Berkshire Bank Sells Off 10 NY Branches

Berkshire Hills Bancorp — a Boston-based financial company — announced that its subsidiary Berkshire Bank has entered into agreements with three buyers to sell 10 of its upstate and eastern New York branches, consisting of eight offices in Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Columbia counties, one office in Whitehall and one office in East Syracuse.

The sales include approximately $485.5 million in deposits, $60.5 million of related residential mortgage and consumer loans along with all branch premises and equipment. The transactions exclude Berkshire’s commercial banking business.

Hudson Valley Credit Union is purchasing eight locations in Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Columbia counties, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Company is purchasing one location in Whitehall and Pathfinder Bank is purchasing one location in East Syracuse. The buyers intend to offer employment to all associated staff. The sales are targeted for completion by the end of the third quarter of 2024 subject to customary regulatory approvals and associated system conversions. They reduce Berkshire’s overall branch footprint from 96 to 86 locations.

CEO Nitin Mhatre said, “Our announcement today is another step in our continued efforts to create efficiencies in our branch network so we can continue to invest in our bankers and client experience to further improve our long-term profitability. The proposed sales will concentrate our overall geographic footprint and lower our expense run rate, while strengthening focus in our core New York markets. The branch sales combined with a future securities sale will not materially increase borrowings and will be effectively neutral to full year 2024 earnings outlook.”

Berkshire remains committed to the important core New York markets where it will continue to operate 16 branches. Berkshire clients at its remaining locations will continue to work with the same bankers as they did prior to the announcement.

“We continue to execute on opportunities to create efficiencies in our franchise,” said CFO David Rosato. “These transactions allow us to exit these branches without incurring severance or real estate costs while reducing expenses and contributing positively to our long-term profitability.”

Berkshire’s financial advisor for the branch sale was RBC Capital Markets LLC and legal counsel was provided by Luse Gorman, PC.