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HARTFORD — More than 1,000 Berkshire Bank employees rolled up their sleeves on June 13 and helped make the communities where they live and work stronger and more resilient by volunteering at more than 45 local nonprofits across the bank’s markets as part of Xtraordinary Day (X Day), the bank’s annual day of service. Every year, Berkshire closes all of its financial centers and offices at 12 p.m. to host X Day, which supports nonprofits that address hunger, homelessness and affordable housing and aim to create a more equitable, just and sustainable future. In all, employees participated in more than 50 X Day projects in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Rhode Island, as well as one in Pennsylvania that was supported by colleagues at Berkshire’s nationwide SBA lending division 44 Business Capital. In Connecticut, Berkshire participated in projects that benefitted: Access Agency in Killingly; CLICK Willimantic and Windham Area Interfaith Ministry in Windham; DC Forever Farm in Tolland; Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut in Plainfield and Waterford; Levo International’s community-supported agriculture in Bloomfield; Save the Sound in East Lyme, Groton and Waterford; Willington Public Library in Willington. “At Berkshire, giving back to our communities is a top priority,” said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Managing Director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “We know that building stronger communities requires a better approach to banking and our employees work tirelessly every day to deliver on that promise.” Named for the X in its logo, Berkshire’s award-winning XTEAM Employee Volunteer and Giving Program is a central element of its workplace culture, providing employees with an easy way to put its corporate values into action and help each of our communities realize its full potential. In 2023, Berkshire employees logged more than 21,000 hours of volunteer service. In addition to the hours contributed through X Day, all Berkshire employees are eligible for up to 16 hours of paid time off annually to volunteer with nonprofits of their choice. About Berkshire Bank? Berkshire Bank is a relationship-driven, community-focused bank that delivers industry-leading financial expertise to clients in New England and New York and is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), headquartered in Boston. With $12.1 billion in assets and 96 financial centers, the bank provides a full suite of tailored banking solutions through its Commercial Banking, Retail Banking, Consumer Lending, Private Banking and Wealth Management divisions. Newsweek named Berkshire one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America and one of America’s Best Regional Banks.