<PAGE>

===========================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       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: November 25, 1998



                             REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP
            (Exact number of Registrant as specified in its charter)



             California                File No. 0-19231           68-0166366
    (State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer)
    Incorporated or organization)                            Identification No.)



         111 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California            95404-4905
         (Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (707) 573-4800





===========================================================================


<PAGE>



Item 5.  Other Events

Press releases for the following (article attached):

         Redwood Empire Bancorp declares quarterly dividend on its common stock.











                                   SIGNATURES



         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.



             11/25/98
Date:  ___________________         REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP
                                         (Registrant)


                                         /s/ James E. Beckwith
                                    By:  _____________________
                                         James E. Beckwith
                                         Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>








                                   FOR:     REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP

                           APPROVED BY:     James Beckwith
                                            Chief Financial Officer
                                            (707) 522-5215

                               CONTACT:     Morgen-Walke Associates, Inc.
                                            John Swenson, Bruce Schoenfeld
                                            (415) 296-7383
For Immediate Release                       Mark Owen
                                            (212) 850-5600


                    REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP DECLARES QUARTERLY
                            DIVIDENDS ON COMMON STOCK


SANTA ROSA, Calif.  (November 24, 1998) -- Redwood Empire Bancorp (NASDAQ: REBC)
today  announced  that its Board of  Directors  has  declared a  quarterly  cash
dividend of 4 cents per share on the  Company's  Common  Stock.  The dividend is
payable on January 15, 1999 to shareholders of record on December 31, 1998.
         Redwood Empire Bancorp is the holding  company for National Bank of the
Redwoods,  a commercial  bank. The Company  operates  through  branches and loan
production offices in various northern California locations.

                                      # # #
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "PRESS RELEASE", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3349}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP", "cik": "0000840007", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "680166366", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10868", "film-number": "98759980"}, "business-address": {"street1": "111 SANTA ROSA AVENUE", "city": "SANTA ROSA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95404-4905", "phone": "7075734800"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "111 SANTA ROSA AVENUE", "city": "SANTA ROSA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95404-4905"}}
===========================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       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: November 25, 1998

                             REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP
            (Exact number of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             California                File No. 0-19231           68-0166366
    (State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer)
    Incorporated or organization)                            Identification No.)

         111 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California            95404-4905
         (Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (707) 573-4800

===========================================================================
Item 5.  Other Events

Press releases for the following (article attached):

         Redwood Empire Bancorp declares quarterly dividend on its common stock.

                                   SIGNATURES

         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.

             11/25/98
Date:  ___________________         REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP
                                         (Registrant)

                                         /s/ James E. Beckwith
                                    By:  _____________________
                                         James E. Beckwith
                                         Executive Vice President and
                                         Chief Financial Officer
FOR:     REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP

                           APPROVED BY:     James Beckwith
                                            Chief Financial Officer
                                            (707) 522-5215

                               CONTACT:     Morgen-Walke Associates, Inc.
                                            John Swenson, Bruce Schoenfeld
                                            (415) 296-7383
For Immediate Release                       Mark Owen
                                            (212) 850-5600

                    REDWOOD EMPIRE BANCORP DECLARES QUARTERLY
                            DIVIDENDS ON COMMON STOCK

SANTA ROSA, Calif.  (November 24, 1998) -- Redwood Empire Bancorp (NASDAQ: REBC)
today  announced  that its Board of  Directors  has  declared a  quarterly  cash
dividend of 4 cents per share on the  Company's  Common  Stock.  The dividend is
payable on January 15, 1999 to shareholders of record on December 31, 1998.
         Redwood Empire Bancorp is the holding  company for National Bank of the
Redwoods,  a commercial  bank. The Company  operates  through  branches and loan
production offices in various northern California locations.

                                      # # #