EXHIBIT 99

                            BNH BANCSHARES, INC.

                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                            April 23, 1996

                            NASDAQ SYMBOL - BNHB

                            CONTACT:
                            JOHN F. TRENTACOSTA
                            Executive Vice President &
                            Chief Financial Officer


              BNH BANCSHARES, INC. OBTAINS SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL
                          FOR REVERSE STOCK SPLIT

     BNH Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company" or "BNH"), a bank holding company
and the parent company of The Bank of New Haven, obtained shareholder
approval at today's Annual Meeting to effect a one-for-four reverse stock
split with respect to BNH's common stock.  As a result of the proposed
stock split, each four shares of the Company's issued common stock will
automatically convert into one share of the Company's common stock.

     The reverse split is anticipated to become effective at the close of
business on May 1, 1996, and BNH's common stock is expected to begin
trading on a basis reflecting the reverse split at the opening of business
on May 2, 1996.

     F. Patrick McFadden, Jr., the Company's President and CEO, stated "We
believe that the reverse split will result in a higher per share market
price which should serve to qualify the stock for investment by a larger
number of institutional investors, support margin trading and result in a
broader trading market for the stock."

     Apart from the purchase of a relatively small number of resulting
fractional shares at their market price, the reverse stock split will not
affect the Company's capitalization or the relative percentage ownership of
the outstanding common stock among shareholders.

     As of March 31, 1996, BNH had total assets of approximately $297
million.  The Bank of New Haven has branch offices throughout the greater
New Haven area, including its main office and corporate headquarters at 209
Church Street, New Haven, Connecticut.