<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
                      STERLING BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         Article 9 of Regulation S-X
                           Financial Data Schedule
                                March 31, 1999
                        ($ in 000's, except per share)
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                          40,568
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             515
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    134,955
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         190,304
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           190,729
<LOANS>                                        587,839
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,394
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 985,254
<DEPOSITS>                                     659,253
<SHORT-TERM>                                   135,985
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             45,896
<LONG-TERM>                                     41,050
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      2,464
<COMMON>                                         8,318
<OTHER-SE>                                      92,288
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 985,254
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 13,138
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                4,586
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   213
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                17,937
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               3,309
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,397
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           12,540
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,383
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   0
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  9,642
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,742
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,465
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,465
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.42<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.40
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    6.14
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,450
<LOANS-PAST>                                        57
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  1,070
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                10,156
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,218
<RECOVERIES>                                        73
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,394
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             9,628
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                            766
<FN>
<F1>Basic
</FN>
        

</TABLE>