EXHIBIT 99.1 SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 20, 2000 AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS REPORTS CORE EPS UP 27% ----------------------------------------------- American River Holdings (AMRB.OB) parent company of American River Bank and FIRST SOURCE CAPITAL, reported an increase in core earnings per share for the third quarter of 27%, net loans outstanding up by 21% and total assets up by 12%. These figures are all compared to the third quarter of 1999. This is THE 67TH CONSECUTIVE PROFITABLE QUARTER for the company. Core diluted EPS for the quarter ending September 30, 2000 was $0.47 or 27% higher than the $0.37 posted in the quarter ending September 30, 1999. Core earnings exclude merger-related expenses for the pending merger with North Coast Bank announced earlier this year. This solid increase in earnings is the result of a 15% increase in the net interest margin which can be attributed mainly to the increase in loans outstanding. Another key contributing factor to the core EPS surge is a 20% increase in non-interest income which includes fees for the accounts receivable purchased during the quarter, for non-insured investment sales, for merchant bankcard, and for servicing state contracts. Net income during the quarter, after deducting $83,000 net of tax in merger expenses, was $792,000 or $0.42 diluted EPS compared to $0.37 recorded in the third quarter of 1999, representing an increase of 13%. "When comparing our year-to-date numbers, core diluted EPS was $1.33 versus $1.08 last year. Core earnings were $2,502,000 compared to $2,095,000 for the nine months of 1999. This is an increase of 19%. We are very pleased with the growth and performance for the quarter and on a year-to-date basis," stated David T. Taber, President and CEO. On September 30, 2000, total assets were $210.5 million compared to $187.8 million on September 30, 1999 representing an increase of 12%. Net loans outstanding were $132.7 million, up 21% from the $109.5 million outstanding on September 30, 1999. This increase in loans includes increases in commercial and real estate loans outstanding. Accounts receivable servicing outstanding increased by 56% to $2.9 million. This solid increase in assets was funded by a 12% increase in deposits and a 17% increase in equity. Asset quality remains strong. At September 30, 2000, non-performing loans totaled $24,000 which was two-tenths of 1% of total loans and leases outstanding. Charge-offs for the quarter were less than $1,500 and the allowance for loan and lease losses grew to 1.45% of total loans and leases outstanding which is 8,000 times greater than non-performing loans and leases at September 30, 2000. Performance ratios for this third quarter were also good. Return on average shareholders equity excluding merger-related expenses was 18.9%, up from 17.5% the previous year. When you include merger expenses the return on average equity was 17.1%. Return on average assets excluding merger expenses was 1.67% up from 1.53% for the same quarter last year. Including merger expenses, return on average assets was 1.51%. The efficiency ratio, which measures the net income plus non-interest income on a fully-taxable equivalent, in relation to non-interest expense, excluding merger expenses, was 50.17% as compared to 53.67% for the same quarter last year, and including merger expenses, it was 54.09%. Page 4 of 6 Pages 3Q Press Release October 20, 2000 Page two American River Holdings is a financial services company with two subsidiaries, American River Bank, a community business bank with four offices in Sacramento and Placer Counties, and FIRST SOURCE CAPITAL, also headquartered in Sacramento, which provides equipment lease financing for businesses throughout the country. Related websites: www.amrb.com, www.americanriverbank.net, www.firstsourcecapital.com Unaudited financial statements attached. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ABOUT AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS' AND SUBSIDIARIES' FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, PLANS, OBJECTIVES AND FUTURE PERFORMANCE. A NUMBER OF FACTORS, ANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5 of 6 Pages AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS Financial Summary STATEMENT OF CONDITION SEPTEMBER 30 SEPTEMBER 30 PERCENT (UNAUDITED) 2000 1999 CHANGE ----------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS CASH & DUE FROM BANKS $ 17,759,000 $ 17,245,000 2.98% INVESTMENTS 52,659,000 56,053,000 -6.05% NET LOANS 132,678,000 109,517,000 21.15% BANK PREMISES & FF&E 628,000 391,000 60.61% AR SERVICING RECEIVABLE 2,908,000 1,870,000 55.51% OTHER ASSETS 3,834,000 2,704,000 41.79% ------------ ------------ ------ TOTAL ASSETS $210,466,000 $187,780,000 12.08% ============ ============ ====== LIABILITIES TOTAL DEPOSITS $188,189,000 $168,261,000 11.84% SHORT & LONG-TERM BORROWINGS 2,094,000 2,135,000 -1.92% OTHER LIABILITIES 1,313,000 1,224,000 7.27% ------------ ------------ ------ TOTAL LIABILITIES 191,596,000 171,620,000 11.64% TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL 18,870,000 16,160,000 16.77% ------------ ------------ ------ TOTAL LIABILITIES & CAPITAL $210,466,000 $187,780,000 12.08% ============ ============ ====== STATEMENT OF INCOME THIRD THIRD FOR THE NINE MONTHS (UNAUDITED) QUARTER QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30 2000 1999 2000 1999 ---------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL INTEREST INCOME $ 4,235,000 $ 3,384,000 $11,966,000 $ 9,972,000 TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE 1,583,000 1,081,000 4,331,000 3,117,000 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET INTEREST MARGIN 2,652,000 2,303,000 7,635,000 6,855,000 PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES 121,000 109,000 349,000 297,000 NON-INTEREST INCOME 475,000 394,000 1,428,000 1,063,000 NON-INTEREST EXPENSE 1,712,000 1,464,000 4,962,000 4,242,000 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- PRETAX INCOME 1,294,000 1,124,000 3,752,000 3,379,000 INCOME TAXES 502,000 417,000 1,438,000 1,284,000 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET INCOME $ 792,000 $ 707,000 $ 2,314,000 $ 2,095,000 MERGER EXPENSE, NET OF TAX $ 83,000 $ 0 $ 188,000 $ 0 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- CORE EARNINGS $ 875,000 $ 707,000 $ 2,502,000 $ 2,095,000 ============= =========== =========== =========== EARNINGS PER SHARE--BASIC $ 0.44 $ 0.39 $ 1.29 $ 1.15 EARNINGS PER SHARE--DILUTED $ 0.42 $ 0.37 $ 1.23 $ 1.08 CORE EARNINGS PER SHARE--BASIC $ 0.49 $ 0.39 $ 1.40 $ 1.15 CORE EARNINGS PER SHARE--DILUTED $ 0.47 $ 0.37 $ 1.33 $ 1.08 TRAILING 12-MONTH DILUTED EPS $ 1.66 TRAILING 12-MONTH CORE DILUTED EPS $ 1.76 AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 1,793,274 1,813,036 1,793,274 1,824,341 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPERATING RATIOS - ---------------- RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS 1.51% 1.53% 1.53% 1.57% RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS--CORE 1.67% 1.53% 1.65% 1.57% RETURN ON AVERAGE EQUITY 17.11% 17.53% 17.53% 17.67% RETURN ON AVERAGE EQUITY--CORE 18.90% 17.53% 18.96% 17.67% EFFICIENCY RATIO (FULLY TAXABLE EQUIVALENT) 54.09% 53.67% 54.07% 53.05% EFFICIENCY RATIO (FULLY TAXABLE EQUIVALENT--CORE) 50.17% 53.67% 50.84% 53.05% - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EARNINGS PER SHARE HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED FOR A 5% STOCK DIVIDEND IN OCTOBER 1999 AND A 3 FOR 2 STOCK SPLIT IN MAY 1999. 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