UNITED STATES
                       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)         August 20, 2003
                                                 -------------------------------

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
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              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



                                      N/A
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                     (Former name, former address and former
                   fiscal year, if changed since last report)






ITEM 5
------
OTHER EVENTS
------------

On August 20, 2003, the Company issued a press release announcing that its
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer would ring The Opening Bell(TM) at The New
York Stock Exchange on August 21, 2003.  The press release is included herein
as Exhibit 99.1.



ITEM 7
------
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
------------------------------------------------------------------


(a)               Financial Statements of the Business Acquired
                  Not Applicable


(b)               Pro Forma Financial Information
                  Not Applicable


(c)               Exhibits
                  99.1     Press Release dated August 20, 2003.





                                    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:    August 20, 2003





BY:      /s/ JOHN W. TIETJEN
         --------------------------------------------
         JOHN W. TIETJEN
         Executive Vice President, Treasurer
         and Chief Financial Officer







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



           Exhibit
           Number
           -------


           99.1           Press Release dated August 20, 2003