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Exhibit 12.1

STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION

COMPUTATION OF RETURN ON AVERAGE COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2000

				Three Months Daily Weighted Average			Twelve Months Daily Weighted Average
	Shareholders' Equity
			Number of Days
	Total	Common		Total	Common		Total	Common
January 1, 2000	117,638,751	117,638,751	14				1,646,942,514	1,646,942,514
January 15, 2000	118,526,190	118,526,190	25				2,963,154,750	2,963,154,750
February 9, 2000	118,572,640	118,572,640	6				711,435,840	711,435,840
February 15, 2000	119,407,101	119,407,101	2				238,814,202	238,814,202
February 17, 2000	119,407,103	119,407,103	6				716,442,620	716,442,620
February 23, 2000	119,413,068	119,413,068	6				716,478,410	716,478,410
February 29, 2000	119,416,076	119,416,076	15				1,791,241,140	1,791,241,140
March 15, 2000	121,008,283	121,008,283	16				1,936,132,528	1,936,132,528
March 31, 2000	118,565,853	118,565,853	1				118,565,853	118,565,853
April 1, 2000	118,565,853	118,565,853	14				1,659,921,942	1,659,921,942
April 15, 2000	119,597,141	119,597,141	30				3,587,914,229	3,587,914,229
May 15, 2000	120,756,434	120,756,434	4				483,025,736	483,025,736
May 19, 2000	120,756,446	120,756,446	27				3,260,424,055	3,260,424,055
June 15, 2000	121,942,188	121,942,188	15				1,829,132,827	1,829,132,827
June 30, 2000	123,493,104	123,493,104	1				123,493,104	123,493,104
July 1, 2000	123,493,104	123,493,104	15				1,852,396,567	1,852,396,567
July 15, 2000	124,607,522	124,607,522	16				1,993,720,360	1,993,720,360
August 1, 2000	124,607,522	124,607,522	14				1,744,505,315	1,744,505,315
August 15, 2000	125,834,253	125,834,253	17				2,139,182,309	2,139,182,309
September 1, 2000	125,834,253	125,834,253	14				1,761,679,549	1,761,679,549
September 15,2000	126,957,420	126,957,420	15				1,904,361,307	1,904,361,307
September 30, 2000	129,921,347	129,921,347	1				129,921,347	129,921,347
October 1, 2000	129,921,347	129,921,347	4	519,685,390	519,685,390		519,685,390	519,685,390
October 5, 2000	129,921,354	129,921,354	10	1,299,213,545	1,299,213,545		1,299,213,545	1,299,213,545
October 15, 2000	131,062,519	131,062,519	17	2,228,062,831	2,228,062,831		2,228,062,831	2,228,062,831
November 1, 2000	131,062,519	131,062,519	14	1,834,875,273	1,834,875,273		1,834,875,273	1,834,875,273
November 15, 2000	132,143,555	132,143,555	12	1,585,722,666	1,585,722,666		1,585,722,666	1,585,722,666
November 27, 2000	132,139,368	132,139,368	4	528,557,474	528,557,474		528,557,474	528,557,474
December 1, 2000	132,139,368	132,139,368	14	1,849,951,159	1,849,951,159		1,849,951,159	1,849,951,159
December 15, 2000	133,415,008	133,415,008	14	1,867,810,119	1,867,810,119		1,867,810,119	1,867,810,119
December 29, 2000	141,338,132	141,338,132	3	424,014,397	424,014,397		424,014,397	424,014,397
			366
Cumulative Total				12,137,892,854	12,137,892,854		45,446,779,358	45,446,779,358
Divide by Number of Days				92	92		366	366
Average				131,933,618	131,933,618		124,171,528	124,171,528
Net Income Available to Common Shares					3,497,843			13,652,575
Divide by Average Common Shareholders' Equity					131,933,618			124,171,528
Return on Average Common Shareholders' Equity (Annualized)					10.55	%		11.00	%

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STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION COMPUTATION OF RETURN ON AVERAGE COMMON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY For the Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2000