UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

 


 


 

STERLING FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Washington

 

0-20800

 

91-1572822

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 

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 Securitie-weight:bold;">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): October 24, 2005

 

 

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 8.01  Other Events.

 

On October 25, 2005, Sterling Financial Corporation issued a press release announcing a quarterly cash dividend of $0.055 per share of common stock.  The text of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c)  The following exhibit is filed herewith:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release text of Sterling Financial Corporation dated October 25, 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)

 

 

 

 

 

October 25, 2005

 

By:

/s/ Daniel G. Byrne

 

Date

 

 

Daniel G. Byrne

 

 

Executive Vice President, Assistant Secretary, and

 

 

Principal Financial Officer

 

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