-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q8+QEz2DszcoASf8UqNP8tNOS3wzHL1Cz9482p7m1PBqE9dOegpg5JzONbWSE1mr
 Z/9eD6BhAjM8YCzVygHOGw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000311094-03-000011.txt : 20030728
<SEC-HEADER>0000311094-03-000011.hdr.sgml : 20030728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030728193629
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000311094-03-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030728

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000311094
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				942156203
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1108 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			SAN RAFAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(707) 863-6000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4550 MANGELS BLVD
		STREET 2:		A-2Y
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94585-1200

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19830801

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAC MILLAN CATHERINE C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201509

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09383
		FILM NUMBER:		03806975

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WESAMERICA BANCORP.
		STREET 2:		4550 MANGELS BLVD.
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94585
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000311094</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>wabc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201509</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAC MILLAN CATHERINE C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></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>2003-07-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.652</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4040</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>960</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Shirley Kolin, Attorney-in-Fact; For: Catherine C. MacMillan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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