HOUSTON, TX - Officials of Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBIB) have been invited to preside over the NASDAQ Market Opening in New York City on Friday, August 13, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. George Martinez, Sterling Board Chairman, will preside over the Market Open in celebration of Sterling Bancshares' 30th anniversary.

Sterling Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of Sterling Bank, is a Houston-based bank holding company that operates 37 banking offices in the greater metro areas of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Sterling Bank has total assets of $3.1 billion. 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 at www.banksterling.com.