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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


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                                  NEWS RELEASE

For More Information Contact:                     For Release  - May 22, 2002
Eugene S. Putnam, Jr.-Chief Financial Officer
713-507-7292

      STERLING BANCSHARES TO ACQUIRE ENB BANKSHARES, INC. OF DALLAS, TEXAS

HOUSTON, Texas, May 22, 2002 - Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBIB)
announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ENB
Bankshares, Inc. of Dallas, Texas in a cash merger. The transaction is expected
to close during the 2002 fourth quarter.

ENB Bankshares, Inc. of Dallas, Texas is the privately held bank holding company
of Eagle National Bank, which operates one banking office in North Dallas. As of
March 31, 2002, Eagle National had assets of $67 million, loans of $58 million
and $60 million in deposits.

J. Downey Bridgwater, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sterling said,
"The merger with Eagle doubles our presence in Dallas. Combined with internally
generated growth from our existing Dallas location, the merger with Eagle and
their seasoned lending staff should accelerate our growth in Dallas."

"We are very pleased to join the Sterling family," commented Harold L. Campbell,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eagle. "Sterling is a strong Texas-based
institution with a commanding focus on relationship banking and a larger product
offering which should benefit our customers."

Sterling Bancshares, Inc. is a Houston-based bank holding company that operates
38 community-banking offices in the greater metro areas of Dallas, Houston, San
Antonio, and South Texas. Sterling also provides mortgage-banking services
through its 80 percent-owned subsidiary, Sterling Capital Mortgage Company.
Sterling's common stock is traded through the Nasdaq National Market System
under the symbol SBIB. For more information on Sterling Bancshares, please visit
the company's web site at www.banksterling.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, this press release contains
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties, including,
but not limited to, the following: general business and economic conditions in
the markets Sterling serves may be less favorable than anticipated which could
decrease the demand for loan, deposit and other financial services and increase
loan delinquencies and defaults; changes in market rates and prices may
adversely impact the value of securities, loans, deposits and other financial
instruments; Sterling's liquidity requirements could be adversely affected by
changes in its assets and liabilities; legislative or regulatory developments
including changes in laws concerning taxes, banking, securities, insurance and
other aspects of the financial securities industry; competitive factors may
increase, including product and pricing pressures among financial services
organizations; and changes in fiscal and governmental policies of the United
States federal government could have an adverse effect on Sterling's business.
Please also read the additional risks and factors described from time to time in
Sterling's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.

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