Ownership Submission
FORM 5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Form 3 Holdings Reported
Form 4 Transactions Reported
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0362
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 1.0

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Fredston Dale C
 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
STERLING BANCORP [stl] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP and General Counsel
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)

650 FIFTH AVENUE		 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2011
(Street)


NEW YORK, NY 10019		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
02/07/2012		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Reporting
(check applicable line)

_X_ Form Filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form Filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned at end of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock (1)             2,461 (1) D  

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 2270 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned at End of Issuer's Fiscal Year
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
(A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy) $ 17.99           03/15/2012(2) 03/15/2017 Common Stock
10,000
  10,000
D
 

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Fredston Dale C
650 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10019		       SVP and General Counsel  

Signatures

Dale C. Fredston 02/09/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes 1,218 shares of restricted common stock issued Marcxh 25, 2010 and 1,158 shares of restricted common stock issued March 24, 2011, pursuant to the Sterling Bancorp Stock Incentive Plan. The shares vest 50%, 25% and 25% on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the respective grant dates subject to (1) accelerated vesting upon death, disability or change in control and (2) continued vesting upon retirement after the second anniversary of the grant date subject to compliance with a non-compete. The restriced shares are subject to full dividend reinvestment.
(2) CORRECTED FOOTNOTE: Non-qualified stock options become exercisable commencing on the fifth anniversary of the grant date for a term of 10 years from date of grant.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space provided is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.