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) January 18, 2006


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

      Delaware                        0-51584                 04-3510455
      --------                        -------                 ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission              (IRS Employer
     incorporation)                 File Number)            Identification No.)

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

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

                                 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:

[ ]  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))




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ITEM 8.01       OTHER EVENTS.
                ------------

      On January 18, 2006, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., the holding company
for Berkshire Bank, issued a press release announcing its annual meeting of
stockholders will be held on May 4, 2006. The press release announcing the
annual meeting is included as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
               ---------------------------------

        (a)    Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired: Not applicable

        (b)    Pro Forma Financial Information: Not applicable

        (c)    Exhibits

               Number            Description
               ------            -----------

               99.1              Press Release Dated January 18, 2006




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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: January 18, 2006                   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.
                 ANNOUNCES 2006 ANNUAL MEETING AND RECORD DATES



PITTSFIELD, MA - January 18, 2006 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Company") (NASDAQ:BHLB), the holding company for Berkshire Bank (the "Bank"),
announced that its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on May 4,
2006 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, One West Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts at
10:00 A.M. (ET). The voting record date has been set as March 16, 2006. The
Company intends to distribute proxy solicitation materials on or about April 3,
2006.

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
branch offices serving communities throughout Western Massachusetts and
Northeastern New York. The Bank is committed to continuing to operate as an
independent super community bank, delivering exceptional customer service and a
broad array of competitively priced retail and commercial products to its
customers.

                                       ###


News Contact:   Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
                Gerald A. Denmark, 413-236-3120
                Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
                gdenmark@berkshirebank.com
                --------------------------