X0202 4 2004-12-08 0 0000093451 STERLING BANCORP STL 0001136822 CAPPELLI LOUIS J 650 FIFTH AVENUE 4TH FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10019 1 1 0 0 Chairman and CEO Common Stock 607592 D Common Stock 2004-12-09 4 J 0 265 0 A 607857 D Common Stock 678 I Owned By Spouse Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 15.32 2003-02-06 2012-02-06 Common Stock 45000 0 D Incentive Stock Options (right to buy) 6.80 1998-01-31 2007-01-31 Common Stock 59016 0 D Non-qualified Stock Options 9.12 2000-02-12 2009-02-12 Common Stock 228690 0 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 6.80 1998-01-31 2007-01-31 Common Stock 17227 0 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 10.85 1999-02-10 2008-02-10 Common Stock 228690 0 D Non-qualified Stock Options (right to buy) 7.28 2001-02-11 2010-02-11 Common Stock 136124 0 D 2004 Minimum ESOP Distribution. Owned beneficially and of record by Virginia M. Cappelli, wife of Louis J. Cappelli. Louis J. Cappelli expressly declares that the filing of this Statement of Changes shall not be construed as an admission that he is, for the purpose of Section 16 of this Act, the beneficial owner of any of the securities in this note and he hereby disclaims any beneficial ownership of the securities by this note. Options became exercisable in nine installments on the first anniversary of the grant, for a term of 10 years (first exercisable date listed). Non-qualified options are exercisable commencing on the first anniversary of the grant for a term of 10 years from grant date (first exercisable date listed). /s/ Cappelli, Louis J 2004-12-06