-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UfzSA45e96Eilx49boCzGC9vG41E/svrIlvtN6EKVTv3V9QuLAZ1OjpDplFUVUbA
 K3CEoCKsQKyjT7gW/JXPcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914317-09-001710.txt : 20090813
<SEC-HEADER>0000914317-09-001710.hdr.sgml : 20090813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090813164411
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914317-09-001710
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090813
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090813

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Jackson Deborah J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001460818

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33898
		FILM NUMBER:		091011002

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 MERIDIAN STREET
		CITY:			EAST BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02128

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001411974
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				204652200
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 MERIDIAN STREET
		CITY:			EAST BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02128
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-567-1500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 MERIDIAN STREET
		CITY:			EAST BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02128
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4-102442_djex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001411974</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EBSB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001460818</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jackson Deborah J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 MERIDIAN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EAST BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02128</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President/COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.2</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.57</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-03-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-03-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares of restricted stock vest at a rate of 20% per year commencing on March 27, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock options vest at a rate of 20% per year commencing on March 27, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Deborah J. Jackson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----