SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 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) November 21, 2002 ------------------------------- Commission File Number: 1-5273-1 ------------------------------------------------------- Sterling Bancorp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) New York 13-2565216 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State of other jurisdiction (IRS Employer of incorporation) Identification No.) 650 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10019-6108 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (212) 757- 3300 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) N/A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) ITEM 9 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE ------------------------ On November 21, 2002, the Company declared a 20% stock dividend payable on December 9, 2002 to shareholders of record on December 2, 2002. The Company also declared an increase in its quarterly cash dividend of $0.01 to $0.19 payable on December 31, 2002 to shareholders of record on December 13, 2002. SIGNATURE --------- 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 hereunto duly authorized. DATE: November 22, 2002 BY: /s/ JOHN W. TIETJEN -------------------------------------------- JOHN W. TIETJEN Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer