N@N

Marty Dickinson Joins Sterling Savings Bank as Corporate Communications Executive

^{Published on 2011-07-11 11:15:47 - Market Wire}
 

SPOKANE, Wash.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Sterling Savings Bank ], a subsidiary of [ Sterling Financial Corporation ] (NASDAQ: STSA) today announced that Marty Dickinson has joined its team as corporate communications executive. In her move to Sterling, she will oversee the marketing, public relations and corporate communications departments.

"I couldna™t pass up the opportunity to join Sterling"

aMartya™s prior work at the Downtown Spokane Partnership and Greater Spokane, Inc. has demonstrated her collaborative partnering skills, her drive and her passion around effective market positioning and public relations,a said Ezra Eckhardt, president and chief operating officer of [ Sterling Savings Bank ]. aMarty is highly respected in the Pacific Northwest for her advocacy of higher education, business growth and economic development. Martya™s energy will be a perfect addition to Sterling.a

For more than 6 years, Dickinson was the president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP). Prior to her work at the DSP, Dickinson was vice president of both the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and Spokane Economic Development Council, now combined as Greater Spokane, Inc. She worked to bring together the organizations and build efficiencies. Dickinson also has prior telecom experience as marketing director, then general manager, of XO Communications and managed all marketing efforts for Cellular One in Portland, Ore.

aI couldna™t pass up the opportunity to join Sterling,a Dickinson said. aOver the past several years, I have had the opportunity to work with the leadership team on a variety of issues. They have been honest, forthright and focused on their business plan. The company is emerging as a very strong regional player in the industry, and I am thrilled to be a part of the banka™s mission to be one of Americaa™s great community banks.a

Dickinson graduated from Washington State University with a bachelora™s degree in business and marketing communications. She serves as an officer on the YMCA Board, State of Washington Regence/Blue Shield Foundation Board and the WSU Spokane Advisory Board.

About Sterling Financial Corporation

[ Sterling Financial Corporation ] of Spokane, Wash., is the bank holding company for [ Sterling Savings Bank ], a state chartered and federally insured commercial bank. Sterling offers banking products and services, mortgage lending, construction financing and investment products to individuals, small businesses, commercial organizations and corporations. As of March 31, 2011, [ Sterling Financial Corporation ] had assets of $9.35 billion and operated 178 depository branches throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California. Visit Sterlinga™s website at [ www.sterlingfinancialcorporation-spokane.com ].