July 27, 1999

Pacific Community Banking Group
23332 Mill Creek Drive, Suite 230
Laguna Hills, California  92653

     Re:   Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-76403)

     Ladies and Gentlemen:

     At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form
S-1, as amended, filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), by Pacific Community Banking Group, a California
corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 4,305,000 shares of
the Company's common stock (the "Shares"). The Registration Statement
includes (i) up to 1,276,430 authorized but unissued shares being offered by
the Company and (ii) 3,028,570 shares being offered by shareholders of the
Company (the "Selling Shareholders").  The Selling Shareholders will sell
their Shares upon the exchange of shares of Valley Bank and The Bank of Hemet
(each a California corporation) held by them for shares of Pacific Community
Banking Group, pursuant to a First Restatement of Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization between The Bank of Hemet and the Company, dated January 5,
1999, as amended, and a First Restatement of Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization between Valley Bank and the Company dated January 5, 1999, as
amended (collectively, the "Acquisition Agreements").  The Shares will be
sold to certain underwriters for resale to the public.

     As counsel to the Company, we have examined the proceedings taken and
proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the proposed issuance
and sale by the Company of the Shares and the sale of Shares by the Selling
Shareholder. We have examined the Registration Statement.  We have also
examined the Acquisition Agreements.

     We are of the opinion that (a) the Shares to be offered and sold by the
Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold by the Company in
the manner described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the
resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and (b) the Shares to be offered and
sold by the Selling Shareholders have been duly authorized and, upon the
surrender of the shares of The Bank of Hemet and Valley Bank in exchange
therefor in accordance with the Acquisition Agreements, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.






Pacific Community Banking Group
July 27, 1999
Page 2

     We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  /s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP