content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001892926</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0001108134</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-15781</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>60 STATE STREET</com:street1>
          <com:street2>38TH FLOOR</com:street2>
          <com:city>BOSTON</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02109</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>617-641-9206</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Tulchiner Ellen</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>CommonWealth Financial Network </name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>29 Sawyer Rd</com:street1>
            <com:city>Waltham </com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02453</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>1052</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>31400.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>42975514</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>02/11/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/07/2025</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award </natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Company </nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1052</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/07/2025</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation </natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>02/11/2025</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Audrey Skillern as a duly authorized representative of National Financial Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Ellen Tulchiner </signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
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text: 144
  0001892926
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001108134
  BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC
  001-15781
  60 STATE STREET
  38TH FLOOR
  BOSTON
  MA
  02109
  617-641-9206
  Tulchiner Ellen
  Officer
  Common Stock
  CommonWealth Financial Network
  29 Sawyer Rd
  Waltham
  MA
  02453
  1052
  31400.00
  42975514
  02/11/2025
  NYSE
  Common
  02/07/2025
  Stock Award
  Company
  N
  1052
  02/07/2025
  Compensation
  Y
  02/11/2025
  /s/ Audrey Skillern as a duly authorized representative of National Financial Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Ellen Tulchiner