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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L3vqZoSh0xD1bvmNsH8srjCSA//uX0B53nwrOSf3Vd4snhVGbps2H0FOZCs9Wibc
 4R65tigquPlQcLsT98g6IA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891106-03-000025.txt : 20031107
<SEC-HEADER>0000891106-03-000025.hdr.sgml : 20031107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031107175202
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891106-03-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BYRNE DANIEL G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253122

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20800
		FILM NUMBER:		03986369

	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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001253122d20031107f4af.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-05</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-11-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000891106</issuerCik><issuerName>STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /WA/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>STSA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001253122</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BYRNE DANIEL G</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>111 NORTH WALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>99201-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President Sterl</of
ficerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-05</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-11-05</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.61</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17855</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOf
Ownership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>575</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Spouse IRA</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18359</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Willia
m R. Basom</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-07</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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