Item 8.01 Other Events.

On January 28, 2013, Sterling Financial Corporation announced that its principal operating subsidiary, Sterling Savings Bank ("Sterling Bank"), had entered into a definitive agreement for the sale (the "Transaction") of three of its branches to Bank of the Pacific ("BOP"), the principal operating subsidiary of Pacific Financial Corporation. The branches included in the Transaction are located in Astoria, Oregon, Seaside, Oregon and Aberdeen, Washington.

Under the terms of the agreement, BOP will pay Sterling a premium of approximately $1.2 million (2.77 percent of core in-market deposits) to acquire approximately $50 million of deposits, $6 million of performing loans, and certain other assets and liabilities. The Transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, and is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2013.

The full text of a press release announcing the Transaction issued on January 29, 2013 is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No. Exhibit Description

99.1 Sterling Financial Corporation press release.

---