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SPOKANE, Wash.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Sterling Financial Corporation ] (NASDAQ:STSA), today announced that it expects to release 2011 fourth-quarter and year-end earnings after 1 p.m. PST on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Sterling plans to host a conference call for investors the next morning, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, at 8 a.m. PST to discuss the company's financial results.

A live audio webcast of the conference call can be accessed at the company's website, [ www.sterlingfinancialcorporation-spokane.com ]. To access this audio presentation call, click on the audio webcast icon. Additionally, you may listen to the live conference call by telephone by dialing 1-517-308-9324 approximately five minutes before the scheduled start time and provide the password STERLING. A webcast replay of the conference call will be available on the company's website approximately one hour following the completion of the call. The webcast replay will be offered through Feb. 26, 2012.

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, and investment products to individuals, small businesses, commercial organizations and corporations. As of September 30, 2011, [ Sterling Financial Corporation ] had assets of $9.18 billion and operated 178 depository branches throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California. Visit Sterlingas website at [ www.sterlingfinancialcorporation-spokane.com ].