FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


              BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC. TO ISSUE FIRST QUARTER
                       EARNINGS RELEASE ON APRIL 27, 2006;
            CONFERENCE CALL SET FOR APRIL 28, 2006 AT 10:00 A.M. (ET)


PITTSFIELD, MA, April 3, 2006 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company")
(NASDAQ:BHLB), the holding company for Berkshire Bank (the "Bank"), today
announced that it will issue its earnings release for the quarter ending March
31, 2006, at approximately 4:15 P.M. eastern time on Thursday, April 27, 2006.

The Company will conduct a post-earnings conference call at 10:00 A.M. eastern
time on Friday, April 28, 2006. President and Chief Executive Officer Michael P.
Daly and Chief Financial Officer Wayne F. Patenaude will discuss highlights of
the Company's first quarter 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 #286; Conference ID #198348
                                    (Both are needed to access the Replay)
         Replay Dates:              April 28, 2006 at 1:00 P.M. (ET) through
                                    May 5, 2006 at 11:59 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
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.

                                       ###


CONTACT:

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.
WAYNE F. PATENAUDE, 413-236-3195
WPATENAUDE@BERKSHIREBANK.COM
- ----------------------------