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) March 1, 2004 -------------------------------- 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 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 March 1, 2004 ITEM 9 ------ REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE ------------------------ On March 1, 2004, the Company issued a press release announcing a presentation on March 3, 2004 by John C. Millman, President of Sterling Bancorp, as part of the Keefe, Bruyette, & Woods, Inc. Eastern Regional Bank Symposium. The press release is included herein as Exhibit 99.1. 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: March 2, 2004 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 March 1, 2004