BBT 10-Q Quarterly Report March 31, 2015 | Alphaminr
BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC

BBT 10-Q Quarter ended March 31, 2015

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC
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10-Q 1 a15-7878_110q.htm 10-Q

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2015

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                    to

Commission File Number: 001-15781

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

04-3510455

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. 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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one)

Large Accelerated Filer o Accelerated Filer x Non-Accelerated Filer o Smaller Reporting Company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes o No x

The Registrant had 29,517,572 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of May 6, 2015.



Table of Contents

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

Page

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014

4

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

5

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

6

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

7

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2014

8

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1

Basis of Presentation

10

Note 2

Trading Security

12

Note 3

Securities Available for Sale and Held to Maturity

13

Note 4

Loans

17

Note 5

Loan Loss Allowance

28

Note 6

Deposits

32

Note 7

Borrowed Funds

32

Note 8

Stockholders’ Equity

33

Note 9

Earnings per Share

36

Note 10

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

36

Note 11

Operating Segments

37

Note 12

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

37

Note 13

Fair Value Measurements

43

Note 14

Net Interest Income after Provision for Loan Losses

51

Note 15

Subsequent Events

51

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

52

Selected Financial Data

56

Average Balances and Average Yields/Rates

57

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

58

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

68

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

69

2




Table of Contents

PART I

ITEM 1.  CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

March 31,

December 31,

(In thousands, except share data)

2015

2014

Assets

Cash and due from banks

$

43,089

$

54,179

Short-term investments

19,125

17,575

Total cash and cash equivalents

62,214

71,754

Trading security

14,970

14,909

Securities available for sale, at fair value

1,099,656

1,091,818

Securities held to maturity (fair values of $44,744 and $44,997)

42,818

43,347

Federal Home Loan Bank stock and other restricted securities

58,734

55,720

Total securities

1,216,178

1,205,794

Loans held for sale, at fair value

29,305

19,493

Residential mortgages

1,473,239

1,496,204

Commercial real estate

1,672,099

1,611,567

Commercial and industrial loans

826,815

804,366

Consumer loans

756,510

768,463

Total loans

4,728,663

4,680,600

Less: Allowance for loan losses

(36,286

)

(35,662

)

Net loans

4,692,377

4,644,938

Premises and equipment, net

85,053

87,279

Other real estate owned

1,444

2,049

Goodwill

264,742

264,742

Other intangible assets

10,627

11,528

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies

105,302

104,588

Deferred tax assets, net

26,828

28,776

Other assets

77,169

61,090

Total assets

$

6,571,239

$

6,502,031

Liabilities

Demand deposits

$

892,225

$

869,302

NOW deposits

436,458

426,108

Money market deposits

1,372,924

1,407,179

Savings deposits

512,607

496,344

Time deposits

1,505,469

1,455,746

Total deposits

4,719,683

4,654,679

Short-term debt

894,500

900,900

Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances

61,618

61,676

Subordinated borrowings

89,765

89,747

Total borrowings

1,045,883

1,052,323

Other liabilities

89,443

85,742

Total liabilities

5,855,009

5,792,744

Stockholders’ equity

Common stock ($.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized and 26,525,466 shares issued and 25,252,635 shares outstanding in 2015; 26,525,466 shares issued and 25,182,566 shares outstanding in 2014)

265

265

Additional paid-in capital

585,307

587,289

Unearned compensation

(7,226

)

(6,147

)

Retained earnings

160,241

156,446

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

9,068

6,579

Treasury stock, at cost (1,272,831 shares in 2015 and 1,342,900 shares in 2014)

(31,425

)

(33,145

)

Total stockholders’ equity

716,230

709,287

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

6,571,239

$

6,502,031

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4



Table of Contents

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended

March 31,

(In thousands, except per share data)

2015

2014

Interest and dividend income

Loans

$

44,445

$

42,494

Securities and other

8,306

7,301

Total interest and dividend income

52,751

49,795

Interest expense

Deposits

4,949

4,721

Borrowings

2,309

2,308

Total interest expense

7,258

7,029

Net interest income

45,493

42,766

Non-interest income

Loan related income

1,283

1,248

Mortgage banking income

1,253

372

Deposit related fees

5,677

5,439

Insurance commissions and fees

2,967

3,049

Wealth management fees

2,603

2,549

Total fee income

13,783

12,657

Other

(1,255

)

524

Gain on sale of securities, net

34

34

Loss on termination of hedges

(8,792

)

Total non-interest income

12,562

4,423

Total net revenue

58,055

47,189

Provision for loan losses

3,851

3,396

Non-interest expense

Compensation and benefits

21,811

19,859

Occupancy and equipment

7,108

6,814

Technology and communications

3,593

3,778

Marketing and promotion

713

521

Professional services

1,272

1,152

FDIC premiums and assessments

1,129

1,009

Other real estate owned and foreclosures

251

523

Amortization of intangible assets

901

1,306

Acquisition, restructuring and conversion related expenses

4,421

6,301

Other

3,949

4,097

Total non-interest expense

45,148

45,360

Income before income taxes

9,056

(1,567

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

297

(461

)

Net income (loss)

$

8,759

$

(1,106

)

Earnings per share:

Basic

$

0.35

$

(0.04

)

Diluted

$

0.35

$

(0.04

)

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic

24,803

24,698

Diluted

24,955

24,698

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5



Table of Contents

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Three Months Ended

March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Net income (loss)

$

8,759

$

(1,106

)

Other comprehensive income, before tax:

Changes in unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale

9,337

6,021

Changes in unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedges

(3,901

)

4,533

Changes in unrealized gain on terminated swaps

3,237

Changes in unrealized (loss) gain on pension

(1,531

)

Income taxes related to other comprehensive income:

Changes in unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale

(3,605

)

(2,221

)

Changes in unrealized (loss) gain on derivative hedges

1,572

(1,832

)

Changes in unrealized gain on terminated swaps

(1,312

)

Changes in unrealized (loss) gain on pension

617

Total other comprehensive income

2,489

8,426

Total comprehensive income

$

11,248

$

7,320

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6



Table of Contents

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Accumulated

Additional

other

Common stock

paid-in

Unearned

Retained

comprehensive

Treasury

(In thousands)

Shares

Amount

capital

compensation

earnings

(loss) income

stock

Total

Balance at December 31, 2013

25,036

$

265

$

587,247

$

(5,563

)

$

141,958

$

(9,057

)

$

(36,788

)

$

678,062

Comprehensive income:

Net loss

(1,106

)

(1,106

)

Other comprehensive income

8,426

8,426

Total comprehensive income

7,320

Cash dividends declared ($0.18 per share)

(4,561

)

(4,561

)

Treasury stock purchased

(100

)

(2,467

)

(2,467

)

Forfeited shares

(1

)

1

5

(6

)

Exercise of stock options

61

(793

)

1,512

719

Restricted stock grants

126

37

(3,144

)

3,107

Stock-based compensation

41

891

932

Net tax benefit related to stock-based compensation

(1,984

)

(1,984

)

Other, net

(17

)

(431

)

(431

)

Balance at March 31, 2014

25,105

$

265

$

585,342

$

(7,811

)

$

135,498

$

(631

)

$

(35,073

)

$

677,590

Balance at December 31, 2014

25,183

$

265

$

585,289

$

(6,147

)

$

156,446

$

6,579

$

(33,145

)

$

709,287

Comprehensive income:

Net income

8,759

8,759

Other comprehensive income

2,489

2,489

Total comprehensive income

11,248

Cash dividends declared ($0.19 per share)

(4,799

)

(4,799

)

Treasury stock purchased

Forfeited shares

(9

)

22

214

(236

)

Exercise of stock options

11

(165

)

281

116

Restricted stock grants

92

19

(2,286

)

2,267

Stock-based compensation

993

993

Net tax benefit related to stock-based compensation

(23

)

(23

)

Other, net

(24

)

(592

)

(592

)

Balance at March 31, 2015

25,253

$

265

$

585,307

$

(7,226

)

$

160,241

$

9,068

$

(31,425

)

$

716,230

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

7



Table of Contents

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Three Months Ended March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)

$

8,759

$

(1,106

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Provision for loan losses

3,851

3,396

Net amortization of securities

(317

)

604

Change in unamortized net loan costs and premiums

398

64

Premises and equipment depreciation and amortization expense

2,096

1,944

Stock-based compensation expense

993

932

Accretion of purchase accounting entries, net

(367

)

(1,999

)

Amortization of other intangibles

901

1,306

Write down of other real estate owned

125

Excess tax loss from stock-based payment arrangements

23

(89

)

Income from cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies

(714

)

(813

)

Gain on sales of securities, net

(34

)

(34

)

Net (increase) decrease in loans held for sale

(9,812

)

8,171

Loss on disposition of assets

1,136

834

Loss on sale of real estate

154

208

Loss on termination of hedges

3,237

Amortization of interest in tax-advantaged projects

2,882

421

Net change in other

(6,145

)

(183

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

3,804

17,018

Cash flows from investing activities:

Net decrease in trading security

142

135

Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale

4,693

3,171

Proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments of securities available for sale

40,552

25,440

Purchases of securities available for sale

(41,068

)

(291,662

)

Proceeds from maturities, calls and prepayments of securities held to maturity

729

1,762

Purchases of securities held to maturity

(200

)

Net change in loans

(68,671

)

(59,851

)

Purchases of bank owned life insurance

Proceeds from sale of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

103

78

Purchase of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

(3,117

)

(2,920

)

Net investment in limited partnership tax credits

(2,500

)

Proceeds from the sale of premises and equipment

Purchase of premises and equipment, net

(946

)

(3,130

)

Acquisitions, net of cash paid

423,416

Proceeds from sale of other real estate

578

483

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

(67,205

)

94,422

(continued)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

8



Table of Contents

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONCLUDED)

Three Months Ended March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net increase (decrease) in deposits

65,007

(70,422

)

Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings

2,200,000

900,018

Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings

(2,206,440

)

(937,682

)

Purchase of treasury stock

(2,467

)

Exercise of stock options

116

719

Excess tax loss from stock-based payment arrangements

(23

)

89

Common stock cash dividends paid

(4,799

)

(4,561

)

Net cash provided (used) by financing activities

53,861

(114,306

)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

(9,540

)

(2,866

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

71,754

75,539

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

62,214

$

72,673

Supplemental cash flow information:

Interest paid on deposits

$

4,902

$

4,718

Interest paid on borrowed funds

2,306

3,145

Income taxes paid, net

274

146

Acquisition of non-cash assets and liabilities:

Assets acquired

18,064

Liabilities assumed

(441,550

)

Other non-cash changes:

Other net comprehensive income

2,489

5,189

Real estate owned acquired in settlement of loans

127

476

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

9



Table of Contents

NOTE 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and contain all adjustments, consisting solely of normal, recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods.

In addition, these interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X, and accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared according to U.S. GAAP have been omitted.

The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and note disclosures for Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Reclassifications

Certain items in prior financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standard Board “FASB” issued Accounting Standard Updated “ASU” ASU No. 2014-01, “Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects.” ASU No. 2014-01 permits reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. Under the proportional amortization method, an entity amortizes the initial cost of the investment in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received and recognizes the net investment performance in the income statement as a component of income tax expense. This new guidance also requires new disclosures for all investors in these projects. ASU No. 2014-01 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Upon adoption, the guidance must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. However, entities that use the effective yield method to account for investments in these projects before adoption may continue to do so for these pre-existing investments. The Company has elected not to adopt the proportional amortization method, which had no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Also in January 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-04, “Reclassification of Residential Real Estate Collateralized Consumer Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure.” The objective of this guidance is to clarify when an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, that is, when a creditor should be considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan such that the loan receivable should be derecognized and the real estate property recognized. ASU No. 2014-04 states that an in substance repossession or foreclosure occurs, and a creditor is considered to have received physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan, upon either (1) the creditor obtaining legal title to the residential real estate property upon completion of a foreclosure or (2) the borrower conveying all interest in the residential real estate property to the creditor to satisfy that loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. Additionally, ASU No. 2014-04 requires interim and annual disclosure of both (1) the amount of foreclosed residential real estate property held by the creditor and (2) the recorded investment in consumer mortgage loans collateralized by residential real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure according to local requirements of the applicable jurisdiction. ASU No. 2014-04 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2014-04 effective January 1, 2015, which did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.  See Note 4 - Loans to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the disclosures required by ASU No. 2014-04.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-11 related to repurchase-to-maturity transactions, repurchase financing and disclosures. The pronouncement changes the accounting for repurchase-to-maturity transactions and linked repurchase financings to secured borrowing accounting, which is consistent with the accounting for other

10



Table of Contents

repurchase agreements. The pronouncement also requires two new disclosures. The first disclosure requires an entity to disclose information on transfers accounted for as sales in transactions that are economically similar to repurchase agreements. The second disclosure provides increased transparency about the types of collateral pledged in repurchase agreements and similar transactions accounted for as secured borrowings. The pronouncement is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is not permitted. As of March 31, 2015 the Company did not have any repurchase transactions, and therefore the adoption of this pronouncement did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-14 related to classification of certain government-guaranteed mortgage loans upon foreclosure. The objective of this guidance is to reduce diversity in practice related to how creditors classify government-guaranteed mortgage loans, including FHA or VA guaranteed loans, upon foreclosure. Some creditors reclassify those loans to real estate consistent with other foreclosed loans that do not have guarantees; others reclassify the loans to other receivables. The amendments in this guidance require that a mortgage loan be derecognized and that a separate other receivable be recognized upon foreclosure if the following conditions are met: (1) The loan has a government guarantee that is not separable from the loan before foreclosure; (2) At the time of foreclosure, the creditor has the intent to convey the real estate property to the guarantor and make a claim on the guarantee, and the creditor has the ability to recover under that claim; and (3) At the time of foreclosure, any amount of the claim that is determined on the basis of the fair value of the real estate is fixed. Upon foreclosure, the separate other receivable should be measured based on the amount of the loan balance (principal and interest) expected to be recovered from the guarantor. The pronouncement is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU No. 2014-14 effective January 1, 2015, which did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Future Application of Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09 related to the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The new revenue pronouncement creates a single source of revenue guidance for all companies in all industries and is more principles-based than current revenue guidance. The pronouncement provides a five-step model for a company to recognize revenue when it transfers control of goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which it expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The five steps are (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations and (5) recognize revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. The pronouncement is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2016 using either a full retrospective approach for all periods presented in the period of adoption or a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, “Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis.” This ASU affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. Specifically, the amendments: (1) Modify the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) or voting interest entities; (2) Eliminate the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership; (3) Affect the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships; and (4) Provide a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in legal entities that are required to comply with or operate in accordance with requirements that are similar to those in Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 for registered money market funds. ASU No. 2015-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is not permitted; however, the FASB has issued a proposal to extend the effective date by one year.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, “Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement.” This ASU provides guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a

11



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cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The new guidance does not change the accounting for a customer’s accounting for service contracts. ASU No. 2015-05 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2. TRADING SECURITY

The Company holds a tax advantaged economic development bond that is being accounted for at fair value. The security had an amortized cost of $12.4 million and $12.6 million, and a fair value of $15.0 million and $14.9 million, at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. As discussed further in Note 12 - Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, the Company has entered into a swap contract to swap-out the fixed rate of the security in exchange for a variable rate. The Company does not purchase securities with the intent of selling them in the near term, and there are no other securities in the trading portfolio at March 31, 2015.

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NOTE 3. SECURITIES AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND HELD TO MATURITY

The following is a summary of securities available for sale and held to maturity:

(In thousands)

Amortized Cost

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

Fair Value

March 31, 2015

Securities available for sale

Debt securities:

Municipal bonds and obligations

$

149,454

$

6,391

$

(395

)

$

155,450

Government-guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

64,456

696

(113

)

65,039

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

750,730

13,157

(1,466

)

762,421

Corporate bonds

55,560

411

(614

)

55,357

Trust preferred securities

12,773

736

(82

)

13,427

Other bonds and obligations

3,203

(7

)

3,196

Total debt securities

1,036,176

21,391

(2,677

)

1,054,890

Marketable equity securities

38,150

7,536

(920

)

44,766

Total securities available for sale

1,074,326

28,927

(3,597

)

1,099,656

Securities held to maturity

Municipal bonds and obligations

4,847

4,847

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

70

5

75

Tax advantaged economic development bonds

37,570

1,921

39,491

Other bonds and obligations

331

331

Total securities held to maturity

42,818

1,926

44,744

Total

$

1,117,144

$

30,853

$

(3,597

)

$

1,144,400

December 31, 2014

Securities available for sale

Debt securities:

Municipal bonds and obligations

$

127,014

$

6,859

$

(174

)

$

133,699

Government-guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

68,972

702

(206

)

69,468

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

755,893

7,421

(3,130

)

760,184

Corporate bonds

55,134

120

(1,103

)

54,151

Trust preferred securities

16,607

820

(1,212

)

16,215

Other bonds and obligations

3,211

(52

)

3,159

Total debt securities

1,026,831

15,922

(5,877

)

1,036,876

Marketable equity securities

48,993

7,322

(1,373

)

54,942

Total securities available for sale

1,075,824

23,244

(7,250

)

1,091,818

Securities held to maturity

Municipal bonds and obligations

4,997

4,997

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

70

4

74

Tax advantaged economic development bonds

37,948

1,680

(34

)

39,594

Other bonds and obligations

332

332

Total securities held to maturity

43,347

1,684

(34

)

44,997

Total

$

1,119,171

$

24,928

$

(7,284

)

$

1,136,815

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The amortized cost and estimated fair value of available for sale (“AFS”) and held to maturity (“HTM”) securities, segregated by contractual maturity at March 31, 2015 are presented below.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.  Mortgage-backed securities are shown in total, as their maturities are highly variable.  Equity securities have no maturity and are also shown in total.

Available for sale

Held to maturity

Amortized

Fair

Amortized

Fair

(In thousands)

Cost

Value

Cost

Value

Within 1 year

$

31,062

$

30,557

$

1,214

$

1,214

Over 1 year to 5 years

1,256

1,264

16,802

17,774

Over 5 years to 10 years

17,319

17,698

12,232

12,532

Over 10 years

171,353

177,911

12,500

13,149

Total bonds and obligations

220,990

227,430

42,748

44,669

Marketable equity securities

38,150

44,766

Residential mortgage-backed securities

815,186

827,460

70

75

Total

$

1,074,326

$

1,099,656

$

42,818

$

44,744

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Securities with unrealized losses, segregated by the duration of their continuous unrealized loss positions, are summarized as follows:

Less Than Twelve Months

Over Twelve Months

Total

Gross

Gross

Gross

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

(In thousands)

Losses

Value

Losses

Value

Losses

Value

March 31, 2015

Securities available for sale

Debt securities:

Municipal bonds and obligations

$

62

$

19,756

$

333

$

11,796

$

395

$

31,552

Government-guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

11

5,638

102

6,701

113

12,339

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

1,466

142,786

1,466

142,786

Corporate bonds

614

33,680

614

33,680

Trust preferred securities

82

2,192

82

2,192

Other bonds and obligations

7

2,057

7

2,057

Total debt securities

769

61,266

1,908

163,340

2,677

224,606

Marketable equity securities

636

7,364

284

4,576

920

11,940

Total securities available for sale

1,405

68,630

2,192

167,916

3,597

236,546

Securities held to maturity

Tax advantaged economic development bonds

Total securities held to maturity

Total

$

1,405

$

68,630

$

2,192

$

167,916

$

3,597

$

236,546

December 31, 2014

Securities available for sale

Debt securities:

Municipal bonds and obligations

$

8

$

1,001

$

166

$

7,206

$

174

$

8,207

Government guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

46

7,122

160

16,727

206

23,849

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

236

30,672

2,894

167,473

3,130

198,145

Corporate bonds

1,103

39,571

1,103

39,571

Trust preferred securities

65

935

1,147

2,408

1,212

3,343

Other bonds and obligations

52

3,035

52

3,035

Total debt securities

1,458

79,301

4,419

196,849

5,877

276,150

Marketable equity securities

1,039

9,902

334

4,755

1,373

14,657

Total securities available for sale

2,497

89,203

4,753

201,604

7,250

290,807

Securities held to maturity

Tax advantaged economic development bonds

34

7,972

34

7,972

Total securities held to maturity

34

7,972

34

7,972

Total

$

2,497

$

89,203

$

4,787

$

209,576

$

7,284

$

298,779

Debt Securities

The Company expects to recover its amortized cost basis on all debt securities in its AFS and HTM portfolios. Furthermore, the Company does not intend to sell nor does it anticipate that it will be required to sell any of its securities in an unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2015, prior to this recovery. The Company’s ability and intent to hold these securities until recovery is supported by the Company’s strong capital and liquidity positions as well as its historically low portfolio turnover. The following summarizes, by investment security type, the basis for the conclusion that the debt securities in an unrealized loss position within the Company’s AFS and HTM portfolios were not other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015:

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AFS municipal bonds and obligations

At March 31, 2015, 28 of the total 190 securities in the Company’s portfolio of AFS municipal bonds and obligations were in unrealized loss positions. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 1.2% of the amortized cost of securities in unrealized loss positions. The Company continually monitors the municipal bond sector of the market carefully and periodically evaluates the appropriate level of exposure to the market.  At this time, the Company feels the bonds in this portfolio carry minimal risk of default and the Company is appropriately compensated for that risk.  There were no material underlying credit downgrades during the first quarter of 2015.  All securities are performing.

AFS residential mortgage-backed securities

At March 31, 2015, 36 out of the total 198 securities in the Company’s portfolios of AFS residential mortgage-backed securities were in unrealized loss positions. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 1.0% of the amortized cost of securities in unrealized loss positions. The Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”) guarantee the contractual cash flows of all of the Company’s residential mortgage-backed securities. The securities are investment grade rated and there were no material underlying credit downgrades during the past quarter. All securities are performing.

AFS corporate bonds

At March 31, 2015, 2 out of 6 securities in the Company’s portfolio of AFS corporate bonds were in an unrealized loss position. The aggregate unrealized loss represents 1.8% of the amortized cost of bonds in unrealized loss positions.  The Company reviews the financial strength of all of these bonds and has concluded that the amortized cost remains supported by the expected future cash flows of these securities.  Neither bond is investment grade rated.

At March 31, 2015, $0.5 million of the total unrealized losses was attributable to a $31.1 million investment.  The Company evaluated this security, with a Level 2 fair value of $30.6 million, for potential other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) at March 31, 2015 and determined that OTTI was not evident based on both the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until the recovery of its remaining amortized cost.

AFS trust preferred securities

At March 31, 2015, 2 out of the 4 securities in the Company’s portfolio of AFS trust preferred securities were in unrealized loss positions. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 3.6% of the amortized cost of securities in unrealized loss positions. The Company’s evaluation of the present value of expected cash flows on these securities supports its conclusions about the recoverability of the securities’ amortized cost basis. Both securities are investment grade rated.  The Company reviews the financial strength of all of the single issue trust issuers and has concluded that the amortized cost remains supported by the market value of these securities and they are performing.

AFS other bonds and obligations

At March 31, 2015, 4 of the total 8 securities in the Company’s portfolio of other bonds and obligations were in unrealized loss positions. Aggregate unrealized losses represented 0.4% of the amortized cost of securities in unrealized loss positions. The securities are investment grade rated and there were no material underlying credit downgrades during first quarter of 2015. All securities are performing.

Marketable Equity Securities

In evaluating its marketable equity securities portfolio for OTTI, the Company considers its ability to more likely than not hold an equity security to recovery.  The Company additionally considers other various factors including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost and the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer.  Any OTTI is recognized immediately through earnings.

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Table of Contents

At March 31, 2015, 6 out of the total 29 securities in the Company’s portfolio of marketable equity securities were in an unrealized loss position. The unrealized loss represented 7.2% of the amortized cost of the securities. The Company has the ability and intent to hold the securities until recovery of their cost basis and does not consider the securities other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2015.  As new information becomes available in future periods, changes to the Company’s assumptions may be warranted and could lead to a different conclusion regarding the OTTI of these securities.

NOTE 4. LOANS

The Company’s loan portfolio is segregated into the following segments: residential mortgage, commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, and consumer. Residential mortgage loans include classes for 1- 4 family owner occupied and construction loans.  Commercial real estate loans include construction, single and multi-family, and other commercial real estate classes.  Commercial and industrial loans include asset based lending loans, lease financing and other commercial business loan classes.  Consumer loans include home equity, direct and indirect auto and other.  These portfolio segments each have unique risk characteristics that are considered when determining the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses.

A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is secured by real estate in western Massachusetts, southern Vermont, northeastern New York, and in the Bank’s other New England lending areas. The ability of many of the Bank’s borrowers to honor their contracts is dependent, among other things, on the specific economy and real estate markets of these areas.

Total loans include business activity loans and acquired loans. Acquired loans are those loans acquired from the acquisitions of the 20 acquired branches, Beacon Federal Bancorp, Inc., The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company, Legacy Bancorp, Inc., and Rome Bancorp, Inc. The following is a summary of total loans:

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

(In thousands)

Business
Activities Loans

Acquired
Loans

Total

Business
Activities Loans

Acquired
Loans

Total

Residential mortgages:

1-4 family

$

1,188,018

$

256,503

$

1,444,521

$

1,199,408

$

268,734

$

1,468,142

Construction

27,796

922

28,718

27,044

1,018

28,062

Total residential mortgages

1,215,814

257,425

1,473,239

1,226,452

269,752

1,496,204

Commercial real estate:

Construction

182,800

4,046

186,846

169,189

4,201

173,390

Single and multi-family

142,297

48,429

190,726

140,050

53,168

193,218

Other commercial real estate

1,086,893

207,634

1,294,527

1,030,837

214,122

1,244,959

Total commercial real estate

1,411,990

260,109

1,672,099

1,340,076

271,491

1,611,567

Commercial and industrial loans:

Asset based lending

354,106

354,106

341,246

341,246

Other commercial and industrial loans

424,565

48,144

472,709

411,945

51,175

463,120

Total commercial and industrial loans

778,671

48,144

826,815

753,191

51,175

804,366

Total commercial loans

2,190,661

308,253

2,498,914

2,093,267

322,666

2,415,933

Consumer loans:

Home equity

255,368

62,247

317,615

252,681

65,951

318,632

Auto and other

351,826

87,069

438,895

346,480

103,351

449,831

Total consumer loans

607,194

149,316

756,510

599,161

169,302

768,463

Total loans

$

4,013,669

$

714,994

$

4,728,663

$

3,918,880

$

761,720

$

4,680,600

The carrying amount of the acquired loans at March 31, 2015 totaled $715 million.  A subset of these loans was determined to have evidence of credit deterioration at acquisition date, which is accounted for in accordance with

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ASC 310-30. These purchased credit-impaired loans presently maintain a carrying value of $12.7 million (and a note balance of $23.9). These loans are evaluated for impairment through the periodic reforecasting of expected cash flows. Loans that were considered not impaired at the acquisition date had a carrying amount of $702 million.

The carrying amount of the acquired loans at December 31, 2014 totaled $762 million. A subset of these loans was determined to have evidence of credit deterioration at acquisition date, which is accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30. These purchased credit-impaired loans presently maintain a carrying value of $13.8 million (and a note balance of $25.8). These loans are evaluated for impairment through the periodic reforecasting of expected cash flows. Loans that were considered not impaired at the acquisition date had a carrying amount of $747.9 million.

The following table summarizes activity in the accretable yield for the acquired loan portfolio that falls under the purview of ASC 310-30, Accounting for Certain Loans or Debt Securities Acquired in a Transfer.

Three Months Ended March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Balance at beginning of period

$

2,541

$

2,559

Sales

Reclassification form nonaccretable difference for loans with improved cash flows

1,330

1,540

Accretion

(440

)

(945

)

Balance at end of period

$

3,431

$

3,154

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The following is a summary of past due loans at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Business Activities Loans

(in thousands)

30-59 Days
Past Due

60-89 Days
Past Due

Greater
Than 90
Days Past
Due

Total Past
Due

Current

Total Loans

Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing

March 31, 2015

Residential mortgages:

1-4 family

$

1,888

$

888

$

4,066

$

6,842

$

1,181,176

$

1,188,018

$

1,699

Construction

414

414

27,382

27,796

414

Total

1,888

888

4,480

7,256

1,208,558

1,215,814

2,113

Commercial real estate:

Construction

758

758

182,042

182,800

Single and multi-family

245

247

406

898

141,399

142,297

Other commercial real estate

1,900

330

9,202

11,432

1,075,461

1,086,893

266

Total

2,145

577

10,366

13,088

1,398,902

1,411,990

266

Commercial and industrial loans:

Asset based lending

354,106

354,106

Other commercial and industrial loans

1,371

150

725

2,246

422,319

424,565

Total

1,371

150

725

2,246

776,425

778,671

Consumer loans:

Home equity

589

154

2,546

3,289

252,079

255,368

1,354

Auto and other

744

54

255

1,053

350,773

351,826

3

Total

1,333

208

2,801

4,342

602,852

607,194

1,357

Total

$

6,737

$

1,823

$

18,372

$

26,932

$

3,986,737

$

4,013,669

$

3,736

Business Activities Loans

(in thousands)

30-59 Days
Past Due

60-89 Days
Past Due

Greater
Than 90
Days Past
Due

Total Past
Due

Current

Total Loans

Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing

December 31, 2014

Residential mortgages:

1-4 family

$

5,580

$

146

$

4,053

$

9,779

$

1,189,629

$

1,199,408

$

1,527

Construction

666

410

1,076

25,968

27,044

Total

6,246

556

4,053

10,855

1,215,597

1,226,452

1,527

Commercial real estate:

Construction

2,000

720

2,720

166,469

169,189

Single and multi-family

178

156

458

792

139,258

140,050

Other commercial real estate

692

705

9,383

10,780

1,020,057

1,030,837

621

Total

870

2,861

10,561

14,292

1,325,784

1,340,076

621

Commercial and industrial loans:

Asset based lending

341,246

341,246

Other commercial and industrial loans

1,040

498

856

2,394

409,551

411,945

6

Total

1,040

498

856

2,394

750,797

753,191

6

Consumer loans:

Home equity

333

1,000

1,387

2,720

249,961

252,681

230

Auto and other

831

65

315

1,211

345,269

346,480

10

Total

1,164

1,065

1,702

3,931

595,230

599,161

240

Total

$

9,320

$

4,980

$

17,172

$

31,472

$

3,887,408

$

3,918,880

$

2,394

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Table of Contents

Acquired Loans

(in thousands)

30-59 Days
Past Due

60-89 Days
Past Due

Greater
Than 90
Days Past
Due

Total Past
Due

Acquired
Credit
Impaired

Total Loans

Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing

March 31, 2015

Residential mortgages:

1-4 family

$

187

$

592

$

1,930

2,709

$

361

$

256,503

$

144

Construction

922

Total

187

592

1,930

2,709

361

257,425

144

Commercial real estate:

Construction

676

676

1,281

4,046

Single and multi-family

323

45

2,728

3,096

4,924

48,429

2,257

Other commercial real estate

1,116

116

2,269

3,501

5,222

207,634

Total

1,439

161

5,673

7,273

11,427

260,109

2,257

Commercial and industrial loans:

Asset based lending

Other commercial and industrial loans

285

586

871

705

48,144

3

Total

285

586

871

705

48,144

3

Consumer loans:

Home equity

209

228

1,118

1,555

170

62,247

242

Auto and other

1,394

23

731

2,148

87,069

19

Total

1,603

251

1,849

3,703

170

149,316

261

Total

$

3,514

$

1,004

$

10,038

$

14,556

$

12,663

$

714,994

$

2,665

Acquired Loans

(in thousands)

30-59 Days
Past Due

60-89 Days
Past Due

Greater
Than 90
Days Past
Due

Total Past
Due

Acquired
Credit
Impaired

Total Loans

Past Due >
90 days and
Accruing

December 31, 2014

Residential mortgages:

1-4 family

$

1,133

$

638

$

1,651

$

3,422

$

375

$

268,734

$

269

Construction

1,018

Total

1,133

638

1,651

3,422

375

269,752

269

Commercial real estate:

Construction

691

691

1,296

4,201

Single and multi-family

277

572

849

5,477

53,168

Other commercial real estate

715

2,004

2,719

5,504

214,122

329

Total

277

715

3,267

4,259

12,277

271,491

329

Commercial and industrial loans:

Asset based lending

Other commercial and industrial loans

202

32

855

1,089

986

51,175

Total

202

32

855

1,089

986

51,175

Consumer loans:

Home equity

176

95

1,049

1,320

171

65,951

466

Auto and other

1,170

944

1,363

3,477

103,351

194

Total

1,346

1,039

2,412

4,797

171

169,302

660

Total

$

2,958

$

2,424

$

8,185

$

13,567

$

13,809

$

761,720

$

1,258

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The following is summary information pertaining to non-accrual loans at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

(In thousands)

Business
Activities Loans

Acquired
Loans (1)

Total

Business
Activities Loans

Acquired
Loans (2)

Total

Residential mortgages:

1-4 family

$

2,367

$

1,786

$

4,153

$

2,526

$

1,382

$

3,908

Construction

Total

2,367

1,786

4,153

2,526

1,382

3,908

Commercial real estate:

Construction

758

758

720

720

Single and multi-family

406

471

877

458

141

599

Other commercial real estate

8,936

1,939

10,875

8,762

1,675

10,437

Total

10,100

2,410

12,510

9,940

1,816

11,756

Commercial and industrial loans:

Other commercial and industrial loans

725

569

1,294

850

811

1,661

Total

725

569

1,294

850

811

1,661

Consumer loans:

Home equity

1,192

876

2,068

1,157

583

1,740

Auto and other

252

712

964

305

1,169

1,474

Total

1,444

1,588

3,032

1,462

1,752

3,214

Total non-accrual loans

$

14,636

$

6,353

$

20,989

$

14,778

$

5,761

$

20,539


(1) At quarter end March 31, 2015, acquired credit impaired loans accounted for $1.0 million of non-accrual loans that are not presented in the above table.

(2) At year end 2014, acquired credit impaired loans accounted for $1.2 million of non-accrual loans that are not presented in the above table.

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Table of Contents

Loans evaluated for impairment as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 were as follows:

Business Activities Loans

(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Total

March 31, 2015

Loans receivable:

Balance at end of period

Individually evaluated for impairment

$

3,028

$

22,342

$

262

$

448

$

26,080

Collectively evaluated

1,212,786

1,389,648

778,409

606,746

3,987,589

Total

$

1,215,814

$

1,411,990

$

778,671

$

607,194

$

4,013,669

Business Activities Loans

(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Total

December 31, 2014

Loans receivable:

Balance at end of year

Individually evaluated for impairment

$

3,238

$

22,015

$

743

$

452

$

26,448

Collectively evaluated for impairment

1,223,214

1,318,061

752,448

598,709

3,892,432

Total

$

1,226,452

$

1,340,076

$

753,191

$

599,161

$

3,918,880

Acquired Loans

(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Total

March 31, 2015

Loans receivable:

Balance at end of Period

Individually evaluated for impairment

$

1,194

$

6,203

$

47

$

546

$

7,990

Collectively evaluated

256,231

253,906

48,097

148,770

707,004

Total

$

257,425

$

260,109

$

48,144

$

149,316

$

714,994

Acquired Loans

(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Total

December 31, 2014

Loans receivable:

Balance at end of year

Individually evaluated for impairment

$

695

$

5,637

$

39

$

199

$

6,570

Collectively evaluated for impairment

269,057

265,854

51,136

169,103

755,150

Total

$

269,752

$

271,491

$

51,175

$

169,302

$

761,720

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The following is a summary of impaired loans at March 31, 2015:

Business Activities Loans

At March 31, 2015

(In thousands)

Recorded Investment

Unpaid Principal
Balance

Related Allowance

With no related allowance:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

3,028

$

3,028

$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

180

180

Other commercial real estate loans

14,380

14,380

Commercial real esate - construction

2,632

2,632

Other commercial and industrial loans

262

262

Consumer - home equity

334

334

Consumer - other

114

114

With an allowance recorded:

Other commercial real estate loans

$

4,064

$

5,150

$

1,086

Total

Residential mortgages

$

3,028

$

3,028

$

Commercial real estate

21,256

22,342

1,086

Commercial and industrial loans

262

262

Consumer

448

448

Total impaired loans

$

24,994

$

26,080

$

1,086

Acquired Loans

At March 31, 2015

(In thousands)

Recorded Investment

Unpaid Principal
Balance

Related Allowance

With no related allowance:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

625

$

625

$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

2,857

2,857

Other commercial real estate loans

1,649

1,649

Other commercial and industrial loans

47

47

Consumer - home equity

197

197

With an allowance recorded:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

517

$

569

$

52

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

318

330

12

Other commercial real estate loans

504

691

187

Commercial real esate - construction

420

676

256

Consumer - home equity

288

349

61

Total

Residential mortgages

$

1,142

$

1,194

$

52

Commercial real estate

5,748

6,203

455

Commercial and industrial loans

47

47

Consumer

485

546

61

Total impaired loans

$

7,422

$

7,990

$

568

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The following is a summary of impaired loans at December 31, 2014:

Business Activities Loans

At December 31, 2014

(In thousands)

Recorded Investment

Unpaid Principal
Balance

Related Allowance

With no related allowance:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

2,528

$

2,528

$

Commercial real estate - construction

16,990

16,990

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

Other commercial real estate loans

102

102

Other commercial and industrial loans

743

743

Consumer - home equity

87

87

Consumer - other

With an allowance recorded:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

555

$

710

$

155

Commercial real estate - construction

3,511

4,431

920

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

490

492

2

Other commercial real estate loans

Other commercial and industrial loans

Consumer - home equity

194

248

54

Consumer - other

105

117

12

Total

Residential mortgages

$

3,083

$

3,238

$

155

Commercial real estate

21,093

22,015

922

Commercial and industrial loans

743

743

Consumer

386

452

66

Total impaired loans

$

25,305

$

26,448

$

1,143

Acquired Loans

At December 31, 2014

(In thousands)

Recorded Investment

Unpaid Principal
Balance

Related Allowance

With no related allowance:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

189

$

189

$

Other commercial real estate loans

5,206

5,206

Other commercial and industrial loans

39

39

Consumer - home equity

With an allowance recorded:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

458

$

506

$

48

Other commercial real estate loans

383

431

48

Consumer - home equity

124

199

75

Total

Residential mortgages

$

647

$

695

$

48

Other commercial real estate loans

5,589

5,637

48

Other commercial and industrial loans

39

39

Consumer - home equity

124

199

75

Total impaired loans

$

6,399

$

6,570

$

171

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The following is a summary of the average recorded investment and interest income recognized on impaired loans as of March 31, 2015 and 2014:

Business Activities Loans

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

(in thousands)

Average Recorded
Investment

Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized

Average Recorded
Investment

Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized

With no related allowance:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

3,108

$

28

$

4,142

$

23

Commercial real estate - construction

2,628

1

1,957

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

180

Other commercial real estate loans

15,315

131

16,180

154

Commercial and industrial loans

578

3

1,337

7

Consumer - home equity

334

348

1

Consumer - other

115

1

124

1

With an allowance recorded:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

$

$

1,774

$

16

Commercial real estate - construction

1,013

Other commercial real estate loans

5,267

3,450

Commercial and industrial loans

55

1

Consumer - home equity

41

Total

Residential mortgages

$

3,108

$

28

$

5,916

$

39

Commercial real estate

23,390

132

22,600

154

Commercial and industrial loans

578

3

1,392

8

Consumer loans

449

1

513

2

Total impaired loans

$

27,525

$

164

$

30,421

$

203

Acquired Loans

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

(in thousands)

Average Recorded
Investment

Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized

Average Recorded
Investment

Cash Basis Interest
Income Recognized

With no related allowance:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

670

$

3

$

1,303

$

5

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

2,892

24

Other commercial real estate loans

1,662

3

4,821

25

Other commercial and industrial loans

64

3

Consumer - home equity

197

2

562

1

Consumer - other

154

With an allowance recorded:

Residential mortgages - 1-4 family

$

569

$

$

162

$

Commercial real estate - single and multifamily

397

Other commercial real estate loans

691

1,577

46

Commercial real esate - construction

666

44

Consumer - home equity

349

Consumer - other

70

2

Total

Residential mortgages

$

1,239

$

3

$

1,465

$

5

Other commercial real estate loans

6,308

71

6,398

71

Commercial and industrial loans

64

3

632

3

Consumer loans

546

2

154

Total impaired loans

$

8,157

$

79

$

8,649

$

79

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Troubled Debt Restructuring Loans

The Company’s loan portfolio also includes certain loans that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR), where economic concessions have been granted to borrowers who have experienced or are expected to experience financial difficulties. These concessions typically result from the Company’s loss mitigation activities and could include reductions in the interest rate, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions. Certain TDRs are classified as nonperforming at the time of restructure and may only be returned to performing status after considering the borrower’s sustained repayment performance for a reasonable period, generally six months.  TDRs are evaluated individually for impairment and may result in a specific allowance amount allocated to an individual loan.

The following tables include the recorded investment and number of modifications identified during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2014, respectively.  The table includes the recorded investment in the loans prior to a modification and also the recorded investment in the loans after the loans were restructured. The modifications for the three months ending March 31, 2015 were attributable to interest rate concessions, maturity date extensions and released collateral.  The modification for the three months ending March 31, 2014 was attributable to concessions granted as ordered by bankruptcy court.

Modifications by Class

Three months ending March 31, 2015

(Dollars in thousands)

Number of
Modifications

Pre-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment

Post-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Commercial - Construction

1

$

123

$

123

Commercial - Other

1

2,000

2,000

Commercial and industrial - Other

1

33

33

Total

3

$

2,156

$

2,156

Modifications by Class

Three months ending March 31, 2014

(Dollars in thousands)

Number of
Modifications

Pre-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment

Post-Modification
Outstanding Recorded
Investment

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Residential - 1-4 Family

1

$

122

$

119

The following table discloses the recorded investment and number of modifications for TDRs within the last three months where a concession has been made, that then defaulted in the respective reporting period.

Modifications that Subsequently Defaulted

Three months ending March 31, 2015

Number of Contracts

Recorded Investment

Troubled Debt Restructurings

Commercial - Other

1

$

668

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For the three months ended March 31, 2014, there were no loans that were restructured within the last twelve months that have subsequently defaulted during the period.

The following table presents the Company’s TDR activity for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

Three Months Ending

March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Balance at beginning of the period

$

16,714

$

10,822

Principal payments

(484

)

(872

)

TDR status change (1)

(52

)

Other reductions/increases (2)

(1,182

)

95

Newly identified TDRs

2,156

119

Balance at end of the period

$

17,204

$

10,112


(1) TDR status change classification represents TDR loans with a specified interest rate equal to or greater than the rate that the Company was willing to accept at the time of the restructuring for a new loan with comparable risk and  the loan was on current payment status and not impaired based on the terms specified by the restructuring agreement.

(2) Other reductions classification consists of transfer to other real estate owned and charge-offs and advances to loans.

The evaluation of certain loans individually for specific impairment includes loans that were previously classified as TDRs or continue to be classified as TDRs.

As of March 31, 2015, the Company maintained foreclosed residential real estate property with a fair value of $653 thousand. Additionally, residential mortgage loans collateralized by real estate property that are in the process of foreclosure totaled $5.1 million. As of December 31, 2014, foreclosed residential real estate property totaled $1.3 million.

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NOTE 5.               LOAN LOSS ALLOWANCE

Activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was as follows:

Business Activities Loans
(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Unallocated

Total

March 31, 2015

Balance at beginning of period

$

6,836

$

14,690

$

5,206

$

5,928

$

135

$

32,795

Charged-off loans

128

1,605

223

202

2,158

Recoveries on charged-off loans

67

3

5

61

136

Provision for loan losses

(702

)

1,330

1,460

(751

)

158

1,495

Balance at end of period

$

6,073

$

14,418

$

6,448

$

5,036

$

293

$

32,268

Individually evaluated for impairment

1,086

1,086

Collectively evaluated

6,073

13,332

6,448

5,036

293

31,182

Total

$

6,073

$

14,418

$

6,448

$

5,036

$

293

$

32,268

Business Activities Loans
(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Unallocated

Total

March 31, 2014

Balance at beginning of period

$

6,937

$

13,705

$

5,173

$

3,644

$

68

$

29,527

Charged-off loans

706

660

189

429

1,984

Recoveries on charged-off loans

7

1

20

79

107

Provision for loan losses

(575

)

1,900

(185

)

836

(248

)

1,728

Balance at end of period

$

5,663

$

14,946

$

4,819

$

4,130

$

(180

)

$

29,378

Individually evaluated for impairment

397

1,558

54

9

2,018

Collectively evaluated

5,266

13,388

4,765

4,121

(180

)

27,360

Total

$

5,663

$

14,946

$

4,819

$

4,130

$

(180

)

$

29,378

Acquired Loans
(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Unallocated

Total

March 31, 2015

Balance at beginning of period

$

615

$

790

$

1,093

$

369

$

$

2,867

Charged-off loans

238

405

198

433

1,274

Recoveries on charged-off loans

41

28

69

Provision for loan losses

372

1,579

(11

)

416

2,356

Balance at end of period

$

749

$

1,964

$

925

$

380

$

$

4,018

Individually evaluated for impairment

52

455

61

568

Collectively evaluated

697

1,509

925

319

3,450

Total

$

749

$

1,964

$

925

$

380

$

$

4,018

Acquired Loans
(In thousands)

Residential
mortgages

Commercial
real estate

Commercial and
industrial loans

Consumer

Unallocated

Total

March 31, 2014

Balance at beginning of period

$

625

$

2,339

$

597

$

235

$

$

3,796

Charged-off loans

429

447

52

405

1,333

Recoveries on charged-off loans

73

1

5

14

93

Provision for loan losses

401

231

548

488

1,668

Balance at end of period

$

670

$

2,124

$

1,098

$

332

$

$

4,224

Individually evaluated for impairment

30

250

21

301

Collectively evaluated

640

1,874

1,077

332

3,923

Total

$

670

$

2,124

$

1,098

$

332

$

$

4,224

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Credit Quality Information

Business Activities Loans Credit Quality Analysis

The Company monitors the credit quality of its portfolio by using internal risk ratings that are based on regulatory guidance. Loans that are given a Pass rating are not considered a problem credit. Loans that are classified as Special Mention loans are considered to have potential credit problems and are evaluated closely by management. Substandard and non-accruing loans are loans for which a definitive weakness has been identified and which may make full collection of contractual cash flows questionable. Doubtful loans are those with identified weaknesses that make full collection of contractual cash flows, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.  The Company assigns an internal risk rating at origination and reviews the rating annually, semiannually or quarterly depending on the risk rating. The rating is also reassessed at any point in time when management becomes aware of information that may affect the borrower’s ability to fulfill their obligations.

The Company risk rates its residential mortgages, including 1-4 family and residential construction loans, based on a three rating system: Pass, Special Mention and Substandard.  Loans that are current within 59 days are rated Pass.  Residential mortgages that are 60-89 days delinquent are rated Special Mention. Loans delinquent for 90 days or greater are rated Substandard and generally placed on non-accrual status.  Home equity loans are risk rated based on the same rating system as the Company’s residential mortgages.

Ratings for other consumer loans, including auto loans, are based on a two rating system. Loans that are current within 119 days are rated Performing while loans delinquent for 120 days or more are rated Non-performing. Other consumer loans are placed on non-accrual at such time as they become Non-performing.

Acquired Loans Credit Quality Analysis

Upon acquiring a loan portfolio, our internal loan review function assigns risk ratings to the acquired loans, utilizing the same methodology as it does with business activities loans.  This may differ from the risk rating policy of the predecessor bank.  Loans which are rated Substandard or worse according to the rating process outlined below are deemed to be credit impaired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30, regardless of whether they are classified as performing or non-performing.

The Bank utilizes an eleven grade internal loan rating system for each of its acquired commercial real estate, construction and commercial loans as outlined in the Credit Quality Information section of this Note.  The Company risk rates its residential mortgages, including 1-4 family and residential construction loans, based on a three rating system: Pass, Special Mention and Substandard.  Residential mortgages that are current within 59 days are rated Pass.  Residential mortgages that are 60 — 89 days delinquent are rated Special Mention.  Residential mortgages delinquent for 90 days or greater are rated Substandard.  Home equity loans are risk rated based on the same rating system as the Company’s residential mortgages.  Other consumer loans are rated based on a two rating system.  Other consumer loans that are current within 119 days are rated Performing while loans delinquent for 120 days or more are rated Non-performing. Non-performing other consumer loans are deemed to be credit impaired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30.

The Company subjects loans that do not meet the ASC 310-30 criteria to ASC 450-20 by collectively evaluating these loans for an allowance for loan loss.  The Company applies a methodology similar to the methodology prescribed for business activities loans, which includes the application of environmental factors to each category of loans.  The methodology to collectively evaluate the acquired loans outside the scope of ASC 310-30 includes the application of a number of environmental factors that reflect management’s best estimate of the level of incremental credit losses that might be recognized given current conditions.  This is reviewed as part of the allowance for loan loss adequacy analysis.  As the loan portfolio matures and environmental factors change, the loan portfolio will be reassessed each quarter to determine an appropriate reserve allowance.

Additionally, the Company considers the need for an additional reserve for acquired loans accounted for outside of the scope of ASC 310-30 under ASC 310-20. At acquisition date, the Bank determined a fair value mark with

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Table of Contents

credit and interest rate components.  Under the Company’s model, the impairment evaluation process involves comparing the carrying value of acquired loans, including the entire unamortized premium or discount, to the recorded reserve allowance. If necessary, the Company books an additional reserve to account for shortfalls identified through this calculation.  Fair value marks are not bifurcated when evaluating for impairment.

A decrease in the expected cash flows in subsequent periods requires the establishment of an allowance for loan losses at that time for ASC 310-30 loans.  At March 31, 2015, the allowance for loan losses related to acquired loans was $4.0 million using the above mentioned criteria.

The Company presented several tables within this footnote separately for business activity loans and acquired loans in order to distinguish the credit performance of the acquired loans from the business activity loans.

The following table presents the Company’s loans by risk rating at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Business Activities Loans

Residential Mortgages

Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade

1-4 family

Construction

Total residential mortgages

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Grade:

Pass

$

1,183,064

$

1,195,209

$

27,382

$

26,634

$

1,210,446

$

1,221,843

Special mention

888

146

410

888

556

Substandard

4,066

4,053

414

4,480

4,053

Total

$

1,188,018

$

1,199,408

$

27,796

$

27,044

$

1,215,814

$

1,226,452

Commercial Real Estate

Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category

Construction

Single and multi-family

Other

Total commercial real estate

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Grade:

Pass

$

179,868

$

166,295

$

140,022

$

137,533

$

1,023,304

$

959,836

$

1,343,194

$

1,263,664

Special mention

6,891

6,933

6,891

6,933

Substandard

2,932

2,894

2,275

2,517

56,625

63,995

61,832

69,406

Doubtful

73

73

73

73

Total

$

182,800

$

169,189

$

142,297

$

140,050

$

1,086,893

$

1,030,837

$

1,411,990

$

1,340,076

Commercial and Industrial Loans

Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category

Asset based lending

Other

Total comm. and industrial loans

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Grade:

Pass

$

354,106

$

341,246

$

410,699

$

404,846

$

764,805

$

746,092

Special mention

187

560

187

560

Substandard

13,679

6,539

13,679

6,539

Total

$

354,106

$

341,246

$

424,565

$

411,945

$

778,671

$

753,191

Consumer Loans

Credit Risk Profile Based on Payment Activity

Home equity

Auto and other

Total consumer loans

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Performing

$

254,176

$

251,524

$

351,574

$

346,175

$

605,750

$

597,699

Nonperforming

1,192

1,157

252

305

1,444

1,462

Total

$

255,368

$

252,681

$

351,826

$

346,480

$

607,194

$

599,161

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Table of Contents

Acquired Loans

Residential Mortgages

Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade

1-4 family

Construction

Total residential mortgages

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Grade:

Pass

$

253,866

$

266,445

$

922

$

1,018

$

254,788

$

267,463

Special mention

707

638

707

638

Substandard

1,930

1,651

1,930

1,651

Total

$

256,503

$

268,734

$

922

$

1,018

$

257,425

$

269,752

Commercial Real Estate

Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category

Construction

Single and multi-family

Other

Total commercial real estate

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Grade:

Pass

$

2,765

$

2,904

$

41,145

$

44,497

$

192,233

$

195,681

$

236,143

$

243,082

Special mention

120

533

2,208

4,868

2,328

5,401

Substandard

1,281

1,297

7,164

8,138

13,193

13,573

21,638

23,008

Total

$

4,046

$

4,201

$

48,429

$

53,168

$

207,634

$

214,122

$

260,109

$

271,491

Commercial and Industrial Loans

Credit Risk Profile by Creditworthiness Category

Asset based lending

Other

Total comm. and industrial loans

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Grade:

Pass

$

$

$

44,922

$

45,757

$

44,922

$

45,757

Special mention

1,723

1,723

Substandard

3,222

3,695

3,222

3,695

Total

$

$

$

48,144

$

51,175

$

48,144

$

51,175

Consumer Loans

Credit Risk Profile Based on Payment Activity

Home equity

Auto and other

Total consumer loans

(In thousands)

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Mar. 31,
2015

Dec. 31,
2014

Performing

$

61,371

$

65,368

$

86,356

$

102,182

$

147,727

$

167,550

Nonperforming

876

583

713

1,169

1,589

1,752

Total

$

62,247

$

65,951

$

87,069

$

103,351

$

149,316

$

169,302

The following table summarizes information about total loans rated Special Mention or lower as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  The table below includes consumer loans that are special mention and substandard accruing that are classified in the above table as performing based on payment activity.

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

(In thousands)

Business
Activities Loans

Acquired Loans

Total

Business
Activities Loans

Acquired Loans

Total

Non-Accrual

$

14,636

$

7,373

$

22,009

$

14,778

$

6,927

$

21,705

Substandard Accruing

68,228

21,266

89,494

66,995

23,839

90,834

Total Classified

82,864

28,639

111,503

81,773

30,766

112,539

Special Mention

8,175

3,286

11,461

9,113

8,800

17,913

Total Criticized

$

91,039

$

31,925

$

122,964

$

90,886

$

39,566

$

130,452

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NOTE 6.               DEPOSITS

A summary of time deposits is as follows:

(In thousands)

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

Time less than $100,000

$

506,577

$

515,570

Time $100,000 or more

998,892

940,176

Total time deposits

$

1,505,469

$

1,455,746

Included in time deposits are brokered deposits of $478.8 million and $430.8 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  Included in money market deposits presented on the consolidated balance sheet are reciprocal deposits of $7.4 million and $9.4 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

NOTE 7.               BORROWED FUNDS

Borrowed funds at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are summarized, as follows:

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

Weighted

Weighted

Average

Average

(dollars in thousands)

Principal

Rate

Principal

Rate

Short-term borrowings:

Advances from the FHLBB

$

884,500

0.25

%

$

890,900

0.24

%

Other Borrowings

10,000

1.83

10,000

1.80

Total short-term borrowings:

894,500

0.25

900,900

0.23

Long-term borrowings:

Advances from the FHLBB

61,618

0.91

61,676

0.93

Subordinated borrowings

74,301

7.00

74,283

7.00

Junior subordinated borrowings

15,464

2.11

15,464

2.08

Total long-term borrowings:

151,383

4.02

151,423

4.03

Total

$

1,045,883

0.80

%

$

1,052,323

0.79

%

Short term debt includes Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”) advances with an original maturity of less than one year and a short-term line-of-credit drawdown through a correspondent bank.  The Bank also maintains a $3.0 million secured line of credit with the FHLBB that bears a daily adjustable rate calculated by the FHLBB. There was no outstanding balance on the FHLBB line of credit for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

The Bank is approved to borrow on a short-term basis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as a non-member bank. The Bank has pledged certain loans and securities to the Federal Reserve Bank to support this arrangement. No borrowings with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston took place for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Long-term FHLBB advances consist of advances with an original maturity of more than one year.  The advances outstanding at March 31, 2015 include callable advances totaling $5.0 million, and amortizing advances totaling $5.1 million.  The advances outstanding at December 31, 2014 include callable advances totaling $5.0 million, and amortizing advances totaling $5.1 million. All FHLBB borrowings, including the line of credit, are secured by a blanket security agreement on certain qualified collateral, principally all residential first mortgage loans and certain securities.

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A summary of maturities of FHLBB advances as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 is as follows:

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

Weighted

Weighted

Average

Average

(in thousands, except rates)

Principal

Rate

Principal

Rate

Fixed rate advances maturing:

2015

$

934,500

0.25

%

$

940,900

0.24

%

2016

1,503

0.03

1,519

0.88

2017

5,000

4.33

5,000

4.33

2018

0.00

0.00

2019 and beyond

5,115

3.91

5,157

3.85

Total FHLBB advances

$

946,118

0.29

%

$

952,576

0.28

%

The Company does not have variable-rate debt for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

In September 2012, the Company issued fifteen year subordinated notes in the amount of $75.0 million at a discount of 1.15%.  The interest rate is fixed at 6.875% for the first ten years. After ten years, the notes become callable and convert to an interest rate of three-month LIBOR rate plus 511.3 basis points.

The Company holds 100% of the common stock of Berkshire Hills Capital Trust I (“Trust I”) which is included in other assets with a cost of $0.5 million.  The sole asset of Trust I is $15.5 million of the Company’s junior subordinated debentures due in 2035. These debentures bear interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.85% and had a rate of 2.11% and 2.08% at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The Company has the right to defer payments of interest for up to five years on the debentures at any time, or from time to time, with certain limitations, including a restriction on the payment of dividends to stockholders while such interest payments on the debentures have been deferred.  The Company has not exercised this right to defer payments.  The Company has the right to redeem the debentures at par value. Trust I is considered a variable interest entity for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary.  Accordingly, Trust I is not consolidated into the Company’s financial statements.

NOTE 8.               STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The actual and required capital ratios were as follows:

Regulatory

Regulatory

Minimum to be

Minimum to be

March 31, 2015

Well Capitalized

December 31, 2014

Well Capitalized

Company (consolidated)

Total capital to risk weighted assets

11.4

10.0

%

11.4

%

10.0

%

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to risk weighted assets

9.1

6.5

N/A

N/A

Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets

9.2

8.0

9.0

6.0

Tier 1 capital to average assets

7.1

5.0

7.0

5.0

Bank

Total capital to risk weighted assets

10.8

10.0

%

10.8

%

10.0

%

Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to risk weighted assets

9.4

6.5

N/A

N/A

Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets

9.4

8.0

9.3

6.0

Tier 1 capital to average assets

7.3

5.0

7.2

5.0

At each date shown, the Company and the Bank met the conditions to be classified as “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.  To be categorized as well capitalized, an institution must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table above.

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Table of Contents

Effective January 1, 2015, the Company and the Bank became subject to the Basel III rule that requires the Company and the Bank to assess their Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to risk weighted assets and the Company and the Bank each exceed the minimum to be well capitalized.

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Components of accumulated other comprehensive income is as follows:

(In thousands)

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

Other accumulated comprehensive income, before tax:

Net unrealized holding gain on AFS securities

$

25,330

$

15,993

Net loss on effective cash flow hedging derivatives

(7,200

)

(3,299

)

Net unrealized holding (loss) on pension plans

(3,822

)

(2,291

)

Income taxes related to items of accumulated other comprehensive income:

Net unrealized holding gain on AFS securities

(9,682

)

(6,077

)

Net loss on effective cash flow hedging derivatives

2,902

1,330

Net unrealized holding (loss) on pension plans

1,540

923

Accumulated other comprehensive income

$

9,068

$

6,579

The following table presents the components of other comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

(In thousands)

Before Tax

Tax Effect

Net of Tax

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

Net unrealized holding gains on AFS securities:

Net unrealized gains arising during the period

$

9,371

$

(3,617

)

$

5,754

Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) realized in net income

(34

)

12

(22

)

Net unrealized holding gain on AFS securities

9,337

(3,605

)

5,732

Net loss on cash flow hedging derivatives:

Net unrealized loss arising during the period

(3,901

)

1,572

(2,329

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income

Net loss on cash flow hedging derivatives

(3,901

)

1,572

(2,329

)

Net unrealized holding loss on pension plans

Net unrealized loss arising during the period

(1,596

)

643

(953

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized in net income

65

(26

)

39

Net unrealized holding loss on pension plans

(1,531

)

617

(914

)

Other comprehensive income

$

3,905

$

(1,416

)

$

2,489

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

Net unrealized holding loss on AFS securities:

Net unrealized loss arising during the period

$

6,055

$

(2,233

)

$

3,822

Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) realized in net income

(34

)

12

(22

)

Net unrealized holding gain on AFS securities

6,021

(2,221

)

3,800

Net loss on cash flow hedging derivatives:

Net unrealized loss arising during the period

(860

)

368

(492

)

Less: reclassification adjustment for (gains) realized in net income

5,393

(2,200

)

3,193

Net gain on cash flow hedging derivatives

4,533

(1,832

)

2,701

Net gain on terminated swap:

Net unrealized loss arising during the period

Less: reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net income

3,237

(1,312

)

1,925

Net gain on terminated swap

3,237

(1,312

)

1,925

Other comprehensive income

$

13,791

$

(5,365

)

$

8,426

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Table of Contents

The following table presents the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

Net unrealized

Net loss on

Net loss

Net unrealized

holding (loss) gain

effective cash

on

holding loss

on AFS

flow hedging

terminated

on

(in thousands)

Securities

derivatives

swap

pension plans

Total

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

Balance at Beginning of Period

$

9,916

$

(1,969

)

$

$

(1,368

)

$

6,579

Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) Before reclassifications

5,754

(2,329

)

(953

)

2,472

Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income

(22

)

39

17

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

5,732

(2,329

)

(914

)

2,489

Balance at End of Period

$

15,648

$

(4,298

)

$

$

(2,282

)

$

9,068

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

Balance at Beginning of Period

$

(5,776

)

$

(1,366

)

$

(1,925

)

$

(1,368

)

$

(10,435

)

Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) Before reclassifications

3,822

(492

)

3,330

Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive income

(22

)

3,193

1,925

5,096

Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

3,800

2,701

1,925

8,426

Balance at End of Period

$

(1,976

)

$

1,335

$

$

(1,368

)

$

(2,009

)

The following table presents the amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014:

Affected Line Item in the

Three Months Ended March 31,

Statement where Net Income

(in thousands)

2015

2014

is Presented

Realized (gains) on AFS securities:

$

(34

)

$

(34

)

Non-interest income

12

12

Tax expense

(22

)

(22

)

Net of tax

Realized losses on cash flow hedging derivatives:

5,393

Non-interest income

(2,200

)

Tax expense

3,193

Net of tax

Amortization of realized gains on terminated swap:

3,237

Non-interest income

(1,312

)

Tax expense

1,925

Net of tax

Realized loss on pension plans:

65

Non-interest income

(26

)

Tax expense

39

Net of tax

Total reclassifications for the period

$

17

$

5,096

Net of tax

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Table of Contents

NOTE 9. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share have been computed based on the following (average diluted shares outstanding are calculated using the treasury stock method):

Three Months Ended March 31,

(In thousands, except per share data)

2015

2014

Net income/(loss)

$

8,759

$

(1,106

)

Average number of common shares issued

26,525

26,525

Less: average number of treasury shares

1,295

1,425

Less: average number of unvested stock award shares

427

402

Average number of basic common shares outstanding

24,803

24,698

Plus: dilutive effect of unvested stock award shares

89

Plus: dilutive effect of stock options outstanding

63

Average number of diluted common shares outstanding

24,955

24,698

Earnings per share:

Basic

$

0.35

$

(0.04

)

Diluted

$

0.35

$

(0.04

)

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, 338 thousand shares of restricted stock and 210 thousand options were anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the earnings per share calculations.  For the three months ended March 31, 2014, 335 thousand shares of restricted stock and 321 thousand options were anti-dilutive and therefore excluded from the earnings per share calculations.

NOTE 10. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

A combined summary of activity in the Company’s stock award and stock option plans for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is presented in the following table:

Non-vested Stock

Awards Outstanding

Stock Options Outstanding

Weighted-

Weighted-

Average

Average

Number of

Grant Date

Number of

Exercise

(Shares in thousands)

Shares

Fair Value

Shares

Price

Balance, December 31, 2014

424

$

24.33

282

$

20.42

Granted

92

24.90

Stock options exercised

(11

)

10.52

Stock awards vested

(82

)

24.22

Forfeited

(10

)

23.50

Expired

Balance, March 31, 2015

424

$

24.48

271

$

21.12

Exercisable options, March 31, 2015

271

$

21.12

During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, proceeds from stock option exercises totaled $116 thousand and totaled $718 thousand, respectively.  During the quarter ended March 31, 2015, there were 82 thousand

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Table of Contents

shares issued in connection with vested stock awards.  During the three months ended March 31, 2014, there were 62 thousand shares issued in connection with vested stock awards.  All of these shares were issued from available treasury stock.  Stock-based compensation expense totaled $993 thousand and $932 thousand during the quarters ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  Stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all awards.

NOTE 11. OPERATING SEGMENTS

The Company has two reportable operating segments, Banking and Insurance, which are delineated by the consolidated subsidiaries of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.  Banking includes the activities of the Bank and its subsidiaries, which provide retail and commercial banking, along with wealth management and investment services.  Insurance includes the activities of Berkshire Insurance Group, Inc. (“BIG”), which provides retail and commercial insurance services.  The only other consolidated financial activity of the Company is the Parent, which consists of the transactions of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. Management fees for corporate services provided by the Bank to BIG and the Parent are eliminated.

The accounting policies of each reportable segment are the same as those of the Company.  The Insurance segment and the Parent reimburse the Bank for administrative services provided to them.  Income tax expense for the individual segments is calculated based on the activity of the segments, and the Parent records the tax expense or benefit necessary to reconcile to the consolidated total.  The Parent does not allocate capital costs.  Average assets include securities available-for-sale based on amortized cost.

A summary of the Company’s operating segments was as follows:

(In thousands)

Banking

Insurance

Parent

Eliminations

Total Consolidated

Three months ended March 31, 2015

Net interest income

$

46,339

$

$

5,154

$

(6,000

)

$

45,493

Provision for loan losses

3,851

3,851

Non-interest income

9,413

2,967

3,785

(3,603

)

12,562

Non-interest expense

42,494

1,939

715

45,148

Income before income taxes

9,407

1,028

8,224

(9,603

)

9,056

Income tax expense (benefit)

433

399

(535

)

297

Net income

$

8,974

$

629

$

8,759

$

(9,603

)

$

8,759

Average assets (in millions)

$

6,479

$

28

$

757

$

(767

)

$

6,497

Three months ended March 31, 2014

Net interest income (expense)

$

43,712

$

$

(946

)

$

$

42,766

Provision for loan losses

3,396

3,396

Non-interest income

1,374

3,049

(252

)

252

4,423

Non-interest expense

42,574

2,322

464

45,360

Income before income taxes

(884

)

727

(1,662

)

252

(1,567

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

(192

)

287

(556

)

(461

)

Net income

$

(692

)

$

440

$

(1,106

)

$

252

$

(1,106

)

Average assets (in millions)

$

5,829

$

26

$

722

$

(726

)

$

5,851

NOTE 12. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

As of March 31, 2015, the Company held derivatives with a total notional amount of $1.1 billion.  That amount included $300.0 million in forward starting interest rate swap derivatives that were designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes.  The Company also had economic hedges and non-hedging derivatives totaling $724.1 million and $68.4 million, respectively, which are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes and are therefore recorded at fair value.  Economic hedges included interest rate swaps totaling $585.6 million, risk participation agreements with dealer banks of $49.0 million, and $89.4 million in forward commitment contracts.

As part of the Company’s risk management strategy, the Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to mitigate the interest rate risk inherent in certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities. Interest rate swap

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Table of Contents

agreements involve the risk of dealing with both Bank customers and institutional derivative counterparties and their ability to meet contractual terms. The agreements are entered into with counterparties that meet established credit standards and contain master netting and collateral provisions protecting the at-risk party. The derivatives program is overseen by the Risk Management Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Based on adherence to the Company’s credit standards and the presence of the netting and collateral provisions, the Company believes that the credit risk inherent in these contracts was not significant at March 31, 2015.

The Company pledged collateral to derivative counterparties in the form of cash totaling $5.3 million and securities with an amortized cost of $27.5 million and a fair value of $27.7 million as of March 31, 2015. The Company does not typically require its commercial customers to post cash or securities as collateral on its program of back-to-back economic hedges. However certain language is written into the International Swaps Dealers Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) and loan documents where, in default situations, the Bank is allowed to access collateral supporting the loan relationship to recover any losses suffered on the derivative asset or liability. The Company may need to post additional collateral in the future in proportion to potential increases in unrealized loss positions.

Information about derivative assets and liabilities at March 31, 2015, follows:

Weighted

Weighted Average Rate

Estimated

Notional

Average

Contract

Fair Value

Amount

Maturity

Received

pay rate

Asset (Liability)

(In thousands)

(In years)

(In thousands)

Cash flow hedges:

Forward-starting interest rate swaps on FHLBB borrowings

$

300,000

4.0

0.00

%

2.29

%

$

(7,200

)

Total cash flow hedges

300,000

(7,200

)

Economic hedges:

Interest rate swap on tax advantaged economic development bond

12,412

14.7

0.52

%

5.09

%

(2,799

)

Interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers

286,590

6.0

2.19

%

4.59

%

(15,405

)

Reverse interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers

286,590

6.0

4.59

%

2.19

%

15,444

Risk Participation Agreements with Dealer Banks

49,038

15.9

(100

)

Forward sale commitments

89,432

0.2

(388

)

Total economic hedges

724,062

(3,248

)

Non-hedging derivatives:

Interest rate lock commitments

68,374

0.2

977

Total non-hedging derivatives

68,374

977

Total

$

1,092,436

$

(9,471

)

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Table of Contents

Information about derivative assets and liabilities at December 31, 2014, follows:

Weighted

Weighted Average Rate

Estimated

Notional

Average

Contract

Fair Value

Amount

Maturity

Received

pay rate

Asset (Liability)

(In thousands)

(In years)

(In thousands)

Cash flow hedges:

Forward-starting interest rate swaps on FHLBB borrowings

$

300,000

4.3

0.00

%

2.29

%

$

(3,299

)

Total cash flow hedges

300,000

(3,299

)

Economic hedges:

Interest rate swap on tax advantaged economic development bond

12,554

14.9

0.52

%

5.09

%

(2,578

)

Interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers

297,158

6.0

2.23

%

4.54

%

(12,183

)

Reverse interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers

297,158

6.0

4.54

%

2.23

%

12,221

Risk participation agreements with dealer banks

45,842

16.6

(91

)

Forward sale commitments

42,366

0.2

(510

)

Total economic hedges

695,078

(3,141

)

Non-hedging derivatives:

Interest rate lock commitments

39,589

0.2

625

Total non-hedging derivatives

39,589

625

Total

$

1,034,667

$

(5,815

)

Cash flow hedges

The effective portion of unrealized changes in the fair value of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges is reported in other comprehensive income and subsequently reclassified to earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction is forecasted to affect earnings. Each quarter, the Company assesses the effectiveness of each hedging relationship by comparing the changes in cash flows of the derivative hedging instrument with the changes in cash flows of the designated hedged item or transaction. The ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings.

The Company has entered into six forward-starting interest rate swap contracts with a combined notional value of $300.0 million as of March 31, 2015.  The six forward starting swaps will become effective in 2016.  All have durations of three years. This hedge strategy converts the one month rolling FHLBB borrowings based on the FHLBB’s one month fixed interest rate to fixed interest rates, thereby protecting the Company from floating interest rate variability.

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Amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Income and in the other comprehensive income section of the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (related to interest rate derivatives designated as hedges of cash flows), were as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Interest rate swaps on FHLBB borrowings:

Unrealized (loss) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss

$

(3,901

)

$

(785

)

Reclassification of unrealized loss from accumulated other comprehensive income to other non-interest income for termination of swaps

8,630

Reclassification of unrealized deferred tax benefit from accumulated other comprehensive income to tax expense for terminated swaps

(3,611

)

Net tax benefit on items recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income

1,572

314

Interest rate swaps on junior subordinated debentures:

Unrealized loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income

(1

)

Reclassification of unrealized loss from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense

129

Net tax expense on items recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income

(51

)

Other comprehensive loss recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of reclassification adjustments and tax effects

$

(2,329

)

$

(3,815

)

Net interest expense recognized in interest expense on junior subordinated notes

$

$

129

Hedge ineffectiveness on interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges was immaterial to the Company’s financial statements during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate liabilities. During the next twelve months, the Company does not anticipate any such reclassifications.

As a result of the branch acquisition, in the first quarter of 2014, the Company initiated and subsequently terminated all of its interest rate swaps, with various institutions, associated with FHLB advances with 3-month LIBOR based floating interest rates with an aggregate notional amount of $30 million, all of its interest rate swaps associated with 90 day rolling FHLB advances issued using the FHLB’s 3-month fixed interest rate with an aggregate notional amount of $145 million and all of its forward-starting interest rate swaps associated with 90 day rolling FHLB advances issued using the FHLB’s 3-month fixed interest rate with an aggregate notional amount of $235 million. In the first quarter of 2014, the Company elected to extinguish $215 million of FHLB advances related to the terminated swaps. As a result the Company reclassified $8.6 million of losses from the effective portion of the unrealized changes in the fair value of the terminated derivatives from other comprehensive income to non-interest income as the forecasted transactions to the related FHLB advances will not occur.

Economic hedges

As of March 31, 2015, the Company has an interest rate swap with a $12.4 million notional amount to swap out the fixed rate of interest on an economic development bond bearing a fixed rate of 5.09%, currently within the Company’s trading portfolio under the fair value option, in exchange for a LIBOR-based floating rate. The intent of the economic hedge is to improve the Company’s asset sensitivity to changing interest rates in anticipation of favorable average floating rates of interest over the 21-year life of the bond.  The fair value changes of the economic development bond are mostly offset by fair value changes of the related interest rate swap.

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The Company also offers certain derivative products directly to qualified commercial borrowers.  The Company economically hedges derivative transactions executed with commercial borrowers by entering into mirror-image, offsetting derivatives with third-party financial institutions.  The transaction allows the Company’s customer to convert a variable-rate loan to a fixed rate loan. Because the Company acts as an intermediary for its customer, changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts mostly offset each other in earnings. Credit valuation adjustments arising from the difference in credit worthiness of the commercial loan and financial institution counterparties totaled $38.6 thousand as of March 31, 2015.  The interest income and expense on these mirror image swaps exactly offset each other.

The Company has risk participation agreements with dealer banks. Risk participation agreements occur when the Company participates on a loan and a swap where another bank is the lead.  The Company gets paid a fee to take on the risk associated with having to make the lead bank whole on Berkshire’s portion of the pro-rated swap should the borrower default. Changes in fair value are recorded in current period earnings.

The Company utilizes forward sale commitments to hedge interest rate risk and the associated effects on the fair value of interest rate lock commitments and loans held for sale.  The forward sale commitments are accounted for as derivatives with changes in fair value recorded in current period earnings.

The Company uses the following types of forward sale commitments contracts:

· Best efforts loan sales,

· Mandatory delivery loan sales, and

· To Be Announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities sales.

A best efforts contract refers to a loan sale agreement where the Company commits to deliver an individual mortgage loan of a specified principal amount and quality to an investor if the loan to the underlying borrower closes.  The Company may enter into a best efforts contract once the price is known, which is shortly after the potential borrower’s interest rate is locked.

A mandatory delivery contract is a loan sale agreement where the Company commits to deliver a certain principal amount of mortgage loans to an investor at a specified price on or before a specified date.  Generally, the Company may enter into mandatory delivery contracts shortly after the loan closes with a customer.

The Company may sell TBA mortgage-backed securities to hedge the changes in fair value of interest rate lock commitments and held for sale loans, which do not have corresponding best efforts or mandatory delivery contracts.  These security sales transactions are closed once mandatory contracts are written.  On the closing date the price of the security is locked-in, and the sale is paired-off with a purchase of the same security.  Settlement of the security purchase/sale transaction is done with cash on a net-basis.

Non-hedging derivatives

The Company enters into interest rate lock commitments (“IRLCs”) for residential mortgage loans, which commit the Company to lend funds to a potential borrower at a specific interest rate and within a specified period of time.  IRLCs that relate to the origination of mortgage loans that will be held for sale are considered derivative financial instruments under applicable accounting guidance.  Outstanding IRLCs expose the Company to the risk that the price of the mortgage loans underlying the commitments may decline due to increases in mortgage interest rates from inception of the rate lock to the funding of the loan.  The IRLCs are free-standing derivatives which are carried at fair value with changes recorded in noninterest income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income.  Changes in the fair value of IRLCs subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time.

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Table of Contents

Amounts included in the Consolidated Statements of Income related to economic hedges and non-hedging derivatives were as follows:

Three Months Ended March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Economic hedges

Interest rate swap on industrial revenue bond:

Unrealized (loss) gain recognized in other non-interest income

$

(271

)

$

(381

)

Interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers:

Unrealized (loss) gain recognized in other non-interest income

(3,114

)

187

Reverse interest rate swaps on loans with commercial loan customers:

Unrealized loss recognized in other non-interest income

3,114

(187

)

Favorable (Unfavorable) change in credit valuation adjustment recognized in other non-interest income

1

7

Risk Participation Agreements:

Unrealized loss recognized in other non-interest income

(9

)

Forward Commitments:

Unrealized loss recognized in other non-interest income

(388

)

(108

)

Realized loss in other non-interest income

(91

)

(164

)

Non-hedging derivatives

Interest rate lock commitments

Unrealized gain recognized in other non-interest income

$

977

$

377

Realized gain in other non-interest income

755

469

Assets and Liabilities Subject to Enforceable Master Netting Arrangements

Interest Rate Swap Agreements (“Swap Agreements”)

The Company enters into swap agreements to facilitate the risk management strategies for commercial banking customers. The Company mitigates this risk by entering into equal and offsetting swap agreements with highly rated third party financial institutions. The swap agreements are free-standing derivatives and are recorded at fair value in the Company’s consolidated statements of condition. The Company is party to master netting arrangements with its financial institution counterparties; however, the Company does not offset assets and liabilities under these arrangements for financial statement presentation purposes. The master netting arrangements provide for a single net settlement of all swap agreements, as well as collateral, in the event of default on, or termination of, any one contract. Collateral generally in the form of marketable securities is received or posted by the counterparty with net liability positions, respectively, in accordance with contract thresholds.  The Company had net asset positions with its commercial banking counterparties totaling $15.4 million and $12.3 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  The Company had net liability positions with its financial institution counterparties totaling $25.5 million and $18.2 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.  At March 31, 2015, the Company did not have a net liability position with its commercial banking counterparties, compared to a $0.1 million liability at December 31, 2014.  The collateral posted by the Company that covered liability positions was $25.5 million and $18.2 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

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The following table presents the assets and liabilities subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets

Net Amounts

Gross

Gross Amounts

of Assets

Gross Amounts Not Offset in

Amounts of

Offset in the

Presented in the

the Statements of Condition

Recognized

Statements of

Statements of

Financial

Cash

(in thousands)

Assets

Condition

Condition

Instruments

Collateral Received

Net Amount

As of March 31, 2015

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:

Institutional counterparties

$

42

$

$

42

$

$

$

42

Commercial counterparties

15,444

15,444

15,444

Total

$

15,486

$

$

15,486

$

$

$

15,486

Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities

Net Amounts

Gross

Gross Amounts

of Liabilities

Gross Amounts Not Offset in

Amounts of

Offset in the

Presented in the

the Statements of Condition

Recognized

Statements of

Statements of

Financial

Cash

(in thousands)

Liabilities

Condition

Condition

Instruments

Collateral Pledged

Net Amount

As of March 31, 2015

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:

Institutional counterparties

$

(25,546

)

$

$

(25,546

)

$

20,456

$

5,090

$

Commercial counterparties

Total

$

(25,546

)

$

$

(25,546

)

$

20,456

$

5,090

$

Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets

Net Amounts

Gross

Gross Amounts

of Assets

Gross Amounts Not Offset in

Amounts of

Offset in the

Presented in the

the Statements of Condition

Recognized

Statements of

Statements of

Financial

Cash

(in thousands)

Assets

Condition

Condition

Instruments

Collateral Received

Net Amount

As of December 31, 2014

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:

Institutional counterparties

$

23

$

$

23

$

$

$

23

Commercial counterparties

12,270

12,270

12,270

Total

$

12,293

$

$

12,293

$

$

$

12,293

Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities

Net Amounts

Gross

Gross Amounts

of Liabilities

Gross Amounts Not Offset in

Amounts of

Offset in the

Presented in the

the Statements of Condition

Recognized

Statements of

Statements of

Financial

Cash

(in thousands)

Liabilities

Condition

Condition

Instruments

Collateral Pledged

Net Amount

As of December 31, 2014

Interest Rate Swap Agreements:

Institutional counterparties

$

(18,232

)

$

58

$

(18,174

)

$

14,984

$

3,190

$

Commercial counterparties

(50

)

(50

)

(50

)

Total

$

(18,282

)

$

58

$

(18,224

)

$

14,984

$

3,190

$

(50

)

NOTE 13. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below. These valuation methodologies were applied to all of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are carried at fair value.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The following table summarizes financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value.

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Table of Contents

March 31, 2015

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

(In thousands)

Inputs

Inputs

Inputs

Fair Value

Trading security

$

$

$

14,970

$

14,970

Available-for-sale securities:

Municipal bonds and obligations

155,450

155,450

Governmentguaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

65,039

65,039

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

762,421

762,421

Corporate bonds

55,357

55,357

Trust preferred securities

13,427

13,427

Other bonds and obligations

3,196

3,196

Marketable equity securities

43,690

357

719

44,766

Loans held for sale

29,305

29,305

Derivative assets

15,444

977

16,421

Derivative liabilities

295

25,504

93

25,892

December 31, 2014

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

(In thousands)

Inputs

Inputs

Inputs

Fair Value

Trading security

$

$

$

14,909

$

14,909

Available-for-sale securities:

Municipal bonds and obligations

133,699

133,699

Government guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities

69,468

69,468

Government-sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities

760,184

760,184

Corporate bonds

54,151

54,151

Trust preferred securities

14,667

1,548

16,215

Other bonds and obligations

3,159

3,159

Marketable equity securities

53,806

358

778

54,942

Loans Held for Sale

19,493

19,493

Derivative assets

12,328

625

12,953

Derivative liabilities

417

18,259

93

18,769

There were no transfers between levels during the three months ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.

Trading Security at Fair Value . The Company holds one security designated as a trading security. It is a tax advantaged economic development bond issued to the Company by a local nonprofit which provides wellness and health programs. The determination of the fair value for this security is determined based on a discounted cash flow methodology. Certain inputs to the fair value calculation are unobservable and there is little to no market activity in the security; therefore, the security meets the definition of a Level 3 security.  The discount rate used in the valuation of the security is sensitive to movements in the 3-month LIBOR rate.

Securities Available for Sale . AFS securities classified as Level 1 consist of publicly-traded equity securities for which the fair values can be obtained through quoted market prices in active exchange markets. AFS securities classified as Level 2 include most of the Company’s debt securities. The pricing on Level 2 was primarily sourced from third party pricing services, overseen by management, and is based on models that consider standard input factors such as dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and condition, among other things. The Company owns one privately owned equity security classified as Level 3. The security’s fair value is determined through unobservable issuer-provided financial information and a pricing model utilizing peer data.

Loans held for sale. The Company elected the fair value option for all loans held for sale (HFS) originated on or after May 1, 2012.  Loans HFS are classified as Level 2 as the fair value is based on input factors such as quoted prices for similar loans in active markets.

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Table of Contents

Aggregate Fair Value

March 31, 2015

Aggregate

Aggregate

Less Aggregate

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Unpaid Principal

Unpaid Principal

Loans Held for Sale

$

29,305

$

28,483

$

822

Aggregate Fair Value

December 31, 2014

Aggregate

Aggregate

Less Aggregate

(In thousands)

Fair Value

Unpaid Principal

Unpaid Principal

Loans Held for Sale

$

19,493

$

18,885

$

608

The changes in fair value of loans held for sale for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, were gains of $214 thousand and $409 thousand, respectively.  The changes in fair value are included in mortgage banking income in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Derivative Assets and Liabilities.

Interest Rate Swap. The valuation of the Company’s interest rate swaps is obtained from a third-party pricing service and is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. The pricing analysis is based on observable inputs for the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity and interest rate curves.

The Company incorporates credit valuation adjustments to appropriately reflect both its own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in the fair value measurements.  In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the Company has considered the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings.

Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its interest rate derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties.  However, as of March 31, 2015, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative positions and has determined that the credit valuation adjustments are not significant to the overall valuation of its derivatives. As a result, the Company has determined that its derivative valuations in their entirety are classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Interest Rate Lock Commitments. The Company enters into IRLCs for residential mortgage loans, which commit the Company to lend funds to a potential borrower at a specific interest rate and within a specified period of time.  The estimated fair value of commitments to originate residential mortgage loans for sale is based on quoted prices for similar loans in active markets. However, this value is adjusted by a factor which considers the likelihood that the loan in a lock position will ultimately close, and by the non-refundable costs of originating the loan.  The closing ratio is derived from the Bank’s internal data and is adjusted using significant management judgment.  The costs to originate are primarily based on the Company’s internal commission rates that are not observable. As such, IRLCs are classified as Level 3 measurements.

Forward Sale Commitments . The Company utilizes forward sale commitments as economic hedges against potential changes in the values of the IRLCs and loans held for sale.  To Be Announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities forward commitment sales are used as the hedging instrument, are classified as Level 1, and consist of publicly-traded debt securities for which identical fair values can be obtained through quoted market prices in active exchange markets.  The fair values of the Company’s best efforts and mandatory delivery loan sale commitments are determined similarly to the IRLCs using quoted prices in the market place that are observable.  However, costs to originate and closing ratios included in the calculation are internally generated and are based on management’s judgment and prior experience, which are considered factors that are not observable.  As such, best efforts and mandatory forward commitments are classified as Level 3 measurements.

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Table of Contents

The table below presents the changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

Assets (Liabilities)

Securities

Interest Rate

Trading

Available

Lock

Forward

(In thousands)

Security

for Sale

Commitments

Commitments

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

Balance as of December 31, 2014

$

14,909

$

2,326

$

625

$

(93

)

Sale of AFS Security

(1,327

)

Unrealized (loss) gain, net recognized in other non-interest income

203

1,730

Unrealized gain included in accumulated other comprehensive loss

(280

)

Paydown of trading security

(142

)

Transfers to held for sale loans

(1,378

)

Balance as of March 31, 2015

$

14,970

$

719

$

977

$

(93

)

Unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at March 31, 2015

$

2,558

$

(51

)

$

977

$

(93

)

Assets (Liabilities)

Securities

Interest Rate

Trading

Available

Lock

Forward

(In thousands)

Security

for Sale

Commitments

Commitments

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

Balance as of December 31, 2013

$

14,840

$

1,964

$

258

$

19

Purchase of Marketable Equity Security

Unrealized (loss) gain, net recognized in other non-interest income

218

719

(115

)

Unrealized gain included in accumulated other comprehensive loss

82

Paydown of trading account security

(135

)

Transfers to held for sale loans

(600

)

Balance as of March 31, 2014

$

14,923

$

2,046

$

377

$

(96

)

Unrealized gains (losses) relating to instruments still held at March 31, 2014

$

1,962

$

(1,288

)

$

377

$

(96

)

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Table of Contents

Quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs within Level 3 recurring assets and liabilities is as follows:

Fair Value

Significant
Unobservable Input

(In thousands)

March 31, 2015

Valuation Techniques

Unobservable Inputs

Value

Assets (Liabilities)

Trading Security

$

14,970

Discounted Cash Flow

Discount Rate

2.34

%

AFS Securities

719

Pricing Model

Median Peer Price/Tangible Book Value Percentage Multiple

93.35

%

Forward Commitments

(93

)

Historical Trend

Closing Ratio

89.54

%

Pricing Model

Origination Costs, per loan

$

2,500

Interest Rate Lock Commitment

977

Historical Trend

Closing Ratio

89.54

%

Pricing Model

Origination Costs, per loan

$

2,500

Total

$

16,573

Fair Value

Significant
Unobservable Input

(In thousands)

December 31, 2014

Valuation Techniques

Unobservable Inputs

Value

Assets (Liabilities)

Trading Security

$

14,909

Discounted Cash Flow

Discount Rate

2.60

%

AFS Securities

2,326

Discounted Cash Flow

Discount Rate

13.74

%

Credit Spread

11.06

%

Forward Commitments

(93

)

Historical Trend

Closing Ratio

91.07

%

Pricing Model

Origination Costs, per loan

$

2,500

Interest Rate Lock Commitment

625

Historical Trend

Closing Ratio

91.07

%

Pricing Model

Origination Costs, per loan

$

2,500

Total

$

17,767

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company is required, on a non-recurring basis, to adjust the carrying value or provide valuation allowances for certain assets using fair value measurements in accordance with GAAP. The following is a summary of applicable non-recurring fair value measurements. There are no liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

March 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

Three months ended
March 31, 2015

Level 3

Level 3

Total

(In thousands)

Inputs

Inputs

Gains (Losses)

Assets

Impaired loans

$

6,111

$

5,820

$

292

Capitalized mortgage servicing rights

3,871

3,757

Other real estate owned

1,444

2,049

(155

)

Total

$

11,426

$

11,626

$

137

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Quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs within Level 3 non-recurring assets is as follows:

Fair Value

(in thousands)

March 31, 2015

Valuation Techniques

Unobservable Inputs

Range (Weighted Average) (a)

Assets

Impaired loans

$

6,111

Fair value of collateral

Loss severity

3.78% to 53.08% (23.5%)

Appraised value

$139.5 to $1,600.0 ($981.7)

Capitalized mortgage servicing rights

3,871

Discounted cash flow

Constant prepayment rate (CPR)

8.2% to 19.85% (11.05%)

Discount rate

10.00% to 13.00% (10.42%)

Other real estate owned

1,444

Fair value of collateral

Appraised value

$57 to $700.0 ($470.7)

Total

$

11,426


(a) Where dollar amounts are disclosed, the amounts represent the lowest and highest fair value of the respective assets in the population except for adjustments for market/property conditions, which represents the range of adjustments to individuals properties.

Fair Value

(in thousands)

December 31, 2014

Valuation Techniques

Unobservable Inputs

Range (Weighted Average) (a)

Assets

Impaired loans

$

5,820

Fair value of collateral

Loss severity

0.31% to 38.7% (12.65%)

Appraised value

$5 to $1,600.0 ($912.7)

Capitalized mortgage servicing rights

3,757

Discounted cash flow

Constant prepayment rate (CPR)

7.83% to 19.00% (9.92%)

Discount rate

10.00% to 13.00% (10.43%)

Other real estate owned

2,049

Fair value of collateral

Appraised value

$57 to $700.0 ($462.6)

Total

$

11,626


(a) Where dollar amounts are disclosed, the amounts represent the lowest and highest fair value of the respective assets in the population except for adjustments for market/property conditions, which represents the range of adjustments to individuals properties.

There were no Level 1 or Level 2 nonrecurring fair value measurements for the periods ended March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Impaired Loans. Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Periodically, the Company records non-recurring adjustments to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans. Non-recurring adjustments can also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan.  Real estate collateral is typically valued using appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assumptions generally observable in the marketplace.  However, the choice of observable data is subject to significant judgment, and there are often adjustments based on judgment in order to make observable data comparable and to consider the impact of time, the condition of properties, interest rates, and other market factors on current values.  Additionally, commercial real estate appraisals frequently involve discounting of projected cash flows, which relies inherently on unobservable data.  Therefore, nonrecurring fair value measurement adjustments that relate to real estate collateral have generally been classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value for other collateral that supports commercial loans are generally based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and therefore such valuations have been classified as Level 3.

Capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights . A loan servicing right asset represents the amount by which the present value of the estimated future net cash flows to be received from servicing loans exceed adequate compensation for performing the servicing. The fair value of servicing rights is estimated using a present value cash flow model. The most important assumptions used in the valuation model are the anticipated rate of the loan prepayments and discount rates. Adjustments are only recorded when the discounted cash flows derived from the valuation model are less than the carrying value of the asset. Although some assumptions in determining fair value are based on standards used by market participants, some are based on unobservable inputs and therefore are classified in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

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Other real estate owned (“OREO”). OREO results from the foreclosure process on residential or commercial loans issued by the Bank. Upon assuming the real estate, the Company records the property at the fair value of the asset less the estimated sales costs. Thereafter, OREO properties are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value less the estimated sales costs. OREO fair values are primarily determined based on Level 3 data including sales comparables and appraisals.

Summary of Estimated Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The estimated fair values, and related carrying amounts, of the Company’s financial instruments follow. Certain financial instruments and all non-financial instruments are excluded from disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented herein may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Company.

March 31, 2015

Carrying

Fair

(In thousands)

Amount

Value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Financial Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

62,214

$

62,214

$

62,214

$

$

Trading security

14,970

14,970

14,970

Securities available for sale

1,099,656

1,099,656

43,690

1,055,247

719

Securities held to maturity

42,818

44,744

44,744

FHLB bank stock and restricted securities

58,734

58,734

58,734

Net loans

4,692,377

4,736,177

4,736,177

Loans held for sale

29,305

29,305

29,305

Accrued interest receivable

17,786

17,786

17,786

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies

105,302

105,302

105,302

Derivative assets

16,421

16,421

15,444

977

Assets held for sale

1,266

1,266

1,266

Financial Liabilities

Total deposits

$

4,719,683

$

4,720,914

$

4,720,914

$

Short-term debt

894,500

894,675

894,675

Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances

61,618

63,273

63,273

Subordinated borrowings

89,765

94,062

94,062

Derivative liabilities

25,892

25,892

295

25,504

93

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December 31, 2014

Carrying

Fair

(In thousands)

Amount

Value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Financial Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

71,754

$

71,754

$

71,754

$

$

Trading security

14,909

14,909

14,909

Securities available for sale

1,091,818

1,091,818

5,806

1,035,686

2,326

Securities held to maturity

43,347

44,997

44,997

FHLB bank stock and restricted securities

55,720

55,720

55,720

Net loans

4,644,938

4,695,256

4,695,256

Loans held for sale

19,493

19,493

19,493

Accrued interest receivable

17,274

17,274

17,274

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance policies

104,588

104,588

104,588

Derivative assets

12,953

12,953

12,328

625

Assets held for sale

1,280

1,280

1,280

Financial Liabilities

Total deposits

$

4,654,679

$

4,655,234

$

$

4,655,234

$

Short-term debt

900,900

900,983

900,983

Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances

61,676

63,283

63,283

Subordinated borrowings

89,747

93,441

93,441

Derivative liabilities

18,769

18,769

417

18,259

93

Other than as discussed above, the following methods and assumptions were used by management to estimate the fair value of significant classes of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Cash and cash equivalents. Carrying value is assumed to represent fair value for cash and cash equivalents that have original maturities of ninety days or less.

FHLB bank stock and restricted securities. Carrying value approximates fair value based on the redemption provisions of the issuers.

Cash surrender value of life insurance policies. Carrying value approximates fair value.

Loans, net. The carrying value of the loans in the loan portfolio is based on the cash flows of the loans discounted over their respective loan origination rates. The origination rates are adjusted for substandard and special mention loans to factor the impact of declines in the loan’s credit standing. The fair value of the loans is estimated by discounting future cash flows using the current interest rates at which similar loans with similar terms would be made to borrowers of similar credit quality.

Accrued interest receivable. Carrying value approximates fair value.

Deposits. The fair value of demand, non-interest bearing checking, savings and money market deposits is determined as the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of time deposits is estimated by discounting the estimated future cash flows using market rates offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

Borrowed funds. The fair value of borrowed funds is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using market rates for similar borrowings.  Such funds include all categories of debt and debentures in the table above.

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Subordinated borrowings. The Company utilizes a pricing service along with internal models to estimate the valuation of its junior subordinated debentures. The junior subordinated debentures re-price every ninety days.

Off-balance-sheet financial instruments. Off-balance-sheet financial instruments include standby letters of credit and other financial guarantees and commitments considered immaterial to the Company’s financial statements.

NOTE 14. NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

Presented below is net interest income after provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Three Months Ended

March 31,

(In thousands)

2015

2014

Net interest income

$

45,493

$

42,766

Provision for loan losses

3,851

3,396

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

$

41,642

$

39,370

NOTE 15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On April 17, 2015, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Hampden Bancorp, Inc. (“Hampden”). Hampden Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Hampden, had 10 banking offices providing a range of services in the Springfield area and has merged with and into Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.

Excluding Hampden shares held by Berkshire, Hampden shareholders received 4.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock. As of April 17, 2015, Hampden, on a consolidated basis, had assets with a carrying value of approximately $687.8 million, including loans outstanding with a carrying value of approximately $501.0 million, as well as deposits with a carrying value of approximately $482.1 million. The results of Hampden’s operations will be included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income from the date of acquisition. The Company incurred $3.3 million of merger and acquisition expenses related to the Hampden and Hampden Bank merger for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Excluding the $3.3 million of merger and acquisition expenses, this merger agreement had no significant effect on the Company’s financial statements for the periods presented

As a result of the proximity of the closing of the merger with Hampden to the date these consolidated financial statements are available to be issued, the Company is still evaluating the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Accordingly, the amount of any goodwill and other intangible assets to be recognized in connection with this transaction is also yet to be determined.

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

GENERAL

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this document and with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the following discussion, income statement comparisons are against the same period of the previous year and balance sheet comparisons are against the previous fiscal year-end, unless otherwise noted. Operating results discussed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year 2015 or any future period. In management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, certain reclassifications have been made to make prior periods comparable. Tax-equivalent adjustments are the result of increasing income from tax-advantaged securities by an amount equal to the taxes that would be paid if the income were fully taxable based on a 40.5% marginal income tax rate.  In the discussion, references to earnings per share refer to diluted earnings per share unless otherwise specified.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp (“Berkshire” or “the Company”) is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and the holding company for Berkshire Bank (“the Bank”) and Berkshire Insurance Group.  Established in 1846, the Bank operates as a commercial bank under a Massachusetts trust company charter.  The Bank is one of Massachusetts’ oldest and largest independent banks and is the largest banking institution based in Western Massachusetts.  Berkshire Bank operates under the brand America’s Most Exciting Bank ® .

On April 17, 2015 Berkshire completed the acquisition of Springfield, MA. based Hampden Bancorp, Inc. (“Hampden’).  Hampden’s operations will be included with Berkshire’s results following the acquisition date.  As of March 31, 2015, Hampden had $710 million in total assets, $508 million in loans, and $501 million in deposits.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, Hampden’s unaudited results of operations included $5.27 million in net interest income, $0.80 million in non-interest income, and $4.17 million in operating non-interest expense.  Hampden operated ten branches in the Springfield area and it is planned that three of these branches will be consolidated with existing Berkshire branches when the systems integration is completed in the latter part of June.  On completion of these consolidations, the Company expects to have 17 total branches in the Springfield area, including existing Berkshire branches.  The Company issued approximately 4.2 million net shares as merger consideration, bringing its total shares outstanding to approximately 29.5 million shares.

Berkshire is a regional financial services company that seeks to distinguish itself over the long term based on the following attributes:

· Strong growth from organic, de novo, product, and acquisition strategies

· Solid capital, core funding, and risk management culture

· Experienced executive team focused on earnings and stockholder value

· Distinctive brand and culture as America’s Most Exciting Bank ®

· Diversified integrated financial service revenues

· Positioned to be regional consolidator in attractive markets

Shown below is a profile of the Company including Hampden Bancorp, which was acquired on April 17, 2015.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this document that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (referred to as the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (referred to as the Securities Exchange Act), and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements from the use of the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “potential,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “target” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including among other things, changes in general economic and business conditions, increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, legislative and regulatory change, changes in the financial markets, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed from time to time in documents that Berkshire Hills Bancorp files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and the Risk Factors in Item 1A of this report.  Because of these and other uncertainties, Berkshire’s actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, Berkshire’s past results of operations do not necessarily indicate Berkshire’s combined future results.  You should not place undue reliance on any of the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the dates on which they were made.  Berkshire is not undertaking an obligation to update forward-looking statements, even though its situation may change in the future, except as required under federal securities law. Berkshire qualifies all of its forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES, AND RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q and in the most recent Form 10-K.  Please see those policies in conjunction with this discussion. The accounting and reporting policies followed by the Company conform, in all material respects, to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. While the Company bases estimates on historical experience, current information and other factors deemed to be relevant, actual results could differ from those estimates.

The SEC defines “critical accounting policies” as those that require application of management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain and may change in future periods. Please see those policies in conjunction with this

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discussion. Management believes that the following policies would be considered critical under the SEC’s definition:

Allowance for Loan Losses . The allowance for loan losses represents probable credit losses that are inherent in the loan portfolio at the financial statement date and which may be estimated.  Management uses historical information, as well as current economic data, to assess the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses as it is affected by changing economic conditions and various external factors, which may impact the portfolio in ways currently unforeseen. Although management believes that it uses appropriate available information to establish the allowance for loan losses, future additions to the allowance may be necessary if certain future events occur that cause actual results to differ from the assumptions used in making the evaluation. Conditions in the local economy and real estate values could require the Company to increase provisions for loan losses, which would negatively impact earnings.

Acquired Loans. Loans that the Company acquired in business combinations are initially recorded at fair value with no carryover of the related allowance for credit losses. Determining the fair value of the loans involves estimating the amount and timing of principal and interest cash flows initially expected to be collected on the loans and discounting those cash flows at an appropriate market rate of interest. Going forward, the Company continues to evaluate reasonableness of expectations for the timing and the amount of cash to be collected. Subsequent decreases in expected cash flows may result in changes in the amortization or accretion of fair market value adjustments, and in some cases may result in the loan being considered impaired.  For collateral dependent loans with deteriorated credit quality, the Company estimates the fair value of the underlying collateral of the loans.  These values are discounted using market derived rates of return, with consideration given to the period of time and costs associated with the foreclosure and disposition of the collateral.

Income Taxes. Significant management judgment is required in determining income tax expense and deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes in which deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The realization of the net deferred tax asset generally depends upon future levels of taxable income and the existence of prior years’ taxable income, to which “carry back” refund claims could be made. A valuation allowance is maintained for deferred tax assets that management estimates are more likely than not to be unrealizable based on available evidence at the time the estimate is made. In determining the valuation allowance, the Company uses historical and forecasted future operating results, based upon approved business plans, including a review of the eligible carry-forward periods, tax planning opportunities and other relevant considerations. These underlying assumptions can change from period to period. For example, tax law changes or variances in future projected operating performance could result in a change in the valuation allowance. Should actual factors and conditions differ materially from those considered by management, the actual realization of the net deferred tax asset could differ materially from the amounts recorded in the financial statements. If the Company is not able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance would be charged to income tax expense in the period such determination is made.

Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets. Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets are recorded as a result of business acquisitions and combinations. These assets are evaluated for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. When these assets are evaluated for impairment, if the carrying amount exceeds fair value, an impairment charge is recorded to income. The fair value is based on observable market prices, when practicable. Other valuation techniques may be used when market prices are unavailable, including estimated discounted cash flows and analysis of market pricing multiples.  These types of analyses contain uncertainties because they require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate industry economic factors and the profitability of future business strategies. In the event of future changes in fair value, the Company may be exposed to an impairment charge that could be material.

Determination of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment of Securities. The Company evaluates debt and equity securities within the Company’s available for sale and held to maturity portfolios for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”), at least quarterly. If the fair value of a debt security is below the amortized cost basis of the security, OTTI is required to be recognized if any of the following are met: (1) the Company intends to sell the security; (2) it is “more likely than not” that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of

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its amortized cost basis; or (3) for debt securities, the present value of expected cash flows is not sufficient to recover the entire amortized cost basis. For all impaired debt securities that the Company intends to sell, or more likely than not will be required to sell, the full amount of the loss is recognized as OTTI through earnings. Credit-related OTTI for all other impaired debt securities is recognized through earnings. Noncredit related OTTI for such debt securities is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In evaluating its marketable equity securities portfolios for OTTI, the Company considers its intent and ability to hold an equity security to recovery of its cost basis in addition to various other factors, including the length of time and the extent to which the fair value has been less than cost and the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer.  Any OTTI on marketable equity securities is recognized immediately through earnings. Should actual factors and conditions differ materially from those expected by management, the actual realization of gains or losses on investment securities could differ materially from the amounts recorded in the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The Company uses fair value measurements to record fair value adjustments to certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures. Trading assets, securities available for sale, and derivative instruments are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, the Company may be required to record at fair value other assets on a nonrecurring basis, or to establish a loss allowance or write-down based on the fair value of impaired assets. Further, the notes to financial statements include information about the extent to which fair value is used to measure assets and liabilities, the valuation methodologies used and its impact to earnings.  For financial instruments not recorded at fair value, the notes to financial statements disclose the estimate of their fair value. Due to the judgments and uncertainties involved in the estimation process, the estimates could result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions.

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following summary data is based in part on the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other information appearing elsewhere in this or prior Form 10-Qs.

At or for the Three

Months Ended March 31,

2015

2014

PER COMMON SHARE DATA

Net earnings, diluted

$

0.35

$

(0.04

)

Adjusted earnings, diluted (1)

0.50

0.42

Total common book value

28.36

26.99

Dividends

0.19

0.18

Common stock price:

High

27.92

27.28

Low

24.27

23.95

Close

27.70

25.88

PERFORMANCE RATIOS (2)

Return on average assets

0.54

%

(0.08

)%

Return on average common equity

5.00

(0.64

)

Net interest margin, fully taxable equivalent

3.18

3.35

Fee income/Net interest and fee income

23.25

22.84

ASSET QUALITY RATIOS (3)

Net charge-offs (period annualized)/average loans

0.28

%

0.30

%

Allowance for loan losses/total loans

0.77

0.79

CONDITION RATIOS

Stockholders’ equity to total assets

10.90

%

11.27

%

Investments to total assets

18.51

19.05

Loans/deposits

100

101

FINANCIAL DATA: (In millions)

Total assets

$

6,571

$

6,010

Total earning assets

5,993

5,408

Total investments

1,216

1,145

Total loans

4,729

4,243

Allowance for loan losses

36

34

Total intangible assets

275

280

Total deposits

4,720

4,219

Total borrowings

1,046

1,026

Total common stockholders’ equity

716

678

FOR THE PERIOD: (In thousands)

Net interest income

$

45,493

$

42,766

Non-interest income

12,562

4,423

Provision for loan losses

3,851

3,396

Non-interest expense

45,148

45,360

Net income (loss)

8,759

(1,106

)

Adjusted income (1)

12,374

10,412


(1) Adjusted income and adjusted earnings are non-GAAP financial measures that the Company believes provide investors with information that is useful in understanding our financial performance and condition.

(2) All performance ratios are annualized and are based on average balance sheet amounts, where applicable.

(3) Generally accepted accounting principles require that loans acquired in a business combination be recorded at fair value, whereas loans from business activities are recorded at cost. The fair value of loans acquired in a business combination includes expected loan losses, and there is no loan loss allowance recorded for these loans at the time of acquisition. Accordingly, the ratio of the loan loss allowance to total loans is reduced as a result of the existence of such loans, and this measure is not directly comparable to prior periods. Similarly, net loan charge-offs are normally reduced for loans acquired in a business combination since these loans are recorded net of expected loan losses. Therefore, the ratio of net loan charge-offs to average loans is reduced as a result of the existence of such loans, and this measure is not directly comparable to prior periods. Other institutions may have loans acquired in a business combination, and therefore there may be no direct comparability of these ratios between and among other institutions.

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AVERAGE BALANCES AND AVERAGE YIELDS/RATES

The following table presents average balances and an analysis of average rates and yields on an annualized fully taxable equivalent basis for the periods included.

Three Months Ended March 31,

2015

2014

($ In millions)

Average
Balance

Yield/Rate
(FTE basis)

Average
Balance

Yield/Rate
(FTE basis)

Assets

Loans:

Residential mortgages

$

1,470

3.94

%

$

1,379

4.12

%

Commercial real estate

1,647

4.12

1,420

4.44

Commercial and industrial loans

807

3.70

685

3.97

Consumer loans

765

3.23

700

3.56

Total loans (1)

4,689

3.86

4,184

4.13

Investment securities (2)

1,177

3.10

1,048

3.04

Short term investments and loans held for sale (3)

55

1.40

28

1.51

Total interest-earning assets

5,921

3.67

5,260

3.89

Intangible assets

276

278

Other non-interest earning assets

300

313

Total assets

$

6,497

$

5,851

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

Deposits:

NOW

$

423

0.14

%

$

410

0.15

%

Money market

1,409

0.40

1,490

0.37

Savings

502

0.15

464

0.16

Time

1,420

0.92

1,070

1.15

Total interest-bearing deposits

3,754

0.53

3,434

0.56

Borrowings and notes (4)

1,107

0.85

912

1.03

Total interest-bearing liabilities

4,861

0.61

4,346

0.66

Non-interest-bearing demand deposits

870

750

Other non-interest earning liabilities

65

63

Total liabilities

5,796

5,159

Total stockholders’ equity (2)

701

692

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

6,497

$

5,851

Net interest spread

3.06

%

3.23

%

Net interest margin (5)

3.18

3.35

Cost of funds

0.51

0.56

Cost of deposits

0.43

0.46

Supplementary data

Total deposits (In millions)

$

4,624

$

4,184

Fully taxable equivalent income adj. (In thousands)

889

718


(1) The average balances of loans include nonaccrual loans and deferred fees and costs.

(2) The average balance for securities available for sale is based on amortized cost. The average balance of equity also reflects this adjustment.

(3) Interest income on loans held for sale is included in loan interest income on the income statement.

(4) The average balances of borrowings includes the capital lease obligation presented under other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

(5) Purchased loan accretion totaled $320 thousand and $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

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NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This document contains certain non-GAAP financial measures in addition to results presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”).  These non-GAAP measures are intended to provide the reader with additional supplemental perspectives on operating results, performance trends, and financial condition.  Non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures; they should be read and used in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial information.  A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures is provided below.  In all cases, it should be understood that non-GAAP operating measures do not depict amounts that accrue directly to the benefit of shareholders.  An item which management deems to be non-operating and excludes when computing non-GAAP operating earnings can be of substantial importance to the Company’s results for any particular quarter or year. The Company’s non-GAAP earnings information set forth is not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP information which may be presented by other companies.  Each non-GAAP measure used by the Company in this report as supplemental financial data should be considered in conjunction with the Company’s GAAP financial information.

The Company utilizes the non-GAAP measure of adjusted earnings in evaluating operating trends, including components for operating revenue and expense.  These measures exclude amounts which the Company views as unrelated to its normalized operations, including securities gains/losses, losses recorded for hedge terminations, merger costs, restructuring costs, systems conversion costs, and out-of-period adjustments.  Non-operating adjustments are presented net of an adjustment for income tax expense. This adjustment is determined as the difference between the GAAP tax rate and the effective tax rate applicable to operating income.

Charges related to merger and acquisition activity consist primarily of severance/benefit related expenses, contract termination costs, and professional fees.  Systems conversion costs relate primarily to the Company’s operating systems conversion and related systems conversions costs.   Restructuring costs primarily consist of costs and losses associated with the consolidation of branches and other operating facilities of the Company.  Out-of-period accounting adjustments for interest income on acquired loans were recorded following systems conversions and merger related accounting activity and were deemed non-operating.  Non-operating expenses include variable rate compensation related to non-operating items.

The Company also calculates adjusted earnings per share based on its measure of earnings from ongoing operations.  The Company views these amounts as important to understanding its operating trends, particularly due to the impact of accounting standards related to merger and acquisition activity.  Analysts also rely on these measures in estimating and evaluating the Company’s operating performance.  Management also believes that the computation of non-GAAP adjusted earnings and adjusted earnings per share may facilitate the comparison of the Company to other companies in the financial services industry. The Company adjusts certain equity related measures to exclude intangible assets due to the importance of these measures to the investment community.

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The following table summarizes the reconciliation of non-GAAP items recorded for the time periods and dates indicated:

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES - UNAUDITED - (F-9)

At or for the Quarters Ended

Mar 31,

Mar. 31,

(in thousands)

2015

2014

Net income (loss) (GAAP)

$

8,759

$

(1,106

)

Adj: Gain on sale of securities, net

(34

)

(34

)

Adj: Loss on termination of hedges

8,792

Adj: Merger and acquisition expense

3,275

3,637

Adj: Restructuring and conversion expense

1,146

2,665

Adj: Out-of-period adjustment (1)

1,381

Adj: Income taxes

(772

)

(4,923

)

Total adjusted income (non-GAAP)

(A)

$

12,374

$

10,412

Total revenue (GAAP)

$

58,055

$

47,189

Adj: Gain on sale of securities, net

(34

)

(34

)

Adj: Loss on termination of hedges

8,792

Adj: Out-of-period adjustment (1)

1,381

Total operating revenue (non-GAAP)

(B)

$

58,021

$

57,328

Total non-interest expense (GAAP)

$

45,148

$

45,360

Less: Total non-operating expense (see above)

(4,421

)

(6,302

)

Operating non-interest expense (non-GAAP)

(C)

$

40,727

$

39,058

(in millions, except per share data)

Total average assets

(D)

$

6,497

$

5,851

Total average stockholders’ equity

(E)

701

692

Total average tangible stockholders’ equity

(F)

426

413

Total tangible stockholders’ equity, period-end (2)

(G)

441

398

Total common shares outstanding, period-end (thousands)

(H)

25,253

25,105

Average diluted shares outstanding (thousands) (3)

(I)

24,955

24,833

Adjusted earnings per share, diluted

(A/I)

$

0.50

$

0.42

Tangible book value per share, period-end

(G/H)

$

17.46

$

15.84

Performance ratios (4)

Adjusted return on assets

(A/D)

0.76

%

0.71

%

Adjsuted return on equity

(A/E)

7.06

6.02

Adjusted return on tangible equity (5)

(A/F)

12.14

10.84

Efficiency ratio

(C-L)/(B+J+M)

63.27

64.42

Supplementary data (in thousands)

Tax benefit - tax-advantaged commercial project investments (6)

(J)

$

4,034

$

555

Non-interest income charge - tax-advantaged commercial project investments (7)

(K)

(2,851

)

(417

)

Net income on tax-advantaged commercial project investments

(J+K

)

1,183

138

Intangible amortization

(L)

901

1,306

Fully taxable equivalent income adjustment

(M)

889

718


(1) The out of period adjustment shown above relates to interest income earned on loans acquired in bank acquisitions.

(2) Total tangible stockholders’ equity is computed by taking total stockholders’ equity less the intangible assets at period-end.

(3) Average diluted shares computed for adjusted earnings per share differ from GAAP average diluted shares, in the first quarter of 2014, due to the GAAP net loss compared to adjusted net income for the period.

(4) Ratios are annualized and based on average balance sheet amounts, where applicable. Quarterly data may not sum to year-to-date data due to rounding.

(5) Adjusted return on tangible equity is computed by dividing the total adjusted income adjusted for the tax-affected amortization of intangible assets, assuming a 40% marginal rate, by tangible equity.

(6) The tax benefit is the direct reduction to the income tax provision due to tax credits and deductions generated from investments in historic rehabilitation, low-income housing, new market projects, and renewable energy projects.

(7) The non-interest income charge is the reduction to the tax-advantaged commercial project investments, which are incurred as the tax credits are generated.

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SUMMARY

Berkshire recorded first quarter 2015 earnings of $8.8 million, or $0.35 per share.  First quarter results included $3.6 million in net charges related primarily to the acquisition of Hampden Bancorp and restructuring charges. The company views these charges as non-operating.  The Company’s adjusted earnings were $12.4 million, or $0.50 per share before non-operating items.  Adjusted earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure intended to measure the performance of ongoing operations.  This measure is further described and reconciled to GAAP results in the previous section on non-GAAP financial measures.  Adjusted earnings per share increased by 19% over the first quarter of 2014 due to the expansion of business operations.  Adjusted earnings per share increased by 4% over the fourth quarter of 2014 including the benefits of growth in loans, mortgage originations, and income on tax-advantaged commercial development projects.  Berkshire recorded a loss of $1.1 million, or $0.04 per share, in the first quarter of 2014 due to $11.5 million in net non-operating charges primarily for the acquisition of 20 New York branches and the related loss on the termination of hedges.  Before net non-operating charges, Berkshire’s adjusted earnings in this period totaled $10.4 million, or $0.42 per share.

During the most recent quarter, Berkshire’s Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend to shareholders by 6% to $0.19 per share from $0.18 per share which was in effect throughout 2014.  This dividend equates to a 2.9% annualized yield based on the $26.18 average closing price of Berkshire’s common stock during the first quarter.

First quarter 2015 financial highlights included:

· 14% annualized increase in commercial loans

· 6% annualized increase in deposits

· 11% annualized increase in demand deposits

· 9% increase in fee income (year-over-year)

· 0.36% non-performing assets/assets

· 0.28% annualized net loan charge-offs/average loans

Berkshire continued its momentum of sequential and year-over-year growth in adjusted EPS in the most recent quarter.  The Company also maintained double digit annualized expansion in its focus areas of commercial loans and demand deposits, where it continued to capitalize on the strength of its regional bank franchise.  This contributed to an increase in the net interest margin before purchased loan accretion.  Most categories of fee income also increased year over year as the Company further developed revenue synergies and deepened its market and wallet share.  The Company is maintaining its focus on expense disciplines and efficiency while improving its overall franchise positioning and talent redeployment to better serve its customers.  Berkshire’s goal is to continue to generate positive core operating leverage from revenue synergies and expense management to further improve operating earnings and profitability.

In the most recent quarter, Berkshire announced the recruitment of leadership talent for its Hartford commercial banking team and for its Albany private banking and wealth teams.  Hockey legend Ray Bourque and left wing Milan Lucic joined Berkshire as spokespersons and the Company completed a second successful season in its partnership with NESN (New England Sports Network) as the Official Bank of Boston Bruins coverage on the network, garnering widespread brand recognition and significant business leads.

Berkshire’s acquisition of Springfield-based Hampden Bancorp was completed on April 17, 2015 on schedule.  The Hampden acquisition boosted total assets by approximately 11% to $7.3 billion and total shares outstanding increased to approximately 29.5 million shares. Berkshire’s goal is that the transaction will be accretive to earnings per share, accretive to return on assets, and accretive to equity and tangible equity after merger efficiencies are fully achieved.  Berkshire is also targeting strategic benefits from its new position in the top five for deposit market share in the Springfield MSA and increases in its overall business volume in the Hartford/Springfield market which is the second largest economic area in New England.  Operationally, Berkshire

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will target efficiencies and long run revenue synergies from the product set and capabilities that it can provide to the individuals and businesses in this market.

Hampden operated ten branch offices and the Company plans to consolidate three of these offices with existing offices in the Springfield market, resulting in a net addition of seven offices.  The Company also announced the consolidation of two other offices in the first quarter bringing the total branch count to 96 offices net of these planned consolidations.  The Company continues to review its branch locations with the goal of improving profitability while improving its overall franchise positioning and talent deployment to better serve its customers.  Additional branch consolidations or sales are anticipated during the second quarter.  These changes reflect changing patterns of retail banking customer interaction.  Berkshire has a multichannel strategy to further penetrate and service the retail market.  The Company announced its plan to implement the Apple Pay service for its customers in the second quarter.  The expansion of its small business banking team resulted in Berkshire’s designation as the SBA Lender of the Quarter for being one of the most active SBA lenders in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

During the first quarter, Berkshire expanded its board of directors with the appointment to the board of Paul Bossidy, former President and CEO of GE Capital Solutions.  Pursuant to the Hampden merger agreement, Berkshire recently appointed two former Hampden directors to its board:  Thomas Burton (a former Hampden President and CEO) and Richard Suski (a certified public accountant with a career serving financing institutions in Connecticut and Massachusetts).  Glenn Welch, the Hampden President and CEO, joined Berkshire’s team as an Executive Vice President and will be developing the Company’s business initiatives with other financial institutions in its region.   Additionally, on April 23, 2015, the Board of Directors established two new board committees: the Capital/Risk Management Committee (combining two existing committees) and the Compliance/Regulatory Committee. Following the restructuring, the five standing Board committees include Audit, Capital/Risk Management, Corporate Governance/Nominating, Compensation, and the Compliance/Regulatory Committees.

COMPARISON OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AT MARCH 31, 2015 AND DECEMBER 31, 2014

Summary: Total assets increased at a 4% annualized rate to $6.6 billion in the first quarter due primarily to a 4% annualized increase in total loans funded by a 6% annualized increase in total deposits.  Capital and liquidity ratios remained solid and did not change significantly. Tangible book value per share increased at a 6% annualized rate to $17.46 and total book value per share increased at a 3% annualized rate to $28.36.  With the completion of the Hampden Bancorp merger on April 17, 2015, total assets increased by approximately 11% to $7.3 billion.

Securities: Total investment securities were unchanged at $1.2 billion during the quarter.  Investments in bank capital instruments were reduced as a result of new risk based capital requirements that became effective during the quarter that increased the required support for these investments.  The Company reduced its investment in equity securities and trust preferred securities by $15 million and increased its investment in available for sale municipal bonds by $22 million.  The Company realized $1.4 million in net losses on the sale of bonds which was primarily related to the sale of a pooled trust preferred security which was reported with a $1.0 million unrealized loss at year-end 2014.  The bond losses were offset by $1.4 million in net gains realized on the sale of equity securities.  Due to the decrease in medium and long term interest rates during the quarter, the Company recorded a net unrealized securities gain of $9.3 million in other comprehensive income, and the portfolio had a net unrealized gain of $27 million at (2.4% of cost) quarter-end compared to $18 million (1.6% of cost) at the start of the quarter.  The overall portfolio yield increased to 3.10% in the first quarter of 2015 from 3.00% in the linked quarter and 3.04% in the first quarter of 2014.  During the most recent quarter, measures of yield, duration, and extension risk were little changed except for a modest shortening in the portfolio life due to higher projected prepayment speeds following the dip in interest rates after year-end.  Except for securities in the Company’s higher yielding mutual fund, all other available for sale debt securities were investment grade rated throughout the

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quarter.  The mutual fund invests in U.S. corporate bonds targeted for upgrades and is reported with the Company’s corporate bonds.  The Company’s held to maturity securities are generally unrated local securities, all of which are performing and none of which is deemed criticized according to the Company’s internal ratings systems.

Loans. Berkshire continued to generate strong double digit commercial loan growth, which measured 14% annualized in the first quarter of 2015, including 11% annualized growth in commercial and industrial loan balances.  Managed reductions in other loans resulted in 4% annualized growth in total loans to $4.73 billion d uring the quarter.  Residential mortgage loans decreased as most first quarter mortgage originations were sold into the secondary market following a decrease in interest rates at the start of the year.  The decrease in consumer loans was due to a change in the auto loan portfolio strategy initiated in the final quarter of 2014 to de-emphasize originations of lower coupon super-prime auto loans.

The $48 million increase in total loans during the quarter was due to the $83 million increase in commercial loans.  Approximately $60 million of this increase was attributable to commercial real estate loans.  The remaining growth was primarily split between asset based loans and other commercial and industrial loans.   Commercial loan growth included wholesale acquisitions and is net of targeted reductions in lower yielding commercial relationships managed with a goal of supporting the net interest margin.  The commercial pipeline at quarter-end was up from the start of the year and line of credit usage improved slightly to 62%.

The yield on the total portfolio decreased to 3.86% in the most recent quarter compared to 3.96% in the linked quarter due to lower purchased loan accretion.  Before this accretion, the yield measured 3.83% compared to 3.82% for the above periods, respectively.  At quarter-end, loans with contractual pricing adjustments within one year decreased to 35% of total loans from 37% at the start of the year.  Loans repricing in one to five years increased to 26% from 24% of total loans, and loans repricing over five years remained unchanged at 39% of total loans.

At the end of the period, the remaining carrying balance of purchased credit impaired loans was $13 million and the contractual amount owed on these loans was $24 million.  The balance of accretable yield on these loans was $3.4 million which increased from $2.5 million at the start of the quarter due to loans with improved cash flows.

Asset Quality . Asset quality metrics remained favorable and continued to improve in the first quarter of 2015.  Annualized net loan charge-offs measured 0.28% of average loans for the quarter.   Annualized net charge-0ffs were 0.20% of average loans from business activities and 0.65% of average loans acquired in business combinations.  Quarter-end non-performing assets decreased to 0.36% of total assets and accruing delinquent loans decreased to 0.43% of total loans.  The loan loss allowance increased to 0.77% of total loans; approximately 15% of quarter-end loans were balances recorded at fair value in prior year bank acquisitions.  Acquired loans are recorded at fair value and are categorized as performing regardless of their payment status.  Therefore, some overall portfolio measures of asset performance are not comparable between periods or among institutions as a result of recent business combinations.  Loans which became non-accruing totaled $5 million in the most recent quarter, which was within the range of $4 - 9 million experienced in the past several quarters.  The balance of loans identified as troubled debt restructurings increased to $17.2 million from $16.7 million during the quarter.

Loan Loss Allowance . The determination of the allowance for loan losses is a critical accounting estimate.  The Company considers the allowance for loan losses appropriate to cover probable losses which can be reasonably estimated in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. Under accounting standards for business combinations, acquired loans are recorded at fair value with no loan loss allowance on the date of acquisition. A loan loss allowance is recorded by the Company for the emergence of new probable and estimable losses on acquired loans which were not impaired as of the acquisition date. Because of the accounting for acquired loans, some measures of the loan loss allowance are not comparable to periods prior to the acquisition date.

The total amount of the loan loss allowance increased by $0.6 million to $36.3 million in the first quarter of 2015 due to growth in the loan portfolio.  The ratio of the allowance to total loans increased to 0.77% from 0.76% during the quarter.  For loans from business activities, this ratio decreased to 0.80% from 0.84% during the

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quarter, while the allowance on loans acquired in business combinations increased to 0.56% from 0.38%.  At period-end, the total allowance provided 2.8X coverage of annualized net charge-offs and 165% coverage of period-end non-accrual loans.  For business activities loans, these ratios measured 4.0X and 220% respectively, and for loans acquired in business combinations, these ratios measured 0.8X and 63%.

The credit risk profile of the Company’s loan portfolio is described in the Loan Loss Allowance note in the consolidated financial statements. The Company’s risk management process focuses primary attention on loans with higher than normal risk, which includes loans rated special mention and classified (substandard and lower). These loans are referred to as criticized loans. Criticized loans were reduced to $123 million (1.9% of assets) from $130 million (2.0% of assets) at the start of the year.  The Company views its potential problem loans as those loans from business activities which are rated as classified and continue to accrue interest.  These loans have a possibility of loss if weaknesses are not corrected. Classified loans acquired in business combinations are recorded at fair value and are classified as performing at the time of acquisition and therefore have not generally been viewed as potential problem loans. Potential problem loans increased slightly to $68 million from $67 million during the quarter.  The balance of accruing classified acquired loans decreased to $21 million from $24 million during the quarter.   There were no significant changes in the composition of non-accruing and potential problem assets during the quarter.  The Company’s evaluation of its credit risk profile also compares the amount of criticized assets to the total of the Bank’s Tier 1 Capital plus the loan loss allowance. This ratio declined to 25% from 28% during the quarter.

Deposits. Total deposits increased by $65 million, or 6% annualized, to $4.72 billion in the first quarter of 2015.  Growth included increases in most major categories and was concentrated primarily in relationship oriented transaction accounts, which increased by $33 million, and in brokered time deposits, which increased by $48 million.  Berkshire expanded its personal relationship deposit bundles which require the utilization of a demand deposit account, and demand deposit balances increased at an 11% annualized rate during the quarter.  The Company does not expect that its branch consolidations will have any material impact on its deposit balances.  The Company ended its participation in the Massachusetts Depositors Insurance Fund (“DIF”) at mid-year 2014 and the one year transitional coverage of existing balances expires at mid-year in 2015.  Hampden Bank’s participation in this fund terminated with no transitional coverage as of the Hampden merger date.  Normal FDIC insurance coverage remains in place for the Bank’s deposits.  The Company has initiated limited offerings of reciprocal deposit money market accounts and collateralized deposit accounts for certain institutional customers and is targeting to maintain positive overall organic deposit balance growth in 2015 while transitioning from the DIF program. Including the benefit of demand deposit growth, the cost of deposits decreased to 0.43% in the most recent quarter compared to 0.44% in the linked quarter.  New federal regulatory liquidity coverage ratios for the largest banks became effective in 2015, with the potential of increasing competition for retail deposits and reducing competition for large corporate deposits.  Additionally, some institutions have offered higher time deposit account rates in anticipation of the initiation of interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve Bank after several years of near-zero short term rates.  The Company believes that it may have competitive advantage in the event of interest rate increases due to the comparative stability of some of its more rural deposit markets.  The ratio of loans/deposits was 100% at quarter-end, compared to 101% at the start of the quarter.

Borrowings, Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities. There were no significant changes in the Company’s borrowing and hedging activities in the first quarter of 2015.  Total borrowings were unchanged at $1.05 billion.  In the second half of 2014, the Company removed some of its securities from the Federal Home Loan Bank collateral pool, but it resumed pledging these securities to the collateral pool in 2015.  The Company generally pledges most of its eligible collateral to the FHLBB to maximize its borrowings availability, and the Company is also expecting to improve its collateral data in 2015 to increase the eligibility and liquidity of the related assets.   Berkshire’s unused borrowing capacity with the FHLBB was $587 million at quarter-end, compared to $246 million at the start of the quarter.  The notional amount of derivatives increased by $58 million to $1.09 billion during the quarter primarily due to a $76 million increase related to mortgage banking as a result of the higher market demand for mortgage originations following the decrease in long term rates.  As a result of this decrease, the unrealized fair value liability of derivatives increased to $9.5 million from $5.8 million due to the higher unrealized loss on outstanding fixed payment interest rate swaps.  The amount of this loss has varied significantly due to the unusually high volatility of long term interest rates in recent periods reflecting uncertainty about domestic and foreign monetary policy.

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Stockholders’ Equity. Stockholders’ equity increased by $7 million including the contribution of $9 million in earnings and $2 million of other comprehensive income less $5 million in dividends.  Total shares outstanding increased to 25.3 million including 92 thousand shares issued in the annual grant of restricted stock in January.  Including the new shares issued for Hampden Bancorp merger consideration, total shares outstanding increased to approximately 29.5 million as of April 17, 2015.

The ratio of tangible equity/assets increased to 7.00% from 6.96% during the quarter.  This ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure commonly used by investors and it excludes goodwill and other intangible assets from equity and assets.  The Company generally targets to maintain this measurement within a range of 7-8% and also considers its return on tangible equity as a source of capital strength for improving its condition and supporting its growth.  The ratio of equity/assets was little changed at 10.90% at quarter-end.

The Company’s risk based capital ratio measured 11.4% at quarter-end and was little changed from the start of the quarter.  New regulatory capital calculations came into effect during the quarter and as previously discussed, the Company reduced its investment in bank capital instruments, which carry a higher risk allocation.  At quarter-end, the regulatory capital metrics for the Company and the Bank were not significantly changed from year-end 2014.  Tier 1 capital for the Company measured 9.2% of risk weighted assets and 7.1% of average assets.  The new measure of Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets measured 9.1% and the Company and Bank continued to meet all requirements for the Well Capitalized designation.  The merger with Hampden Bancorp is expected to be accretive to most of the Company’s capital measures.

COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015 AND 2014.

Summary. First quarter 2015 adjusted EPS increased by $0.02 per share, or 4%, over the linked quarter and by $0.08 per share, or 19%, on a year-over-year basis due to growth in loans and fee revenues.  Net non-operating charges totaled $0.15 per share during the most recent quarter, including $0.11 related primarily to the Hampden merger and $0.04 in restructuring charges.  First quarter adjusted earnings totaled $12.4 million in 2015 and $10.4 million in 2014.  First quarter GAAP earnings were $8.8 million in 2015 and a loss of $1.1 million in 2014.  Results last year included net non-operating charges related primarily to the acquisition of the New York branches.

The first quarter 2015 adjusted return on equity improved to 7.1% and the adjusted return on tangible equity improved to 12.1%.  The Hampden acquisition is targeted to be accretive to earnings per share and to most profitability measures, as well as to most capital measures, when merger integration is fully completed.  The GAAP return on equity measured 5.0% during the most recent quarter including the impact of net non-operating charges.

Due to the seasoning of acquired impaired loans, the contribution to first quarter earnings from purchased loan accretion decreased by approximately $2.5 million, or $1.5 million on an after-tax basis in 2015 compared to 2014.  This decrease was partially offset by a $1.0 million increase in the net after-tax benefit of income from tax-advantaged commercial development projects, which resulted in a lower effective tax rate in 2015.  As a result of volume growth in loans and fee revenues, Berkshire produced growth in adjusted earnings despite the negative impact of accretion and the continuing pressure on the net interest margin resulting from the ongoing low interest rate environment.

Revenue. Total first quarter net revenue increased by 23% to $58 million in 2015 compared to 2014.  On an operating basis, net revenue increased by 1% and the increase measured 10% before the aforementioned impacts of purchased loan accretion and tax advantaged-investments.  In the first quarter of 2015, Hampden recorded $6 million in revenue and these acquired operations will be included in Berkshire’s results subsequent to the merger date on April 17, 2015.  Berkshire’s goal is to produce positive operating leverage from revenue growth as it develops revenue synergies in its expanded footprint and from integrated product sales that improve wallet share.  Annualized first quarter revenue totaled $9.31 per share in the most recent quarter.

Net Interest Income. First quarter net interest income increased by $2.7 million, or 6%, in 2015 compared to 2014.  Measured before the aforementioned decrease in purchased loan accretion, net interest income increased by 12% for these periods.  This included the benefit of a 13% increase in average earning assets including a 12%

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increase in average loans.  Measured on this basis, first quarter 2015 net interest income increased by 0.2% compared to the linked quarter.

The net interest margin in the most recent quarter decreased to 3.18% from 3.23% in the linked quarter and from 3.35% in the first quarter of 2014.  Measured before accretion, the margin increased to 3.15% from 3.12% in the linked quarter and decreased from 3.24% in the prior year first quarter.  The year-over-year decrease was due to the ongoing compression related to the continuing low interest rate environment.  The increase compared to the linked quarter included the benefit of a 0.03% increase in the commercial loan yield before accretion.  This reflected the strategy initiated in the second half of 2014 to replace lower yielding relationships with higher yielding loans.  The Company has also reduced its originations of lower yielding super prime auto loans while maintaining the double digit annualized growth rate of commercial loans.  The improvement over the linked quarter also included the benefit of a 0.01% reduction in the cost of deposits including the benefit of growth in demand deposit balances.

Non-Interest Income. Total fee income increased by $1.1 million, or 9% year-over-year, with increases in most major categories.  Fee income was up $0.8 million, or 6%, compared to the linked quarter.  Seasonal increases in insurance and wealth management revenues mostly offset seasonal and weather related decreases in loan and deposit fees.  Mortgage banking fees increased due to increased refinancing demand spurred by lower interest rates.

Loan fee income was down from recent quarters primarily due to lower commercial interest rate swap fees.  The annualized ratio of deposit fees to average deposits decreased to 0.49% in the most recent quarter compared to 0.53% in the linked quarter and 0.52% in the first quarter of 2014.  The increase in mortgage banking fees was primarily due to higher origination volume as well as higher gain on sale margins as a result of strong refinancing demand.  The seasonal increase in insurance income was due to annual contingency revenues which are received in the first quarter of each year based on policy performance in the prior year; this revenue decreased from year to year.  The seasonal increase in wealth management fees was due to annual tax preparation fees.

Other non-interest income includes income on bank owned life insurance as well as capital gains distributions from investments in the two most recent quarters.  Non-interest income is stated net of charges to reduce the carrying value of tax-advantaged investments in commercial redevelopment projects.  These charges are further discussed in the following section on income tax expense.  Income in the most recent quarter included $1.4 million in gains on the sale of equity securities which offset $1.4 million in losses on the sale of bonds which was related to the reduction of investments in bank capital securities instruments which was previously discussed.  In the first quarter of 2014, non-interest income also included charges for the termination of hedges following the New York branch acquisition.

Loan Loss Provision. The provision for loan losses is a charge to earnings in an amount sufficient to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level deemed adequate by the Company as an estimate of the probable and estimable loan losses in the portfolio as of period-end.  The level of the allowance is a critical accounting estimate, which is subject to uncertainty.  The level of the allowance was included in the discussion of financial condition.  The first quarter provision increased by $0.5 million year over year due primarily to an increase in the allowance coverage of loans acquired in business combinations.

Non-Interest Expense. Including seasonal and weather related factors, first quarter operating non-interest expense increased to $40.7 million from $39.9 million in the linked quarter and $39.1 million in the prior year first quarter.  In comparison to average assets, operating non-interest expense measured 2.51%, 2.49%, and 2.67% in these periods respectively.  The increase over the linked quarter included seasonal factors.  The year-to-year decrease reflected the benefit of business expansion and restructuring activities to reduce branch costs and other overhead.  Seasonal factors in the most recent quarter included a $0.9 million increase in payroll tax expense over the prior quarter and higher occupancy costs including the impacts of the severe winter weather.  Full-time equivalent staff was not significantly changed and totaled 1,091 at quarter-end.  The efficiency ratio increased to 63.3% in the most recent quarter due to seasonality and lower revenue from purchased loan accretion.  This ratio is expected to improve due to planned revenue growth and efficiencies related to the Hampden acquisition and the branch restructuring.

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Total first quarter non-interest expense decreased slightly to $45.1 million in 2015 compared to $45.4 million in the prior year.  This expense included merger, restructuring, and conversion expense which the Company views as non-operating.  This expense totaled $4.4 million in 2015 and $6.3 million in 2014.  The expense in 2015 included $3.3 million related to the Hampden Bancorp merger and $1.1 million for restructuring expense.  The Company is consolidating three of the ten Hampden Bank branches.  This will be completed when the systems integration is completed in the latter part of June 2015.  The costs for these branch consolidations are being included in the Hampden merger charges.  The Company expects the bulk of the merger charges to be recorded in the second quarter of 2015.  Restructuring charges of $1.1 million included costs related to two existing branch consolidations which were announced in the most recent quarter and which are expected to be completed in the second quarter of this year.  Berkshire continues to evaluate additional branches for consolidation or sale and expects to record additional non-operating charges in the second quarter related to these consolidations.

Income Tax Expense. Berkshire’s increased financing of tax-advantaged commercial development projects contributed $0.05 in EPS in the first quarter of 2015, which was a $0.04 increase over the linked quarter and over the first quarter of the prior year.  As previously noted, there were decreases in EPS related to purchased loan accretion which the Company viewed in part as offsetting factors in evaluating overall changes in EPS.

Due to its regional reach and resources, the Company has expanded its tax-advantaged investments in redevelopment projects with commercial relationship partners in its communities.  This financing resulted in a charge to non-interest income which was more than offset by the tax benefits which are a component of income tax expense.  The charges to non-interest income represent a reduction in the carrying value of the Company’s project investments; these charges are recorded as tax benefits are recognized and totaled $2.9 million in 2015 and $0.4 million in the linked quarter and in the first quarter of the prior year.  The tax benefits include tax credits which are approximately equal to the amount of the non-interest income charges, along with a tax deduction on the amount of the charge.  The charge itself is deductible in arriving at taxable income and therefore provides a benefit which was approximately $1.1 million in the most recent quarter.  The total tax benefit recognized for these projects was $4.0 million in the most recent quarter and $0.6 million in the linked quarter and in the first quarter of the prior year.

The Company’s effective income tax rate was 3% in the first quarter of 2015, compared to 26% in the fiscal year 2014 and a 29% benefit in the first quarter of 2014.  The low rate in 2015 primarily reflects the higher tax credit benefit from tax-advantaged commercial projects.  The tax rate on the Company’s adjusted earnings in the most recent quarter was approximately 8% and this rate was approximately 29% before these tax credits.  For fiscal 2014, the effective tax rate on operating income was approximately 30% and measured approximately 32% before the $1.7 million tax credit benefit recognized in that year.

Results of Segment and Parent Operations . Berkshire Hills Bancorp (“the Parent”) has two subsidiary operating segments — banking and insurance. Results in the banking segment generally followed the levels and trends of consolidated results, which have been previously discussed.  In the insurance segment, first quarter income increased to $0.6 million in 2015 from $0.4 million in the prior year due to reductions in operating expenses.  For the Parent, operating results primarily reflected changes in the operations of its bank subsidiary.

Total Comprehensive Income . Total comprehensive income includes net income together with other comprehensive income.  For the first quarter, total comprehensive income increased to $11.2 million in 2015 compared to $7.3 million in 2014.  This reflected the improvement in operating income along with the increase in unrealized securities gains in 2015 as a result of the drop in interest rates.  Other comprehensive income totaled $2.5 million and $8.4 million in these respective periods.  For 2014, this amount included the benefit of the hedge termination which was recorded as a charge to net income and resulted in a credit to the net unrealized fair value of derivative hedges.

Liquidity and Cash Flows. During the first quarter of 2015, increased deposits were the primary source of funds and net loan growth was the primary use of funds.  Berkshire generally plans that over the medium term, deposit growth will be the primary source of funds and loan growth will be the primary use of funds. The Bank is diversifying its deposit sources including institutional and wholesale sources as part of the expansion of its liquidity management program and to provide additional options for managing its funds costs and asset/liability objectives.  In select cases for large institutional accounts, the Bank may offer collateralized deposits or insured

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reciprocal deposits to supplement its deposit insurance protection in place of its previous participation in the Depositors Insurance Program.

The Bank is also expanding its use of short term institutional borrowings and FHLBB borrowings will continue to be a significant source of liquidity for daily operations and borrowings targeted for specific asset/liability purposes.  The Company also uses interest rate swaps in managing its funds sources and uses.  As of March 31, 2015, the Bank had approximately $587 million in borrowing availability with the Federal Home Loan Bank.  This was increased from $246 million at the start of the year due to additional collateral that was pledged to the FHLBB.

Berkshire Hills Bancorp had a cash balance totaling $31 million as of March 31, 2015 which was on deposit with Berkshire Bank.  The primary long run routine sources of funds for the Parent are expected to be dividends from Berkshire Bank and Berkshire Insurance Group, as well as cash from the exercise of stock options.  The Bank paid a $6 million dividend to the Parent in the most recent quarter.  The Parent also has a $10 million revolving line of credit provided by a correspondent bank.  The primary long run uses of funds by the Parent include the payment of cash dividends on common stock and debt service.

Capital Resources. Please see the “Stockholders’ Equity” section of the Comparison of Financial Condition for a discussion of stockholders’ equity together with the “Stockholders’ Equity” note to the consolidated financial statements.  At March 31, 2015, the Bank and the Company continued to be classified as “Well Capitalized.” Additional information about regulatory capital is contained in the notes to the consolidated financial statements and in the 2014 Form 10-K.

Berkshire views its earnings and related internal capital generation as a primary source of capital to support dividends and growth of the franchise. Additionally, the Company generally uses the issuance of common stock as the primary source of consideration for bank acquisitions, and such acquisitions may result in net increases or decreases in its capital ratios. Berkshire’s long term objective is to generate a double digit annual return on equity, and the Company evaluates lending, investment, and acquisition decisions with this objective as a benchmark. The Capital/Risk Management Committee of Berkshire’s Board of Directors is responsible for assisting the Board in planning for future capital needs and for ensuring compliance with regulations pertaining to capital structure and levels. The Company believes that the market for its stock is an additional capital resource over the long run. Additionally, the Company continues to monitor market conditions for other forms of regulatory capital such as preferred stock or subordinated debt, which are additional potential future capital resources to the Company and/or the Bank.

The Company issued approximately 4.2 million net shares as merger consideration for the acquisition of Hampden Bancorp on April 17, 2015 in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement.  The Company expects that most of its measures of capital will improve as a result of this acquisition.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations. In the normal course of operations, Berkshire engages in a variety of financial transactions that, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles are not recorded in the Company’s financial statements.  These transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate, and liquidity risk. Such transactions are used primarily to manage customers’ requests for funding and take the form of loan commitments and lines of credit. Further information about the Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements is contained in the Company’s 2014 Form 10-K and information relating to payments due under contractual obligations is presented in the 2014 form 10-K.  Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments and hedging activities are included on the balance sheet and information related to these matters is reported in the related footnote to the consolidated financial statements, and was included in management’s discussion of changes in financial condition.  Aside from the completion of the Hampden Bancorp acquisition on April 17, 2015, there have been no significant changes in off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations since year-end 2014.  Berkshire expects to modify certain Hampden off-balance sheet arrangements and contractual obligations as a result of the merger.

Fair Value Measurements. The Company records fair value measurements of certain assets and liabilities, as described in the related note in the financial statements. There were no significant changes in the fair value measurement methodologies at March 31, 2015 compared to December 31, 2014.  The Company compares the

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carrying value to fair value for major categories of financial assets and liabilities.  The biggest difference relates to loans, which had an estimated fair value premium of $44 million (0.9% of loans) at quarter-end.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There were no material changes to the way that the Company measures market risk in the first quarter of 2015.  For further discussion about the Company’s Quantitative and Qualitative Aspects of Market Risk, please review Item 7A of the Report 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.  Berkshire’s objective is to maintain an asset sensitive interest rate risk profile, as measured by the sensitivity of net interest income to market interest rate changes.  The Company measures this sensitivity primarily by evaluating the impact of ramped interest rate changes on net interest income in the 12 month and 24 month time horizons.  The main focus is on a two year scenario where interest rates ramp up by 200 basis points in the first year.  The Bank also evaluates its equity at risk from interest rate changes through discounted cash flow analysis.  This measure assesses the present value changes to equity based on long term impacts of rate changes beyond the time horizons evaluated for net interest income at risk.

As of March 31, 2015, there were no significant changes in the Company’s methodologies for measuring the sensitivity of net interest income to changes in market interest rates.  The Company’s sensitivity in a ramped 200 basis point change continues to be close to neutral until around mid-year 2016.  The Company’s position tends to be more asset sensitive if the ramp is shorter and steeper than the modeled scenario as prime and LIBOR indexed loans are expected to react quickly to rate changes while modeled deposit rate changes are expected to react less quickly.  After the Company’s interest rate swaps become effective by the third quarter of 2016, the Company is expected to be significantly more asset sensitive.  Including preliminary estimates for Hampden, the Company believes that net interest income would increase approximately 5% in the second year of a 200 basis point upward ramp in interest rates after the swaps are effective.  The benefit of this sensitivity is expected to more than offset the increased interest cost associated with the fixed payment interest rate swaps when they become effective.  If interest rates remain unchanged or if the yield curve flattens due to higher short term rates, the Company’s net interest income could be negatively impacted in the initial effective period of the swaps due to the contracted fixed payments, together with the ongoing effects of asset yield compression which have pressured industry margins in recent years.  Through its pricing disciplines and mix of business, Berkshire’s goal is to manage its balance sheet to support the net interest margin in the event that interest rates do not rise as anticipated by management during the effective period of the swaps.

In addition to modeling market risk in relation to net interest income, the Company also models net income at risk in various interest rate scenarios.  Various sources of fee income, including interest rate swap income and mortgage banking revenue, are sensitive to interest rates.  Other components of revenue and expense are also considered and net income estimates include the impact of income taxes on modeled changes.  Management considers the risks to net income in evaluating its overall asset liability management and strategies.

The Company also estimates the sensitivity of the economic value of its equity to interest rate shocks. The Company seeks to avoid having excess long term earnings at risk when interest rates rise in the future, as anticipated.  At March 31, 2015, the Company estimated that the economic value of equity, including estimates related to Hampden, would decrease by approximately 8% in the event of a 200 basis point upward interest rate shock, which was within the Company’s policy limits. This reflected the impact of fixed rate assets on medium and long term modeled net interest income if interest rates increase. This estimate is subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties and is not intended as a projection of future operating results. This sensitivity was approximately 2% lower than the modeled sensitivity at the end of 2014 due to the increase in modeled asset prepayment speeds resulting from the recent dip in interest rates.

In a prolonged low rate environment, Berkshire has a number of business strategies to support its net interest income and margin objectives. These include changes in volumes and mix of interest bearing assets and liabilities, some of which are discussed above. The Company also evaluates its pricing strategies on an ongoing basis, and considers its investment, borrowings, and derivatives strategies in managing its income and risk profile. Due to the limitations and uncertainties relating to model assumptions, the modeled computations should not be relied on

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as projections of income. Further, the computations do not reflect any actions that management may undertake in response to changes in interest rates.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

a)  Disclosure controls and procedures.

The principal executive officers, including the principal financial officer, based on their evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

b)  Changes in internal control over financial reporting.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As of March 31, 2015, neither the Company nor the Bank was involved in any pending legal proceedings believed by management to be material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Periodically, there have been various claims and lawsuits involving the Bank, such as claims to enforce liens, condemnation proceedings on properties in which the Bank holds security interests, claims involving the making and servicing of real property loans and other issues incident to the Bank’s business. However, neither the Company nor the Bank is a party to any pending legal proceedings that it believes, in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of the Company.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.  The risks described in these forms are not the only risks that we face.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.  As a result of the closing of the Hampden Bancorp acquisition on April 17, 2015, the risks related to the failure to complete that acquisition are no longer relevant.  There have been no other material changes in the Company’s Risk Factors during the first quarter of 2015.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(a) No Company unregistered securities were sold during the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) The following table provides certain information with regard to shares repurchased by the Company in the first quarter of 2015

Total number of shares

Maximum number of

purchased as part of

shares that may yet

Total number of

Average price

publicly announced

be purchased under

Period

shares purchased

paid per share

plans or programs

the plans or programs

January 1-31, 2015

$

18,113

February 1-28, 2015

18,113

March 1-31, 2015

18,113

Total

$

18,113

On March 26, 2013, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program, pursuant to which the Company may repurchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, which represents approximately 2.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares. The timing of the purchases will depend on certain factors, including but not limited to, market conditions and prices, available funds, and alternative uses of capital. The stock repurchase program may be carried out through open-market purchases, block trades, negotiated private transactions and pursuant to a trading plan adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any repurchased shares will be recorded as treasury shares. The program will continue until it is completed or terminated by the Board of Directors.  The Company has no intentions to terminate this program or to cease any future potential purchases.

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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

2.1

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 3, 2014, by and between Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and Hampden Bancorp, Inc. (1)

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (2)

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.(3)

4.1

Form of Common Stock Certificate of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (2)

4.2

Note Subscription Agreement by and among Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and certain subscribers dated September 20, 2012 (4)

10.1

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and among Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and Michael P. Daly (5)

10.2

Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement between Berkshire Bank and Michael P. Daly (6)

10.3

Three Year Executive Change in Control Agreement by and among Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and George F. Bacigalupo (7)

10.4

Three-Year Executive Change in Control Agreement by and among Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and Josephine Iannelli (7)

10.5

Amended and Restated Three Year Change in Control Agreement by and among Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and Richard M. Marotta (8)

10.6

Amended and Restated Three Year Change in Control Agreement by and among Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and Sean A. Gray (9)

10.7

Form of Split Dollar Agreement entered into with Michael P. Daly, Sean A. Gray, and Richard M. Marotta (10)

10.8

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (11)

10.9

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (12)

10.10

Legacy Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (13)

10.11

Berkshire Bank 2014 Executive Short Term Incentive Plan (14)

10.12

Form of Amended and Restated Director Retirement Agreement between Berkshire Bank (as successor to Hampden Bank) and Richard Suski

11.0

Statement re: Computation of Per Share Earnings is incorporated herein by reference to Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

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Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T:  (i) the Consolidated Statements of Condition, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v)

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the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements tagged as blocks of text and in detail


(1) Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K filed on November 4, 2014.

(2) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to Form S-1, Registration Statement and amendments thereto, initially filed on March 10, 2000, Registration No. 333-32146.

(3) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K as filed on April 28, 2015.

(4) Incorporated by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K as filed on September 26, 2012.

(5) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K as filed on January 6, 2009.

(6) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to Form 10-K as filed on March 16, 2009.

(7) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 10-K as filed on March 17, 2014.

(8) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 10-K as filed on March 16, 2010.

(9) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 10-K as filed on March 16, 2011.

(10) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibit to the Form 8-K as filed on January 19, 2011.

(11) Incorporated herein by reference from the Appendix to the Proxy Statement as filed on March 24, 2011.

(12) Incorporated herein by reference from the Appendix to the Proxy Statement as filed on April 2, 2013.

(13) Incorporated herein by reference from the Exhibits to the Form 8-K filed by Legacy Bancorp, Inc. on December 22, 2010.

(14) Incorporated herein by reference from Exhibits to the Form 10-K as filed on March 16, 2015.

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP, INC.

Dated: May 11, 2015

By:

/s/ Michael P. Daly

Michael P. Daly

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: May 11, 2015

By:

/s/ Josephine Iannelli

Josephine Iannelli

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

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