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                                                                      EXHIBIT 5

                               December 30, 1997


COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES
5827 Hollister Avenue
Goleta, California 93117


        Re:    Registration Statement on Form S-8

Lady and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to Community West Bancshares (the "Company") in
connection with the registration by the Company of a total of up to 456,427
shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value per share (the "Shares")
issuable by the Company upon the exercise of options granted under the Community
West Bancshares 1997 Stock Option Plan and options granted and which may be
granted thereunder (the "Plan").

        A Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, covering the Shares is being filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission concurrently herewith.

        In connection herewith we have examined and relied as to matters of fact
upon such certificates of public officials, such certificates of officers of the
Company and originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as amended, the Plan, proceedings of
the Board of Directors of the Company and other corporate records, documents,
certificates and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order
to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.

        In rendering the following opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures on all documents examined by us, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic originals
of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostated copies, and we have
relied as to matters of fact upon statements and certifications of officers of
the Company. In addition, we have assumed that the certificates for the Shares
to be issued will conform to the









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COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES
December 30, 1997
Page 2


specimen thereof examined by us and will be duly registered and countersigned by
the Company's transfer agent.

        Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when sold in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the plan and the respective Stock
Option Agreements, the Shares will be duly and validly authorized and issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
aforesaid Registration Statement on Form S-8.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ HORGAN, ROSEN, BECKHAM & COREN, L.L.P.
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                    HORGAN, ROSEN, BECKHAM & COREN, L.L.P.

















                                    EXHIBIT 5