8-K

                                  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 reported) September 27, 2000
                                                     ------------------


                             American River Holdings
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)


       California                       0-31525                  68-0352144
- ----------------------------          -----------           -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction          (Commission              (IRS Employer
    Of incorporation)                 File Number)          Identification No.)


    1545 River Park Drive, Suite 107, Sacramento, California     95815
    --------------------------------------------------------  ----------
           (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (916) 565-6100
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Page 1 of 4 Pages
The Index to Exhibits is on Page 3


Item 5.  Other Events.

         Registrant issued a joint press release with North Coast Bank, N.A. on
September 27, 2000 stating that the shareholders of American River Holdings and
North Coast Bank, N.A., at their respective shareholder meetings held on
September 21, 2000, approved the proposed merger transaction whereby pursuant to
that certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger dated as of March
1, 2000, among American River Holdings, North Coast Bank, N.A. and ARH Interim
National Bank, North Coast Bank, N.A. will merge with and into ARH Interim
National Bank, resulting in North Coast Bank, N.A. becoming a subsidiary of
American River Holdings. The foregoing description is qualified by reference to
the joint press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

         (99.1)   Joint press release dated September 27, 2000


                              SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of 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.

                              AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS


                              /s/ MITCHELL A. DERENZO
                              --------------------------------------------
                              Mitchell A. Derenzo, Chief Financial Officer

September 27, 2000


Page 2 of 4 Pages



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.             Description                                  Page
- -----------             -----------                                  ----

  99.1                  Joint press release of American                4
                        River Holdings and North Coast
                        Bank, N.A. dated September 27,
                        2000


Page 3 of 4 Pages

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1


                  AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS AND NORTH COAST BANK
                           SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE MERGER



SACRAMENTO, CA, SANTA ROSA, CA --SEPTEMBER 27, 2000

American River Holdings (AMRB.OB) and North Coast Bank National Association
(NCTA.OB), at their respective shareholder meetings held on September 21, 2000,
received the affirmative votes necessary to approve the proposed merger whereby
North Coast Bank becomes a subsidiary of American River Holdings. This
transaction is expected to close by the end of October, subject to receipt of
regulatory approval and satisfaction of conditions to the merger.

North Coast Bank will continue to operate in Sonoma County as a subsidiary of
American River Holdings, joining the other subsidiaries, American River Bank and
FIRST SOURCE CAPITAL. American River Bank has two offices in Sacramento, one in
Fair Oaks and one in Roseville. FIRST SOURCE CAPITAL provides lease financing to
businesses.

It is anticipated that American River Holdings common stock will be listed on
the Nasdaq NMS under the symbol AMRB on or as soon as practicable following the
closing of this transaction. "We are pleased that our shareholders share our
confidence in North Coast Bank and the Sonoma County market. We are excited to
join forces," said David T. Taber, President and CEO of the holding company.

North Coast Bank was founded in 1990 and has offices in downtown Santa Rosa,
Windsor and Healdsburg. " Our compatible philosophies make this merger a win for
our clients, our employees and our shareholders," said Kathy Pinkard, President
and CEO of North Coast Bank.

The Definitive Agreement calls for North Coast Bank shareholders to receive
0.9644 of a share of American River Holdings common stock in a tax-free exchange
for each North Coast Bank share they presently own for an estimated value of $9
million.

The combined assets of these companies were $262 million on June 30, 2000.

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THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ABOUT AMERICAN RIVER
HOLDINGS' AND NORTH COAST BANK'S FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS,
PLANS, OBJECTIVES AND FUTURE PERFORMANCE. A NUMBER OF FACTORS WHICH ARE
BEYOND THE CONTROL OF AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS OR NORTH COAST BANK COULD CAUSE
ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS.
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