Exhibit 99.1
2

                          (STERLING GROUP LETTERHEAD)

John Tietjen                              Kimberly Storin
Chief Financial Officer                   Investor Relations/Media Relations
Sterling Bancorp                          MWW Group
john.tietjen@sterlingbancorp.com          kstorin@mww.com
212.757.8035                              212.827.3752


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     STERLING BANCORP TO PARTICIPATE IN KBW EASTERN REGIONAL BANK SYMPOSIUM

New York, NY, March 1, 2004 - Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL), a financial holding
company and the parent company of Sterling National Bank, announced today that
President John C. Millman, will address the KBW Eastern Regional Bank Symposium
sponsored by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc March 3-4, 2004 at the Langham Hotel
in Boston, MA.

Mr. Millman's presentation will commence at 8:45 AM on Wednesday, March 3, 2004
and will focus on Sterling's full year 2003 record financial results, corporate
strategies and ongoing growth initiatives.

A copy of the slide presentation will be available on March 3, 2004 on the
Company's website: www.sterlingbancorp.com. In addition, Sterling's presentation
will be simultaneously web cast on Keefe, Bruyette & Woods' website:
www.kbw.com.

ABOUT STERLING BANCORP

Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL) is a financial holding company with assets of $1.8
billion, offering a broad array of banking and financial services products. Its
principal banking subsidiary is Sterling National Bank, founded in 1929.
Sterling provides a wide range of products and services, including business and
consumer loans, commercial and residential mortgage lending and brokerage,
asset-based financing, factoring, trade financing, equipment leasing, corporate
and consumer deposit services, trust and estate administration, and investment
management services. The Company has operations in New York, New Jersey, and
North Carolina and conducts business throughout the U.S.

                                       ###