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): November 17, 2008
WESTFIELD FINANCIAL, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		001-16767 (Commission File Number)	73-1627673 (IRS Employer Identification No.)
141 Elm Street, Westfield, Massachusetts 01085 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (413) 568-1911
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[  ]	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 7.01		Regulation FD Disclosure
On November 17, 2008, Westfield Financial, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that the Company has decided not to apply to participate in the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase Program, which is part of the broader Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP"). A copy of the press release is attached to this report as Exhibit No. 99.1.
The information in this Item 7.01 and the exhibit attached hereto will not be deemed to be "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section, nor will such information or exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as may be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01		Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d)	The following exhibit is furnished with this Report:
	Exhibit No.		Description
	99.1		Press release dated November 17, 2008.

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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.
	WESTFIELD FINANCIAL, INC.
	By:	/s/ Leo R. Sagan, Jr.
	Name	Leo R. Sagan, Jr.
	Title:	Vice President
Date: November 17, 2008

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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated November 17, 2008.

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EX-99

Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
	For further information contact: Donald A. Williams, Chairman & CEO Michael J. Janosco Jr., CFO 413-568-1911
Westfield Financial, Inc. Announces That It Did Not Apply to the U.S. Department of Treasury to Participate in the Capital Purchase Program
Westfield, Massachusetts, November 17, 2008: Westfield Financial, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ:WFD), the holding company for Westfield Bank (the "Bank"), announced that after careful consideration, it has decided not to participate in the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase Program which is part of the broader Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP").
Donald A. Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "Westfield Financial is a strong, well capitalized institution. At September 30, 2008, the Company's ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets was 44.04% and the ratio of Tier 1 capital to total adjusted assets was 25.65%. Both of these ratios are above the minimums of 6.00% and 5.00%, respectively, to be considered well capitalized under prompt corrective action requirements."
"We felt that the costs and restrictions associated with the TARP Capital Purchase Program outweighed the potential benefits," added Williams.
Westfield Bank is headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts and operates through 11 banking offices in Agawam, East Longmeadow, Holyoke, Southwick, Springfield, West Springfield and Westfield, Massachusetts. The Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" which may be identified by the use of such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "estimated," and "potential." Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to the Company's financial condition and results of operation and business that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates including, but not limited to, changes in the real estate market or local economy, changes in interest rates, changes in laws and regulations to which we are subject, and competition in our primary market area. The Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements, or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
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