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 ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------- (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)