X0303 5 2008-12-31 0 0 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 724477 D Common Stock 6602 I By IRA Common Stock 711 I Owned By Spouse Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 6.94 2001-02-11 2010-02-11 Common Stock 142930 142930 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 14.60 2003-02-06 2012-02-06 Common Stock 47250 47250 D 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. 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 2009-02-12