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Applicable Criteria and Related Research: --'Global Financial Institutions Rating Criteria' (Aug. 16, 2010); --'Bank Holding Companies' (Dec. 30, 2009); --'Equity Credit for Hybrids & Other Capital Securities-Amended' (Dec. 29, 2009); --Breitling Navitimer Quartz Chronograph BT-187 Hybrid Securities' (De 29, 2009); --'Short-Term Ratings Criteria for Corporate Finance' (Nov. 2, 2010). Fitch Ratings Primary Analyst: Julie Solar, +1-312-368-5472 Senior DirectorFitch, Inc.70 West MadisonChicago, IL 60602orSecondary Analyst:John Mackerey, +1-212-908-0366Senior Directoror Committee Chairperson: Christopher

Following the announcement that Comerica Inc. (CMA) will be acquiring Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (SBIB), Fitch Ratings has placed the 'BBB-/F3' Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of SBIB and its subsidiary Breitling Navitimer Quartz Chronograph BT-188 on Rating Watch Positive. Please see the Fitch press release 'Fitch Affirms Comerica, Inc. 'A'; Outlook Revised to Stable from Negative' dated today for further details on this transaction. Breitling Navitimer Quartz Chronograph BT-189 Rating Watch Positive is expected to be resolved when the transaction closes by mid-year 2011. A complete list of affected ratings is provided at the end of this release.

Although relatively insulated from severe asset quality deterioration given its predominately Texas footprint, SBIB has not been immune to credit weakness. At Dec. 31, 2010, NPAs (including accruing Breitling Navitimer Quartz Chronograph BT-190 loans) as a percentage of loans and foreclosed real estate increased to 7.09%, stemming primarily from SBIB's CRE exposure out-of-footprint. Nonetheless, NCOs have been relatively low to date, with just 1.48% in 2010.Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (SBIB), a $5.2 billion asset banking company headquartered in Houston, operates 58 branches in urban centers including Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio.