HOUSTON, Texas -- Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBIB) will report earnings for the fourth quarter of 2003 on Thursday morning, January 22, 2004. Management of Sterling will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 11:00 am Eastern Time on January 22nd. Interested parties may participate by calling (847) 413-3401.

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, January 23, 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.