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) April 15, 2003

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

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


    2998 Douglas Blvd., Suite 330, Roseville, California 95661; 916-677-1133
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)


                                       1
<PAGE>

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits.

          99.1 Press release dated April 15, 2003.

Item 9. Other  Regulation  FD  Disclosure/Results  of  Operations  and Financial
Condition (Item 12)

The  purpose of this  current  report on Form 8-K is to disclose  that  Humboldt
Bancorp  issued a press  release  on April 15,  2003  announcing  its  unaudited
financial results for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. The
press release under this Item 9 is being  furnished to meet the  requirements of
Item 12 of 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: April 15, 2003                           HUMBOLDT BANCORP,
                                                a California Corporation


                                                /s/Patrick J. Rusnak
                                                --------------------
                                                Patrick J. Rusnak
                                                Chief Financial Officer



                                       2
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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) April 15, 2003

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

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

    2998 Douglas Blvd., Suite 330, Roseville, California 95661; 916-677-1133
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

                                       1
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits.

          99.1 Press release dated April 15, 2003.

Item 9. Other  Regulation  FD  Disclosure/Results  of  Operations  and Financial
Condition (Item 12)

The  purpose of this  current  report on Form 8-K is to disclose  that  Humboldt
Bancorp  issued a press  release  on April 15,  2003  announcing  its  unaudited
financial results for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. The
press release under this Item 9 is being  furnished to meet the  requirements of
Item 12 of 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: April 15, 2003                           HUMBOLDT BANCORP,
                                                a California Corporation

                                                /s/Patrick J. Rusnak
                                                --------------------
                                                Patrick J. Rusnak
                                                Chief Financial Officer

                                       2