EXHIBIT 31.1

                     RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CERTIFICATION

I, R. Michael Collins, certify that:

1.                I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Sutter
                  Holding Co., Inc.;

2.                Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain
                  any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
                  material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light
                  of the circumstances under which such statements were made,
                  not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
                  annual report;

3.                Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
                  financial information included in this annual report,
                  fairly present in all material respects the financial
                  condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
                  registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
                  annual report;

4.                The registrant's other certifying officers and I are
                  responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure
                  controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
                  13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

(a)               designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure
                  that material information relating to the registrant,
                  including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us
                  by others within those entities, particularly during the
                  period in which this annual report is being prepared;

(b)               evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
                  controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to
                  the filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation
                  Date"); and

(c)               presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
                  effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based
                  on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.                The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
                  disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the
                  registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's
                  board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
                  function):

(a)               all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
                  internal controls which could adversely affect the
                  registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report
                  financial data and have identified for the registrant's
                  auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

(b)               any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
                  or other employees who have a significant role in the
                  registrant's internal controls; and

6.                The registrant's other certifying officers and I have
                  indicated in this annual reportt whether or not there were
                  significant changes in internal controls or in other factors
                  that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent
                  to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any
                  corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and
                  material weaknesses.



Date: April 14, 2005                /s/ R. Michael Collins
                                    ---------------------
                                    R. Michael Collins
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer