Document:

Exhibit 10.16

                AMERICAN RIVER BANK EMPLOYEE SEVERANCE POLICY

     It is the policy of American River Bank (the "Bank"), which shall be
binding upon any successor, to pay severance to certain Bank employees
designated by resolu- tion of the Bank's Board of Directors, in the event of
termination of such employee in connection with and either prior to or within
one year following a "change in control" (as defined hereinafter) of the Bank. A
"change in control" for purposes of this policy shall mean any merger,
consolidation or reorganization of the Bank in which the Bank does not survive,
or where the Bank survives as a subsidiary of an acquiring entity other than a
bank holding company organized by or at the direction of the Bank.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, no severance shall be payable to an employee
terminated "with cause" under applicable Bank personnel policies. Furthermore,
no Bank employee shall have rights of employment conferred by this Policy and
nothing contained in this Policy shall modify or amend (i) the "at will"
relationship between such employee and the Bank, or (ii) any rights the Bank may
have to terminate employees under applicable provisions of the Bank's personnel
policies. The only right conferred by this Policy to any such employee is the
right to receive severance payments in connection with a "change in control" and
in accordance with the provisions of this Policy.

     This Policy shall apply only to an employee who (i) is designated by
resolution of the Board of Directors to be covered thereby, (ii) is provided a
copy of the implementing resolutions and this Policy confirming such
designation, and (iii) signs the acknowledge- ment block set forth below.

<PAGE>

      The effective date of application of the foregoing Policy to such an
employee shall be the date of adoption of a resolution by the Board of Directors
designating such an employee as covered thereby subject to delivery of the
implementing resolutions and a copy of the Policy as stated above.

Dated:  March 18, 1998

Acknowledgment:

      The undersigned employee hereby acknowledges receipt of the foregoing
Policy and a copy of resolutions referenced therein. The undersigned further
acknowledges having read and understood the provisions of the Policy and in
particular the "at will" employment disclosure stated therein.

Dated: _________________            ________________________________

                                    ________________________________A M E R I C A N   R I V E R   B A N K

            E M P L O Y E E   S T O C K   P U R C H A S E   P L A N

<PAGE>

The Employee Stock Purchase Plan is designed to provide employees of American
River Bank (Bank), who voluntarily elect to participate, a continued opportunity
to purchase American River Holdings (Parent Company of American River Bank)
(Company) stock through voluntary payroll deductions, thus making it easier for
them to acquire such shares and relieving them of the details of normal stock
transactions. The Bank believes that ownership of Company stock by employees
will foster greater employee interest in the Company's success, growth and
development and will be to the mutual benefit of both the employee and the
Company

The Plan will be administered by "Administrator" who shall be appointed by the
Bank. The Administrator shall maintain an account for each participant. The
Administrator makes no solicitation of participants and is not responsible for
enrollment. The Administrator is responsible only for the accounting of monies
or stock. The Administrator assumes no responsibility or liability for the
validity of these records.

The Bank will bear all costs of administering the Plan, including Broker's fees,
commissions, postage and other costs actually incurred.

ELIGIBILITY

All employees of the Bank are eligible to participate in the Plan. The word
"employee" includes officers, but not persons who are solely Directors.
Employees may elect to participate in the Plan by signing a payroll deduction
authorization form.

COMMENCEMENT OF DEDUCTIONS

Voluntary payroll deductions will start with the payroll date stated on the
payroll deduction authorization form. If no date is stated then the deduction
will start with the first pay period following receipt of the authorization.

TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO THE ADMINISTRATOR

A special Employee Stock Purchase Checking Account will be opened and maintained
by the Administrator. The Bank will remit employee payroll deductions directly
to this account.

STOCK PURCHASES

The Administrator will use the funds in the Employee Stock Purchase Account to
purchase company stock. Transactions will be executed as often as practicable
and full

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

shares only will be traded. Stock is purchased at fair market value as of date
of purchase.

STOCK ALLOCATIONS

The Administrator shall allocate shares to each employees account based on
deposits made to the account and prices paid for stock purchased by the Plan.

DIVIDENDS/INTEREST

The Administrator shall credit all interest and dividends (if any) paid to the
Plan for shares in the name of "American River Bank Employee Stock Purchase
Plan" directly into the Plan account. These monies deposited to the Plan account
will be used to purchase stock, thereby reducing the average price per share to
the employees.

REGISTRATION OF STOCK

The Administrator will maintain records, in writing, of the names, addresses and
social security number in which the stocks are to be registered.

ISSUANCE OF STOCKS

The Administrator will issue shares to the participants twice per year. Once in
July and again in January. There is a five share minimum. Twice a year, each
participant will receive a form stating the number of shares issued, the average
price paid per share, and the new account balance.

REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS

The Administrator will report year-end the following information to each
participant:

  a.    Beginning balance.
  b.    Total contributions/deposits.
  c.    Withdrawals made from the account.
  d.    Total shares issued to the participant from the account.
  e.    Ending balance of the account in shares.
  f.    Total dollar value of the account.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

TERMINATING PARTICIPATION

A participant may direct the Bank, in writing, to cease payroll deductions at
any time. The participant needs to advise the Administrator as to what he/she
want done with the money/shares in this account. The participant has the right
to keep the money/shares in his/her account and have a certificate issued
(minimum 5 shares) for all or part. Any monies remaining in the account, after
the certificate is issued, will be sent to the participant. The Plan may
purchase shares back from participants at the current rate being quoted by the
brokerage house trading the Company's stock. Any participant terminating
participation from the plan must wait a minimum of six months before he/she is
eligible to participate again.

Upon termination of employment for any reason whatsoever, including but not
limited to death or retirement, the settlement of the account shall be made to
the participant or his/her estate.

PLAN TERMINATION

In the event of termination of the Plan, the Administrator will send to the
participant all monies and or shares in his/her account.

The Bank establishes this Plan with the bona fide intention that the Plan will
continue as long as sufficient employees are interested in participating to
justify its continuance. The Bank, however, is not and shall not be under any
obligation or liability whatsoever to continue to maintain the Plan for any
given length of time, and may in its sole and absolute discretion terminate the
Plan at any time, without any liability for such termination. The Bank in
reserving its rights to amend the Plan includes the right to change custodians
or Administrators at its discretion and at any time.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

TO:     PAYROLL DEPARTMENT

RE:     AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

In accordance with, and subject to, rules governing operation and distribution
of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as set forth in the Plan document, receipt
of which is acknowledged:

I hereby authorize the Payroll Department to deduct from my paycheck each
payroll period, the sum of $____________($15.00 minimum). Payroll deductions
shall begin with the pay period ending _____________.

I direct my deductions to the Administrator for the purpose of buying American
River Holdings (Parent Company of American River Bank) Stock.

-----------------------------                        --------------------------
Signature                                            Date

           DESIGNATION OR CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY FOR THE PLAN COMMITTEE

I hereby designate as my beneficiary to receive all proceeds under the Stock
Purchase Plan in the event of my death. -

This designation supersedes all previous beneficiary designation.

------------------------------                       --------------------------
Employee's Signature                                 Date

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Social Security Number

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                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                       STOCK TO BE REGISTERED AS FOLLOWS:
                                 (PLEASE PRINT)

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NAME(S)

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MAILING ADDRESS                          CITY                           ZIP CODE

NOTE:     If Stock is to be registered in more than one name, it must be as
          "Joint Tenants" or "Community Property". It must also be "John
          Doe AND Jane Doe, Joint Tenants," rather than "OR". This is a
          law, and for your protection.

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             PLEASE NOTIFY SHAREHOLDER'S RECORDS OF ADDRESS CHANGE!!

                                      -6-

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