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Sterling makes 3-year commitment to save Comstock Parks Concert

Dec 13, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: Spokane Symphony - Annie Matlow 509-464-7071

Contact: Director of Marketing and Public Relations

Sterling Savings Bank, Cara Coon 509-626-5348

VP, Communications and Public Affairs Director

Spokane - The Spokane Symphony and Sterling Savings Bank are proud to announce an exclusive, three-year sponsorship of the Comstock Park Concert for the community. Held each Labor Day evening, the free event draws thousands of visitors to the park to hear the Spokane Symphony perform under the distinctive white shell and mark the unofficial end of summer.

“We are very excited about this significant support from Sterling Savings Bank. They have been a long-time supporter of the Symphony and the community as a whole. This new commitment is pivotal, guaranteeing the future of an important community event,” said Spokane Symphony Executive Director Brenda Nienhouse.

For 25 years, the Labor Day concert in ComstockPark marked the unofficial beginning of the Spokane Symphony season, but while admission is free, the concert cost the Symphony organization more than $36,000 to stage. Sponsors have traditionally underwritten the majority of these costs, but as the nation’s economy suffered, so did sponsorship dollars and last year the concert was cancelled. The event has attracted up to 8,000 visitors annually to ComstockPark on Spokane’s South Hill neighborhood.

“Sterling is thrilled to partner with the Spokane Symphony to host this event,” said Ezra Eckhardt, president and chief operating officer of Sterling Savings Bank. “This type of event exemplifies the reason Spokane is such a special place to live and do business. We are fortunate to be able to present an early holiday gift to the community.”

Sterling Savings Bank announced in August it has completed an unprecedented capital raise of $730 million to rebuild the bank. As one of the leading community banks headquartered in Washington, Sterling supports many community-oriented events across its five-state footprint.

About Sterling Financial Corporation

Sterling Financial Corporation of Spokane, Wash., is the bank holding company for Sterling Savings Bank, a commercial bank. The bank is state chartered and federally insured. Sterling offers banking products and services, mortgage lending, construction financing and investment products to individuals, small businesses, commercial organizations and corporations. As of Sept. 30, 2010, Sterling Financial Corporation had assets of $10.03 billion and operated 178 depository branches throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California. Visit Sterling’s website at http://www.sterlingfinancialcorporation-spokane.com/.

Sterling Savings Bank ranked “Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in the Northwest Region” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study℠. Sterling Savings Bank received the highest numerical score among retail banks in the Northwest region in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Retail Banking Satisfaction Study℠. The study was based on 47,673 total responses measuring 6 providers in the Northwest Region (OR, WA) and measures opinions of consumers with their primary banking provider. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed in January 2010. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.

About Spokane Symphony

The Spokane Symphony, the regional professional orchestra for the Inland Northwest, began its 65^th year with the 2010-2011 Season. The Symphony performs in the newly renovated Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, an exciting regional performing arts center that blends 1930’s ambiance with 21^st century technology and acoustics. The 70-piece professional orchestra performs for more than 150,000 listeners each season and provides a wide variety of exceptional educational experiences. The orchestra presents critically acclaimed performances featuring some of the world’s most respected soloists.

Music Director Eckart Preu has taken this fine orchestra to the next level of artistic achievement. The 41-year-old East German-born conductor assumed leadership of the orchestra in Fall 2004. Morihiko Nakahara is Resident Conductor. The Symphony performs more than 60 concerts this year. The regular season includes a 10-program Classics series, three concert Casual Classics series, and five SuperPops performances at Martine Woldson Theater at The Fox. A highly successful Chamber Soiree Series takes place in the Davenport Hotel's stunning MarieAntoinetteRoom. For more information, www.spokanesymphony.org