UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 5, 2014

STERLING BANCORP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code):  (845) 369-8040

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

x               Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o                 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01   Other Events.

On November 5, 2014, Sterling Bancorp (“Sterling”) and Hudson Valley Holding Corp. (“Hudson Valley”) issued a joint press release announcing the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 4, 2014, by and between Sterling and Hudson Valley. A copy of the joint press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. In addition Sterling and Hudson Valley intend to provide supplemental information regarding the proposed transaction in connection with presentations to analysts and investors. A copy of the slides that will be made available in connection with the presentations is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information presented herein contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 giving Sterling’s expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “estimate,” “continue,” “positions,” “prospects” or “potential,” by future conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may”, or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we assume no duty to update forward-looking statements.

In addition to factors previously disclosed in Sterling’s and Hudson Valley’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and those identified elsewhere in this filing, the following factors among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements: ability to obtain regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions to the merger, including approval by Sterling and Hudson Valley shareholders, on the expected terms and schedule; delay in closing the merger; difficulties and delays in integrating the Sterling and Hudson Valley businesses or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; business disruption following the proposed transaction; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.

Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It

Investors and security holders are urged to carefully review and consider each of Sterling’s and Hudson Valley’s public filings with the SEC, including but not limited to their Annual Reports on Form 10-K, their proxy statements, their Current Reports on Form 8-K and

their Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The documents filed by Sterling with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) may be obtained free of charge at Sterling’s website at www.sterlingbancorp.com or at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge from Sterling by requesting them in writing to Sterling Bancorp, 400 Rella Boulevard, Montebello, New York 10901 Attention: Investor Relations, or by telephone at (845) 369-8040.

The documents filed by Hudson Valley with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at Hudson Valley’s website at www.hudsonvalleybank.com or at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge from Hudson Valley by requesting them in writing to Hudson Valley Holding Corp., c/o Hudson Valley Bank, 21 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, New York 10707; Attention: Investor Relations, or by telephone at (914) 961-6100.

In connection with the proposed transaction, Sterling intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC which will include a joint proxy statement of Hudson Valley and Sterling and a prospectus of Sterling, and each party will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and security holders of Hudson Valley and Sterling are urged to carefully read the entire registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, when they become available, as well as any amendments or supplements to these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. A definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to the stockholders of each institution seeking the required stockholder approvals. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus free of charge from the SEC’s website or from Sterling or Hudson Valley by writing to the addresses provided for each company set forth in the paragraphs above.

Sterling, Hudson Valley, their directors, executive officers and certain other persons may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Sterling and Hudson Valley stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Sterling and their ownership of Sterling common stock is set forth in the definitive proxy statement for Sterling’s 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on January 10, 2014. Information about the directors and executive officers of Hudson Valley and their ownership of Hudson Valley common stock is set forth in the definitive proxy statement for Hudson Valley’s 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, as previously filed with the SEC on April 9, 2014.  Stockholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus when they become available. Free copies of the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus may be obtained as described in the paragraphs above.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:  November 5, 2014

EXHIBIT INDEX