UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

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CURRENT REPORT

~~Pursuant~~PURSUANT toTO ~~Section~~SECTION 13 orOR 15(d)of ~~the Securities Exchange Act of 1934~~

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 22, 2026

~~_______________________________~~Westamerica Bancorporation

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

California	001-09383	94-2156203
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File No.)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)

California	001-09383	94-2156203
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1108 Fifth Avenue

San Rafael, California 94901

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(707) 863-6000

(Registrant'’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

_______________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to ~~Rule~~rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value	WABC	The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ¨

~~Emerging~~If an emerging growth company, ☐indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the exchange Act. ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section ~~13(a)~~5 of– ~~the~~Corporate ~~Exchange~~Governance ~~Act.~~and ☐Management

Item 85.0102. ~~Other~~Departure ~~Events.~~of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

OnElection ~~January 22, 2026, the Registrant issued a press release, a copy~~ of ~~which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.~~ Director

~~Item~~On ~~9.01.~~January ~~Financial~~22, ~~Statements~~2026, the Westamerica Bancorporation Board of Directors appointed Carter Welch to serve as an independent member of the Board of Directors effective February 26, 2026 until his successor is duly nominated, qualified, and ~~Exhibits~~elected.

99.1		Press Release dated January 22, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

Mr. Welch has more than 25 years of experience in Marketing and Business Strategy.

~~SIGNATURE~~2

~~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.~~SIGNATURES

	WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
Date: January 22, 2026	By:	/s/ Anela Jonas
		Anela Jonas
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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.


	WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION
	(Registrant)

Date: January 23, 2026	By:	/s/ Anela Jonas
		Anela Jonas
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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