Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, James M. Ford, certify that:

|1. | I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of PremierWest Bancorp;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material factnecessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleadingwithrespect to the period covered by this report;                          
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|3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in allmaterialrespects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periodspresentedin this report;                                              
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|4. | The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls andprocedures(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (asdefinedin Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
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|5. | The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control overfinancialreporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or personsperformingthe equivalent functions):                                   
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Date: August 14, 2009

/s/ James M. Ford__________________James M. FordPresident & Chief Executive Officer

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