8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) November 12, 2008

Commission File Number: 1-5273-1

Sterling Bancorp

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

New York	13-2565216
(State of other jurisdiction	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)	Identification No.)

650 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York	10019-6108
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(212) 757- 3300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17CFR 240.13e-4(c)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM 7.01

REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

ITEM 9.01

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

SIGNATURE

EXHIBIT INDEX

PRESS RELEASE

ITEM 7.01

REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On November 12, 2008, the Company issued a press release announcing a presentation on November 18, 2008 by John C. Millman, President of Sterling Bancorp, as part of the B. Riley & Co. New York Bank Conference. This press release is included as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Press release dated November 12, 2008 (furnished pursuant to Item 7.01)

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

DATE:	November 13, 2008
BY:	/s/ JOHN W. TIETJEN JOHN W. TIETJEN Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
99.1	Press Release dated November 12, 2008

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 650 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10019-6108

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

John Tietjen	Edward Nebb
Chief Financial Officer	Investor Relations
Sterling Bancorp	Comm-Counsellors, LLC
john.tietjen@sterlingbancorp.com	enebb@optonline.net
212.757.8035	203.972.8350

STERLING BANCORP TO PRESENT AT B. RILEY & CO. NEW YORK
BANK CONFERENCE

New York, N.Y., November 12, 2008 — Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL), a financial holding company and the parent company of Sterling National Bank, today announced that President John C. Millman will present at the B. Riley & Co. New York Bank Conference on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at the Times Square Westin Hotel in New York City. The Sterling Bancorp presentation will commence at 1:55 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

The presentation will be simultaneously webcast and can be accessed via the Sterling Bancorp investor relations webpage at: www.sterlingbancorp.com. It also will be accessible via: http://www.wsw.com/webcast/brileyco11/stl/. The presentation will be archived for 90 days and the archive can be accessed via either of these web links.

About Sterling Bancorp

Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL) is a New York-based banking and financial services company that serves the needs of businesses, professionals and individuals. With assets exceeding $2.1 billion, Sterling offers a broad array of products and services, combined with a unique high-touch approach to customer service. The Company’s principal banking subsidiary, Sterling National Bank, with offices in New York City and Queens, Nassau and Westchester counties, was founded in 1929.

Known for its focus on business customers, Sterling offers such services as working capital lines, asset-based financing, factoring and accounts receivable management, payroll funding and processing, equipment leasing and financing, commercial and residential mortgages, international trade financing, cash management, a wide array of deposit products, trust and estate administration, and investment management services.

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