Exhibit 99.1

                                                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                            CONTACT ALICE BABCOCK, 572-6150
                                                           FOR MORE DETAILS


         WESTFIELD FINANCIAL ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT CHANGES


Westfield, MA (May 25, 2005): At a meeting of the Board of Directors of
Westfield Financial Inc. held last night, the Board acknowledged that
Victor J Carra, Executive Vice President will retire from the company as of
June 30, 2005. Mr. Carra has been with the Bank since 1975 and in his
current position since 1998. Mr. Carra will continue on as a member of the
Board of Directors.

The Board also voted to elevate Donald A Williams to Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer. James C. Hagan was promoted to the role of
President and Chief Operating Officer. Westfield Financial serves as the
bank holding company for Westfield Bank. Mr. Hagan will be the 17th
President to serve the Bank over the course of its 152 year history.  The
executive management changes are effective as of 7/1/05

Mr. Williams has served as President of Westfield Bank since 1983 and CEO
since 1987. In his new role he will continue to be an active member of the
management team as Chief Executive Officer.

In 1994, James C. Hagan joined Westfield Bank as one of their first full
time commercial loan officers. Prior to that, Mr. Hagan worked in a similar
capacity for Bank of New England (now Bank of America) and SIS (now TD
Banknorth).

In his previous position as Senior Vice President, Mr. Hagan was
responsible for Commercial and Residential Lending for the Bank. In
addition to maintaining his own portfolio of customers he managed a staff
of sixteen.





As President, he will now be responsible for all aspects of the Bank
including the lending group, branches, operations, information technology,
accounting and facilities.

Mr. Hagan is an active member of the Greater Westfield Community, currently
serving as Vice-Chairman of Noble Health Systems, Inc. and member of the
Board of Trustees of Westfield State College.  During his tenure as a
Trustee of the college Mr. Hagan served as Chairman of the Board of
Trustees from 1991-2001 and chaired the Access to Excellence capital
campaign. Mr. Hagan was recently named a Director of Stanley Park of
Westfield. He is one of the first non-family members to serve on the
Stanley Park Board.  Mr. Hagan also serves as a corporator for the
Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield YMCA and is a Director of the Trustees of
Westfield Academy.

Jim also serves as a coach in the Westfield Park and Rec. soccer program.

Mr. Hagan received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from
Westfield State College and earned his MBA from American International
College.

Mr. Hagan resides in Westfield with his wife Kristin and two children.