[Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. Logo]


                BERKSHIRE HILLS REAFFIRMS 2008 EPS GROWTH TARGET

PITTSFIELD, MA - May 2, 2008 - Berkshire Hills Bancorp (BHLB) conducted a
conference call on April 30, 2008 to discuss highlights of the Company's first
quarter financial results, along with guidance about expected results in the
second quarter and for the year 2008. President and Chief Executive Officer
Michael P. Daly and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kevin
P. Riley participated in the call.

Berkshire reaffirmed that it expects record earnings per share of $2.16 in 2008,
which represents a 50% increase over 2007 results of $1.44 per share. Earnings
are expected to benefit from revenue growth exceeding 20%, reflecting the
contributions of organic growth and recent acquisitions; 2007 revenues were also
net of balance sheet restructuring charges. Earnings growth in 2008 is also
expected to result from improved efficiencies, with the efficiency ratio
improving to 61% or below, from around 63% in 2007.

In its first quarter 2008 earnings release, Berkshire reported that first
quarter earnings were up 22% to a record $6.0 million. The Company also reported
that EPS increased by $0.02 (4%) compared to the prior year first quarter.
Management reported that first quarter results were in line with its previous
expectations and that record first quarter EPS sets the pace for anticipated
record earnings for the entire year. First quarter results generated positive
operating leverage as a result of revenue growth and expense control. Mr. Daly
also discussed the 7% dividend increase that was announced in the news release.
Management reported that asset quality remains sound, and responded to questions
about the Company's loan portfolio.

Additional information about first quarter 2008 results and guidance for 2008 is
available from the replay of the conference call. Some of the information
discussed above is also available in the Company's earnings release dated April
29, 2008, which is also available at the Company's website. A telephone replay
of the conference call is available until May 6, 2008 by calling 877-344-7529
and entering replay passcode: 417887. The webcast will be available at
Berkshire's website above for an extended period of time. Berkshire also has a
podcast available from its website for those interested in downloading the
conference call onto individual listening devices or computers.





BACKGROUND
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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. Through its
subsidiaries, 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.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
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Statements in this news release regarding Berkshire Hills Bancorp that are not
historical facts are "forward-looking statements". These statements, which
reflect management's views of future events, involve risks and uncertainties.
For a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from expectations, see "Forward Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the
Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,
which are available at the Securities and Exchange Commission's internet website
(www.sec.gov) and to which reference is hereby made. Actual future results may
differ significantly from results discussed in these forward-looking statements
and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Except as required
by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements.


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