HOUSTON, Texas -- Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBIB) will report earnings for the third quarter of 2004 on Thursday morning, October 21, 2004. Management of Sterling will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 11:00am Eastern Time on October 21st. Interested parties may participate by calling (630) 691-2748.

The conference call will also be available via the Internet by accessing the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site at www.banksterling.com. Please go to the Web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An audio archive of the call will be available at the same Web address beginning on Friday, October 22, 2004.

Sterling Bancshares, Inc. is a Houston-based bank holding company with total assets of $3.1 billion, which operates 37 banking offices in the greater metro areas of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Sterling Bancshares common stock is traded through the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol SBIB. For more information on Sterling Bancshares, please visit the Company's web site.

For More Information Contact:
Downey Bridgwater, Chief Executive Officer
713-507-2670
Stephen C. Raffaele, Chief Financial Officer
713-507-7408
Media: Graham Painter, 713-507-2770