Noninterest Expense

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Noninterest Expense [Abstract]

Non Interest Expenses

Noninterest Expense:

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

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
	(in thousands)
Employee compensation and benefits	$	189,025	$	171,643	$	168,793
OREO operations	11,829		41,500		62,578
Occupancy and equipment	42,930		39,878		39,643
Data processing	27,091		24,171		23,116
FDIC insurance	7,493		14,328		32,088
Professional fees	16,691		13,902		22,394
Depreciation	11,690		12,184		13,391
Advertising	12,688		10,017		11,536
Travel and entertainment	5,756		5,420		3,975
Merger and acquisition	11,976		1,012		358
Amortization of other intangible assets	6,780		4,851		4,898
Other	11,304		13,484		12,275
Total noninterest expense	$	355,253	$	352,390	$	395,045