Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. and Rome Bancorp Inc. Announce Preliminary Results of Elections Regarding Merger Consideration

Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. BHLB and Rome Bancorp, Inc. ROME today announced the preliminary results of elections made by Rome Bancorp, Inc. stockholders as to the form of merger consideration to be received in the pending merger of Rome Bancorp with and into Berkshire Hills Bancorp. The election deadline for Rome Bancorp stockholders to have made merger consideration elections in connection with the proposed merger expired at 5:00 p.m., EDT, on March 18, 2011. Of the approximately 6,777,551 shares of Rome Bancorp common stock outstanding as of March 18, 2011: The holders of approximately 5,043,184 shares, or 74.4%, elected to receive Berkshire Hills Bancorp common stock; The holders of approximately 710,243 shares, or 10.5%, elected to receive cash; and The holders of approximately 1,024,124 shares, or 15.1%, submitted elections expressing no preference as to the form of merger consideration or did not make a valid election.