EXHIBIT 10.55

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                    SENIOR MANAGER SEPARATION BENEFITS AGREEMENT

       This amendment No. 1 ("Amendment") to the Senior Manager Separation 
Benefits Agreement by and between Sierra Tahoe Bankcorp, predecessor to 
SierraWest Bank, a California corporation ("Company") and David C. Broadley, 
and individual ("DCB") and dated as of January 17, 1996 ("Agreement") is made 
and entered into as of November 09, 1998 by and between Company and DCB.

       WHEREAS, DCB continues to serve as a senior officer and "at-will"
employee of Company and reasonably expects to remain a senior officer and
employee subject to the policies and conditions of the Company; and

       WHEREAS, the parties deem it in their best interest to amend the
Agreement to provide an additional benefit to DCB upon his termination of
service with the Company.

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises set forth below and for
other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

       1.     The provisions of Section 3 of the Agreement, under the heading
"SEPARATION BENEFITS" shall be renumbered as Section 3(A), the text of which
shall otherwise remain the same.  At the end of Section 3(A), a new subsection
3(B) shall be inserted, the full text of which is as follows:
       
"ADDITIONAL BENEFIT.  Upon the termination of service of DCB for any reason
except for termination for cause, the Company will transfer to DCB the ownership
of whatever automobile the Company may be providing to him at the time of
termination, whether such automobile is being provided pursuant to the Company's
regular car allowance program or otherwise.  The Company shall transfer
ownership of such automobile to DCB promptly following the termination.  The
Company will also provide DCB such documents or other records necessary for him
to properly record and/or account for such transfer to his ownership."

       2.     Except as amended herein, all other provisions of the Agreement
remain in full force and effect.
              
       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of
the day and year written above.

/s/ David C. Broadley                                    
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DAVID C. BROADLEY                                SIERRAWEST BANK
       
                                                 By: /s/ William T. Fike
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                                                 Its: President & CEO  
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