8-K

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                                 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) July 11, 2003

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

         Delaware                     1-15781            04-3510455
         --------                     -------            ----------
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission        (IRS Employer
 of incorporation)                   File number)       Identification No.)


                24 North Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201
                ------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (413) 443-5601
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER EXHIBITS
        ---------------------------------------

         Exhibit 99.1      Press Release Dated July 11, 2003

ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
        ------------------------

         On July 11, 2003, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), the
holding company for Berkshire Bank, announced it expected to issue its second
quarter earnings release on July 22, 2003. The Company will conduct a conference
call at 2:00 p.m. on July 23, 2003 to discuss second quarter highlights of its
financial results. Instructions on how to access the call and an investor
presentation that will supplement the call were contained in the press release.
A copy of the Company's press release dated July 11, 2003 is attached as Exhibit
99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.



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                                   SIGNATURES

         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.


                                        BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.



Dated: July 11, 2003                    By: /s/ Wayne F. Patenaude
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Wayne F. Patenaude
                                            Senior Vice President and
                                            Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


              BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC. TO ISSUE SECOND QUARTER
                       EARNINGS RELEASE ON JULY 22, 2003;
             CONFERENCE CALL SET FOR JULY 23, 2003 AT 2:00 P.M. (ET)


PITTSFIELD,  MA, July 11, 2003 - Berkshire  Hills Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company")
(AMEX:BHL), the holding company for Berkshire Bank (the "Bank"), today announced
that it will issue its earnings  release for the quarter  ended June 30, 2003 at
approximately 4:30 P.M. eastern time on Tuesday, July 22, 2003.

The Company will conduct a post-earnings  conference  call at 2:00 P.M.  eastern
time on Wednesday, July 23, 2003. President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael
P. Daly and Chief Financial Officer,  Wayne F. Patenaude will discuss highlights
of the Company's second quarter 2003 financial  results.  Information  about the
conference call follows:

      Dial-in and Access Code:           1-888-855-5428; 647567
      Replay Dial-in and Access Code:    1-888-203-1112; 647567
      Replay Dates:                      July 23, 2003 at 5:00 P.M. (ET) through
                                         July 30, 2003 at 11:00 P.M. (ET)

All  interested  parties  are  welcome  to access  the  conference  call and are
requested to call in a few minutes  prior to 2:00 P.M.  (ET) to register for the
event. The Company has prepared an investor  presentation to accompany the audio
call.  The  investor  presentation  will be  available  on the  Bank's Web site,
http://www.berkshirebank.com  beginning at approximately 12:30 P.M. eastern time
- ----------------------------
on July 23, 2003. To access this information, which will be in PDF format, click
on the "Conference  Call" icon located to the right of the Company's stock quote
on the Bank's home page.

The  presentation  by Messrs.  Daly and  Patenaude  will last  approximately  15
minutes, followed by another 15 minutes scheduled for questions and answers.

Berkshire  Hills  Bancorp,  Inc. 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
branch 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 its customers.

                                       ###


MEDIA AND INVESTOR CONTACT:

ROSE A. BOROTTO
413-236-3144
RBOROTTO@BERKSHIREBANK.COM