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 7, 2005

                          FIRST PACTRUST BANCORP, INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)


            Maryland                 000-49806               04-3639825
      ---------------------         ------------         ---------------------
        (State or other              Commission            (I.R.S. Employer
           jurisdiction              File Number          Identification No.)
       of incorporation or
          organization)

                610 Bay Blvd.                           91910
           Chula Vista, California
  ----------------------------------------           ------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)            (Zip code)

                                 (619) 691-9741
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                       N/A
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

|_|  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

|_|  Soliciting material pursuant to 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))

TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Item 8.01. Other Events - ----------------------- Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits - -------------------------------------------- SIGNATURES - ---------- Index to Exhibits - ----------------- Press Release - ------------- ================================================================================

Table of Contents - ----------------- Item 8.01. Other Events. On January 7, 2005, First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that it would hold its annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, April 20, 2005, and that shareholders of record as of March 11, 2005 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. Financial Statements and Exhibits. Item 9.01. (c) Exhibits 99.1 Press Release, dated January 7, 2005, of First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. 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. FIRST PACTRUST BANCORP, INC. Date: January 7, 2005 /s/ James P. Sheehy ---------------------------- James P. Sheehy Executive Vice President Secretary and Treasurer ================================================================================

Table of Contents - ----------------- Index to Exhibits Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit - -------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- 99.1 Press release, dated January 7, 2005, of First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. ================================================================================

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

        First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. Announces 2005 Annual Meeting Dates

     CHULA VISTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2005--First PacTrust Bancorp,
Inc. (NASDAQ:FPTB), the parent corporation of Pacific Trust Bank, has announced
that its 2005 annual meeting of shareholders will be held 9:00 a.m. PDT on
Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at the Bonita Golf Club located at 5540 Sweetwater
Road, Bonita, California. Shareholders of record as of March 11, 2005 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
     First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. is a $674.6 million bank holding company, as
of September 30, 2004, headquartered in Chula Vista, California, providing
traditional deposit and credit services through its wholly owned Federal Savings
bank subsidiary, Pacific Trust Bank. The Company has nine banking offices within
San Diego and Riverside Counties. More information about the Company can be
found on its website at http://www.firstpactrustbancorp.com.


     CONTACT: First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc.
              Hans Ganz, 619-691-1519