Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

OAK VALLEY BANCORP REPORTS 1st QUARTER RESULTS

OAKDALE, CA – Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY), the bank holding company for Oak Valley Community Bank and Eastern Sierra Community Bank, recently reported consolidated financial results.  For the three months ended March 31, 2011, consolidated net income was $1,165,000, while consolidated net income available to common shareholders was $955,000, or $0.12 per diluted common share.  This compared favorably to net income available to common shareholders of $737,000, or $0.10 per diluted common share for the same period a year ago.

Net interest income remained solid to support the Bank’s earnings growth, increasing by $145,000, or 2.4% to $6.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $6.1 million for the same period last year. This increase is primarily attributable to the growth in average earning assets of $39.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.  The net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was 4.92%, compared to 5.01% for the three months prior and 5.22% for the same period last year.

“We have consistently progressed in our ability to attract and broaden banking relationships with the local consumer and business communities.  The corresponding increase in core deposits has led to a continued reduction in the Bank’s cost of funds and increased balance sheet liquidity.  The key to margin expansion will be in the deployment of those resources as the economy recovers and loan demand returns,” stated Chris Courtney, President.

Non interest expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 totaled $4.5 million, a slight increase over the $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.  Write downs associated with Other Real Estate Owned (OREO) represented $219,000, leaving only $559,000 in OREO carrying balances outstanding. The provision for loan losses during the three months ended March 31, 2011, was $600,000, compared to $1.0 million during the same quarter of last year.  However, in the last 12 months the ratio of loan loss reserves to gross loans has been increased from 1.65% to 2.22%.

Management continues to actively write-down non-performing assets to reflect current values. As of March 31, 2011, non-performing assets to total assets are 2.02%, or $11.4 million, down from 2.85%, or $14.9 million for the same period a year ago, and also down from the 2.22%, or $12.3 million at December 31, 2010. As of March 31, 2011, eight loan relationships were on non-accrual status totaling $10.7 million.  As previously mentioned, OREO held as of March 31, 2011 totaled $559,000 and consisted of 3 properties.

Total assets were $562.8 million at March 31, 2011, an increase of $42.5 million, or 8.2%, from March 31, 2010. Gross loans decreased by $15.8 million, to $395.2 million as of March 31, 2011, a decrease of

3.8% from March 31, 2010.  The Bank’s total deposits were $485.6 million as of March 31, 2011, an increase of $54.0 million, or 12.5% over March 31, 2010.

“We are pleased with our overall performance.  Our net interest margin remains strong, non-performing assets continue to decline and our customer base continues to grow.  The Bank’s strong foundation has allowed us to explore expansion opportunities and maintain a high level of support to the communities we serve,” stated Ron Martin, CEO.

Earlier this year, Oak Valley Community Bank announced plans to open new branches in Modesto and Manteca.  The Bank currently operates through 12 branches in Oakdale, Sonora, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, two branches in Modesto; and three branches in their Eastern Sierra Division, which includes Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop.

For more information call 1-866-844-7500 or visit www.ovcb.com.

This press release includes forward-looking statements about the corporation for which the corporation claims the protection of safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements are based on management’s knowledge and belief as of today and include information concerning the corporation’s possible or assumed future financial condition, and its results of operations and business.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties.  A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Those factors include fluctuations in interest rates, government policies and regulations (including monetary and fiscal policies), legislation, economic conditions, including increased energy costs in California, credit quality of borrowers, operational factors and competition in the geographic and business areas in which the company conducts its operations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available at the time of the release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

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Oak Valley Community Bank

Statement of Condition (unaudited)