-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KSulAntAUkE56bdSvLjtUAilNLcMk9HNXBikXT9dCwlUBnlO5A07LQEE7thT7HLd
 M7Ibl+F3vpXnLzowIt7Xag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-08-000693.txt : 20080528
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-08-000693.hdr.sgml : 20080528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080528200616
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-08-000693
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080528
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080528

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:		3100 ZINFANDEL DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			RANCHO CORDOVA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95670
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9162316723

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3100 ZINFANDEL DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 450
		CITY:			RANCHO CORDOVA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95670

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBOTHAM WILLIAM A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275555

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31525
		FILM NUMBER:		08864751

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3550 ROUND BARD BLVD STE 100
		STREET 2:		PISENTI & BRINKER LLP
		CITY:			SANTA ROSA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95403
</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>2008-05-27</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275555</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBOTHAM WILLIAM A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1533 KJELL COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA ROSA,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95405</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5175</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.2997</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66036</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option/Right to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.2997</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5175</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-12-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ WILLIAM A. ROBOTHAM</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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