 Fueled by a series of acquisitions, reorganizations, and mergers, the 1990s ushered in a period of earnings growth and enhanced investment performance.The company's asset base almost doubled in the period from the end of 1990 to mid-1995.During the 1990s, the company operated in an economic environment marked by slow growth in the affluent markets it served and in a banking environment marked by consolidation among large banks at one end of the spectrum and community banks at the other end, where Westamerica positioned itself.