August 9, 2013

BY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION

Mr. Amit Pande

Accounting Branch Chief

United States Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington, DC 20549

Re:    Sterling Financial Corporation (“Sterling”)

Extension Request

Dear Mr. Pande:

On August 8, 2013, via email communications, Babette Rosenbaum Cooper of your office approved an extension for the Sterling comment letter response from August 14, 2013 to August 16, 2013. This cover letter is intended to formalize said communication and approval.

Kindly direct any comments or questions to me at (509) 227-0961, or in my absence, Andrew J. Schultheis at (509) 838-7239.

Sincerely,

STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION

By:         /s/ Patrick J. Rusnak        

Patrick J. Rusnak

Executive Vice President

Chief Financial Officer