November 21, 2005

Community West Bancshares
445 Pine Avenue
Goleta, California 93117

     Re:     Registration Statement on Form S-8
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Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Community West Bancshares (the "Company") in
connection with the registration by the Company of a total of up to an
additional 450,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, no par value per share
(the "Shares"), issuable by the Company upon the exercise of options granted
under the Community West Bancshares 1997 Stock Option Plan and options granted
and which may be granted thereunder (the "Plan").

     A Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, covering the Shares is being filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission concurrently herewith.

     In connection herewith we have examined and relied as to matters of fact
upon such certificates of public officials, such certificates of officers of the
Company and originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as amended, the Plan, proceedings of
the Board of Directors of the Company and other corporate records, documents,
certificates and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order
to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.

     In rendering the following opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures on all documents examined by us, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic originals of all
documents submitted to us as certified or photostated copies, and we have relied
as to matters of fact upon statements and certifications of officers of the
Company.  In addition, we have assumed that the certificates for the Shares to
be issued will conform to the specimen thereof examined by us and will be duly
registered and countersigned by the Company's transfer agent.

     Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when sold in accordance
with the terms and conditions of the Plan and the respective Stock Option
Agreements, the Shares will be duly and validly authorized and issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the
aforesaid Registration Statement on Form S-8.

                                      /s/ HORGAN, ROSEN, BECKHAM & COREN, L.L.P.

                                      HORGAN, ROSEN, BECKHAM & COREN, L.L.P