X0306 4 2013-01-31 0000891106 STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /WA/ STSA 0001196564 RUSNAK PATRICK J 111 NORTH WALL STREET SPOKANE WA 99201 1 Chief Financial Officer Common Stock (ESPP) 2013-01-31 5 J 0 E 238 18.35 A 784 D The reporting person is voluntarily reporting the acquisition of shares of the issuer's common stock pursuant to the Sterling Financial Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP"), for the ESPP offering period of August 1, 2012 through January 31, 2013. This transaction is also exempt under Rule 16b-3(c). In accordance with the ESPP, the purchase price of these shares was based on 85% of the closing price of the issuer's common stock on January 31, 2013. /s/ Lara L. Hemingway, attorney-in-fact 2013-02-07