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 Annual Report of Berkshire Hills Bancorp,  Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-K for the period  ending  December 31, 2002, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Report"), I, Michael P. Daly, 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.   To my  knowledge,  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/ Michael P. Daly
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Michael P. Daly
                                         Chief Executive Officer
                                         March 17, 2003






                            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 Annual Report of Berkshire Hills Bancorp,  Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-K for the period  ending  December 31, 2002, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Report"),  I, Wayne F. Patenaude,
Jr.,  Chief  Financial  Officer  of  the  Company,   certify,   pursuant  to  18
U.S.C.ss.1350,  as adopted pursuant toss.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.   To my  knowledge,  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/ Wayne F. Patenaude
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Wayne F. Patenaude
                                         Chief Financial Officer
                                         March 17, 2003