...then on the other hand... the USD is totally oversold and there are only 3% bears, which will mean a trend reversal pretty soon. This will not be good for stocks. So, could SBIB really go against the flow when the bear market resumes? I doubt it.

If I wanted to BUY Sterling, I would wait to see if the bear market really resumes. If SBIB hasn't been able to move up during this huge bear market rally, it's certainly not going go against the flow during a decline either. Plus why take risks anyway? I would wait a couple of quarters to see how their huge CRE & Construction loan plays out. If it looks like it starts melting down, short the stock. If not, then start buying a little.

Having said this... I have always liked Sterling Bank. Their service is great, and even if Martinez won't be grabbing Sterling's best clients to Allegiance, they are probably a good long-term investment.

The entry point isn't yet there, though.