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                                                                     Exhibit 3.1

                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                                    VIB CORP
                         [as amended September 27, 1999]

                                 ARTICLE I: NAME

     The name of this corporation is:

                                    VIB CORP

                               ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

     The purpose of this corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity
for which a corporation may be organized under the General Corporation Law of
California other than the banking business, the trust company business or the
practice of a profession permitted to be incorporated by the California
Corporations Code.

                               ARTICLE III: AGENT

     The name and complete business address in the State of California of this
corporation's initial agent for service of process is:

               S. Alan Rosen, Esq.
               Horgan, Rosen, Beckham & Coren, L.L.P.
               21700 Oxnard Street, Suite 1400
               Woodland Hills, California 91365

                               ARTICLE IV: CAPITAL

     (a) The corporation is authorized to issue two classes of shares designated
"Preferred Stock" and "Common Stock," respectively. The number of shares of
Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is 10,000,000 and the number of shares
of Common Stock, no par value per share, authorized to be issued is 20,000,000.

     (b) The Preferred Stock may be divided into such number of series as the
Board of Directors may determine. The Board of Directors is authorized to
determine and alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted
to and imposed upon any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and to fix
the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock and the designation of any
such series of Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors, within the limits and
restrictions stated in any resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors
originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series, may increase or
decrease (but not below the number of



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shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series
subsequent to the issue of shares of that series.

                          ARTICLE V: RANGE OF DIRECTORS

     (a) The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed under the
direction of the Board of Directors. The authorized number of directors of the
corporation shall be not less than six (6) nor more than ten (10). The exact
number of directors shall be determined within the limits specified above by a
bylaw or by a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors or by the
shareholders.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles of
Incorporation, the range of authorized directors of the corporation set forth in
Section (a) of Article V may only be amended by the vote of at least sixty-six
and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the outstanding shares entitled to vote
thereon; provided, however, that an amendment reducing the minimum number of
directors to a number less than five (5) cannot be adopted if the votes cast
against its adoption at a meeting, or the shares not consenting in the case of
an action by written consent, are equal to more than sixteen and two-thirds
percent (16 2/3%) of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.

                       ARTICLE VI: LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS

     (a) The liability of directors of the corporation for monetary damages
shall be eliminated to the fullest extent permissible under California law.

     (b) The corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of agents (as
defined in Section 317 of the California Corporations Code) through Bylaw
provisions, agreements with agents, vote of shareholders or disinterested
directors, or otherwise, to the fullest extent permissible under California law.

     (c) The corporation is authorized to purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of its agents against any liability asserted against or incurred by the
agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent's status as such from a
company, the shares of which are owned in whole or in part by the corporation,
provided that any policy issued by such company is limited to the extent
provided by applicable law.

     (d) Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article
VI shall not adversely affect any right or protection of an agent of this
corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

                       ARTICLE VII: FAIR PRICE PROTECTION

     (a) Definitions. For the purposes of this Article VII:



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     1. The term "Beneficial Owner" and correlative terms shall have the meaning
as set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any similar successor Rule. Without limitation and in addition to
the foregoing, any Voting Stock of this corporation which any Major Shareholder
has the right to vote or to acquire: (i) pursuant to any agreement; (ii) by
reason of tenders of shares by shareholders of the corporation in connection
with or pursuant to a tender offer made by such Major Shareholder (whether or
not any tenders have been accepted, but excluding tenders which have been
rejected); or (iii) upon the exercise of conversion rights, warrants, options or
otherwise, shall be deemed "beneficially owned" by such Major Shareholder.

     2. The term "Business Combination" shall mean:

          A. Any merger or consolidation (whether in a single transaction or a
series of related transactions, including a series of separate transactions with
a Major Shareholder, any Affiliate or Associate thereof, or any Person acting in
concert therewith) of this corporation or any Subsidiary with or into a Major
Shareholder or of a Major Shareholder with or into this corporation or a
Subsidiary;

          B. Any sale, lease, exchange, transfer, distribution to shareholders
or other disposition, including without limitation, a mortgage, pledge or any
other security device, to or with a Major Shareholder by the corporation or any
of its Subsidiaries (in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions) of all, substantially all or any Substantial Part of the assets of
this corporation or a Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any securities
of a Subsidiary);

          C. The purchase, exchange, lease or other acquisition by the
corporation or any of its Subsidiaries (in a single transaction or a series of
related transactions) of all, substantially all or any Substantial Part of the
assets or business of a Major Shareholder;

          D. The issuance of any securities, or of any rights, warrants or
options to acquire any securities, of this corporation or a Subsidiary, eighty
percent (80%) or more of which are issued to a Major Shareholder, or the
acquisition by this corporation or a Subsidiary of any securities, or of any
rights, warrants or options to acquire any securities, of a Major Shareholder;

          E. Any reclassification of Voting Stock, recapitalization or other
transaction (other than a redemption in accordance with the terms of the
security redeemed) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing
the proportionate amount of Voting Stock of the corporation or any Subsidiary
thereof which is beneficially owned by a Major Shareholder, or any partial
liquidation, spin off, split off or split up of the corporation or any
Subsidiary thereof; provided, however, that this Section (a)2.E of Article VII
shall not relate to any transaction of the types specified herein that has been
approved by eighty percent (80%) of the Board of Directors; and



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          F. Any Agreement, contract or other arrangement providing for any of
the transactions described herein.

     3. The term "Major Shareholder" shall mean any Person which, together with
its "Affiliates" and "Associates" (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor Rule) and any Person
acting in concert therewith, is the beneficial owner of shares possessing ten
percent (10%) or more of the voting power of the Voting Stock of this
corporation, and any Affiliate or Associate of a Major Shareholder, including a
Person acting in concert therewith. The term "Major Shareholder" shall not
include a Subsidiary of this corporation.

     4. The term "other consideration to be received" shall include, without
limitation, Voting Stock of this corporation retained by its existing
shareholders in the event of a Business Combination which is a merger or
consolidation in which this corporation is the surviving corporation.

     5. The term "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership or
other person, group or entity (other than this corporation, any Subsidiary of
this corporation or a trustee holding stock for the benefit of employees of this
corporation or its Subsidiaries, or any one of them, pursuant to one or more
employee benefit plans or arrangements). When two or more Persons act as a
partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, association or other group for the
purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of shares of stock, such partnership,
syndicate, association or group will be deemed a "Person."

     6. The term "Subsidiary" shall mean any business entity fifty percent (50%)
or more of which is beneficially owned by this corporation.

     7. The term "Substantial Part," as used in reference to the assets of the
corporation, of any Subsidiary or of any Major Shareholder means assets having a
value of more than five percent (5%) of the total consolidated assets of the
corporation and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the corporation's most recent
fiscal year ending prior to the time the determination is made.

     8. The term "Voting Stock" shall mean stock or other securities entitled to
vote upon any action to be taken in connection with any Business Combination or
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and shall also include
stock or other securities convertible into Voting Stock.

          (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles of
Incorporation and except as set forth in Section (c) of Article VII, neither the
corporation nor any Subsidiary shall be party to a Business Combination unless:

               1. The Business Combination was approved by the Board of
Directors of the corporation prior to the Major Shareholder involved in the
Business Combination becoming such; or



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               2. The Major Shareholder involved in the Business Combination
sought and obtained the unanimous prior approval of the Board of Directors to
become a Major Shareholder and the Business Combination was approved by not less
than eighty percent (80%) of the Board of Directors; or

               3. The Business Combination was approved by not less than ninety
percent (90%) of the Board of Directors of the corporation.

          (c) The approval requirements of Section (b) of Article VII shall not
apply if the Business Combination is approved by the vote of at least sixty-six
and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the shares of the Voting Stock of this
corporation and all of the following conditions are satisfied:

               1. The aggregate of the cash and the fair market value of other
consideration to be received per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock
dividends, reclassification of shares into a lesser number and similar events)
by holders of the Voting Stock of this corporation in the Business Combination
is not less than the higher of: (i) the highest per share price (including
brokerage commissions, soliciting dealers' fees, dealer-management compensation,
and other expenses, including, but not limited to, costs of newspaper
advertisements, printing expenses and attorneys' fees) paid by the Major
Shareholder in acquiring any of this corporation's Voting Stock; or (ii) an
amount which bears the same or a greater percentage relationship to the market
price of this corporation's Voting Stock immediately prior to the announcement
of such Business Combination as the highest per share price determined in (i)
above bears to the market price of this corporation's Voting Stock immediately
prior to the commencement of acquisition of this corporation's Voting Stock by
such Major Shareholder;

               2. The consideration to be received in such Business Combination
by holders of the Voting Stock of this corporation shall be, except to the
extent that a shareholder agrees otherwise as to all or a part of his or her
shares, in the same form and of the same kind as paid by the Major Shareholder
in acquiring his Voting Stock of the corporation;

               3. After becoming a Major Shareholder and prior to consummation
of such Business Combination: (i) such Major Shareholder shall not have acquired
any newly-issued shares of capital stock, directly or indirectly, from this
corporation or a Subsidiary (except upon conversion of convertible securities
acquired by it prior to becoming a Major Shareholder or upon compliance with the
provisions of this Article VII or as a result of a pro rata share dividend or
share split); and (ii) such Major Shareholder shall not have received the
benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a shareholder), of
any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or tax
credits provided by this corporation or a Subsidiary, or made any major changes
in this corporation's business or equity capital structure; and

               4. A proxy statement responsive to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules promulgated thereunder, whether or not
this corporation is then subject to such requirements, shall be mailed to all
shareholders of this corporation for the purpose of soliciting shareholders'
approval of such Business Combination and shall contain at the front



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thereof, in a prominent place: (i) any recommendations as to the advisability
(or inadvisability) of the Business Combination which any one or more members of
Board of Directors may choose to state; and (ii) the opinion of a reputable
national investment banking firm as to the fairness (or lack thereof) of the
terms of such Business Combination, from the point of view of the remaining
shareholders of this corporation (such investment banking firm to be engaged
solely on behalf of the remaining shareholders, to be paid a reasonable fee for
their services by this corporation upon receipt of such opinion, to be one of
the so-called major bracket investment banking firms which has not previously
been associated with such Major Shareholder and to be selected by the Board of
Directors).

          (d) The affirmative vote required by this Article VII is in addition
to the vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the corporation
otherwise required by law, these Articles of Incorporation, or any resolution
which has been adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of a
class or series of Preferred Stock.

          (e) Nothing contained in this Article VII shall be construed as
relieving any Major Shareholder or any Affiliate or Associate thereof from any
fiduciary obligation imposed by law.

          (f) The fact that any action or transaction complies with the
provisions of this Article VII shall not be construed as imposing any fiduciary
duty, obligation or responsibility on the Board of Directors or any member
thereof to approve such action or transaction or recommend its adoption or
approval to the shareholders of the corporation, nor shall such compliance
limit, prohibit or otherwise restrict in any manner the Board of Directors, or
any member thereof, with respect to evaluations of, or action and responses
taken with respect to, such action or transaction.

          (g) Any amendment, change or repeal of this Article VII or any other
amendment of these Articles of Incorporation which would have the effect of
modifying or permitting circumvention of the provisions of this Article VII
shall require approval by at least a sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%)
vote of the Voting Stock of the corporation.

                    ARTICLE VIII: CLASSIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

          (a) This Article VIII shall become effective only when the corporation
becomes a listed corporation within the meaning of Section 301.5 of the
Corporations Code, which provision refers to a corporation whose shares are
traded on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, or Nasdaq
National Market System.

          (b) In the event the authorized number of directors shall be fixed at
nine (9) or more, the Board of Directors shall be classified into three (3)
classes, the members of each class to serve for a term of three (3) years. In
the event the authorized number of directors shall be fixed at six (6) or more,
but less than nine (9), the Board of Directors shall be classified into two (2)
classes, the members of each class to serve for a term of two (2) years.



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          (c) The election of directors by the shareholders shall not be by
cumulative voting. At each election of directors, each shareholder entitled to
vote may vote all the shares held by that shareholder for each of several
nominees for director up to the number of directors to be elected. The
shareholder may not cast more votes for any single nominee than the number of
shares held by that shareholder.

          (d) At the first annual meeting of shareholders held after the
corporation qualifies as a listed corporation within the meaning of Section
301.5 of the Corporations Code the nominees elected as directors will be
classified on the basis of the number of votes received; the nominees receiving
the highest number of votes will be elected to the class(es) with the longest
initial terms, as follows: (i) if there shall be three (3) classes one-third
(1/3) of the directors shall be elected for a term of three (3) years, one-third
(1/3) of the directors shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, and
one-third (1/3) of the directors shall be elected for a term of one (1) year. If
the number of directors is not divisible by three (3), the first extra director
shall be elected for a term of three (3) years and a second extra director, if
any, shall be elected for a term of two (2) years; and (ii) if there shall be
two (2) classes, one-half (1/2) of the directors shall be elected for a term of
two (2) years and one-half (1/2) of the directors shall be elected for a term of
one (1) year. If the number of directors is not divisible by two (2), the first
extra director shall be elected for a term of two (2) years.

          (e) Subject to the provisions of Section (a) of Article V providing
for a change in the authorized number of directors, at subsequent annual
meetings of shareholders, a number of directors shall be elected equal to the
number of directors with terms expiring at that annual meeting. If there shall
be three (3) classes, at each subsequent annual meeting the directors elected
shall be elected for a term of three (3) years. If there shall be two (2)
classes, at each subsequent annual meeting the directors elected shall be
elected for a term of two (2) years. In the event the authorized number of
directors changes necessitating a change in the number of classes, the directors
of the corporation shall be reclassified in accordance with California law and
the principles of Section (d) of this Article VIII; provided, however, any
change in the number of classes shall not operate to shorten the term of any
director.

          (f) If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease
shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors
in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional directors of any
class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall
hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that
class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the
term of any incumbent director. A director shall hold office until the annual
meeting for the year in which his term expires and until his successor shall be
elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Any vacancy on the Board of
Directors, howsoever resulting, may be filled by a majority of the directors
then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any
director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for a term that shall
coincide with the term of the class to which such director shall have been
elected.



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          (g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII,
whenever the holders of any one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock
issued by the corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or
series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, the
election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such
directorships shall be governed by the terms of these Articles of Incorporation
or the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to
Article IV applicable thereto, and such directors so elected shall not be
divided into classes pursuant to this Article VIII unless expressly provided by
such terms.

          (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles of
Incorporation, any amendment, change or repeal of this Article VIII shall
require the vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon.



                                              /s/ S. Alan Rosen
                                              ---------------------------------
                                              S. Alan Rosen, Incorporator

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