On January 13, 2009, Sterling Financial Corporation ("Sterling") issued a press release to provide guidance regarding Sterling's fourth quarter earnings results. A copy of release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report. 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