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<TITLE>BLHB 8-K 02/20/09</TITLE>
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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): February 20, 2009</B>



<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP,
INC.<BR>
</B><FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter) </FONT>
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cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>0-51584</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>04-3510455</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
 </TR>

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cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

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  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>24 North Street, Pittsfield,
Massachusetts<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>01201</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
 </TR>

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number,
including area code: <B>(413) 443-5601</B>
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cellpadding="0" width="30%" border="0">

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  <TD width="100%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
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  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>Not
Applicable<BR>
</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">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:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>



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<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">1
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="justify"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01. </B><U><B>Other
Events</B></U><B>.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="justify">On
February&nbsp;20, 2009, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the
&#8220;Company&#8221;), the holding company of Berkshire Bank, issued a press
release announcing the launch of the Company&#8217;s Community Investment
Program on March&nbsp;16, 2009. The press release is attached as
Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this report.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="justify">This information,
including the press release filed as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1, shall not be deemed to
be &#8220;filed&#8221; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="justify"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01
</B><U><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits</B></U>


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<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Financial Statements of businesses acquired.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 8pt">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
</TR>

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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pro forma financial information.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 8pt">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 8pt">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Shell Company Transactions.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 8pt">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Exhibits.</TD>
</TR>

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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR> <TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The following Exhibit is attached as part of this report:</TD>
</TR>

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<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">99.1</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Press release of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. dated February&nbsp;20, 2009.</TD>
</TR>

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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="justify">SIGNATURES

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%" align="justify">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.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%" align="justify"><B>Berkshire Hills
Bancorp, Inc.</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="justify">DATE: February&nbsp;23, 2009

<P style="margin-top: -11pt; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 46%"
align="justify">By:
<U>/s/ Kevin P. Riley&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
<BR>
Kevin P. Riley, <BR>
Executive Vice President and Chief <BR>
Financial
Officer

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<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">3
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<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt">EXHIBIT INDEX
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    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="89%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press release of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp, Inc. dated February&nbsp;20, 2009.</TD>
</TR>
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC", "cik": "0001108134", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "043510455", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-51584", "film-number": "09628322"}, "business-address": {"street1": "24 NORTH ST.", "city": "PITTSFIELD", "state": "MA", "zip": "01201", "phone": "4134435601"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "24 NORTH ST", "city": "PITTSFIELD", "state": "MA", "zip": "01201"}}
BLHB 8-K 02/20/09
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): February 20, 2009
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP,
INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Delaware
0-51584
04-3510455
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
24 North Street, Pittsfield,
Massachusetts
01201
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:
(413) 443-5601
Not
Applicable
(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:
o
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01.
Other
Events
.
On
February 20, 2009, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the
"Company"), the holding company of Berkshire Bank, issued a press
release announcing the launch of the Company's Community Investment
Program on March 16, 2009. The press release is attached as
Exhibit 99.1 to this report.
This information,
including the press release filed as Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to
be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a)
Financial Statements of businesses acquired.
Not Applicable.
(b)
Pro forma financial information.
Not Applicable.
(c)
Shell Company Transactions.
Not Applicable.
(d)
Exhibits.
The following Exhibit is attached as part of this report:
99.1
Press release of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. dated February 20, 2009.
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.
Berkshire Hills
Bancorp, Inc.
DATE: February 23, 2009
By:
/s/ Kevin P. Riley
Kevin P. Riley,
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial
Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release of Berkshire Hills
Bancorp, Inc. dated February 20, 2009.