Noninterest Expense (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Noninterest Expense [Abstract]

Schedule of Noninterest Expense [Table Text Block]

The following table details the components of Sterling’s noninterest expense:

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
	(in thousands)
Employee compensation and benefits	$	45,636	$	43,828	$	139,502	$	129,514
OREO operations	4,008		10,739		9,337		36,591
Occupancy and equipment	11,034		9,580		32,253		29,558
Data processing	7,137		5,651		20,600		18,339
FDIC insurance	2,159		3,510		6,005		10,903
Professional fees	4,929		3,161		12,718		9,571
Depreciation	2,918		3,000		8,754		9,026
Advertising	3,442		1,932		10,370		6,659
Travel and entertainment	1,420		1,336		4,019		3,931
Merger and acquisition	1,584		0		9,981		0
Amortization of other intangible assets	1,792		1,190		4,988		3,639
Other	3,349		2,693		7,137		8,784
Total noninterest expense	$	89,408	$	86,620	$	265,664	$	266,515