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 (Date of earliest event reported): January 3, 2013

PremierWest Bancorp

(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number including area code 541-618-6003

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

Not applicable

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:

On January 3, 2013, PremierWest Bancorp issued a press release announcing that it has established a record date of December 31, 2012, and a meeting date of February 19, 2013, for a special meeting of its shareholders to, among other things, consider and vote on a proposal to approve the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 29, 2012, among PremierWest, Starbuck Bancshares, Inc. (“Starbuck”), and Pearl Merger Sub Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Starbuck (“Pearl Merger Sub”), pursuant to which PremierWest Bancorp will merge with and into Pearl Merger Sub, with Pearl Merger Sub as the surviving entity.

The Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PremierWest intends to file a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the proposed merger of PremierWest and an affiliate of AmericanWest Bank. Shareholders of PremierWest are urged to read the proxy statement when it becomes available, because it will contain important information. Shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement, as well as other filings containing information about PremierWest and the merger, when available, without charge, at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet site (www.sec.gov). In addition, copies of the proxy statement and other filings containing information about PremierWest and the proposed merger can be obtained, when available, without charge, by directing a request to PremierWest’s Internet site at www.premierwestbank.com under the heading “About Us” and then under the heading “Investor Relations.” Shareholders and customers may also contact: James M. Ford, PremierWest President & CEO at (541) 618-6020 or Jim.Ford@PremierWestBank.com or Doug Biddle, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer (541) 282-5391 or Doug.Biddle@PremierWestBank.com

PROXY SOLICITATION

PremierWest and its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from PremierWest shareholders in respect of the proposed merger. You can find information about PremierWest’s executive officers and directors in PremierWest’s definitive annual proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2012. You can obtain free copies of PremierWest’s annual proxy statement, and PremierWest’s proxy statement in connection with the merger, when it becomes available, by contacting PremierWest’s investor relations department.

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.