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) May 16, 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 Boulevard, Suite 330
                               Roseville, CA 95661
                                  916.677.1133
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)


<PAGE>


Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

99.1 Notice of Blackout Period.

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

     Humboldt  Bancorp  ("Humboldt")  has advised  participants  in the Humboldt
Bancorp  401(k)  and Stock  Bonus  Plan  ("Plan")  that there will be a blackout
period  beginning  on June 19, 2003 and ending on July 10,  2003.  The  blackout
period will commence on June 19, 2003 and end on July 10, 2003.

     On May 15,  2003,  Humboldt  sent a notice to its  executive  officers  and
directors informing them of the blackout period with respect to trading Humboldt
common stock. A copy of the notice is attached as Exhibit 99.1, but is not filed
but considered  furnished  pursuant to Regulation FD. The notice of the blackout
period under this Item 9 is being furnished to meet the  requirements of Item 11
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: May 16, 2003                                  HUMBOLDT BANCORP,
                                                     a California Corporation


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


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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) May 16, 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 Boulevard, Suite 330
                               Roseville, CA 95661
                                  916.677.1133
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits.

99.1 Notice of Blackout Period.

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

     Humboldt  Bancorp  ("Humboldt")  has advised  participants  in the Humboldt
Bancorp  401(k)  and Stock  Bonus  Plan  ("Plan")  that there will be a blackout
period  beginning  on June 19, 2003 and ending on July 10,  2003.  The  blackout
period will commence on June 19, 2003 and end on July 10, 2003.

     On May 15,  2003,  Humboldt  sent a notice to its  executive  officers  and
directors informing them of the blackout period with respect to trading Humboldt
common stock. A copy of the notice is attached as Exhibit 99.1, but is not filed
but considered  furnished  pursuant to Regulation FD. The notice of the blackout
period under this Item 9 is being furnished to meet the  requirements of Item 11
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: May 16, 2003                                  HUMBOLDT BANCORP,
                                                     a California Corporation

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

                                       2