STATEMENT FURNISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
               SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

     The undersigned, Stephen W. Ensign, is the President and Chief Executive
Officer of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company").

     This statement is being furnished in connection with the filing by the
Company of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003 (the "Report").

     By execution of this statement, I certify that:

     A)  the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or
         78o(d)) and

     B)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
         the Company as of the dates and for the periods covered by the Report.

     This statement is authorized to be attached as an exhibit to the Report so
that this statement will accompany the Report at such time as the Report is
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. It is not intended that
this statement be deemed to be filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

May 13, 2003                            /s/ Stephen W. Ensign
- -----------------------                 ----------------------------------------
Dated                                   Stephen W. Ensign,
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer



               STATEMENT FURNISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
               SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

     The undersigned, Stephen R. Theroux, is the Executive Vice President, Chief
Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of New Hampshire Thrift
Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company").

     This statement is being furnished in connection with the filing by the
Company of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2003 (the "Report").

     By execution of this statement, I certify that:

     C)  the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or
         78o(d)) and

     D)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
         the Company as of the dates and for the periods covered by the Report.

     This statement is authorized to be attached as an exhibit to the Report so
that this statement will accompany the Report at such time as the Report is
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. It is not intended that
this statement be deemed to be filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

May 13, 2003                   /s/ Stephen R. Theroux
- ---------------------          -------------------------------------------------
Dated                          Stephen R. Theroux
                               Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
                               and Chief Financial Officer