-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SHSLAWUKHQxQ3FOa8HNDggkfd2Z15MwsS0k98nHPtDRETvdf4q5VBM8LqVBJIh1t
 NN/ryBf/7UvNTwH/FOxzxg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-05-000773.txt : 20050722
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-05-000773.hdr.sgml : 20050722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050722152550
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-05-000773
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050722
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATTON GREG
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276378

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31525
		FILM NUMBER:		05968648

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6328 PENNYROYAL WAY
		CITY:			CARMICHAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95608
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9168635958

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001108236
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				680352144
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1545 RIVER PARK DR
		STREET 2:		STE 107
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95815
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9165656114

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1545 RIVER PARK DR
		STREET 2:		STE 107
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95815

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN RIVER Bankshares
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20040528

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108236</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMRB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276378</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PATTON GREG</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3337 WINSOME LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARMICHAEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95608</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres-A.River Bank Subsidiary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1273</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>J = Shares acquired as a gift from the Issuer as a result of Mr. Patton achieving his 10th year of service with the Issuer. These shares were acquired in an open market transaction.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GREGORY N. PATTON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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