Sterling National Bank Continues to Build New York Metro Presence With a New Sales Team

MONTEBELLO, NY--(Marketwired - October 15, 2014) - Sterling National Bank, the principal subsidiary of Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL), is expanding its presence in the New York Metro Market with a new sales team. These professionals bring a broad range of experience that will enhance the bank's mission of providing highly personalized service to its clients across multiple disciplines, including commercial lending, real estate, and wealth management.

"We are excited to continue to expand our presence and service capabilities in the New York Metro and Long Island areas, and we are pleased to welcome this highly accomplished group of banking professionals to the team," said David S. Bagatelle, President of NY Metro Markets at Sterling. "Together, they bring decades of experience in helping clients solve their banking and investment challenges. We look forward to having them help us continue to provide the kind of personalized service that our clients have come to expect from us."

Sterling has expanded its personnel in the New York Metro Market throughout the past year, improving the bank's ability to better serve its growing client base. In March, Sterling added 11 banking professionals across its locations in New York City, Westchester County, Long Island and New Jersey.

The most recent new hires include:

• Ellen Weber -- Senior Managing Director. Ellen was previously with Capital One where she served as Regional Executive and Market President. She has more than 25 years of commercial banking experience focusing in the areas of healthcare, professional services, and commercial real estate.
• Stephen Weiss -- Senior Managing Director. Stephen was previously with Bank of America where he served as a Senior Client Manager. He has particular expertise in the areas of investments, commercial lending, and treasury management solutions.
• Munesh Verma -- Managing Director. Munesh was previously a Vice President within the commercial banking group at HSBC Bank, where he advised middle market enterprises and high-net-worth families.

About Sterling National Bank
Sterling National Bank, the principal subsidiary of Sterling Bancorp, specializes in the delivery of service and solutions to business owners, their families, and consumers within the communities we serve through teams of dedicated relationship managers. Sterling National Bank offers a complete line of commercial, business, and consumer banking products and services. For more information, visit www.snb.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may concern Sterling's current expectations about its future results, plans, operations and prospects and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including inflation; the effects of, and changes in, trade; changes in asset quality and credit risk; introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; capital management activities; customer disintermediation; and the success of Sterling at managing these risks. Other factors that could cause Sterling's actual results to differ from those indicated in forward-looking statements are included in the "Risk Factors" section of Sterling's securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date hereof, and Sterling specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements in the future.