content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
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      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001779301</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>Adofo-Wilson Baye</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Commonwealth Financial Network</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>29 Sawyer Road</com:street1>
            <com:city>Waltham</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02453</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>10074</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>215000.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>43624434</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>03/07/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/02/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Company</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>986</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/02/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/04/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Company</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2115</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/04/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/03/2023</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Company</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>3826</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/03/2023</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Company</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2141</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>02/07/2024</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Company</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1006</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>02/07/2024</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>03/07/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Audrey Skillern as a duly authorized representative of National Financial Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Baye Adofo-Wilson</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
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text: 144
  0001779301
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001108134
  BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC
  001-15781
  60 STATE STREET
  38TH FLOOR
  BOSTON
  MA
  02109
  617-641-9206
  Adofo-Wilson Baye
  Director
  Common
  Commonwealth Financial Network
  29 Sawyer Road
  Waltham
  MA
  02453
  10074
  215000.00
  43624434
  03/07/2024
  NYSE
  Common
  02/02/2021
  Stock Award
  Company
  N
  986
  02/02/2021
  Compensation
  Common
  02/04/2022
  Stock Award
  Company
  N
  2115
  02/04/2022
  Compensation
  Common
  02/03/2023
  Stock Award
  Company
  N
  3826
  02/03/2023
  Compensation
  Common
  02/07/2024
  Stock Award
  Company
  N
  2141
  02/07/2024
  Compensation
  Common
  02/07/2024
  Stock Award
  Company
  N
  1006
  02/07/2024
  Compensation
  Y
  03/07/2024
  /s/ Audrey Skillern as a duly authorized representative of National Financial Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Baye Adofo-Wilson