UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 15
 
CERTIFICATION AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR SUSPENSION OF DUTY TO FILE REPORTS UNDER SECTIONS 13 AND 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
 
Commission File Number: 001-35869
 
STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
111 North Wall Street, Spokane, Washington 99201
(509) 458-3711
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
 
Common Stock, no par value per share
(Title of each class of securities covered by this Form)
 
None
(Titles of all other classes of securities for which a duty to file reports under Section 13(a) or 15(d) remains)
 
Please place an X in the box(es) to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon to terminate or suspend the duty to file reports:
 
Rule 12g-4(a)(l)
x
Rule 12g-4(a)(2)
o
Rule 12h-3(b)(l)(i)
x
Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(ii)
o
Rule 15d-6
o
   
Approximate number of holders of record as of the certification or notice date: None
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Umpqua Holdings Corporation, as successor to Sterling Financial Corporation, has caused this Certification and Notice to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.
 


Date: May 1, 2014
 
 
Umpqua Holdings Corporation, as successor to Sterling Financial Corporation
 
       
By:
/s/ Steven L. Philpott
 
  Name:
Steven L. Philpott
 
  Title:
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary