EXHIBIT 99.1



            BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF
                    ITS ACQUISITION OF WORONOCO BANCORP, INC.

              Combination Creates $2 Billion Financial Institution


         June 1, 2005 PITTSFIELD, MA - Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. ("Berkshire
Hills") (AMEX: BHL) the holding company for Berkshire Bank, announced today that
it completed its acquisition of Woronoco Bancorp, Inc. ("Woronoco"), the holding
company for Woronoco Savings Bank. In connection with the transaction, Woronoco
stockholders will receive approximately 2,534,310 shares of Berkshire Hills
common stock and cash payments totaling approximately $35,145,540. Berkshire
Hills now operates 21 branches in Western Massachusetts, one branch and a
representative office in New York, an insurance group and has approximately $2.0
billion in assets. Berkshire Bank has previously announced plans to open at
least two more branches in the Albany Capital Region this year.

         Michael P. Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire
Hills and Berkshire Bank, stated "It is my pleasure to welcome Woronoco Savings
Bank customers, employees and stockholders to Berkshire Hills and Berkshire
Bank. We are delighted to be a part of the many wonderful communities in the
Pioneer Valley. During the past five months many of us at Berkshire Bank have
worked closely with, and have come to know and respect, the great team of
employees at Woronoco. Our customers in the Pioneer Valley will be served by the
same branch managers and other personnel whom they have come to know and trust
and I am confident they will receive the very highest level of attention and
service which distinguishes Berkshire Bank as a super community bank."

         Woronoco directors, Cornelius D. Mahoney, D. Jeffrey Templeton and John
B. Davies have been named directors of Berkshire Hills and Berkshire Bank,
effective June 1, 2005.

         Northeast Capital & Advisory, Inc. served as the financial advisor for
Berkshire Hills, and Sandler O'Neill Partners, L.P. advised Woronoco. Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as outside counsel to Berkshire Hills, while Lord
Bissell & Brook, LLP served as outside legal counsel to Woronoco.

         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 and a representative office in 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.

         Statements contained in this news release contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Legislation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements are 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 including, 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 other factors that may be
described in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for the quarters
ended March 31, June 30, 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 Web site (www.sec.gov) and to
which reference is hereby made. Therefore, actual future results may differ
significantly from results discussed in these forward-looking statements.


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Media contact:
Michael P. Daly
President and Chief Executive Officer
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
(413) 236-3194