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  		UNITED STATES<BR>
  	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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  	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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  	FORM 8-K
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  	CURRENT REPORT
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  	Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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  	Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
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  	&nbsp;
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  	February 22, 2006
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  	Sterling Financial Corporation
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  <BR>__________________________________________<BR>
  	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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  	Pennsylvania
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  	0-16276
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  	23-2449551
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  _____________________<BR>
  	(State or other jurisdiction
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  _____________<BR>
  	(Commission
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  ______________<BR>
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  	of incorporation)
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  	File Number)
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  	Identification No.)
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  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
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  	101 North Pointe Boulevard, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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  	17601-4133
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  _________________________________<BR>
  	(Address of principal executive offices)
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  	&nbsp;
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  ___________<BR>
  	(Zip Code)
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  	Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:
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  	717-581-6030
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  	Not Applicable
  <BR>______________________________________________<BR>
  	Former name or former address, if changed since last report
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  	&nbsp;
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  <!-- CoverPageRegistrant END --><P><FONT SIZE="2">
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
  of the following provisions:</FONT>
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  <P><FONT SIZE="2">
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<br>
  [&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<br>
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  	Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
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  On February 22, 2006, Sterling Financial Corporation (the "Corporation") issued a press release announcing that Thomas P. Dautrich, Chief Banking Officer, announced his pending planned retirement as Chief Banking Officer of the Corporation.  Thomas J. Sposito, II, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation's subsidiary, Pennsylvania State Bank, has been named to replace Mr. Dautrich as Chief Banking Officer. <br><br>The press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is being "furnished" to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing in other filings of the Corporation into which it may be incorporated.  <br><br>
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  	Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
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  (c) In connection with the change of the Corporation's Chief Banking Officer, as described in Item 5.02 above, the Corporation's press release dated February 22, 2006, also announced another restructuring within the Corporation's executive management team.  J. Bradley Scovill has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Revenue Officer and Beverly Wise Hill has been named to replace Mr. Scovill as Group Executive - Financial Services Group.  The Chief Banking Officer, Group Executive - Financial Services Group, Senior Vice President, Business Services, Senior Vice President, Personal Services, and Senior Vice President, High Net Worth will all report to the Chief Revenue Officer.  <br><br>The Corporation's press release, dated February 22, 2006 and attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 is incoporated herein by reference.  The press release attached hereto is being "furnished" to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing in other filings of the Corporation into which it may be incorporated.
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  	Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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  (a) N/A<br>(b) N/A<br>(c) Exhibits<br><br>    99.1  Sterling Financial Corporation Press Release dated February 22, 2006
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  <BR><BR><BR><BR><P ALIGN="LEFT" STYLE="FONT-SIZE: 10PT">The Corporation's press release, dated February 21, 2006 and attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 is incoporated herein by reference.  The press release attached hereto is being "furnished" to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing in other filings of the Corporation into which it may be incorporated. </P><!-- PageBreak START -->
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  	SIGNATURES
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  	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.
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  	Sterling Financial Corporation
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  	&nbsp;&nbsp;
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  <I>
  	February 22, 2006
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  <I>
  	J. Roger Moyer, Jr.
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  <I>
  	Name: J. Roger Moyer, Jr.
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  	Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
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  	Exhibit&nbsp;Index
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  	Exhibit No.
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  	Description
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  	99.1
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  	&nbsp;
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  Sterling Financial Corporation Press Release dated February 22, 2006
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metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "htm_10417.htm", "description": "LIVE FILING", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12423}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "STERLING FINANCIAL CORP /PA/", "cik": "0000811671", "assigned-sic": "6021", "irs-number": "232449551", "state-of-incorporation": "PA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-16276", "film-number": "06635453"}, "business-address": {"street1": "NORTH POINTE BANKING CORP", "street2": "101 NORTH POINTE BLVD", "city": "LANCASTER", "state": "PA", "zip": "17601-4133", "phone": "7175816030"}}
text: Sterling Financial Corporation (Form: 8-K)
  UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 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):
  February 22, 2006
  Sterling Financial Corporation
  __________________________________________
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Pennsylvania
  0-16276
  23-2449551
  _____________________
  (State or other jurisdiction
  _____________
  (Commission
  ______________
  (I.R.S. Employer
  of incorporation)
  File Number)
  Identification No.)
  101 North Pointe Boulevard, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
  17601-4133
  _________________________________
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
  (Zip Code)
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
  717-581-6030
  Not Applicable
  ______________________________________________
  Former name or former address, if changed since last report
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
  simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
  of the following provisions:
  [  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Top of the Form
  Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
  On February 22, 2006, Sterling Financial Corporation (the "Corporation") issued a press release announcing that Thomas P. Dautrich, Chief Banking Officer, announced his pending planned retirement as Chief Banking Officer of the Corporation.  Thomas J. Sposito, II, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation's subsidiary, Pennsylvania State Bank, has been named to replace Mr. Dautrich as Chief Banking Officer.
  The press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is being "furnished" to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing in other filings of the Corporation into which it may be incorporated.
  Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
  (c) In connection with the change of the Corporation's Chief Banking Officer, as described in Item 5.02 above, the Corporation's press release dated February 22, 2006, also announced another restructuring within the Corporation's executive management team.  J. Bradley Scovill has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Revenue Officer and Beverly Wise Hill has been named to replace Mr. Scovill as Group Executive - Financial Services Group.  The Chief Banking Officer, Group Executive - Financial Services Group, Senior Vice President, Business Services, Senior Vice President, Personal Services, and Senior Vice President, High Net Worth will all report to the Chief Revenue Officer.
  The Corporation's press release, dated February 22, 2006 and attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 is incoporated herein by reference.  The press release attached hereto is being "furnished" to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing in other filings of the Corporation into which it may be incorporated.
  Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (a) N/A
  (b) N/A
  (c) Exhibits
  99.1  Sterling Financial Corporation Press Release dated February 22, 2006
  The Corporation's press release, dated February 21, 2006 and attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 is incoporated herein by reference.  The press release attached hereto is being "furnished" to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed "filed" for any purpose except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to such filing in other filings of the Corporation into which it may be incorporated.
  Top of the Form
  SIGNATURES
  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.
  Sterling Financial Corporation
  February 22, 2006
  By:
  J. Roger Moyer, Jr.
  Name: J. Roger Moyer, Jr.
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
  Top of the Form
  Exhibit Index
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  99.1
  Sterling Financial Corporation Press Release dated February 22, 2006