UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): January 24, 2006

Sterling Financial Corporation
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania	0-16276	23-2449551
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
101 North Pointe Boulevard, Lancaster, Pennsylvania		17601-4133
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 717-581-6030

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 24, 2006, Sterling Financial Corporation issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.


The information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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. The furnishing of the information set forth under this Item 2.02 is not intended to, and does not, constitute a determination or admission as to the materiality or completeness of such information.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On January 24, 2006, the Board of Directors of Sterling Financial Corporation set the date, time and location for the 2006 Annual Shareholders Meeting. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. prevailing time, at the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center, 2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602. The Board of Directors set the close of business on Friday, March 3, 2006 as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits:

99.1 Sterling Financial Corporation's Earnings Press Release for the period ended December 31, 2005

SIGNATURES

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	Sterling Financial Corporation
January 24, 2006	By:	J. Roger Moyer, Jr.
		Name: J. Roger Moyer, Jr.
		Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Sterling Financial Corporation press release dated January 24, 2006