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

January 27, 2011

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

1^ST CENTURY BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission file number 333-148302

1875 Century Park East, Suite 1400, Los Angeles, California 90067
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)

(310) 270-9500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02

Appointment of Directors of Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

Effective January 27, 2011, the Board of Directors of 1^st Century Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Stanley R. Zax to its Board of Directors.  Mr. Zax was also appointed to the Company’s Asset Liability Committee (“ALCO”) of the Board of Directors, as well as the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.  

Mr, Zax will be entitled to receive compensation for his service on the Board of Directors consistent with the Company’s director compensation program for non-employee directors, as described under the heading How We Compensate Directors in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 14, 2010.

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.