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): September 27, 2005

 

 

STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

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:

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o 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 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On September 27, 2005, Sterling Financial Corporation issued a press release updating its earnings outlook for the third quarter and the remainder of fiscal year 2005.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.  The information in this report (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c)  The following exhibits are being furnished herewith:

 

 

Exhibit No.		Exhibit Description
99.1		Press release text of Sterling Financial Corporation dated September 27, 2005.

 

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
		(Registrant)
September 27, 2005		By:	/s/ Daniel G. Byrne
Date			Daniel G. Byrne
			Executive Vice President, Assistant Secretary, and
			Principal Financial Officer

 

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