EXHIBIT 99.1

Sacramento, CA - December 18, 2003

                AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES CASH DIVIDEND

Sacramento, CA - December 18, 2003 - The American River Holdings (Nasdaq:AMRB)
Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share. This
marks the twenty-fourth consecutive semi-annual cash dividend.

Payable to shareholders of record as of January 2, 2004, the cash dividend of
$0.15 will be distributed on January 16, 2004.

Since 1992, American River Holdings has paid semi-annual cash dividends; in
addition, the Company has declared annual stock dividends for the last six years
and recently distributed a 3 for 2 stock split.

American River Holdings is a financial services company with three affiliates,
American River Bank, a community business bank with offices in Sacramento and
Placer County, North Coast Bank, a community business bank with offices in
Sonoma County and first source capital, headquartered in Sacramento, which
provides equipment lease financing on a brokerage basis for businesses
throughout the country.

Related Websites: www.americanriverbank.net, www.northcoastbank.com,
www.firstsourcecapital.com. www.amrb.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release
contains certain forward-looking statements. The reader of this press release
should understand that all such forward-looking statements are subject to
various uncertainties and risks that could affect their outcome. The Company's
actual results could differ materially from those suggested by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to, variances in the actual versus
projected growth in assets, return on assets, loan losses, expenses, changes in
the interest environment including interest rates charged on loans, earned on
securities investments and paid on deposits, competition effects, fee and other
non interest income earned, general economic conditions, nationally, regionally,
and in the operating market areas of the Company and its subsidiaries, changes
in the regulatory environment, changes in business conditions and inflation,
changes in securities markets, data processing problems, a decline in real
estate values in the Company's market area, the conduct of the war on terrorism,
the threat of terrorism or the impact of potential military conflicts and the
conduct of war on terrorism by the United States and its allies, as well as
other factors. To gain a more complete understanding of the uncertainties and
risks involved in the Company's business, this press release should be read in
conjunction with the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002.

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