-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BnXe01shu032VNj8mim1UjCcQDfQerOWfXIHz8CUBMLFLOQvl064NZ2hFedNuhKf
 VLOmltYNQ8uE/2ZMA+pH8g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000093451-09-000026.txt : 20090922
<SEC-HEADER>0000093451-09-000026.hdr.sgml : 20090922
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090922124512
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000093451-09-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090918
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090922
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090922

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lazar Robert W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001337411

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05273
		FILM NUMBER:		091080415

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21 WEDGEWOOD DRIVE
		CITY:			DELMAR
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12054-1325

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERLING BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000093451
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				132565216
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		650 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019-6108
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-757-3300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		650 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019-6108

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STANDARD PRUDENTIAL CORP /NEW/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19781210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STANDARD PRUDENTIAL UNITED CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19681125
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000093451</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STERLING BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001337411</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lazar Robert W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21 WEDGEWOOD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DELMAR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12054-1325</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.86</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3467</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Lazar</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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