EXHIBIT 99.1

Sacramento, CA - March 18, 2004

          AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES 1st QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
          -------------------------------------------------------------

Sacramento, CA - March 18, 2004 - The American River Holdings (Nasdaq:AMRB)
Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of 11.5 cents per common share.
This marks the Company's first quarterly cash dividend. American River Holdings
will now issue cash dividends on a quarterly basis, increasing the frequency of
the prior semi-annual cash dividend plan.

Payable to shareholders of record as of April 2, 2004, the cash dividend of
$0.115 will be distributed on April 16, 2004.

"This marks the first quarterly cash dividend in our Company's history," states
David T. Taber, President and CEO of American River Holdings, "along with the
previous twenty-four semi-annual cash dividends, this illustrates our dedication
to providing value for our shareholders."

In 1992 American River Holdings developed a plan to insure quality and value for
their shareholders. That plan included issuing semi-annual cash dividends,
annual stock dividends and repurchasing shares with the objective of increasing
shareholder value. The Company has surpassed this plan by delivering 24
consecutive cash dividends, 6 stock dividends, 2 stock splits, repurchasing a
total of over 450,000 shares and now increasing the semi-annual cash dividends
to occur on a quarterly basis.

American River Holdings is a financial services company and the parent company
of American River Bank, a community business bank that operates a family of
financial service providers. These providers include: American River Bank, with
offices in Sacramento and Placer Counties; North Coast Bank, with offices in
Sonoma County and first source capital, a lease financing company based in
Sacramento.

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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