Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. has appointed Peter Samson to Senior Vice President, Commercial Leader for Berkshire's Connecticut Region.   

Samson joins Berkshire from People's United Bank where he served as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager – Commercial Banking, focused on providing financing solutions and financial services to middle market companies.  Samson has 26 years of commercial lending experience in the Hartford, CT market, including previous roles at TD Banknorth and Webster Bank.  He received his BS from Central Connecticut State University and an MBA from the University of Hartford.

George Bacigalupo, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking commented, "I am pleased to have Pete join the bank and take on a leadership role in our Connecticut market.  With his extensive relationships and middle market lending experience in and around Hartford, he is the right person to build on the commercial banking success Berkshire has had in this region.  The Hartford-Springfield corridor is seeing significant development including infrastructure and new businesses and we are excited about the growth opportunities available from combining an enhanced Connecticut team with our expanding presence in Springfield."

Samson is leading Berkshire's commercial lending team in Connecticut providing strategic direction to support and expand customer relationships throughout all lines of business including lending, depository, insurance and wealth management.  He is working closely with David Osella, SVP Commercial Relationship Manager, Susan Chamberlain, VP Private Banking and Ryan Shorette, VP Regional Branch Manager – CT along with the business banking and wealth management teams. 

Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the parent of Berkshire Bank – America's Most Exciting Bank®. The Company has $6.5 billion in assets and 91 full-service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. Berkshire has a pending agreement to acquire Hampden Bancorp, the parent of Hampden Bank, which has $706 million in assets and operates ten offices in the Springfield, Massachusetts area.