Sterling Financial Corporation was a bank holding company headquartered in Spokane, Washington.

In 2007, the company agreed to acquire North Valley Bancorp for $196 million in cash and stock, but the merger was cancelled after failing to win regulatory approval.

[3][4] During the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the company received a $303 million investment by the United States Department of the Treasury as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

In October 2009, the company received a cease and desist order from regulators and initiated executive changes.

In October 2013, the company acquired Commerce National Bank of Newport Beach, California for $42.9 million.