Regulatory Capital (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Regulatory Capital [Abstract]

Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth the respective regulatory capital positions for Sterling and Sterling Bank as of June 30, 2012:

	Actual				Adequately Capitalized				Well-Capitalized
	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio
	(in thousands)
Tier 1 leverage ratio
Sterling	$	1,108,550	12.2	%	$	364,954	4.0	%	$	456,193	5.0	%
Sterling Bank	1,097,834		12.0	%	366,232		4.0	%	457,790		5.0	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio
Sterling	1,108,550		17.3	%	256,048		4.0	%	384,072		6.0	%
Sterling Bank	1,097,834		17.1	%	256,286		4.0	%	384,428		6.0	%
Total risk-based capital ratio
Sterling	1,189,629		18.6	%	512,096		8.0	%	640,120		10.0	%
Sterling Bank	1,178,986		18.4	%	512,571		8.0	%	640,714		10.0	%