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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">Filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2011</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: right">Securities Act Registration No. 333-_______</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">UNITED
STATES</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: -0.1pt">Washington,
D.C. 20549</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">FORM S-8</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>PREMIERWEST
BANCORP</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)</FONT></P>

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        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Oregon</B></FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(State
        of incorporation)</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>93-1282171</B></FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(I.R.S.
        Employer Identification No.)</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: right">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
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    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>503
        Airport Road, Medford, Oregon</B> </FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(Address
        of principal executive offices)</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>97504</B></FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(Zip code)</FONT></P></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>PREMIERWEST BANCORP 2011 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(Full title
of the plan)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>James
M. Ford</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>President
and Chief Executive Officer</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>PremierWest
Bancorp</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>503
Airport Road</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Medford,
Oregon 97504</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="color: black"><B>Telephone: </B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(541)
618-6003</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(Name,
address and telephone number </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">of agent
for service)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B><I>Copies to:</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Andrew H. Ognall</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Lane Powell PC</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>601 SW Second Avenue, Suite 2100</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Portland, Oregon 97204</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Telephone: (503) 778-2169</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of &ldquo;large accelerated
filer,&rdquo; &ldquo;accelerated filer&rdquo; and smaller reporting company&rdquo; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 72%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Large accelerated filer </FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&pound;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 28%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Accelerated filer </FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&pound;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Non-accelerated filer </FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">&pound;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"> (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Smaller reporting company </FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings 2">R</FONT></TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></P>

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    <TD STYLE="width: 20%; border-top: windowtext 2.25pt double; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Title of securities</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">to be registered</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 20%; border-top: windowtext 2.25pt double; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Amount to be</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">registered (1)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 20%; border-top: windowtext 2.25pt double; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Proposed maximum offering price per share (2)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 20%; border-top: windowtext 2.25pt double; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 20%; border-top: windowtext 2.25pt double; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Amount of</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">registration fee</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Common Stock</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 12pt; padding-right: -0.1pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: center; border: Black 1pt solid">500,000</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 12pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: center; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">$1.005</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 12pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: center; border: Black 1pt solid">$502,500</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 12pt; padding-right: -1.1pt; padding-bottom: 6pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: center; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">$57.59</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(1) <FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">The number of shares being
registered represents 500,000 shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to the PremierWest Bancorp 2011 Stock Incentive
Plan. Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &ldquo;Securities Act&rdquo;), this Registration Statement
also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends
or similar transactions in accordance with the terms of the plan.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(2) Estimated solely for the
purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based on the average of
the high and low sales prices of Registrant&rsquo;s Common Stock, as reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market, on November 11, 2011,
which is within five days of the filing date of this Registration Statement.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>PART
II&mdash;INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Item
3.&#9;Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">The
following documents filed by Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &ldquo;Commission&rdquo;) are incorporated
by reference into this Registration Statement:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(a)&#9;Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed March 17, 2011, including information specifically incorporated
by reference into the Form 10-K from the Definitive Proxy Statement for Registrant&rsquo;s 2011 annual meeting of shareholders;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(b)&#9;Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed May 10, 2011, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2011, filed August 11, 2011, Quarterly Report for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, filed November 9, 2011; and Current
Reports on Form 8-K filed January 6, January 21, February 14, March 3, May 20, May 31 and October 13, 2011; and</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(c)&#9;The
description of Common Stock contained in the Form </FONT>8-A12G for Registration of Certain Classes of Securities Pursuant to Section&nbsp;12(b)
or (g)&nbsp;of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &ldquo;Exchange Act&rdquo;), filed July 2, 2003, including
any amendment or report filed to update such description.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">All documents subsequently
filed by Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to be a part thereof from the date
of filing of such documents.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Item
4.&#9;Description of Securities.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">Not
Applicable.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Item
5.&#9;Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">Not
Applicable.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Item
6.&#9;Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in">As an Oregon corporation, Registrant is
subject to the provisions of the Oregon Business Corporation Act (the &ldquo;OBCA&rdquo;). The OBCA permits a corporation to indemnify
an individual who is made a party to a proceeding because such individual is or was a director of the corporation against liability
incurred in the proceeding if:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>his or her conduct was in good faith;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>he or she reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the corporation&rsquo;s best interest, or at least not opposed
to the corporation&rsquo;s best interests; and</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Under the OBCA, a corporation may not,
however, indemnify the individual if the individual was adjudged liable:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>to the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation; or</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>in any proceeding charging improper personal benefit on the basis that he or she improperly received a personal benefit.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The OBCA further provides that, unless a corporation&rsquo;s
articles of incorporation provide otherwise, indemnification is mandatory if the director is wholly successful on the merits or
otherwise in such a proceeding, and permits a director to apply for court-ordered indemnification. Registrant&rsquo;s articles
of incorporation do not limit the statutory right to indemnification.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">II-1</P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Under the OBCA, a corporation may pay
for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition
of the proceeding if the director furnishes the corporation:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>a written affirmation of the director&rsquo;s good faith belief that the director has met the standard of conduct described
in the OBCA; and</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>a written undertaking to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that the director did not meet the standard of
conduct.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The OBCA further provides that, unless the articles
of incorporation provide otherwise, an officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory indemnification and is entitled to apply
for court-ordered indemnification to the same extent as a director. The corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to
an officer to the same extent as to a director.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Registrant&rsquo;s articles of incorporation
provide that it will indemnify its directors and officers against reasonable expenses (including attorney fees), judgments, fines,
penalties, excise taxes or settlement payments incurred or suffered by reason of service as a director or officer or at Registrant&rsquo;s
request as a director, officer, partner or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other enterprise.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in">The OBCA also provides that a corporation&rsquo;s
articles of incorporation may limit or eliminate the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for
monetary damages for conduct as a director, provided that no such provision shall eliminate the liability of a director for:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>any breach of the directors&rsquo; duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>any unlawful distribution; or</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.75in; text-indent: -0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&#183;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font: 7pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Registrant&rsquo;s articles of incorporation
limit monetary liability of its directors for their conduct as directors to the greatest extent permitted under the OBCA. If the
OBCA is amended to further limit the directors&rsquo; liability, Registrant&rsquo;s articles of incorporation would incorporate
such amendment on its effective date.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Registrant also maintains insurance coverage
relating to certain liabilities of directors and officers.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Item
7.&#9;Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">Not
applicable.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Item
8.&#9;Exhibits.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">The
exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K being filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference are as follows:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><U>Exhibit</U></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 7%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex51.htm">5.1</a></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 93%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex51.htm">Opinion of Lane Powell PC</a></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex321.htm">23.1</a></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex321.htm">Consent of Moss Adams LLP</a></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">23.2</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Consent of Lane Powell PC (Included in Exhibit 5.1)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">24.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Power of Attorney (Included on signature page)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">PremierWest Bancorp 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix &ldquo;A&rdquo; of Registrant&rsquo;s Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 7, 2011).</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">II-2</FONT></P>

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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>Item
9.&#9;Undertakings.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">The
undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -22.5pt"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&#9;(i)&#9;To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 85.5pt"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&#9;(ii)&#9;To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in this Registration Statement. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 85.5pt"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&#9;(iii)&#9;To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><I>Provided,
however</I>, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes
that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of Registrant's annual report pursuant to
section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions in Item 6, or otherwise, Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">II-3</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Medford, State of Oregon, on November 10, 2011.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 40%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 60%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">PREMIERWEST BANCORP</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">By:
<U>/s/ James M. Ford</U></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 15pt"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">James M. Ford, President and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><B>POWER
OF ATTORNEY</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in their respective
capacities and on the respective dates indicated opposite their names. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes
each of James M. Ford and Tom Anderson, with full power of substitution, to execute in the name and on behalf of such person any
and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and any registration statement, including
any amendment thereto, relating to the offering covered by this Registration Statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under
the Securities Act, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act,
and anything requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ James M. Ford</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">James M. Ford, Director, President and</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive
        Officer)</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 10, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ Douglas N. Biddle</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Douglas N. Biddle, Chief Financial Officer</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 10, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ John A. Duke</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">John A. Duke, Director and Chairman</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 11, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ Patrick G. Huycke</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Patrick G. Huycke, Director and Vice Chairman</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 11, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><U>/s/ John L. Anhorn</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">John L. Anhorn, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 15, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"> </U>___________<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Richard R. Hieb, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 16, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt"> ___________<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Rickar D. Watkins, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 16, 2011</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ Brian R. Pargeter</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Brian R. Pargeter, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 15, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">___________<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Dennis N. Hoffbuhr, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 16, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ Thomas R. Becker</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Thomas R. Becker, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 15, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ James L. Patterson</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">James L. Patterson, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 14, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ John B. Dickerson</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">John B. Dickerson, Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 16, 2011</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><U>/s/ Georges C. St. Laurent, Jr</U></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">Georges C. St Laurent, Jr., Director</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Date: November 10, 2011</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><U>EXHIBIT
INDEX</U></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt"><U>Exhibit</U></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="letter-spacing: -0.1pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 7%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex51.htm">5.1</a></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 93%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex51.htm">Opinion of Lane Powell PC</a></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex321.htm">23.1</a></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">
    <a href="s8prwtex321.htm">Consent of Moss Adams LLP</a></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">23.2</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Consent of Lane Powell PC (included in Exhibit 5.1)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">24.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">Power of Attorney (included on signature page)</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; layout-grid-mode: line; text-align: justify">PremierWest Bancorp 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix &ldquo;A&rdquo; of Registrant&rsquo;s Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 7, 2011).</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PREMIERWEST BANCORP", "cik": "0001102287", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "931282171", "state-of-incorporation": "OR", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-178026", "film-number": "111211249"}, "business-address": {"street1": "503 AIRPORT ROAD", "street2": "PO BOX 40", "city": "MEDFORD", "state": "OR", "zip": "97501", "phone": "541-282-5391"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "503 AIRPORT ROAD", "street2": "PO BOX 40", "city": "MEDFORD", "state": "OR", "zip": "97501"}}
Filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2011
Securities Act Registration No. 333-_______
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PREMIERWEST
BANCORP
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Oregon
(State
        of incorporation)
93-1282171
(I.R.S.
        Employer Identification No.)
503
        Airport Road, Medford, Oregon
(Address
        of principal executive offices)
97504
(Zip code)
PREMIERWEST BANCORP 2011 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN
(Full title
of the plan)
James
M. Ford
President
and Chief Executive Officer
PremierWest
Bancorp
503
Airport Road
Medford,
Oregon 97504
Telephone:
(541)
618-6003
(Name,
address and telephone number
of agent
for service)
Copies to:
Andrew H. Ognall
Lane Powell PC
601 SW Second Avenue, Suite 2100
Portland, Oregon 97204
Telephone: (503) 778-2169
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of "large accelerated
filer," "accelerated filer" and smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
£
Accelerated filer
£
Non-accelerated filer
£
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
R
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
to be registered
Amount to be
registered (1)
Proposed maximum offering price per share (2)
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)
Amount of
registration fee
Common Stock
500,000
$1.005
$502,500
$57.59
(1)
The number of shares being
registered represents 500,000 shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to the PremierWest Bancorp 2011 Stock Incentive
Plan. Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement
also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends
or similar transactions in accordance with the terms of the plan.
(2) Estimated solely for the
purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, based on the average of
the high and low sales prices of Registrant's Common Stock, as reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market, on November 11, 2011,
which is within five days of the filing date of this Registration Statement.
PART
II—INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item
3.	Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The
following documents filed by Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated
by reference into this Registration Statement:
(a)	Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed March 17, 2011, including information specifically incorporated
by reference into the Form 10-K from the Definitive Proxy Statement for Registrant's 2011 annual meeting of shareholders;
(b)	Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed May 10, 2011, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 2011, filed August 11, 2011, Quarterly Report for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, filed November 9, 2011; and Current
Reports on Form 8-K filed January 6, January 21, February 14, March 3, May 20, May 31 and October 13, 2011; and
(c)	The
description of Common Stock contained in the Form
8-A12G for Registration of Certain Classes of Securities Pursuant to Section 12(b)
or (g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), filed July 2, 2003, including
any amendment or report filed to update such description.
All documents subsequently
filed by Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to be a part thereof from the date
of filing of such documents.
Item
4.	Description of Securities.
Not
Applicable.
Item
5.	Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not
Applicable.
Item
6.	Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
As an Oregon corporation, Registrant is
subject to the provisions of the Oregon Business Corporation Act (the "OBCA"). The OBCA permits a corporation to indemnify
an individual who is made a party to a proceeding because such individual is or was a director of the corporation against liability
incurred in the proceeding if:
·
his or her conduct was in good faith;
·
he or she reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the corporation's best interest, or at least not opposed
to the corporation's best interests; and
·
in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Under the OBCA, a corporation may not,
however, indemnify the individual if the individual was adjudged liable:
·
to the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation; or
·
in any proceeding charging improper personal benefit on the basis that he or she improperly received a personal benefit.
The OBCA further provides that, unless a corporation's
articles of incorporation provide otherwise, indemnification is mandatory if the director is wholly successful on the merits or
otherwise in such a proceeding, and permits a director to apply for court-ordered indemnification. Registrant's articles
of incorporation do not limit the statutory right to indemnification.
II-1
Under the OBCA, a corporation may pay
for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition
of the proceeding if the director furnishes the corporation:
·
a written affirmation of the director's good faith belief that the director has met the standard of conduct described
in the OBCA; and
·
a written undertaking to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that the director did not meet the standard of
conduct.
The OBCA further provides that, unless the articles
of incorporation provide otherwise, an officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory indemnification and is entitled to apply
for court-ordered indemnification to the same extent as a director. The corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to
an officer to the same extent as to a director.
Registrant's articles of incorporation
provide that it will indemnify its directors and officers against reasonable expenses (including attorney fees), judgments, fines,
penalties, excise taxes or settlement payments incurred or suffered by reason of service as a director or officer or at Registrant's
request as a director, officer, partner or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other enterprise.
The OBCA also provides that a corporation's
articles of incorporation may limit or eliminate the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for
monetary damages for conduct as a director, provided that no such provision shall eliminate the liability of a director for:
·
any breach of the directors' duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders;
·
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
·
any unlawful distribution; or
·
any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Registrant's articles of incorporation
limit monetary liability of its directors for their conduct as directors to the greatest extent permitted under the OBCA. If the
OBCA is amended to further limit the directors' liability, Registrant's articles of incorporation would incorporate
such amendment on its effective date.
Registrant also maintains insurance coverage
relating to certain liabilities of directors and officers.
Item
7.	Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not
applicable.
Item
8.	Exhibits.
The
exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K being filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference are as follows:
Exhibit
5.1
Opinion of Lane Powell PC
23.1
Consent of Moss Adams LLP
23.2
Consent of Lane Powell PC (Included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (Included on signature page)
99.1
PremierWest Bancorp 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Appendix "A" of Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 7, 2011).
II-2
Item
9.	Undertakings.
The
undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i)	To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.
(ii)	To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in this Registration Statement.
(iii)	To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.
Provided,
however
, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes
that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of Registrant's annual report pursuant to
section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Registrant pursuant to the foregoing
provisions in Item 6, or otherwise, Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Medford, State of Oregon, on November 10, 2011.
PREMIERWEST BANCORP
By:
/s/ James M. Ford
James M. Ford, President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in their respective
capacities and on the respective dates indicated opposite their names. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes
each of James M. Ford and Tom Anderson, with full power of substitution, to execute in the name and on behalf of such person any
and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and any registration statement, including
any amendment thereto, relating to the offering covered by this Registration Statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under
the Securities Act, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act,
and anything requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
/s/ James M. Ford
James M. Ford, Director, President and
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive
        Officer)
Date: November 10, 2011
/s/ Douglas N. Biddle
Douglas N. Biddle, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Date: November 10, 2011
/s/ John A. Duke
John A. Duke, Director and Chairman
Date: November 11, 2011
/s/ Patrick G. Huycke
Patrick G. Huycke, Director and Vice Chairman
Date: November 11, 2011
/s/ John L. Anhorn
John L. Anhorn, Director
Date: November 15, 2011
___________
Richard R. Hieb, Director
Date: November 16, 2011
___________
Rickar D. Watkins, Director
Date: November 16, 2011
/s/ Brian R. Pargeter
Brian R. Pargeter, Director
Date: November 15, 2011
___________
Dennis N. Hoffbuhr, Director
Date: November 16, 2011
/s/ Thomas R. Becker
Thomas R. Becker, Director
Date: November 15, 2011
/s/ James L. Patterson
James L. Patterson, Director
Date: November 14, 2011
/s/ John B. Dickerson
John B. Dickerson, Director
Date: November 16, 2011
/s/ Georges C. St. Laurent, Jr
Georges C. St Laurent, Jr., Director
Date: November 10, 2011
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
5.1
Opinion of Lane Powell PC
23.1
Consent of Moss Adams LLP
23.2
Consent of Lane Powell PC (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
99.1
PremierWest Bancorp 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix "A" of Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 7, 2011).