EXHIBIT 12.2

STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION

COMPUTATION OF RETURN ON AVERAGE ASSETS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

	Total Assets
	YTD
12/31/2007		12,149,775,060
01/31/2008		12,333,997,260
02/29/2008		12,603,734,927
03/31/2008		12,691,153,000
04/30/2008		12,696,209,415
05/31/2008		12,761,365,050
06/30/2008		12,699,710,000
07/31/2008		12,808,126,593
08/31/2008		12,757,968,806
09/30/2008		12,622,909,000
10/31/2008		12,928,589,752
11/30/2008		12,836,656,483
12/31/2008		12,790,716,000
		164,680,911,346
Number of Months		13
Average		12,667,762,411
Net Income	$	(335,534,000	)
ROA		-2.65%