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, 2019

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

One Towne Square, Suite 1900

Southfield, Michigan 48076

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (248) 355-2400

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:

o                 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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. x

Item 7.01                                           Regulation FD Disclosure.

On November 5, 2019, Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) reported that its Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.01 per common share, payable on November 29, 2019 to shareholders of record as of November 25, 2019.  The Company issued a press release attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit No. 99 and incorporated herein by reference.

The information contained in this item, including that which is incorporated by reference, is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Such information shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section.  The information shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01.                                        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)      Exhibits

The following exhibit is furnished herewith:

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SIGNATURE

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.

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Exhibit 99

Sterling Bancorp Declares Cash Dividend on Common Stock

Southfield, Michigan, November 5, 2019 — Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBT), the holding company of Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B., announced the approval of a cash dividend by its Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.01 per common share, payable November 29, 2019 to shareholders of record at November 25, 2019.

About Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

Sterling Bancorp, Inc. is a unitary thrift holding company. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B., has primary branch operations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, New York City and Bellevue, Washington. Sterling offers a broad range of loan products to the residential and commercial markets, as well as retail and business banking services. Sterling also has an operations center and a branch in Southfield, Michigan. Sterling was named as the top performing community bank in the United States with total assets between $3 billion and $10 billion in 2018 by S&P Global Market Intelligence for the second year in a row (in 2017 the asset range was $1 billion to $10 billion). For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.sterlingbank.com.

Contacts:

Investors

Financial Profiles

Larry Clark

310-622-8223

Kristen Papke

310-622-8225

SBT@finprofiles.com