Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c) Appointment of Principal Officers.

Effective January 7, 2009, the Board of Directors of Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") promoted Travis L. Jaggers to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Sterling Bank.

Mr. Jaggers, age 59, joined the Company in 1997 as chief executive officer of Sterling Bank's Gulf Freeway, Spencer Highway, and Deer Park Banking Centers, a position he held until September 2001. Mr. Jaggers was promoted to Sterling Banks' Regional Chief Executive Officer for the Southeast Houston Region in October 2001.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No. Description

99.1 Sterling Bancshares, Inc.'s Press Release dated January 7, 2009.

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