Press Release


                             *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*


    NEW ENGLAND BANCSHARES ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF THE ACQUISITION OF THE
                       APPLE VALLEY BANK & TRUST COMPANY

         Enfield, Connecticut, June 8, 2009 -- New England Bancshares, Inc.
(Nasdaq GM: NEBS) (the "Company"), the holding company for New England Bank,
announced today the completion of the merger of The Apple Valley Bank & Trust
Company with and into New England Bank. New England Bank is the Company's wholly
owned banking subsidiary which resulted from the merger of the Company's two
banking subsidiaries, Enfield Federal Savings and Loan Association and Valley
Bank, effective May 1, 2009. With the addition of the branch offices of The
Apple Valley Bank & Trust Company, New England Bank has 15 branches serving the
communities of Enfield, Bristol, Ellington, Manchester, Southington, Suffield,
Terryville, East Windsor and Windsor Locks, Connecticut. [Eight] of New England
Bank's branches operate under the name Enfield Savings Bank, [four] branches
operate under the name Valley Bank, and [three] branches will operate under the
name Apple Valley Bank.

         "New England Bancshares' acquisition of The Apple Valley Bank & Trust
Company is the combination of two financial institutions with deep commitments
to their customers and the communities they serve," said David J. O'Connor,
President and CEO of New England Bancshares. "The addition of The Apple Valley
Bank & Trust Company will enhance and expand our presence in New Haven County
and southern Hartford County and is consistent with our disciplined approach to
growth."

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein are "forward looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward looking statements may be
identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward
looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "estimate,"
"anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the
negative of those terms. Forward looking statements are subject to numerous
risks, as described in our SEC filings, and uncertainties, including, but not
limited to, those related to the real estate and economic environment,
competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S.
Government, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions,
including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing
interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit
risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities
markets and the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity.

New England Bancshares wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on
any such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. New



England Bancshares wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above could
affect New England Bancshares' financial performance and could cause New England
Bancshares' actual results for future periods to differ materially from any
opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current
statements. New England Bancshares does not undertake and specifically declines
any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions, which may be
made to any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after
the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or
unanticipated events.


For further information contact:

David J. O'Connor
President and Chief Executive Officer
New England Bancshares, Inc.
(860) 253-5200