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                                                                      Exhibit 21

                    Subsidiaries of Benjamin Franklin Bancorp

The following are the subsidiaries of Benjamin Franklin Bancorp:



      NAME OF SUBSIDIARY                          JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION
- ---------------------------------------           -----------------------------
                                               
Benjamin Franklin Bank                            Massachusetts
Benjamin Franklin Bank Capital Trust I            Delaware


The following is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Benjamin Franklin Bank:



            NAME OF SUBSIDIARY                    JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION
- ---------------------------------------           -----------------------------
                                               
Benjamin Franklin Securities Corp.                Massachusetts