of
their  operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended  December  31,  1996 in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.
     As discussed in Note A to the consolidated financial statements,  effective
January 1, 1994,  the  Corporation  changed its method of accounting for certain
investments in debt and equity  securities as required by Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 115.



/s/Arthur  Andersen LLP

San Francisco, California
January 21, 1997



                               Exhibit 13.1 - 28



MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     As  TriCo  Bancshares  (the  "Company"  ) has not  commenced  any  business
operations  independent  of  Tri  Counties  Bank  (the  "Bank"),  the  following
discussion  pertains  primarily to the Bank.  Average  balances,  including such
balances used in calculating  certain financial ratios, are generally  comprised
of average daily balances for the Company. Except within the "overview" section,
interest income and net interest income are presented on a tax equivalent basis.
     In addition to the historical  information  contained  herein,  this Annual
Report contains certain  forward-looking  statements.  The reader of this Annual
Report should understand that all such forward-looking statements are subject to
various  uncertainties and risks that could affect their outcome.  The Company's
actual   results  could  differ   materially   form  those   suggested  by  such
forward-looking  statements.  Factors  that could  cause or  contribute  to such
differences  include,  but are not limited to,  variances  in the actual  versus
projected  growth in assets,  return on assets,  loan  losses,  expenses,  rates
charged on loans and earned on securities  investments,  rates paid on deposits,
competition  effects,  fee and other noninterest  income earned as well as other
factors.  This entire Annual  Report should be read to put such  forward-looking
statements  in  context  and  to  gain  a  more  complete  understanding  of the
uncertainties and risks involved in the Company's business.

Overview
     The Bank continued along its growth path in 1996. The year started with the
opening of a loan production  office in Sacramento which was quickly followed in
March by the opening of the seventh in-store branch in Albertson's  Grass Valley
supermarket.  In June the  Company  announced  the  signing of an  agreement  to
purchase Sutter Buttes Savings Bank. That acquisition closed on October 16 which
was the same day the Bank announced  entering into an agreement with Wells Fargo
Bank,  N.A. to purchase  the  deposits  and  operations  of nine of its Northern
California  branches.  The Sutter Buttes  acquisition added $64,210,000 in loans
and  $56,023,000  of deposits.  Subsequent to year end on February 21, 1997, the
purchase of the Wells Fargo branch deposits closed. Approximately,  $150,090,000
in  deposits  were  added  through  this  transaction.   (See  Note  W  entitled
"Subsequent Events" in the financial  statements.) This growth was made possible
by the work that has been going on for the past  several  years to  upgrade  the
Bank's  computer  technology and to reorganize its service  delivery  functions.
Management believes the Bank is well positioned to continue along a growth path.
         The  Company  had  record  earnings  of  $7,306,000  for the year ended
December 31, 1996 versus  $7,045,000 for 1995.  Fully diluted earnings per share
for the years were $1.55 and $1.45,  respectively.  Earnings per common share in
1996 have benefited from the redemption of all  outstanding  preferred  stock in
the third  quarter  of 1995,  as the  Company  paid  preferred  stock  dividends
totaling $245,000 in the first nine months of 1995.
         For 1996 net interest income was  $29,969,000  which was an increase of
$1,946,000 over 1995. The interest  income  component of net interest income was
up 6.8%  or  $3,137,000.  Interest  and  fees  on  loans  was up  $4,451,000  to
$38,227,000 as average loans outstanding  increased $60,077,000 to $368,550,000.
To fund these  loans,  the  securities  portfolio  was allowed to runoff from an
average  balance of  $210,205,000  in 1995 to $183,222,000 in 1996. As a result,
interest  income  on the  securities  portfolio  decreased  $1,364,000  or 11.4%
Interest  expense was up  $1,191,000  or 6.6%.  This  increase was due to higher
average  balances of interest  bearing  liabilities  as the average rate paid on
them was relatively flat. The net interest margin was 5.37% in 1996 versus 5.36%
in 1995.
         Noninterest  income is  comprised  of  "service  charges  and fees" and
"other  income".  Service charge and fee income  increased  18.2% or $761,000 in
1996 versus year ago results.  Both higher account  volumes and higher fee rates
contributed  to the increase in this  category.  Other income was down  slightly
from  $1,780,000  in 1995 to  $1,712,000 in 1996.  Overall,  noninterest  income
increased $703,000 or 11.9% for the year.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 29


         Noninterest  expenses increased $1,824,000 or 8.4% in 1996 versus 1995.
Salary and benefit  expenses were up 11.2% and accounted for  $1,202,000 of this
increase.  The higher salary expense reflects costs for additional  employees at
two new  in-store  branches,  two loan  production  offices,  support and branch
personnel from the Sutter Buttes acquisition,  fringe benefits and normal salary
increases. Other expenses increased 5.7% or $622,000. Costs relating to customer
deposit  services,  ATM networks,  credit card servicing and  telecommunications
were up $698,000 or 46.4%.  These costs reflect  higher  volumes  related to the
products and new computer  networks.  Provision  for OREO  valuation  allowance,
professional  fees,  advertising  and  promotional  expenses also  significantly
increased.  A 1996 decrease in FDIC insurance of $647,000 or 94.6% helped offset
the higher operating costs.
         Assets of the Company  totaled  $694,859,000 at December 31, 1996 which
was an increase of $91,305,000 from 1995 ending balances.
         For 1996 the Company  realized a return on assets of 1.18% and a return
on  shareholders'  equity of 13.0% versus  1.22% and 13.8% in 1995.  The Company
ended 1996 with a leverage ratio of 8.99%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.3% and a
total risk-based capital ratio of 13.6%.
     Management's  continuing  goal for the Bank is to  deliver a full  array of
competitive  products  to  its  customers  while  maintaining  the  personalized
customer  service of a community  bank.  We believe this  strategy  will provide
continued growth and above average returns for our shareholders.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 30



(A) Results of Operations


                                                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                                                 1996          1995         1994         1993(1)        1992(1)
                                                                    (in thousands, except earnings per share amounts)
                                                                                                      
Interest income:    
Interest and fees on loans                                   $  38,227     $ 33,776     $ 30,641     $ 31,795      $ 33,695
Interest on investment securities--taxable                      10,409       11,706       12,247        8,585         6,170
Interest on investment securities--tax exempt(2)                   207          272          401          426           489
Interest on federal funds sold                                     392          371          123          329           129
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
  Total interest income                                         49,235       46,125       43,412       41,135        40,483

Interest expense:
Interest on deposits                                            17,201       16,231       13,902       13,006        15,427
Interest on short-term borrowing                                   359          526          719          739            65
Interest on long-term debt                                       1,619        1,231        1,059          251           108
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
  Total interest expense                                        19,179       17,988       15,680       13,996        15,600
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
  Net interest income                                           30,056       28,137       27,732       27,139        24,883
Provision for loan losses                                          777          335          316        1,858         2,101
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
  Net interest income after provision
    for loan losses                                             29,279       27,802       27,416       25,281        22,782

Noninterest income:
Service charges, fees and other                                  6,636        5,943        5,048        5,304         5,205
Investment securities gains (losses), net                           --          (10)         (23)       1,421           367
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
  Total noninterest income                                       6,636        5,933        5,025        6,725         5,572
Noninterest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits                                  11,989       10,787       10,550        9,072         8,460
Other, net                                                      11,496       10,874       11,508       11,152         9,570
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
  Total noninterest expenses                                    23,485       21,661       22,058       20,224        18,030
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
Net income before income taxes                                  12,430       12,074       10,383       11,782        10,324
Income taxes                                                     5,037        4,915        4,350        4,779         4,113
Tax equivalent adjustment(2)                                        87          114          172          188           211
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------
  Net income                                                  $  7,306      $ 7,045      $ 5,861      $ 6,815       $ 6,000
                                                             ==============================================================
Primary earnings per common share(3)                          $   1.56      $  1.46      $  1.18      $  1.42       $  1.46
Fully diluted earnings per common share(3)                    $   1.55      $  1.45      $  1.18      $  1.40       $  1.46
Selected Balance Sheet Information
Total Assets                                                  $694,859     $603,554     $593,834     $575,897      $492,404
Long-term Debt                                                  24,281       26,292       18,499        7,144           907
Preferred Stock                                                     --           --        3,899        3,899         6,086

(1)Restated on a historical basis to reflect the July 21, 1994 acquisition of Country National Bank on a
   pooling-of-interests basis.
(2)Interest on tax-free securities is reported on a tax equivalent basis of 1.72 for 1996, 1.72 for 1995, 1.75 for 1994,
   1.79 for 1993,  and 1.76 for 1992.
(3)Restated on a  historical  basis to reflect the 5-for-4  stock split  effected
   September 22, 1995.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 31



Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin
     Net interest  income  represents  the excess of interest and fees earned on
interest-earning  assets  (loans,  securities  and federal  funds sold) over the
interest  paid on  deposits  and  borrowed  funds.  Net  interest  margin is net
interest income expressed as a percentage of average earning assets.
     Net  interest  income  for  1996  totaled  $30,056,000  which  was up  6.8%
($1,919,000)  over  the  prior  year.  Average   outstanding  loan  balances  of
$368,550,000  for 1996  reflected a 19.5%  increase  over 1995  balances.  These
higher balances contributed an additional  $6,578,000 to interest income and was
the major factor in the  improvement in net interest  income.  The average yield
received on loans fell 58 basis points to 10.37% which offset interest income by
$2,127,000.  The  reduction  of the  loan  yields  was due to  increased  market
competition and also in part to the acquisition of Sutter Buttes Savings Bank in
October of 1996. A high  percentage of Sutter  Buttes' loans were mortgage loans
with fixed interest rates averaging less than 8%. Average balances of investment
securities  decreased  $26,983,000  (12.8%) as these monies were  deployed  into
loans. The lower volume of securities  resulted in a decrease in interest income
of $1,546,000.
     Interest  expense  increased  $1,191,000  (6.6%) in 1996 over 1995.  Higher
volumes in all interest bearing liability categories except savings accounts and
long term debt accounted for the increase. Interest expense on time deposits was
up $1,230,000  due to higher average  balances of  $22,390,000 in 1996.  Average
rates paid on interest bearing  liabilities in 1996 were down only 1 basis point
to 4.05% which had a small favorable  effect on interest  expense.  Net interest
margin for 1996 was 5.37% versus 5.36% in 1995.
     In 1995 net interest income increased  $405,000 (1.5%) to $28,137,000.  The
interest income  component  increased  $2,713,000  (6.3%) to $46,125,000.  Rates
received on loans in 1995 averaged  10.95% which was 85 basis points higher than
rates  received in 1994.  The higher  rates  accounted  for the  majority of the
increase in interest income.  Average loans outstanding also increased  modestly
in 1995 as did rates  received  on  securities  and Federal  Funds  sold.  These
increases  were  offset in part by an 8.1%  ($18,411,000)  decrease  in  average
balances of investment securities which resulted in a reduction of $1,052,000 in
interest income.
     For 1995 the interest expense  component  increased  $2,308,000  (14.7%) to
$17,988,000  over 1994.  Most of this increase can be attributed to higher rates
paid on time  certificates  of deposit in 1995.  The  average  rate paid on time
certificates increased 133 basis points or 32% over the 1994 average. This large
increase was due to the local competitive market environment. During part of the
year,  Management did not raise the rates to meet the local competition and as a
result some deposit runoff was  experienced.  For the year,  average balances on
interest-bearing  deposits decreased $9,118,000 (2.2%). The higher rates on time
certificates  also  caused  customers  to shift some funds from  savings to time
certificates. Average balances in savings accounts decreased $44,572,000 (21.1%)
as time certificate  balances increased  $35,179,000  (27.1%). The effect of the
changes in the net  interest  income and the average  balances  of the  interest
earning  assets  and the  interest-bearing  liabilities  resulted  in an overall
increase of 18 basis points in net interest margin. Net interest margin for 1995
was 5.36% versus 5.18% in 1994.
     Table One,  Analysis of Net Interest  Margin on Earning  Assets,  and Table
Two,  Analysis of Volume and Rate Changes on Net Interest  Income and  Expenses,
are provided to enable the reader to understand  the  components and past trends
of the Bank's  interest  income and expenses.  Table One provides an analysis of
net interest margin on earning assets setting forth average assets,  liabilities
and shareholders'  equity;  interest income earned and interest expense paid and
average rates earned and paid;  and the net interest  margin on earning  assets.
Table Two presents an analysis of volume and rate change on net interest  income
and expense.

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 32



Table One:  Analysis of Net Interest Margin on Earning Assets



                                          1996                             1995                             1994
                              Average              Yield/      Average              Yield/      Average             Yield/
Assets                       Balance(1)  Income     Rate      Balance(1)  Income     Rate      Balance(1)  Income    Rate
                                                                  (dollars in thousands)
                                                                                       
Earning assets:
  Loans(2),(3)               $368,550     38,227  10.37 %     $308,473    $33,776   10.95%     $303,497  $30,641    10.10%
  Securities - taxable        180,836     10,409   5.76 %      207,163     11,706    5.65%      224,447   12,247     5.46%
  Securities - nontaxable(4)    2,386        207   8.68 %        3,042        272    8.93%        4,169      401     9.62%
  Federal funds sold            7,405        392   5.29 %        6,702        371    5.54%        3,727      123     3.30%
                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total earning assets      559,177     49,235   8.80 %      525,380     46,125    8.78%      535,840   43,412     8.10%

Cash and due from banks        31,867                           29,150                           31,935
Premises and equipment         14,068                           13,206                           13,151
Other assets, net              23,046                           19,537                           19,240
Less:  Unrealized loss
  on securities                (1,841)                          (3,156)                          (3,538)
Less:  Allowance for loan
  losses                       (5,597)                          (5,636)                          (5,917)
                             ---------                         --------                        ---------      
Total assets                 $620,720                         $578,481                         $590,711

Liabilities and
shareholders' equity
Interest-bearing demand
  deposits                   $ 89,278      2,226   2.49 %     $ 81,408      2,000    2.46%     $ 81,133    2,066     2.55%
Savings deposits              163,637      5,032   3.08 %      166,637      5,167    3.10%      211,209    6,442     3.05%
Time deposits                 187,355      9,943   5.31 %      164,965      9,064    5.49%      129,786    5,394     4.16%
Federal funds purchased         6,485        359   5.54 %        1,953        120    6.14%        3,726      174     4.67%
Repurchase agreements           9,828        603   6.14 %        6,696        406    6.06%       10,727      545     5.08%
Long-term debt                 17,434      1,016   5.83 %       21,416      1,231    5.75%       20,637    1,059     5.13%
                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total interest-bearing
      liabilities             474,017     19,179   4.05 %      443,075     17,988    4.06%      457,218   15,680     3.43%

Noninterest-bearing
  deposits                     79,843                           76,184                           79,776
Other liabilities              10,776                            8,196                            6,014
Shareholders' equity           56,084                           51,026                           47,703
                             ---------                         --------                        --------- 
    Total liabilities and
    shareholders' equity     $620,720                         $578,481                         $590,711

Net interest rate spread(5)                        4.76 %                            4.72%                           4.67%

Net interest income/net
  interest margin(6)                     $30,056   5.37 %                 $28,137    5.36%               $27,732     5.18%


(1)Average balances are computed  principally  on the basis of daily balances.
(2)Nonaccrual loans are included.
(3)Interest income on loans includes fees on loans of $1,926,000 in 1996,
   $1,676,000 in 1995, and $1,701,000 in 1994.
(4)Interest income is stated on a tax equivalent basis of 1.72 in 1996, 1.72
   for 1995, and 1.75 for 1994.
(5)Net interest rate spread represents the average yield earned on
   interest-earning  assets less the average rate paid on  interest-bearing
   liabilities.
(6)Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by total
   average earning assets.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 33




Table Two:  Analysis of Volume and Rate Changes on Net Interest Income and Expenses

                                                           1996 over 1995                          1995 over 1994
                                                                 Yield/                                 Yield/
                                                  Volume         Rate (4)    Total        Volume        Rate (4)    Total
                                                                            (dollars in thousands)
                                                                                               
Increase (decrease) in
  interest income:
    Loans(1),(2)                                 $  6,578     $ (2,127)    $  4,451        $ 502      $ 2,633      $ 3,135
    Investment securities(3)                       (1,546)         184       (1,362)      (1,052)         382         (670)
    Federal funds sold                                 39          (18)          21           98          150          248
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total                                         5,071       (1,961)       3,110         (452)       3,165        2,713
Increase (decrease) in interest expense:
    Demand deposits
      (interest-bearing)                              193           33          226            7          (73)         (66)
    Savings deposits                                  (93)         (42)        (135)      (1,359)          84       (1,275)
    Time deposits                                   1,230         (351)         879        1,462        2,208        3,670
    Federal funds purchased                           278          (39)         239          (83)          29          (54)
    Repurchase agreements                             190            7          197         (205)          66         (139)
    Long-term borrowings                             (229)          14         (215)          40          132          172
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total                                         1,569         (378)       1,191         (138)       2,446        2,308
                                                 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in
  net interest income                            $  3,502     $ (1,583)    $  1,919       $ (314)       $ 719        $ 405
                                                 ==========================================================================
(1)  Nonaccrual loans are included.
(2)  Interest income on loans includes fees on loans of $1,926,000 in 1996, $1,676,000 in 1995, and $1,701,000 in 1994.
(3)  Interest income is stated on a tax equivalent basis of 1.72 in 1996, 1.72 for 1995, and 1.75 for.
(4)  The rate/volume variance has been included in the rate variance.


Provision for Loan Losses
     The 1996  provision for loan losses of $777,000 was a significant  increase
over the 1995 provision of $335,000.  Net loan charge-offs for 1996 increased to
$883,000 from $363,000 in 1995. Consumer  installment loans which include credit
cards  accounted for all of the increase.  Management has implemented new credit
review procedures and contracted with outside credit collection agencies to help
improve the credit card portfolio performance.  The 1996 charge-offs represented
0.24% of average loans  outstanding  versus 0.12% the prior year.  Nonperforming
loans were 2.06% of total loans at year end versus 0.76% in 1995.  The allowance
for loan losses to  nonperforming  loans was 67% versus 226% at the end of 1995.
(See balance sheet analysis "Allowance for Loan Losses" for further discussion.)
     The Bank  provided  $335,000  for loan  losses  in 1995  which was a slight
increase  over  the 1994  provision  of  $316,000.  This  provision  essentially
maintained  the allowance  for loan losses at a constant  level as the provision
and loan  recoveries  were just  $28,000  less than the loans  charged  off. Net
charge-offs for the year were only 0.12% of average loans  outstanding which was
reflective of the continuing quality of the loan portfolio.  Net charge-offs for
1994 were .22% of average loans.  Nonperforming  loans were 0.76% of total loans
at year end versus 0.37% in 1994. The allowance for loan losses to nonperforming
loans was 226% versus 489% at the end of 1994.

Service Charges and Fees and Other Income
     For 1996 service charge and fee income was up 18.3% to $4,924,000 over 1995
results.  The growth came from higher  account  volumes and some  selective  fee
increases.  Other income  reflected a small decrease overall on a year over year
basis.  However,  within this category  commissions on the sale of annuities and
mutual funds increased  $355,000 or 39.5%.  This favorable  change was offset by
decreases in nonrecurring items from 1995 levels.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 34


     Service charge and fee income grew by 16.6% to $4,163,000 in 1995.  Most of
the  increase  came from fee  increases on returned  checks  coupled with volume
increases.  The 20.4% or  $302,000  increase  in other  income  resulted  from a
mixture of changes within the category and nonrecurring items. Gains on the sale
of loans was down for the second  straight year as origination of mortgage loans
continued to be soft.  Commissions  on the sales of mutual  funds and  annuities
decreased 5% to 8% as sales were soft in the first part of 1995.

Securities Transactions
     No  securities  were sold in 1996.  The Bank was able to fund  loan  growth
through the maturities of investment securities and growth in deposits.
     The Bank had very few securities  transactions in 1995. It realized a total
net loss of $10,000  for the year on sales of  securities.  The flat yield curve
present  for  most of 1995  presented  few  opportunities  to  invest  at  rates
attractive to Bank Management.

Salaries and Benefits
     Salary  and  benefit  expenses  were up  $1,202,000  or 11.2% from the 1995
levels to total  $11,989,000  in 1996.  Increases  in  staffing  levels  for the
Bakersfield and Sacramento loan offices,  the Grass Valley in-store branch, nine
months of staffing for the Chico in-store  branch and the addition of staff from
the Sutter Buttes Savings Bank acquisition as well as normal salary  progression
contributed to the increase. Components of salaries and benefits which increased
significantly  included;  Base  salary  and  wages,  $536,000;   commissions  on
annuities and mutual funds, $75,000;  retirement plans,  $193,000;  and deferred
income plan, $208,000.
     Salary and benefit  expenses  increased  2.25% or  $237,000  in 1995.  Base
salaries  increased  $259,000 (3.6%) and were reflective of the full year effect
of staffing for the  in-store  branches and normal  salary  reviews.  Management
incentive  payments  for 1995 were less than  those for 1994,  as  approximately
$245,000  in one time  bonus  and  termination  payments  were  made to  Country
National Bank employees in 1994. Group insurance expenses decreased 10.0% mostly
due to a one time premium refund.

Other Expenses
     For 1996 other  expenses  increased  $622,000  or 5.7%.  Costs  relating to
customer   deposit   services,   ATM  networks,   credit  card  servicing,   and
telecommunications were up $698,000 or 46.4%. These costs reflect higher volumes
related to the products, new computer networks and business locations. Provision
for OREO valuation  allowance,  advertising  and  promotional  expenses also had
significant  increases.  There  were also one time  costs  related to the Sutter
Buttes  acquisition.  A 1996  decrease  in FDIC  insurance  of $647,000 or 94.6%
helped offset the higher operating costs.
     Other  expenses  decreased  $634,000 or 5.5% in 1995. In September the FDIC
significantly  reduced deposit insurance premiums  retroactive to June 1995. For
the year, the lower insurance  premium and lower average deposits  resulted in a
favorable change of $478,000 from 1994. The absence of the one time merger costs
(related  to the  Country  National  Bank (CNB)  acquisition)  of  approximately
$840,000 incurred in 1994 also favorably impacted other expenses in 1995. A 9.0%
($302,000) increase in premise and equipment expenses,  which were mostly due to
the full year effect of the  in-store  branches,  partially  offset  these large
decreases.  Net  increases  in  various  other  expenses  totaled  approximately
$380,000 with no single expense classification being significant.

Provision for Taxes
     The effective tax rate on income was 40.8%, 41.1% and 42.62% in 1996, 1995,
and 1994. The effective tax rate was greater than the federal statutory tax rate
due to state tax  expense of  $1,359,000,  $1,311,000  and  $1,182,000  in these
years.  Tax-free  income of  $120,000,  $158,000 and  $229,000  from  investment
securities  in these  years  helped to reduce the  effective  tax rate.  In 1994
nondeductible  expenses  related to the CNB merger were incurred which increased
the effective tax rate in that year.

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 35


Return on Average Assets and Equity
     The following  table sets forth certain ratios for the Company for the last
three years (using average balance sheet data):

                                              1996         1995       1994

Return on total assets                        1.18%       1.22%        .99%
Return on shareholders' equity               13.03%      13.81%      12.29%
Return on common shareholders' equity        13.03%      13.95%      12.42%
Shareholders' equity to total assets          8.75%       8.82%       8.06%
Common shareholders' equity to total assets   8.75%       8.82%       7.42%
Common shareholders' dividend payout ratio   36.22%      24.10%      23.97%

     For 1996 return on assets reflected a slight decrease from 1.22% in 1995 to
1.18%.  Net income  increased  at a lower rate than  average  assets.  Return on
assets  rebounded in 1995 to 1.22% from the 0.99%  achieved in 1994.  The higher
return was achieved  through  improved  earnings applied to average assets which
were $12,230,000 lower in 1995.
     Return on  shareholders'  equity  fell to 13.0% in 1996 from 13.8% in 1995.
The lower ROE resulted  from average  capital  increasing  9.9% while net income
increased  3.7%. The return on  shareholder's  equity  improved to 13.8% in 1995
versus  the  12.3%  return  achieved  in  1994.  The  improved  ROE for 1995 was
reflective of both increased earnings and higher average shareholders' equity.
     The  acquisition of the nine Wells Fargo branches in 1997 should  favorably
affect  ROE  as  earnings  should  increase  without  additional  capital  being
required. Conversely, ROA should decrease until loans can be made as most of the
funds will be invested in securities which have lower yields than loans.
     Since all of the Company's preferred shares have been redeemed,  the return
on shareholders'  equity and the return on common  shareholders' equity for 1996
are the  same.  In 1995 and 1994 the  difference  between  the  return on Common
shareholders' equity and return on shareholders' equity had been narrowing. This
change was due to the reduction of the dividend amounts paid for preferred stock
dividends.  In August of 1995,  the Company had  redeemed its Series B Preferred
Stock and in December of 1993, it had redeemed its Series C Preferred Stock. The
annual  dividend  requirements  for these two issues were  $420,000 and $229,000
respectively.
     The  assets  added by the  Sutter  Buttes  acquisition  contributed  to the
decrease  in the  Shareholders'  equity to assets  ratio for 1996 to 8.75%  from
8.82%. In 1995, the total shareholders'  equity to asset ratio increased to 8.8%
from 8.1%. The 1995 change  reflected the  combination of a reduction in average
assets, increased earnings and the redemption of the Series B Preferred Stock.
     The Common  shareholders'  equity to assets ratio changed from 7.4% in 1994
to 8.8% in 1995 and 8.8% in 1996.  These ratios are impacted by the same factors
as the total equity  ratios  except for the direct  effect of reduction in total
capital for the redemption of the preferred stock issues.
     The dividend  payout  ratio  increased to 36.2% in 1996 from 24.1% in 1995.
The common dividends paid totaled $2,646,000 up from $1,639,000.  The Company is
well  capitalized and so the higher dividend payout does not affect  operations.
In 1994, dividends paid to Common shareholders totaled $1,304,000. The resulting
Common shareholders'  dividend payout ratio of 24.1% in 1995 was .1% higher than
the payout for 1994.

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 36


(B)  Balance Sheet Analysis

Loans
     The Bank  concentrates  its lending  activities  in four  principal  areas:
commercial loans (including  agricultural  loans);  consumer loans;  real estate
mortgage loans  (residential  and commercial loans and mortgage loans originated
for sale); and real estate  construction loans. At December 31, 1996, these four
categories  accounted for approximately 40%, 17%, 37%, and 6% of the Bank's loan
portfolio respectively as compared to 48%, 20%, 26% and 6%, at December 31, 1995
The shift in the  percentages was primarily due to the Sutter Buttes loans which
consisted  almost entirely of mortgage loans. The interest rates charged for the
loans made by the Bank vary with the degree of risk,  the size and  maturity  of
the loans, the borrower's relationship with the Bank and prevailing money market
rates indicative of the Bank's cost of funds.
     The  majority  of the Bank's  loans are direct  loans made to  individuals,
farmers and local businesses. The Bank relies substantially on local promotional
activity, personal contacts by bank officers, directors and employees to compete
with other  financial  institutions.  The Bank makes  loans to  borrowers  whose
applications  include a sound purpose,  a viable  repayment source and a plan of
repayment established at inception and generally backed by a secondary source of
repayment.
     At December 31, 1996 loans totaled  $439,289,000 which was a 37.8% increase
over the balances at the end of 1995.  Internal growth  accounted for about half
of the increase and the Sutter Buttes acquisition added $60,815,000. Loan demand
improved in 1996 as economic  conditions  rebounded  from the slow growth of the
prior several years.  Additions to the loan staff and improved  calling programs
also helped generate new customers. With the acquisition of the nine Wells Fargo
Bank branches completed in February 1997,  Management  anticipates the Bank will
have the financing to aggressively pursue  opportunities to further increase its
loan  production in 1997. The average loan to deposit ratio in 1996 was 70.8% as
compared to 63.1% in 1995.
     Loan activity,  while not robust in 1995,  reflected some improvements over
1994 as average loans  outstanding  increased 1.6% to $308,473,000  and year end
balances  increased 3.8% to  $318,766,000.  The average loan to deposit ratio in
1995 was 63.1% versus 60.7% in 1994.
     In 1993 the Bank  installed a new software  system  which  resulted in some
changes in the loan classifications.  The classifications for 1992 have not been
restated in the following  table.  The loan mix has remained  fairly constant in
the four years prior to 1996. As discussed  above the mix changed this year with
the addition of the Sutter Buttes loans.
     Management  would  anticipate  that  growth  in  1997  will  focus  on  the
commercial and consumer elements of the portfolio.

Loan Portfolio Composite


                                                                              December 31,
                                                 1996              1995           1994                1993             1992
                                                                         (dollars in thousands)
                                                                                                    
Commercial, financial and
 agricultural                                $176,868          $152,173         $153,957          $140,750         $150,685
Consumer installment                           75,498            64,445           58,471            55,654           47,726
Real estate mortgage                          160,575            81,888           76,673            88,887           88,715
Real estate construction                       26,348            20,260           18,002            20,611           30,392
                                             ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total loans                              $439,289          $318,766         $307,103          $305,902         $317,518
                                             ==============================================================================


Nonaccrual, Past Due and Restructured Loans
     During  1996  nonperforming  assets  increased  $7,389,000  to a  total  of
$10,453,000  at December 31, 1996.  Nonaccrual  loans  accounted for most of the
change. Commercial loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential real estate increased
$3,686,000  to a total  of  $4,350,000.  Loans  to one  borrower  accounted  for
$2,322,000 of that total.  There were several loans totaling about $1,000,000 in
the process of being  renewed  which were more than 90 days past due.  Also,  as
loan balances outstanding increase,  some increase in nonperforming loans can be
expected.  The  increase  in  nonperforming  loans  was also due in part to more
stringent  policies for removing poorly  performing loans from nonaccrual status
and to  change  in  local  economy.  Management  has  not  changed  underwriting
standards  that should  materially  affect the risk in the loan  portfolio.  The
ratio of  nonperforming  loans to total  loans at  December  31,  1996 was 2.06%
versus  .76% at the end of 1995.  Classifications  of  nonperforming  loans as a
percent of the total at the end of 1996 were as follows: secured by real estate,
79%;  loans to farmers,  1%;  commercial  loans,  18%; and consumer  loans,  2%.
Management  has  implemented  some new  monitoring  procedures  in an  effort to
improve the  timeliness  of payments and  collections,  and actively  manage the
level of nonperforming loans.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 37


     Nonperforming  assets at December 31, 1995 totaled  $3,064,000  which was a
6.3% decrease  from 1994.  The OREO  component  had a significant  decrease from
$2,124,000  in 1994 to $631,000 in 1995.  However,  this  decrease was offset in
great part by an increase in nonperforming loans. They increased from $1,146,000
in 1994 to  $2,433,000  in 1995.  The  nonperforming  loans at December 31, 1995
consisted of numerous  lower value loans with the largest being about  $188,000.
With this increase,  the ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans was .76% as
compared to .37% in 1994.
     Commercial,  real estate and consumer  loans are reviewed on an  individual
basis for  reclassification  to nonaccrual  status when any one of the following
occurs: the loan becomes 90 days past due as to interest or principal,  the full
and timely collection of additional interest or principal becomes uncertain, the
loan is  classified  as doubtful by internal  credit  review or bank  regulatory
agencies,  a portion of the principal  balance has been charged off, or the Bank
takes possession of the collateral.  The reclassification of loans as nonaccrual
does not  necessarily  reflect  Management's  judgment  as to  whether  they are
collectible.
     Interest  income is not accrued on loans where  Management  has  determined
that the borrowers will be unable to meet contractual  principal and/or interest
obligations,  unless the loan is well secured and in process of collection. When
a loan is placed on nonaccrual,  any previously  accrued but unpaid  interest is
reversed.  Income on such loans is then  recognized only to the extent that cash
is received and where the future  collection on principal is probable.  Interest
accruals are resumed on such loans only when they are brought fully current with
respect to interest and principal and when, in the judgment of  Management,  the
loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to both principal and interest.
     Interest income on nonaccrual loans which would have been recognized during
the year  ended  December  31,  1996,  if all such  loans  had been  current  in
accordance with their original terms, totaled $902,000. Interest income actually
recognized on these loans in 1996 was $493,000.
     The Bank's  policy is to place loans 90 days or more past due on nonaccrual
status.  In some instances  when a loan is 90 days past due Management  does not
place  it on  nonaccrual  status  because  the loan is well  secured  and in the
process of  collection.  A loan is considered to be in the process of collection
if, based on a probable  specific  event,  it is expected  that the loan will be
repaid or brought current. Generally, this collection period would not exceed 30
days. Loans where the collateral has been repossessed are classified as OREO or,
if the collateral is personal  property,  the loan is classified as other assets
on the Company's financial statements.
     Management  considers  both the  adequacy of the  collateral  and the other
resources  of the  borrower  in  determining  the  steps to be taken to  collect
nonaccrual loans.  Alternatives that are considered are foreclosure,  collecting
on guarantees, restructuring the loan or collection lawsuits.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 38


     The  following  table sets  forth the  amount of the  Bank's  nonperforming
assets as of the dates indicated.


                                                                             December 31,
                                                1996              1995           1994                1993             1992
                                                                        (dollars in thousands)

                                                                                                       
Nonaccrual loans                             $ 9,044           $ 2,213          $ 1,122           $ 1,595          $  583
Accruing loans past due
  90 days or more                                 20               220               24               126           1,611
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total nonperforming loans                  9,064             2,433            1,146             1,721           2,194
Other real estate owned                        1,389               631            2,124             3,624           1,860
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total nonperforming assets               $10,453           $ 3,064          $ 3,270           $ 5,345         $ 4,054
                                             =============================================================================
Nonincome producing investments
  in real estate held by Bank's real
  estate development subsidiary              $ 1,173           $ 1,173          $ 1,173           $ 1,172         $ 1,240

Nonperforming loans to total loans              2.06%              .76%             .37%              .56%            .69%
Allowance for loan losses to nonper-
  forming loans                                   67%              229%             489%              347%            219%
Nonperforming assets to total assets            1.50%              .51%             .55%              .93%            .82%
Allowance for loan losses to nonper-
  forming assets                                  58%              182%             171%              112%           118%



Allowance for Loan Losses Activity
     In  determining  the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses,  Management
relies  primarily on its review of the loan portfolio both to ascertain  whether
there are probable losses to be recorded and to assess the loan portfolio in the
aggregate.  Problem  loans are  examined  on an  individual  basis to  determine
estimated probable loss. In addition, Management considers current and projected
loan mix and loan volumes,  historical  net loan loss  experience  for each loan
category and current and  anticipated  economic  conditions  affecting each loan
category.  Loan  growth  and the  addition  of the Sutter  Buttes  loans in 1996
resulted  in a  change  in the mix of loans  outstanding  at the end of the year
versus year end 1995.  The types of  mortgage  loans  Sutter  Buttes held in its
portfolio generally require a lower allowance for loan losses. Consequently, the
allowance  for loan losses to total loans at December  31, 1996 was 1.39% versus
1.75% at the end of 1995.
     The  primary  risk  elements  considered  by  Management  with  respect  to
installment and residential  real estate loans is lack of timely payment and the
value of the collateral. The primary risk elements considered by Management with
respect to its credit card portfolio are general economic conditions, timeliness
of payments and the potential for fraud and over limit credit draws. The primary
risk elements  considered by Management with respect to real estate construction
loans are the  financial  condition of  borrowers,  fluctuations  in real estate
values in the Bank's market areas, fluctuations in interest rates, timeliness of
payments, the availability of conventional financing,  the demand for housing in
the Bank's  market  areas and general  economic  conditions.  The  primary  risk
elements  with respect to commercial  loans are the  financial  condition of the
borrower, general economic conditions in the Bank's market area, the sufficiency
of collateral,  the  timeliness of payment and, with respect to adjustable  rate
loans, interest rate fluctuations.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 39


     Based on the current conditions of the loan portfolio,  Management believes
that the  $6,097,000  allowance for loan losses at December 31, 1996 is adequate
to absorb probable  losses  inherent in the Bank's loan portfolio.  No assurance
can be given,  however,  that adverse economic conditions or other circumstances
will not result in increased losses in the portfolio.

     The following table  summarizes,  for the years indicated,  the activity in
the allowance for loan losses:


                                                                             December 31,
                                                1996              1995           1994                1993           1992
                                                                        (dollars in thousands)

                                                                                                      
Balance, beginning of year                 $   5,580         $   5,608         $  5,973         $   4,798     $    4,156
Provision charged to operations                  777               335              316             1,858          2,101
Loans charged off:
Commercial, financial and
  agricultural                                  (283)             (149)            (338)             (653)          (875)

Consumer installment                            (909)             (432)            (712)             (622)          (719)
Real estate mortgage                              --                --               --                --            (23)
                                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total loans charged-off                       (1,192)             (581)          (1,050)           (1,275)        (1,617)

Recoveries:
Commercial, financial and
  agricultural                                   243                98              205               380            106
Consumer installment                              66               120              164               212             52
                                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recoveries                                 309               218              369               592            158
                                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loans charged-off                           (883)             (363)            (681)             (683)        (1,459)

Balance added through acquisition                623                --               --                --             --
                                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, year end                          $   6,097         $   5,580         $  5,608         $   5,973     $    4,798
                                           ==============================================================================

Average total  loans                        $368,550          $308,473         $303,497          $314,691       $318,839

Ratios:
Net charge-offs during period
  to average loans outstanding
  during period                                  .24%              .12%             .22%              .22%           .46 %
Provision for loan losses to aver-
  age loans outstanding                          .21%              .11%             .10%              .59%           .66 %
Allowance to loans at year end(1)               1.39%             1.75%            1.83%             1.95%          1.51 %

(1) Banker's acceptances and commercial paper are not included.



                               Exhibit 13.1 - 40



     As part of its loan review  process,  Management  has allocated the overall
allowance based on specific  identified  problem loans and historical loss data.
The following  tables  summarize the allocation of the allowance for loan losses
at December 31, 1996 and 1995.

                                                     December 31, 1996
                                                  (dollars in thousands)
                                                                 Percent of
                                                                loans in each
                                                                 category to
Balance at End of Period Applicable to:           Amount         total loans

Commercial, financial and agricultural            $ 2,457            40.3%
Real Estate--construction                             366             6.0%
Real Estate--mortgage                               2,231            36.6%
Installment loans to individuals                    1,043            17.1%
                                                  ------------------------
                                                  $ 6,097           100.0%

                                                     December 31, 1995
                                                  (dollars in thousands)
                                                                 Percent of
                                                                loans in each
                                                                 category to
Balance at End of Period Applicable to:           Amount         total loans

Commercial, financial and agricultural            $ 3,932            47.7%
Real Estate--construction                              --             6.4%
Real Estate--mortgage                                 355            25.7%
Installment loans to individuals                    1,293            20.2%
                                                  ------------------------
                                                  $ 5,580           100.0%



Investment in Real Estate Properties
At December 31, 1996 and 1995,  $1,173,000  of property was held by a subsidiary
of the Bank for the purposes of development.  In 1996 the FDIC directed the Bank
to divest the  properties  held by TCB Real Estate Corp.  and to  terminate  its
operations.  The Bank and FDIC have  agreed to a plan that will  accomplish  the
divestiture by June 30, 1999.


Other Real Estate Owned
     The  December  31,  1996  balance of Other  Real  Estate  Owned  (OREO) was
$1,389,000  versus $631,000 in 1995. One property  accounted for $557,000 of the
1996 total. Properties foreclosed in 1996 and remaining in the Bank's possession
at year end were valued at $1,175,000 net of a valuation  allowance of $101,600.
The  Bank  disposed  of  properties  with a value  of  $668,000  in  1996.  OREO
properties consist of a mixture of land, single family residences and commercial
buildings. OREO had decreased $1,493,000 in 1995.

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 41


Deposits
     Total  deposits at December 31, 1996 had increased  $79,428,000  (15.4%) to
$595,621,000 over the 1995 year end balances.  On the date of closing in October
1996, Sutter Buttes had deposits totaling $56,023,000. Because of these acquired
deposits,  growth  occurred in all deposit  categories.  Certificates of deposit
with balances over $100,000  increased from  $13,439,000 in 1995 to $32,889,000.
Of the  increase,  $6,000,000  was  attributable  to a State of  California  CD,
approximately  $5,500,000  was  from  Sutter  Buttes  and the  balance  was from
internal growth.  Prior to 1996, the Bank paid lower rates on CD's over $100,000
than it did on CD's under $100,000. This policy was changed in 1996.
     Deposits at December  31, 1995 were up 5.1% to  $516,193,000  over the 1994
year end balances.  In-store  deposits almost doubled in 1995 ending the year at
$29,605,000.    There   was   growth   in   both   the    interest-bearing   and
noninterest-bearing   demand   deposits.   However,   most  of  the  growth  was
attributable to time certificates of deposit (CD's). They increased  $49,334,000
or 37.7% during 1995. At the same time, savings deposits  decreased  $29,321,000
(15.4%). Depositors moved funds from savings to CD's as the yields on CD's often
were 200-300 basis points higher. The local market conditions  dictated the high
CD rates.  The  increase of $12.3  million in the over  $100,000 CD category was
largely  attributable  to a $9.0 million  deposit from the State of  California.
This deposit had a 90 day maturity and was renewable at the Bank's option.

Accrued Interest Payable
     At December  31, 1996,  accrued  interest  payable  reflected a decrease of
$115,000 to  $3,047,000.  The decrease was mainly due to lower rates of interest
being accrued on time certificates of deposit. At December 31, 1995, the balance
of accrued  interest  payable was $3,162,000 which was an increase of $1,402,000
over the 1994 year end. This increase was  attributable  to the higher rates and
balances in time certificates of deposit.

Long-Term Debt
     In 1996 the Bank made  principal  payments of  $2,011,000 on long term debt
obligations. No new long term debt was incurred.
     During 1995 the Bank  incurred  long term debt in the amount of  $9,828,000
with a term of two years.  This debt was in the form of a repurchase  agreement.
The Bank also retired $2,000,000 of long term debt during the year.

Equity
See Note U in the financial  statements  for a discussion of regulatory  capital
requirements.  With the  inclusion of the  deposits  and assets  acquired by the
purchase of the deposits of nine branches  from Wells Fargo Bank,  both the Bank
and the Company will continue to be well capitalized.  Management  believes that
the Company's capital is adequate to support  anticipated  growth, meet the cash
dividend  requirements  of the  Company and meet the future  risk-based  capital
requirements of the Bank and the Company.

Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity
     Liquidity  refers to the Bank's  ability to provide  funds at an acceptable
cost to meet loan demand and deposit  withdrawals,  as well as contingency plans
to meet unanticipated funding needs or loss of funding sources. These objectives
can be met from either the asset or liability side of the balance  sheet.  Asset
liquidity sources consist of the repayments and maturities of loans,  selling of
loans,  short-term money market investments,  maturities of securities and sales
of  securities  from the  available-for-sale  portfolio.  These  activities  are
generally  summarized as investing  activities in the Consolidated  Statement of
Cash  Flows.  Net  cash  used  by  investing  activities  totaled  approximately
($25,830,000)  in 1996.  The loan  growth was  responsible  for the major use of
funds in this category.
     Liquidity  is  generated  from  liabilities   through  deposit  growth  and
short-term borrowings.  These activities are included under financing activities
in the cash flow statement.  In 1996 funds totaling $24,591,000 were provided by
financing  activities.  Deposit growth and Federal funds borrowed provided funds
amounting to  $28,400,000.  The Bank also had  available  correspondent  banking
lines of credit  totaling  $45,100,000  at year end.  While  these  sources  are
expected  to  continue  to provide  significant  amounts of funds in the future,
their mix, as well as the possible use of other  sources,  will depend on future
economic and market conditions.


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 42


     Liquidity  is also  provided  or used  through  the  results  of  operating
activities. In 1996 operating activities used cash of ($11,803,000).
     Since the adoption of SFAS 115 January 1, 1994, Management has targeted the
available-for-sale  portfolio  (AFS) to be  maintained  at  35-40%  of the total
securities  holdings.  The  AFS  securities  plus  cash  in  excess  of  reserve
requirements  totaled  $109,202,000 which was 15.7% of total assets at year end.
This was down from $133,610,000 and 22.1% at the end of 1995.  Subsequent to the
end of 1996, the Board of Directors approved Management's recommendation that up
to  100%  of  the   future   securities   purchases   could  be  placed  in  the
available-for-sale  category.  This allows for more  flexibility in managing the
investment portfolio.
     The overall  liquidity of the Bank is enhanced by the sizable core deposits
which provide a relatively  stable  funding base. The maturity  distribution  of
certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 or more is set forth in the
following  table.  These  deposits are generally  more rate sensitive than other
deposits and, therefore, are more likely to be withdrawn to obtain higher yields
elsewhere if available.  The Bank participates in a program wherein the State of
California  places time deposits with the Bank at the Bank's option. At December
31, 1996 and 1995 the Bank had $15,000,000 and $9,000,000 respectively, of these
State deposits.

Certificates of Deposit in Denominations of $100,000 or More

                                              Amounts as of
                                               December 31,
                                   1996            1995               1994
                                              (in thousands)
Time remaining until maturity:
Less than 3 months             $ 19,443           $ 9,985            $ 401
3 months to 6 months              3,396             2,909              717
6 months to 12 months             7,480               545               --
More than 12 months               2,570                --               --
                               --------------------------------------------
  Total                        $ 32,889          $ 13,439          $ 1,118

     Loan demand also affects the Bank's liquidity position. The following table
present the maturities of performing loans at December 31, 1996.


Loan Maturities - December 31, 1996


                                                                                 After
                                                                                One But
                                                               Within           Within            After 5
                                                              One Year          5 Years            Years            Total
                                                                                      (in thousands)
                                                                                                        
Loans with predetermined interest rates:
  Commercial, financial and agricultural                        $ 6,318         $ 24,362          $ 29,841         $ 60,521
  Consumer installment                                            5,278           13,577             8,066           26,921
  Real estate mortgage                                            2,294           15,266            34,870           52,430
  Real estate construction                                        5,285              100                76            5,461
                                                                -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 19,175           53,305            72,853          145,333

Loans with floating interest rates:
  Commercial, financial and agricultural                         57,894           26,575            31,878          116,347
  Consumer installment                                           16,693            2,089            29,795           48,577
  Real estate mortgage                                           13,338           20,701            74,106          108,145
  Real estate construction                                       20,887               --                --           20,887
                                                                -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                108,812           49,365           135,779          293,956
                                                                -----------------------------------------------------------
      Total loans                                              $127,987         $102,670          $208,632         $439,289
                                                                ===========================================================


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 43


     Interest rate sensitivity is a function of the repricing characteristics of
the Bank's portfolio of assets and liabilities.  These repricing characteristics
are the time frames within which the interest-bearing assets and liabilities are
subject  to  change  in  interest  rates  either at  replacement,  repricing  or
maturity. Interest rate sensitivity management focuses on the maturity of assets
and liabilities and their repricing during periods of changes in market interest
rates.  Interest  rate  sensitivity  is measured as the  difference  between the
volumes  of assets and  liabilities  in the Bank's  current  portfolio  that are
subject to repricing  at various time  horizons.  The  differences  are known as
interest  sensitivity gaps. As reflected in the following  repricing tables, the
Bank had a liability  sensitive position at December 31, 1996 and 1995. This gap
position would indicate that as interest rates rise, the Bank's  earnings should
be adversely impacted and conversely, as interest rates fall, earnings should be
favorably  impacted.  Because  the Bank's  deposit  liabilities  do not  reprice
immediately with changes in interest rates, in recent years of moderate interest
rate  changes the Bank's  earnings  have  reacted as though the gap  position is
slightly asset sensitive.


Interest Rate Sensitivity - December 31, 1996



                                                                          Repricing within:
                                               3               3 - 6           6 - 12            1 - 5            Over
                                            months            months           months            years           5 years
                                                                       (dollars in thousands)
                                                                                                 
Interest-earning  assets:
    Securities                             $  15,546          $  4,216         $ 12,142           $95,132       $  42,993
    Loans                                    236,821            36,833           16,808            53,698          95,129
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest-earning assets              $ 252,367          $ 41,049         $ 28,950          $148,830        $138,122

Interest-bearing liabilities
    Transaction deposits                   $ 269,967            $   --           $   --           $    --         $    --
    Time                                      83,191            60,702           71,022             9,860              --
    Short-term borrowings                      4,900                --               --                --              --
    Long-term borrowings                       8,003                 3            9,834             5,978             463
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest-bearing liabilities         $ 366,061          $ 60,705         $ 80,856          $ 15,838      $      463
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest sensitivity gap                   $(113,694)         $(19,656)       $ (51,906)         $132,992        $137,659
Cumulative sensitivity  gap                 (113,694)         (133,350)        (185,256)          (52,264)         85,395
As a percentage of earning assets:
 Interest sensitivity gap                    (18.66%)           (3.23%)         (8.52%)             21.83%          22.59%

  Cumulative sensitivity gap                 (18.66%)          (21.89%)         (30.40%)            (8.58%)         14.01%



                               Exhibit 13.1 - 44



Interest Rate Sensitivity - December 31, 1995


                                                                          Repricing within:
                                               3               3 - 6           6 - 12            1 - 5            Over
                                            months            months           months            years           5 years
                                                                       (dollars in thousands)
                                                                                                 
Interest-earning assets:
    Securities                              $ 10,403         $   9,802         $ 17,195          $111,822       $  44,125
    Fed funds sold                            25,600                --               --                --              --
    Loans                                    190,443             7,262           14,336            40,123          66,602
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest-earning assets               $226,446          $ 17,064         $ 31,531          $151,945        $110,727

Interest-bearing liabilities
    Transaction deposits                    $245,793            $   --           $   --            $   --         $    --
    Time                                      56,402            88,906           29,263             5,520              --
    Long-term borrowings                       7,003                 3                6            18,128           1,152
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest-bearing liabilities          $309,198          $ 88,909         $ 29,269          $ 23,648      $    1,152
                                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest sensitivity gap                    $(82,752)         $(71,845)       $   2,262          $128,297        $109,575
Cumulative sensitivity gap                   (82,752)         (154,597)        (152,336)          (24,039)         85,537
As a percentage of earning assets:
  Interest sensitivity gap                   (15.39%)          (13.36%)           0.42%             23.86%          20.38%

  Cumulative sensitivity gap                 (15.39%)          (28.75%)         (28.33%)            (4.47%)         15.91%


The maturity  distribution and yields of the investment portfolios are presented
in the following tables:

Securities Maturities and Weighted Average Yields - December 31, 1996


                                                                    After One Year  After Five Years
                                                       Within        but Through      but Through       After Ten
                                                      One Year       Five Years        Ten Years          Years           Total

                                                   Amount  Yield    Amount  Yield    Amount Yield    Amount  Yield     Amount  Yield
                                                                                (dollars in thousands)
                                                                                                 
Securities Held-to-Maturity  
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
  U.S. government corporations and agencies      $  1,085  5.72%  $ 21,942  6.17%  $    --    --   $    --     --    $ 23,027  6.15%

Mortgage-backed securities                             --    --      3,896  5.84%    9,289  6.11%   68,403   5.92%     81,588  5.93%
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total securities held-to-maturit             $  1,275  5.45%  $ 26,367  6.08%  $ 9,289  6.11%  $68,403   5.92%   $105,334  5.94%

Securities Available-for-Sale

U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of
  U.S. government corporations and agencies      $ 14,304  5.68%  $ 15,914  5.94%  $    --    --        --     --    $ 30,218  5.81%
Obligations of states and political subdivisions      210  5.33%     1,113  5.31%      130  7.00%       --     --       1,453  5.46%
Mortgage-backed securities                             --    --        900  7.23%  $ 1,096  5.05%   28,265   5.58%     30,261  5.67%
Other securities                                       --    --         --    --        --    --     4,375     --       4,375    --
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total securities available-for-sale          $ 14,514  5.67%  $ 17,927  5.31%  $ 1,226  7.00%  $32,640   5.58%   $ 66,307  5.46%
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total all securities                         $ 15,789  5.66%  $ 44,294  5.96%  $10,515  5.26% $101,043   5.58%   $171,641  5.70%
                                                 ===================================================================================
    Less: unrealized loss on securities transferred from available-for-sale                                          $   (621)
    Less: unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale                                                               (991)
                                                                                                                     ---------
    Total                                                                                                            $170,029
                                                                                                                     =========


                               Exhibit 13.1 - 45


     The  principal  cash  requirements  of the Company are  dividends on Common
Stock when declared. The Company is dependent upon the payment of cash dividends
by the Bank to  service  its  commitments.  The  Company  expects  that the cash
dividends  paid by the  Bank to the  Company  will be  sufficient  to meet  this
payment schedule.

Off-Balance Sheet Items
     The Bank has  certain  ongoing  commitments  under  operating  and  capital
leases.  (See  Note  H  of  the  financial  statements  for  the  terms.)  These
commitments do not significantly impact operating results.
     As of  December  31,  1996  commitments  to  extend  credit  were  the only
financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. The Bank has not entered into
any contracts  for  financial  derivative  instruments  such as futures,  swaps,
options etc. Loan  commitments  increased to  $118,991,000  from  $78,441,000 at
December 31, 1995. Much of the increase relates to credit cards. The commitments
represent  27.1% of the total loans  outstanding at year end 1996 versus 28.6% a
year ago.

Disclosure of Fair Value
     The Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board (FASB),  Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards  Number  107,  Disclosures  about Fair Value of  Financial
Statements, requires the disclosure of fair value of most financial instruments,
whether recognized or not recognized in the financial statements.  The intent of
presenting  the fair values of financial  instruments  is to depict the market's
assessment of the present  value of net future cash flows  discounted to reflect
both current  interest  rates and the market's  assessment  of the risk that the
cash flows will not occur.
     In  determining  fair values,  the Bank used the carrying  amount for cash,
short-term investments,  accrued interest receivable,  short-term borrowings and
accrued interest  payable as all of these  instruments are short term in nature.
Securities are reflected at quoted market values. Loans and deposits have a long
term time  horizon  which  required  more  complex  calculations  for fair value
determination.  Loans are grouped into  homogeneous  categories  and broken down
between fixed and variable rate  instruments.  Loans with a variable rate, which
reprice immediately,  are valued at carrying value. The fair value of fixed rate
instruments  is estimated  by  discounting  the future cash flows using  current
rates. Credit risk and repricing risk factors are included in the current rates.
Fair value for nonaccrual loans is reported at carrying value and is included in
the net loan total.  Since the allowance  for loan losses  exceeds any potential
adjustment for nonaccrual  valuation,  no further valuation  adjustment has been
made.
     Demand  deposits,  savings and certain money market accounts are short term
in nature so the carrying value equals the fair value.  For deposits that extend
over a period  in  excess  of four  months,  the  fair  value  is  estimated  by
discounting  the future  cash  payments  using the rates  currently  offered for
deposits of similar remaining maturities.
     At 1996 year end, the fair values  calculated on the Bank's assets are .02%
below the  carrying  values  versus .5% above the carrying  values in 1995.  The
small change in the calculated fair value  percentage  relates to the securities
and loan  categories  and is the result of minor  changes in  interest  rates in
1996. (See Note Q of the financial statements)

                               Exhibit 13.1 - 46