-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GB1i60Rmo/kYrTZ2jcZMzd3X5p+2aloTmQMECE5UijFnhGhq36wMZ1sxR34xpTLF
 z5am0VyCN4zcIALktKg3sg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001453824-09-000013.txt : 20090819
<SEC-HEADER>0001453824-09-000013.hdr.sgml : 20090819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090819153645
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001453824-09-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090814
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090819
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090819

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bardgett Edward R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001379896

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20750
		FILM NUMBER:		091024005

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ZACHRY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 240130
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78221

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERLING BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891098
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				742175590
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 N. LOOP WEST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77092
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7134668300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2550 N. LOOP WEST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77092
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891098</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STERLING BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBIB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001379896</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bardgett Edward R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ZACHRY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 240130</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN ANTONIO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78221</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Sterling Bancshares, Inc. Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8960</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julie R. Caggiano /  Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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