EXHIBIT 99



                                  PRESS RELEASE

                                                     FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

                                                       Contact Christy Coulston,
                                           Vice President and Marketing Director
                                                         (707) 935-3200 Ext. 260


                         SONOMA VALLEY BANCORP DECLARES
                                  CASH DIVIDEND

SONOMA,  California,  February 17, 2005, - Sonoma Valley  Bancorp Board Chairman
Bob  Nicholas  announces  that the company has  declared a 25 cent  ($0.25) cash
dividend per share at a regularly  scheduled  Board  meeting  held  February 16,
2005. The cash dividend is payable to  shareholders  of record March 1, 2005 and
will be paid on March 15, 2005.

Chairman  Nicholas  said the  company's  growth  and  earnings  record  made the
declaration  possible.  Findley  Reports,  Inc., a bank rating firm,  recognized
Sonoma  Valley  Bancorp for the  eleventh  consecutive  year as a SUPER  PREMIER
PERFORMING BANK , the highest  designation  awarded to community  banks.  Sonoma
Valley Bancorp,  with $225 Million in assets,  is headquartered in Sonoma with a
branch office in Glen Ellen, and the Banco de Sonoma branch in Boyes Springs.

Shares in the company are traded on the Over the Counter  Bulletin Board (OTCBB)
and the stock symbol is SBNK.

This  news  release  may  include  forward-looking  statements,  which  are  not
historical  facts and which are  subject to risks and  uncertainties  that could
cause actual results to differ  materially  from those expressed in the forward-
looking  statements.  Management  believes there are benefits to shareholders in
making these statements.  This  forward-looking  statement includes,  but is not
limited to, the Company's ability to enhance  shareholder  value.  Future events
are difficult to predict,  and the expectations  described above are necessarily
subject  to risk and  uncertainty  that  may  cause  actual  results  to  differ
materially and adversely. In addition, discussions about risks and uncertainties
are set forth from time to time in the Company's publicly  available  Securities
and Exchange Commission filings.  Sonoma Valley Bancorp undertakes no obligation
to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events
or circumstances.