<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-06-08</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921547</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERITAGE OAKS BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HEOP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001459707</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS IV, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001569797</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Castle Creek Capital IV LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197257</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EGGEMEYER JOHN M III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6051 EL TORDO</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RANCHO SANTA FE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Heritage Oaks Bancorp Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3672638</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are owned by Castle Creek Capital Partners IV, LP (&quot;Fund IV&quot;).  Each of Castle Creek Capital IV LLC and John Eggemeyer may also be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the 3,672,638 shares of Common Stock held directly by Fund IV.  Mr. Eggemeyer is a managing principal of Castle Creek Capital IV LLC, the sole general partner of Fund IV.  Castle Creek Capital IV LLC and Mr. Eggemeyer each disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interest in Fund IV, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that Castle Creek Capital IV LLC or Mr. Eggemeyer is the beneficial owner of such shares of Common Stock for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL PARTNERS IV, LP, By: /s/ John M. Eggemeyer III, Name: John M. Eggemeyer III, Title: President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>CASTLE CREEK CAPITAL IV LLC, By: /s/ John M. Eggemeyer III, Name: John M. Eggemeyer III, Title: President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>JOHN M. EGGEMEYER III, By: /s/ John M. Eggemeyer III, Name: John M. Eggemeyer III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
