EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                    BERKSHIRE BANK NAMES VETERAN AREA BANKER
              TO LEAD PIONEER VALLEY REGION; THOMAS R. CREED NAMED
              SVP, REGIONAL COMMERCIAL LENDING EXECUTIVE AND LEADER


WESTFIELD, MA. - April 10, 2008 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (BHLB), the
holding company for Berkshire Bank and Michael J. Oleksak, Executive Vice
President today announced that Thomas R. Creed has been named to the position of
Senior Vice President, Regional Commercial Executive and Leader for its Pioneer
Valley, Massachusetts region. Mr. Creed will assume these responsibilities from
Mr. Oleksak, who was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2007.

Mr. Creed will be responsible for leading the commercial lending and banking
operations in the region. Mr. Oleksak who has been the acting Pioneer Valley
Regional leader, in addition to his responsibilities at the corporate level,
will transition the Pioneer Valley leadership role to Creed. "The Pioneer Valley
remains an integral part of the Berkshire Bank family and I am very pleased that
Tom will become our regional leader here as well as a key member of our senior
management team", stated Oleksak.

Prior to joining Berkshire Bank, Mr. Creed had more than two decades of banking
and business experience in our markets. He most recently served as Senior Vice
President, Regional Executive for Sovereign Bank. There he was responsible for
managing the business and corporate groups in Western Massachusetts and all of
Connecticut, and served as the Bank's regional leader in the Greater Springfield
area. Mr. Creed has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont. He
is very active in civic and non-profit organizations throughout the Greater
Springfield area serving on numerous boards and committees including those of
the Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation, Affiliated Chambers of Greater
Springfield, Kiwanis Club of Springfield, Springfield YMCA, Springfield Symphony
Orchestra, Service League Foundation of Springfield, Regional Employment Board
GTR Springfield, and the Holyoke Redevelopment Authority.

Mr. Creed will be located at Berkshire's Pioneer Valley Regional Headquarters at
31 Court Street, Westfield, Massachusetts. Berkshire operates ten bank branches
and five insurance offices in its Pioneer Valley region. Mr. Creed will head a
team of exciting commercial lenders, who currently serve this market, which
includes Greater Springfield and the Connecticut River Valley.

Michael Oleksak commented, "Tom Creed is a well-respected, seasoned banker.
Adding such a high-caliber individual to our senior management team is a natural
progression in our growth and commitment as a top-tier, regional financial
services company with local decision-making. We are very optimistic about the
region and are excited that Tom will lead our efforts there. We are committed to
growing our franchise and demonstrating our commitment in the Pioneer Valley,
Northern Connecticut and the surrounding areas. Tom is supervising a great group
of commercial and residential lenders and their staffs, and branch personnel.
Under his leadership, we intend to continue to be an important and reliable
member of the communities and provide local management and commercial lending
decisions."

Berkshire Bank President and CEO, Michael P. Daly added, "We have seen strong
growth in our Pioneer Valley portfolio since we acquired Woronoco Savings in
2005. Mike Oleksak is now providing direction for all of our commercial banking
activities throughout our three state franchise. As the only locally headquarted
regional bank, we are well positioned to serve the Pioneer Valley, and we are
pleased that Tom Creed is joining us as the new leader for this region. Despite
all of the financial news coming from Wall Street, it is business as usual here
in our local communities. We continue to be optimistic and are proud to
participate in our region's growth."

Berkshire Hills Bancorp is a regional financial services company with assets of
approximately $2.5 billion. Headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, it is
the parent of Berkshire Bank - AMERICA'S MOST EXCITING BANKSM. Berkshire
provides business and consumer banking, insurance, and wealth management
services through 48 banking and insurance offices in Western Massachusetts,
Northeastern New York, and Southern Vermont. For more information, visit
www.berkshirebank.com or call 800-773-5601.
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Media Contact:  Elizabeth A. Mach
                AVP/Marketing Officer
                (413) 445-8390
                emach@berkshirebank.com