Exhibit 31

               Rule 13a - 14(a)/15d - 14(a) Certification


I, Deborah A. Meekins, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Northern Empire
   Bancshares;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any
   untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
   necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
   under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to
   the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
   information included in this report, fairly present in all material
   respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
   of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
   quarterly report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
   establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
   defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-(e)) for the registrant
   and have:

   a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
      disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
      supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
      registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known
      to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
      period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

   b. evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
      and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about
      the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
      the end of the period covered by this report based on such
      evaluation; and

   c. disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
      control over financial reporting that occurred during the
      registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially
      affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
      registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based
   on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
   reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
   registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
   functions);

   a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design
      or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are
      reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
      record, process, summarize and report financial data; and

   b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
      other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
      internal controls over financial reporting.



Date:  August 2, 2004


          /s/ Deborah A. Meekins
Signature --------------------------------------
          Deborah A. Meekins,
          President and Chief Executive Officer




               Rule 13a - 14(a)/15d - 14(a) Certification

I, Jane M. Baker, certify that:


1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Northern Empire
   Bancshares;

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any
   untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
   necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
   under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to
   the period covered by this quarterly report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
   information included in this report, fairly present in all material
   respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
   of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
   quarterly report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
   establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
   defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-(e)) for the registrant
   and have:

   a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
      disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
      supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
      registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known
      to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
      period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

   b. evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
      and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about
      the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of
      the end of the period covered by this report based on such
      evaluation; and

   c. disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
      control over financial reporting that occurred during the
      registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially
      affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
      registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based
   on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
   reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of
   registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
   functions);

   a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design
      or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are
      reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
      record, process, summarize and report financial data; and

   b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
      other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
      internal controls over financial reporting.


Date:  August 2, 2004


         /s/ Jane M. Baker
Signature--------------------------------------
         Jane M. Baker, Chief Financial Officer