<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
STERLING BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Article 9 of Regulation S-X
Financial Data Schedule
December 31, 1996
($ in 000's, except per share)
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                          54,512
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,010
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 3,000
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     77,597
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         226,734
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           223,669
<LOANS>                                        465,517
<ALLOWANCE>                                      8,003
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 861,605
<DEPOSITS>                                     574,422
<SHORT-TERM>                                   151,134
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             37,982
<LONG-TERM>                                     20,889
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      2,507
<COMMON>                                         7,725
<OTHER-SE>                                      66,945
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 861,605
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 39,221
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               21,331
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   445
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                60,997
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              12,108
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              21,334
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           39,663
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,047
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (71)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 31,697
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 15,827
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      15,827
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,252
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.05
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    5.93
<LOANS-NON>                                        442
<LOANS-PAST>                                       390
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                    263
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 5,192
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      738
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,502
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                8,003
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             4,730
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          3,273