X0202 5 2005-12-31 0 0 0 0000093451 STERLING BANCORP STL 0001238057 APPLEBAUM HOWARD M 650 FIFTH AVENUE 4TH FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10019 0 1 0 0 Senior Vice President Common Stock 16076 D Common Stock 2526 I By 401(k) Common Stock 6343 I By IRA Incentive Stock Option (right to buy) 8.69 2000-02-12 2009-02-12 Common Stock 12003 12003 D Incentive Stock Options (right to buy) 10.34 1999-02-10 2008-02-10 Common Stock 12003 12003 D Incentive Stock Options (right to buy) 6.94 2001-02-11 2010-02-11 Common Stock 17150 17150 D Incentive Stock Options (right to buy) 14.60 2003-02-06 2012-02-06 Common Stock 18900 18900 D Non-qualified Stock Options 26.94 2005-12-19 2011-03-22 Common Stock 10500 10500 D Includes securities issued as a result of a stock split in the form of a 5% dividend paid by issuer on December 12, 2005; exercise prices have been adjusted accordingly. Options became exercisable in three installments on the first anniversary of the grant, for a term of 10 years from date of grant (first exercisable date listed). On December 15, 2005 the Board of Directors voted to accelerate the vesting and exercisability of any outstanding unvested and unexercisable non-qualified stock options granted to officers on March 22, 2005 effective as of December 19, 2005; provided, however, that transfer of shares acquired by such exercise is restricted until the date that the option would have been exercisable prior to such change. Such restrictions on transfer will expire as to 10% of the grant on the first anniversary of the date of grant, an additional 15% of the grant on the second anniversary of the date of grant, an additional 25% of the grant on the third anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 50% of the grant on the fourth anniversary of the grant. /s/ Applebaum, Howard M 2006-02-14