UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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): March 19, 2010
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STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Washington 0-20800 91-1572822
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
111 North Wall Street, Spokane, Washington 99201
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(509) 458-3711
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, 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:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
(d) Sterling Financial Corporation ("Sterling") hereby discloses that all
necessary regulatory approvals have been received for the appointment of Creigh
H. Agnew, Marcus C. Lampros and William J. Wrigglesworth to the Sterling Board
of Directors. The appointments had been subject to approval by Sterling's
primary regulator, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, which has advised
Sterling that it has no objection to the appointments. Ms. Agnew and Mr. Lampros
and Mr. Wrigglesworth also currently serve on the Board of Directors of
Sterling's wholly-owned subsidiary, Sterling Savings Bank, and are expected to
continue to do so. The appointments became effective on March 19, 2010.
Sterling previously announced the appointments of Sterling Savings Bank
Directors Ned M. Barnes, Rodney W. Barnett, Thomas H. Boone, Kermit K. Houser
and Dianne E. Spires to serve as Sterling Directors in its Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2010. The
appointments followed a determination by Sterling's Board of Directors that
having members of the Sterling Savings Bank Board serve on the Sterling Board
would enhance communication between Sterling and Sterling Savings Bank without
increasing Board-related expenses and without placing additional demands on
management. The Sterling Board of Directors therefore increased the number of
members to 14 and appointed the members of the Sterling Savings Bank Board of
Directors to also serve on the Sterling Board of Directors, subject to
regulatory approval, which has been received for all appointments.
S I G N A T U R E
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 thereunto duly authorized.
STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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(Registrant)
March 23, 2010 By: /s/ Daniel G. Byrne
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Date Daniel G. Byrne
Executive Vice President, Assistant Secretary
and Principal Financial Officer