**Exhibit 11**

**STERLING BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES        Statement Re: Computation of Per Share Earnings****(dollars in thousands, except per share data)**

|                                                                       |   |                                                |           |     |   |           |   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------|--------|----------------|--------|
|                                                                       |   | **Three Months Ended                    March 31,** |           |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |           |
|                                                                       |   | **2010**                                            |           | **2009** |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |           |          |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                |           |     |   |           |   |
| **Net income**                                                             |   | **$**                                               | **2,563**      |     | **$**  | **3,612**      |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                |           |     |   |           |   |
| **Dividends on preferred shares and accretion**                            |   |                                                | **636**        |     |   | **842**        |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |                |     |        |                |   |
| **Net income available for common shareholders**                           |   | **$**                                               | **1,927**      |     | **$**  | **2,770**      |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |                |     |        |                |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                |           |     |   |           |   |
| **Weighted average common shares outstanding**                             |   |                                                | **19,208,189** |     |   | **18,100,407** |   |
| **Add dilutive effect of:**                                                |   |                                                |           |     |   |           |   |
| **Stock options**                                                          |   |                                                | **4,579**      |     |   | **176,789**    |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |                |     |        |                |   |
| **Adjusted for assumed diluted computation**                               |   |                                                | **19,212,768** |     |   | **18,277,196** |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |                |     |        |                |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                |           |     |   |           |   |
| **Net income available to common shareholders, per average common share:** |   |                                                |           |     |   |           |   |
| **Basic**                                                                  |   | **$**                                               | **0.10**       |     | **$**  | **0.15**       |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |                |     |        |                |   |
| **Diluted**                                                                |   | **$**                                               | **0.10**       |     | **$**  | **0.15**       |   |
|                                                                       |   |                                                     |                |     |        |                |   |

55

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