-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DMmyb1TT995YgZgyYrumMaklCr0F+OgZ6WmXS0b5KahxENw2gT2/rbfdu18oTOeO
 Js04GuP2kkvem0tXQevl/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-08-007562.txt : 20080501
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-08-007562.hdr.sgml : 20080501
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080501184531
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-08-007562
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080429
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080501
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080501

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PACIFIC CAPITAL BANCORP /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000357264
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				953673456
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1021 ANACAPA STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 60839
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			931600839
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8055646312

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1021 ANACAPA STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 60839
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93160-0839

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SANTA BARBARA BANCORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NIGHTINGALE RICHARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233937

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11113
		FILM NUMBER:		08796141

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 60839
		CITY:			SNTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			931600839
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8055646400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 60839
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARRA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			931600839
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000357264</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PACIFIC CAPITAL BANCORP /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233937</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIGHTINGALE RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 E. CARRILLO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 202</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA BARBARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2060</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8718</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9882</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5333</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The restricted shares are subject to certain forfeiture provisions and vest one year from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol Zepke/POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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