Exhibit 32.1


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


The undersigned, Richard P. Chapman, Jr., is the President and Chief
Executive Officer of Brookline Bancorp, 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 September
30, 2008 (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.




November 3, 2008                                /s/ Richard P. Chapman, Jr.
- ----------------                                ----------------------------
       Date                                     Richard P. Chapman, Jr.