[{"text": "Westamerica Bancorp. said Richard W. Decker resigned as president and chief executive officer after only a year on the job because of 'differences' with the board."}, {"text": "The banking company couldn't be reached to comment beyond a written announcement."}, {"text": "It didn't specify the nature of the differences, saying only that they related to 'management style' and 'strategic objectives.'"}, {"text": "Westamerica said Mr. Decker's posts were assumed by David Payne, Westamerica's chairman, who at 34 years of age becomes one of the youngest chief executives of a sizable bank in the country."}, {"text": "Mr. Decker is about 45 years old."}, {"text": "Neither Mr. Payne nor Mr. Decker could be reached to comment."}, {"text": "Westamerica has about $1.3 billion of assets and is the largest independent bank in northern California."}, {"text": "It controls about 35% of the affluent Marin County market across the Golden Gate bridge from San Francisco."}, {"text": "Mr. Decker's resignation surprised many industry officials."}, {"text": "He was brought to the company in September 1988 after 15 years at Los Angeles-based First Interstate Bancorp."}, {"text": "The bank had been suffering in late 1987 from a slew of bad real estate loans made in Arizona."}, {"text": "When he was hired, Mr. Payne lauded Mr. Decker's 'extraordinary . . . skills' and his 'outstanding reputation as one of the West's brightest bankers.'"}, {"text": "Though the bank isn't performing as well as some of its competitors in the lucrative California market, its condition has improved since Mr. Decker took over."}, {"text": "For the six months ended June 30, it earned $3.1 million, or 61 cents a share, compared with net income of $2.4 million, or 41 cents a share, a year earlier."}, {"text": "Its stock also has risen lately, at least partly because it is considered a possible takeover candidate."}, {"text": "Interstate banking is scheduled to begin in California in 1991, and larger California banks, such as Wells Fargo & Co., have been paying fat premiums to buy smaller banks to control markets before any out-of-state banks enter the fray."}, {"text": "In American Stock Exchange composite trading yesterday, Westamerica closed at $22.25 a share, down 75 cents."}]