EXHIBIT 99.1

AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF MERGER WITH BANK OF AMADOR


Sacramento, CA - December 6, 2004 -American River Bankshares (Nasdaq:AMRB),
parent Company of American River Bank, announced today that its merger with Bank
of Amador was completed on December 3, 2004. Bank of Amador shareholders will
receive 0.5394 shares of American River Bankshares common stock in addition to
cash in the amount of $6.825, subject to adjustments as set forth in the merger
agreement, for each share of Bank of Amador common stock.

Effective December 4, 2004, Bank of Amador will operate as Bank of Amador, a
division of American River Bank and will retain its leadership with Larry
Standing, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Amador for the
past 21 years, being named the President of Bank of Amador, a division of
American River Bank, and who, along with Richard P. Vinson, the most recent
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.

David Taber, President and Chief Executive Officer of American River Bankshares,
stated: "We are excited that they chose to partner up with us. Bank of Amador
has been a top performing community bank for the past 21 years. I am pleased
that Larry Standing will continue to lead his team and be a part of the American
River Bankshares family."

American River Bankshares is a financial services company with consolidated
assets, following the acquisition of Bank of Amador, of approximately
$575,000,000. American River Bankshares is the 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, three
full-service banking offices as North Coast Bank, a division of American River
Bank in Sonoma County, and three full-service banking offices as Bank of Amador,
a division of American River Bank in Amador 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, while Bank of
Amador is known for providing residential construction loans throughout Northern
California. American River Bankshares is headquartered in Sacramento. For more
information visit www.amrb.com and related websites: 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

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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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