Sterling Bank Selects LANE PR as Agency of Record

PORTLAND, OR and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Nov 30, 2012) -  LANE PR, a national public relations agency specializing in integrated public relations, digital media and investor relations, has been named agency of record (AOR) for Sterling Bank, one of America's strongest regional community banks with a presence throughout the Pacific Northwest and California. LANE PR will commence work on Dec. 1.

"Sterling successfully launched its new brand in 2012, one of our most successful years ever. We are now looking forward to expanding our story about the many benefits we offer our employees, customers and communities," said Marty Dickinson, executive vice president of marketing and communications at Sterling Bank.

Making a strong recovery since the economic recession, Sterling Bank is approaching its 30^th anniversary and is continuing its western expansion. As Sterling Bank's AOR, LANE PR is charged with augmenting the bank's existing marketing program by integrating traditional public relations, digital services and creative campaigns.

"LANE PR has successfully built one of the strongest finance and banking public relations teams in the Pacific Northwest," said Wendy Lane Stevens, president of LANE PR. "This team, combined with the national financial media expertise of LANE's New York City office, is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Sterling Bank. Sterling is not only an established and reputable financial institution, but additionally it has exemplary leadership and a great story to tell."

Sterling Bank was established in 1983 in Spokane, Wash., and today operates depository branches in Washington, Idaho and Oregon, as well as in California as Sonoma Bank. It provides full-service banking to individuals and businesses, and it maintains a strong tradition of building, improving and enriching its communities. Earlier this year, Sterling Bank received the 2012 Community Service Award from the Association of Washington Business in recognition of the generosity of employees who volunteered nearly 44,000 hours to hundreds of charitable organizations in 2011.

About Sterling Bank
Sterling Savings Bank, the principal operating subsidiary of Sterling Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: STSA) of Spokane, Wash., is a Washington state chartered and federally insured commercial bank. Sterling Savings Bank does business as Sterling Bank and Sonoma Bank (in California). Sterling offers banking products and services, mortgage lending, and trust and investment products to individuals, small businesses, corporations and other commercial organizations. As of Sept. 30, 2012, Sterling had assets of $9.47 billion and operated 183 depository branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California. Visit Sterling's website at www.bankwithsterling.com.

About LANE PR
LANE PR is a national, independent firm specializing in business-driven communications strategies with offices in New York and Portland, Ore. Founded in 1990, LANE PR provides integrated public relations, digital media, and investor relations services for clients in financial services, consumer, food and beverage, and technology sectors. For more information about LANE PR, visit www.lanepr.com. Connect with LANE PR on Twitter at Twitter.com/LANEPR and LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/company/lane-pr.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts and that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about Sterling's plans, objectives, expectations, strategies and intentions and other statements contained in this release that are not historical facts and pertain to Sterling's future operating results. When used in this release, the words "plans," "expects," "will be," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in these forward-looking statements because such statements are inherently subject to significant assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Sterling's control. Other factors that could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements may be found under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Sterling Financial Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated periodically in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless legally required, Sterling disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.