Noninterest Expense (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Noninterest Expense [Abstract]

Schedule of Noninterest Expense [Table Text Block]

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2013		2012
	(in thousands)
Employee compensation and benefits	$	42,436	$	47,381
OREO operations	2,030		1,992
Occupancy and equipment	9,859		10,287
Data processing	6,577		6,430
FDIC insurance	1,930		1,856
Professional fees	5,952		2,989
Depreciation	2,934		2,913
Advertising	2,436		3,154
Travel and entertainment	1,171		1,064
Merger and acquisition	1,036		6,135
Amortization of other intangible assets	1,659		1,405
Other	3,909		3,043
Total noninterest expense	$	81,929	$	88,649