8-K

                       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): March 1, 2006

                                ----------------

                             BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.
                             -----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                     0-23695                   04-3402944
- -----------------------------   -----------------------      -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File No.)        (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)                                     Identification No.)


160 Washington Street, Brookline, Massachusetts                   02447-0469
- -----------------------------------------------                   ----------
   (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)


                                 (617) 730-3500
             ------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

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

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

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




Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Agreement
          -------------------------------

On February 28, 2006, Brookline Bancorp, Inc. announced that it signed a merger
agreement to increase its ownership interest in Eastern Funding LLC from
approximately 29% to 86% through a cash payment of approximately $16.2 million,
excluding related transaction costs. It also announced that it hired William R.
MacKenzie as senior vice president in charge of commercial lending.

See exhibit no. 99.1 attached hereto for the press release relating to these
matters.




                                    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.


                                             BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.


Date: March 2, 2006                          By: /s/ Paul R. Bechet
                                                 ------------------
                                                 Paul R. Bechet
                                                 Senior Vice President and Chief
                                                 Financial Officer




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


The following exhibits are furnished as part of this report:


     Exhibit No.    Description
     -----------    -----------

        99.1        Press release of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. dated March 1, 2006

EX-99.1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

  Brookline Bancorp Announces Agreement to Increase its Investment in Eastern
Funding LLC and the Employment of an Experienced Senior Commercial Loan Officer

     BROOKLINE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2006--Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
(the "Company") (NASDAQ:BRKL) announced today that it signed a merger agreement
to increase its ownership interest in Eastern Funding LLC ("Eastern") from
approximately 29% to 86% through a cash payment of approximately $16.2 million,
excluding related transaction costs. Eastern specializes primarily in the
financing of coin-operated laundry, dry cleaning and grocery store equipment in
the greater metropolitan New York area and selected other locations in the
Northeast. Since its founding by Michael J. Fanger in 1997, Eastern has
originated over $275 million of high yielding loans and experienced an excellent
credit history with aggregate net charge-offs of less than 0.5% of total
originations. At December 31, 2005, Eastern had total assets of $106 million,
including net loans of approximately $100 million. Completion of the
acquisition, which is subject to approval by Eastern's investors and the
Company's regulators, is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2006 and to
be modestly accretive to earnings immediately thereafter.
     Michael Fanger will continue to serve as the chief executive officer of
Eastern and he, along with a family member and two senior officers of Eastern,
will hold the minority interest position. Richard P. Chapman, Jr., the Company's
chairman and chief executive officer, commented "We have been pleased to be a
part-owner of Eastern since 1999 and are enthusiastic about the potential for
growth and profitability that can be accomplished through the acquisition. We
have the highest regard for Michael Fanger and what he has achieved since
founding Eastern. His continued leadership and involvement were essential to our
decision to enhance our ownership interest."
     The Company also announced that it has hired William R. MacKenzie as senior
vice president in charge of commercial lending. Mr. MacKenzie has 34 years of
experience in originating loans for working capital and other business-related
purposes. His most recent experience was to serve as the regional president of a
thirty-branch banking unit located outside of Massachusetts. Most of Mr.
MacKenzie's business career has been with three major regional banks in
Massachusetts.

     For further information, please contact Paul R. Bechet, chief financial
officer of the Company (617-278-6405).


     CONTACT: Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
              Paul R. Bechet, 617-278-6405