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) JANUARY 21, 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
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                       N/A
   (FORMER NAME, FORMER ADDRESS AND FORMER FISCAL YEAR, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST
                                    REPORT)

ITEM 5
OTHER EVENTS


         On January 21, 2003, the Company issued a press release announcing
results for the quarter and the year ended December 31, 2002. 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 January 21, 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.


         STERLING BANCORP
         ------------------------------------
         (Registrant)


DATE:    January 23, 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 January 21, 2003