EXHIBIT 99.1

AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES RECEIVES APPROVAL FROM THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION FOR BANK OF AMADOR MERGER

Sacramento, CA-October 25, 2004 -American River Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB)
announced that on October 21, 2004, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
approved the application of American River Bankshares and American River Bank to
merge Bank of Amador with and into American River Bank, in accordance with the
terms of the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger dated July 8, 2004,
among American River Bankshares, American River Bank and Bank of Amador.
Approval of the transaction by the California Commissioner of Financial
Institutions was previously announced on October 15, 2004.

Consummation of the merger and transactions contemplated by the merger agreement
is also subject to satisfaction of conditions, covenants and agreements
contained in the merger agreement and the receipt of approvals of the respective
shareholders of American River Bankshares and Bank of Amador and all applicable
regulatory approvals. A joint proxy statement-prospectus describing the material
provisions of the transaction is being mailed to the respective shareholders of
American River Bankshares and Bank of Amador. The transaction is expected to
close in the fourth quarter of 2004.

American River Bankshares 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 and North Coast Bank, a division of
American River Bank, with offices in Sonoma County.

Related websites: www.amrb.com, www.americanriverbank.net,
www.northcoastbank.com, and www.bankofamador.com

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

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, 2003, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10Q and current
reports on Form 8-K.



Page 4 of 4 Pages