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) August 14, 2002 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) Indentification 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 9 REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE On August 14,2002, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company filed certifications relating to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 required pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. On August 15, 2002, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per common share, payable September 30, 2002, to shareholders of record on September 15, 2002. 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. DATE: August 15, 2002 BY: /s/ JOHN W. TIETJEN ----------------------------------- JOHN W. TIETJEN Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer