NEWS RELEASE


                      BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP TO PRESENT AT
          SANDLER O'NEILL 2007 EAST COAST FINANCIAL SERVICES CONFERENCE

PITTSFIELD, MA - November 7, 2007 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp (BHLB), parent of
Berkshire Bank, will participate in the 2007 East Coast Financial Services
Conference hosted by Sandler O'Neill + Partners to be held on November 13, 2007
in Naples, Florida. Michael P. Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer, is
scheduled to give a presentation at 11:30 a.m. ET that will highlight
developments at Berkshire Bank, AMERICA'S MOST EXCITING BankSM.

This presentation may be accessed via live webcast at www.sandleroneill.com (go
to Conferences tab, and select View Webcast under the East Coast Financial
Services Conference heading). The presentation can also be accessed via audio
conference at 800-329-9097 (Passcode: Session 3). The webcast will be archived
for 60 days after the event beginning November 14, 2007. A copy of the
presentation will be available in the Investor Relations section at Berkshire's
web site at www.berkshirebank.com, and a copy will also be filed with the SEC.

BACKGROUND
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Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the holding company for Berkshire Bank - AMERICA'S
MOST EXCITING BANKSM. Established in 1846, Berkshire Bank is one of
Massachusetts' oldest and largest independent banks and the largest banking
institution based in Western Massachusetts. The Bank is headquartered in
Pittsfield, Massachusetts with branches serving communities throughout Western
Massachusetts, Northeastern New York and Southern Vermont. The Bank is
transitioning into a regional bank, delivering exceptional customer service and
a broad array of competitively priced deposit, loan, insurance, wealth
management and trust services and investment products. For more information on
Berkshire Hills Bancorp or Berkshire Bank, visit www.berkshirebank.com or call
800-773-5601.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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Statements made in the presentation may contain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate
strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like
"believe," "guidance," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "intend" or
future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may."
These statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of management. Since
these statements reflect the views of management concerning future events, these





statements involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. These risks and
uncertainties include among others: changes in market interest rates and general
and regional economic conditions; changes in government regulations; changes in
accounting principles; the quality or composition of the loan and investment
portfolios; and the achievement of anticipated future earnings benefits from
recent acquisitions. In addition, the following factors, among others, could
cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other
expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: adverse governmental
or regulatory policies may be enacted; the risks associated with continued
diversification of assets and adverse changes to credit quality; and
difficulties associated with achieving expected future financial results.
Additionally, other risks and uncertainties may be described in the Company's
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, and
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 website (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 and undue reliance should
not be placed on such statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update
any forward-looking statements.

Statements made in the presentation may also contain certain forward-looking
statements about the merger of Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Factory Point
Bancorp. These statements include anticipated future operating results. Certain
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected
results include delays, difficulties in achieving cost savings from the merger
or in achieving such cost savings within the expected time frame, difficulties
in integrating Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Factory Point, increased competitive
pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, changes in general economic
conditions, legislative and regulatory changes that adversely affect the
business in which Berkshire Hills Bancorp is engaged, changes in the securities
markets and other risks and uncertainties disclosed from time to time in
documents that Berkshire Hills Bancorp files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

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CONTACTS
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Kevin P. Riley,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
413-236-3195

David H. Gonci
Corporate Finance Officer
413-281-1973