HOUSTON, TEXAS   (January 7, 2009) – Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBIB) announced today that its Board of Directors has promoted Travis L. Jaggers to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Sterling Bank.  He was previously Sterling Bank’s Regional CEO for its Southeast Houston Region.  At the same time the board named local Market CEO Dan Evans to fill the Regional CEO position vacated by Jaggers. 

From 1997 through September 2001 Jaggers served as CEO of Sterling’s Gulf Freeway, Spencer Highway, and Deer Park Banking Centers.  In his new position, he is responsible for all the Commercial and Business Banking in Sterling’s markets: Houston, San Antonio, and North Texas.     

“I have great admiration for Travis Jaggers as a commercial banker and a leader, but more importantly Travis has earned the respect and admiration of his co-workers, customers, and our entire Board of Directors,” commented J. Downey Bridgwater, Sterling’s Chairman, President, & Chief Executive Officer.  “He will do an outstanding job leading our commercial and business banking teams in this newly-created statewide position.”

“Dan Evans is the right person to lead our growing Southeast Region,” Bridgwater said.  “He is a highly respected and experienced banker who has consistently produced reliable growth and customer satisfaction over many years.”

Jaggers, a native Texan, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Houston in accounting and finance. He has been in banking for 38 years, and previously served in executive positions with First Pasadena State Bank and Texas Commerce Bank (now JPMorgan Chase). He has been with Sterling Bank for the past 12 years. 

Evans hails from Houston and graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in finance.  He has been in banking for 30 years, and previously worked at Bank Texas, Allied Bank, Omni Bank, and Comerica.  He has been with Sterling Bank for the past 10 years.