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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
October 22, 2009
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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
CALIFORNIA
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-9383 94-2156203
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
1108 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, California 94901
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(707) 863-6000
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
of the following provisions:
[] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Exhibits
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99.1 Press release dated October 22, 2009
Item 8.01: Other Events
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On October 22, 2009 Westamerica Bancorporation declared a quarterly cash
dividend. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this
Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
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Signatures
Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
Westamerica Bancorporation
/s/ JOHN "ROBERT" THORSON
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John "Robert" Thorson
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
October 23, 2009
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Sequentially
Exhibit No. Description Number Page
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(99.1) Press release dated 5-6
October 22, 2009
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Exhibit 99.1:
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2009
WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION DECLARES
QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
San Rafael, CA: The Board of Directors of Westamerica Bancorporation (NASDAQ:
WABC) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share on common
stock outstanding to shareholders of record at the close of business on November
2, 2009. The dividend is payable November 13, 2009.
Chairman, President and CEO David Payne stated, "This dividend recognizes
Westamerica's healthy level of capital, asset quality and operating earnings."
On October 14, 2009, Westamerica reported $24 million in net income applicable
to common shareholders for the three months ended September 30, 2009, or $0.81
diluted earnings per common share.
Westamerica Bancorporation, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Westamerica
Bank, operates 99 branches and two trust offices throughout Northern and Central
California.
Westamerica Bancorporation Web Address: www.westamerica.com
For additional information contact:
Westamerica Bancorporation
Robert A. Thorson - SVP & Chief Financial Officer
707-863-6840
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
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This press release contains forward-looking statements about Westamerica
Bancorporation for which it claims the protection of the safe harbor provisions
contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
(i) projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per
share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other
financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of the
Company or its management or board of directors, including those relating to
products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv)
statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as "believes",
"anticipates", "expects", "intends", "targeted", "projected", "continue",
"remain", "will", "should", "may" and other similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of
identifying such statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on Management's current knowledge and
belief and include information concerning the Company's possible or assumed
future financial condition and results of operations. A number of factors, some
of which are beyond the Company's ability to predict or control, could
cause future results to differ materially from those contemplated. The Company's
most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009
and annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission describe some of these factors. These
factors include but are not limited to (1) the length and severity of current
difficulties in the national and California economies and the effects of federal
and state government efforts to address those difficulties; (2) continued low
liquidity levels in capital markets; (3) fluctuations in asset prices including,
but not limited to, stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities; (4) the effect
of acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses including the recently
acquired County Bank; (5) economic uncertainty created by terrorist threats and
attacks on the United States, the actions taken in response, and the uncertain
effect of these events on the national and regional economies; (6) changes in
the interest rate environment; (7) changes in the regulatory environment; (8)
significantly increasing competitive pressure in the banking industry; (9)
operational risks including data processing system failures or fraud; (10)
volatility of rate sensitive loans, deposits and investments; (11)
asset/liability management risks and liquidity risks; and (12) changes in the
securities markets. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-
looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date
forward-looking statements are made.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.
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