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, 2004



                            CITY NATIONAL CORPORATION
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)





             Delaware                   1-10521                   95-2568550
--------------------------      ----------------------        -----------------
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission file            (IRS employer
      of incorporation)                  number)             identification no.)



City National Center
400 North Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills, California                   90210
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      (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code               (310) 888-6000
                                                               -----------------


                                 Not applicable
                  --------------------------------------------
          (former name or former address, if changed since last report)







Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibits.

         99.1     Press release dated January 7, 2004 announcing a change in
                  guidance for 2003 financial results.


Items
9 & 12.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL
         CONDITION.

         On January 7, 2004, City National Corporation issued a press release
         announcing a change in guidance for 2003 financial results. A copy of
         the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is
         incorporated herein by reference. This information is being furnished
         under both Item 9 (Regulation FD Disclosure) and Item 12 (Results of
         Operations and Financial Condition) of Form 8-K. This information shall
         not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated
         by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by
         specific reference in such a filing.



                                   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.



                                     CITY NATIONAL CORPORATION
January 7, 2004                      /s/   Frank P. Pekny
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     Frank P. Pekny
                                     Executive Vice President and
                                     Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer
                                     (Authorized Officer and
                                     Principal Financial Officer)