Consolidated Statements of Condition (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$ 38,944	$ 31,046
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks	112,886	126,448
Securities available for sale (at estimated fair value; pledged: $174,240 in 2012 and $146,429 in 2011)	296,837	270,014
Securities held to maturity (pledged: $136,109 in 2012 and $206,282 in 2011) (estimated fair value: $403,218 in 2012 and $425,775 in 2011)	386,408	407,857
Total investment securities	683,245	677,871
Loans held for sale	121,237	43,372
Loans held in portfolio, net of unearned discounts	1,649,753	1,473,309
Less allowance for loan losses	22,347	20,029
Loans, net	1,627,406	1,453,280
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan bank stock, at cost	7,472	8,486
Customers’ liability under acceptances		4
Goodwill	22,901	22,901
Premises and equipment, net	22,578	23,625
Other real estate	1,452	1,929
Accrued interest receivable	6,853	6,838
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	54,556	53,446
Other assets	51,312	44,051
Total assets	2,750,842	2,493,297
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits	924,351	765,800
Savings, NOW and money market deposits	701,692	565,423
Time deposits	642,041	657,848
Total deposits	2,268,084	1,989,071
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase—customers	32,950	52,313
Advances—FHLB	101,265	122,733
Acceptances outstanding		4
Accrued interest payable	649	1,064
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	78,685	68,032
Total liabilities	2,522,752	2,272,476
Common shares, $50 par value per share; Authorized and issued, 358,526 shares	35,264	35,225
Capital surplus	271,565	270,869
Undivided profits	24,407	15,523
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(16,491)	(14,216)
Total shareholder’s equity	228,090	220,821
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity	2,750,842	2,493,297
Sterling National Bank [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	38,940	31,034
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks	112,886	126,448
Securities available for sale (at estimated fair value; pledged: $174,240 in 2012 and $146,429 in 2011)	285,274	261,442
Securities held to maturity (pledged: $136,109 in 2012 and $206,282 in 2011) (estimated fair value: $403,218 in 2012 and $425,775 in 2011)	386,408	407,857
Total investment securities	671,682	669,299
Loans held for sale	121,237	43,372
Loans held in portfolio, net of unearned discounts	1,638,980	1,463,182
Less allowance for loan losses	22,347	20,029
Loans, net	1,616,633	1,443,153
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan bank stock, at cost	7,472	8,486
Customers’ liability under acceptances		4
Goodwill	1,742	1,742
Premises and equipment, net	22,578	23,622
Other real estate	1,452	1,929
Accrued interest receivable	6,853	6,642
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	49,797	48,838
Other assets	55,369	53,136
Total assets	2,706,641	2,457,705
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits	924,375	786,673
Savings, NOW and money market deposits	708,141	567,021
Time deposits	642,041	657,848
Total deposits	2,274,557	2,011,542
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase—customers	32,950	47,313
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase—dealers		5,000
Advances—FHLB	101,265	122,733
Acceptances outstanding		4
Accrued interest payable	646	1,062
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	70,030	64,807
Total liabilities	2,479,448	2,252,461
Common shares, $50 par value per share; Authorized and issued, 358,526 shares	17,926	17,926
Capital surplus	51,638	51,263
Undivided profits	170,740	146,888
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(13,111)	(10,833)
Total shareholder’s equity	227,193	205,244
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity	$ 2,706,641	$ 2,457,705