Sterling Financial Corporation (STSA) Chairman to Ring the NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Bell


ADVISORY, Feb. 23, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) --



 What:
 Harold Gilkey, Chairman of Sterling Financial Corporation (STSA),
 will preside over the opening bell.

 Where:
 NASDAQ MarketSite - 4 Times Square - 43rd & Broadway - Broadcast Studio

 When:
 Monday, February 26, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. ET

 Contacts:
 Daniel G. Byrne
 Sterling Financial Corporation
 509.354.8165; dan.byrne@sterlingsavings.com

 NASDAQ MarketSite:
 Jolene Libretto; 646.441.5220; mobile - 347.219.9539
 Jolene.Libretto@NASDAQ.com

Feed Information:

The opening bell is available from 9:20 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. on uplink IA6 C band / transponder 24, downlink frequency 4180 horizontal. The feed can also be found on Waterfront fiber 1623. If you have any questions, please contact Jolene Libretto at (646) 441-5220.

Webcast:

A live Webcast of the NASDAQ Opening Bell will be available at: http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_about.stm

Photos:

To obtain a hi-resolution photograph of the Market Open, please go to http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/marketsite_events.stm and click on the market open of your choice.

About Sterling Financial Corporation (STSA):

Sterling Financial Corporation of Spokane, Washington, is a bank holding company of which the principal operating subsidiaries are Sterling Savings Bank and Golf Savings Bank. Sterling Savings Bank is a Washington State-chartered, federally insured commercial bank, which opened in April 1983 as a stock savings and loan association. Sterling Savings Bank, based in Spokane, Washington, has financial service centers throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Through Sterling Savings Bank's wholly owned subsidiaries, Action Mortgage Company and INTERVEST-Mortgage Investment Company, it operates loan production offices throughout the western region. Sterling Savings Bank's subsidiary Harbor Financial Services provides non-bank investments, including mutual funds, variable annuities and tax-deferred annuities and other investment products through regional representatives throughout Sterling Savings Bank's branch network.

Golf Savings Bank is a Washington State-chartered and FDIC insured savings bank. Golf Savings Bank's primary focus is the origination of single-family residential mortgage loans.