EXHIBIT 99.1

Community West Bancshares Reports Third Quarter Results

GOLETA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community West Bancshares ("Community West"), (Nasdaq:CWBC), parent company of Community West Bank, today reported a net loss of $2.3 million in the third quarter ended September 30, 2011 (3Q11), compared to net income of $1.0 million in the third quarter a year ago (3Q10). Community West had a net loss of $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2011 compared to net income of $1.0 million in the first nine months of 2010.

"Our team has remained focused on reducing and resolving nonperforming assets, strengthening our performing loan portfolio and growing core deposits," stated William R. Peeples, Chairman, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. "The economy remains challenging, particularly with regard to real estate valuations. We are aggressively recognizing and managing problem credits, which is reflected in our net charge-offs and provisions, and we are taking every opportunity to further strengthen our credit quality."

3Q11 Financial Results

• Net loss applicable to common stockholders was $2.6 million, or $0.43 per diluted common share, in 3Q11.
• Net interest margin was 4.38% in 3Q11.
• Core deposits increased by 16.1% compared to a year ago, and now make up 69.7% of total deposits.
• Nonperforming loans were $36.6 million, or 6.50% of total loans at September 30, 2011.
• The total allowance for loan losses equaled 2.94% of total loans held for investment at September 30, 2011, compared to 2.64% at September 30, 2010.
• Community West Bank's Total risk-based capital ratio was 13.15%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 11.88% and Tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.45% at September 30, 2011.

Including $261,000 of preferred stock dividends, the net loss applicable to common stockholders was $2.6 million, or $0.43 per diluted share in 3Q11, compared to net income applicable to common stockholders of $784,000, or $0.12 per diluted share, in 3Q10. In the first nine months of 2011, including $785,000 in preferred stock dividends, the net loss applicable to common stockholders was $2.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to net income applicable to common stockholders of $249,000, or $0.04 per diluted common share, in the first nine months of 2010.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans totaled $36.6 million, or 6.50% of total loans at September 30, 2011, compared to $29.7 million, or 5.23% of total loans at June 30, 2011 and $15.1 million, or 2.51% of total loans at September 30, 2010. The increase in the past quarter is primarily due to one construction loan of $4.0 million and one commercial real estate loan of $3.2 million.

Of the $36.6 million in total nonperforming loans, $28.7 million or 78.2% were real estate loans, $3.0 million or 8.2% were SBA loans, $4.2 million or 11.6% were manufactured housing loans, $708,000 or 1.9% were commercial loans and $29,000 or 0.10% were other installment loans.

Net real estate owned (REO), after subtraction of the SBA guarantee, and repossessed assets decreased $2.3 million during the quarter to $4.8 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $7.0 million three months earlier and $4.0 million at September 30, 2010, due to the Company's diligent efforts to sell the assets.

Net nonperforming assets totaled $41.4 million, or 6.44% of total assets, compared to $36.8 million, or 5.71% of total assets at June 30, 2011, and $19.1 million, or 2.83% of total assets, a year ago. The loan loss provision was $4.5 million in 3Q11 compared to $3.2 million in 2Q11 and $1.5 million in 3Q10. In the first nine months of 2011, the loan loss provision was $8.7 million compared to $7.5 million in the same period a year ago. 

The allowance for loan losses totaled $14.2 million at quarter-end, equal to 2.94% of total loans held for investment, compared to 3.09% at June 30, 2011 and 2.64% a year ago.

Community West had net charge-offs of $5.5 million in 3Q11, compared to $1.1 million in 2Q11 and $2.0 million in 3Q10. 

Income Statement Review

Net interest income was $6.8 million in 3Q11 compared to $7.3 million in 3Q10. In the first nine months of 2011, net interest income was $20.9 million compared to $21.8 million in the first nine months of 2010. In 3Q11, the net interest margin was 4.38% compared to 4.58% in 2Q11 and 4.49% in 3Q10. In the first nine months of 2011, the net interest margin was 4.49% compared to 4.48% in the first nine months of 2010.

Due to the decline in loan originations and associated fees, as well as a decline in referral fees on SBA 504 loans, non-interest income was $801,000 in 3Q11, compared to $1.0 million in 3Q10. In the first nine months of 2011, non-interest income was $2.4 million compared to $2.8 million in the same period a year ago. 

"While we have made progress in improving controllable operating expenses, charges related to losses and writedowns of foreclosed real estate and repossessed assets remain high.  We expect collection expenses and costs associated with real estate to remain elevated as we work down our inventory of nonperforming assets," said Charles G. Baltuskonis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Non-interest expenses were $7.0 million in 3Q11 compared to $5.0 million in 3Q10.  In the first nine months of the year, non-interest expenses were $17.9 million compared to $15.4 million in the first nine months of 2010. 

Balance Sheet

"We continue to operate in a challenging lending environment, and as a result net loans decreased compared to a year ago," said Baltuskonis. Net loans were $549.9 million at September 30, 2011 compared to $587.2 million at September 30, 2010. 

Commercial real estate loans outstanding were down slightly from year ago levels to $172.2 million at September 30, 2011, and comprise 30.5% of the total loan portfolio. Manufactured housing loans were down 2.9% from year ago levels to $190.7 million and represent 33.8% of total loans. Commercial loans were down 14.3% compared to a year ago and represent 8.4% of the total loan portfolio and SBA loans decreased 8.8% from a year ago and now represent 21.2% of the total loan portfolio.

"We have improved our core business by continuing to change the composition of our deposit portfolio, growing non-interest bearing and other core deposit balances while letting CD's run off," said Baltuskonis. "Although total deposit balances have declined, core deposit balances have increased $49.1 million year-over-year and now comprise 69.7% of total deposits."

Total deposits were $507.5 million at September 30, 2011 compared to $535.7 million a year earlier. Non-interest-bearing accounts increased 29.6% to $50.7 million at September 30, 2011 compared to $39.1 million a year ago. Interest-bearing accounts increased 14.7% to $282.7 million at quarter-end compared to $246.6 million a year ago. Core deposits, defined as non-interest-bearing checking, interest-bearing checking, money market accounts and savings accounts, increased 16.1% to $353.7 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $304.6 million a year earlier while certificates of deposit decreased 33.4% over the same period to $153.9 million, compared to $231.1 million a year earlier.

Total assets were $643.2 million at quarter-end, compared to $676.5 million a year earlier. Stockholders' equity was $59.4 million at quarter-end, compared to $60.8 million a year earlier and book value per common share was $7.41 at quarter-end compared to $7.78 a year earlier.

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:  Charles G. Baltuskonis, EVP & CFO
          805.692.5821
          www.communitywestbank.com