HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 10, 2009) - Sterling Bank announced today the opening of a new full-service banking center at 1430 Research Forest Dr., between Pinecroft and Six Pines Rd.  Complete with a four-lane drive-thru and 24-hour ATM, the new banking center offers business, personal, private banking, and investment services.

“The Research Forest Banking Center will enable us to better serve the numerous Sterling customers who live or operate businesses in The Woodlands, Shenandoah and Conroe,” said Sterling’s Chairman, President & CEO J. Downey Bridgwater. “We’re looking forward to bringing our style of full-service relationship banking to the community.”

Sterling specializes in relationship banking for owner-operated businesses, and delivers a full line of personal banking services as well.  In addition to competitive loan and deposit products, Sterling offers international banking, treasury management services, private banking, home equity loans, and investment services.

With total assets of $5.1 billion and 60 banking centers in Texas’ largest cities, 35-year-old Sterling is one of the largest Texas-based independent banks.  Sterling was ranked #53 in Bank Director Magazine’s 2008 Bank Performance Scorecard, has been cited by Greenwich & Associates for its service quality, has appeared numerous times on FORTUNE Magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, and has been repeatedly recognized by the Houston Business Journal as one of the best places to work in Houston.  

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