FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


              BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC. TO ISSUE FOURTH QUARTER
                      EARNINGS RELEASE ON JANUARY 26, 2005;
           CONFERENCE CALL SET FOR JANUARY 27, 2005 AT 10:00 A.M. (ET)


PITTSFIELD,  Mass.-(Business  Wire)-January  11, 2005 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp,
Inc. (the  "Company")  (AMEX:BHL),  the holding  company for Berkshire Bank (the
"Bank"), today announced that it will issue its earnings release for the quarter
ended December 31, 2004 at  approximately  4:15 P.M.  eastern time on Wednesday,
January 26, 2005.

The Company will conduct a post-earnings  conference call at 10:00 A.M.  eastern
time on  Thursday,  January 27, 2005.  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer,
Michael P. Daly and Chief  Financial  Officer,  Wayne F.  Patenaude will discuss
highlights of the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2004 financial results.
Information about the conference call follows:

         Dial-in:                   1-877-407-8035
         Replay Dial-in:            1-877-660-6853
         Replay Access Codes:       Account #1628; Conference ID #132928
                                    (Both are needed to access the Replay)
         Replay Dates:              January 27, 2005 at 1:00 P.M. (ET) through
                                    February 3, 2005 at 4:00 P.M. (ET)

All  interested  parties  are  welcome  to access  the  conference  call and are
requested to call in a few minutes  prior to 10:00 A.M. (ET) to register for the
event. The presentation by Messrs. Daly and Patenaude will last approximately 15
minutes, followed by another 15 minutes scheduled for questions and answers.

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 11
branch  offices  serving   communities   throughout   Berkshire   County  and  a
representative  office  and one  branch in New York.  The Bank is  committed  to
continuing  operation as an independent bank,  delivering  exceptional  customer
service and a broad array of competitively priced retail and commercial products
to its customers.

                                       ###

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
Media and Investor Contact:

Rose A. Borotto
413-236-3144
rborotto@berkshirebank.com
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