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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        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0002006433</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
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      <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>VM GP VII LLC</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate of Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>200 West Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>New York</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>10282</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>2756</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>67770.04</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>43670239</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>01/29/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Piper Sandler &amp; Co.</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>800 Nicollet Mall</com:street1>
            <com:city>Minneapolis</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>MN</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>55402</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>19947</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>490496.73</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>43670239</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>01/29/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Interactive Brokers LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>Two Pickwick Plaza</com:street1>
            <com:city>Greenwich</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>CT</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>06830</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>319151</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>7847923.09</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>43670239</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>01/29/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods, Inc.</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>787 Seventh Avenue</com:street1>
            <com:city>New York</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>10019</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>59841</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>1471490.19</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>43670239</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>01/29/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>08/24/2020</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchases</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>N/A</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>398798</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>08/24/2020</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>01/30/2022</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>equity grant</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2897</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>01/30/2022</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>Michael Zaitzeff is a managing member of VM GP VII LLC (VM GP VII), which serves as the general partner of HOF III Liquidating Partnership L.P. (HOF III Fund). VM GP VII is proposing to sell 398,939 shares and HOF III Fund is proposing to sell 2,756 shares. Mr. Zaitzeff is a director of the Issuer. The aggregate market value is as of the close of business on 01/26/2024. The number of securities outstanding is as of 11/07/2023. The approximate date of sale is 01/29/2024 through 04/28/2024. 398,798 of the shares proposed to be sold were acquired between 08/24/2020 and 02/05/2021. 2,897 of the shares proposed to be sold were acquired on 01/30/2022 and 01/30/2023.</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>01/29/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Michael Zaitzeff</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
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text: 144
  0002006433
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001108134
  BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC
  001-15781
  60 STATE STREET
  38TH FLOOR
  BOSTON
  MA
  02109
  617-641-9206
  VM GP VII LLC
  Affiliate of Director
  Common Stock
  Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
  200 West Street
  New York
  NY
  10282
  2756
  67770.04
  43670239
  01/29/2024
  NYSE
  Common Stock
  Piper Sandler & Co.
  800 Nicollet Mall
  Minneapolis
  MN
  55402
  19947
  490496.73
  43670239
  01/29/2024
  NYSE
  Common Stock
  Interactive Brokers LLC
  Two Pickwick Plaza
  Greenwich
  CT
  06830
  319151
  7847923.09
  43670239
  01/29/2024
  NYSE
  Common Stock
  Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
  787 Seventh Avenue
  New York
  NY
  10019
  59841
  1471490.19
  43670239
  01/29/2024
  NYSE
  Common Stock
  08/24/2020
  Open Market Purchases
  N/A
  N
  398798
  08/24/2020
  Cash
  Common Stock
  01/30/2022
  equity grant
  Issuer
  N
  2897
  01/30/2022
  N/A
  Y
  Michael Zaitzeff is a managing member of VM GP VII LLC (VM GP VII), which serves as the general partner of HOF III Liquidating Partnership L.P. (HOF III Fund). VM GP VII is proposing to sell 398,939 shares and HOF III Fund is proposing to sell 2,756 shares. Mr. Zaitzeff is a director of the Issuer. The aggregate market value is as of the close of business on 01/26/2024. The number of securities outstanding is as of 11/07/2023. The approximate date of sale is 01/29/2024 through 04/28/2024. 398,798 of the shares proposed to be sold were acquired between 08/24/2020 and 02/05/2021. 2,897 of the shares proposed to be sold were acquired on 01/30/2022 and 01/30/2023.
  01/29/2024
  /s/ Michael Zaitzeff