8-K

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): November 2, 2005 (October 31, 2005)

STERLING BANCSHARES, INC.

( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

TEXAS
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation) 0-20750
(Commission File Number) 74-2175590
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

2550 North Loop West, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77092
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(713) 466-8300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2.below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

     Effective October 31, 2005, the Board of Directors of Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), upon recommendation of the Board’s Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, elected Max W. Wells to serve as a Class II director until the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. In connection with the election of Mr. Wells, the Board increased the number of directors from 15 to 16, with Mr. Wells filling the vacancy created thereby. Mr. Wells had been the Chairman of the Board and CEO of the recently acquired Oaks Bank & Trust Company, which he founded in 1985. Mr. Wells will serve on the Trust Administrative Committee of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sterling Bank. In addition to his responsibilities as a director, Mr. Wells will continue to serve as the Vice-Chairman of Sterling Bank for the Dallas Region.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits. The following is furnished as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Exhibit No.		Description
	99.1	Press Release dated November 1, 2005, announcing the election of Max W. Wells to the Board of Directors of Sterling Bancshares, Inc.

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 authorized officer.

	Sterling Bancshares, Inc.
Date: November 2, 2005	By:	/s /Stephen C. Raffaele
		Stephen C. Raffaele
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Description
	99.1	Press Release dated November 1, 2005, announcing the election of Max W. Wells to the Board of Directors of Sterling Bancshares, Inc.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

For More Information Contact:	For Immediate Release — November 1, 2005
J. Downey Bridgwater, President & Chief
Executive Officer
713-507-2670
Chris Reid, Vice President — Investor Relations
713-507-2873

MAX W. WELLS JOINS STERLING BANCSHARES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HOUSTON, TX —November 1, 2005— Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBIB) has announced that Max W. Wells, Chairman of the Board and CEO of recently acquired Oaks Bank & Trust Company, has been elected to its board of directors. Mr. Wells founded Dallas-based Oaks Bank & Trust Company in 1985. He has over 40 years of experience in banking, all of which has been spent in the Dallas area. Mr. Wells will serve as a Class II director until the 2006 annual meeting of shareholders at which time it is anticipated that he will be nominated for a three year term. In addition to his responsibilities as a director, he continues to serve as Vice Chairman of Sterling Bank for the Dallas Region.

“We are very pleased to have someone with Max’s experience join the board,” said Sterling Bancshares President & Chief Executive Officer J. Downey Bridgwater. “Max’s reputation as a leader and banker in the Dallas community is outstanding. With his input we will be better equipped to grow and serve our Dallas customers.”

Mr. Wells has a long and distinguished record of service to his community. He recently concluded his service as chairman and board member of the DFW International Airport as well as a council member of the Regional Transportation Council. He formerly served as a Dallas City council member and mayor pro-tem, chairman for the City of Dallas Ethics Task Force, president of the Texas Municipal League, chairman of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the board of directors of the United Way of Dallas. Mr. Wells is a graduate of The Ohio State University and The Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University.

Sterling Bancshares, Inc. is a Houston-based bank holding company with total assets of $3.7 billion, which operates 41 banking offices in the greater metro areas of Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, Texas. These cities are the 4^th, 8^th and 9^th largest in the United States based on population. The Company’s common stock is traded through the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol “SBIB”. For more information on Sterling Bancshares, please visit the Company’s web site at www.banksterling.com.

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