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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-10-047079.txt : 20101124
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-10-047079.hdr.sgml : 20101124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101124110139
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-10-047079
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100826
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101124

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /WA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891106
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				911572822
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 N WALL ST
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		509-227-5389

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 NORTH WALL STREET
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99201

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEE THOMAS H ADVISORS LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001260943
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34696
		FILM NUMBER:		101213795

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THOMAS H. LEE PARTNERS, L.P.
		STREET 2:		100 FEDERAL STREET, 35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172271050

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THOMAS H. LEE PARTNERS, L.P.
		STREET 2:		100 FEDERAL STREET, 35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-26</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891106</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /WA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STSA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260943</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEE THOMAS H ADVISORS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 FEDERAL STREET, 35TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>854575000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-10-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-08-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>86625000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents securities of the Issuer held directly by Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund VI, L.P. (&quot;Equity&quot;), Thomas H. Lee Parallel Fund VI, L.P. (&quot;Parallel&quot;), Thomas H. Lee Equity Parallel (DT) Fund VI, L.P. (&quot;DT&quot;), and THL Sterling Equity Investors L.P. (&quot;Sterling&quot;, and together with Equity, Parallel and DT, the &quot;Funds&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person is the general partner of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., which is the manager of THL Equity Advisors VI, LLC, which, in turn, is the general partner of each of the Funds. As such, the reporting person may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Issuer owned directly by each of the Funds.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for the purpose of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Warrant is exercisable, in whole or part, to purchase 86,625,000 shares of Common Stock., subject to adjustments for certain issuances of common stock, stock splits, stock subdivisions, stock reclassifications, stock combinations, other distributions, certain repurchases, business combinations and similar actions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles P. Holden, Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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