X0201 4 2003-09-10 0 0000093451 STERLING BANCORP STL 0001136822 CAPPELLI LOUIS J 650 FIFTH AVENUE 4TH FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10019 1 1 0 0 Chairman and CEO Common Stock 520270 D Common Stock 2003-12-17 4 G 0 1500 0 D 518770 D Common Stock 2003-12-17 4 G 0 1500 0 D 517270 D Common Stock 2003-12-17 4 G 0 1500 0 D 515770 D Common Stock 2003-12-17 4 G 0 1500 0 D 514270 D Common Stock 2003-12-17 4 G 0 1500 0 D 512770 D Common Stock 2003-12-17 4 J 0 206 0 A 512976 D Common Stock 565 I Owned By Spouse Incentive Stock Options (right to buy) 8.15 1998-01-31 2007-01-31 Common Stock 49180 49180 D Non-qualifed Stock Options (right to buy) 18.38 2003-02-06 2012-02-06 Common Stock 37500 37500 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 8.15 1998-01-31 2007-01-31 Common Stock 14356 14356 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 13.01 1999-02-10 2008-02-10 Common Stock 190575 190575 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 10.94 2000-02-12 2009-02-12 Common Stock 190575 190575 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 8.73 2001-02-11 2010-02-11 Common Stock 113437 113437 D 2003 Minimum ESOP Distribution. Owned beneficially and of record by Virginia M. Cappelli, wife of Louis J. Cappelli. Louis J. Cappelli expressly declares that the filing of this Statement of Changes shall not be construed as an admission that he is, for the purpose of Section 16 of this Act, the beneficial owner of any of the securities in this note and he hereby disclaims any beneficial ownership of the securities by this note. Options became exercisable in nine installments on the first anniversary of the grant, for a term of 10 years (first exercisable date listed). Number of options increased and exercise price decreased to maintain parity following a stock split in the form of a 25% dividend of issuer effective 9/10/03. Non-qualified options are exercisable commencing on the first anniversary of the grant for a term of 10 years from grant date (first exercisable date listed). /s/ Cappelli, Louis J 2003-12-19