UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                 ---------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 7, 2004

                            CAPITAL CORP OF THE WEST
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

         California                       0-27384                 77-0147763
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission File           (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)                  Number)             Identification No.)

                 550 West Main Street, Merced, California 95340
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (209) 725-2200
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


ITEM 5.05 Amendments to the Registrant's Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a
Provision of the Code of Ethics.

On November 30, 2004, the Board of Directors of the registrant approved an
updated Code of Ethics that is attached to this report as exhibit 99.1 and
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.
Not Applicable

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
Not Applicable

(c) Exhibits

The exhibit list called for by this item is incorporated by reference to the
Exhibit Index filed as part of this report.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                                Capital Corp of the West
                                                ------------------------
                                                      (Registrant)

Dated: December 7, 2004                         By /s/ David A. Curtis
                                                   -------------------
                                                   David A. Curtis
                                                   Vice President and Controller


                                  Exhibit Index

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   Exhibit
   Number                             Description
   ------                             -----------
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    99.1          Code of Ethics
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