SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K


                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 9, 2001



                                HUMBOLDT BANCORP
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>                                          <C>                           <C>
           California                        0-27784                       93-1175446
           ----------                        -------                       ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

</TABLE>

                                2440 Sixth Street
                            Eureka, California 95501
                                 (707) 445-3233
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)


                                701 Fifth Street
                            Eureka, California 95501
                                (Former address)


<PAGE>


Item 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

     As previously reported, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
and Merger dated September 20, 2001 (the "Merger  Agreement"),  between Humboldt
Bancorp and Tehama Bancorp,  on March 9, 2001,  Humboldt  Bancorp  completed the
merger of Tehama Bancorp, a California bank holding company headquartered in Red
Bluff, California,  and the acquisition of its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Tehama
Bank, a California  state chartered bank. At separate  special  meetings held on
March 7, 2001,  the  shareholders  of both Humboldt  Bancorp and Tehama  Bancorp
approved the merger.  Tehama Bank now operates as a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Humboldt Bancorp.

     Under  the  terms of the  Merger  Agreement,  a holder of a share of Tehama
Bancorp common stock will have the right to receive 1.775 shares of common stock
of Humboldt  Bancorp.  Approximately  3.39  million  shares of Humboldt  Bancorp
common stock were issued in the merger and Humboldt  Bancorp has assumed options
under  Tehama  Bancorp  stock option plans  representing  approximately  394,000
shares of Humboldt Bancorp common stock.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

     (b) Pro forma information

     The financial  statements of Tehama Bancorp and pro forma  information will
be filed by amendment within 60 days of the due date of this Form 8-K.

                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 16, 2001                      HUMBOLDT BANCORP,
                                           a California corporation


                                           /s/  PATRICK J. RUSNAK
                                           Patrick J. Rusnak,
                                           Chief Financial Officer
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HUMBOLDT BANCORP", "cik": "0001008554", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "931175446", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27784", "film-number": "1572423"}, "business-address": {"street1": "701 FIFTH STREET", "street2": "PO BOX 1007", "city": "EUREKA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95501", "phone": "7074453233"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "701 FIFTH ST", "street2": "PO BOX 1007", "city": "EUREKA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95501"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 9, 2001

                                HUMBOLDT BANCORP
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California                        0-27784                       93-1175446
           ----------                        -------                       ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)
2440 Sixth Street
                            Eureka, California 95501
                                 (707) 445-3233
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

                                701 Fifth Street
                            Eureka, California 95501
                                (Former address)
Item 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

     As previously reported, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
and Merger dated September 20, 2001 (the "Merger  Agreement"),  between Humboldt
Bancorp and Tehama Bancorp,  on March 9, 2001,  Humboldt  Bancorp  completed the
merger of Tehama Bancorp, a California bank holding company headquartered in Red
Bluff, California,  and the acquisition of its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Tehama
Bank, a California  state chartered bank. At separate  special  meetings held on
March 7, 2001,  the  shareholders  of both Humboldt  Bancorp and Tehama  Bancorp
approved the merger.  Tehama Bank now operates as a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
Humboldt Bancorp.

     Under  the  terms of the  Merger  Agreement,  a holder of a share of Tehama
Bancorp common stock will have the right to receive 1.775 shares of common stock
of Humboldt  Bancorp.  Approximately  3.39  million  shares of Humboldt  Bancorp
common stock were issued in the merger and Humboldt  Bancorp has assumed options
under  Tehama  Bancorp  stock option plans  representing  approximately  394,000
shares of Humboldt Bancorp common stock.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

     (b) Pro forma information

     The financial  statements of Tehama Bancorp and pro forma  information will
be filed by amendment within 60 days of the due date of this Form 8-K.

                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: March 16, 2001                      HUMBOLDT BANCORP,
                                           a California corporation

                                           /s/  PATRICK J. RUSNAK
                                           Patrick J. Rusnak,
                                           Chief Financial Officer