EXHIBIT 99.1






                      For Immediate Release
                For Further Information, Contact:
         Brian Arsenault, SVP, Corporate Communications
                          207 761-8517

           Banknorth Receives All Regulatory Approvals
                To Acquire Andover and MetroWest
                Transactions to Close October 31


Portland, Maine, October 26, 2001 - Banknorth Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ: BKNG), announced today that it has received all
regulatory approval to complete the acquisitions of Andover
Bancorp, Inc. ("Andover") (NASDAQ: ANDB) for approximately $333
million in stock, and MetroWest Bank ("MetroWest") (NASDAQ: MWBX)
for approximately $166 million in cash.  The acquisitions will be
finalized on October 31, 2001 and will increase the Company's
total assets from just over $18 billion to approximately $21
billion.  The Company's Massachusetts banking franchise, First
Massachusetts Bank N.A. will increase to 114 branches and nearly
$9 billion in assets.

The operational conversion of the two acquisitions will occur
during the first quarter of 2002. After January 1, 2002, the
Company's Massachusetts banking franchise will operate as
Banknorth Massachusetts.

"As I said when we announced these two exciting acquisitions in
June, they are both a natural extension of our Massachusetts
banking franchise and significantly enhance our presence in the
economically vibrant communities of Greater Boston," said William
J. Ryan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Banknorth Group.  "Both Andover and MetroWest customers will
benefit from having greater convenience through our extensive
network of branches and ATMs and will enjoy a broader selection
of products and services."

Under the terms of the agreement to acquire Andover, shareholders
will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 2.27 shares of Banknorth
common stock for each share of Andover they hold plus cash in
lieu of any fractional share interest.  Based on Banknorth's
closing price on October 25, 2001 of $21.46 per share, this would
equal $48.71 per share. The exchange of shares will be tax free
except for cash per share in lieu of fraction share interests.

The MetroWest agreement calls for shareholders of MetroWest to
receive $11.50 in cash for each share they hold.



At September 30, 2001, Andover had total assets of $1.8 billion,
deposits of $1.3 billion and shareholders' equity of $163
million, and serviced its customer base from 15 branch locations
covering Essex and Middlesex counties in Massachusetts and
Rockingham County in New Hampshire.  At the same date, MetroWest
had total assets of $956 million, deposits of $737 million and
shareholders' equity of $63 million, and served Middlesex,
Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcester counties in Massachusetts through
19 branch locations.

The addition of Andover and MetroWest to Banknorth's
Massachusetts franchise will move Banknorth into the No. 5 market
share position in the Boston metropolitan statistical area, the
fourth most populous MSA in the country.  In addition, the
acquisitions will give Banknorth the No. 2 deposit market share
in Essex County (currently No. 7), with an average household
income of $67,906, and the No. 7 deposit market share in
Middlesex County (currently No. 19), with an average household
income of $82,492, as well as enhance Banknorth's existing No. 3
market share position in Worcester County, with an average
household income of $58,198.

"We gain significant market share in important Massachusetts
markets," said Mr. Ryan. "We are becoming an important force in
banking and financial services in Massachusetts, which
complements our strong market positions in Maine, New Hampshire
and Vermont."

Banknorth Group, Inc., headquartered in Portland, Maine, is the
country's 34th largest commercial banking company with total
assets of $18.2 billion at September 30, 2001.  The Company
operates banking subsidiaries in Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, and Connecticut.

The Company also operates a variety of insurance agencies in New
England as subsidiaries of Banknorth Insurance Group; a money
management firm, Banknorth Investment Management Group, NA, an
investment subsidiary, Bancnorth Investment Planning Group, and a
leasing company, Banknorth Leasing. Other subsidiaries and
divisions provide services in mortgage banking, asset based
lending, private banking, merchant services and other financial
services.

Andover Bancorp Inc. is a $1.8 billion bank holding company
headquartered in Andover Massachusetts, approximately 25 miles
north of Boston.  Andover Bancorp is the parent company of
Andover Bank and Gloucester Bank and Trust Company, which serve
consumer and business customers in northern Massachusetts and
southern New Hampshire. Andover Bank operates banking offices in
Andover, Lawrence, Methuen, North Andover and Tewksbury,
Massachusetts and in Derry, Londonderry and Salem, New Hampshire.
Gloucester Bank and Trust operates banking offices in Gloucester,
Massachusetts.

MetroWest Bank is a state chartered financial institution
headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts with assets of nearly
$1 billion.  The former Framingham Savings Bank was renamed
MetroWest Bank in 1996 to reflect its geographic presence in the
western area of metropolitan Boston and to signify its transition
to commercial banking.  MetroWest has branches in Middlesex,
Worcester and Norfolk counties in Massachusetts.

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