Exhibit 99.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002




     In connection with the Quarterly  Report of Berkshire  Hills Bancorp,  Inc.
(the  "Company")  on Form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2002 as filed with
the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the  "Report"),  I,
James A.  Cunningham,  Jr.,  Chief  Executive  Officer of the Company,  certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C.ss.  1350, as adopted  pursuant to ss. 906 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     1.   The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     2.   The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Company as of and for the period covered by the Report.





                                                 /s/ James A. Cunningham, Jr.
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     James A. Cunningham, Jr.
                                                     Chief Executive Officer
                                                     August 13, 2002