EXHIBIT 99.1

           AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND


Sacramento, CA, December 16, 2004 - American River Bankshares [NASDAQ: AMRB]
announced a quarterly cash dividend of 11.5 cents per share payable on January
21, 2005 to shareholders of record on January 7, 2005.

The quarterly dividend of 11.5 cents is equivalent to the dividend paid for the
prior quarter and is the Company's fourth quarterly cash dividend.

In 1992, American River Bankshares developed a plan to insure quality and value
for their shareholders, which included semi-annual dividends, stock dividends
and splits and share repurchases. In March 2004, American River Bankshares
further enhanced shareholder value by increasing the frequency of cash dividends
to a quarterly basis.

American River Bankshares [NASDAQ: AMRB] is the parent company of American River
Bank ("ARB"), a community business bank serving Sacramento, CA that operates a
family of financial services providers, including North Coast Bank [a division
of "ARB"] in Sonoma County and Bank of Amador [a division of "ARB"] in Amador
County. For more information, please call 916-565-6100 or visit www.amrb.com;
www.americanriverbank.com; www.northcoastbank.com; www.bankofamador.com.

Forward-Looking Statement
- -------------------------
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.

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