Sterling National Bank Expands Specialty Finance Team with Key Hires

~ New hires to deepen client relationships and support bank’s continued growth ~

MONTEBELLO, N.Y., Oct. 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sterling National Bank (NYSE: STL) today announced four key additions to its Specialty Finance team.

Sharon Bender and Dennis Phelps join as Senior Vice Presidents and Managing Directors of Asset Based Lending. Both will leverage more than two decades of experience leading asset-based lending groups to help Sterling clients access funding for working capital, equipment finance and capital expenditures. Bender will focus on building relationships within the Northeast market and Phelps the Southeast.

Stephanie Lynn Szymanski joins as Vice President and Managing Director of Warehouse Lending. Szymanski will be responsible for developing new warehouse lending relationships nationally. She brings a proven history of managing and growing portfolios specific to the mortgage industry.

Joining as Managing Director of Capital Markets, Andrew Shuster will manage the team’s growth and profitability with a focus on business development. Having served the New York market for over 30 years, Shuster will provide practical strategies Sterling clients need to address complex financing challenges.

“We are very pleased to welcome Sharon, Dennis, Stephanie and Andrew to the team,” said Tom Geisel, Sterling’s Senior Executive Vice President and President of Corporate Banking. “As we grow our specialty finance group, their rich backgrounds in asset-based lending, capital markets and mortgage finance will strengthen and expand our current business offerings.”

About Sterling National Bank

Sterling Bancorp, of which the principal subsidiary is Sterling National Bank, specializes in the delivery of financial services and solutions for small to mid-size businesses and consumers within the communities we serve through a distinctive team-based delivery approach utilizing highly experienced, fully dedicated relationship managers. Sterling National Bank offers a complete line of commercial, business, and consumer banking products and services.  For more information, visit .

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may concern Sterling's current expectations about its future results, plans, operations and prospects and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including inflation; the effects of, and changes in, trade; changes in asset quality and credit risk; introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; capital management activities; customer disintermediation; and the success of Sterling at managing these risks. Other factors that could cause Sterling's actual results to differ from those indicated in forward-looking statements are included in the "Risk Factors" section of Sterling's securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date hereof, and Sterling specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements in the future.

STERLING NATIONAL BANK:

Marissa Weidner



914.771.3069