Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 24, 2013, Sterling Financial Corporation ("Sterling") issued a press release regarding its results of operations and financial condition for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2012. The text of the press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. The information included in the press release is considered to be "furnished" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Sterling will include final financial statements and additional analyses for the year ended December 31, 2012, as part of its annual report on Form 10-K.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

Sterling Financial Corporation is furnishing the slide presentation that it intends to review in conjunction with its earnings release conference call on January 25, 2013. The slides are included as Exhibit 99.2 to this report and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) The following exhibits are being furnished herewith:

Exhibit No. Exhibit Description

99.1 Press release text of Sterling Financial Corporation dated January 24, 2013.

99.2 Investor slide presentation of Sterling Financial Corporation

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S I G N A T U R E

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 thereunto duly authorized.

STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)

January 25, 2013 By: /s/ Patrick J. Rusnak

Date Patrick J. Rusnak

Chief Financial Officer

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