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                                                      FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION


                 PETER J. LAFAYETTE NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
                     BERKSHIRE BANK'S CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS

    LAFAYETTE TO LEAVE POSTS AT BERKSHIRE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND
       BERKSHIRE HOUSING SERVICES INC. AND RESIGN FROM BERKSHIRE BANK AND
                   BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

PITTSFIELD, MA November 14, 2005 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company")
(NASDAQ:BHLB), the holding company for Berkshire Bank (the "Bank") announced
today that Peter J. Lafayette, a member of the boards of directors of the
Company and the Bank will leave both boards to become Executive Director of the
Berkshire Bank Foundation and the Greater Berkshire Foundation in January, 2006.
Both charitable foundations provide funding to educational, civic, human
services, the arts and economic development organizations in communities served
by the Bank. Mr. Lafayette will also resign his position as President of
Berkshire Housing Development Corporation and Berkshire Housing Services, Inc.

As Executive Director of the Bank's foundations, Mr. Lafayette will be
responsible for the management, operations, and business affairs of the
foundations and will represent them and the Bank in the communities they serve.
During 2005, these foundations made grants totaling $1,697,539 to 406 area
charities and civic organizations. Since 2000, they have contributed a total of
$7.8 million to area organizations. Mary Ellen Puntin, Foundation Administrator,
will continue in her current role.

Michael P. Daly, President and Chief Executive officer of the Company, the Bank
and both foundations stated, "The Bank's foundations play a vital role in
improving the economic development, and quality of life in the communities we
serve. The appointment of Peter to the role of Executive Director will help us
do a better job ascertaining and balancing the needs of the communities. I am
very pleased that Peter has accepted the challenges that the foundations
provide. Peter is an experienced and highly respected executive with over 30
years of housing and community development experience. He has been a valued
member of our boards of directors since 1996 and we

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are fortunate to have the benefit of his wisdom and guidance leading our
foundations' efforts."

Since 1980, Mr. Lafayette has served as President of Berkshire Housing
Development Corporation and was responsible for operations of this non-profit
company, which develops new housing, rehabilitates existing housing units and
facilitates downtown redevelopment projects. Since 2000, he has also served as
President of Berkshire Housing Services, Inc. a for-profit property management
company that manages 28 apartment complexes, condominium developments and
commercial properties throughout Berkshire County. An interim director of
Berkshire Housing Development Corporation and Berkshire Housing Services Inc.
will be appointed during the search for a permanent president. Thomas E.
Unsworth, Berkshire Housing Development Corporation and Berkshire Housings
Services Inc. Board Chairman stated, "While wanting to express thanks and best
wishes to Peter specifically on behalf of the Berkshire Housing boards, I think
we all owe him our gratitude for he and his staff using the last 25 years
improving the quality of life of countless residents of Berkshire County. Going
forward, we are fortunate that he has left us strong companies that will be able
to continue that work. It is also a plus to know that he has accepted a position
that will enable area residents to continue to benefit from his unique
abilities."

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 the largest banking institution based in Western
Massachusetts. The Bank is headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts with
branch offices serving communities throughout Western Massachusetts and
Northeastern New York and a representative office in New York. The Bank is
committed to operating as an independent super community bank, delivering
exceptional customer service, and offering a broad array of competitively priced
retail and commercial products to its customers.

Statements contained in this news release contain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements are

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based on the beliefs and expectations of management, as well as the assumptions
made using information currently available to management. Since these statements
reflect the views of management concerning future events, these statements
involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These risks and uncertainties
include among others: changes in market interest rates and general and regional
economic conditions; changes in government regulations; changes in accounting
principles; and the quality or composition of the loan and investment portfolios
and that may be described in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for
the quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30 and in its annual report
on Form 10-K, each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are
available at the Securities and Exchange Commission's internet website
(WWW.SEC.GOV) and to which reference is hereby made. Therefore, actual future
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results may differ significantly from results discussed in these forward-looking
statements.

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Contact:    Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
            Michael P. Daly
            President and Chief Executive Officer
            413-236-3194