-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JR6Hn1XJ846CNkTq0q8ruGJJVjwZWffDH6iCSTTPpQ/yj1vTb077PDF97U/tXCPJ
 oJ6ju4GJreCU858M0w+X0Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891106-03-000003.txt : 20030725
<SEC-HEADER>0000891106-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030725
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030725170040
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891106-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030724
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030725

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KIRSCHBAUM JAMES L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253127

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20800
		FILM NUMBER:		03804090

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 NORTH WALL STREET
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201-0696

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /WA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891106
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				911572822
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 N WALL ST
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5094583711

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 NORTH WALL STREET
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001253127d20030725f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-24</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000891106</issuerCik><issuerName>STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /WA/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>STSA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001253127</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KIRSCHBAUM JAMES L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President-Sterling Sav. P</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</v
alue></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-07-24</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3286</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>26.0024</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>JAMES L KIRSCHBAUM</signatureName><signa
tureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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