Capital Corp of the West Announces Stock Repurchase Program.

MERCED, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 1999--On March 23, 1999 the Board of Directors of Capital Corp of the West (Nasdaq:CCOW) authorized management to repurchase up to $2.3 million of the Company's common stock.

At the current market price of the Company's stock, this represents approximately 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares.

"The share repurchase program will enable the Company to manage its overall capital targets. We believe that the investment in our stock , at the appropriate times, represents a wise investment value for the Company," said Thomas T. Hawker, President and CEO of Capital Corp of the West.

The Company from time to time may repurchase shares through a variety of methods including open market share repurchases and privately negotiated share repurchases, depending on market, economic and other factors. The authorization will continue until withdrawn by the Board of Directors.

Capital Corp of the West is the parent company to two financial institutions: County Bank, with more than 20 years of service as "Central California's Community Bank" and Town & Country Finance & Thrift Company, an industrial loan company headquartered in Turlock serving the Central Valley for more than forty years.

Currently, County Bank has thirteen branch offices serving the communities of Merced, Mariposa, Madera, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. Town & Country has four branch offices located in Turlock, Modesto, Visalia and Fresno. For further information about the Company's financial performance, contact Tom Hawker, President & Chief Executive Officer, or R. Dale McKinney, Chief Financial Officer, at 209/725-7435.