EXHIBIT 99.1

AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES AND BANK OF AMADOR SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE MERGER

Sacramento, CA - November 24, 2004- American River Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB),
parent Company of American River Bank, and Bank of Amador (OTCBB:BNKA), based in
Jackson, California, jointly announced that the shareholders of their respective
companies voted at their respective Special Meetings held on November 23, 2004,
in favor of merging 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. The Company previously announced the receipt of the approvals
from the banking regulatory agencies.

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. The merger, which is expected to close in
December, will result in the Bank of Amador retaining its leadership with Larry
Standing, the President and Chief Executive Officer for the past 21 years, to be
the President of Bank of Amador, a division of American River Bank, and who,
along with Richard P. Vinson, the current Chairman of Bank of Amador, will join
the Board of Directors of American River Bank. The three offices of Bank of
Amador in Ione, Pioneer, and Jackson will be known as Bank of Amador, a division
of American River Bank.

ABOUT AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES

American River Bankshares is a financial services company with assets of
approximately $455,000,000 and parent Company of American River Bank, a
community business bank, which operates five full-service banking offices as
American River Bank in Sacramento and Placer Counties, and three full-service
banking offices as North Coast Bank, a division of American River Bank in Sonoma
County. American River Bank and North Coast Bank are known for providing
innovative financial solutions to their clients focusing on business
relationships and real estate loans. American River Bankshares is headquartered
in Sacramento. For more information visit www.amrb.com and related websites:
www.americanriverbank.net and www.northcoastbank.com.

ABOUT BANK OF AMADOR

Bank of Amador with assets of approximately $135,000,000 operates three
full-service banking offices in Amador County. In addition, Bank of Amador is
known for providing residential construction loans throughout Northern
California. For more information visit 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

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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.

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