8-K

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): February 20, 2009

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

Delaware	0-51584	04-3510455
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer 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:

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

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

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

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

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On February 20, 2009, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), the holding company of Berkshire Bank, issued a press release announcing the launch of the Company’s Community Investment Program on March 16, 2009. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.

This information, including the press release filed as Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)	Financial Statements of businesses acquired.
	Not Applicable.
(b)	Pro forma financial information.
	Not Applicable.
(c)	Shell Company Transactions.
	Not Applicable.
(d)	Exhibits.
	The following Exhibit is attached as part of this report:

99.1 Press release of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. dated February 20, 2009.

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.

DATE: February 23, 2009

By: /s/ Kevin P. Riley                                 
Kevin P. Riley,
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. dated February 20, 2009.

EX-99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BERKSHIRE BANK OFFERS NEW COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Stimulus Program Focuses on Consumer, Housing and the Nonprofit Economy

PITTSFIELD, Mass., February 20, 2009 — Berkshire Bank will launch its Community Investment Program on March 16, 2009, expanding personal and business credit, supporting the growth of the housing market and providing assistance to nonprofit organizations which are central to tourism and the cultural vitality of the communities in our western Massachusetts, northeastern New York and southern Vermont markets. Berkshire Bank is the banking subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NASDAQ: BHLB).

Berkshire’s President and CEO Michael P. Daly stated, “We have identified key areas of opportunity where we can provide the greatest benefit to our markets and that will have a positive ripple effect impacting the most consumers. We plan to provide $500 million in personal and business lending in 2009. Our program will stimulate the housing market, and also focuses on key Federal and State mortgage initiatives. The program will also support the unique needs of our nonprofit organizations, which have been particularly hard hit by declining endowments, grants, and contributions as a result of the economic downturn.”

Massachusetts State Senator Benjamin B. Downing, was briefed on the program and provided this endorsement, “Berkshire is one of Massachusetts’ oldest and largest independent banks, and the largest banking institution in Western Massachusetts. It is a strong element of our state’s financial system and what they are doing at this point is spot-on with their responsibilities as a leader in their communities.”

Highlights of the program are listed below and additional details will be available at all Berkshire Bank branches on March 16, 2009, and through its website at www.berkshirebank.com.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• $500 Million to Lend in 2009

Berkshire Bank plans to lend over $500 million to personal and business borrowers in 2009. This includes $300 million in residential mortgages and home equity lines of credit, which will help support the housing market, stabilize housing prices, and encourage sales of new and existing homes. The Bank plans to originate over $200 million in business loans.

Customers and non-customers will be encouraged to come to Berkshire Bank for a free financial and budgeting consultation. Through this process, many times, monthly payment obligations can be reduced through debt consolidation. Another benefit will include a monthly budget process that includes a systematic savings program resulting in more money in our consumer’s pockets as well as the local economies. Qualifying applicants may also receive special financing terms, as well as up to a $100 savings stimulus incentive.

Berkshire Bank will continue to work with its customers that experience financial challenges to assess their options. The parameters of this program will complement the FDIC’s loan modification program guidelines and are designed to keep families in their homes.

• Support for the Housing Market

In collaboration with its designated local builder customers, Berkshire will offer preferred mortgage terms and discounted closing costs to consumers who purchase a qualified home or building lot. A database of these properties will be available in all Berkshire branch locations. This program will provide attractive home buying opportunities, and as a result will support construction jobs as these projects are completed.

• Nonprofit Support to Stimulate and Sustain our Local Economy

Berkshire will provide innovative broad-reaching programs focusing on 501(c)(3) organizations that play a critical role in our regional economies (also known as the “creative economy”) and which are currently financially challenged due to a decline in State and Federal grants and private donations. Eligible nonprofit customers will receive much needed short-term working capital lines of credit to carry these organizations though this tough recovery period.

The Berkshire Bank Foundations have historically been leaders in philanthropy and community involvement. Since their inception, the foundations have awarded nearly $12 million in donations to nonprofit organizations and they will award more than $1 million in 2009. In addition to this on-going support, a new Cultural Enrichment Fund of $100,000 will be available to increase arts and cultural programming for elementary school students.

BACKGROUND

Berkshire Hills Bancorp is headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It has approximately $2.7 billion in assets and is the parent of Berkshire Bank — America’s Most Exciting Bank^SM. Berkshire provides personal and business banking, insurance, wealth management, and investment services through 48 banking and insurance offices in western Massachusetts, northeastern New York, and southern Vermont. Berkshire Bank also offers the added benefit of providing its depositors 100% insurance protection, regardless of amount, based on a combination of FDIC insurance and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, visit www.berkshirebank.com or call 800-773-5601.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this news release regarding Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Berkshire Bank that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements”. These statements reflect management’s views of future events, and involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, see “Forward Looking Statements” in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet website (www.sec.gov) and to which reference is hereby made. Actual future results may differ significantly from results discussed in these forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

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Media Contact:
Fedelina Madrid, VP, Marketing
fmadrid@berkshirebank.com
413-236-3733