Exhibit 99.2

                           FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP
                        DECLARES 31ST CONSECUTIVE ANNUAL
                                5% STOCK DIVIDEND

Kent A. Steinwert, President and CEO of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, the parent
company of Farmers & Merchants Bank announced today that the Board of Directors
unanimously voted to declare a 5% common stock dividend payable May 12, 2005, to
shareholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2005. This is the
31st consecutive year that Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has declared a common
stock dividend. The Board of Directors declared the stock dividend based on the
Company's record financial performance in 2004.

Common stock shareholders of record as of April 21, 2005, will receive one share
of common stock for every 20 shares of common stock owned. Fractional shares
will not be issued. For common stock share lots of less than 20 shares, a cash
payment in the amount of $22.62 per common share will be paid in lieu of the
stock dividend.

"Our shareholders have always been a source of strength for the Company. Their
continued confidence in the Company is of the utmost importance to the Directors
and Management Team," stated Kent Steinwert. "In evaluating the stock dividend
action, the Board of Directors considered a variety of factors including the
Company's record financial performance in 2004, which was the seventh
consecutive year of record net income. In addition, the Directors concluded that
the Bank's geographic market offers growth opportunities and the scope,
functionality and value of its products and customer solutions should continue
to differentiate Farmers & Merchants Bancorp from the competition. Given these
opportunities and the experience level of the Bank's employees, the potential
exists to continue building meaningful shareholder value over the long term,"
Steinwert added.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is the parent of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central
California, also known as F&M Bank. The Bank was founded in 1916 and is a full
service community bank with over $1.2 billion in assets. F&M Bank proudly serves
California's Great Central Valley through 18 branch offices conveniently located
from Sacramento to Turlock.