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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,
 BxzohYuJsluGcWcDkUATFOrYvrZN5BeUtqCP5VNtCzUh5hYKNwZiNnFeWjP3aQlA
 cXK0fLH43lDfhW+XCcnpng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891106-03-000030.txt : 20031219
<SEC-HEADER>0000891106-03-000030.hdr.sgml : 20031219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031219114924
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891106-03-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARNES NED M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185259

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20800
		FILM NUMBER:		031064095

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 N. WALL STREET
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201

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>c001185259d20031218f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000891106</issuerCik><issuerName>STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /WA/</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>STSA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001185259</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BARNES NED M</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTab
le></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Statutory Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.07</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-12-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecur
ityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>William R. Basom</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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