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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                TRICO BANCSHARES
                       2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN, AS AMENDED

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

         This plan shall be known as the "TRICO BANCSHARES 2001 STOCK OPTION
PLAN" (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of TriCo
Bancshares and its Subsidiaries (the "Company") and the Company's stockholders
by (i) attracting and retaining key officers, employees and directors of, and
consultants to, the Company and any future Affiliates; (ii) motivating such
individuals by means of performance-related incentives to achieve long-range
performance goals, (iii) enabling such individuals to participate in the
long-term growth and financial success of the Company, (iv) encouraging
ownership of stock in the Company by such individuals, and (v) linking their
compensation to the long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders.
With respect to any Options granted under the Plan that are intended to comply
with the requirements of "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m)
of the Code, the Plan shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such
requirements.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS

         As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below:

                  (a)      "AFFILIATE" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly
         or indirectly, is controlled by the Company, (ii) any entity in which
         the Company has a significant equity interest, (iii) an affiliate of
         the Company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of
         the Exchange Act, and (iv) any entity in which the Company has at least
         twenty percent (20%) of the combined voting power of the entity's
         outstanding voting securities, in each case as designated by the Board
         as being a participating employer in the Plan.

                  (b)      "BOARD" shall mean the board of directors of the
         Company.

                  (c)      "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean, unless otherwise
         defined in the applicable Option Agreement, any of
                           the following events:

                           (i)      An acquisition (other than directly from the
                  Company) of any voting securities of the Company (the "Voting
                  Securities") by any "Person" (as the term Person is used for
                  purposes of Section 13 (d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange
                  Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) immediately
                  after which such Person has "Beneficial Ownership" (within the
                  meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
                  fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of
                  the then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however,
                  that in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred,
                  Voting Securities which are acquired in a "Non-Control
                  Acquisition" (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an
                  acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A
                  "Non-Control Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition by (i) an
                  employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof)
                  maintained by (A) the Company or (B) any subsidiary or (ii)
                  the Company or any Subsidiary;

                           (ii)     The individuals who, as of the date hereof,
                  are members of the Board (the "Incumbent Board"), cease for
                  any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of the Board;
                  provided, however, that if the election or nomination for
                  election by the Company's stockholders of any new director was
                  approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent
                  Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this
                  Agreement,

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                  be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided,
                  further, however, that no individual shall be considered a
                  member of the Incumbent Board if (1) such individual initially
                  assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened
                  "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated
                  under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened
                  solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a
                  Person other than the Board (a "Proxy Contest") including by
                  reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any
                  Election Contest or Proxy Contest or (2) such individual was
                  designated by a Person who has entered into an agreement with
                  the Company to effect a transaction described in clause (i) or
                  (iii) of this paragraph; or

                           (iii)    Approval by stockholders of the Company of:

                                    (A)      A merger, consolidation or
                           reorganization involving the Company, unless,

                                             (1) The stockholders of the Company
                                    immediately before such merger,
                                    consolidation or reorganization, own,
                                    directly or indirectly, immediately
                                    following such merger, consolidation or
                                    reorganization, at least seventy-five
                                    percent (75%) of the combined voting power
                                    of the outstanding Voting Securities of the
                                    corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") in
                                    substantially the same proportion as their
                                    ownership of the Voting Securities
                                    immediately before such merger,
                                    consolidation or reorganization;

                                             (2) The individuals who were
                                    members of the Incumbent Board immediately
                                    prior to the execution of the agreement
                                    providing for such merger, consolidation or
                                    reorganization constitute at least
                                    two-thirds of the members of the board of
                                    directors of the Surviving Corporation; and

                                             (3) No Person (other than the
                                    Company, any Subsidiary, any employee
                                    benefit plan (or any trust forming a part
                                    thereof) maintained by the Company, the
                                    Surviving Corporation or any Subsidiary, or
                                    any Person who, immediately prior to such
                                    merger, consolidation or reorganization, had
                                    Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%)
                                    or more of the then outstanding Voting
                                    Securities) has Beneficial Ownership of
                                    fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined
                                    voting power of the Surviving Corporation's
                                    then outstanding Voting Securities.

                                    (B)      A complete liquidation or
                           dissolution of the Company; or

                                    (C)      An agreement for the sale or other
                           disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
                           of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer
                           to a Subsidiary)

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not
         be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person")
         acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the
         outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting
         Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting
         Securities outstanding, increased the proportional number of shares
         Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, provided that if a Change in
         Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a
         result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company, and
         after such share acquisition by the

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         Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any
         additional Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person,
         then a Change in Control shall occur.

                  (d)      "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
         as amended from time to time.

                  (e)      "COMMITTEE" shall mean a committee of the Board
         composed of not less than two Non-Employee Directors, each of whom
         shall be a "Non-Employee Director" for purposes of Exchange Act Section
         16 and Rule 16b-3 thereunder and an "outside director" for purposes of
         Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated under the Code.

                  (f)      "CONSULTANT" shall mean any consultant to the Company
         or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

                  (g)      "DIRECTOR" shall mean a member of the Board.

                  (h)      "DISABILITY" shall mean, unless otherwise defined in
         the applicable Option Agreement, a disability that would qualify as a
         total and permanent disability under the Company's then current
         long-term disability plan.

                  (i)      "EMPLOYEE" shall mean a current or prospective
         officer or employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

                  (j)      "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
         of 1934, as amended from time to time.

                  (k)      "FAIR MARKET VALUE" with respect to the Shares, shall
         mean, for purposes of a grant of an Option as of any date, (i) the
         closing sales price of the Shares on any exchange on which the shares
         are traded, on such date, or in the absence of reported sales on such
         date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on
         which sales were reported or (ii) in the event there is no public
         market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value as
         determined, in good faith, by the Committee in its sole discretion, and
         for purposes of a sale of a Share as of any date, the actual sales
         price on that date.

                  (l)      "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" shall mean an option to
         purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under SECTION 6 of the
         Plan and that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of
         the Code or any successor provision thereto.

                  (o)      "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" shall mean an option to
         purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under SECTION 6 of the
         Plan and is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

                  (p)      "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" shall mean a member of the
         Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company or any
         Subsidiary or Affiliate.

                  (q)      "OPTION" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a
         Non-Qualified Stock Option.

                  (r)      "OPTION AGREEMENT" shall mean any written agreement,
         contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Option, which
         may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.

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                  (s)      "OPTION PRICE" shall mean the purchase price payable
         to purchase one Share upon the exercise of an Option.

                  (t)      "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means, with respect to the grant
         of an Option, a member of the Board then serving on the Committee.

                  (u)      "PARTICIPANT" shall mean any Employee, Director,
         Consultant or other person who receives an Option under the Plan.

                  (v)      "PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation,
         partnership, limited liability company, associate, joint-stock company,
         trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision
         thereof or other entity.

                  (w)      "RETIREMENT" shall mean, unless otherwise defined in
         the applicable Option Agreement, retirement of a Participant from the
         employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
         Affiliates in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company
         retirement plan or, if a Participant is not covered by any such plan,
         retirement on or after such Participant's 65th birthday.

                  (x)      "SEC' shall mean the Securities and Exchange
         Commission or any successor thereto.

                  (y)      "SECTION 16" shall mean Section 16 of the Exchange
         Act and the rules promulgated thereunder and any successor provision
         thereto as in effect from time to time.

                  (z)      "SECTION 162 (M)" shall mean Section 162 (m) of the
         Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and any successor or
         provision thereto as in effect from time to time.

                  (aa)     "SHARES" shall mean shares of the Common Stock, no
         par value, of the Company.

                  (bb)     "SUBSIDIARY" shall mean any Person (other than the
         Company) of which a majority of its voting power or its equity
         securities or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the
         Company.

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION

         3.1      Authority of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee, which shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board;
provided, however, with respect to Options to Outside Directors, all references
in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed to be references to the Board.
Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other
express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the
Committee shall have full power and authority in its discretion to: (i)
designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Options to be
granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by,
or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated
in connection with Options; (iv) determine the timing, terms, and conditions of
any Option; (v) accelerate the time at which all or any part of an Option may be
settled or exercised; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what
circumstances Options may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other
securities, other Options or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or
suspended and the method or methods by which Options may be settled, exercised,
canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent, and
under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Options, other
property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Option shall be deferred
either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the
Committee;

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(viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement
relating to, or Option made under, the Plan; (ix) except to the extent
prohibited by SECTION 6.2, amend or modify the terms of any Option at or after
grant with the consent of the holder of the Option; (x) establish, amend,
suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall
deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (xi) make any
other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary
or desirable for the administration of the Plan, subject to the exclusive
authority of the Board under SECTION 10 hereunder to amend or terminate the
Plan.

         3.2      Committee Discretion Binding. Unless otherwise expressly
provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and
other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Option shall be within
the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be
final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any
Subsidiary or Affiliate, any Participant and any holder or beneficiary of any
Option.

         3.3      Action by the Committee. The Committee shall select one of its
members as its Chairperson and shall hold its meetings at such times and places
and in such manner as it may determine. A majority of its members shall
constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by not
less than a majority of its members. Any decision or determination reduced to
writing and signed by all of the members of the Committee shall be fully
effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and
held. The exercise of an Option or receipt of an Option shall be effective only
if an Option Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of
the Company following the grant of the Option or other Option. The Committee may
appoint a Secretary and may make such rules and regulations for the conduct of
its business, as it shall deem advisable.

         3.4      Delegation. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable
law, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers or managers of the
Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or to a Committee of such officers or
managers, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Committee
shall determine, to grant Options to, or to cancel, modify or waive rights with
respect to, or to alter, discontinue, suspend, or terminate Options held by
Participants who are not officers or directors of the Company for purposes of
Section 16 or who are otherwise not subject to such Section.

         3.5      No Liability. No member of the Board or Committee shall be
liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to
the Plan or any Option granted hereunder.

SECTION 4. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR OPTIONS

         4.1      Shares Available. Subject to the provisions of SECTION 4.2
hereof, the stock to be subject to Options under the Plan shall be the Shares of
the Company and the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options may
be granted under the Plan shall be 2,124,650 (which includes 74,650 Shares with
respect to which awards under the Company's 1989 Non-Qualified Stock Option
Plan, 1993 Stock Option Plan and 1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Old
Plans") were authorized but not granted). Notwithstanding the foregoing and
subject to adjustment as provided in SECTION 4.2, the maximum number of Shares
with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be increased by
the number of Shares with respect to which Options or other Awards were granted
under the Old Plans, as of the effective date of this Plan, but which terminate,
expire unexercised, or are settled for cash, forfeited or canceled without the
delivery of Shares under the terms of such Old Plans after the effective date of
this Plan.

         If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an
Option granted under this Plan, or to which such an Option relates, are
forfeited, or if such an Option is settled for cash or otherwise terminates,
expires unexercised, or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the
Shares covered by such Option, or to which such Option relates, or the number of
Shares otherwise counted against the

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aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Options may be granted, to the
extent of any such settlement, forfeiture, termination, expiration, or
cancellation, shall again become Shares with respect to which Options may be
granted. In the event that any Option or other Option granted hereunder is
exercised through the delivery of Shares or in the event that withholding tax
liabilities arising from such Option are satisfied by the withholding of Shares
by the Company, the number of Shares available for Options under the Plan shall
be increased by the number of Shares so surrendered or withheld.

         4.2      Adjustments. In the event that the Committee determines that
any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other
securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock
split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination,
repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance
of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the
Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such
that an adjustment is determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to be
appropriate, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable
(and, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, in such manner as is consistent
with Section 422 of the Code and the regulations thereunder) : (i) adjust any or
all of (1) the aggregate number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or
number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Options
may be granted under the Plan; (2) the number of Shares or other securities of
the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to
outstanding Options under the Plan; and (3) the grant or exercise price with
respect to any Option under the Plan, provided that the number of shares subject
to any Option shall always be a whole number; (ii) if deemed appropriate,
provide for an equivalent Option in respect of securities of the surviving
entity of any merger, consolidation or other transaction or event having a
similar effect; or (iii) if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash
payment to the holder of an outstanding Option.

         4.3      Substitute Options. Any Shares issued by the Company as
Substitute Options in connection with the assumption or substitution of
outstanding grants from any acquired corporation shall not reduce the Shares
available for Options under the Plan.

         4.4      Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Options. Any Shares
delivered pursuant to an Option may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized
and unissued Shares or of issued Shares that have been reacquired by the
Company.

SECTION 5. ELIGIBILITY

         Any Employee, Director or Consultant shall be eligible to be designated
a Participant; provided, however, that Outside Directors shall only be eligible
to receive Options granted consistent with SECTION 7.

SECTION 6. STOCK OPTIONS

         6.1      Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee
shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom
Options shall be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Option, the
exercise price and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of
each Option. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock
Options, or to grant Non-Qualified Stock Options, or to grant both types of
Options. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of
such grants shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed
by Section 422 of the Code, as from time to time amended, and any regulations
implementing such statute. A person who has been granted an Option under this
Plan may be granted additional Options under the Plan if the Committee shall so
determine; provided, however, that to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined at the time the Incentive Stock Option related thereto is granted)
of the Shares with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options related to such
Option are exercisable for the

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first time by an Employee during any calendar year (under all plans described in
subsection (d) of Section 422 of the Code of the Company and its Subsidiaries)
exceeds $100,000 (or such higher amount as is permitted in the future under
Section 422(d) of the Code, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock
Options.

         6.2      Price. The Committee in its sole discretion shall establish
the Option Price at the time each Option is granted. Except in the case of
Substitute Options, the Option Price of an Option may not be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is granted
on the date of grant of such Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as
permitted by the provisions of SECTION 4.2 and SECTION 10 hereof, the Committee
shall not have the power to (i) amend the terms of previously granted Options to
reduce the Option Price of such Options, or (ii) cancel such Options and grant
substitute Options with a lower Option Price than the canceled Options.

         6.3      Term. Subject to the Committee's authority under SECTION 3.1
and the provisions of SECTION 6.5, each Option and all rights and obligations
thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Committee and specified in
the Option Agreement. The Committee shall be under no duty to provide terms of
like duration for Options granted under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the
date such Option was granted.

         6.4      Exercise.

                  (a)      Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and
         subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole
         discretion, specify in the applicable Option Agreement or thereafter.
         The Committee shall have full and complete authority to determine,
         subject to SECTION 6.5 herein, whether an Option will be exercisable in
         full at any time or from time to time during the tern of the Option, or
         to provide for the exercise thereof in such installments, upon the
         occurrence of such events and at such times during the term of the
         Option as the Committee may determine.

                  (b)      The Committee may impose such conditions with respect
         to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating
         to the application of federal, state or foreign securities laws or the
         Code, as it may deem necessary or advisable. The exercise of any Option
         granted hereunder shall be effective only at such time as the sale of
         Shares pursuant to such exercise will not violate any state or federal
         securities or other laws.

                  (c)      An Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any
         time, with respect to whole Shares only, within the period permitted
         thereunder for the exercise thereof, and shall be exercised by written
         notice of intent to exercise the Option, delivered to the Company at
         its principal office, and payment in full to the Company at the
         direction of the Committee of the amount of the Option Price for the
         number of Shares with respect to which the Option is then being
         exercised. The exercise of an Option shall result in the termination of
         the other to the extent of the number of Shares with respect to which
         the Option is exercised.

                  (d)      The Option Price shall be immediately due upon
         exercise of the Option and shall, subject to the provisions of the
         Option Agreement and the applicable securities laws, be payable in one
         or more of the following forms: (i) cash or check made payable to the
         Company; or (ii) shares held for the requisite period necessary to
         avoid a charge to the Company's earnings for financial reporting
         purposes and valued at the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date
         of exercise (or next date), together with any applicable withholding
         taxes. Payment of the Option Price for the purchased shares must be
         made on the Option exercise date. Until the optionee has been issued
         Shares subject to such exercise, he or she shall possess no rights as a
         stockholder with respect to such Shares.

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         6.5      Ten Percent Stock Rule. Notwithstanding any other provisions
in the Plan, if at the time an Option is otherwise to be granted pursuant to the
Plan the optionee or rights holder owns directly or indirectly (within the
meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) Shares of the Company possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
Stock of the Company or its parent or Subsidiary or Affiliate corporations
(within the meaning of Section 422 (b) (6) of the Code), then any Incentive
Stock Option to be granted to such optionee or rights holder pursuant to the
Plan shall satisfy the requirement of Section 422(c) (5) of the Code, and the
Option Price shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares
of the Company, and such Option by its terms shall not be exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date such Option is granted.

SECTION 7. DIRECTOR OPTIONS

         7.1      Grant Upon Election of a New Director to the Board. A new
Director to the Board shall receive Options for 20,000 Shares upon his or her
election to the Board. These Options shall become exercisable in five equal
installments of 4,000 Shares each beginning on the first anniversary of the date
of grant.

         7.2      Grant Upon Re-election of a Director to the Board. Beginning
with the 2001 annual meeting of the Company's shareholders and continuing for
each year through the 2005 annual meeting of the Company's shareholders, a
Director who is re-elected to the Board shall receive Options for 4,000 Shares
upon his or her re-election to the Board. These Options shall become exercisable
on the first anniversary of the date of grant.

         7.3      Grants to Board Chairmen. Beginning with the 2001 annual
meeting of the Company's shareholders and continuing for each year through the
2005 annual meeting of the Company's shareholders, each Director who is
appointed as Chairman of the Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board or as Chairman of
a Board committee shall receive Options for 1,000 Shares upon his or her
appointment, in addition to any other Options granted pursuant to this Section
7. These Options shall become exercisable on the first anniversary of the date
of grant.

         7.4      Option Price. The Option Price for all Options granted to
Directors pursuant to this Section 7 shall be the Fair Market Value on the date
of grant.

         7.5      Forfeiture of Options. Any Option granted to a Director
pursuant to this Section 7 that has not become exercisable when a Director
ceases to serve as a Director, or in the position for which such Option was
granted, shall be forfeited.

         7.6      Other Options to Directors. The Board may also grant other
Options to Directors pursuant to the terms of the Plan. With respect to such
Options, all references in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed to be
references to the Board.

SECTION 8. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

         The Committee shall have the full power and authority to determine the
terms and conditions that shall apply to any Option upon a termination of
employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including a
termination by the Company with or without cause, by a Participant voluntarily,
or by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, and may provide such terms and
conditions in the Option Agreement or in such rules and regulations as it may
prescribe. All Options which are not exercised prior to 90 days after the date a
Participant ceases to serve as a Director, Employee or Consultant of the Company
shall be forfeited.

SECTION 9. CHANGE IN CONTROL

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         Upon a Change in Control, all outstanding Options shall vest, become
immediately exercisable or payable and have all restrictions lifted.

SECTION 10. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

         10.1     Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided
that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination
shall be made without stockholder approval if such approval is necessary to
comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Board
deems it necessary or desirable to comply.

         10.2     Amendments to Options. Subject to the restrictions of SECTION
6.2, the Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of,
or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Option theretofore
granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver,
amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination
that would adversely affect the rights of any Participant or any holder or
beneficiary of any Option theretofore granted shall not to that extent be
effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder, or
beneficiary.

         10.3     Adjustments of Options Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual
or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments
in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Options in
recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation,
the events described in SECTION 4.2 hereof) affecting the Company, any
Subsidiary or Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or
accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments
are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.

SECTION 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS

         11.1     Limited Transferability of Options. Except as otherwise
provided in the Plan, no Option shall be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached,
sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant, except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution and/or as may be provided by the Committee
in its discretion, at or after grant, in the Option Agreement. No transfer of an
Option by will or by laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind
the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice
thereof and an authenticated copy of the will and/or such other evidence as the
Committee may deem necessary or appropriate to establish the validity of the
transfer.

         11.2     No Rights to Options. No Person shall have any claim to be
granted any Option, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of
Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Options. The terms and conditions of
Options need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

         11.4     Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other
securities of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate delivered under the
Plan pursuant to any Option or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such
stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable
under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or
any state securities commission or regulatory authority, any stock exchange or
other market upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any
applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or
legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such
restrictions.

         11.5     Withholding. A Participant may be required to pay to the
Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate and the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to

                                     - 9 -

<PAGE>

withhold from any Option, from any payment due or transfer made under any Option
or under the Plan, or from any compensation or other amount owing to a
Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Options or
other property) of any applicable withholding or other taxes in respect of an
Option, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Option or under the
Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the
Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.

         11.6     Option Agreements. Each Option hereunder shall be evidenced by
an Option Agreement that shall be delivered to the Participant and may specify
the terms and conditions of the Option and any rules applicable thereto. In the
event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan and any Option Agreement, the
terms of the Plan shall prevail.

         11.7     No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained
in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate from
adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but
need not, provide for the grant of Options.

         11.8     No Right to Employment. The grant of an Option shall not be
construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the
Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate. Further, the Company or a Subsidiary or
Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any
liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in an
Option Agreement.

         11.9     No Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan and the applicable Option Agreement, no Participant or holder or
beneficiary of any Option shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to
any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until such person has become a
holder of such Shares.

         11.10    Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the
Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Option Agreement
shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of California
without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

         11.11    Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Option
Agreement is, or becomes, or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Option, or would disqualify the Plan
or any Option under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision
shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it
cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the
Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Option, such
provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Option and the
remainder of the Plan and any such Option shall remain in full force and effect.

         11.12    Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any
Shares or other consideration under an Option if, acting in its sole discretion,
it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other
consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation (including
applicable non-U.S. laws or regulations) or entitle the Company to recover the
same under Exchange Act Section 16 (b), and any payment tendered to the Company
by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of
such Option shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder, or
beneficiary.

         11.13    No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Option
shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a
fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate and a
Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right
to receive payments from the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate pursuant to
an Option, such
                                     - 10 -

<PAGE>

right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of
the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

         11.14    No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or
delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Option, and the Committee shall determine
whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred
in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights
thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

         11.15    Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections
of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall
not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or
interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

SECTION 12. TERM OF THE PLAN

         12.1     Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of February 13,
2001 provided it is approved and ratified by the Company's stockholders on or
prior to December 31, 2001.

         12.2     Expiration Date. No new Options shall be granted under the
Plan after the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. Unless otherwise
expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Option Agreement, any Option
granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend,
alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Option or to waive
any conditions or rights under any such Option shall, continue after the tenth
(10th) anniversary of the Effective Date.

                                     - 11 -<PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                                     FORM OF
                                TRICO BANCSHARES
                     STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO THE
                             2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN

Number of Shares Subject to Option:  [______]--Non-Qualified

         This Stock Option Agreement ("Agreement") is made effective as of
<<Date>>, by and between <<FirstName>> <<LastName>> ("Participant"), and TRICO
BANCSHARES, a California corporation ("Corporation").

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted the 2001
Stock Option Plan ("Plan") effective as of February 13, 2001, and the
shareholders of the Corporation approved the Plan on May 8, 2001;

         WHEREAS, Participant is a director (as defined in the Plan) of the
Corporation, or one or more of its subsidiaries; and

         WHEREAS, Participant owns less than 10 percent of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation and its subsidiaries;

         THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained herein and the
benefits to be derived herefrom, the parties agree as follows:

A.       Grant of Options/Terms and Conditions. The Corporation hereby grants to
Participant Non-Qualified Stock Options as defined in the Plan (such options are
sometimes hereinafter referred to as NSOs), to purchase all or any part of an
aggregate of _______ shares of the Corporation's common stock, no par value
("Shares"), subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter described:

         1.       The right to exercise NSOs for the Shares subject to this
Agreement shall vest on _______________, and may be exercised by Participant on
or after such date, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement and subject to the right of accumulation provided for herein. NSOs
shall not be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of this Agreement (the
"Expiration Date").

         2.       Except as provided in paragraph B(2) below, the NSOs may be
exercised only by Participant during his lifetime, and may not be transferred,
assigned, alienated, attached, sold, pledged or encumbered in any way, except by
a will of Participant or by the laws of descent and distribution. Upon any
attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of these
NSOs, or of any right or privilege conferred hereby, contrary to the provisions
of this Agreement, or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process of
these NSOs, right or privilege, these NSOs shall immediately become null and
void. No transfer of the NSOs by will or by the laws of descent and distribution
shall be effective to bind the Corporation unless the Corporation shall have
been furnished with written notice thereof and an authenticated copy of the will
and/or such evidence as the Corporation may deem necessary or appropriate to
establish the validity of the transfer.

         3.       Participant shall give written notice to the Corporation of
his or her intent to exercise any NSOs subject to the Agreement. The written
notice of intent to exercise shall be sent to the Corporation's principal
offices located at 63 Constitution Drive, Chico, California 95973, Attn. Suzanne
Youngs, Shareholder Relations, along with payment of the full Option Price for
the number of Share with respect to which the NSOs are being exercised.

                                     - 1 -

<PAGE>

         4.       The exercise of any NSO is contingent upon the receipt by the
Corporation of (i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation or (ii) Shares
held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a change to the Corporation's
earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at the Fair Market Value
(as defined in the Plan) of such shares on the date of exercise (or next
succeeding trading date, if the date of exercise is not a trading date),
together with any applicable withholding taxes.

         5.       The Option Price to purchase each one (1) Share subject to
these NSOs is $_____________. The Option Price so stated herein has been
determined in good faith to be no less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value
of the Shares as of the date of this Agreement.

         6.       Upon a dividend, distribution, recapitalization, stock split,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, repurchase or exchange of securities, or
other similar corporate transaction which affects the Shares, the Committee may,
in its sole discretion, (i) adjust the number of Shares subject to the NSOs and
the Option Price with respect to the NSOs, provided that the number of Shares
subject to the NSOs shall always be a whole number; (ii) provide for an
equivalent Option in respect of securities of the surviving entity of any
merger, consolidation or other transaction or event having a similar effect; or
(iii) make provision for a cash payment to the Participant. Any adjustment so
made shall be final and binding upon Participant.

         7.       Participant or a holder or beneficiary of any NSO shall have
no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares subject to an NSO granted
hereunder prior to the date of issuance to him of a certificate or certificates
for such Shares. 8. The grant of NSOs shall not confer upon Participant any
right with respect to continuance as a director of the Corporation or its
subsidiaries.

B.       Expiration of Options.

         1.       Participant may not exercise any part of an NSO granted under
the Plan unless Participant has served as a director of the Corporation or of a
subsidiary thereof at all times from the date of the grant of the NSO until the
date three months prior to the date of exercise except as provided below.

         2.       If Participant shall die (i) while serving as a director of
the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof or (ii) within three months after he
ceases to be a director of the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof because of
his disability, his NSOs may be exercised, to the extent that Participant shall
have been entitled to do so on the date of his death or such cessation of
directorship, by the person or persons to whom Participant's right under the
this Agreement pass by will or applicable law, or if no such person has such
right, by his executors or administrators, at any time, or from time to time,
but not later than the Expiration Date or two years after Participant's death,
whichever date is earlier.

         3.       If Participant's directorship with the Corporation or a
subsidiary thereof shall cease by removal or resignation because of his
disability and Participant has not died within the following three months, he
may exercise his NSOs, to the extent that he shall have been entitled to do so
at the date of cessation of his directorship, at any time or from time to time,
but not later than the Expiration Date or one year after cessation of his
directorship, whichever date is earlier.

         4.       If Participant shall cease to serve as a director of the
Corporation or a subsidiary thereof by removal or resignation, other than
removal "for cause," all right to exercise his NSOs shall terminate at the
Expiration Date or three months after cessation of directorship, whichever date
is earlier. For this purpose, removal "for cause" shall mean removal by reason
of Participant's commission of a felony, fraud, or willful misconduct which had
resulted, or is likely to result, in substantial and material

                                     - 2 -

<PAGE>

damage to the Corporation or a subsidiary thereof, all as the Committee, in its
sole discretion, may determine.

         5.       If Participant is removed from the Board "for cause," all
right to exercise his NSOs shall terminate at the date of such removal.

C.       Investment Representation. Participant represents and warrants that he
has acquired these NSOs for investment and not with a view to resale,
distribution, offering, transferring, mortgaging, pledging, hypothecating, or
otherwise disposing of such Shares under circumstances which would constitute a
public offering or distribution under the Securities Act of 1933 or the
securities laws of any state (collectively, "distribution"), and agrees that he
will acquire all Shares provided for hereunder for investment and not with a
view to distribution. Upon each exercise of these NSOs, Participant may be
required to deliver to the Corporation a written representation to such effect
in a form prepared by counsel to the Corporation. Certificates for the Shares
acquired by the Participant shall bear a legend substantially in the following
form:

                  THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT
                  BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THE SHARES
                  HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
                  TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
                  STATEMENT FOR THE SHARES UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF
                  COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION THAT REGISTRATION IS
                  NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT.

D.       Restrictions Under Securities Laws. These NSOs shall be subject to the
requirement that if at any time the Corporation determines that the listing,
registration or qualification of the Shares covered thereby upon any securities
exchange or under state or federal law or the consent or approval of any
governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
connection with, the granting of these NSOs or the issue or purchase of Shares
thereunder, these NSOs may not be exercised in whole or in part unless and until
such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been
effective or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Corporation.

E.       Notices. Any notice to the Corporation required to be made under the
terms of the Agreement or under the terms of the Plan shall be addressed to the
Corporation at 63 Constitution Drive, Chico, California 95973, and any notice
required to be made to Participant under the terms of the Agreement or under the
terms of the Plan shall be addressed to him at <<WorkAddress>>.

F.       Plan Governs. Participant has read the Plan and this Agreement, and
agrees that to the extent that this Agreement is inconsistent with the Plan, the
Plan shall govern. To the extent possible, this Agreement shall be construed
consistently with the Plan.

G.       Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of California, and with the Code.

                                     - 3 -

<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Stock Option Agreement is executed as of the
date first written above.

                           PARTICIPANT:

                           _________________________________
                           <<FirstName>> <<LastName>>

                           TRICO BANCSHARES

                           By: ________________________________________________
                               Richard P. Smith, President

                                     - 4 -

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