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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1




                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



        BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC. ELECTS MICHAEL P. DALY PRESIDENT AND
                     CEO; JAMES A. CUNNINGHAM, JR. RESIGNS;
                LAWRENCE A. BOSSIDY ELECTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS



PITTSFIELD,  MA -  October  17,  2002  -  Berkshire  Hills  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company"),  (AMEX:  BHL), the holding  company for Berkshire Bank (the "Bank"),
today announced that Michael P. Daly, who currently is Executive Vice President,
was elected  President,  Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company and
the Bank. James A. Cunningham,  Jr., President,  CEO and Director of the Company
and the Bank  announced  his  resignation  effective  immediately.  Lawrence  A.
Bossidy, retired Chairman and CEO of Honeywell International,  Inc., was elected
as the  Non-Executive  Chairman of the Board of Directors.  Robert A. Wells will
continue as  Chairman  of the  Company  and the Bank and remain  involved in the
Company's management and helping to facilitate the transition.

Michael  P. Daly  began his  banking  career  with  Bank of  Boston  and  joined
Berkshire County Savings Bank in 1986 as a commercial  lender.  He most recently
served as Executive Vice  President and Chief Lending  Officer at Berkshire Bank
with responsibilities within the business banking,  operations, and commercial /
retail  lending  areas.  Mr.  Daly  expressed  enthusiasm  for the future of the
Company and for  maintaining  the high quality of  leadership  that has become a
tradition at Berkshire Bank.

Michael P. Daly  received his Bachelor of Science from  Westfield  State College
and a Master of  Business  Administration  from  Columbia  University  School of
Business.  Mr.  Daly has served on the boards of  Downtown  Pittsfield,  Inc. as
Co-Chairman  of its  Development  Committee  and the  Chamber of Commerce of the
Berkshires on its Economic Development Committee. He has also served as Chairman
of the Berkshire County Cystic Fibrosis  Foundation for many years. He is a past
director  of  Robert   Morris   Associates,   past  Chairman  of  the  Lanesboro
Conservation  Committee  and  member of the  Finance  Committee  for the Town of
Lanesboro.  A life-long  resident of Berkshire County,  Mike and his wife Carol,
live in Lanesboro with their two daughters.

James A.  Cunningham,  Jr. joined the Bank in 1997 when Berkshire County Savings
Bank merged with Great Barrington Savings Bank, where he had served as President
and Chief Executive Officer since 1991. "I am pleased with what I have been able
to contribute to the Bank.  After 29 years in banking,  I am looking  forward to
being able to spend more time with my family and on my personal  interests," Mr.
Cunningham stated.


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In  connection  with  the  resolution  of the  Company's  obligation  under  his
employment  agreement,  Mr.  Cunningham  and the  Company  have  entered  into a
severance  agreement  which is expected to result in a one-time after tax charge
to  earnings  of  approximately  $2.4  million  in the fourth  quarter  and will
obligate Mr. Cunningham to certain non-competition and other obligations.

Also, elected to the Board of Directors today, Lawrence A. Bossidy will hold the
title of Non-Executive  Chairman of the Company. In that position he will act in
an advisory  capacity to the Company.  "I am looking  forward to my  association
with the Company and the Bank and to make a contribution to the Board especially
during these executive changes," stated Bossidy.

"I am very  pleased  to  welcome  Larry  Bossidy  to our  Board.  His  corporate
governance and business skills brings  oversight and management  strength to our
Board,"  added  Wells.  Mr.  Bossidy,  a native of  Pittsfield,  is the  retired
Chairman  of the  Board  and CEO of  Honeywell  International,  Inc.,  a  global
$23-billion  advanced  technology,   controls  and  manufacturing  company.  His
distinguished  business career began with the General  Electric Company in 1957,
where he rose through the ranks to Vice  Chairman  and  Executive  Officer.  Mr.
Bossidy left GE in 1991 to join AlliedSignal Inc. as its Chairman and CEO. He is
credited  with  transforming  AlliedSignal  into one of the world's most admired
companies. In 1999, Mr. Bossidy became Chairman of Honeywell International Inc.,
following the historic merger of AlliedSignal and Honeywell. He retired in April
of 2000 only to be brought back in July 2001 to stabilize the company  following
GE's prolonged and unsuccessful attempt to acquire Honeywell.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp,  Inc., (AMEX: BHL) is the holding company for Berkshire
Bank  established in 1846.  Berkshire Bank is one of  Massachusetts'  oldest and
largest  independent  banks  and is the  largest  banking  institution  based in
Western  Massachusetts.  The Bank is headquartered in Pittsfield,  Massachusetts
with 11 full service offices serving  communities  throughout  Berkshire County.
The  Bank  is  committed  to  continuing  to  operate  as an  independent  bank,
delivering  exceptional  customer  service  and a broad  array of  competitively
priced retail and commercial products to customers.

STATEMENTS  CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE,  WHICH ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS, ARE
FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS  AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE  PRIVATE  SECURITIES
LEGISLATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. SUCH  FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO
RISKS AND  UNCERTAINTIES,  WHICH COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY
FROM THOSE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED DUE TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS,  WHICH INCLUDE, BUT
ARE NOT LIMITED TO, FACTORS DISCUSSED IN DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FROM TIME TO TIME.

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News Contact: Robert A. Wells   413-236-3190