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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K/A
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 22, 2005 (June 16, 2005)
WESTBANK CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts 0-12784 04-2830731
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
225 Park Avenue, West Springfield, Massachusetts 01089
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (413) 747-1400
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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ITEM 4.01 CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.
Effective June 16, 2005, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of
Westbank Corporation (the "Registrant") dismissed the Registrant's independent
accountant, Grant Thornton LLP ("Grant Thornton").
During the Registrant's two most recent fiscal years preceding the date of
dismissal, Grant Thornton's report on the financial statements of the Registrant
for either of the past two years did not contain an adverse opinion or a
disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit
scope, or accounting principles.
During the Registrant's two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent interim
period preceding the date of dismissal, there were no disagreements with Grant
Thornton on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure, or auditing scope of procedure, which disagreements, if
not resolved to Grant Thornton's satisfaction, would have caused it to make
reference in connection with its report to the subject matter of the
disagreement. The Registrant has provided Grant Thornton with a copy of this
Current Report on Form 8-K, and has requested that Grant Thornton furnish the
Registrant with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission
stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the Registrant. Such
letter is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this report.
On June 16, 2005, the Audit Committee of the Registrant recommended, approved
and appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Registrant's successor independent
accountant to audit the Registrant's financial statements for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2005. Effective as of that date, the Audit Committee
formally engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Registrant's independent
accountant for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005.
The Registrant has not consulted the newly engaged accountant regarding either
the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction either
completed or proposed, the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the
Registrant's financial statements or any matter that was either the subject of a
disagreement or a reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation
S-K.
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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16.1 Letter re change in certifying accountant
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: June 22, 2005 WESTBANK CORPORATION
By: /s/ John M. Lily
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John M. Lilly
Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer