SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
September 19, 1996
BAY AREA BANCSHARES
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
CALIFORNIA
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
2-76003 94-2779021
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
900 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City, CA 94063
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code: (415) 367-1600
Item 4. Changes in Registrant's Certifying Accountant
(a) (1) (i) Ernst & Young LLP, the Registrant's former independent
accountants, was dismissed on September 19, 1996.
(ii) Ernst & Young LLP's report on the financial statements for
both of the past two years contained no adverse opinion or a
disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
(iii) The decision to change accountants was approved by the
Registrant's Board of Directors.
(iv) During the two most recent fiscal years and the subsequent
interim period preceding the dismissal there were no
disagreements with the former accountant on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreement, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Ernst &
Young LLP would have caused it to make reference to the
subject matter of the disagreement in connection with this
report.
(v) During the two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent
interim period preceding the dismissal there were no
notifications by Ernst & Young LLP that the Registrant's
internal controls were not reliable, that management's
representations could not be relied upon, that there was a
need to significantly increase the scope of their audits, or
that information had been noted that materially impacts the
fairness or reliability of the financial statements.
(a) (2) Coopers & Lybrand was engaged on September 19, 1996 as the
Registrant's independent accountants.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) The required exhibit will be filed as an amendment to 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.
BAY AREA BANCSHARES
Registrant
Date: September 19, 1996
/s/Anthony J. Gould
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Anthony J. Gould
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer