SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                    Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )
        
Filed by the Registrant [X]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_] 

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement        [_]  Confidential, for Use of the 
                                             Commission Only (as permitted by
                                             Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[_]  Definitive Proxy Statement 

[X]  Definitive Additional Materials 

[_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

                          CITY NATIONAL CORPORATION  
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

   
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[_]  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2)
     or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.

[_]  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).

[_]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

   
     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
         the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

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     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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     (5) Total fee paid:

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[X]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
     
[_]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
     Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
     was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     
     (1) Amount Previously Paid:
 
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     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

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     (3) Filing Party:
      
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     (4) Date Filed:

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Notes:





 
                   [LETTERHEAD OF CITY NATIONAL CORPORATION]


                               March ____, 1996


[Shareholder Name]
[Address]


Dear [Shareholder]:

          I would like to bring to your attention an important matter to be 
considered at our upcoming Annual Meeting.

         After considerable review and analysis by the Board of the merits, and 
on the advice of outstanding experts in this field, City National is seeking 
shareholder approval of an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to 
create a Classified Board of Directors. If the amendment is approved, each 
director will serve a three year term, instead of the current one year term. 
Consequently, one-third of the Board, rather than the full Board, will be 
elected at each Annual Meeting. Similar provisions have been adopted by more 
than 70% of the major bank holding companies in America.

         The Board and I believe that the Classified Board is very important to 
ensure that you obtain the maximum benefit from your City National investment. I
strongly urge you to support this proposal. Our Proxy Statement dated March 14, 
1996 which you should have already received, contains a full description of the 
amendment.

         A Classified Board will be extremely beneficial to City National since 
the continuity and stability it provides is conducive to the careful, long term 
planning needed to ensure continued creation of shareholder value. Also, a 
Classified Board can assist in maximizing shareholder value in the event of 
the recently popular tactic of seeking to remove an entire Board of Directors in
support of a hostile bid. We believe that City National could be vulnerable to a
low-ball bid, combined with a proxy solicitation to remove the Board, because 
the company currently has no provisions which would encourage direct 
negotiations with the Board. Under such circumstances, your Board's ability to 
act effectively to safeguard the full value of your investment could be 
undermined.

         You should have already received a proxy card from your bank or broker 
which you should use to cast your vote. Or, you can call your Account 
Representative at your bank or brokerage firm and ask her/him to ensure that 
your shares are voted. If you have any questions about this important issue, 
please call me or Elaine Duke, my Executive Assistant, at (310) 888-6711 or Dick
Sheehan, our General Counsel, at (310) 888-6262.




[Shareholder]                        2.                           March  , 1996

         Your vote is particularly important this year, since approval of the 
amendment requires a favorable vote by a majority of the outstanding shares, so 
shares which are not voted will be the same as shares voted against the 
amendment.

         I appreciate your support in the past and I urge you to vote in favor
of the proposals. Thank you.

                                       Very truly yours,



                                       BRAM GOLDSMITH


 
                  [LETTERHEAD OF CITY NATIONAL CORPORATION]


                               March ____, 1996

[Shareholder Name]
[Address]


Dear [Shareholder]:

         I would like to bring to your attention an important matter to be 
considered at our upcoming Annual Meeting.

         After considerable review and analysis by the Board of the merits, and 
on the advice of outstanding experts in this field, City National is seeking 
shareholder approval of an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to 
create a Classified Board of Directors. If the amendment is approved, each 
director will serve a three year term, instead of the current one year term. 
Consequently, one-third of the Board, rather than the full Board, will be 
elected at each Annual Meeting. Similar provisions have been adopted by more 
than 70% of the major bank holding companies in America.

         The Board and I believe that the Classified Board is very important to 
ensure that you obtain the maximum benefit from your City National investment. 
I strongly urge you to support this proposal. Our Proxy Statement dated March
14, 1996 which you should have already received, contains a full description 
of the amendment.

         A Classified Board will be extremely beneficial to City National since 
the continuity and stability it provides is conducive to the careful, long term 
planning needed to ensure continued creation of shareholder value. Also, a 
Classified Board can assist in maximizing shareholder value in the event of the 
recently popular tactic of seeking to remove an entire Board of Directors in 
support of a hostile bid. We believe that City National could be vulnerable to a
low-ball bid, combined with a proxy solicitation to remove the Board, because 
the company currently has no provisions which would encourage direct 
negotiations with the Board. Under such circumstances, your Board's ability to 
act effectively to safeguard the full value of your investment could be 
undermined.

         For your convenience, I have enclosed a proxy card and return envelope 
that you can use to cast your vote. If you have any questions about this 
important issue, please call me or Elaine Duke, my Executive Assistant, at (310)
888-6711 or Dick Sheehan, our General Counsel, at (310) 888-6262.

                                        
 












 













 
[Shareholder]                            2.                        March  , 1996

         Your vote is particularly important this year, since approval of the 
amendment requires a favorable vote by a majority of the outstanding shares, so 
shares which are not voted will be the same as shares voted against the 
amendment.

         I appreciate your support in the past and I urge you to vote in favor 
of the proposals. Thank you.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       BRAM GOLDSMITH


Enclosures