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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): April 4, 2003
WESTBANK CORPORATION
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Massachusetts 0-12784 04-2830731
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State of Incorporation Commission File Number IRS Employer ID Number
225 Park Avenue, West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089
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Address of Principal Executive Offices
(413) 747-1400
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Registrant's Telephone Number
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ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANTS
A. Previous Independent Accountants
(i) Effective April 4, 2003, Westbank Corporation (the "Corporation")
dismissed Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte") as the principal
accountants to audit the Corporation's financial statements.
(ii) The reports of Deloitte on the financial statements of the
Corporation for each of the past two fiscal years contained no
adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or
modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
(iii) The decision to dismiss Deloitte was recommended by the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation ("Audit
Committee") and the Audit Committee's recommendation was approved
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
(iv) During the Corporation's two most recent fiscal years and during
the period from the end of the most recently completed fiscal year
through April 4, 2003, the Corporation has had no disagreements
with Deloitte on any matter of accounting principles or practices,
financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure,
which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of
Deloitte, would have caused it to make reference to the subject
matter thereof in its report on the financial statements of the
Corporation for such periods.
(v) During the Corporation's two most recent fiscal years and during
the period from the end of the most recently completed fiscal year
through April 4, 2003, the Corporation has had no reportable
events (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
The Corporation has requested that Deloitte furnish it with a letter
addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not
it agrees with the statements made above and, if not, stating the respects
in which it does not agree. A copy of such letter, dated April 4, 2003, is
filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Form 8-K.
B. Engagement of New Accountants
(i) Effective April 4, 2003, the Corporation engaged Grant Thornton
LLP ("Grant") as its new independent public accountants to audit
the Corporation's financial statements for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2003.
(ii) Prior to the engagement of Grant, the Corporation (or someone on
behalf of the Corporation) did not consult Grant during its two
most recent fiscal years or during the period from the end of the
most recently completed fiscal year through April 4, 2003
regarding (a) either the application of accounting principles to a
specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Corporation's
financial statements, and no written report was provided to the
Corporation nor was oral advice provided that Grant concluded was
an important factor considered by the Corporation in reaching a
decision as to an accounting, auditing or financial reporting
issue, or (b) any matter that was the subject of either a
disagreement (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K)
or a reportable event (as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-k).
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
C. The following exhibit is being filed with this Form 8-K:
16.1 Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP dated April 4, 2003.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Westbank Corporation
By /s/ John M. Lilly
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John M. Lilly
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Date: April 4, 2003
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Description
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16.1 Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP dated April 4, 2003.