EXHIBIT 99.1

Community West Bancshares Reports First Quarter Results, Highlighted by Continued Net Interest Margin Expansion

GOLETA, Calif., April 20, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community West Bancshares (Nasdaq:CWBC), parent company of Community West Bank, today reported net income of $51,000 in the first quarter of 2010, compared to a net loss of $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2009. The loan loss provision in the quarter was $3.1 million compared to $12.6 million in the first quarter a year ago.

"Our underlying business performance for the quarter was strong and reflects overall operating improvements compared to the first quarter a year ago," stated Lynda J. Nahra, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Substantial core deposit growth and continued changes in the mix of our funding over the past several quarters resulted in a significant expansion of our net interest margin during the quarter, which increased by 30 basis points to 4.48% compared to the prior quarter and 92 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2009. The ongoing margin improvement, along with cost reductions implemented at the beginning of 2009, continued to enhance our positive operating earnings. We continued to operate in a challenging lending environment and, while we are encouraged with the progress we are making, we are taking every opportunity to further strengthen our credit quality."

First Quarter 2010 Highlights

• Net interest margin improved 30 basis points to 4.48% compared to 4Q09, and improved 92 basis points compared to 1Q09.
• Total deposits increased by 11.4% compared to a year ago with core deposits up 116%.
• The efficiency ratio improved to 61.1% from 63.4% in 4Q09 and 83.8% in 1Q09.
• Nonperforming loans totaled $17.7 million, or 2.93% of total loans.
• Allowance for loan losses increased to 2.84% of total loans held for investment compared to 2.67% of total loans held for investment in the previous quarter.

"We are pleased with the improvement in our operational results compared to the year ago quarter," said Nahra. "We expect to return to a more normalized level of profitability as we move through this credit cycle."  In the first quarter of 2010, including the $262,000 preferred stock dividend, the net loss applicable to common stockholders was $211,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared to a net loss applicable to common stockholders of $7.0 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, in the first quarter a year ago. 

Credit Quality

"The economy continues to impact the loan portfolio," said Nahra. "As a result, the provision for loan losses, while less than the same quarter a year ago, remained high in the first quarter of the year, reflecting significant, though moderating, levels of non-performing loans and net charge-offs."

Nonperforming loans increased $1.5 million during the quarter to $17.7 million, or 2.93% of total loans at March 31, 2010, compared to $16.2 million or 2.62% of total loans three months earlier and $8.7 million, or 1.45% of total loans a year ago. Real estate owned and repossessed assets totaled $3.7 million at March 31, 2010 compared to $1.8 million at December 31, 2009 and $3.0 million a year ago.

Of the $17.7 million in total nonperforming loans, $8.3 million or 47.2% were real estate loans, $5.8 million or 32.7% were SBA loans, $1.2 million or 7.0% were manufactured housing loans, $2.2 million or 12.3% were commercial loans and $148,000 or 0.8% were other installment loans.

Community West's loan loss provision was $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2010 compared to $2.8 million in the preceding quarter and $12.6 million in the first quarter a year ago.  The allowance for loan losses totaled $14.4 million at quarter-end, equal to 2.84% of total loans held for investment, compared to 2.67% at December 31, 2009 and 2.69% at March 31, 2009.

Net charge-offs were $2.4 million in the first quarter and $2.3 million for the preceding quarter. In the first quarter a year ago, net charge-offs totaled $6.5 million. 

Balance Sheet

"While total loan balances increased slightly from a year ago they have declined compared to the previous quarter as demand for commercial and SBA loans have been modest," said Charles G. Baltuskonis, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. Net loans were $588.5 million at March 31, 2010 compared to $603.4 million at December 31, 2009 and $585.7 million a year ago. 

Real estate loans outstanding increased 6.3% to $190.7 million at March 31, 2010, compared to $179.4 million a year ago. Real estate loans comprise 31.6% of the total loan portfolio, compared to 29.9% a year earlier. Manufactured housing loans increased 3.3% from year ago levels to $197.3 million and represent 32.7% of total loans.  Commercial loans were down 20.5% compared to a year ago and now represent 9.6% of the total loan portfolio and SBA loans decreased 1.8% from a year ago and now represent 22.6% of the total loan portfolio.  Other installment loans increased 19.5% from year ago levels and now represent 3.5% of the total loan portfolio. 

Assets totaled $677.7 million at March 31, 2010, compared to $669.8 million a year earlier. Total deposits increased 11.4% to $540.1 million at March 31, 2010 compared to $485.0 million a year earlier.  Non-interest-bearing accounts were $39.6 million at the end of the first quarter compared to $34.4 million a year ago. Interest-bearing accounts nearly tripled to $221.1 million compared to $78.6 million a year ago.  Core deposits, defined as non-interest-bearing, interest-bearing and savings accounts, more than doubled to $280.9 million at quarter-end, compared to $130.1 million a year earlier while certificates of deposit decreased 27.0% over the same period to $259.2 million, compared to $354.9 million a year earlier. 

"Our deposit franchise had another strong quarter and has allowed us to substantially lower our cost of deposits and funding," said Baltuskonis.  Stockholders' equity was $60.2 million at March 31, 2010, compared to $59.8 million a year earlier. Book value per common share was $7.70 at March 31, 2010 compared to $7.68 a year ago.

Income Statement Review

"Our net interest margin, which improved 92 basis points from the first quarter a year ago, was driven by a continued decline in funding costs and our success in building core deposits," said Baltuskonis. Net interest income in the first quarter of 2010 increased 26.6% to $7.3 million compared to $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2009.  Non-interest income was $839,000 in the first quarter, compared to $1.2 million in the first quarter a year ago.  

Non-interest expenses were $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2010, compared to $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2009. "We have made progress in improving core operating efficiency as manageable operating expenses have reduced steadily over the past year. However, we anticipate collection costs and charges related to problem assets to remain higher than normal for some time," said Baltuskonis.  

The efficiency ratio improved to 61.1 % in the first quarter of 2010 from 63.4% in the prior quarter and 83.8% in the first quarter a year ago, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve operations and control costs.

Capital Management

Community West Bancshares continues to meet the well capitalized thresholds for regulatory purposes with a Total risk-based capital ratio of 12.40%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 11.13% and Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.78% at March 31, 2010. 

Company Overview

Community West Bancshares is a financial services company with headquarters in Goleta, California. The Company is the holding company for Community West Bank, which has five full-service California branch banking offices, in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura and Westlake Village. The principal business activities of the Company are Relationship banking, Mortgage lending and SBA lending.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views of future events and operations. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company as of the date of this release. It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the ability of the Company to implement its strategy and expand its lending operations.

CONTACT:  Community West Bancshares
          Charles G. Baltuskonis, EVP & CFO
          805.692.5281
          www.communitywestbank.com