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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark one)
     
þ   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     .
Commission File Number: 001-9383
WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter)
     
CALIFORNIA   94-2156203
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization)   Identification Number)
1108 FIFTH AVENUE, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA 94901
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (707) 863-6000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
     
Title of class:   Name of each exchange on which registered:
     
Common Stock, no par value, and attached   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Common Stock Purchase Rights    
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES þ NO o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES o NO þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ NO o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to item 405 of Regulation S-K (section 229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO þ
The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2008 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, was $1,464,904,391.65. Shares of Common Stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
Number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the close of business on February 23, 2009 28,875,157 Shares
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement relating to registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held on April 23, 2009, are incorporated by reference in Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III to the extent described therein.
 
 

 


 

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 EX-10.(I)
 EX-10.(J)
 EX-21
 EX-23.(A)
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements about Westamerica Bancorporation for which it claims the protection of the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of the Company or its management or board of directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “targeted”, “projected”, “continue”, “remain”, “will”, “should”, “may” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on Management’s current knowledge and belief and include information concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future financial condition and results of operations. A number of factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control, could cause future results to differ materially from those contemplated. These factors include but are not limited to (1) the length and severity of current difficulties in the national and California economies and the effects of federal government efforts to address those difficulties; (2) continued low liquidity levels in capital markets; (3) fluctuations in asset prices including, but not limited to, stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities; (4) the effect of acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; (5) economic uncertainty created by terrorist threats and attacks on the United States, the actions taken in response, and the uncertain effect of these events on the national and regional economies; (6) changes in the interest rate environment; (7) changes in the regulatory environment; (8) significantly increasing competitive pressure in the banking industry; (9) operational risks including data processing system failures or fraud; (10) volatility of rate sensitive loans, deposits and investments; (11) asset/liability management risks and liquidity risks; and (12) changes in the securities markets. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this report. See also “Risk Factors” in Item 1A and other risk factors discussed elsewhere in this Report.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Westamerica Bancorporation (the “Company”) is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”). Its legal headquarters are located at 1108 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, California 94901. Principal administrative offices are located at 4550 Mangels Boulevard, Fairfield, California 94534 and its telephone number is (707) 863-6000. The Company provides a full range of banking services to individual and corporate customers in Northern and Central California through its subsidiary bank, Westamerica Bank (“WAB” or the “Bank”). The principal communities served are located in Northern and Central California, from Mendocino, Lake and Nevada Counties in the North to Kern County in the South. The Company’s strategic focus is on the banking needs of small businesses. In addition, the Company also owned 100% of the capital stock of Community Banker Services Corporation (“CBSC”), a company engaged in providing the Company and its subsidiaries with data processing services and other support functions. In February 2008, the Company contributed 100% of the capital stock of CBSC to the Bank, such that CBSC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank.
The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of California in 1972 as “Independent Bankshares Corporation” pursuant to a plan of reorganization among three previously unaffiliated Northern California banks. The Company operated as a multi-bank holding company until mid-1983, at which time the then six subsidiary banks were merged into a single bank named Westamerica Bank and the name of the holding company was changed to Westamerica Bancorporation.
The Company acquired five additional banks within its immediate market area during the early to mid 1990’s. In April, 1997, the Company acquired ValliCorp Holdings, Inc., parent company of ValliWide Bank, the largest independent bank holding company headquartered in Central California. Under the terms of all of the merger agreements, the Company issued shares of its common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of the acquired institutions. The subsidiary banks acquired were merged with and into WAB. These five aforementioned business combinations were accounted for as poolings-of-interests.
In August, 2000, the Company acquired First Counties Bank. The acquisition was valued at approximately $19.7 million and was accounted for using the purchase accounting method. The assets and liabilities of First Counties Bank were fully merged into WAB in September 2000. First Counties Bank had $91 million in assets and offices in Lake, Napa, and Colusa counties.

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In June of 2002 the Company acquired Kerman State Bank. The acquisition was valued at approximately $14.6 million and was accounted for using the purchase accounting method. The assets and liabilities of Kerman State Bank were fully merged into WAB immediately upon consummation of the merger. Kerman State Bank had $95 million in assets and three offices in Fresno county.
On March 1, 2005, the Company acquired Santa Rosa based Redwood Empire Bancorp, the parent company of National Bank of the Redwoods (NBR). The acquisition was valued at approximately $150 million and was accounted for using the purchase accounting method. The assets and liabilities of NBR were fully merged into WAB as of close of business day on March 11, 2005. As of March 1, 2005, NBR had approximately $440 million in loans and $370 million in deposits.
On February 6, 2009, the Bank entered into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) as Receiver (“Receiver”) of County Bank (“County”). At February 6, 2009, County’s accounting records reflected total assets and loans to be purchased by the Bank of approximately $1.6 billion and approximately $1.3 billion, respectively, and total deposits to be assumed by the Bank of approximately $1.2 billion. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Bank purchased substantially all assets of County, including loans, investment securities and other assets, excluding premises, equipment and company owned life insurance. The Bank has a short-term option to purchase certain premises and equipment from the Receiver. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Bank also assumed all the deposits, secured liabilities, and certain other liabilities of County. The Agreement also provided a loss sharing arrangement over certain assets, primarily loans and loan collateral received in satisfaction of loans receivable. Losses on covered assets up to $269 million are shared 80% by the Receiver and 20% by the Bank. Losses on covered assets exceeding $269 million are shared 95% by the Receiver and 5% by the Bank. The Company filed a Form 8-K on February 11, 2009 containing the Agreement.
On February 13, 2009, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement and related Securities Purchase Agreement (collectively the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with the United States Treasury (“Treasury”) to issue 83,726 preferred shares at $1,000 per share, $83,726,000 in total issuance (“Treasury Preferred Stock”). The Treasury Preferred Stock qualifies as tier one capital under bank regulatory capital standards, requires five percent annual dividends in each of the initial five years, and nine percent annual dividends thereafter. The Treasury Preferred Stock places certain restrictions on the Company: dividends to common shareholders may not be increased, share repurchases are limited to repurchases related to employee benefit programs, the Treasury Preferred Stock cannot be redeemed for three years unless the participating bank raises high-quality private capital, and executive compensation exceeding $500,000 may not be deducted for federal income tax purposes. In addition, executive compensation programs must not be structured to reward excessive risk-taking. The Company filed Form 8-Ks on February 13, 2009 and February 19, 2009 related to the issuance of Treasury Preferred Stock. The Company also issued a warrant to purchase 246,640 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $50.92 per share (“TARP Warrant”).
At December 31, 2008, the Company had consolidated assets of approximately $4.0 billion, deposits of approximately $3.1 billion and shareholders’ equity of approximately $409.9 million. The Company and its subsidiaries employed approximately 881 full-time equivalent staff as of December, 2008.
The Company makes available free of charge its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports as well as beneficial ownership reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) through its website (http://www.westamerica.com). Such documents are also available through the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Requests for the Form 10-K annual report, as well as the Company’s director, officer and employee Code of Conduct and Ethics, can also be submitted to:
Westamerica Bancorporation
Corporate Secretary A-2M
Post Office Box 1200
Suisun City, California 94585-1200
Supervision and Regulation
The following is not intended to be an exhaustive description of the statutes and regulations applicable to the Company’s or the Bank’s business. The description of statutory and regulatory provisions is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory or regulatory provisions. Moreover, major new legislation and other regulatory changes affecting the Company, the

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Bank, banking, and the financial services industry in general have occurred in the last several years and can be expected to occur in the future. The nature, timing and impact of new and amended laws and regulations cannot be accurately predicted.
Regulation and Supervision of Bank Holding Companies
The Company is a bank holding company subject to the BHCA. The Company reports to, is registered with, and may be examined by, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”). The FRB also has the authority to examine the Company’s subsidiaries. The costs of any examination by the FRB are payable by the Company. The Company is a bank holding company within the meaning of Section 3700 of the California Financial Code. As such, the Company and the Bank are subject to examination by, and may be required to file reports with, the California Commissioner of Financial Institutions (the “Commissioner”).
The FRB has significant supervisory and regulatory authority over the Company and its affiliates. The FRB requires the Company to maintain certain levels of capital. See “Capital Standards.” The FRB also has the authority to take enforcement action against any bank holding company that commits any unsafe or unsound practice, or violates certain laws, regulations or conditions imposed in writing by the FRB. Under the BHCA, the Company is required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB before it acquires, merges or consolidates with any bank or bank holding company. Any company seeking to acquire, merge or consolidate with the Company also would be required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB.
The Company is generally prohibited under the BHCA from acquiring ownership or control of more than 5% of any class of voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company and from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than banking, managing banks, or providing services to affiliates of the holding company. However, a bank holding company, with the approval of the FRB, may engage, or acquire the voting shares of companies engaged, in activities that the FRB has determined to be closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks. A bank holding company must demonstrate that the benefits to the public of the proposed activity will outweigh the possible adverse effects associated with such activity.
The FRB generally prohibits a bank holding company from declaring or paying a cash dividend that would impose undue pressure on the capital of subsidiary banks or would be funded only through borrowing or other arrangements which might adversely affect a bank holding company’s financial position. Under the FRB policy, a bank holding company should not continue its existing rate of cash dividends on its common stock unless its net income is sufficient to fully fund each dividend and its prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with its capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. See the section entitled “Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions” for additional restrictions on the ability of the Company and the Bank to pay dividends.
Transactions between the Company and the Bank are restricted under Regulation W, adopted in 2003. The regulation codifies prior interpretations of the FRB and its staff under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. In general, subject to certain specified exemptions, a bank or its subsidiaries are limited in their ability to engage in “covered transactions” with affiliates: (a) to an amount equal to 10% of the bank’s capital and surplus, in the case of covered transactions with any one affiliate; and (b) to an amount equal to 20% of the bank’s capital and surplus, in the case of covered transactions with all affiliates. The Company is considered to be an affiliate of the Bank.
A “covered transaction” includes, among other things, a loan or extension of credit to an affiliate; a purchase of securities issued by an affiliate; a purchase of assets from an affiliate, with some exceptions; and the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate.
Federal regulations governing bank holding companies and change in bank control (Regulation Y) provide for a streamlined and expedited review process for bank acquisition proposals submitted by well-run bank holding companies. These provisions of Regulation Y are subject to numerous qualifications, limitations and restrictions. In order for a bank holding company to qualify as “well-run,” both it and the insured depository institutions which it controls must meet the “well capitalized” and “well managed” criteria set forth in Regulation Y.
On March 11, 2000, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the “GLBA”), or the Financial Services Act of 1999 became effective. The GLBA repealed provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act, which had prohibited commercial banks and securities firms from affiliating with each other and engaging in each other’s businesses. Thus, many of the barriers prohibiting affiliations between commercial banks and securities firms have been eliminated.

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The BHCA was also amended by the GLBA to allow new “financial holding companies” (“FHCs”) to offer banking, insurance, securities and other financial products to consumers. Specifically, the GLBA amended section 4 of the BHCA in order to provide for a framework for the engagement in new financial activities. A bank holding company (“BHC”) may elect to become an FHC if all its subsidiary depository institutions are well capitalized and well managed. If these requirements are met, a BHC may file a certification to that effect with the FRB and declare that it elects to become an FHC. After the certification and declaration is filed, the FHC may engage either de novo or through an acquisition in any activity that has been determined by the FRB to be financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity. BHCs may engage in financial activities without prior notice to the FRB if those activities qualify under the list of permissible activities in section 4(k) of the BHCA. However, notice must be given to the FRB within 30 days after an FHC has commenced one or more of the financial activities. The Company has not elected to become an FHC.
Regulation and Supervision of Banks
The Bank is a California state-chartered bank and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). Prior to January 14, 2008, the Bank was also a member of the Federal Reserve System. The Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the California Department of Financial Institutions (“DFI”), and the FRB prior to January 14, 2008 and, upon becoming a non-member bank, by the FDIC after January 14, 2008. The regulations of these agencies affect most aspects of the Bank’s business and prescribe permissible types of loans and investments, the amount of required reserves, requirements for branch offices, the permissible scope of its activities and various other requirements.
In addition to federal banking law, the Bank is also subject to applicable provisions of California law. Under California law, the Bank is subject to various restrictions on, and requirements regarding, its operations and administration including the maintenance of branch offices and automated teller machines, capital requirements, deposits and borrowings, shareholder rights and duties, and investment and lending activities.
California law permits a state-chartered bank to invest in the stock and securities of other corporations, subject to a state-chartered bank receiving either general authorization or, depending on the amount of the proposed investment, specific authorization from the Commissioner. While a member of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank’s investment authority was limited by regulations promulgated by the FRB. In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (“FDICIA”) imposes limitations on the activities and equity investments of state chartered, federally insured banks. FDICIA also prohibits a state bank from making an investment or engaging in any activity as a principal that is not permissible for a national bank, unless the Bank is adequately capitalized and the FDIC approves the investment or activity after determining that such investment or activity does not pose a significant risk to the deposit insurance fund.
Capital Standards
The federal banking agencies have risk-based capital adequacy guidelines intended to provide a measure of capital adequacy that reflects the degree of risk associated with a banking organization’s operations for both transactions resulting in assets being recognized on the balance sheet as assets, and the extension of credit facilities such as letters of credit and recourse arrangements, which are recorded as off balance sheet items. Under these guidelines, nominal dollar amounts of assets and credit equivalent amounts of off balance sheet items are multiplied by one of several risk adjustment percentages, which range from 0% for assets with low credit risk, such as certain U.S. government securities, to 100% for assets with relatively higher credit risk, such as certain loans.
A banking organization’s risk-based capital ratios are obtained by dividing its qualifying capital by its total risk-adjusted assets and off balance sheet items.
The federal banking agencies take into consideration concentrations of credit risk and risks from nontraditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage those risks, when determining the adequacy of an institution’s capital. This evaluation is made as a part of the institution’s regular safety and soundness examination. The federal banking agencies also consider interest rate risk (related to the interest rate sensitivity of an institution’s assets and liabilities, and its off balance sheet financial instruments) in the evaluation of a bank’s capital adequacy.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s and the Bank’s respective ratios exceeded applicable regulatory requirements. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for capital ratios of the Company and the Bank, compared to the standards for well capitalized depository institutions and for minimum capital requirements.

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Prompt Corrective Action and Other Enforcement Mechanisms
FDICIA requires each federal banking agency to take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of insured depository institutions, including but not limited to those that fall below one or more prescribed minimum capital ratios.
An institution that, based upon its capital levels, is classified as “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized” or “undercapitalized” may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if the appropriate federal banking agency, after notice and opportunity for hearing, determines that an unsafe or unsound condition or an unsafe or unsound practice warrants such treatment. At each successive lower capital category, an insured depository institution is subject to more restrictions. In addition to measures taken under the prompt corrective action provisions, commercial banking organizations may be subject to potential enforcement actions by the federal banking agencies for unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their businesses or for violations of any law, rule, regulation or any condition imposed in writing by the agency or any written agreement with the agency.
Safety and Soundness Standards
The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is subject to the restrictions set forth in the California General Corporation Law or the CGCL. The CGCL provides that a corporation may make a distribution to its shareholders if the corporation’s retained earnings equal or exceed the amount of the proposed distribution. The CGCL further provides that, in the event that sufficient retained earnings are not available for the proposed distribution, a corporation may nevertheless make a distribution to its shareholders if the sum of the assets of the corporation (exclusive of goodwill, capitalized research and development expenses and deferred charges) would be at least equal to 1.25 times its liabilities (not including deferred taxes, deferred income and other deferred credits).
FDICIA also implemented certain specific restrictions on transactions and required federal banking regulators to adopt overall safety and soundness standards for depository institutions related to internal control, loan underwriting and documentation and asset growth. Among other things, FDICIA limits the interest rates paid on deposits by undercapitalized institutions, restricts the use of brokered deposits, limits the aggregate extensions of credit by a depository institution to an executive officer, director, principal shareholder or related interest, and reduces deposit insurance coverage for deposits offered by undercapitalized institutions for deposits by certain employee benefits accounts. The federal banking agencies may require an institution to submit to an acceptable compliance plan as well as have the flexibility to pursue other more appropriate or effective courses of action given the specific circumstances and severity of an institution’s noncompliance with one or more standards.
Federal banking agencies require banks to maintain adequate valuation allowances for potential credit losses. The Company has an internal staff that continually reviews loan quality and reports to the Board of Directors. This analysis includes a detailed review of the classification and categorization of problem loans, assessment of the overall quality and collectibility of the loan portfolio, consideration of loan loss experience, trends in problem loans, concentration of credit risk, and current economic conditions, particularly in the Bank’s market areas. Based on this analysis, management, with the review and approval of the Board, determines the adequate level of allowance required. The allowance is allocated to different segments of the loan portfolio, but the entire allowance is available for the loan portfolio in its entirety.
Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions
The power of the board of directors of an insured depository institution to declare a cash dividend or other distribution with respect to capital is subject to statutory and regulatory restrictions which limit the amount available for such distribution depending upon the earnings, financial condition and cash needs of the institution, as well as general business conditions. FDICIA prohibits insured depository institutions from paying management fees to any controlling persons or, with certain limited exceptions, making capital distributions, including dividends, if, after such transaction, the institution would be undercapitalized.
In addition to the restrictions imposed under federal law, banks chartered under California law generally may only pay cash dividends to the extent such payments do not exceed the lesser of retained earnings of the bank or the bank’s net income for its last three fiscal years (less any distributions to shareholders during this period). In the event a bank desires to pay cash dividends in excess of such amount, the bank may pay a cash dividend with the prior approval of the Commissioner in an amount not exceeding the greatest of the bank’s retained earnings, the bank’s net income for its last fiscal year or the bank’s net income for its current fiscal year.

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The federal banking agencies also have the authority to prohibit a depository institution from engaging in business practices which are considered to be unsafe or unsound, possibly including payment of dividends or other payments under certain circumstances even if such payments are not expressly prohibited by statute. Under the terms of the Treasury Preferred Stock, the Company is restricted from increasing common dividends.
Premiums for Deposit Insurance and Assessments for Examinations
The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) administered by the FDIC. FDICIA established several mechanisms to increase funds to protect deposits insured by the DIF. The FDIC is authorized to borrow up to $30 billion from the Treasury; up to 90% of the fair market value of assets of institutions acquired by the FDIC as receiver from the Federal Financing Bank; and from depository institutions which are members of the DIF. Any borrowings not repaid by asset sales are to be repaid through insurance premiums assessed to member institutions. Such premiums must be sufficient to repay any borrowed funds within 15 years and provide insurance fund reserves of $1.25 for each $100 of insured deposits. FDICIA also provides authority for special assessments against insured deposits.
Congress adopted the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the President signed it on February 8, 2006 and a companion bill, the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Conforming Amendments Act of 2005, on February 15, 2006. This legislation provided for:
    merging the DIF and SAIF deposit insurance funds;
 
    annually adjusting the minimum insurance fund reserve ratio between $1.15 and $1.50 per $100 of insured deposits;
 
    increasing deposit coverage for retirement accounts to $250,000,
 
    indexing the insurance level for inflation, with any increases approved by the FDIC and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) on a five-year cycle beginning in 2010 after review of the state of the deposit insurance fund and related factors;
 
    credits of up to $4.7 billion to offset premiums for banks that capitalized the FDIC by 1996; and
 
    a historical basis concept for distributing credits and dividends to reflect past contributions to the insurance funds.
In the fourth quarter of 2006, the FDIC adopted two final rules implementing the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005. One rule creates a new system for risk-based assessments and sets assessment rates beginning January 1, 2007. Assessment rates are three basis points above the base rates, ranging from 5 to 7 basis for Risk Category I institutions, 10 basis points for Risk Category II institutions, 28 basis points for Risk Category III institutions, and 43 basis points for Risk Category IV institutions. The Bank is categorized as a Risk Category I institution. The other rule sets the designated reserve ratio at 1.25%.
The FDIC has designated the DIF long-term target reserve ratio at 1.25% of insured deposits. Due to recent bank failures, the FDIC insurance fund reserve ratio has fallen below 1.15%, the statutory minimum. Effective January 1, 2009, the FDIC adopted a restoration plan that uniformly increased insurance assessments by 7 basis points (annualized) to the rates shown above. The FDIC has proposed changes to the deposit insurance assessment system beginning with the second quarter of 2009 to make the increase in assessments fairer by requiring riskier institutions to pay a larger share. Institutions would be classified into one of four risk categories. Within each category, the FDIC will be able to assess higher rates to institutions with a significant reliance on secured liabilities, which generally raises the FDIC’s loss in the event of failure without providing additional assessment revenue. The proposal also would assess higher rates for institutions with a significant reliance on brokered deposits but, for well-managed and well-capitalized institutions, only when accompanied by rapid asset growth. The proposal also would provide incentives in the form of a reduction in assessment rates for institutions to hold long-term unsecured debt and, for smaller institutions, high levels of Tier 1 capital. Together, the changes would improve the way the system differentiates risk among insured institutions and help ensure that the reserve ratio returns to at least 1.15% percent by the end of 2013. The increase in premium assessments will increase the Company’s expenses in 2009. The Company was assessed a $396 thousand quarterly premium for the fourth quarter 2008 at the 5 basis point assessment rate in effect at that time.
In October of 2006, FDIC’s Board adopted a final rule governing the distribution and use of the $4.7 billion one-time assessment credit. The Bank was allowed to apply assessment credits of $357 thousand to offset premiums assessed in the fourth quarter 2008. Application of such credits toward the $396 thousand assessed premium caused the Bank to pay assessments of $39 thousand in the fourth quarter 2008. At December 31, 2008, the Bank’s remaining assessment credits totaled $2.4 million.
Under the EESA, adopted on October 3, 2008, certain increases in FDIC deposit insurance have also been approved. From October 3, 2008, until December 31, 2009, the amount of deposit insurance provided by the FDIC is increased from $100,000 to $250,000. This temporary increase is automatic. In November 2008, the FDIC adopted the Transaction Account Guaranty

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Program (“TAGP”) that provides unlimited deposit insurance on funds in noninterest-bearing transaction deposit accounts, certain attorney trust accounts, and NOW accounts paying not more than 50 basis points of interest regardless of dollar amount. These accounts are mainly payment-processing accounts, such as payroll accounts used by businesses. The Bank has elected to participate in the TAGP, and, as a result, will be assessed an additional 10 basis point surcharge on the insured deposit balances exceeding $250,000.
Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Developments
The Bank is subject to certain fair lending requirements and reporting obligations involving home mortgage lending operations and Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) activities. The CRA generally requires the federal banking agencies to evaluate the record of financial institutions in meeting the credit needs of their local communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. In addition to substantive penalties and corrective measures that may be required for a violation of certain fair lending laws, the federal banking agencies may take compliance with such laws and CRA into account when regulating and supervising other activities.
Financial Privacy Legislation and Customer Information Security
The GLBA, in addition to the previously described changes in permissible nonbanking activities permitted to banks, BHCs and FHCs, also required the federal banking agencies, among other federal regulatory agencies, to adopt regulations governing the privacy of consumer financial information. The Bank is subject to the FRB’s regulations in this area. The federal bank regulatory agencies have established standards for safeguarding nonpublic personal information about customers that implement provisions of the GLBA (the “Guidelines”). Among other things, the Guidelines require each financial institution, under the supervision and ongoing oversight of its Board of Directors or an appropriate committee thereof, to develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information, and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.
U.S.A. PATRIOT Act
On October 26, 2001, the President signed into law the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 or the “USA Patriot Act.” Title III of the Act is the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001. It includes numerous provisions for fighting international money laundering and blocking terrorist access to the U.S. financial system. The goal of Title III is to prevent the U.S. financial system and the U.S. clearing mechanisms from being used by parties suspected of terrorism, terrorist financing and money laundering.
The provisions of Title III of the USA Patriot Act which affect banking organizations, including the Bank, are generally set forth as amendments to the Bank Secrecy Act. These provisions relate principally to U.S. banking organizations’ relationships with foreign banks and with persons who are resident outside the United States. The USA Patriot Act does not impose any filing or reporting obligations for banking organizations, but does require certain additional due diligence and recordkeeping practices.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
On July 30, 2002, the U.S. Congress enacted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”). The stated goals of Sarbanes-Oxley are to increase corporate responsibility, to provide for enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties at publicly traded companies and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures pursuant to the securities laws. Sarbanes-Oxley generally applies to all companies, both U.S. and non-U.S., that file or are required to file periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).
Sarbanes-Oxley includes very specific additional disclosure requirements and corporate governance rules, required the SEC and securities exchanges to adopt extensive additional disclosure, corporate governance and other related rules and mandates further studies of certain issues. Sarbanes-Oxley represents significant federal involvement in matters traditionally left to state regulatory systems, such as the regulation of the accounting profession, and to state corporate law, such as the relationship between a board of directors and management and between a board of directors and its committees and public company shareholders.

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Sarbanes-Oxley addresses, among other matters: (i) independent audit committees for reporting companies whose securities are listed on national exchanges or automated quotation systems (the “Exchanges”) and expanded duties and responsibilities for audit committees; (ii) certification of financial statements by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer; (iii) the forfeiture of bonuses or other incentive-based compensation and profits from the sale of an issuer’s securities by directors and senior officers in the twelve month period following initial publication of any financial statements that later require restatement; (iv) a prohibition on insider trading during pension plan black out periods; (v) disclosure of off-balance sheet transactions; (vi) a prohibition on personal loans to directors and officers under most circumstances with exceptions for certain normal course transactions by regulated financial institutions; (vii) expedited electronic filing requirements related to trading by insiders in an issuer’s securities on Form 4; (viii) disclosure of a code of ethics and filing a Form 8-K for a change or waiver of such code; (ix) accelerated filing of periodic reports; (x) the formation of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) to oversee public accounting firms and the audit of public companies that are subject to the securities laws; (xi) auditor independence; (xii) internal control evaluation and reporting; and (xiii) various increased criminal penalties for violations of securities laws.
Given the extensive role of the SEC, the PCAOB and the Exchanges in implementing rules relating to Sarbanes-Oxley’s requirements, the federalization of certain elements traditionally within the sphere of state corporate law, the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley on reporting companies has been and will continue to be significant.
Programs To Mitigate Identity Theft
In November 2007, federal banking agencies together with the NCUA and FTC adopted regulations under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 to require financial institutions and other creditors to develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program to detect, prevent and mitigate identity theft in connection with certain new and existing accounts. Covered accounts generally include consumer accounts and other accounts that present a reasonably foreseeable risk of identity theft. Each institution’s program must include policies and procedures designed to: (i) identify indicators, or “red flags,” of possible risk of identity theft based; (ii) detect the occurrence of red flags; (iii) respond appropriately to red flags that are detected; and (iv) ensure that the program is updated periodically as appropriate to address changing circumstances. The regulations include guidelines that each institution must consider and, to the extent appropriate, include in its program.
Pending Legislation
Changes to state laws and regulations (including changes in interpretation or enforcement) can affect the operating environment of BHCs and their subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. From time to time, various legislative and regulatory proposals are introduced. These proposals, if codified, may change banking statutes and regulations and the Company’s operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways. If codified, these proposals could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions and other financial institutions. The Company cannot accurately predict whether those changes in laws and regulations will occur, and, if those changes occur, the ultimate effect they would have upon our financial condition or results of operations. It is likely, however, that the current level of enforcement and compliance-related activities of federal and state authorities will continue and potentially increase.
Recent Developments
On October 3, 2008, Congress adopted the EESA, including a Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”). TARP gave the Treasury authority to deploy up to $700 billion into the financial system for the purpose of improving liquidity in capital markets. On October 14, 2008, Treasury announced plans to direct $250 billion of this authority into preferred stock investments in banks and bank holding companies through a Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”). EESA includes certain limitations on executive compensation, including limits on deductibility of executive compensation in excess of $500,000, and imposes certification and disclosure requirements concerning compliance with these limitations.
In November 2008, the FDIC adopted a Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program, which includes a Debt Guarantee Program, under which the FDIC will guarantee the payment of certain newly-issued senior unsecured debt of financial institutions, and the Transaction Account Guarantee Program, under which the FDIC will guarantee certain noninterest-bearing transaction accounts and certain other accounts, in each case for financial institutions that elect to participate.

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On February 10, 2009, Treasury announced a Financial Stability Plan to address aspects of the economy’s difficulties. The plan intended to revise the form of capital injections into financial institutions, increases the size and scope of a previously announced non-recourse lending facility by the Federal Reserve’s non-recourse lending facility, facilitate the creation of a public-private investment fund to purchase troubled assets from financial institutions, and allocate $50 billion for homeowner/foreclosure assistance. The plan would substantially increase the amount of funds injected into the nation’s financial system.
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). ARRA provides similar and additional limitations and requirements with respect to executive compensation and also amends Section 111 of EESA, which was the source of many of the executive compensation restrictions referenced above. The actual effect of the combination of the limitations in EESA, certain guidance issued by Treasury on February 4, 2009, and ARRA is not yet certain.
Competition
In the past, the Bank’s principal competitors for deposits and loans have been other banks (particularly major banks) and smaller community banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions. To a lesser extent, competition was also provided by thrift and loans, mortgage brokerage companies and insurance companies. Other institutions, such as brokerage houses, mutual fund companies, credit card companies, and certain retail establishments have offered investment vehicles which also compete with banks for deposit business. Federal legislation in recent years has encouraged competition between different types of financial institutions and fostered new entrants into the financial services market, and it is anticipated that this trend will continue.
The enactment of the Interstate Banking and Branching Act in 1994 and the California Interstate Banking and Branching Act of 1995 have increased competition within California. Regulatory reform, as well as other changes in federal and California law, will also affect competition. While the future impact of these changes, and of other proposed changes, cannot be predicted with certainty, it is clear that the business of banking will remain highly competitive.
Legislative changes, as well as technological and economic factors, can be expected to have an ongoing impact on competitive conditions within the financial services industry. As an active participant in the financial markets, the Company believes that it continually adapts to these changing competitive conditions.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Readers and prospective investors in the Company’s securities should carefully consider the following risk factors as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this report.
The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.
If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of the company’s securities could decline significantly, and investors could lose all or part of their investment in the Company’s common stock.
Market and Interest Rate Risk
Changes in interest rates could reduce income and cash flow.
The discussion in this report under “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Asset and Liability Management” and “- Liquidity” and “Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” is incorporated by reference in this paragraph. The Company’s income and cash flow depend to a great extent on the difference between the interest earned on loans and investment securities compared to the interest paid on deposits and other borrowings, and the Company’s success in competing for loans and deposits. The Company cannot control or prevent changes in the level of interest rates. They fluctuate in response to general economic conditions and the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, in particular, the Federal Open Market Committee of the FRB. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, will influence the origination of loans, the purchase of investments, the generation of deposits and other borrowings, and the rates received on loans and investment securities and paid on deposits and other liabilities.

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Changes in capital market conditions could reduce asset valuations.
Capital market conditions, including liquidity, investor confidence, perceived counter-party risk, the supply of and demand for financial instruments, the financial strength of market participants, and other factors, have materially deteriorated in the past 12 months. This deterioration could negatively impact the value of financial instruments. An impairment in the value of the Company’s assets could result in asset write-downs, reducing the Company’s asset values, earnings, and equity.
Current market developments may adversely affect the Company’s industry, business and results of operations.
Dramatic declines in the housing market during the prior year, with falling home prices and increasing foreclosures and unemployment, have resulted in significant write-downs of asset values by financial institutions, including government-sponsored entities and major commercial and investment banks. These write-downs, initially of mortgage-backed securities but spreading to credit default swaps and other derivative securities, have caused many financial institutions to seek additional capital, to merge with larger and stronger institutions and, in some cases, to fail. Many lenders and institutional investors, concerned about the stability of the financial markets generally and the strength of counterparties, have reduced or ceased to provide funding to borrowers, including other financial institutions. The resulting lack of available credit, lack of confidence in the financial sector, increased volatility in the financial markets and reduced business activity could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The soundness of other financial institutions could adversely affect the Company.
Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, or other relationships. The Company routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, and other institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of default of the Company’s counterparty or client. In addition, the Company’s credit risk may be increased when the collateral the Company holds cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the secured obligation. There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or earnings.
Current levels of market volatility are unprecedented.
The capital and credit markets have been experiencing volatility and disruption for more than 12 months. Recently, the volatility and disruption has reached unprecedented levels. In some cases, the markets have produced downward pressure on stock prices and credit availability for certain issuers without regard to those issuers’ underlying financial strength. If current levels of market disruption and volatility continue or worsen, there can be no assurance that the Company will not experience an adverse effect, which may be material, on the Company’s ability to access capital and on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
There can be no assurance that the recently enacted legislation will help stabilize the U.S. financial system.
On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the “EESA”), which evolved from the Treasury’s initial proposal in response to the financial crises affecting the banking system and financial markets and going concern threats to investment banks and other financial institutions. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “ARRA”) into law. The Treasury and banking regulators are implementing a number of programs under this legislation to address capital and liquidity issues in the banking system. There can be no assurance, however, as to the actual impact that the EESA or ARRA will have on the financial markets, including the extreme levels of volatility and limited credit availability currently being experienced. The failure of the EESA OR ARRA to help stabilize the financial markets and a continuation or worsening of current financial market conditions could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, access to credit or the trading price of the Company’s common stock.
Risks Related to the Nature and Geographical Location of the Company’s Business
The Company invests in loans that contain inherent credit risks that may cause the Company to incur losses.
The Company can provide no assurance that the credit quality of the loan portfolio will not deteriorate in the future and that such deterioration will not adversely affect the Company.

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The Company’s operations are concentrated geographically in California, and poor economic conditions may cause the Company to incur losses.
Substantially all of the Company’s business is located in California. A portion of the loan portfolio of the Company is dependent on real estate. At December 31, 2008, real estate served as the principal source of collateral with respect to approximately 54% of the Company’s loan portfolio. The Company’s financial condition and operating results will be subject to changes in economic conditions in California. In the early to mid-1990s, California experienced a significant and prolonged downturn in its economy, which adversely affected financial institutions. The California economy is currently in a recession which may last for a prolonged period of time. Economic conditions in California are subject to various uncertainties at this time, including the decline in construction and real estate sectors, the California state government’s budgetary difficulties and continuing fiscal difficulties. The Company can provide no assurance that conditions in the California economy will not deteriorate in the future and that such deterioration will not adversely affect the Company. Many of the Company’s loans are secured by collateral that includes real estate located in California. In 2007 and throughout 2008, much of the California and national real estate market experienced a decline in values of varying degrees. This decline is having an adverse impact on the businesses of some of the Company’s borrowers and on the value of the collateral for many of the Company’s loans.
The markets in which the Company operates are subject to the risk of earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Most of the properties of the Company are located in California. Also, most of the real and personal properties which currently secure some of the Company’s loans are located in California. California is a state which is prone to earthquakes, brush fires, flooding and other natural disasters. In addition to possibly sustaining damage to its own properties, if there is a major earthquake, flood, fire or other natural disaster, the Company faces the risk that many of its borrowers may experience uninsured property losses, or sustained job interruption and/or loss which may materially impair their ability to meet the terms of their loan obligations. A major earthquake, flood, fire or other natural disaster in California could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
As a financial services company, adverse changes in general business or economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
A sustained or continuing weakness or weakening in business and economic conditions generally or specifically in the principal markets in which the Company does business could have one or more of the following adverse impacts on the Company’s business:
    a decrease in the demand for loans and other products and services offered by the Company;
 
    an increase or decrease in the usage of unfunded commitments;
 
    an impairment of certain intangible assets, such as goodwill;
 
    an increase in the number of clients and counterparties who become delinquent, file for protection under bankruptcy laws or default on their loans or other obligations to the Company.
 
    an increase in the number of delinquencies, bankruptcies or defaults could result in a higher level of nonperforming assets, net charge-offs, provision for loan losses, and valuation adjustments on loans held for sale.
The Company’s Business May Be Adversely Affected by Conditions in the Financial Markets and Economic Conditions Generally
Since December 2007, the United States has been in a recession. Business activity across a wide range of industries and regions is greatly reduced and local governments and many businesses are in serious difficulty due to the lack of consumer spending and the lack of liquidity in the credit markets. Unemployment has increased significantly.
Since mid-2007, and particularly during the second half of 2008, the financial services industry and the securities markets generally were materially and adversely affected by significant declines in the values of nearly all asset classes and by a serious lack of liquidity. This was initially triggered by declines in home prices and the values of subprime mortgages, but spread to all mortgage and real estate asset classes, to leveraged bank loans and to nearly all asset classes, including equities. The global markets have been characterized by substantially increased volatility and short-selling and an overall loss of investor confidence, initially in financial institutions, but more recently in companies in a number of other industries and in the broader markets.
Market conditions have also led to the failure or merger of a number of prominent financial institutions. Financial institution failures or near-failures have resulted in further losses as a consequence of defaults on securities issued by them and defaults under contracts entered into with such entities as counterparties. Furthermore, declining asset values, defaults on mortgages and consumer loans, and the lack of market and investor confidence, as well as other factors, have all combined to increase credit

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default swap spreads, to cause rating agencies to lower credit ratings, and to otherwise increase the cost and decrease the availability of liquidity, despite very significant declines in Federal Reserve borrowing rates and other government actions. Some banks and other lenders have suffered significant losses and have become reluctant to lend, even on a secured basis, due to the increased risk of default and the impact of declining asset values on the value of collateral. The foregoing has significantly weakened the strength and liquidity of some financial institutions worldwide. In 2008, the U.S. government, the Federal Reserve and other regulators have taken numerous steps to increase liquidity and to restore investor confidence, including investing approximately $200 billion in the equity of other banking organizations, but asset values have continued to decline and access to liquidity continues to be very limited.
The Company’s financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, is highly dependent upon on the business environment in the markets where the Company operates, in the State of California and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, high business and investor confidence, and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by: declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.
Overall, during 2008, the business environment has been adverse for many households and businesses in the United States and worldwide. It is expected that the business environment in the State of California, the United States and worldwide will continue to deteriorate for the foreseeable future. There can be no assurance that these conditions will improve in the near term. Such conditions could adversely affect the credit quality of the Company’s loans, results of operations and financial condition.
The Value of Securities in the Company’s Investment Securities Portfolio May be Negatively Affected by Continued Disruptions In Securities Markets
The market for some of the investment securities held in the Company’s portfolio has become extremely volatile over the past twelve months. Volatile market conditions may detrimentally affect the value of these securities, such as through reduced valuations due to the perception of heightened credit and liquidity risks. There can be no assurance that the declines in market value associated with these disruptions will not result in other than temporary impairments of these assets, which would lead to accounting charges that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s net income and capital levels.
Regulatory Risks
Restrictions on dividends and other distributions could limit amounts payable to the Company.
As a holding company, a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flow typically comes from dividends paid by the Bank. Various statutory provisions restrict the amount of dividends the Company’s subsidiaries can pay to the Company without regulatory approval. In addition, if any of the Company’s subsidiaries were to liquidate, that subsidiary’s creditors will be entitled to receive distributions from the assets of that subsidiary to satisfy their claims against it before the Company, as a holder of an equity interest in the subsidiary, will be entitled to receive any of the assets of the subsidiary.
Adverse effects of changes in banking or other laws and regulations or governmental fiscal or monetary policies could adversely affect the Company.
The Company is subject to significant federal and state regulation and supervision, which is primarily for the benefit and protection of the Company’s customers and not for the benefit of investors. In the past, the Company’s business has been materially affected by these regulations. This trend is likely to continue in the future. Laws, regulations or policies, including accounting standards and interpretations currently affecting the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, may change at any time. Regulatory authorities may also change their interpretation of these statutes and regulations. Therefore, the Company’s business may be adversely affected by any future changes in laws, regulations, policies or interpretations or regulatory approaches to compliance and enforcement including future acts of terrorism, major U.S. corporate bankruptcies and reports of accounting irregularities at U.S. public companies.
Additionally, the Company’s business is affected significantly by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies. The Company is particularly affected by the policies of the FRB, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the United States of America. Under long- standing policy of the FRB, a BHC is expected to act as a source of financial strength for its subsidiary banks. As a result of that policy, the Company may be required to commit financial and other resources to its

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subsidiary bank in circumstances where the Company might not otherwise do so. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the FRB are (a) conducting open market operations in U.S. government securities, (b) changing the discount rates of borrowings by depository institutions, and (c) imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by banks and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. The policies of the FRB may have a material effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
Federal and state governments could pass legislation responsive to current credit conditions.
As an example, the Company could experience higher credit losses because of federal or state legislation or regulatory action that reduces the amount the Bank’s borrowers are otherwise contractually required to pay under existing loan contracts. Also, the Company could experience higher credit losses because of federal or state legislation or regulatory action that limits the Bank’s ability to foreclose on property or other collateral or makes foreclosure less economically feasible.
The FDIC insures deposits at insured financial institutions up to certain limits. The FDIC charges insured financial institutions premiums to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund. Current economic conditions have increased expectations for bank failures, in which case the FDIC would take control of failed banks and ensure payment of deposits up to insured limits using the resources of the Deposit Insurance Fund. In such case, the FDIC may increase premium assessments to maintain adequate funding of the Deposit Insurance Fund.
The behavior of depositors in regard to the level of FDIC insurance could cause our existing customers to reduce the amount of deposits held at the Bank, and could cause new customers to open deposit accounts at the Bank. The level and composition of the Bank’s deposit portfolio directly impacts the Bank’s funding cost and net interest margin.
The Federal Reserve Bank has been providing vast amounts of liquidity into the banking system to compensate for weaknesses in short-term borrowing markets and other capital markets. A reduction in the Federal Reserve’s activities or capacity could reduce liquidity in the markets, thereby increasing funding costs to the Bank or reducing the availability of funds to the Bank to finance its existing operations.
As discussed in Item 1. Business, on February 13, 2009, the Company utilized the CPP of the EESA issuing Treasury Preferred Stock and a TARP Warrant. The term of the CPP could reduce investment returns to participating banks’ shareholders by restricting dividends to common shareholders, diluting existing shareholders’ interest, and restricting capital management practices.
Systems, Accounting and Internal Control Risks
The accuracy of the Company’s judgments and estimates about financial and accounting matters will impact operating results and financial condition.
The discussion under “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies” in this report and the information referred to in that discussion is incorporated by reference in this paragraph. The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in preparing its financial statements. The quality and accuracy of those estimates and judgments will have an impact on the Company’s operating results and financial condition.
The Company’s information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security.
The Company relies heavily on communications and information systems to conduct its business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in the Company’s customer relationship management and systems. There can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately corrected by the Company. The occurrence of any such failures, interruptions or security breaches could damage the Company’s reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject the Company to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose the Company to litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

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The Company’s controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented.
Management regularly reviews and updates the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. The Company maintains controls and procedures to mitigate against risks such as processing system failures and errors, and customer or employee fraud, and maintains insurance coverage for certain of these risks. Any system of controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Events could occur which are not prevented or detected by the Company’s internal controls or are not insured against or are in excess of the Company’s insurance limits. Any failure or circumvention of the Company’s controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company may have difficulty integrating the branches and operations of the former County Bank.
On February 6, 2009, the Bank acquired approximately $1.6 billion in assets, including loans, and $1.2 billion in deposits of the former County Bank, of Merced, California, from the FDIC as its receiver. County Bank’s loan portfolio had suffered substantial deterioration over the previous year, and the Company can provide no assurance that it will not continue to deteriorate now that it is part of the Bank’s portfolio. If Management’s estimates of the losses are too low, the recorded fair values for the loans may need to be reduced with a corresponding charge to earnings. In addition, integrating County Bank’s 39 branches, employees and customers will require substantial expense and management efforts. If the Company consolidates branches, the Company risks attrition in deposits and customers.
Shares of Company common stock eligible for future sale could have a dilutive effect on the market for Company common stock and could adversely affect the market price.
The Articles of Incorporation of the Company authorize the issuance of 150 million shares of common stock (and two additional classes of 1 million shares each, denominated “Class B Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”, respectively) of which approximately 28.9 million were outstanding at December 31, 2008. Pursuant to its stock option plans, at December 31, 2008, the Company had exercisable options outstanding of 2.1 million. As of December 31, 2008, 3.1 million shares of Company common stock remained available for grants under the Company’s stock option plans. Sales of substantial amounts of Company common stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price of its common stock. The Company repurchases and retires its common stock in accordance with Board of Directors approved share repurchase programs. At December 31, 2008, approximately 2.0 million shares remained available to repurchase under such plans.
The Agreement between the Company and the United States Treasury limits the Company’s ability to pay dividends on and repurchase the Company’s common stock.
The Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and the Treasury pursuant to which the Company sold $83.7 million of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock (the “Treasury Preferred Stock”) and issued a warrant to purchase up to 246,640 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “TARP Warrant”) provides that prior to the earlier of (i) February 13, 2012 and (ii) the date on which all of the shares of the Treasury Preferred Stock have been redeemed by the Company or transferred by the Treasury to third parties, the Company may not, without the consent of the Treasury, (a) increase the cash dividend on the Company’s common stock above $0.35 per share, the amount of the last quarterly cash dividend per share declared prior to October 14, 2008 or (b) subject to limited exceptions, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire shares of the Company’s common stock or preferred stock other than the Treasury Preferred Stock. In addition, the Company is unable to pay any dividends on the Company’s common stock unless the Company is current in the Company’s dividend payments on the Treasury Preferred Stock. These restrictions, together with the potentially dilutive impact of the TARP Warrant described in the next risk factor, could have a negative effect on the value of the Company’s common stock. Moreover, holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends only when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. Although the Company has historically paid cash dividends on the Company’s common stock, the Company is not required to do so and the Company’s Board of Directors could reduce or eliminate the Company’s common stock dividend in the future.
The Treasury Preferred Stock impacts net income available to the Company’s common stockholders and earnings per common share, and the TARP Warrant may be dilutive to holders of the Company’s common stock.
The dividends declared and the accretion of the discount on the Treasury Preferred Stock will reduce the net income available to common stockholders and the Company’s earnings per common share. The Treasury Preferred Stock will also receive preferential treatment in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. Additionally, the ownership interest of the

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existing holders of the Company’s common stock will be diluted to the extent the TARP Warrant is exercised. The shares of common stock underlying the TARP Warrant represent approximately 0.85% of the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of February 13, 2009 (including the shares issuable upon exercise of the TARP Warrant in total shares outstanding). Although the Treasury has agreed not to vote any of the shares of common stock it receives upon exercise of the TARP Warrant, a transferee of any portion of the TARP Warrant or of any shares of common stock acquired upon exercise of the TARP Warrant is not bound by this restriction.
Because of the Company’s participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program, the Company is subject to several restrictions including restrictions on compensation paid to the Company’s executives.
Pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company adopted certain standards for executive compensation and corporate governance for the period during which the Initial Selling Shareholder holds the equity issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, including the common stock which may be issued pursuant to the TARP Warrant. These standards generally apply to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and the three next most highly compensated senior executive officers. The standards include (1) ensuring that incentive compensation for senior executives does not encourage unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the financial institution; (2) required clawback of any bonus or incentive compensation paid to a senior executive based on statements of earnings, gains or other criteria that are later proven to be materially inaccurate; (3) prohibition on making golden parachute payments to senior executives; and (4) agreement not to deduct for tax purposes executive compensation in excess of $500,000 for each senior executive. In particular, the change to the deductibility limit on executive compensation will likely increase the overall cost of the Company’s compensation programs in future periods. Since the TARP Warrant has a ten year term, the Company could potentially be subject to the executive compensation and corporate governance restrictions for a ten year time period. Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, further compensation restrictions, including significant limitations on incentive compensation and “golden parachute” payments, have been imposed on the Company’s most highly compensated employees, which may make it more difficult for the Company to retain and recruit qualified personnel.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Branch Offices and Facilities
WAB is engaged in the banking business through 86 offices in 21 counties in Northern and Central California including 13 offices in Fresno County, 11 each in Marin and Sonoma Counties, seven in Napa County, five each in Stanislaus, Lake, Contra Costa and Solano Counties, four in Kern, County, three each in Alameda and Sacramento Counties, two each in Mendocino, Nevada, Placer and Tulare Counties, and one each in Merced, San Francisco, Tuolumne, Kings, Madera, and Yolo Counties. WAB believes all of its offices are constructed and equipped to meet prescribed security requirements.
The Company owns 26 branch office locations and one administrative facility and leases 70 facilities. Most of the leases contain multiple renewal options and provisions for rental increases, principally for changes in the cost of living index, property taxes and maintenance.
On February 6, 2009, in connection with the acquisition of assets and deposits of County Bank, the Company acquired a short-term option to acquire its branch premises located in Merced and throughout the Central Valley. The Company has not yet determined the extent to which the Company will exercise this option.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
During 2007, Visa announced that it completed restructuring transactions in preparation for an initial public offering planned for early 2008, and, as part of those transactions, the Bank’s membership interest in Visa was exchanged for an equity interest in Visa Inc. In accordance with Visa’s by-laws, the Bank and other Visa U.S.A. member banks are obligated to share in Visa’s litigation obligations which existed at the time of the restructuring transactions. On November 7, 2007, Visa announced that it had reached a settlement with American Express related to an antitrust lawsuit. Visa has disclosed other antitrust lawsuits which existed at the time of the restructuring transactions. In consideration of the American Express settlement and other antitrust lawsuits filed against Visa, the Company recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 a liability and corresponding expense of $2,338 thousand. In the first quarter 2008, Visa funded a litigation settlement escrow using proceeds from its initial public offering. Upon the escrow funding, the Company relieved its liability with a corresponding expense reversal in the amount of $2,338 thousand.
On October 27, 2008, Visa announced that it had reached a settlement with Discover Financial Services related to an antitrust lawsuit that existed at the time of Visa’s restructuring requiring the payment of the settlement to be funded from the litigation settlement escrow. On December 22, 2008, Visa announced that it had funded its litigation settlement escrow in an amount sufficient to meet such litigation obligation pursuant to Visa’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation approved by Visa’s shareholders on December 16, 2008. As such, the Company has not recorded a liability for this settlement.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any material pending legal proceeding, nor is their property the subject of any material pending legal proceeding, ordinary routine legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. None of these proceedings is expected to have a material adverse impact upon the Company’s business, financial position or results of operations.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders during the fourth quarter of 2008.

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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “WABC”. The following table shows the high and the low sales prices for the common stock, for each quarter, as reported by NASDAQ:
                 
    High   Low
 
2008:
               
First quarter
  $ 56.49     $ 39.00  
Second quarter
    61.49       50.55  
Third quarter
    69.00       35.50  
Fourth quarter
    60.00       41.17  
2007:
               
First quarter
  $ 51.47     $ 46.43  
Second quarter
    48.61       44.23  
Third quarter
    50.49       39.77  
Fourth quarter
    53.29       42.11  
As of February 2, 2009, there were approximately 8,000 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock.
The Company has paid cash dividends on its common stock in every quarter since its formation in 1972, and it is currently the intention of the Board of Directors of the Company to continue payment of cash dividends on a quarterly basis. There is no assurance, however, that any dividends will be paid since they are dependent upon earnings, cash balances, financial condition and capital requirements of the Company and its subsidiaries as well as policies of the FRB pursuant to the BHCA. See Item 1, “Business — Supervision and Regulation.” As of December 31, 2008, $54 million was allowable for payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders, under applicable laws and regulations.
The notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this report contain additional information regarding the Company’s capital levels, regulations affecting subsidiary bank dividends paid to the Company, the Company’s earnings, financial condition and cash flows, and cash dividends declared and paid on common stock.
As discussed in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements, in December 1986, the Company declared a dividend distribution of one common share purchase right (the “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock. The terms of the Rights were most recently amended and restated in 2004. The amended plan is very similar in purpose and effect to the plan as it existed prior to this amendment, aimed at helping the Board of Directors to maximize shareholder value in the event of a change of control of the Company and otherwise resist actions that the Board considers likely to injure the Company or its shareholders.
The Company also issued to Treasury a warrant to purchase 246,640 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $50.92 per share.

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Stock performance
The following chart compares the cumulative return on the Company’s stock during the ten years ended December 31, 2008 with the cumulative return on the S&P 500 composite stock index and NASDAQ’S Bank Index. The comparison assumes $100 invested in each on December 31, 1998 and reinvestment of all dividends.
(LINE CHART)
                                                                 
 
      Period ending  
        1998     1999     2000     2001     2002     2003  
 
Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC)
    $ 100.00       $ 77.50       $ 122.67       $ 115.38       $ 119.73       $ 151.71    
 
S&P 500 (SPX)
      100.00         121.04         109.99         96.99         75.55         97.22    
 
NASDAQ Bank Index (CBNK)
      100.00         94.17         110.92         124.76         133.43         177.52    
 
                                                       
 
      Period ending  
        2004     2005     2006     2007     2008  
 
Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC)
    $ 181.40       $ 168.89       $ 165.34       $ 150.89       $ 177.66    
 
S&P 500 (SPX)
      107.77         113.08         130.99         138.18         87.17    
 
NASDAQ Bank Index (CBNK)
      201.71         197.80         225.21         180.38         141.61    
 

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The following chart compares the cumulative return on the Company’s stock during the five years ended December 31, 2008 with the cumulative return on the S&P 500 composite stock index and NASDAQ’S Bank Index. The comparison assumes $100 invested in each on December 31, 2003 and reinvestment of all dividends.
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)
                                                                 
 
      Period ending  
        2003     2004     2005     2006     2007     2008  
 
Westamerica Bancorporation (WABC)
    $ 100.00       $ 119.57       $ 111.33       $ 108.98       $ 99.46       $ 117.11    
 
S&P 500 (SPX)
      100.00         110.85         116.30         134.73         142.13         89.66    
 
NASDAQ Bank Index (CBNK)
      100.00         113.63         111.43         126.87         101.61         79.78    
 

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ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Westamerica Bancorporation or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), of common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 (in thousands, except per share data).
                                 
                    (c)   (d)
                    Total Number   Maximum
                    of Shares   Number of
            (b)   Purchased   Shares that
    (a)   Average   as Part of   May Yet Be
    Total   Price   Publicly   Purchased
    Number of   Paid   Announced   Under the
    Shares   per   Plans or   Plans or
Period   Purchased   Share   Programs*   Programs
 
October 1 through October 31
    12     $ 50.41       12       1,981  
November 1 through November 30
    1       51.77       1       1,980  
December 1 through December 31
    3       51.99       3       1,977  
 
Total
    16     $ 50.74       16       1,977  
 
*   Includes 12 thousand, 1 thousand and 3 thousand shares purchased in October, November and December, respectively, by the Company in private transactions with the independent administrator of the Company’s Tax Deferred Savings/Retirement Plan (ESOP). The Company includes the shares purchased in such transactions within the total number of shares authorized for purchase pursuant to the currently existing publicly announced program.
The Company repurchases shares of its common stock in the open market to optimize the Company’s use of equity capital and enhance shareholder value and with the intention of lessening the dilutive impact of issuing new shares to meet stock performance, option plans, and other ongoing requirements.
Shares were repurchased during the fourth quarter of 2008 pursuant to a program approved by the Board of Directors on August 28, 2008 authorizing the purchase of up to 2 million shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time prior to September 1, 2009.
On February 13, 2009, the Company utilized the Troubled Asset Relief Program and issued 83,726 preferred shares to the United States Treasury at $1,000 per share (“Treasury Preferred Stock”). Under the terms of the Treasury Preferred Stock, share repurchases are limited to repurchase related to employee benefit programs.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following financial information for the five years ended December 31, 2008 has been derived from the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. This information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere herein.
WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
FINANCIAL SUMMARY

(In thousands, except per share data)
                                         
Year ended December 31:   2008   2007   2006   2005*   2004*
 
Interest income
  $ 208,469     $ 235,872     $ 246,515     $ 242,797     $ 216,337  
Interest expense
    33,243       72,555       65,268       43,649       21,106  
 
Net interest income
    175,226       163,317       181,247       199,148       195,231  
Provision for credit losses
    2,700       700       445       900       2,700  
Noninterest income:
                                       
Net losses from securities
    (56,955 )     ––       ––       (4,903 )     (5,011 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    ––       ––       ––       ––       (2,204 )
Deposit service charges and other
    54,899       59,278       55,347       59,443       45,798  
 
Total noninterest income
    (2,056 )     59,278       55,347       54,540       38,583  
Noninterest expense
                                       
Visa Litigation
    (2,338 )     2,338       ––       ––       ––  
Other noninterest expense
    103,099       99,090       101,724       107,250       102,099  
 
Total noninterest expense
    100,761       101,428       101,724       107,250       102,099  
 
Income before income taxes
    69,709       120,467       134,425       145,538       129,015  
Provision for income taxes
    9,874       30,691       35,619       39,497       35,756  
 
Net income
  $ 59,835     $ 89,776     $ 98,806     $ 106,041     $ 93,259  
 
Earnings per share:
                                       
Basic
  $ 2.07     $ 3.02     $ 3.17     $ 3.28     $ 2.93  
Diluted
    2.04       2.98       3.11       3.22       2.87  
Per share:
                                       
Dividends paid
  $ 1.39     $ 1.36     $ 1.30     $ 1.22     $ 1.10  
Book value at December 31
    14.19       13.60       13.89       13.65       11.59  
Average common shares outstanding
    28,892       29,753       31,202       32,291       31,821  
Average diluted common shares outstanding
    29,273       30,165       31,739       32,897       32,461  
Shares outstanding at December 31
    28,880       29,018       30,547       31,882       31,640  
At December 31:
                                       
Loans, net
  $ 2,337,956     $ 2,450,470     $ 2,476,404     $ 2,616,372     $ 2,246,078  
Investments
    1,237,779       1,578,109       1,780,617       1,999,604       2,192,542  
Intangible assets and goodwill
    136,907       140,148       143,801       148,077       21,890  
Total assets
    4,032,934       4,558,959       4,769,335       5,157,559       4,745,318  
Total deposits
    3,095,054       3,264,790       3,516,734       3,846,101       3,583,619  
Short-term borrowed funds
    457,275       798,599       731,977       775,173       735,423  
Debt financing and notes payable
    26,631       36,773       36,920       40,281       21,429  
Shareholders’ equity
    409,852       394,603       424,235       435,064       366,659  
Financial Ratios:
                                       
For the year:
                                       
Return on assets
    1.42 %     1.93 %     2.01 %     2.09 %     2.06 %
Return on equity
    14.77 %     22.11 %     23.38 %     25.70 %     28.23 %
Net interest margin **
    5.13 %     4.40 %     4.57 %     4.82 %     5.14 %
Net loan losses to average loans
    0.44 %     0.14 %     0.04 %     0.03 %     0.11 %
Efficiency ratio ***
    51.88 %     41.46 %     39.12 %     38.52 %     39.79 %
At December 31:
                                       
Equity to assets
    10.16 %     8.66 %     8.90 %     8.44 %     7.73 %
Total capital to risk-adjusted assets
    11.76 %     10.64 %     11.09 %     10.40 %     12.46 %
Allowance for loan losses to loans
    1.87 %     2.10 %     2.19 %     2.09 %     2.35 %
The above financial summary has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. This information should be read in conjunction with those statements, notes and the other information included elsewhere herein.
 
*   Adjusted to adopt Financial Accounting Standard 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment.” See Note 8.
 
**   Yields on securities and certain loans have been adjusted upward to a “fully taxable equivalent” (“FTE”) basis in order to reflect the effect of income which is exempt from federal income taxation at the current statutory tax rate.
 
***   The efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expense divided by total revenue (net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis and noninterest income).

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion addresses information pertaining to the financial condition and results of operations of Westamerica Bancorporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) that may not be otherwise apparent from a review of the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes. It should be read in conjunction with those statements and notes found on pages 51 through 83, as well as with the other information presented throughout the Report.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and follow general practices within the banking industry. Application of these principles requires management to make certain estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions, and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions, and judgments. Certain policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and as such have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions and judgments are necessary when assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value, when a decline in the value of an asset not carried on the financial statements at fair value warrants an impairment writedown or valuation reserve to be established, or when an asset or liability needs to be recorded contingent upon a future event. Carrying assets and liabilities at fair value inherently results in more financial statement volatility. The fair values and the information used to record valuation adjustments for certain assets and liabilities are based either on quoted market prices or are provided by other third-party sources, when available. When third-party information is not available, valuation adjustments are estimated in good faith by management.
The most significant accounting policies followed by the Company are presented in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the other financial statement notes and in this discussion, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the financial statements and how those values are determined. Based on the valuation techniques used and the sensitivity of financial statement amounts to the methods, assumptions, and estimates underlying those amounts, management has identified the Allowance for Loan Losses accounting to be the accounting areas that require the most subjective or complex judgments, and as such could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available.
The Allowance for Loan Losses represents management’s estimate of the amount of loss in the loan portfolio that can be reasonably estimated as of the balance sheet date. Determining the amount of the Allowance for Loan Losses is considered a critical accounting estimate because it requires significant judgment and the use of estimates related to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans based on historical loss experience, and interpretation of current economic trends, uncertainties and conditions, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. A discussion of the factors driving changes in the amount of the Allowance for Loan losses is included in the “Credit Quality” discussion below.
Acquisition
On February 6, 2009, the Bank entered a Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) as Receiver (“Receiver”) of County Bank (“County”). At February 6, 2009, County’s accounting records reflected total assets to be purchased by the Bank of approximately $1.6 billion, total loans to be purchased by the Bank of approximately $1.3 billion, and total deposits to be assumed by the Bank of approximately $1.2 billion. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Bank purchased substantially all assets of County, including loans, investment securities and other assets, excluding premises, equipment and company owned life insurance. The Bank has a short-term option to purchase certain premises and equipment from the Receiver. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Bank also assumed all the deposits, secured liabilities, and certain other liabilities of County. The Agreement also provided a loss sharing arrangement over certain assets, primarily loans and loan collateral received in satisfaction of loans receivable. Losses on covered assets up to $269 million are shared 80% by the Receiver and 20% by the Bank. Losses on covered assets exceeding $269 million are shared 95% by the Receiver and 5% by the Bank. The loss sharing agreement has a term of three years for all loans other than residential loans which have a term of ten years. The agreement covers only the assets and liabilities of County Bank. Assets, liabilities and trust preferred debt of County Bank’s former parent company Capital Corp of the West have not been purchased or assumed by Westamerica Bank or the Company.

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The Company will apply the mark-to-market provisions of FAS 141R to account for the purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities, including recognition of a core deposit intangible asset. Accounting rules also require recognition of the FDIC’s estimated loss assistance with respect to the loans and other real estate owned.
Net Income
The Company reported net income for 2008 of $59.8 million or $2.04 diluted earnings per share, compared with $89.8 million or $2.98 diluted earnings per share for 2007. The 2008 results included a $62.7 million charge for securities losses and “other than temporary impairment” securities losses in the value of FHLMC and FNMA preferred stock and other common stock. At December 31, 2008, the recorded value of FHLMC and FNMA stock was $822 thousand. Additionally, results for 2008 included a $5.7 million gain on the sale of VISA common stock from Visa’s initial public offering (“IPO”), $2.3 million in reduced expenses as known litigation contingencies were satisfied as a part of the VISA IPO, and approximately $1.0 million reduction in the tax provision primarily due to adjusting the estimated tax provision to actual amounts on the filed 2007 federal tax return. The securities gains and losses, satisfaction of litigation contingencies, and tax provision adjustment combined to reduce 2008 net income by $30.7 million or diluted earnings per share by $1.05. The 2007 results included a $2.3 million litigation expense for the Bank’s proportionate share of Visa’s litigation exposure for which Visa’s members are responsible. The 2007 period also included $822 thousand in company-owned life insurance proceeds and a $700 thousand income tax refund, derived from an amended 2003 tax return, which reduced income tax expense. The expense for Visa litigation, insurance proceeds and the income tax refund combined to increase 2007 net income by $232 thousand.
Components of Net Income
                         
Year ended December 31,            
($ in thousands except per share amounts)   2008   2007   2006
     
Net interest and fee income *
  $ 196,257     $ 185,348     $ 204,703  
Provision for loan losses
    (2,700 )     (700 )     (445 )
Noninterest income
    (2,056 )     59,278       55,347  
Noninterest expense
    (100,761 )     (101,428 )     (101,724 )
     
Income before income taxes *
    90,740       142,498       157,881  
Taxes *
    (30,905 )     (52,722 )     (59,075 )
     
Net income
  $ 59,835     $ 89,776     $ 98,806  
     
Net income per average fully-diluted share
  $ 2.04     $ 2.98     $ 3.11  
Net income as a percentage of average shareholders’ equity
    14.77 %     22.11 %     23.38 %
Net income as a percentage of average total assets
    1.42 %     1.93 %     2.01 %
 
 
*   Fully taxable equivalent (FTE)
Comparing 2008 to the prior year, net income decreased $29.9 million, due to securities losses and “other than temporary impairment” charges on FHLMC and FNMA preferred stock and other common stock and a higher loan loss provision, partially offset by higher net interest income (FTE), a gain on sale of VISA common stock and lower tax provision (FTE). The higher net interest income (FTE) was mainly caused by lower funding costs, partially offset by a lower volume of average interest-earning assets and lower yields on loans. The provision for loan losses increased $2.0 million to reflect Management’s assessment of increased credit risk and the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses. Noninterest income in 2008 was a loss of $2.1 million compared with $59.3 million in 2007 mainly due to the losses and impairment charges on FHLMC and FNMA preferred stock and other common stock, $822 thousand gain from life insurance proceeds in 2007 and a $950 thousand decrease in fees on the issuance of official checks, partially offset by the $5.7 million gain on sale of VISA common stock. Noninterest expense decreased $667 thousand or 0.7%, primarily the net result of the reversal of a $2.3 million accrual for known Visa related litigation and lower amortization of identifiable intangible assets, partially offset by higher data processing and personnel costs and legal fees. The income tax provision (FTE) decreased $21.8 million largely due to lower pretax income and the $1 million tax adjustment for the filed 2007 federal income tax return.
Net income for 2007 decreased $9.0 million, or 9.1%, compared to net income for 2006 primarily due to lower net interest income (FTE) and an increased provision for credit losses, partially offset by higher noninterest income, lower noninterest expense and a lower tax provision. The lower net interest income (FTE) was mainly caused by a lower volume of average interest-earning assets and higher funding costs, partially offset by higher yields on earning assets. The provision for loan losses increased $255 thousand to reflect Management’s assessment of credit risk for the loan portfolio. Noninterest income increased $3.9 million or 7.1% largely due to higher service charges on deposits, merchant credit card processing fees, debit card income and company-owned life insurance proceeds. Noninterest expense declined $296 thousand or 0.3% primarily due to lower personnel costs and

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intangible asset amortization, decreases in equipment costs, professional fees, a reduction in the reserve for unfunded commitments, partially offset by the $2.3 million Visa litigation charge and an increase in data processing costs. The tax provision (FTE) decreased $6.4 million primarily due to lower pretax income and a $700 thousand refund from an amended tax return.
The Company’s return on average total assets was 1.42% in 2008, compared to 1.93% and 2.01% in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Return on average equity in 2008 was 14.77%, compared to 22.11% and 23.38% in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Net Interest Income
The Company’s primary source of revenue is net interest income, or the difference between interest income earned on loans and investment securities and interest expense on interest-bearing deposits and other borrowings. Net interest income (FTE) in 2008 increased $10.9 million or 5.9% from 2007, to $196.3 million. Comparing 2007 to 2006, net interest income (FTE) declined $19.4 million or 9.5%.
Components of Net Interest Income
                         
Year ended December 31,            
(in thousands)   2008   2007   2006
     
Interest and fee income
  $ 208,469     $ 235,872     $ 246,515  
Interest expense
    (33,243 )     (72,555 )     (65,268 )
FTE adjustment
    21,031       22,031       23,456  
     
Net interest income (FTE)
  $ 196,257     $ 185,348     $ 204,703  
 
Net interest margin (FTE)
    5.13 %     4.40 %     4.57 %
 
The Company’s net interest margin expanded in 2008 compared with 2007. The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) reduced the target federal funds rate from 5.25% in August 2007 to between zero and 0.25% in December 2008 in ten increments. As a result, short-term interest rates declined and the Company managed to reduce the interest rates paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities during 2008 compared with 2007. In 2008, the Company’s loan and investment yields were less sensitive to changes in interest rates resulting in a lesser reduction in such yields compared with the rates paid on deposits and other funding sources. Offsetting some of the benefit of the expanding margin was the reduction in the level of average interest-earning assets and lower yields on loans resulting in a reduction of interest and fee income (FTE) of $28.4 million or 11.0% in 2008 relative to 2007.
Comparing 2008 with 2007, average earning assets decreased $390.8 million or 9.3% in 2008 compared with 2007, due to a $311.6 million decline in the investment portfolio and a $79.2 million decrease in the loan portfolio. Lower average investment balances were largely attributable to U.S. government sponsored entity obligations (down $138 million), mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (down $105 million), municipal securities (down $41 million) and corporate and other securities (down $30 million). The average balance of corporate and other securities declined largely due to sales and impairment of FHLMC and FNMA preferred stock. The loan portfolio decline was primarily due to decreases in the average balances of commercial real estate loans (down $44 million), residential real estate loans (down $25 million), tax-exempt commercial loans (down $17 million), partly offset by an $8 million increase in the average balance of consumer loans, primarily automobile loans.
The average yield on the Company’s earning assets decreased from 6.12% in 2007 to 6.00% in 2008. The composite yield on loans fell 35 basis points (“bp”) to 6.30% due to decreases in yields on taxable commercial loans (down 155 bp), real estate construction loans (down 332 bp), consumer loans (down 21 bp) and commercial real estate loans (down 9 bp), partially offset by higher yields on tax-exempt commercial loans (up 10 bp) and residential real estate loans (up 10 bp). Real estate construction loans and commercial lines of credit have variable interest rates based on the prime lending rate. The prime lending rate averaged 8.11% in 2007 compared to 5.70% in 2008, reducing the yields earned on real estate construction loans and commercial lines of credit. The investment portfolio yield increased 14 bp to 5.48%, mainly due to higher yields on U.S. Government sponsored entity obligations (up 9 bp), mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (up 6 bp) and municipal securities (up 5 bp), partially offset by corporate and other securities (down 105 bp). Other securities yields declined mostly due to reduced dividends on FHLMC preferred stock. As investment portfolio balances have declined over the past year, municipal security balances have declined at a slower rate than the remainder of the investment portfolio. As a result, average municipal securities represented 52% of total average investment security balances during 2008, compared with 45% during 2007. This migration in the composition of the investment portfolio has improved the overall yield of the investment portfolio since municipal security yields exceed the yield of the overall investment portfolio.

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In Management’s opinion, current economic conditions are not conducive for generating profitable loan growth. Recent downward pressure on real estate values create a cautious view toward real estate lending, and economic pressure on consumers has reduced demand for automobile and other consumer loans. Additionally, yields available on the highest quality investment securities do not offer an adequate profit margin over the cost of funding. As a result, the Company has not taken an aggressive posture relative to current loan and investment portfolio growth.
Net interest income in 2008 included $2.1 million in dividends on FNMA and FHLMC preferred stock, however, there will be no dividend income from such preferred stock in 2009. Seventy percent of such dividends are excludable from taxable income for federal income tax purposes.
Interest expense in 2008 decreased $39.3 million or 54.2% compared with 2007. The decrease was attributable to lower rates paid on the interest-bearing liabilities and lower average balances of those liabilities. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities decreased from 2.50% in 2007 to 1.29% in 2008. Rates paid on most interest-bearing liabilities moved with general market conditions. Rates on deposits decreased 72 bp to 1.07% primarily due to decreases in rates paid on CDs over $100 thousand (down 239 bp), preferred money market savings (down 121 bp) and retail CDs (down 62 bp). Rates on short-term borrowings also decreased 246 bp mostly due to lower rates on federal funds purchased (down 296 bp) and line of credit and repurchase facilities (down 189 bp). Interest-bearing liabilities declined $337.4 million or 11.6% in 2008 over 2007. Short-term borrowings declined $210 million primarily due to a $185 million decrease in federal funds purchased. Most categories of deposits declined including money market savings (down $68 million), money market checking accounts (down $28 million), regular savings (down $18 million), Retail CDs (down $16 million) and CDs over $100 thousand (down $14 million). The decline was partially offset by a $20 million increase in preferred money market savings.
Interest and fee income (FTE) decreased in 2007 by $12.1 million or 4.5% from 2006, the net result of a lower volume of average earning assets, partially mitigated by higher yields on earning assets. Average earning assets declined by $264 million. Management allowed the investment portfolio to liquidate in 2007 as, in Management’s opinion, rates available on high quality securities did not provide yields adequate to support long-term profitability. Average investment security balances decreased $198 million due to declines in the average balances of mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (down $125 million), municipal securities (down $34 million), U.S. government sponsored entity obligations (down $22 million) and other securities (down $17 million). The decline in loans is due to heightened competition with reduced yields and liberalized underwriting standards. Management maintained more conservative underwriting standards and higher pricing relative to competitors, which limited loan origination volumes. The loan portfolio declined $65 million mainly due to decreases in the average volumes of commercial loans (down $51 million), commercial real estate loans (down $37 million), residential real estate loans (down $17 million) and consumer credit lines (down $10 million), offset in part by a $45 million increase in indirect automobile loans. Management grew indirect automobile loan volumes as rates on loan originations exceeded the average existing portfolio rates, causing the yield to increase on such loans.
The average yield on the Company’s earning assets increased from 6.03% in 2006 to 6.12% in 2007. The composite yield on loans rose 5 bp to 6.65% due to increases in rates earned on indirect auto and other consumer loans (up 30 bp), residential real estate loans (up 11 bp) and construction loans (up 36 bp), partially offset by decreases in yields on taxable commercial loans (down 4 bp) and tax-exempt commercial loans (down 5 bp). The investment portfolio yield increased 8 bp to 5.34%, mainly caused by increases in the yield on US. Government sponsored entity obligations (up 16 bp) and mortgage backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (up 4 bp) and corporate and other securities (up 33 bp), partially offset by a 5 bp decline in municipal securities. The decline in the yield on municipal securities was attributable to yields on maturities, calls and serial payments exceeding yields on securities remaining in the portfolio.
Interest expense in 2007 increased $7.3 million or 11.2% compared 2006. The increase was attributable to higher rates paid on the interest- bearing liabilities, partially offset by lower average balances of interest-bearing deposits. Competition for deposits was heightened in 2007 due to loan growth exceeding deposit growth in the banking industry. The level of short-term interest rates also supported consumer demand for interest-bearing deposit products. Due to both of these general conditions, interest rates rose on deposits and banks competed fiercely for deposit balances. The average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased from 2.11% in 2006 to 2.50% in 2007. Rates on deposits increased 34 bp to 1.79% primarily due to increases in rates paid on preferred money market savings (up 169 bp), non-public CDs over $100 thousand (up 67 bp) and CDs less than $100 thousand (up 58 bp). Rates on short-term borrowings also increased 27 bp mostly due to higher rates on federal funds (up 11 bp) and line of credit and repurchase facilities (up 59 bp). Interest-bearing liabilities declined $186 million in 2007 compared with 2006. Interest- bearing deposits decreased $210 million primarily due to decreases in money market savings (down $132 million), regular savings (down $45 million), money market checking accounts (down $49 million), non-public CDs over $100 thousand (down $29 million). The decline was partially offset by increases in preferred money market savings (up $47 million) and public CDs (up $27 million).

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The following tables present information regarding the consolidated average assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity, the amounts of interest income earned from average earning assets and the resulting yields, and the amount of interest expense paid on average interest-bearing liabilities and the resulting rates paid. Average loan balances include nonperforming loans. Interest income includes proceeds from loans on nonaccrual status only to the extent cash payments have been received and applied as interest income. Yields on securities and certain loans have been adjusted upward to reflect the effect of income exempt from federal income taxation at the current statutory tax rate.
Distribution of Assets, Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity and Yields, Rates & Interest Margin
                         
    Year Ended December 31, 2008  
            Interest     Rates  
    Average     Income/     Earned/  
(dollars in thousands)   Balance     Expense     Paid  
     
Assets
                       
Money market assets and funds sold
  $ 817     $ 3       0.37 %
Investment securities:
                       
Available for sale
                       
Taxable
    205,138       8,854       4.32 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    196,993       13,795       7.00 %
Held to maturity
                       
Taxable
    436,041       19,237       4.41 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    551,120       34,328       6.23 %
Loans:
                       
Commercial
                       
Taxable
    318,075       22,341       7.02 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    208,155       13,575       6.52 %
Commercial real estate
    835,925       58,913       7.05 %
Real estate construction
    76,086       4,863       6.39 %
Real estate residential
    468,140       22,683       4.85 %
Consumer
    526,175       30,908       5.87 %
             
Total Loans (1)
    2,432,556       153,283       6.30 %
             
Earning assets (1)
    3,822,665       229,500       6.00 %
Other assets
    397,098                  
 
                     
Total assets
  $ 4,219,763                  
 
                     
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
                       
Deposits:
                       
Noninterest bearing demand
  $ 1,181,679       ––       ––  
Savings and interest-bearing transaction
    1,301,556       5,642       0.43 %
Time less than $100,000
    193,889       5,209       2.69 %
Time $100,000 or more
    489,326       10,331       2.11 %
             
Total interest-bearing deposits
    1,984,771       21,182       1.07 %
Short-term borrowed funds
    549,438       9,958       1.81 %
Debt financing and notes payable
    33,807       2,103       6.22 %
             
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    2,568,016       33,243       1.29 %
Other liabilities
    64,992                  
Shareholders’ equity
    405,076                  
 
                     
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 4,219,763                  
 
                     
Net interest spread (2)
                    4.71 %
Net interest income and interest margin (1)(3)
          $ 196,257       5.13 %
             
 
(1)   Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.
 
(2)   Net interest spread represents the average yield earned on interest-earning assets less the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
 
(3)   Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by total average earning assets.

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Distribution of Assets, Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity and Yields, Rates & Interest Margin
                         
    Year Ended December 31, 2007  
            Interest     Rates  
    Average     Income/     Earned/  
(dollars in thousands)   Balance     Expense     Paid  
     
Assets
                       
Money market assets and funds sold
  $ 671     $ 7       1.04 %
Investment securities:
                       
Available for sale
                       
Taxable
    361,851       15,639       4.32 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    232,047       16,888       7.28 %
Held to maturity
                       
Taxable
    538,089       23,361       4.34 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    569,090       34,973       6.15 %
Loans:
                       
Commercial
                       
Taxable
    314,428       26,936       8.57 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    225,320       14,469       6.42 %
Commercial real estate
    879,952       62,833       7.14 %
Real estate construction
    81,093       7,878       9.71 %
Real estate residential
    493,126       23,422       4.75 %
Consumer
    517,844       31,497       6.08 %
             
Total Loans (1)
    2,511,763       167,035       6.65 %
             
Earning assets (1)
    4,213,511       257,903       6.12 %
Other assets
    427,949                  
 
                     
Total assets
  $ 4,641,460                  
 
                     
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
                       
Deposits:
                       
Noninterest bearing demand
  $ 1,262,723       ––       ––  
Savings and interest-bearing transaction
    1,395,622       8,237       0.59 %
Time less than $100,000
    210,039       6,956       3.31 %
Time $100,000 or more
    503,469       22,656       4.50 %
             
Total interest-bearing deposits
    2,109,130       37,849       1.79 %
Short-term borrowed funds
    759,390       32,393       4.27 %
Debt financing and notes payable
    36,850       2,313       6.28 %
             
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    2,905,370       72,555       2.50 %
Other liabilities
    67,339                  
Shareholders’ equity
    406,028                  
 
                     
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 4,641,460                  
 
                     
Net interest spread (2)
                    3.62 %
Net interest income and interest margin (1)(3)
          $ 185,348       4.40 %
             
 
(1)   Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.
 
(2)   Net interest spread represents the average yield earned on interest-earning assets less the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
 
(3)   Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by total average earning assets.

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Distribution of Assets, Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity and Yields, Rates & Interest Margin
                         
    Year Ended December 31, 2006  
            Interest     Rates  
    Average     Income/     Earned/  
(dollars in thousands)   Balance     Expense     Paid  
     
Assets
                       
Money market assets and funds sold
  $ 853     $ 5       0.59 %
Investment securities:
                       
Available for sale
                       
Taxable
    394,070       16,844       4.27 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    251,783       18,312       7.27 %
Held to maturity
                       
Taxable
    671,475       28,809       4.29 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    582,075       35,987       6.18 %
Loans:
                       
Commercial
                       
Taxable
    347,163       29,407       8.47 %
Tax-exempt (1)
    243,232       15,729       6.47 %
Commercial real estate
    916,677       66,163       7.22 %
Real estate construction
    75,019       7,017       9.35 %
Real estate residential
    510,345       23,690       4.64 %
Consumer
    484,355       28,008       5.78 %
               
Total Loans (1)
    2,576,791       170,014       6.60 %
             
Earning assets (1)
    4,477,047       269,971       6.03 %
Other assets
    433,624                  
 
                     
Total assets
  $ 4,910,671                  
 
                     
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
                       
Deposits:
                       
Noninterest bearing demand
  $ 1,329,107              
Savings and interest-bearing transaction
    1,574,655       5,969       0.38 %
Time less than $100,000
    239,361       6,535       2.73 %
Time $100,000 or more
    504,980       21,043       4.17 %
               
Total interest-bearing deposits
    2,318,996       33,547       1.45 %
Short-term borrowed funds
    734,970       29,389       4.00 %
Debt financing and notes payable
    37,265       2,332       6.26 %
               
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    3,091,231       65,268       2.11 %
Other liabilities
    67,792                  
Shareholders’ equity
    422,541                  
 
                     
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 4,910,671                  
 
                     
Net interest spread (2)
                    3.92 %
Net interest income and interest margin (1)(3)
          $ 204,703       4.57 %
               
 
(1)   Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.
 
(2)   Net interest spread represents the average yield earned on interest-earning assets less the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
 
(3)   Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by total average earning assets.

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The following tables set forth a summary of the changes in interest income and interest expense due to changes in average assets and liability balances (volume) and changes in average interest rates for the periods indicated. Changes not solely attributable to volume or rates have been allocated in proportion to the respective volume and rate components.
Summary of Changes in Interest Income and Expense
                         
Years Ended December 31,   2008 Compared with 2007
(dollars in thousands)   Volume   Rate   Total
     
Increase (decrease) in interest and fee income:
                       
Money market assets and funds sold
  $ 1       ($5 )     ($4 )
Investment securities:
                       
Available for sale Taxable
    (6,764 )     (21 )     (6,785 )
Tax- exempt (1)
    (2,466 )     (627 )     (3,093 )
Held to maturity Taxable
    (4,492 )     368       (4,124 )
Tax- exempt (1)
    (1,088 )     443       (645 )
Loans:
                       
Commercial:
                       
Taxable
    365       (4,960 )     (4,595 )
Tax- exempt (1)
    (1,110 )     216       (894 )
Commercial real estate
    (3,079 )     (841 )     (3,920 )
Real estate construction
    (449 )     (2,566 )     (3,015 )
Real estate residential
    (1,187 )     448       (739 )
Consumer
    555       (1,144 )     (589 )
         
Total loans (1)
    (4,905 )     (8,847 )     (13,752 )
         
Total decrease in interest and fee income (1)
    (19,714 )     (8,689 )     (28,403 )
         
Decrease in interest expense:
                       
Deposits:
                       
Savings/ interest-bearing
    (512 )     (2,083 )     (2,595 )
Time less than $100,000
    (495 )     (1,252 )     (1,747 )
Time $100,000 or more
    (592 )     (11,733 )     (12,325 )
     
Total interest-bearing
    (1,599 )     (15,068 )     (16,667 )
Short-term borrowed funds
    (7,262 )     (15,173 )     (22,435 )
Notes and mortgages payable
    (189 )     (21 )     (210 )
         
Total decrease in interest expense
    (9,050 )     (30,262 )     (39,312 )
         
(Increase) decrease in net interest income (1)
    ($10,664 )   $ 21,573     $ 10,909  
       
(1)   Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.

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Summary of Changes in Interest Income and Expense
                         
Years Ended December 31,   2007 Compared with 2006
(dollars in thousands)   Volume   Rate   Total
     
Increase (decrease) in interest and fee income:
                       
Money market assets and funds sold
    ($1 )   $ 3     $ 2  
Investment securities:
                       
Available for sale Taxable
    (1,391 )     186       (1,205 )
Tax- exempt (1)
    (1,436 )     12       (1,424 )
Held to maturity Taxable
    (5,787 )     339       (5,448 )
Tax- exempt (1)
    (799 )     (215 )     (1,014 )
Loans:
                       
Commercial:
                       
Taxable
    (2,801 )     330       (2,471 )
Tax- exempt (1)
    (1,151 )     (109 )     (1,260 )
Commercial real estate
    (2,628 )     (702 )     (3,330 )
Real estate construction
    583       278       861  
Real estate residential
    (810 )     542       (268 )
Consumer
    1,994       1,495       3,489  
         
Total loans (1)
    (4,813 )     1,834       (2,979 )
         
Total (decrease) increase in interest and fee income (1)
    (14,227 )     2,159       (12,068 )
         
Increase (decrease) in interest expense:
                       
Deposits:
                       
Savings/ interest-bearing
    (743 )     3,011       2,268  
Time less than $100,000
    (863 )     1,284       421  
Time $100,000 or more
    (63 )     1,676       1,613  
         
Total interest-bearing
    (1,669 )     5,971       4,302  
Short-term borrowed funds
    998       2,006       3,004  
Notes and mortgages payable
    (26 )     7       (19 )
         
Total (decrease) increase in interest expense
    (697 )     7,984       7,287  
         
Decrease in net interest income (1)
    ($13,530 )     ($5,825 )     ($19,355 )
       
(1)   Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.

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Provision for Loan Losses
The Company manages credit costs by consistently enforcing conservative underwriting and administration procedures and aggressively pursuing collection efforts with troubled debtors. In 2008, the provision for loan losses was $2.7 million, compared to $700 thousand for 2007, and $445 thousand for 2006. The provision reflects management’s assessment of credit risk in the loan portfolio for each of the periods presented. For further information regarding net loan losses and the allowance for credit losses, see the “Credit Quality” and “Allowance for Credit Losses” sections of this report.
Investment Portfolio
The Company maintains a securities portfolio consisting of securities issued by U.S. Government sponsored entities, state and political subdivisions, and asset-backed and other securities. Investment securities are held in safekeeping by an independent custodian.
Securities assigned to the held to maturity portfolio earn a prudent yield, provide liquidity from maturities and paydowns, and provide collateral to pledge for federal, state and local government deposits and other borrowing facilities. The held to maturity investment portfolio had a duration of 3.2 years at December 31, 2008 and, on the same date, those investments included $921.0 million in fixed-rate and $28.3 million in adjustable-rate securities. If Management determines depreciation in any held to maturity security is “other than temporary,” a securities loss will be recognized as a charge to earnings.
Investment securities assigned to the available for sale portfolio are generally used to supplement the Company’s liquidity, provide a prudent yield, and provide collateral for public deposits and other borrowing facilities. Unrealized net gains and losses on available for sale securities are recorded as an adjustment to equity, net of taxes, but are not reflected in the current earnings of the Company. If Management determines depreciation in any available for sale security is “other than temporary,” a securities loss will be recognized as a charge to earnings. If a security is sold, any gain or loss is recorded as a credit or charge to earnings and the equity adjustment is reversed. At December 31, 2008, the Company held $288.5 million in securities classified as investments available for sale with a duration of 2.3 years. At December 31, 2008, an unrealized gain of $1.4 million, net of taxes of $1 million, related to these securities, was included in shareholders’ equity.
The Company had no trading securities at December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
For more information on investment securities, see the notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements.
The following table shows the fair value carrying amount of the Company’s investment securities available for sale as of the dates indicated:
Available for Sale Portfolio
                         
At December 31,                  
(dollars in thousands)   2008     2007     2006  
     
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 3,082     $     $  
U.S. Government sponsored entities
    11,077       123,062       151,147  
Mortgage backed securities
    41,240       68,393       45,145  
States and political subdivisions
    161,046       183,307       207,580  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    59,851       90,986       127,971  
Asset-backed securities
    6,447       9,700       10,273  
FHLMC and FNMA stock
    821       49,671       65,948  
Other
    4,890       7,702       7,461  
         
Total
  $ 288,454     $ 532,821     $ 615,525  
       
The following table sets forth the relative maturities and contractual yields of the Company’s available for sale securities (stated at fair value) at December 31, 2008. Yields on state and political subdivision securities have been calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current federal statutory rate.

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Available for Sale Maturity Distribution
                                                         
            After one     After five                          
At December 31, 2008,   Within     but within     but within     After ten     Mortgage-              
(Dollars in thousands)   one year     five years     ten years     years     backed     Other     Total  
       
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 3,082     $     $     $     $     $     $ 3,082  
Interest rate
    2.77 %     %     %     %     %     %     2.77 %
U.S. Government sponsored entities
    9,987             1,090                         11,077  
Interest rate
    6.04 %           5.59 %                       6.00 %
States and political subdivisions
    4,459       71,664       74,341       10,582                   161,046  
Interest rate (FTE)
    7.28 %     7.21 %     7.16 %     5.99 %                 7.16 %
Asset-backed securities
                      6,447                   6,447  
Interest rate
                      2.25 %                 2.25 %
 
Subtotal
    17,528       71,664       75,431       17,029                   181,652  
Interest rate
    5.79 %     7.21 %     7.14 %     4.20 %                 6.74 %
Mortgage backed securities
                            101,091             101,091  
Interest rate
                            4.29 %           4.29 %
Other without set maturities
                                  5,711       5,711  
Interest rate
                                  4.79 %     4.79 %
 
Total
  $ 17,528     $ 71,664     $ 75,431     $ 17,029     $ 101,091     $ 5,711     $ 288,454  
Interest rate
    5.79 %     7.21 %     7.14 %     4.20 %     4.29 %     4.79 %     5.83 %
               
     The following table shows the carrying amount (amortized cost) and fair value of the Company’s investment securities held to maturity as of the dates indicated:
Held to Maturity Portfolio
                         
At December 31,                  
(Dollars in thousands)   2008     2007     2006  
     
U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ 110,000     $ 130,000     $ 160,000  
Mortgage backed securities
    85,676       107,162       131,137  
States and political subdivisions
    545,237       566,351       579,747  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    208,412       241,775       294,208  
         
Total
  $ 949,325     $ 1,045,288     $ 1,165,092  
       
Fair value
  $ 950,210     $ 1,049,442     $ 1,155,736  
       
The following table sets forth the relative maturities and contractual yields of the Company’s held to maturity securities at December 31, 2008. Yields on state and political subdivision securities have been calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current federal statutory rate.
Held to Maturity Maturity Distribution
                                                 
            After one     After five                    
At December 31, 2008,   Within     but within     but within     After ten     Mortgage-        
(Dollars in thousands)   One year     five years     ten years     years     backed     Total  
     
U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ 110,000     $     $     $     $     $ 110,000  
Interest rate
    4.03 %     %     %     %     %     4.03 %
States and political subdivisions
    5,593       39,972       396,275       103,396             545,236  
Interest rate (FTE)
    6.65 %     6.49 %     6.09 %     6.25 %           6.17 %
          —  
Subtotal
    115,593       39,972       396,275       103,396             655,236  
Interest rate
    4.16 %     6.49 %     6.09 %     6.25 %           5.81 %
Mortgage backed
                            294,089       294,089  
Interest rate
                            4.61 %     4.61 %
 
Total
  $ 115,593     $ 39,972     $ 396,275     $ 103,396     $ 294,089     $ 949,325  
Interest rate
    4.16 %     6.49 %     6.09 %     6.25 %     4.61 %     5.44 %
             

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Loan Portfolio
The following table shows the composition of the loan portfolio of the Company by type of loan and type of borrower, on the dates indicated:
Loan Portfolio Distribution
                                         
At December 31,                    
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
     
Commercial and commercial real estate
  $ 1,342,209     $ 1,389,231     $ 1,463,823     $ 1,594,925     $ 1,388,639  
Real estate construction
    52,664       97,464       70,650       72,095       29,724  
Real estate residential
    458,447       484,549       507,553       508,174       375,532  
Consumer
    529,106       531,732       489,708       497,027       506,335  
     
Total loans
  $ 2,382,426     $ 2,502,976     $ 2,531,734     $ 2,672,221     $ 2,300,230  
 
The following table shows the maturity distribution and interest rate sensitivity of commercial, commercial real estate, and construction loans at December 31, 2008. Balances exclude residential real estate loans and consumer loans totaling $987.6 million. These types of loans are typically paid in monthly installments over a number of years.
Loan Maturity Distribution
                                 
At December 31, 2008   Within   One to   After    
(dollars in thousands)   One Year   Five Years   Five Years   Total
     
Commercial and commercial real estate *
  $ 454,037     $ 706,033     $ 182,139     $ 1,342,209  
Real estate construction
    52,664       0       0       52,664  
 
Total
  $ 506,701     $ 706,033     $ 182,139     $ 1,394,873  
 
Loans with fixed interest rates
  $ 154,894     $ 212,329     $ 173,737     $ 540,960  
Loans with floating or adjustable interest rates
    351,807       493,704       8,402       853,913  
 
Total
  $ 506,701     $ 706,033     $ 182,139     $ 1,394,873  
 
*   Includes demand loans
Commitments and Letters of Credit
The Company issues formal commitments on lines of credit to well-established and financially responsible commercial enterprises. Such commitments can be either secured or unsecured and are typically in the form of revolving lines of credit for seasonal working capital needs. Occasionally, such commitments are in the form of letters of credit to facilitate the customers’ particular business transactions. Commitment fees are generally charged for commitments and letters of credit. Commitments and lines of credit typically mature within one year. For further information, see the notes accompanying the consolidated financial statements.
Credit Quality
The Company closely monitors the markets in which it conducts its lending operations and continues its strategy to control exposure to loans with high credit risk and to maintain broad diversification within the loan portfolio. Loan reviews are performed using grading standards and criteria similar to those employed by bank regulatory agencies. Loans receiving lesser grades fall under the “classified” category, which includes all nonperforming and potential problem loans, and receive an elevated level of attention to ensure collection. Foreclosed or repossessed loan collateral, “other real estate owned” (“OREO”), is adjusted to fair value less costs to sell upon transfer to OREO. Subsequently, OREO is recorded at the lower of cost or appraised value less disposal cost.

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Classified Loans, Loan Commitments and Other Real Estate Owned
The following summarizes the Company’s classified loans, loan commitments and OREO for the periods indicated:
Classified Loans, Loan Commitments and OREO
                 
At December 31,        
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007
     
Classified loans and loan commitments
  $ 34,028     $ 24,419  
Other real estate owned
    3,505       613  
     
Total classified assets
  $ 37,533     $ 25,032  
 
Classified loans include loans graded “substandard”, “doubtful” and “loss” using regulatory guidelines. At December 31, 2008, $33.1 million of loans or 97.3% of total classified loans are graded “substandard”. Such substandard loans accounted for 1.39% of total gross loans at December 31, 2008. Classified assets at December 31, 2008, increased $12.5 million from a year ago. The increase is primarily attributable to two classified construction loan relationships. Portions of the loan collateral for one of the construction loans have been foreclosed and represent $2.2 million of other real estate owned at December 31, 2008. The remaining carrying value of the two construction loans is $5.5 million at December 31, 2008. Management aggressively pursues collection of all classified assets.
Nonperforming Loans and Other Real Estate Owned
Nonperforming loans include nonaccrual loans and loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing. Loans are placed on nonaccrual status upon becoming delinquent 90 days or more, unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. Interest previously accrued on loans placed on nonaccrual status is charged against interest income. In addition, some loans secured by real estate with temporarily impaired values and commercial loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties are placed on nonaccrual status even though the borrowers continue to repay the loans as scheduled. Such loans are classified by Management as “performing nonaccrual” and are included in total nonaccrual loans. When the ability to fully collect nonaccrual loan principal is in doubt, payments received are applied against the principal balance of the loans until such time as full collection of the remaining recorded balance is expected. Any additional interest payments received after that time are recorded as interest income on a cash basis. Nonaccrual loans are reinstated to accrual status when improvements in credit quality eliminate the doubt as to the full collectibility of both interest and principal.
The following table summarizes the nonperforming assets of the Company for the periods indicated:
Nonperforming Loans and OREO
                                         
At December 31,                    
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
     
Performing nonaccrual loans
  $ 1,143     $ 1,688     $ 4,404     $ 4,256     $ 4,072  
Nonperforming nonaccrual loans
    8,883       3,164       61       2,068       2,970  
     
Nonaccrual loans
    10,026       4,852       4,465       6,324       7,042  
     
Loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing
    755       297       65       162       10  
Other real estate owned
    3,505       613       647       0       0  
     
Total nonperforming loans and OREO
  $ 14,286     $ 5,762     $ 5,177     $ 6,486     $ 7,052  
     
As a percentage of total loans
    0.60 %     0.23 %     0.20 %     0.24 %     0.31 %
 
Nonaccrual loans increased $5.2 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008. Seventeen loans comprised the $10.0 million nonaccrual loans as of December 31, 2008. One of those loans was on nonaccrual status throughout 2008, while the remaining 16 loans were placed on nonaccrual status during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008. The increase in nonperforming nonaccrual loans is primarily due to placing the two construction loan relationships described in the “Classified Assets” section on nonaccrual status. The Company actively pursues full collection of nonaccrual loans.

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The Company’s residential real estate loan underwriting standards for first mortgages limit the loan amount to no more than 80% of the appraised value of the property serving as collateral for the loan, and require verification of income of the borrower(s). The Company had no “sub-prime” loans as of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Of the loans 90 days past due and still accruing at December 31, 2008, $-0- thousand and $569 thousand were residential real estate loans and automobile loans, respectively. Delinquent consumer loans on accrual status were as follows ($ in thousands):
                 
    At December 31,
    2008   2007
     
Residential real estate loans:
               
30-89 days delinquent:
               
Dollar amount
  $ 3,273     $ 2,761  
Percentage of total residential real estate loans
    0.71 %     0.57 %
90 or more days delinquent:
               
Dollar amount
  $ -0-     $ -0-  
Percentage of total residential real estate loans
    0.00 %     0.00 %
Automobile loans:
               
30-89 days delinquent:
               
Dollar amount
  $ 5,241     $ 2,872  
Percentage of total automobile loans
    1.12 %     0.61 %
90 or more days delinquent:
               
Dollar amount
  $ 569     $ 253  
Percentage of total automobile loans
    0.12 %     0.05 %
 
The Company had no restructured loans as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
The amount of gross interest income that would have been recorded if all nonaccrual loans had been current in accordance with their original terms while outstanding during the period was $666 thousand in 2008, $428 thousand in 2007 and $502 thousand in 2006. The amount of interest income that was recognized on nonaccrual loans from cash payments made in 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $511 thousand, $474 thousand and $488 thousand, respectively. Yields on these cash payments were 4.72%, 9.80% and 8.60%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. Cash payments received, which were applied against the book balance of performing and nonperforming nonaccrual loans outstanding at December 31, 2008, totaled $-0- thousand, compared with approximately $14 thousand and $50 thousand at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Management believes the overall credit quality of the loan portfolio continues to be stable; however, nonperforming assets could fluctuate from period to period. The performance of any individual loan can be affected by external factors such as collateral values, the interest rate environment, economic conditions or factors particular to the borrower. No assurance can be given that additional increases in nonperforming loans and other real estate owned will not occur in the future.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Company’s allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can be estimated based upon specific and general conditions. These include conditions unique to individual borrowers, as well as overall credit loss experience, the amount of past due, nonperforming loans and classified loans, recommendations of regulatory authorities, prevailing economic conditions and other factors. A portion of the allowance is specifically allocated to impaired loans whose full collectibility is uncertain. Such allocations are determined by Management based on loan-by-loan analyses. A second allocation is based in part on quantitative analyses of historical credit loss experience, in which criticized and classified credit balances identified through an independent internal credit review process are analyzed using a linear regression model to determine standard loss rates. The results of this analysis are applied to current criticized and classified loan balances to allocate the reserve to the respective segments of the loan portfolio. In addition, loans with similar characteristics not usually criticized using regulatory guidelines are analyzed and reserves established based on the historical loss rates and delinquency trends, grouped by the number of days the payments on these loans are delinquent. Last, allocations are made to non-criticized and non-classified commercial loans and residential real estate loans based on historical loss rates, and other statistical data. The remainder of the allowance is considered to be unallocated. The unallocated allowance is established to provide for probable losses that have been incurred as of the reporting date but not reflected in the allocated allowance. It addresses additional qualitative factors consistent with Management’s analysis of the level of risks inherent in the loan portfolio, which are related to the risks of the Company’s general lending activity. Included in the unallocated allowance is the risk of losses that are attributable to national or local economic or industry trends which have occurred but have not yet been recognized in past loan charge-off history (external

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factors). The external factors evaluated by the Company include: economic and business conditions, external competitive issues, and other factors. Also included in the unallocated allowance is the risk of losses attributable to general attributes of the Company’s loan portfolio and credit administration (internal factors). The internal factors evaluated by the Company include: loan review system, adequacy of lending Management and staff, loan policies and procedures, problem loan trends, concentrations of credit, and other factors. By their nature, these risks are not readily allocable to any specific loan category in a statistically meaningful manner and are difficult to quantify with a specific number. Management assigns a range of estimated risk to the qualitative risk factors described above based on Management’s judgment as to the level of risk, and assigns a quantitative risk factor from the range of loss estimates to determine the appropriate level of the unallocated portion of the allowance. Management considers the $47.6 million allowance for credit losses to be adequate as a reserve against losses as of December 31, 2008.
The following table summarizes the loan loss experience of the Company for the periods indicated:
Allowance For Credit Losses, Chargeoffs & Recoveries
                                         
Year ended December 31,                    
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
     
Total loans outstanding
  $ 2,382,426     $ 2,502,976     $ 2,531,734     $ 2,672,221     $ 2,300,230  
Average loans outstanding during the period
    2,432,556       2,511,763       2,576,791       2,576,363       2,258,482  
Analysis of the Allowance Balance, beginning of period
  $ 55,799     $ 59,023     $ 59,537     $ 54,152     $ 53,910  
Provision for loan losses
    2,700       700       445       900       2,700  
Provision for unfunded credit commitments
    (200 )     (400 )     5              
Allowance acquired through merger
    0       0       0       5,213       0  
Loans charged off:
                                       
Commercial and commercial real estate
    (1,296 )     (1,648 )     (1,176 )     (673 )     (2,154 )
Real estate construction
    (5,348 )     0       0       0       0  
Real estate residential
    (131 )     0       0       0       0  
Consumer
    (5,638 )     (4,033 )     (2,446 )     (2,065 )     (3,439 )
     
Total chargeoffs
    (12,413 )     (5,681 )     (3,622 )     (2,738 )     (5,593 )
     
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
                                       
Commercial and commercial real estate
    331       1,060       1,149       864       1,623  
Real estate construction
    0       0       0       0       0  
Real estate residential
    0       0       0       0       0  
Consumer
    1,346       1,097       1,509       1,146       1,512  
     
Total recoveries
    1,677       2,157       2,658       2,010       3,135  
     
Net loan losses
    (10,736 )     (3,524 )     (964 )     (728 )     (2,458 )
     
Balance, end of period
  $ 47,563     $ 55,799     $ 59,023     $ 59,537     $ 54,152  
     
Components:
                                       
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 44,470     $ 52,506     $ 55,330     $ 55,849     $ 54,152  
Reserve for unfunded credit commitments (1)
    3,093       3,293       3,693       3,688        
     
Allowance for credit losses
  $ 47,563     $ 55,799     $ 59,023     $ 59,537     $ 54,152  
     
Net loan losses to average loans
    0.44 %     0.14 %     0.04 %     0.03 %     0.11 %
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans outstanding
    1.87 %     2.10 %     2.19 %     2.09 %     2.35 %
 
(1)   Effective December 31, 2005, the Company transferred the portion of the allowance for credit losses related to lending commitments and letters of credit to other liabilities.
Net credit losses rose in 2008 compared with 2007 due to higher chargeoffs on real estate construction and automobile loans and lower recoveries on commercial loans, partially offset by lower chargeoffs on commercial loans and higher recoveries on consumer loans. Annualized net loan losses to average loans rose to 0.44% in 2008, compared to 0.14% in 2007. No assurance can be given that higher levels of net charge-offs will not occur. Management continues to follow conservative credit underwriting policies and practices, and aggressively pursues collection of classified loans and recovery of recognized loan losses.

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Allocation of the Allowance for Credit Losses
The following table presents the allocation of the allowance for credit losses as of December 31 for the years indicated:
Allocation of the Allowance for Credit Losses
                                                                                 
At December 31,   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004
    Allocation   Loans as   Allocation   Loans as   Allocation   Loans as   Allocation   Loans as   Allocation   Loans as
    of the   Percent   of the   Percent   of the   Percent   of the   Percent   of the   Percent
    Allowance   of Total   Allowance   of Total   Allowance   of Total   Allowance   of Total   Allowance   of Total
(dollars in thousands)   Balance   Loans   Balance   Loans   Balance   Loans   Balance   Loans   Balance   Loans
     
Commercial
  $ 23,774       57 %   $ 27,233       56 %   $ 23,217       58 %   $ 30,438       60 %   $ 29,857       61 %
Real estate construction
    4,725       2 %     5,403       4 %     3,942       3 %     3,346       3 %     1,441       1 %
Real estate residential
    367       19 %     388       19 %     1,219       20 %     1,230       19 %     917       16 %
Consumer
    6,331       22 %     4,626       21 %     4,132       19 %     5,291       18 %     5,140       22 %
Unallocated portion
    12,366             18,149             26,513             19,232             16,797        
     
Total
  $ 47,563       100 %   $ 55,799       100 %   $ 59,023       100 %   $ 59,537       100 %   $ 54,152       100 %
 
The allocation to loan portfolio segments changed from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008. The decrease in allocation to commercial loans was primarily due to a reduction in allocations to agricultural and municipal loans based on re-evaluation and measurement of risk attributes. The decline in the allocation to real estate construction loans reflects a decrease in criticized real estate construction loans and the increase in allocation to consumer loans reflects delinquency trends.
The allocation to loan portfolio segments changed from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2007. The increase in allocation for commercial loans reflects an increase in historical loss rates. The increase in allocation to real estate construction loans reflects an increase in criticized construction loans outstanding, which receive higher allocations due to higher risk attributes, offset in part by lower volumes of non-criticized construction loans and construction loan commitments. The reduced allocations for residential real estate loans reflects refinements to the statistical model used to apply historical loss rates to loan volumes. The increased allocation for consumer loans reflects higher delinquencies in automobile loans.
The unallocated portion of the allowance for credit losses declined $5.7 million from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008. The unallocated allowance is established to provide for probable losses that have been incurred, but not reflected in the allocated allowance. During 2008, classified loans, nonperforming loans and consumer loan delinquencies increased; as a result, the allocated allowance reflects probable losses related to these loans and the unallocated allowance has declined. At December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008, Management’s evaluations of the unallocated portion of the allowance for credit losses attributed significant risk levels to developing economic and business conditions ($4.0 million and $3.4 million, respectively), external competitive issues ($2.0 million and $1.2 million, respectively), internal credit administration considerations ($4.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively), and delinquency and problem loan trends ($4.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively). The change in the amounts allocated to the above qualitative risk factors was based upon Management’s judgment, review of trends in its loan portfolio which includes a decline in loan balances and reduced real estate construction exposure, levels of the allowance allocated to portfolio segments, internal staffing considerations and current economic conditions in its marketplace including loan underwriting and pricing practices of competitors. Based on Management’s analysis and judgment, the amount of the unallocated portion of the allowance for credit losses was $18.1 million at December 31, 2007, compared with $12.4 million at December 31, 2008.
The unallocated portion of the allowance for credit losses declined $8.4 million from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2007. The unallocated allowance is established to provide for probable losses that have been incurred, but not reflected in the allocated allowance. At December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, Management’s evaluations of the unallocated portion of the allowance for credit losses attributed significant risk levels to developing economic and business conditions ($4.6 million and $4.0 million, respectively), external competitive issues ($2.4 million and $2.0 million, respectively), internal credit administration considerations ($5.2 million and $4.2 million), and delinquency and problem loan trends ($4.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively). The change in the amounts allocated to the above qualitative risk factors was based upon Management’s judgment, review of trends in its loan portfolio, levels of the allowance allocated to portfolio segments, and current economic conditions in its marketplace. Based on Management’s analysis and judgment, the amount of the unallocated portion of the allowance for credit losses was $26.5 million at December 31, 2006, compared to $18.1 million at December 31, 2007.

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Impaired Loans
The Company considers a loan to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that it will be unable to collect all amounts due (principal and interest) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The measurement of impairment may be based on (i) the present value of the expected cash flows of the impaired loan discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate, (ii) the observable market price of the impaired loan or (iii) the fair value of the collateral of a collateral-dependent loan. The Company does not apply this definition to smaller-balance loans that are collectively evaluated for credit risk. In assessing impairment, the Company reviews all nonaccrual commercial and construction loans with outstanding principal balances in excess of $250 thousand. Nonaccrual commercial and construction loans with outstanding principal balances less than $250 thousand, and large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans such as installment, personal revolving credit, residential real estate and student loans, are evaluated collectively for impairment under the Company’s standard loan loss reserve methodology.
The following summarizes the Company’s recorded investment in impaired loans for the dates indicated:
Impaired Loans
                 
At December 31,        
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007
     
Total impaired loans
  $ 6,849     $ 317  
 
Specific reserves
  $ 1,936     $ 317  
 
At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company measured impairment using the fair value of loan collateral. The average balance of the Company’s impaired loans for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $7.0 million compared with $139 thousand and $234 thousand in 2007 and 2006, respectively. All impaired loans are on nonaccrual status.
Asset/Liability and Market Risk Management
Asset/liability management involves the evaluation, monitoring and management of interest rate risk, market risk, liquidity and funding. The fundamental objective of the Company’s management of assets and liabilities is to maximize its economic value while maintaining adequate liquidity and a conservative level of interest rate risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate risk is a significant market risk affecting the Company. Interest rate risk results from many factors. Assets and liabilities may mature or reprice at different times. Assets and liabilities may reprice at the same time but by different amounts. Short-term and long-term market interest rates may change by different amounts. The remaining maturity of various assets or liabilities may shorten or lengthen as interest rates change. In addition, interest rates may have an impact on loan demand, credit losses, and other sources of earnings such as account analysis fees on commercial deposit accounts and correspondent bank service charges.
In adjusting the Company’s asset/liability position, Management attempts to manage interest rate risk while enhancing the net interest margin and net interest income. At times, depending on expected increases or decreases in general interest rates, the relationship between long and short term interest rates, market conditions and competitive factors, Management may adjust the Company’s interest rate risk position in order to manage its net interest margin and net interest income. The Company’s results of operations and net portfolio values remain subject to changes in interest rates and to fluctuations in the difference between long and short term interest rates.
The Company’s asset and liability position remains slightly “liability sensitive,” with a greater amount of interest-bearing liabilities subject to immediate and near-term interest rate changes relative to earning assets. As a result, the FOMC’s recent reductions in the federal funds target rate (charged for short-term inter-bank borrowings) and the related decline in U.S. Treasury bill rates has improved the Company’s net interest margin in the twelve months ended December 31, 2008. Management continues to monitor the interest rate environment as well as economic conditions and other factors it deems relevant in managing the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk.

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Management assesses interest rate risk by comparing the Company’s most likely earnings plan with various earnings models using many interest rate scenarios that differ in the direction of interest rate changes, the degree of change over time, the speed of change and the projected shape of the yield curve. For example, using the current composition of the Company’s balance sheet and assuming no change in the federal funds rate and an increase of 84 bp in the 10 year Constant Maturity Treasury Bond yield during the same period, earnings are not estimated to change by a meaningful amount compared to the Company’s most likely net income plan for the twelve months ending December 31, 2009. Conversely, using the current composition of the Company’s balance sheet and assuming an increase of 100 bp in the federal funds rate and an increase of 108 bp in the 10 year Constant Maturity Treasury Bond yield during the same period, estimated earnings at risk would be approximately 3.2% of the Company’s most likely net income plan for the twelve months ending December 31, 2009. Simulation estimates depend on, and will change with, the size and mix of the actual and projected balance sheet at the time of each simulation. Management is currently deploying tactics to reduce the “liability sensitivity” of the Company’s balance sheet to a more “neutral” condition where changes in interest rates result in less significant changes in earnings. The Company does not currently engage in trading activities or use derivative instruments to control interest rate risk, even though such activities may be permitted with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Market Risk — Equity Markets
Equity price risk can affect the Company. As an example, any preferred or common stock holdings, as permitted by banking regulations, can fluctuate in value. Management regularly assesses the extent and duration of any declines in market value, the causes of such declines, the likelihood of a recovery in market value, and its intent to hold securities until a recovery in value occurs. Declines in value of preferred or common stock holdings that are deemed “other than temporary” could result in loss recognition in the Company’s income statement.
Fluctuations in the Company’s common stock price can impact the Company’s financial results in several ways. First, the Company has regularly repurchased and retired its common stock; the market price paid to retire the Company’s common stock can affect the level of the Company’s shareholders’ equity, cash flows and shares outstanding for purposes of computing earnings per share. On February 13, 2009, the Company issued preferred stock to the Treasury: the terms of such issuance limits the Company’s ability to repurchase stock. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Second, the Company’s common stock price impacts the number of dilutive equivalent shares used to compute diluted earnings per share. Third, fluctuations in the Company’s common stock price can motivate holders of options to purchase Company common stock through the exercise of such options thereby increasing the number of shares outstanding. Finally, the amount of compensation expense associated with share based compensation fluctuates with changes in and the volatility of the Company’s common stock price.
Market Risk — Other
Market values of loan collateral can directly impact the level of loan chargeoffs and the provision for loan losses. Other types of market risk, such as foreign currency exchange risk and commodity price risk, are not significant in the normal course of the Company’s business activities.
Liquidity and Funding
The Company’s routine operating sources of liquidity are operating earnings, investment securities, consumer and other loans, deposits, and other borrowed funds. During 2008, investment securities provided $293.6 million in liquidity from paydowns and maturities, and loans provided $106.3 million in liquidity from scheduled payments and maturities, net of loan fundings. The Company projects $47.9 million in additional liquidity from investment security paydowns and maturities in the three months ending March 31, 2009.
At December 31, 2008, indirect automobile loans totaled $469.1 million, which were experiencing stable monthly principal payments of approximately $17.0 million during the last three month of 2008. During 2008, a portion of the liquidity provided by investment securities and loans provided funds to meet a net reduction in deposits totaling $169.7 million. The remaining liquidity was used to reduce higher cost borrowed funds, primarily subordinated debt which decreased $10 million and federal funds purchased which declined $286.0 million. During 2007, investment securities provided $193.1 million in liquidity from paydowns and maturities, and loans provided $26.2 million in liquidity from scheduled payments and maturities, net of loan fundings. During 2007, a portion of the liquidity provided by investment securities, loans and a $66.6 million increase in short term borrowings provided funds to meet a net reduction in deposits totaling $251.9 million.

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The Company held $1.2 billion in total investment securities at December 31, 2008. Under certain deposit, borrowing and other arrangements, the Company must hold investment securities as collateral. At December 31, 2008, such collateral requirements totaled approximately $1.1 billion. At December 31, 2008, $288.5 million of the Company’s investment securities were classified as “available-for-sale”, and as such, could provide additional liquidity if sold, subject to the Company’s ability to meet continuing collateral requirements.
At December 31, 2008, $395.2 million in collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and mortgage backed securities (“MBSs”) were held in the Company’s investment portfolios. None of the CMOs or MBSs are backed by sub-prime mortgages. All of the Non Agency CMOs are rated AAA based on their subordination structures without reliance on monoline insurance. Other than nominal amounts of FHLMC and FNMA MBSs purchased for Community Reinvestment Act investment purposes, the Company has not purchased a CMO or MBS since November 2005. The CMOs and MBSs have been experiencing stable principal paydowns of approximately $5.5 million per month during the last three months. In addition, at December 31, 2008, the Company had customary lines for overnight borrowings from other financial institutions in excess of $700 million, under which $335.0 million was outstanding. Additionally, the Company has access to borrowing from the Federal Reserve. The Company’s short-term debt rating from Fitch Ratings is F1. The Company’s long-term debt rating from Fitch Ratings is A with a stable outlook. Management expects the Company could access additional long-term debt financing if desired. In Management’s judgment, the Company’s liquidity position is strong and asset liquidations or additional long-term debt are considered unnecessary to meet the ongoing liquidity needs of the Company. The FDIC adopted the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (“TLGP”) because of disruptions in the credit markets. The TLGP guarantees newly issued senior unsecured debt of banks and certain holding companies in addition to providing full coverage of noninterest bearing deposit transaction accounts. Debt issuance is subject to a maximum acount, and fees for use of the program are assessed on a sliding scale. The Company did not opt out of this program. No senior unsecured debt has been issued by the Company under the TLGP.
The Company generates significant liquidity from its operating activities. The Company’s profitability during 2008, 2007 and 2006 resulted in operating cash flows of $93.3 million, $108.4 million and $108.0 million, respectively. In 2008, profitability and retained earnings from prior years provided cash for $35.9 million of Company stock repurchases and $40.2 million in shareholder dividends. In 2007, operating activities provided a substantial portion of cash for $40.6 million in shareholder dividends and $87.1 million of share repurchase activity. In 2006, operating activities provided a substantial portion of cash for $40.7 million in shareholder dividends and $89.0 million of share repurchase activity.
It is anticipated that loan demand will be weak during 2009, although such demand will be dictated by economic and competitive conditions. The Company aggressively solicits non-interest bearing demand deposits and money market checking deposits, which are the least sensitive to interest rates. The growth of deposit balances is subject to heightened competition, the success of the Company’s sales efforts, delivery of superior customer service and market conditions. The recent series of reductions in the federal funds rate resulted in declining short-term interest rates, which could impact deposit volumes in the future. Depending on economic conditions, interest rate levels, and a variety of other conditions, deposit growth may be used to fund loans, to reduce short-term borrowings or purchase investment securities. However, due to concerns such as uncertainty in the general economic environment, competition and political uncertainty, loan demand and levels of customer deposits are not certain. Shareholder dividends are expected to continue subject to the Board’s discretion and continuing evaluation of capital levels, earnings, asset quality and other factors. Quarterly shareholder dividends are restricted to the quarterly per share amount prior to October 14, 2008 under the terms of the February 13, 2009 issuance of preferred stock to the Treasury. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
The Parent Company’s primary source of liquidity is dividends from the Bank. Dividends from the Bank are subject to certain regulatory limitations. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Bank declared dividends to the Company of $100 million, $109 million and $108 million, respectively.
The following table sets forth the known contractual obligations of the Company at December 31, 2008:
Contractual Obligations
                                         
At December 31, 2008   Within   One to   Four to   After    
(dollars in thousands)   One Year   Three Years   Five Years   Five Years   Total
     
Long-Term Debt Obligations
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 15,000     $ 11,631     $ 26,631  
Operating Lease Obligations
    5,993       8,852       5,893       886       21,624  
Purchase Obligations
    8,047       16,093       0       0       24,140  
 
Total
  $ 14,040     $ 24,945     $ 20,893     $ 12,517     $ 72,395  
 

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Long-Term Debt Obligations and Operating Lease Obligations may be retired prior to the contractual maturity as discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. The Purchase Obligation consists of the Company’s minimum liability under a contract with a third-party automation services provider.
Capital Resources
The Company has historically generated high levels of earnings, which provides a means of raising capital. The Company’s net income as a percentage of average shareholders’ equity (“return on equity” or ROE”) has been 23.4% in 2006, 22.1% in 2007 and 14.8% in 2008. The Company also raises capital as employees exercise stock options, which are awarded as a part of the Company’s executive compensation programs to reinforce shareholders’ interests in the Management of the Company. Capital raised through the exercise of stock options totaled $18.2 million in 2006, $14.6 million in 2007 and $25.8 million in 2008.
The Company paid dividends totaling $40.7 million in 2006, $40.6 million in 2007, and $40.2 million in 2008, which represent dividends per share of $1.30, $1.36, and $1.39, respectively. The Company’s earnings have historically exceeded dividends paid to shareholders. The amount of earnings in excess of dividends gives the Company resources to finance growth and maintain appropriate levels of shareholders’ equity. In the absence of profitable growth opportunities, the Company has repurchased and retired its common stock as another means to return earnings to shareholders. The Company repurchased and retired 1.8 million shares of common stock valued at $89.0 million in 2006, 1.9 million shares valued at $87.1 million in 2007, and 719 thousand shares valued at $35.9 million in 2008. Share repurchases are restricted to amounts conducted in coordination with employee benefit programs under the terms of the February 13, 2009 issuance of preferred stock to the Treasury. See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
The Company’s primary capital resource is shareholders’ equity, which increased $15.2 million or 3.9% in 2008 from the previous year, primarily the net result of $59.8 million in profits earned during the year and $25.8 million in issuance of stock in connection with exercises of employee stock options, offset by $40.2 million in dividends paid and $35.9 million in stock repurchases.
The Company’s ratio of equity to total assets increased from 8.66% at December 31, 2007 to 10.16% at December 31, 2008 because of a decline in total assets and an increase in shareholders’ equity.
Capital to Risk-Adjusted Assets
The following summarizes the ratios of capital to risk-adjusted assets for the Company on the dates indicated:
                                 
                    Minimum    
                    Regulatory   Well
At December 31,   2008   2007   Requirement   Capitalized
     
Tier I Capital
    10.47 %     9.33 %     4.00 %     6.00 %
Total Capital
    11.76 %     10.64 %     8.00 %     10.00 %
Leverage ratio
    7.36 %     6.32 %     4.00 %     5.00 %
 
The Company’s risk-based capital ratios increased at December 31, 2008, compared with December 31, 2007, due to a decline in risk-weighted assets.
The following summarizes the ratios of capital to risk-adjusted assets for the Bank on the dates indicated:
                                 
                    Minimum    
                    Regulatory   Well
At December 31,   2008   2007   Requirement   Capitalized
     
Tier I Capital
    9.31 %     9.52 %     4.00 %     6.00 %
Total Capital
    10.78 %     10.98 %     8.00 %     10.00 %
Leverage ratio
    6.52 %     6.41 %     4.00 %     5.00 %
 
The risk-based capital ratios declined at December 31, 2008, compared with December 31, 2007, due to a decrease in regulatory capital, offset in part by a decline in risk-weighted assets.

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The Company intends to maintain regulatory capital in excess of the highest regulatory standard, referred to as “well capitalized”. The Company routinely projects its capital levels by analyzing forecasted earnings, credit quality, securities valuations, shareholder dividends, asset volumes, share repurchase activity, stock option exercise proceeds, and other factors. Based on current capital projections the Company expects to maintain regulatory capital levels exceeding the “well capitalized” standard and pay quarterly dividends to shareholders. No assurance can be given that changes in capital management plans will not occur.
Financial Ratios
The following table shows key financial ratios for the periods indicated:
                         
At and for the years ended December 31,   2008   2007   2006
     
Return on average total assets
    1.42 %     1.93 %     2.01 %
Return on average shareholders’ equity
    14.77 %     22.11 %     23.38 %
Average shareholders’ equity as a percentage of:
                       
Average total assets
    9.60 %     8.75 %     8.60 %
Average total loans
    16.65 %     16.17 %     16.40 %
Average total deposits
    12.79 %     12.04 %     11.58 %
Dividend payout ratio (diluted EPS)
    68 %     46 %     42 %
Deposit categories
The Company primarily attracts deposits from local businesses and professionals, as well as through retail certificates of deposit, savings and checking accounts.
The following table summarizes the Company’s average daily amount of deposits and the rates paid for the periods indicated:
Deposit Distribution and Average Rates Paid
                                                                         
    2008   2007   2006
            Percentage                   Percentage                   Percentage    
Years Ended December 31,   Average   of Total           Average   of Total           Average   of Total    
(Dollars in thousands)   Balance   Deposits   Rate   Balance   Deposits   Rate   Balance   Deposits   Rate
     
Noninterest bearing demand
  $ 1,181,679       37.3 %     %   $ 1,262,723       37.5 %     %   $ 1,329,107       36.4 %     %
Interest bearing:
                                                                       
Transaction
    541,727       17.1 %     0.26 %     569,286       16.9 %     0.37 %     617,956       16.9 %     0.29 %
Savings
    759,829       24.0 %     0.56 %     826,336       24.5 %     0.74 %     956,698       26.3 %     0.44 %
Time less than $100 thousand
    193,889       6.1 %     2.69 %     210,039       6.2 %     3.31 %     239,361       6.6 %     2.73 %
Time $100 thousand or more
    489,326       15.5 %     2.11 %     503,469       14.9 %     4.50 %     504,980       13.8 %     4.17 %
     
Total
  $ 3,166,450       100.0 %     1.07 %   $ 3,371,853       100.0 %     1.79 %   $ 3,648,102       100.0 %     1.45 %
 
Deposit competition remained elevated during 2008. The Company modified its deposit pricing practices to retain its profitable customers. During 2008, total average deposits declined by $205.4 million or 6.1% from 2007 due to an $81.0 million decrease in noninterest bearing demand deposits, a $66.5 million decrease in savings deposits, a $27.6 million decrease in interest bearing transaction deposits, a $16.2 million decrease in time deposits less than $100 thousand and a $14.1 million decrease in time deposits $100 thousand or more.
Deposit competition increased during 2006 due to rising short-term interest rates, and remained elevated during 2007. The Company modified its deposit pricing practices to retain its profitable customers. During 2007, total average deposits declined by $276.2 million or 7.6% from 2006 primarily due to a $130.4 million decrease in savings deposits, a $66.4 million decrease in noninterest bearing demand deposits, a $48.7 million decrease in interest bearing transaction deposits, and a $29.3 million decrease in time deposits less than $100 thousand.

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Total time deposits were $665.8 million and $714.9 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The following table sets forth, by time remaining to maturity, the Company’s total domestic time deposits.
         
    December 31,  
(In thousands)   2008  
2009
  $ 619,392  
2010
    25,193  
2011
    8,429  
2012
    5,026  
2013
    5,006  
Thereafter
    2,727  
 
     
Total
  $ 665,773  
 
The following sets forth, by time remaining to maturity, the Company’s domestic time deposits in amounts of $100 thousand or more:
Deposits Over $100,000 Maturity Distribution
         
    December 31,  
(In thousands)   2008  
Three months or less
  $ 407,502  
Over three through six months
    34,457  
Over six through twelve months
    24,700  
Over twelve months
    9,945  
 
     
Total
  $ 476,604  
 
Short-term Borrowings
The following table sets forth the short-term borrowings of the Company:
Short-Term Borrowings Distribution
                         
At December 31,            
(In thousands)   2008   2007   2006
     
Federal funds purchased
  $ 335,000     $ 621,000     $ 551,000  
Other borrowed funds:
                       
Sweep accounts
    119,015       150,097       134,634  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    3,260       7,969       25,830  
Line of credit
    0       19,533       20,513  
     
Total short term borrowings
  $ 457,275     $ 798,599     $ 731,977  
 
Further detail of federal funds purchased and other borrowed funds is as follows:
                         
Years Ended December 31,            
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007   2006
     
Federal Funds Purchased Balances and Rates Paid Outstanding amount:
                       
Average for the year
  $ 411,488     $ 596,711     $ 525,068  
Maximum month-end balance during the year
    665,000       705,000       626,500  
Interest rates:
                       
Average for the year
    2.17 %     5.13 %     5.02 %
Average at period end
    0.16 %     4.33 %     5.23 %
Other Borrowed Funds Balances and Rates Paid Outstanding amount:
                       
Average for the year
  $ 137,950     $ 162,679     $ 209,902  
Maximum month-end balance during the year
    155,466       222,227       255,517  
Interest rates:
                       
Average for the year
    0.74 %     1.08 %     1.44 %
Average at period end
    0.55 %     0.99 %     1.33 %

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Noninterest Income
Components of Noninterest Income
                         
Years Ended December 31,            
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007   2006
     
Service charges on deposit accounts
  $ 29,762     $ 30,235     $ 28,414  
Merchant credit card fees
    10,525       10,841       9,860  
Debit card fees
    3,769       3,797       3,489  
ATM fees and interchange
    2,923       2,824       2,824  
Other service charges
    2,025       2,065       1,954  
Financial services commissions
    830       1,321       1,368  
Trust fees
    1,227       1,281       1,178  
Official check fees
    163       1,113       1,391  
Life insurance proceeds
          822        
Gain on sales of real property
          230       239  
Mortgage banking income
    125       124       179  
Securities losses and impairment
    (62,653 )            
Gain on sale of Visa common stock
    5,698              
Other noninterest income
    3,550       4,625       4,451  
     
Total
  $ (2,056 )   $ 59,278     $ 55,347  
 
In 2008, a $2.1 million loss was recorded from all sources of noninterest income compared with $59.3 million in noninterest income for 2007. The 2008 period included the $62.7 million in losses on sale and impairment charge of FHLMC and FNMA preferred stock and other common stock, $5.7 million in securities gains from the redemption of VISA Class B common stock as part of Visa’s initial public offering. Noninterest income in 2007 included an $822 thousand gain on company-owned life insurance and a $230 thousand gain on sale of real property. During the second quarter of 2008, the Company began issuing its own official checks rather than use a vendor which paid the Company fees based on the availability of funds while the official checks remained outstanding (“float”). By issuing its own official checks, the Company uses the related float as a source of funding and reduces its interest expense. Such vendor fees were $950 thousand lower in 2008 compared with 2007. Financial services commissions fell $491 thousand or 37.2%. Service charges on deposits declined $473 thousand or 1.6%, due to declines in overdraft fees and returned item charges (down $492 thousand) and fees charged on business and retail checking and savings accounts (down $542 thousand), partially offset by a $562 thousand increase in deficit fees charged on analyzed accounts. Deficit fees are service charges collected from business customers that typically pay for such services with compensating balances. Merchant credit card fees declined $316 thousand or 2.9%. Other noninterest income decreased $1.1 million or 23.2% primarily due to a $292 thousand decline in interest recoveries on charged-off loans and lower customer check sales income and gains on sale of other assets in 2007.
Noninterest income for 2007 was $3.9 million or 7.1% higher than 2006 primarily due to higher service charges on deposit accounts and merchant credit card fees, and $822 thousand in company-owned life insurance proceeds. Service charges on deposit accounts increased $1.8 million or 6.4% mainly due to a $2.3 million increase in overdraft fees due to marketing initiatives, partially offset by declines in fees charged on retail and business checking accounts (down $296 thousand) and deficit fees charged on analyzed accounts (down $200 thousand). Merchant credit card fees increased $981 thousand or 9.9% due to increased processing volumes. Debit card fees increased $308 thousand or 8.8% mainly due to increased usage. Other service charges increased $111 thousand or 5.7%. Trust fees increased $103 thousand or 8.7%. Official check sales income declined $278 thousand or 20.0% mostly due to lower average investable balances.

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Noninterest Expense
Components of Noninterest Expense
                         
Years Ended December 31,            
(dollars in thousands)   2008   2007   2006
     
Salaries and related benefits
  $ 51,492     $ 50,142     $ 52,302  
Occupancy
    13,703       13,346       13,047  
Data processing
    8,440       7,069       6,097  
Equipment
    3,801       4,302       4,949  
Courier Service
    3,322       3,404       3,627  
Professional fees
    2,624       1,889       2,437  
Postage
    1,487       1,602       1,648  
Telephone
    1,368       1,398       1,634  
Stationery and supplies
    1,170       1,271       1,163  
Customer checks
    920       939       992  
Correspondent service charges
    634       869       778  
Advertising and public relations
    843       834       843  
Operational losses
    845       793       892  
Loan expenses
    911       750       882  
FDIC insurance assessments
    518       401       462  
Amortization of intangible assets
    3,221       3,653       4,087  
Visa litigation
    (2,338 )     2,338        
Other
    7,800       6,428       5,884  
     
Total
  $ 100,761     $ 101,428     $ 101,724  
 
Noninterest expense to revenues (“efficiency ratio”)(FTE)
    51.9 %     41.5 %     39.1 %
Average full-time equivalent staff
    891       887       909  
Total average assets per full-time staff
  $ 4,736     $ 5,233     $ 5,402  
 
In 2008, noninterest expense decreased $667 thousand or 0.7% compared with 2007. The 2008 results included reversal of the $2.3 million accrual for known Visa related litigation, which was reversed with the funding of a litigation escrow as a part of the Visa IPO. Data processing service costs were higher by $1.4 million or 19.4% due to conversion of the Company’s item processing function to an outside vendor. Salaries and related benefits increased $1.4 million or 2.7% mainly due to annual merit increases granted to continuing staff and increases in incentives, payroll taxes and workers compensation. Professional fees increased $735 thousand or 38.9% primarily due to higher legal fees, partially offset by lower audit fees. Occupancy costs increased $357 thousand or 2.7% primarily due to increases in net rent and miscellaneous occupancy expense, partially offset by lower depreciation costs. Loan expenses increased $161 thousand or 21.5%. FDIC insurance assessments increased $117 thousand or 29.2%. FDIC insurance assessments are expected to rise in 2009. See “Premiums for Deposit Insurance and Assessments for Examinations” contained in the Supervision and Regulation section of Part I, Item 1 of this report. Other noninterest expense rose by $1.4 million or 21.3% due to writedown of foreclosed property, higher insurance costs and amortization of low-income housing investments as tax benefits are realized and a lower reduction in the reserve for unfunded credit commitments. Other categories of expense decreased from 2007, offsetting the increases outlined above. Equipment expense declined $501 thousand or 11.6% mostly due to reduced depreciation costs and lower maintenance expenses. Amortization of intangible assets decreased $432 thousand or 11.8%. Correspondent service charges were lower by $235 thousand or 27.0%. Postage declined $115 thousand or 7.2%. Stationery and supplies expenses were lower by $101 thousand or 7.9%.
In 2007, noninterest expense declined $296 thousand or 0.3% compared with 2006. Salaries and related benefits declined $2.2 million or 4.1% mostly a result of fewer employees, partially offset by annual merit increases, and declines in stock based compensation (down $725 thousand), workers compensation (down $410 thousand), restricted performance shares (down $207 thousand) and incentives and bonuses (down $457 thousand). Equipment expense declined $647 thousand or 13.1% primarily due to lower repair, maintenance and depreciation expenses. Professional fees decreased $548 thousand or 22.5% mainly due to lower legal fees (down $474 thousand). Amortization of deposit intangibles decreased $434 thousand or 10.6%. Telephone expense declined $236 thousand or 14.4% largely due to lower rates contained in a new vendor contract. Courier service expense decreased $223 thousand or 6.1%. Loan expense fell $132 thousand or 15.0% largely due to lower repossession expenses. Declines were partially offset by the $2.3 million Visa litigation expense and increases in data processing (up $972 thousand or 15.9%), other noninterest expense (up $483 thousand or 7.6%), occupancy expense (up $299 thousand or 2.3%) and stationery and supplies (up $108 thousand or 9.3%). The higher data processing expenses and a portion of the lower personnel costs, lower full-time equivalent staff levels and lower equipment expenses were due to conversion of the Company’s item processing function

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to an outside vendor. Other noninterest expense rose mostly due to increases in debit card and ATM network fees, travel costs, internet banking expenses, and amortization of low-income housing investments as tax benefits are realized. The increase was partially offset by a $400 thousand reduction in the reserve for unfunded credit commitments due to a reduction in commitments under construction credit facilities. Occupancy expense increased primarily due to increases in maintenance and insurance costs, partly offset by lower depreciation charges.
Provision for Income Tax
In 2008, the Company filed its 2007 federal income tax return. Amounts included in that filed return were reconciled to estimates of such amounts used to recognize the 2007 federal income tax provision. As a result, a reduction in the tax provision in the amount of $877 thousand was recognized in 2008 to adjust the 2007 tax estimates to amounts included in the filed tax return. The adjustment primarily resulted from higher than anticipated tax credits earned on limited partnership investments providing low-income housing and housing for the elderly in our Northern and Central California communities. In 2008, the Company further reduced its tax provision by $114 thousand to reflect a reduction in its unrecognized tax benefits due to a lapse in the statute of limitations.
The income tax provision (FTE) was $30.9 million for 2008 compared with $52.7 million for 2007. The effective tax rate (FTE) of 34.1% for 2008 compared with 37.0% for 2007. The tax provision for 2007 reflected the tax-free nature of $822 thousand in life insurance proceeds, higher dividend received deductions and lower non-deductible life insurance premiums.
The Troubled Asset Relief Program, signed into law on October 3, 2008, provided ordinary tax treatment to losses on FHLMC and FNMA preferred stock held on September 6, 2008 or sold on or after January 1, 2008. As a result, the Company’s losses on FNMA and FHLMC preferred stock receive ordinary tax treatment.
The income tax provision (FTE) decreased by $6.4 million or 10.8% in 2007 compared to 2006 primarily due to lower earnings. The 2007 provision (FTE) of $52.7 million reflects an effective tax rate of 37.0% compared to a provision of $59.1 million in 2006, representing an effective tax rate of 37.4%. The tax provision in 2007 reflected $700 thousand in tax refunds in connection with the acceptance of amended returns and the tax-exempt nature of $822 thousand in life insurance proceeds, which reduced the effective tax rate from 37.7% to 37.0%.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company does not currently engage in trading activities or use derivative instruments to control interest rate risk, even though such activities may be permitted with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors.
Interest rate risk is the most significant market risk affecting the Company, and equity price risk can also affect the Company’s financial results, both of which are described in the preceding sections regarding “Asset and Liability Management” and “Liquidity.” Other types of market risk, such as foreign currency exchange risk and commodity price risk, are not significant in the normal course of the Company’s business activities.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
         
    Page  
    49  
     
    50  
     
    51  
     
    52  
     
    53  
     
    54  
     
    55  
     
    84  

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management of Westamerica Bancorporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, and for performing an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Management and Directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Management performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 based upon criteria in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, Management determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2008 based on the criteria in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on Management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This report is included below.
Dated February 26, 2009

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Westamerica Bancorporation:
We have audited Westamerica Bancorporation and Subsidiaries (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, and our report dated February 26, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
         
   
/s/ KPMG LLP    
KPMG LLP   
     
 
San Francisco, California
February 26, 2009

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
                 
Balances as of December 31,   2008   2007
 
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 138,883     $ 209,764  
Money market assets
    341       333  
Investment securities available for sale
    288,454       532,821  
Investment securities held to maturity; market values of $950,210 in 2008 and $1,049,422 in 2007
    949,325       1,045,288  
Loans, net of an allowance for loan losses of:
               
$44,470 in 2008 and $52,506 in 2007
    2,337,956       2,450,470  
Other real estate owned
    3,505       613  
Premises and equipment, net
    27,351       28,380  
Identifiable intangibles
    15,208       18,429  
Goodwill
    121,699       121,719  
Interest receivable and other assets
    150,212       151,142  
 
Total Assets
  $ 4,032,934     $ 4,558,959  
 
 
               
Liabilities
               
Deposits:
               
Noninterest bearing
  $ 1,158,632     $ 1,245,500  
Interest bearing:
               
Transaction
    525,153       544,411  
Savings
    745,496       760,006  
Time
    665,773       714,873  
 
Total deposits
    3,095,054       3,264,790  
 
Short-term borrowed funds
    457,275       798,599  
Debt financing and notes payable
    26,631       36,773  
Liability for interest, taxes and other expenses
    44,122       64,194  
 
Total Liabilities
    3,623,082       4,164,356  
 
 
               
Shareholders’ Equity
               
Common Stock (no par value)
               
Authorized — 150,000 shares
               
Issued and outstanding — 28,880 in 2008 and 29,018 in 2007
    352,265       334,211  
Deferred compensation
    2,409       2,990  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
    1,040       (4,520 )
Retained earnings
    54,138       61,922  
 
Total Shareholders’ Equity
    409,852       394,603  
 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
  $ 4,032,934     $ 4,558,959  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
                         
For the years ended December 31,   2008   2007   2006
 
Interest and Fee Income
                       
Loans
  $ 148,659     $ 162,242     $ 164,756  
Money market assets and funds sold
    3       7       5  
Investment securities:
                       
Available for sale
                       
Taxable
    8,854       15,639       16,844  
Tax-exempt
    9,357       11,566       12,519  
Held to maturity Taxable
    19,237       23,361       28,809  
Tax-exempt
    22,359       23,057       23,582  
 
Total Interest and Fee Income
    208,469       235,872       246,515  
 
Interest Expense
                       
Transaction deposits
    1,397       2,093       1,771  
Savings deposits
    4,245       6,144       4,198  
Time deposits
    15,540       29,612       27,578  
Short-term borrowed funds
    9,958       32,393       29,389  
Debt financing and notes payable
    2,103       2,313       2,332  
 
Total Interest Expense
    33,243       72,555       65,268  
 
Net Interest Income
    175,226       163,317       181,247  
Provision for Loan Losses
    2,700       700       445  
 
Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses
    172,526       162,617       180,802  
 
Noninterest Income
                       
Service charges on deposit accounts
    29,762       30,235       28,414  
Merchant credit card income
    10,525       10,841       9,860  
Debit card income
    3,769       3,797       3,489  
Financial services commissions
    830       1,321       1,368  
Trust fees
    1,227       1,281       1,178  
Net losses from equity securities
    (56,955 )            
Other
    8,786       11,803       11,038  
 
Total Noninterest (Loss) Income
    (2,056 )     59,278       55,347  
 
Noninterest Expense
                       
Salaries and related benefits
    51,492       50,142       52,302  
Occupancy
    13,703       13,346       13,047  
Data processing
    8,440       7,069       6,097  
Furniture and equipment
    3,801       4,302       4,949  
Amortization of intangibles
    3,221       3,653       4,087  
Courier Service
    3,322       3,404       3,627  
Professional fees
    2,624       1,889       2,437  
Visa litigation
    (2,338 )     2,338        
Other
    16,496       15,285       15,178  
 
Total Noninterest Expense
    100,761       101,428       101,724  
 
Income Before Income Taxes
    69,709       120,467       134,425  
Provision for income taxes
    9,874       30,691       35,619  
 
Net Income
  $ 59,835     $ 89,776     $ 98,806  
 
Average Shares Outstanding
    28,892       29,753       31,202  
Diluted Average Shares Outstanding
    29,273       30,165       31,739  
Per Share Data
                       
Basic earnings
  $ 2.07     $ 3.02     $ 3.17  
Diluted earnings
    2.04       2.98       3.11  
Dividends paid
    1.39       1.36       1.30  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
                                                 
                            Accumulated        
                            Other        
            Common   Deferred   Comprehensive   Retained    
    Shares   Stock   Compensation   Income (Loss)   Earnings   Total
 
December 31, 2005*
    31,882     $ 343,035     $ 2,423     $ 1,882     $ 87,724     $ 435,064  
Adjustment to initially apply SAB Statement No. 108, net of tax
                            1,756       1,756  
 
Balance at January 1, 2006
    31,882       343,035       2,423       1,882       89,480       436,820  
Comprehensive income
                                               
Net income for the year 2006
                                    98,806       98,806  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                               
Increase in net unrealized gains on securities available for sale
                            362               362  
 
Total comprehensive income
                                            99,168  
Post-retirement benefit transition obligation, net of tax
                            (394 )             (394 )
Exercise of stock options
    409       12,755                               12,755  
Stock option tax benefits
            1,867                               1,867  
Restricted stock activity
    20       727       311                       1,038  
Stock based compensation
            2,504                               2,504  
Stock awarded to employees
    3       154                               154  
Purchase and retirement of stock
    (1,767 )     (19,513 )                     (69,468 )     (88,981 )
Dividends
                                    (40,696 )     (40,696 )
 
December 31, 2006
    30,547       341,529       2,734       1,850       78,122       424,235  
Comprehensive income
                                               
Net income for the year 2007
                                    89,776       89,776  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                               
Increase in net unrealized losses on securities available for sale
                            (6,406 )             (6,406 )
Post-retirement benefit transition obligation amortization
                            36               36  
 
Total comprehensive income
                                            83,406  
Exercise of stock options
    342       11,908                               11,908  
Stock option tax benefits
            306                               306  
Restricted stock activity
    12       302       256                       558  
Stock based compensation
            1,779                               1,779  
Stock awarded to employees
    3       161                               161  
Purchase and retirement of stock
    (1,886 )     (21,774 )                     (65,329 )     (87,103 )
Dividends
                                    (40,647 )     (40,647 )
 
December 31, 2007
    29,018       334,211       2,990       (4,520 )     61,922       394,603  
Comprehensive income
                                               
Net income for the year 2008
                                    59,835       59,835  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                               
Increase in net unrealized gains on securities available for sale
                            5,524               5,524  
Post-retirement benefit transition obligation amortization
                            36               36  
 
Total comprehensive income
                                            65,395  
Exercise of stock options
    567       22,830                               22,830  
Stock option tax benefits
            1,130                               1,130  
Restricted stock activity
    11       1,261       (581 )                     680  
Stock based compensation
            1,193                               1,193  
Stock awarded to employees
    3       171                               171  
Purchase and retirement of stock
    (719 )     (8,531 )                     (27,383 )     (35,914 )
Dividends
                                    (40,236 )     (40,236 )
 
December 31, 2008
    28,880     $ 352,265     $ 2,409     $ 1,040     $ 54,138     $ 409,852  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
*   Adjusted to adopt Financial Accounting Standard 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment.” See Note 8.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
                         
For the years ended December 31,   2008   2007   2006
 
Operating Activities:
                       
Net income
  $ 59,835     $ 89,776     $ 98,806  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    9,581       9,489       10,221  
Loan loss provision
    2,700       700       445  
Net amortization of deferred loan cost (fees)
    124       (955 )     (414 )
Decrease in interest income receivable
    3,480       2,870       1,327  
Increase in other assets
    (17,633 )     (7,073 )     (5,712 )
Stock option compensation expense
    1,193       1,779       2,504  
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
    (1,130 )     (306 )     (1,867 )
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable
    141       586       (423 )
(Decrease) increase in interest expense payable
    (3,527 )     (901 )     1,875  
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities
    (18,677 )     12,534       1,452  
Loss on sale and impairment of investment securities
    62,653       0       0  
Gain on sale of Visa common stock
    (5,698 )     0       0  
Gain on sale of real estate and other assets
    0       (232 )     (239 )
Net loss on sales/write-down of fixed assets
    12       51       6  
Originations of loans for resale
    (1,269 )     (516 )     (860 )
Net proceeds from sale of loans originated for resale
    1,283       521       869  
Net write-down of property acquired in satisfaction of debt
    195       34       0  
 
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities
    93,263       108,357       107,990  
 
Investing Activities
                       
Net repayments of loans
    106,279       26,184       139,280  
Purchases of investment securities available for sale
    (6,430 )     (30,571 )     (30,832 )
Proceeds from maturity/calls of securities available for sale
    197,594       103,914       78,068  
Proceeds from maturity/calls of securities held to maturity
    95,962       119,805       172,125  
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (1,905 )     (1,562 )     (1,008 )
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
    0       237       420  
Purchases of FRB/FHLB* securities
    (147 )     (145 )     (141 )
Proceeds from sale of FRB/FHLB/FHLMC* securities
    11,887       108       247  
Proceeds from sale of Visa common stock
    5,698       0       0  
Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned
    311       0       0  
 
Net Cash Provided By Investing Activities
    409,249       217,970       358,159  
 
Financing Activities
                       
Net decrease in deposits
    (169,736 )     (251,944 )     (329,367 )
Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings
    (341,324 )     66,622       (43,196 )
Repayments of notes payable
    (10,143 )     (147 )     (3,362 )
Exercise of stock options/issuance of shares
    22,830       11,908       12,755  
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
    1,130       306       1,867  
Retirement of common stock including repurchases
    (35,914 )     (87,103 )     (88,981 )
Dividends paid
    (40,236 )     (40,647 )     (40,696 )
 
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities
    (573,393 )     (301,005 )     (490,980 )
 
Net (Decrease) Increase In Cash and Cash Equivalents
    (70,881 )     25,322       (24,831 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year
    209,764       184,442       209,273  
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year
  $ 138,883     $ 209,764     $ 184,442  
 
Supplemental Disclosures:
                       
Supplemental disclosure of noncash activities:
                       
Loans transferred to other real estate owned
  $ 3,432     $ 0     $  647  
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale, net of tax
    5,524       (6,406 )     362  
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow activity: Interest paid for the period
    36,770       73,456       67,143  
Income tax payments for the period
    24,056       30,791       37,353  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
*   Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”), Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (“FHLMC”)

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1: Business and Accounting Policies
Westamerica Bancorporation, a registered bank holding company (the “Company”), provides a full range of banking services to corporate and individual customers in Northern and Central California through its subsidiary bank, Westamerica Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank is subject to competition from both financial and nonfinancial institutions and to the regulations of certain agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The following is a summary of significant policies used in the preparation of the accompanying financial statements.
Accounting Estimates. Certain accounting policies underlying the preparation of these financial statements require management to make estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments may affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. The most significant of these involve the Allowance for Credit Losses, as discussed below under “Allowance for Credit Losses” and the evaluation of other than temporary impairment, as discussed below under “Securities.”
Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all the Company’s subsidiaries. Significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company does not maintain or conduct transactions with any unconsolidated special purpose entities other than low income housing partnerships sponsored by third parties.
Cash Equivalents. Cash equivalents include Due From Banks balances and Federal Funds Sold which are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and are generally 90 days or less from maturity at the time of purchase, presenting insignificant risk of changes in value due to interest rate changes.
Securities. Investment securities consist of debt securities of the U.S. Treasury, government sponsored entities, states, counties and municipalities, corporations, mortgage-backed securities, and equity securities. Securities transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. The Company classifies its debt and marketable equity securities in one of three categories: trading, available for sale or held to maturity. Trading securities are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term. Held to maturity securities are those debt securities which the Company has the ability and intent to hold until maturity. Securities not included in trading or held to maturity are classified as available for sale. Trading and available for sale securities are recorded at fair value. Held to maturity securities are recorded at amortized cost, adjusted for the amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts. Unrealized gains and losses on trading securities are included in earnings. Unrealized gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, on available for sale securities are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity until realized.
A decline in the market value of any available for sale or held to maturity security below cost that is deemed other than temporary results in a charge to earnings and the establishment of a new cost basis for the security. Unrealized investment securities losses are evaluated at least quarterly to determine whether such declines in value should be considered “other than temporary” and therefore be subject to immediate loss recognition in income. Although these evaluations involve significant judgment, an unrealized loss in the fair value of a debt security is generally deemed to be temporary when the fair value of the security is below the carrying value primarily due to changes in risk-free interest rates, there has not been significant deterioration in the financial condition of the issuer, and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the security for a sufficient time to recover the carrying value. An unrealized loss in the value of an equity security is generally considered temporary when the fair value of the security declined primarily due to current market conditions and not deterioration in the financial condition of the issuer, the Company expects the fair value of the security to recover in the near term and the Company has the intent and ability to hold the security for a sufficient time for the fair value to recover. Other factors that may be considered in determining whether a decline in the value of either a debt or an equity security is “other than temporary” include ratings by recognized rating agencies, actions of commercial banks or other lenders relative to the continued extension of credit facilities to the issuer of the security, the financial condition, capital strength and near-term prospects of the issuer, and recommendations of investment advisors or market analysts.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Purchase premiums are amortized and purchase discounts are accreted over the estimated life of the related investment security as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. Unamortized premiums, unaccreted discounts, and early payment premiums are recognized in interest income upon disposition of the related security. Interest and dividend income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available for sale securities are included in earnings using the specific identification method.
Loans. Loans are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned discount and unamortized deferred fees and costs. Interest is accrued daily on the outstanding principal balances. Loans which are more than 90 days delinquent with respect to interest or principal, unless they are well secured and in the process of collection, and other loans on which full recovery of principal or interest is in doubt, are placed on nonaccrual status. Interest previously accrued on loans placed on nonaccrual status is charged against interest income. In addition, some loans secured by real estate with temporarily impaired values and commercial loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties are placed on nonaccrual status (“performing nonaccrual loans”) even though the borrowers continue to repay the loans as scheduled. When the ability to fully collect nonaccrual loan principal is in doubt, payments received are applied against the principal balance of the loans until such time as full collection of the remaining recorded balance is expected. Any additional interest payments received after that time are recorded as interest income on a cash basis. Performing nonaccrual loans are reinstated to accrual status when improvements in credit quality eliminate the doubt as to the full collectibility of both interest and principal. Certain consumer loans or auto receivables are charged to the allowance for credit losses when they become 120 days past due. The Company recognizes a loan as impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that it will be unable to collect both the contractual interest and principal payments as scheduled in the loan agreement. Income recognition on impaired loans conforms to that used on nonaccrual loans.
Nonrefundable fees and certain costs associated with originating or acquiring loans are deferred and amortized as an adjustment to interest income over the contractual loan lives. Upon prepayment, unamortized loan fees, net of costs, are immediately recognized in interest income. Other fees, including those collected upon principal prepayments, are included in interest income when received. Loans held for sale are identified upon origination and are reported at the lower of cost or market value on an aggregate loan basis.
Allowance for Credit Losses. The allowance for credit losses is established through provisions for credit losses charged to income. Losses on loans, including impaired loans, are charged to the allowance for credit losses when all or a portion of a loan is deemed to be uncollectible. Recoveries of loans previously charged off are credited to the allowance when realized. The Company’s allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can be estimated based upon specific and general conditions. These include conditions unique to individual borrowers, as well as overall credit loss experience, the amount of past due, nonperforming and classified loans, recommendations of regulatory authorities, prevailing economic conditions and other factors. A portion of the allowance is specifically allocated to impaired loans whose full collectibility is uncertain. Such allocations are determined by Management based on loan-by-loan analyses. A second allocation is based in part on quantitative analyses of historical credit loss experience, in which criticized and classified loan balances identified through an internal loan review process are analyzed using a linear regression model to determine standard loss rates. The results of this analysis are applied to current criticized and classified loan balances to allocate the reserve to the respective segments of the loan portfolio. In addition, loans with similar characteristics not usually criticized using regulatory guidelines are analyzed and reserves established based on the historical loss rates and delinquency trends, grouped by the number of days the payments on these loans are delinquent. Last, allocations are made to non-criticized and non-classified commercial loans and residential real estate loans based on historical loss rates. The remainder of the reserve is considered to be unallocated. The unallocated allowance is established to provide for probable losses that have been incurred as of the reporting date but not reflected in the allocated allowance. It addresses additional qualitative factors consistent with Management’s analysis of the level of risks inherent in the loan portfolio, which are related to the risks of the Company’s general lending activity. Included in the unallocated allowance is the risk of losses that are attributable to national or local economic or industry trends which have occurred but have yet been recognized in past loan charge-off history (external factors). The external factors evaluated by the Company include: economic and business conditions, external competitive issues, and other factors. Also included in the unallocated allowance is the risk of losses that are attributable to general attributes of the Company’s loan portfolio and credit administration (internal factors). The internal factors evaluated by the Company include: loan review system, adequacy of lending Management and staff, loan policies and procedures, problem loan trends, concentrations of credit, and other factors. By their

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
nature, these risks are not readily allocable to any specific category in a statistically meaningful manner and are difficult to quantify with a specific number.
Other Real Estate Owned. Other real estate owned is comprised of property acquired through foreclosure proceedings, acceptances of deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure and some vacated bank properties. Losses recognized at the time of acquiring property in full or partial satisfaction of debt are charged against the allowance for credit losses. Other real estate owned is recorded at the lower of the related loan balance or fair value of the collateral, generally based upon an independent property appraisal, less estimated disposition costs. Subsequently, other real estate owned is valued at the lower of the amount recorded at the date acquired or the then current fair value less estimated disposition costs. Subsequent losses incurred due to any decline in annual independent property appraisals are recognized as noninterest expense. Routine holding costs, such as property taxes, insurance and maintenance, and losses from sales and dispositions, are recognized as noninterest expense.
Premises and Equipment. Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed substantially on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of each type of asset. Estimated useful lives of premises and equipment range from 20 to 50 years and from 3 to 20 years, respectively. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the terms of the lease or their estimated useful life, whichever is shorter.
Intangible assets. Intangible assets are comprised of goodwill, core deposit intangibles and other identifiable intangibles acquired in business combinations. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized on an accelerated basis over their respective estimated useful lives. If an event occurs that indicates the carrying amount of an intangible asset may not be recoverable, Management reviews the asset for impairment. Any goodwill and any intangible asset acquired in a purchase business combination determined to have an indefinite useful life is not amortized, but is annually evaluated for impairment.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The Company reviews its long-lived and certain intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
Income taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated tax returns. The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FAS 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, as interpreted by FIN 48, resulting in two components of income tax expense: current and deferred. Current income tax expense approximates taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period. The Company determines deferred income taxes using the balance sheet method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and recognizes enacted changes in tax rates and laws in the period in which they occur. Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods. Deferred tax assets are recognized subject to management judgment that realization is more likely than not. A tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon settlement. Interest and penalties are recognized as a component of income tax expense.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The Company’s accounting policy for derivative instruments requires the Company to recognize those items as assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measure them at fair value. Hybrid financial instruments are single financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative. The Company’s accounting policy is to record certain hybrid financial instruments at fair value without separating the embedded derivative.
Stock Options. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No.123(revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123(R)) on a modified retrospective basis. SFAS No. 123(R) requires the Company to begin using the fair value method to account for stock based awards granted to employees in exchange for their services. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company accounted for stock option plans using the intrinsic value method, as permitted by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Under the prior intrinsic value method, compensation expense was recorded for stock options only if the price of the underlying stock on the date of grant exceeded the exercise price of the option. The Company’s historical stock option grants were awarded with exercise prices equal to the prevailing price of the underlying stock on the dates of grant; therefore, no compensation expense was recorded using the intrinsic value method. The Company’s recognition of compensation expense for restricted performance share grants has not changed with the adoption of SFAS No.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
123(R). The Company has recognized compensation expense for historical restricted performance share grants over the relevant attribution period. Restricted performance share grants have no exercise price, therefore, the intrinsic value is measured using an estimated per share price at the vesting date for each restricted performance share. The estimated per share price is adjusted during the attribution period to reflect actual stock price performance. The Company’s obligation for unvested outstanding restricted performance share grants is classified as a liability until the vesting date due to a cash settlement feature, at which time the issued shares become classified as shareholders’ equity.
Extinguishment of Debt. Gains and losses, including fees, incurred in connection with the early extinguishment of debt are charged to current earnings as reductions in noninterest income.
Postretirement Benefits. The Company uses an actuarial-based accrual method of accounting for post-retirement benefits.
Other. Securities and other property held by the Bank in a fiduciary or agency capacity are not included in the financial statements since such items are not assets of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (SAB 108). SAB 108 was issued in order to eliminate the diversity of practice surrounding how public companies quantify financial statement misstatements. Prior to the issuance of SAB 108, the Company had focused on the impact of misstatements on the income statement, including the reversing effect of prior year misstatements. With a focus on the income statement, the Company’s analysis could lead to the accumulation of misstatements in the balance sheet. In applying SAB 108, the Company considers accumulated misstatements in the balance sheet. SAB 108 permitted companies to initially apply its provisions by recording the cumulative effect of misstatements as adjustments to the balance sheet as of the first day of the fiscal year, with an offsetting adjustment recorded to retained earnings, net of tax. The Company adopted SAB 108, effective January 1, 2006, with an adjustment to reduce other liabilities by $3 million, with a corresponding increase to retained earnings of $1.8 million, net of tax. The $3 million overstatement of other liabilities accumulated over seventeen years, as the liability accrued for stock-based compensation exceeded the amount paid to employees. These misstatements had not previously been material to the income statements for any of those prior periods.
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB Statement No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” (“FAS 158”). FAS 158 requires recognition of the funded status of the Company’s benefit plans as a net liability or asset, which requires an offsetting adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. The Company adopted these recognition and disclosure provisions of FAS 158 effective December 31, 2006, which required recognition of the previously unrecognized transition obligation for the Company’s postretirement medical benefit program. The following table illustrates the adjustments recorded to adopt FAS 158:
Incremental Effect of Applying FAS 158
on Individual Line Items in the Statement of Financial Position
December 31, 2006
(in thousands)
                         
    Before           After
    Application of           Application of
    FAS 158   Adjustments   FAS 158
     
Liability for postretirement
  $ 3,757     $ 673     $ 4,430  
Net deferred tax asset
    39,561       279       39,840  
Total liabilities
    4,344,427       673       4,345,100  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    2,244       (394 )     1,850  
Total stockholders’ equity
    424,629       (394 )     424,235  

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Prior to 2008, the Company used a September 30 measurement date. FAS 158 requires the Company to measure its benefit obligations as of the balance sheet date effective December 31, 2008. The change in measurement date did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued FAS 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations. This Statement replaces FASB Statement 141, Business Combinations. This Statement retains the fundamental requirements in Statement 141 that the acquisition method of accounting (which Statement 141 called the purchase method) be used for all business combination and for an acquirer to be identified for each business combination. This Statement also retains the guidance in Statement 141 for identifying and recognizing intangible assets separately from goodwill. This Statement requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date, with limited exceptions specified in the Statement. That replaces Statement 141’s cost-allocation process, which required the cost of an acquisition to be allocated to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. Statement 141 required the acquirer to include the costs incurred to effect the acquisition (acquisition-related costs) in the cost of the acquisition that was allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. This Statement requires those costs to be recognized separately from the acquisition. In addition, in accordance with Statement 141, restructuring costs that the acquirer expected but was not obligated to incur were recognized as if they were a liability assumed at the acquisition date. This Statement requires the acquirer to recognize those costs separately from the business combination. This Statement applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The impact of this Statement on the Company’s financial statements will be contingent on the terms and conditions of future business combinations.
On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of FAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. In accordance with FAS 159, the Company, at its option, can value assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. FAS 159 does not allow valuation of transaction and savings deposit accounts at fair value. Therefore, seventy-eight percent of the Company’s deposits were not eligible for fair value measurement at December 31, 2008. The Company elected not to value any additional assets or liabilities at fair value in accordance with FAS 159.
On January 1, 2008, the Company also adopted the provisions of FAS 157, Fair Value Measurements, with the exception of the requirements that pertain to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities covered by FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. FAS 157-2. FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. FSP FAS 157-2 delays the effective date of the FAS 157 requirements for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Other real estate owned is an example of a nonfinancial asset that the Company will be required to measure at fair value on a non-recurring basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
On October 10, 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active. The FSP clarifies the application of FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, in a market that is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that financial asset is not active. The Company was subject to the provision of the FSP effective September 30, 2008. The implementation of FSP FAS 157-3 did not affect the Company’s fair value measurements.
In accordance with FAS 157 the Company groups its assets and liabilities measured at fair value in three levels, based on the markets in which the assets and liabilities are traded and the reliability of the assumptions used to determine fair value. These levels are:
Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active exchange markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange. Level 1 also includes U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities, which are traded by dealers or brokers in active markets. Valuations are obtained from readily available pricing sources for market transactions involving identical assets or liabilities.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Level 2 — Valuation is based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market. Level 2 securities include mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds and collateralized mortgage obligations.
Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use significant assumptions not observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect the Company’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include use of option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.
The table below presents the balances of available for sale securities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. (in thousands)
                     
December 31, 2008
Total   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3    
 
$288,454
  $17,980   $270,474   $0        
 
The Company does not record loans at fair value with the exception of impaired loans which are measured for impairment in accordance with SFAS 114, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, (“SFAS 114”). Under SFAS 114, loans measured for impairment based on the fair value of collateral or observable market prices are within the scope of SFAS 157. Loans measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis were measured for impairment by valuing the underlying collateral based on third-party appraisals which are level 2 fair value measurements. At December 31, 2008, impaired loans totaled $4.9 million, net of specific reserves.
Note 2: Investment Securities
The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses, and estimated market value of the available for sale investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2008, follows:
                                 
            Gross   Gross   Estimated
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Market
         Cost        Gains        Losses        Value
    (In thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 3,014     $ 68     $ ––     $ 3,082  
Securities of U.S. Government sponsored entities
    11,019       71       (13 )     11,077  
Mortgage backed securities
    40,302       941       (3 )     41,240  
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    156,602       5,042       (598 )     161,046  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    61,565       143       (1,857 )     59,851  
Asset-backed securities
    9,999             (3,552 )     6,447  
FHLMC and FNMA stock
    824             (3 )     821  
Other securities
    2,778       2,222       (110 )     4,890  
 
Total
  $ 286,103     $ 8,487     $ (6,136 )   $ 288,454  
 
The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses, and estimated market value of the held to maturity investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2008, follows:
                                 
            Gross   Gross   Estimated
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized   Market
         Cost        Gains        Losses        Value
    (In thousands)
Securities of U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ 110,000     $ 1,731     $ ––     $ 111,731  
Mortgage backed securities
    85,676        867       (299 )     86,244  
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    545,237       12,983       (2,875 )     555,345  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    208,412       1,744       (13,266 )     196,890  
 
Total
  $ 949,325     $ 17,325     $ (16,440 )   $ 950,210  
 

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses, and estimated market value of the available for sale investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2007, follows:
                                 
            Gross        Gross        Estimated
    Amortized      Unrealized   Unrealized   Market     
    Cost        Gains        Losses        Value     
    (In thousands)
Securities of U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ 144,893     $ 40     $ (807 )   $ 144,126  
Mortgage backed securities
    47,669       137       (477 )     47,329  
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    177,906       5,426       (25 )     183,307  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    92,437       3       (1,454 )     90,986  
Asset-backed securities
    9,999       0       (299 )     9,700  
FHLMC and FNMA stock
    62,711       146       (13,186 )     49,671  
Other securities
    4,388       3,384       (70 )     7,702  
 
Total
  $ 540,003     $ 9,136     $ (16,318 )   $ 532,821  
 
The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses, and estimated market value of the held to maturity investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2007, follows:
                                 
            Gross      Gross        Estimated
    Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized        Market
    Cost        Gains     Losses              Value
    (In thousands)
Securities of U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ 130,000     $ 605     $ (98 )   $ 130,507  
Mortgage backed securities
    107,162       253       (1,192 )     106,223  
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    566,351       8,687       (929 )     574,109  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    241,775       76       (3,268 )     238,583  
 
Total
  $ 1,045,288     $ 9,621     $ (5,487 )   $ 1,049,422  
 
The amortized cost and estimated market value of securities as of December 31, 2008, by contractual maturity, are shown in the following table:
                                 
    Securities Available   Securities Held
    for Sale   to Maturity
            Estimated           Estimated
    Amortized   Market        Amortized   Market     
    Cost        Value        Cost        Value     
    (In thousands)
Maturity in years:
                               
1 year or less
  $ 17,422     $ 17,528     $ 115,593     $ 117,375  
1 to 5 years
    69,815       71,664       39,972       40,674  
5 to 10 years
    72,482       75,431       396,275       405,283  
Over 10 years
    20,916       17,029       103,396       103,743  
 
Subtotal
    180,635       181,652       655,236       667,075  
Mortgage-backed
    101,866       101,091       294,089       283,135  
Other securities
    3,602       5,711              
 
Total
  $ 286,103     $ 288,454     $ 949,325     $ 950,210  
 
Expected maturities of mortgage-backed securities can differ from contractual maturities because borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. In addition, such factors as prepayments and interest rates may affect the yield on the carrying value of mortgage-backed securities. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had no high-risk collateralized mortgage obligations as defined by regulatory guidelines.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
An analysis of gross unrealized losses of the available for sale investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2008, follows:
                                                 
    Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total
            Unrealized           Unrealized           Unrealized
    Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses
    (In thousands)
Securities of U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ 9,988     $ (13 )   $ ––     $ ––     $ 9,988     $ (13 )
Mortgage backed securities
                1,680       (3 )     1,680       (3 )
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    8,817       (470 )     2,171       (128 )     10,988       (598 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    11,527       (595 )     25,085       (1,262 )     36,612       (1,857 )
Asset-backed securities
                6,447       (3,552 )     6,447       (3,552 )
FHLMC and FNMA stock
    3       (3 )                 3       (3 )
Other securities
                1,890       (110 )     1,890       (110 )
 
Total
  $ 30,335     $ (1,081 )   $ 37,273     $ (5,055 )   $ 67,608     $ (6,136 )
 
An analysis of gross unrealized losses of the held to maturity investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2008, follows:
                                                 
    Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total
            Unrealized           Unrealized           Unrealized
    Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses
    (In thousands)
Mortgage backed securities
  $ 22,401     $ (286 )   $ 3,886     $ (13 )   $ 26,287     $ (299 )
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    73,205       (2,846 )     4,713       (29 )     77,918       (2,875 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    40,379       (10,925 )     24,037       (2,341 )     64,416       (13,266 )
 
Total
  $ 135,985     $ (14,057 )   $ 32,636     $ (2,383 )   $ 168,621     $ (16,441 )
 
During 2008, the Company recognized $62.7 million in losses on the sale of securities and other than temporary charges on FHLMC and FNMA stock and other securities.
The unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) and asset backed securities were caused by market conditions for these types of investments. The Company evaluates these securities on a quarterly basis including changes in security ratings issued by ratings agencies, delinquency and loss information with respect to the underlying collateral, and changes in the levels of subordination for the Company’s particular position within the repayment structure and remaining credit enhancement as compared to expected credit losses of the underlying collateral. Substantially all of these securities continue to be AAA rated by one or more major rating agencies. Because the Company has the ability and intent to hold these securities until a recovery of fair value, which may be at maturity or, for CMOs, upon significant principal paydowns the Company does not consider those investments to be other-than temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2008.
The unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in obligations of states and political subdivisions were caused by conditions in the municipal securities markets and certain securities being insured by one of the monoline insurance companies. The Company evaluates these securities quarterly to determine if a change in security rating has occurred or the municipality has experienced any financial difficulties. Substantially all of these securities continue to be investment grade rated. Because the Company believes that it will collect all principal and interest due and has the ability and intent to hold these securities until a

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the Company does not consider those investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2008.
The fair values of the investment securities could decline in the future if the overall general economy continues to deteriorate and the liquidity for asset backed securities remains low. As a result, it is reasonably possible that other than temporary impairments may occur in the future given the current economic environment.
An analysis of gross unrealized losses of the available for sale investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2007, follows:
                                                 
    Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total
            Unrealized           Unrealized           Unrealized
    Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses
    (In thousands)
Securities of U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ ––     $ ––     $ 123,062     $ (808 )   $ 123,062     $ (808 )
Mortgage backed securities
                32,240       (477 )     32,240       (477 )
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    332       (1 )     2,982       (24 )     3,314       (25 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    18,150       (93 )     69,949       (1,360 )     88,099       (1,453 )
Asset-backed securities
    9,700       (299 )                 9,700       (299 )
FHLMC and FNMA stock
    49,520       (13,186 )                 49,520       (13,186 )
Other securities
    1,930       (70 )                 1,930       (70 )
 
Total
  $ 79,632     $ (13,649 )   $ 228,233     $ (2,669 )   $ 307,865     $ (16,318 )
 
An analysis of gross unrealized losses of the held to maturity investment securities portfolio as of December 31, 2007, follows:
                                                 
    Less than 12 months   12 months or longer   Total
            Unrealized           Unrealized           Unrealized
    Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses   Fair Value   Losses
    (In thousands)
Securities of U.S. Government sponsored entities
  $ ––     $ ––     $ 29,902     $ (98 )   $ 29,902     $ (98 )
Mortgage backed securities
    6,031       (11 )     79,960       (1,181 )     85,991       (1,192 )
Obligations of States and political subdivisions
    2,526       (81 )     81,695       (848 )     84,221       (929 )
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    71,909       (495 )     151,592       (2,773 )     223,501       (3,268 )
 
Total
  $ 80,466     $ (587 )   $ 343,149     $ (4,900 )   $ 423,615     $ (5,487 )
 
As of December 31, 2008, $1.1 billion of investment securities were pledged to secure public deposits and short-term funding needs, compared to $872.9 million in 2007.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 3: Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses
Loans as of December 31 consisted of the following:
                 
    2008   2007
    (In thousands)
Commercial
  $ 524,786     $ 532,650  
 
Real estate-commercial
    817,423       856,581  
Real estate-construction
    52,664       97,464  
Real estate-residential
    458,447       484,549  
 
Total real estate loans
    1,328,534       1,438,594  
 
Installment and personal
    529,106       531,732  
 
Gross loans
    2,382,426       2,502,976  
Allowance for loan losses
    (44,470 )     (52,506 )
 
Net loans
  $ 2,337,956     $ 2,450,470  
 
There were no loans held for sale at December 31, 2008 and 2007.
The following summarizes the allowance for credit losses of the Company for the periods indicated:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (In thousands)
Balance at January 1,
  $ 55,799     $ 59,023     $ 59,537  
Provision for loan losses
    2,700       700       445  
Provision for unfunded credit commitment losses
    (200 )     (400 )     5  
Loans charged off
    (12,413 )     (5,681 )     (3,622 )
Recoveries of loans previously charged off
    1,677       2,157       2,658  
 
Balance as of December 31,
  $ 47,563     $ 55,799     $ 59,023  
 
Components:
                       
Allowance for loan losses
  $ 44,470     $ 52,506     $ 55,330  
Reserve for unfunded credit commitments
    3,093       3,293       3,693  
 
Allowance for credit losses
  $ 47,563     $ 55,799     $ 59,023  
 
At December 31, 2008 specific impaired loans were $6.8 million compared with $317 thousand at December 31, 2007. Total reserves allocated to these loans were $1.9 million at December 31, 2008 and $317 thousand at December 31, 2007. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the average recorded net investment in impaired loans was approximately $7.0 million compared with $139 thousand and $234 thousand, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company had no troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2008.
Nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2008 and 2007 were $10.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively. The following is a summary of the effect of nonaccrual loans on interest income for the years ended December 31:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (In thousands)
Interest income that would have been recognized had the loans performed in accordance with their original terms
  $ 665     $ 428     $ 502  
Less: Interest income recognized on nonaccrual loans
    (511 )     (474 )     (488 )
 
Total reduction (addition) of interest income
  $ 154     $ (46 )   $ 14  
 
There were no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were on nonaccrual status at December 31, 2008.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 4: Concentration of Credit Risk
The Company’s business activity is with customers in Northern and Central California. The loan portfolio is well diversified, although the Company has significant credit arrangements that are secured by real estate collateral. In addition to real estate loans outstanding as disclosed in Note 3, the Company had loan commitments and standby letters of credit related to real estate loans of $14.6 million and $27.3 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company requires collateral on all real estate loans with loan-to-value ratios generally no greater than 75% on commercial real estate loans and no greater than 80% on residential real estate loans at origination.
Note 5: Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment as of December 31 consisted of the following:
                         
            Accumulated    
            Depreciation    
                           and   Net Book
    Cost   Amortization        Value
    (In thousands)
2008
                       
Land
  $ 8,858     $     $ 8,858  
Buildings and improvements
    33,910       (20,156 )     13,754  
Leasehold improvements
    5,887       (5,002 )     885  
Furniture and equipment
    15,269       (11,415 )     3,854  
 
Total
  $ 63,924     $ (36,573 )   $ 27,351  
 
2007
                       
Land
  $ 8,858     $     $ 8,858  
Buildings and improvements
    33,887       (19,104 )     14,783  
Leasehold improvements
    5,872       (4,707 )     1,165  
Furniture and equipment
    13,991       (10,417 )     3,574  
 
Total
  $ 62,608     $ (34,228 )   $ 28,380  
 
Depreciation of premises and equipment included in noninterest expense amounted to $2.9 million in 2008, $3.3 million in 2007, and $3.9 million in 2006.
Note 6: Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
The Company has recorded goodwill and other identifiable intangibles associated with purchase business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized, but is periodically evaluated for impairment. The Company did not recognize impairment during the years ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Identifiable intangibles are amortized to their estimated residual values over their expected useful lives. Such lives and residual values are also periodically reassessed to determine if any amortization period adjustments are indicated. During the year ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, no such adjustments were recorded.
The changes in the carrying value of goodwill were ($ in thousands):
         
December 31, 2006
  $ 121,719  
 
     
 
     
December 31, 2007
  $ 121,719  
 
     
Recognition of stock option tax benefits for the exercise of options converted upon merger
    (20 )
 
     
December 31, 2008
  $ 121,699  
 
     

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The gross carrying amount of intangible assets and accumulated amortization was ($ in thousands):
                                 
    December 31,
    2008   2007
    Gross           Gross    
    Carrying   Accumulated   Carrying   Accumulated
    Amount   Amortization   Amount   Amortization
     
Core Deposit Intangibles
  $ 24,383     $ (13,426 )   $ 24,383     $ (11,405 )
Merchant Draft Processing Intangible
    10,300       (6,049 )     10,300       (4,849 )
     
Total Intangible Assets
  $ 34,683     $ (19,475 )   $ 34,683     $ (16,254 )
     
As of December 31, 2008, the current year and estimated future amortization expense for intangible assets was ($ in thousands):
                         
            Merchant    
    Core   Draft    
    Deposit   Processing    
    Intangibles   Intangible   Total
     
Twelve months ended December 31, 2008 (actual)
  $ 2,021     $ 1,200     $ 3,221  
Estimate for year ended December 31, 2009
    1,859       962       2,821  
2010
    1,636       774       2,410  
2011
    1,386       624       2,010  
2012
    1,230       500       1,730  
2013
    964       400       1,364  
2014
    878       324       1,202  
Note 7: Deposits and Borrowed Funds
Debt financing and notes payable, including the unsecured obligations of the Company, as of December 31, were as follows:
                 
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
Senior
               
Fixed-rate note(1)
  $ 15,000     $ 15,000  
     
Total senior debt — Parent
    15,000       15,000  
     
Subordinated Fixed-rate note(2)
    11,631       11,765  
Adjustable-rate note(3)
          10,008  
     
Total subordinated debt — Parent
    11,631       21,773  
     
Total debt financing and notes payable — Parent
  $ 26,631     $ 36,773  
 
 
(1)   Senior note, issued by Westamerica Bancorporation, originated in October 2003 and maturing October 31, 2013. Interest of 5.31% per annum is payable semiannually on April 30 and October 31, with original principal payment due at maturity.
 
(2)   Subordinated debt, assumed by Westamerica Bancorporation March 1, 2005, originated February 22, 2001. Par amount $10,000, interest of 10.2% per annum, payable semiannually. Matures February 22, 2031, redeemable February 22, 2011 at a premium and February 22, 2021 at par.
 
(3)   Subordinated debt, assumed by Westamerica Bancorporation March 1, 2005, originated July 22, 2003. Par amount $10,000, interest of 6.35% per annum, payable quarterly. Interest coupon resets to three-month LIBOR plus 3.1% per annum effective July 22, 2008. Redeemed September 17, 2008 at par.
The senior note is subject to financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain, at all times, certain minimum levels of consolidated tangible net worth and maximum levels of capital debt. The Company believes it is in compliance with all of the covenants in the senior note indenture as of December 31, 2008.
Short-term borrowed funds include federal funds purchased, business customers’ sweep accounts, outstanding amounts under a $35 million unsecured line of credit which expired December 31, 2008, and securities sold with repurchase agreements which are held in the custody of independent securities brokers. Interest paid on time deposits with balances in excess of $100 thousand was $10.3 million in 2008 and $22.7 million in 2007.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The following table summarizes deposits and borrowed funds of the Company for the periods indicated:
                                                 
    2008   2007
    Balance           Weighted   Balance           Weighted
    At   Average   Average   At   Average   Average
    December 31,   Balance   Rate   December 31,   Balance   Rate
    (In thousands)   (In thousands)
Federal funds purchased
  $ 335,000     $ 411,488       2.17 %   $ 621,000     $ 596,711       5.13 %
Sweep accounts
    119,015       126,394       0.57       150,097       132,146       0.31  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    3,260       6,698       1.87       7,969       13,639       3.19  
Line of credit
          4,858       3.47       19,533       16,894       5.43  
Time deposits Over $100 thousand
    476,604       489,326       2.11       514,764       503,469       4.50  
                 
    2008   2007
    Highest   Highest
    Balance at   Balance at
    Any Month-end   Any Month-end
    (In thousands)
Federal funds purchased
  $ 665,000     $ 705,000  
Sweep accounts
    134,610       189,576  
         
Note 8: Shareholders’ Equity
The Company grants stock options and restricted performance shares (RPSs) to employees in exchange for employee services, pursuant to the shareholder-approved 1995 Stock Option Plan, which was amended and restated in 2003. Stock options are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the related common stock on the grant date and generally become exercisable in equal annual installments over a three-year period with each installment vesting on the anniversary date of the grant. Each stock option has a maximum ten-year term. A restricted performance share grant becomes vested after three years of being awarded, provided the Company has attained its performance goals for such three-year period.
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No.123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123(R)) on a modified retrospective basis. SFAS 123(R) requires that the Company measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the grant date. That cost must be recognized in the income statement over the vesting period of the award. In applying the “modified retrospective” method to implement SFAS No. 123 (R), the Company adjusted the financial statements for prior periods to give effect to the fair-value-based method of accounting for awards that were granted, modified or settled in the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994 on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required by Statement 123. Accordingly, compensation costs and the related tax effects are recognized in those financial statements as though awards for those periods before the effective date of Statement 123(R) had been accounted for under Statement 123. In addition, the opening balances of common stock, deferred taxes and retained earnings for the earliest year presented are adjusted to reflect the cumulative effect of the modified retrospective application on earlier periods.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The following table summarizes information about stock options granted under the Plans as of December 31, 2008. The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the market value as of December 31, 2008 and the exercise price of the shares. The market value as of December 31, 2008 was $51.15 as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market:
                                                                     
        Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable
        Number   Aggregate   Weighted                   Aggregate   Weighted    
        Outstanding   Intrinsic   Average   Weighted           Intrinsic   Average   Weighted
Range of       at 12/31/2008   Value   Remaining   Average   Number   Value   Remaining   Average
Exercise       (in   (in   Contractual   Exercise   Exercisable   (in   Contractual   Exercise
Price       thousands)   thousands)   Life (yrs)   Price   at 12/31/2008   thousands)   Life (yrs)   Price
     
20 — 25  
 
    318     $ 8,626       1.1     $ 24       318     $ 8,626       1.1     $ 24  
33 — 35  
 
    8       133       0.1       35       8       133       0.1       35  
35 — 40  
 
    590       7,161       2.7       39       590       7,161       2.7       39  
40 — 45  
 
    334       3,476       4.1       41       334       3,476       4.1       41  
45 — 50  
 
    726       1,870       7.0       49       386       650       5.4       49  
50 — 55  
 
    493       0       6.2       53       442       0       6.1       53  
     
$20 — 55  
 
    2,469     $ 21,266       4.6     $ 43       2,078     $ 20,046       3.9     $ 42  
     
The Company applies the Roll-Geske option pricing model (Modified Roll) to determine grant date fair value of stock option grants. This model modifies the Black-Scholes Model to take into account dividends and American options. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, the Company granted 256 thousand, 242 thousand, and 258 thousand stock options, respectively. The following weighted average assumptions were used in the option pricing to value stock options granted in the periods indicated:
                         
For the twelve months ended December 31,   2008   2007   2006
 
Expected volatility*1
    15 %     14 %     16 %
Expected life in years*2
    4.0       4.0       4.0  
Risk-free interest rate*3
    2.66 %     4.89 %     4.41 %
Expected dividend yield
    2.78 %     2.82 %     2.63 %
Fair value per award
  $ 6.77     $ 6.02     $ 6.54  
 
*1   Measured using daily price changes of Company’s stock over respective expected term of the option and the implied volatility derived from the market prices of the Company’s stock and traded options.
 
*2   The number of years that the Company estimates that the options will be outstanding prior to exercise
 
*3   The risk-free rate over the expected life based on the US Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant
Employee stock option grants are being expensed by the Company over the grants’ three year vesting period. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of options. The number of shares authorized to be issued for options is 3.1 million.
A summary of option activity during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 is presented below:
                         
                    Weighted
            Weighted   Average
    Shares   Average   Remaining
    (In   Exercise   Contractual
    Thousands)   Price   Term
     
Outstanding at January 1, 2008
    2,865     $ 42.12          
Granted
    256       47.13          
Exercised
    (567 )     40.27          
Forfeited or expired
    (85 )     49.14          
 
                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    2,469       42.82     4.6    
 
                       
Exercisable at December 31, 2008
    2,078       41.80     3.9  years
 
                       

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
A summary of the Company’s nonvested option activity during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 is presented below:
                 
            Weighted
            Average
    Shares   Grant
    (In   Date
    Thousands)   Fair Value
     
Nonvested at January 1, 2008
    485          
Granted
    256          
Vested
    (278 )        
Forfeited
    (72 )        
 
               
Nonvested at December 31, 2008
    391     $ 6.33  
 
               
The weighted average estimated grant date fair value, as defined by SFAS 123(R), for options granted under the Company’s stock option plan during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $6.77, $6.02 and $6.54 per share, respectively. The total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards as of December 31, 2008 is $1.3 million and the weighted average period over which the cost is expected to be recognized is 1.8 years.
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $7.7 million, $3.7 million and $7.8 million, respectively. The total fair value of RPSs that vested during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $705 thousand, $607 thousand and $1.0 million, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was $1.8 million, $2.6 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit recognized for the tax deductions from the exercise of options totaled $1.1 million, $306 thousand and $1.9 million, respectively, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
A summary of the status of the Company’s restricted performance shares as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and changes during the twelve months ended on those dates, follows (in thousands):
                 
    2008   2007
     
Outstanding at January 1,
    38       37  
Granted
    28       16  
Issued upon vesting
    (14 )     (13 )
Forfeited
    (8 )     (2 )
 
               
Outstanding at December 31,
    44       38  
 
               
As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the restricted performance shares had a weighted-average contractual life of 1.6 years and 1.4 years, respectively. The compensation cost that was charged against income for the Company’s restricted performance shares granted was $785 thousand and $400 thousand for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. There were no stock appreciation rights or incentive stock options granted in the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
The Company repurchases and retires its common stock in accordance with Board of Directors approved share repurchase programs. At December 31, 2008, approximately 2.0 million shares remained available to repurchase under such plans.
Shareholders have authorized two additional classes of stock of one million shares each, to be denominated “Class B Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock,” respectively, in addition to the 150 million shares of common stock presently authorized. At December 31, 2008, no shares of Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued.
In December 1986, the Company declared a dividend distribution of one common share purchase right (the “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock. The Rights, which have been amended and restated in 1989, 1992, 1995, 1999 and 2004, are exercisable only in the event of an acquisition of, or announcement of a tender offer to acquire, 10% or more of the Company’s stock without the prior consent of the Board of Directors. If the Rights become exercisable, the holder may purchase one share of the Company’s common stock for $110.00, subject to adjustment. In the event a person or a group has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of securities having 10% or more of the voting power of all outstanding voting power of the Company, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right will, for a 60-day period thereafter, have the right to receive upon exercise that number of shares of common stock having a market value of two times the exercise

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
price of the Right, to the extent available, and then a common stock equivalent having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. Under certain circumstances, the Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $.001 per Right prior to becoming exercisable and in certain circumstances thereafter. The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) December 31, 2009, (ii) consummation of a merger transaction meeting certain characteristics or (iii) redemption of the Rights by the Company.
Note 9: Risk-Based Capital
The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital adequacy requirements administered by federal and state agencies. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”) required that regulatory agencies adopt regulations defining five capital tiers for banks: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct, material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Quantitative measures, established by the regulators to ensure capital adequacy, require that the Company and the Bank maintain minimum ratios of capital to risk-weighted assets. There are two categories of capital under the guidelines. Tier 1 capital includes common shareholders’ equity and qualifying preferred stock less goodwill and other deductions including the unrealized net gains and losses, after taxes, of available for sale securities. Tier 2 capital includes preferred stock not qualifying for Tier 1 capital, mandatory convertible debt, subordinated debt, certain unsecured senior debt and the allowance for loan losses, subject to limitations within the guidelines. Under the guidelines, capital is compared to the relative risk of the balance sheet, derived from applying one of four risk weights (0%, 20%, 50% and 100%) to various categories of balance sheet assets and unfunded commitments to extend credit, primarily based on the credit risk of the counterparty. The capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weighting and other factors.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company and the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject.
The most recent notification from the Federal Reserve Board categorized the Company and the Bank as well capitalized under the FDICIA regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be well capitalized, the institution must maintain a total risk-based capital ratio as set forth in the following table and not be subject to a capital directive order. Since that notification, there are no conditions or events that Management believes have changed the risk-based capital category of the Company or the Bank.
The following tables show capital ratios for the Company and the Bank as of December 31, 2008 and 2007:
                                                 
                                    To Be Well
                                    Capitalized Under
                                    the FDICIA
                    For Capital   Prompt Corrective
December 31, 2008                   Adequacy Purposes   Action Provisions
    Amount   Ratio   Amount   Ratio   Amount   Ratio
    (Dollars in thousands)
Total Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
                                               
Consolidated Company
  $ 324,455       11.76 %   $ 220,709       8.00 %   $ 275,887       10.00 %
Westamerica Bank
    293,688       10.78 %     217,875       8.00 %     272,344       10.00 %
Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
                                               
Consolidated Company
    288,859       10.47 %     110,355       4.00 %     165,532       6.00 %
Westamerica Bank
    253,478       9.31 %     108,938       4.00 %     163,406       6.00 %
Leverage Ratio *
                                               
Consolidated Company
    288,859       7.36 %     156,934       4.00 %     196,167       5.00 %
Westamerica Bank
    253,478       6.52 %     155,408       4.00 %     194,260       5.00 %

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
                                                 
                                    To Be Well
                                    Capitalized Under
                                    the FDICIA
                    For Capital   Prompt Corrective
December 31, 2007                   Adequacy Purposes   Action Provisions
    Amount   Ratio   Amount   Ratio   Amount   Ratio
    (Dollars in thousands)
Total Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
                                               
Consolidated Company
  $ 318,131       10.64 %   $ 239,204       8.00 %   $ 299,005       10.00 %
Westamerica Bank
    323,264       10.98 %     235,445       8.00 %     294,306       10.00 %
Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)
                                               
Consolidated Company
    278,971       9.33 %     119,602       4.00 %     179,403       6.00 %
Westamerica Bank
    280,207       9.52 %     117,722       4.00 %     176,583       6.00 %
Leverage Ratio *
                                               
Consolidated Company
    278,971       6.32 %     176,664       4.00 %     220,831       5.00 %
Westamerica Bank
    280,207       6.41 %     174,946       4.00 %     218,682       5.00 %
 
*   The leverage ratio consists of Tier 1 capital divided by quarterly average assets excluding certain intangible assets. The minimum leverage ratio guideline is 3.00% for banking organizations that do not anticipate significant growth and that have well-diversified risk, excellent asset quality, high liquidity, good earnings and, in general, are considered top-rated, strong banking organizations.
Note 10: Income Taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the amounts reported in the financial statements of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Amounts for the current year are based upon estimates and assumptions as of the date of these financial statements and could vary significantly from amounts shown on the tax returns as filed.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The components of the net deferred tax asset as of December 31 are as follows:
                 
    2008   2007
    (In thousands)
Deferred tax asset
               
Allowance for credit losses
  $ 19,789     $ 23,156  
State franchise taxes
    3,475       4,552  
Securities available for sale
    0       3,020  
Deferred compensation
    14,535       16,102  
Real estate owned
    97       0  
Interest on nonaccrual loans
    0       114  
Post retirement benefits
    1,530       1,814  
Employee benefit accruals
    764       1,080  
Visa litigation
    0       970  
Impaired asset writedown
    21,292       2,980  
Other
    1,213       989  
 
Subtotal deferred tax asset
    62,695       54,777  
Valuation allowance
    0       0  
 
Total deferred tax asset
    62,695       54,777  
 
Deferred tax liability
               
Net deferred loan costs
    770       550  
Fixed assets
    236       240  
Intangible assets
    6,958       8,095  
Securities available for sale
    989       0  
Leases
    439       443  
Other
    399       364  
 
Total deferred tax liability
    9,791       9,692  
 
Net deferred tax asset
  $ 52,904     $ 45,085  
 
Based on Management’s judgment, a valuation allowance is not needed to reduce the gross deferred tax asset because it is more likely than not that the gross deferred tax asset will be realized through recoverable taxes or future taxable income. Net deferred tax assets are included with interest receivable and other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The provision for federal and state income taxes consists of amounts currently payable and amounts deferred which, for the years ended December 31, are as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (In thousands)
Current income tax expense:
                       
Federal
  $ 12,858     $ 19,548     $ 24,085  
State
    9,798       12,879       12,957  
 
Total current
    22,656       32,427       37,042  
 
Deferred income tax benefit:
                       
Federal
    (9,397 )     (1,335 )     (1,069 )
State
    (3,385 )     (401 )     (354 )
 
Total deferred
    (12,782 )     (1,736 )     (1,423 )
 
Provision for income taxes
  $ 9,874     $ 30,691     $ 35,619  
 

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The provision for income taxes differs from the provision computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before taxes, as follows:
                         
    2008   2007   2006
    (In thousands)
 
Federal income taxes due at statutory rate
  $ 24,398     $ 42,163     $ 47,049  
Reductions in income taxes resulting from:
                       
Interest on state and municipal securities not taxable for federal income tax purposes
    (13,164 )     (13,518 )     (14,422 )
State franchise taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
    4,168       8,111       8,192  
Low income housing tax credits
    (3,100 )     (2,300 )     (2,108 )
Dividend received deduction
    (584 )     (946 )     (951 )
Cash Value Life Insurance
    (783 )     (955 )     (1,101 )
Other
    (1,061 )     (1,864 )     (1,040 )
 
Provision for income taxes
  $ 9,874     $ 30,691     $ 35,619  
 
At December 31, 2008, the company had no net operating loss and general tax credit carryforwards for tax return purposes.
The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No.48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of Interpretation 48, the Company did not recognize any increase or decrease for unrecognized tax benefits. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
                 
    2008   2007
    (In thousands)
 
Balance at January 1,
  $ 792     $ 792  
Additions for tax positions taken in the current period
    103       0  
Reductions for tax positions taken in the current period
    0       0  
Additions for tax positions taken in prior years
    22       0  
Reductions for tax positions taken in prior years
    0       0  
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities
    0       0  
Decreases as a result of a lapse in statue of limitations
    (114 )     0  
                 
Balance at December 31,
  $ 803     $ 792  
                 
The Company does not anticipate any significant increase or decrease in unrecognized tax benefits during 2009. Unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2008 and 2007 include accrued interest and penalties of $133 thousand and $137 thousand, respectively. If recognized, the entire amount of the unrecognized tax benefits would affect the effective tax rate.
The Company classifies interest and penalties as a component of the provision for income taxes. The tax years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The tax years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004 remain subject to examination by the California Franchise Tax Board. The Company amended its 2003 and 2004 Federal tax return related to one tax item. The 2003 and 2004 Federal tax return remains open to examination with regard to this item. The deductibility of these tax positions will be determined through examination by the appropriate tax jurisdictions or the expiration of the tax statute of limitations.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 11: Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair values presented represent the Company’s best estimate of fair value using the methodologies discussed below. The fair values of financial instruments which have a relatively short period of time between their origination and their expected realization were valued using historical cost. The values assigned do not necessarily represent amounts which ultimately may be realized. In addition, these values do not give effect to discounts to fair value which may occur when financial instruments are sold in larger quantities. Such financial instruments and their estimated fair values as of December 31 were:
                 
    2008   2007
    (In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 138,883     $ 209,764  
Money market assets
    341       333  
Interest and taxes receivable
    75,022       64,370  
Noninterest bearing and interest-bearing transaction and savings deposits
    2,429,281       2,549,917  
Short-term borrowed funds
    457,275       798,599  
Interest payable
    2,239       5,767  
         
The fair values as of December 31 of the following financial instruments were estimated using quoted prices:
                                 
    2008   2007
    Book Value   Fair Value   Book Value   Fair Value
    (In thousands)
Investment securities available for sale
  $ 288,454     $ 288,454     $ 532,821     $ 532,821  
Investment securities held to maturity
    949,325       950,210       1,045,288       1,049,422  
         
The fair values of notes payables were estimated by using interpreted yields for financial instruments with similar characteristics. Such financial instruments and their estimated fair values as of December 31 were:
                                 
    2008   2007
    Book Value   Fair Value   Book Value   Fair Value
    (In thousands)
Senior notes payable
  $ 15,000     $ 12,319     $ 15,000     $ 14,676  
Subordinated notes
    11,631       7,455       21,773       20,775  
         
Loans were separated into two groups for valuation. Variable rate loans, except for those described below, which reprice frequently with changes in market rates were valued using historical cost. Fixed rate loans and variable rate loans that have reached their minimum contractual interest rates were valued by discounting the future cash flows expected to be received from the loans using current interest rates charged on loans with similar characteristics. Additionally, the allowance for loan losses of $44.5 million in 2008 and $52.5 million in 2007 were applied against the estimated fair values to recognize estimated future defaults of contractual cash flows. The book values and the estimated fair values of loans as of December 31 were:
                                 
    2008   2007
    Book Value   Fair Value   Book Value   Fair Value
    (In thousands)
Loans
  $ 2,337,956     $ 2,373,380     $ 2,450,470     $ 2,428,416  
         
The fair values of time deposits were estimated by discounting future cash flows related to these financial instruments using current market rates for financial instruments with similar characteristics. The book values and the estimated fair values as of December 31 were:
                                 
    2008   2007
    Book Value   Fair Value   Book Value   Fair Value
    (In thousands)
Time deposits
  $ 665,773     $ 667,065     $ 714,873     $ 710,583  
         

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The majority of the Company’s standby letters of credit and other commitments to extend credit carry current market interest rates if converted to loans. No premium or discount was ascribed to these commitments because virtually all funding would be at current market rates.
Note 12: Lease Commitments
Twenty-six banking offices and a centralized administrative service center are owned and seventy facilities are leased. Substantially all the leases contain multiple renewal options and provisions for rental increases, principally for cost of living index, property taxes and maintenance. The Company also leases certain pieces of equipment.
Minimum future rental payments, net of sublease income, as of December 31, 2008, are as follows:
         
    (In thousands)
2009
  $ 5,993  
2010
    4,736  
2011
    4,116  
2012
    3,290  
2013
    2,603  
Thereafter
    886  
 
Total minimum lease payments
  $ 21,624  
 
Total rentals for premises and equipment, net of sublease income, included in noninterest expense were $6.0 million in 2008, $5.9 million in 2007 and $5.8 million in 2006.
Note 13: Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
Loan commitments are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the agreement. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future funding requirements. Loan commitments are subject to the Company’s normal credit policies and collateral requirements. Unfunded loan commitments were $350.8 million and $405.9 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Standby letters of credit commit the Company to make payments on behalf of customers when certain specified future events occur. Standby letters of credit are primarily issued to support customers’ short-term financing requirements and must meet the Company’s normal credit policies and collateral requirements. Standby letters of credit outstanding totaled $29.0 million and $33.0 million at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We also had commitments for commercial and similar letters of credit of $1.7 million and $613 thousand at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
During 2007, the Visa Inc. (“Visa”) organization of affiliated entities announced that it completed restructuring transactions in preparation for an initial public offering planned for early 2008, and, as part of those transactions, the Bank’s membership interest in Visa U.S.A. was exchanged for an equity interest in Visa Inc. In accordance with Visa’s by-laws, the Bank and other Visa U.S.A. member banks are obligated to share in Visa’s litigation obligations which existed at the time of the restructuring transactions. On November 7, 2007, Visa announced that it had reached a settlement with American Express related to an antitrust lawsuit. Visa has disclosed other antitrust lawsuits which existed at the time of the restructuring transactions. In consideration of the American Express settlement and other antitrust lawsuits filed against Visa, the Company recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 a liability and corresponding expense of $2,338 thousand. In the first quarter 2008, Visa funded a litigation settlement escrow using proceeds from its initial public offering. Upon the escrow funding, the Company relieved its liability with a corresponding expense reversal in the amount of $2,338 thousand.
On October 27, 2008, Visa announced that it had reached a settlement with Discover Financial Services related to an antitrust lawsuit that existed at the time of Visa’s restructuring requiring the payment of the settlement to be funded from the litigation settlement escrow. On December 22, 2008, Visa announced that it had funded its litigation settlement escrow in an amount sufficient to meet such litigation obligation pursuant to Visa’s amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation approved by Visa’s shareholders on December 16, 2008. As such, the Company has not recorded a liability for this settlement.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Due to the nature of its business, the Company is subject to various threatened or filed legal cases. Based on the advice of legal counsel, the Company does not expect such cases will have a material, adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.
Note 14: Retirement Benefit Plans
The Company sponsors a defined contribution Deferred Profit-Sharing Plan covering substantially all of its salaried employees with one or more years of service. Eligible employees become vested in account balances ratably over a five or six-year period, depending on years of service at January 1, 2007. Company contributions charged to noninterest expense were $1.2 million in 2008, $1.0 million in 2007 and $1.1 million in 2006.
In addition to the Deferred Profit-Sharing Plan, all salaried employees are eligible to participate in the Tax Deferred Savings/Retirement Plan (ESOP) upon completion of a 90-day introductory period. The Tax Deferred Savings/ Retirement Plan (ESOP) allows employees to defer, on a pretax basis, a portion of their salaries as contributions to this Plan. Participants may invest in several funds, including one fund that invests exclusively in Westamerica Bancorporation common stock. The Company makes matching contributions to employee accounts which vest immediately; such contributions charged to compensation expense were $1.3 million in 2008, $1.2 million in 2007 and $1.3 million in 2006.
The Company offers a continuation of group insurance coverage to qualifying employees electing early retirement, for the period from the date of retirement until age 65. For eligible employees the Company pays a portion of these early retirees’ insurance premiums which are determined at their date of retirement. The Company reimburses a portion of Medicare Part B premiums for all qualifying retirees over age 65 and their spouses. Eligibility for post-retirement medical benefits is based on age and years of service, and restricted to employees hired prior to February 1, 2006. The Company uses an actuarial-based accrual method of accounting for post-retirement benefits. Prior to 2008, the Company used a September 30 measurement date. FAS 158 requires the Company to measure its benefit obligations as of the balance sheet date effective December 31, 2008. The change in measurement date did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
The following tables set forth the net periodic post-retirement benefit cost for the years ended December 31 and the funded status of the post-retirement benefit plan and the change in the benefit obligation as of December 31:
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
                         
(In thousands)   2008   2007   2006
Service cost
  $ (317 )   $ (509 )   $ 18  
Interest cost
    235       284       258  
Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation
    61       61       61  
 
Net periodic cost
    (21 )     (164 )     337  
 
Other Changes in Benefit Obligations Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
                         
Unamortized transition obligation, net of tax
                394  
Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation, net of tax
    (36 )     (36 )      
 
Total recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    (36 )     (36 )     394  
 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and accumulated other comprehensive income
  $ (57 )   $ (200 )   $ 731  
 
The remaining transition obligation cost for this post-retirement benefit plan that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year is $61 thousand.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Obligation and Funded Status
                         
(In thousands)   2008   2007   2006
Change in benefit obligation
                       
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
  $ 4,046     $ 4,430     $ 4,297  
Service cost
    (317 )     (509 )     18  
Interest cost
    235       284       258  
Benefits paid
    (151 )     (159 )     (143 )
 
Benefit obligation at end of year
  $ 3,813     $ 4,046     $ 4,430  
 
Accumulated post retirement benefit obligation attributable to:
                       
Retirees
  $ 2,724     $ 2,929     $ 3,233  
Fully eligible participants
    895       899       956  
Other
    194       218       241  
 
Total
  $ 3,813     $ 4,046     $ 4,430  
 
Fair value of plan assets
  $     $     $  
 
Accumulated post retirement benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
  $ 3,813     $ 4,046     $ 4,430  
 
Comprised of:
                       
Unrecognized transition obligation
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  
Recognized post-retirement obligation
    3,813       4,046       4,430  
 
Total
  $ 3,813     $ 4,046     $ 4,430  
 
Additional Information
Assumptions
                         
    2008   2007   2006
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31 Discount rate
    5.80 %     6.50 %     6.00 %
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost as of December 31 Discount rate
    6.50 %     6.00 %     5.50 %
The above discount rate is based on the Corporate AA Moody’s bond rate, the term of which approximates the term of the benefit obligations. The Company reserves the right to terminate or alter post-employment health benefits, which is considered in estimating the increase in the cost of providing such benefits. The assumed annual average rate of inflation used to measure the expected cost of benefits covered by the plan was 5.50% for 2009 and beyond.
Assumed benefit inflation rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for health care plans. A one percentage point change in the assumed benefit inflation rate would have the following effect on 2008 results:
                 
    One Percentage   One Percentage
(in thousands)   Point Increase   Point Decrease
Effect on total service and interest cost components
  $ 151     $ (128 )
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation
    521       (432 )
         
Estimated future benefit payments        
(in thousands)        
2008
  $ 167  
2009
    180  
2010
    191  
2011
    198  
2012
    202  
Years 2013-2017
    935  

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 15: Related Party Transactions
Certain of the Directors, executive officers and their associates have had banking transactions with subsidiaries of the Company in the ordinary course of business. With the exception of the Company’s Employee Loan Program, all outstanding loans and commitments included in such transactions were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons, did not involve more than a normal risk of collectibility, and did not present other favorable features. As part of the Employee Loan Program, all employees, including executive officers, are eligible to receive mortgage loans at one percent below Westamerica Bank’s prevailing interest rate at the time of loan origination. All loans to executive officers under the Employee Loan Program are made by Westamerica Bank in compliance with the applicable restrictions of Section 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act.
The table below reflects information concerning loans to certain directors and executive officers and/or family members during 2008 and 2007:
                 
    2008   2007
    (In thousands)
Beginning balance
  $ 1,259     $ 1,334  
Originations
    111       68  
Payoffs/principal payments
    (79 )     (143 )
 
At December 31,
  $ 1,291     $ 1,259  
 
Percent of total loans outstanding
    0.05 %     0.05 %
 
Note 16: Regulatory Matters
Payment of dividends to the Company by the Bank is limited under regulations for state chartered banks. The amount that can be paid in any calendar year, without prior approval from regulatory agencies, cannot exceed the net profits (as defined) for the preceding three calendar years less dividends paid. Under this regulation, Westamerica Bank sought and obtained approval during 2008 to pay to the Company dividends of $99.8 million. The Company consistently has paid quarterly dividends to its shareholders since its formation in 1972. As of December 31, 2008, $54 million was available for payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders.
The Bank is required to maintain reserves with the Federal Reserve Bank equal to a percentage of its reservable deposits. The Bank’s daily average on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank was $19.7 million in 2008 and $24.8 million in 2007.
Note 17: Other Comprehensive Income
The components of other comprehensive income and other related tax effects were:
                         
            2006    
(in thousands)   Before tax   Tax effect   Net of tax
Securities available for sale:
                       
Net unrealized gains arising during the year
  $ 625     $ (263 )   $ 362  
Reclassification of losses included in net income
    0       0       0  
 
Net unrealized gains arising during the year
    625       (263 )     362  
Post-retirement benefit obligation
    0       0       0  
 
Other comprehensive income
  $ 625     $ (263 )   $ 362  
 
                         
            2007    
    Before tax   Tax effect   Net of tax
Securities available for sale:
                       
Net unrealized losses arising during the year
  $ (11,054 )   $ 4,648     $ (6,406 )
Reclassification of gains included in net income
    0       0       0  
 
Net unrealized losses arising during the year
    (11,054 )     4,648       (6,406 )
Post-retirement benefit obligation
    61       (25 )     36  
 
Other comprehensive income
  $ (10,993 )   $ 4,623     $ (6,370 )
 

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
                         
            2008    
    Before tax   Tax effect   Net of tax
 
Securities available for sale:
                       
Net unrealized gains arising during the year
  $ (47,423 )   $ 19,940     $ (27,483 )
Reclassification of losses included in net income
    56,955       (23,948 )     33,007  
     
Net unrealized gains arising during the year
    9,532       (4,008 )     5,524  
Post-retirement benefit obligation
    61       (25 )     36  
     
Other comprehensive income
  $ 9,593     $ (4,033 )   $ 5,560  
 
Cumulative other comprehensive income balances were:
                         
    Post-   Net   Cumulative
    retirement   Unrealized   Other
    Benefit   gains(losses)   Comprehensive
(in thousands)   Obligation   on securities   Income
Balance, December 31, 2005
  $ 0     $ 1,882     $ 1,882  
Net change
    (394) *     362       (32 )
     
Balance, December 31, 2006
    (394 )     2,244       1,850  
Net change
    36       (6,406 )     (6,370 )
     
Balance, December 31, 2007
    (358 )     (4,162 )     (4,520 )
Net change
    36       5,524       5,560  
     
Balance, December 31, 2008
  $ (322 )   $ 1,362     $ 1,040  
 
 
*   Adoption of FAS 158 on December 31, 2006
Note 18: Earnings Per Common Share
The table below shows earnings per common share and diluted earnings per common share. Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the average number of shares outstanding during the period plus the impact of common stock equivalents.
                         
(In thousands, except per share data)   2008   2007   2006
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic
    28,892       29,753       31,202  
Add exercise of options reduced by the number of shares that could have been purchased with the proceeds of such exercise
    381       412       537  
     
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted
    29,273       30,165       31,739  
     
Net income
  $ 59,835     $ 89,776     $ 98,806  
Basic earnings per share
    2.07       3.02       3.17  
Diluted earnings per share
    2.04       2.98       3.11  
For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, options to purchase 634 thousand, 1.1 million and 719 thousand shares of common stock, respectively, were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the option exercise price exceeded the fair value of the stock such that their inclusion would have had an anti-dilutive effect.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 19: Westamerica Bancorporation (Parent Company Only)
Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
                         
For the years ended December 31,   2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
Dividends from subsidiaries
  $ 101,270     $ 113,448     $ 112,595  
Interest income
    263       219       224  
Other income
    5,543       8,976       5,676  
 
Total income
    107,076       122,643       118,495  
 
Interest on borrowings
    2,271       3,230       3,191  
Salaries and benefits
    6,487       6,785       7,917  
Other expense
    2,256       2,041       2,076  
 
Total expenses
    11,014       12,056       13,184  
 
Income before taxes and equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries
    96,062       110,587       105,311  
Income tax benefit
    2,074       2,187       3,795  
Earnings of subsidiaries less than subsidiary dividends
    (38,301 )     (22,998 )     (10,300 )
 
Net income
  $ 59,835     $ 89,776     $ 98,806  
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    5,560       (6,370 )     362  
 
Comprehensive income
  $ 65,395     $ 83,406     $ 99,168  
 
Balance Sheets
                 
Balances as of December 31,   2008     2007  
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 18,101     $ 1,037  
Money market assets and investment securities available for sale
    2,999       4,256  
Investment in subsidiaries
    390,066       422,463  
Premises and equipment, net
    11,862       12,007  
Accounts receivable from subsidiaries
    1,839       883  
Other assets
    26,035       26,105  
 
Total assets
  $ 450,902     $ 466,751  
 
Liabilities
               
Debt financing and notes payable
  $ 26,941     $ 56,925  
Other liabilities
    14,109       15,223  
 
Total liabilities
    41,050       72,148  
Shareholders’ equity
    409,852       394,603  
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 450,902     $ 466,751  
 

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Statements of Cash Flows
                         
For the years ended December 31,   2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
Operating Activities
                       
Net income
  $ 59,835     $ 89,776     $ 98,806  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation
    347       383       386  
Increase in accounts receivable from affiliates
    (956 )     (135 )     (266 )
Increase in other assets
    (2,484 )     (942 )     (588 )
Stock option expense
    1,193       1,779       2,504  
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation
    (1,130 )     (306 )     (1,867 )
Provision for deferred income tax
    2,801       207       3,050  
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities
    (10 )     2,038       947  
Earnings of subsidiaries less than subsidiary dividends
    38,301       22,998       10,300  
Impairment and losses on sale of investment securities
    1,246       0       0  
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    99,143       115,798       113,272  
Investing Activities
                       
Purchases of premises and equipment
    (204 )     (489 )     (103 )
Net (increase) decrease in short term investments
    (10 )     234       (34 )
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (214 )     (255 )     (137 )
Financing Activities
                       
(Decrease) increase in short-term debt
    (19,532 )     (980 )     6,243  
Net reductions in notes payable and long-term borrowings
    (10,143 )     (147 )     (3,362 )
Exercise of stock options/issuance of shares
    22,830       11,908       12,755  
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation
    1,130       306       1,867  
Retirement of common stock including repurchases
    (35,914 )     (87,103 )     (88,981 )
Dividends
    (40,236 )     (40,647 )     (40,696 )
 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (81,865 )     (116,663 )     (112,174 )
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    17,064       (1,120 )     961  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    1,037       2,157       1,196  
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 18,101     $ 1,037     $ 2,157  
 
Supplemental disclosure:
                       
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale, net
  $ 5,524     $ (6,406 )   $ 362  

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 20: Subsequent Events
Acquisition of the Banking Operations of County Bank
On February 6, 2009, Westamerica Bank (“Bank”), wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired the banking operations of County Bank from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) by purchasing substantially all the assets and assumption of specified liabilities of County Bank. County Bank’s banking operations consisted of 39 branches with 36 located in the Central Valley, and one branch each in San Francisco, San Jose and Needles, California.
The following table reflects the assets purchased and liabilities assumed using amounts recorded by County Bank as of February 6, 2009. Loans are stated at par without recognition of an allowance for loan losses. Securities are stated at fair value. The table excludes all assets, liabilities and trust preferred debt of County Bank’s former parent, Capital Corp of the West, which were not purchased or assumed by the Bank or Company.

(In thousands)
         
    (unaudited)
Assets
       
Cash and due from banks
  $ 44,668  
Fed funds sold
    12,760  
Securities (at fair value)
    173,839  
Loans, gross
    1,324,679  
Other real estate owned
    14,802  
Other assets
    52,443  
 
Total assets
  $ 1,623,191  
 
Liabilities
       
Deposits
  $ 1,223,300  
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under repurchase agreements
    155,001  
Other borrowed funds
    185,191  
Liability for interest and other expenses
    1,076  
 
Total liabilities
  $ 1,564,568  
 
Westamerica will apply the mark-to-market provisions of FAS 141R to account for the purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities. Significant adjustments will include re-measuring loans, other real estate owned, deposits, FHLB advances, and repurchase agreements at fair value as of February 6, 2009. In addition, a core deposit intangible will be recognized. Accounting rules also require recognition of the FDIC’s estimated loss assistance with respect to the loans and other real estate owned. Under the terms of the Purchase and Assumption Agreement with the FDIC, the first $269 million in losses recognized on loans and other real estate owned are shared with the FDIC absorbing 80% of the losses and the Company absorbing 20% of the losses. Losses exceeding $269 million are shared with the FDIC absorbing 95% of the losses and the Company absorbing 5% of the losses.
The Company invested capital of approximately $93 million into the Bank to maintain the Bank’s well-capitalized condition after purchasing County Bank’s assets from the FDIC.
Troubled Asset Relief Program’s Capital Purchase Program
On February 13, 2009, the Company received approximately $83.7 million from the United States Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) under the Troubled Asset Relief Program’s Capital Purchase Program (“TARP”). The Company issued the Treasury 83,726 shares of preferred stock at a purchase price of $1,000 per share yielding five percent per annum and a warrant to purchase 246,640 shares of the Company’s common stock at $50.92 per share.
The general terms of this preferred stock are as follows:
    pay 5% dividends per annum for the first five years, and 9% dividends per annum thereafter,
 
    can not increase common stock dividends for the initial three years while Treasury is an investor,
 
    can not redeem the Treasury preferred stock for three years unless the Company raises high-quality private capital,
 
    must receive Treasury’s consent to repurchase Company common stock, and
 
    company executives must agree to certain compensation restrictions, and restrictions on the amount of executive compensation which is tax deductible.

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WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed by the President on February 17, 2009, eliminates the requirement that redemption during the first three years be made only from proceeds of a new capital raise.
Note 21: Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
                                 
    March 31,   June 30,   September 30,   December 31,
            (In thousands, except per share data and        
            price range of common stock)        
2008
                               
Interest and fee income (FTE)
  $ 60,810     $ 58,117     $ 56,131     $ 54,442  
Net interest income (FTE)
    47,982       49,731       48,693       49,850  
Provision for credit losses
    600       600       600       900  
Noninterest income (loss)
    19,378       (3,843 )     (27,499 )     9,908  
Noninterest expense
    23,056       26,337       25,203       26,166  
Income (loss) before taxes (FTE)
    43,704       18,951       (4,609 )     32,692  
Net income
    26,778       12,202       44       20,810  
Basic earnings per share
    0.93       0.42       0.00       0.72  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.92       0.42       0.00       0.71  
Dividends paid per share
    0.34       0.35       0.35       0.35  
Price range, common stock
    39.00-56.49       50.55-61.49       35.50-69.00       41.17-60.00  
 
2007
                               
Interest and fee income (FTE)
  $ 65,025     $ 64,875     $ 64,708     $ 63,295  
Net interest income (FTE)
    46,914       46,059       45,563       46,812  
Provision for credit losses
    75       75       75       475  
Noninterest income
    15,277       14,700       14,644       14,657  
Noninterest expense
    24,664       24,706       24,853       27,206  
Income before taxes (FTE)
    37,452       35,978       35,279       33,788  
Net income
    23,570       22,351       22,022       21,832  
Basic earnings per share
    0.78       0.75       0.75       0.75  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.76       0.74       0.74       0.74  
Dividends paid per share
    0.34       0.34       0.34       0.34  
Price range, common stock
    46.43-51.47       44.23-48.61       39.77-50.49       42.11-53.29  
 
2006
                               
Interest and fee income (FTE)
  $ 68,486     $ 67,788     $ 67,186     $ 66,512  
Net interest income (FTE)
    53,974       51,503       50,198       49,029  
Provision for credit losses
    150       150       75       70  
Noninterest income
    13,639       14,061       13,899       13,747  
Noninterest expense
    25,483       26,345       25,403       24,492  
Income before taxes (FTE)
    41,980       39,069       38,619       38,214  
Net income
    26,117       24,494       24,237       23,958  
Basic earnings per share
    0.82       0.78       0.78       0.78  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.81       0.77       0.77       0.77  
Dividends paid per share
    0.32       0.32       0.32       0.34  
Price range, common stock
    51.38-55.42       47.20-52.89       45.44-51.38       47.96-51.79  

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Westamerica Bancorporation:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Westamerica Bancorporation and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Westamerica Bancorporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 26, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ KPMG LLP                
KPMG LLP
San Francisco, California
February 26, 2009

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company’s principal executive officer and the person performing the functions of the Company’s principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of December 31, 2008.
Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. The evaluation did not identify any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and the attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are found on pages 49-50, immediately preceding the financial statements.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information regarding Directors of the Registrant and compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 required by this Item 10 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the captions “Board of Directors and Committees”, “Proposal 1 — Election of Directors” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Executive Officers
The executive officers of the Corporation and Westamerica Bank serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and are subject to annual appointment by the Board at its first meeting following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. It is anticipated that each of the executive officers listed below will be reappointed to serve in such capacities at that meeting.
             
        Held
Name of Executive   Position   Since
David L. Payne
  Mr. Payne, born in 1955, is the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Mr. Payne is President and Chief Executive Officer of Gibson Printing and Publishing Company and Gibson Radio and Publishing Company which are newspaper, commercial printing and real estate investment companies headquartered in Vallejo, California.     1984  
 
           
John “Robert” Thorson
  Mr. Thorson, born in 1960, is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Corporation. Mr. Thorson joined Westamerica Bancorporation in 1989, was Vice President and Manager of Human Resources from 1995 until 2001 and was Senior Vice President and and Treasurer from 2002 until 2005.     2005  
 
           
Jennifer J. Finger
  Ms. Finger, born in 1954, is Senior Vice President and Treasurer for the Corporation. Ms. Finger joined Westamerica Corporation in 1997, was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer until 2005.     2005  
 
           
Dennis R. Hansen
  Mr. Hansen, born in 1950, is Senior Vice President and Manager of the Operations and Systems Administration of Community Banker Services Corporation. Mr. Hansen joined Westamerica Bancorporation in 1978 and was Senior Vice President and Controller for the Corporation until 2005.     2005  
 
           
David L. Robinson
  Mr. Robinson, born in 1959, is Senior Vice President and Banking Division Manager of Westamerica Bank. Mr. Robinson joined Westamerica Bancorporation in 1993 and has held several banking positions, most recently, Senior Vice President and Southern Banking Division Manager until 2007.     2007  
 
           
Russell W. Rizzardi
  Mr. Rizzardi, born in 1955, is Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Administrator of Westamerica Bank. Mr. Rizzardi joined Westamerica Bank in 2007. He has been in the banking industry since 1979 and was previously with Wells Fargo Bank and U.S. Bank.     2008  
The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics (as defined in Item 406 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933) that is applicable to its senior financial officers including its chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and principal accounting officer. This Code of Ethics has been filed as Exhibit 14 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item 11 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the captions “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the caption “Stock Ownership” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Securities Authorized For Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table summarizes the status of the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2008 (in thousands, except exercise price):
                         
                    Number of securities
                    remaining available for
    Number of securities           future issuance under
    to be issued upon   Weighted-average   equity compensation
    exercise of outstanding   exercise price of   plans (excluding
    options, warrants   outstanding options,   securities reflected
Plan category   and rights   warrants and rights   in column (a))
    (a)   (b)   (c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
    2,469     $ 43       3,051 *
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
    0       N/A       0  
 
Total
    2,469     $ 43       3,051  
 
 
*   The Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, Article III, provides that the number of shares reserved for Awards under the plan may increase on the first day of each fiscal year by an amount equal to the least of 1) 2% of the shares outstanding as of the last day of the prior fiscal year, 2) 675,000 shares, or 3) such lesser amount as determined by the Board.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by this Item 13 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the caption “Corporation Transactions with Directors and Management” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item 14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the information contained under the caption “Independent Auditors” in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
             
(a)
    1.     Financial Statements:
 
           
 
          See Index to Financial Statements on page 48. The financial statements included in Item 8 are filed as part of this report.
 
           
(a)
    2.     Financial statement schedules required. No financial statement schedules are filed as part of this report since the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, or the circumstances requiring inclusion of such schedules are not present.
 
           
(a)
    3.     Exhibits:
The exhibit list required by this item is incorporated by reference to the Exhibit Index filed with this report.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
/s/ John “Robert” Thorson                
John “Robert” Thorson
Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
(Chief Financial and Accounting Officer)
Date: February 26, 2009
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
         
Signature   Title   Date
 
       
/s/ David L. Payne
  Chairman of the Board and Directors    
         
David L. Payne
  President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ John “Robert” Thorson
       
         
John “Robert” Thorson
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ Etta Allen
       
         
Etta Allen
  Director   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ Louis E. Bartolini
       
         
Louis E. Bartolini
  Director   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ E. Joseph Bowler
       
         
E. Joseph Bowler
  Director   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ Arthur C. Latno, Jr.
       
         
Arthur C. Latno, Jr.
  Director   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ Patrick D. Lynch
       
         
Patrick D. Lynch
  Director   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ Catherine C. MacMillan
       
         
Catherine C. MacMillan
  Director   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ Ronald A. Nelson
       
         
Ronald A. Nelson
  Director   February 26, 2009
 
       
/s/ Edward B. Sylvester
       
         
Edward B. Sylvester
  Director   February 26, 2009

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EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit    
Number    
3(a)
  Restated Articles of Incorporation (composite copy), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1998.
 
   
3(b)
  By-laws, as amended (composite copy), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2007.
 
   
3(c)
  Certificate of Determination of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual preferred Stock, Series A of Westamerica Bancorporation dated February 10, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2009.
 
   
4(a)
  Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated December 31, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A/A, Amendment No. 4, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2004.
 
   
4(b)
  Form of Certificate for the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to the Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury dated February 13, 2009 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2009.
 
   
4(c)
  Warrant to Purchase Common Stock pursuant to the Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury dated February 13, 2009 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2009.
 
   
10(a)*
  Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan of 1995, incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14(a) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2003.
 
   
10(c)
  Note Purchase Agreement by and between Westamerica Bancorporation and The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company dated as of October 30, 2003, pursuant to which registrant issued its 5.31% Senior Notes due October 31, 2013 in the principal amount of $15 million and form of 5.31% Senior Note due October 31, 2013 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 of Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003.
 
   
10(d)*
  Westamerica Bancorporation Chief Executive Officer Deferred Compensation Agreement by and between Westamerica Bancorporation and David L. Payne, dated December 18, 1998 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2000.
 
   
10(e)*
  Description of Executive Cash Bonus Program incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to Exhibit 2.1 of Registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2005.
 
   
10(f)*
  Non-Qualified Annuity Performance Agreement with David L. Payne dated November 19, 1997 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2005.
 
   
10(g)*
  Amended and Restated Westamerica Bancorporation Stock Option Plan of 1995 Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement Form incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2005.
 
   
10(h)*
  Amended and Restated Westamerica Bancorporation Stock Option Plan of 1995 Restricted Performance Share Grant Agreement Form incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2005.
 
   
10(i)*
  Amended Westamerica Bancorporation and Subsidiaries Deferred Compensation Plan (As restated effective January 1, 2005) dated December 31, 2008
 
   
10(j)*
  Amended and Restated Westamerica Bancorporation Deferral Plan (Adopted October 26, 1995) dated December 31, 2008
 
   
10(k)*
  Form of Restricted Performance Share Deferral Election pursuant to the Westamerica Bancorporation Deferral Plan incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(i) to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2006.
 
   
10(l)
  Purchase and Assumption Agreement by and between Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Westamerica Bank dated February 6, 2009, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2009.
 
   
10(m)
  Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury dated February 13, 2009 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2009.
 
   
10(n)
  Additional Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury dated February 13, 2009 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2009.
 
   
10(o)*
  Form of Waiver pursuant to the Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury dated February 13, 2009 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2009.
 
   
10(p)*
  Form of Consent pursuant to the Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury dated February 13, 2009 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2009.

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Exhibit    
Number    
10(q)
  Resolutions of the Employee Benefits/Compensation Committee of Westamerica Bancorporation dated February 9, 2009 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2009.
 
   
11.1
  Statement re computation of per share earnings incorporated by reference to Note 19 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of this report.
 
   
14
  Code of Ethics incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2004.
 
   
21
  Subsidiaries of the registrant.
 
   
23(a)
  Consent of KPMG LLP
 
   
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
*   Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
The Company will furnish to shareholders a copy of any exhibit listed above, but not contained herein, upon written request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary A-2M, Westamerica Bancorporation, P.O. Box 1200, Suisun City, California 94585-1200, and payment to the Company of $.25 per page.

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