Berkshire Hills Bancorp Stock Price, News & Analysis
Company Description
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (historically trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHLB) was the parent company of Berkshire Bank, a relationship-driven, community-focused bank. According to company disclosures, Berkshire Bank operated with approximately $12.0 billion in assets and 83 financial centers in New England and New York, offering commercial, retail, wealth, and private banking solutions. The holding company was headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and was classified in the finance and insurance sector, with a focus on savings and community banking activities.
Over time, Berkshire Hills Bancorp emphasized serving clients and communities in New England and New York through its banking franchise. Company descriptions in earnings releases state that Berkshire Bank provided commercial banking, retail banking, consumer lending, private banking and wealth management services. These activities positioned the company as a regional banking institution focused on deposits, lending, and related financial services for individuals and businesses in its footprint.
A significant corporate milestone occurred through a merger of equals with Brookline Bancorp, Inc. Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Brookline entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated December 16, 2024. Regulatory approvals for this merger were announced on August 25, 2025, with the companies indicating that they anticipated closing the transaction on September 1, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. Subsequent SEC filings confirm that the transaction was completed on September 1, 2025.
Following completion of the transaction, the combined holding company changed its name from Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. to Beacon Financial Corporation. SEC reports state that immediately after the closing of the merger, the company also changed its New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol from BHLB to BBT. As a result, the BHLB symbol represents the historical Berkshire Hills Bancorp listing, while the ongoing public company now trades as Beacon Financial Corporation under the symbol BBT.
In connection with the merger, Berkshire Bank, Bank Rhode Island and PCSB Bank were merged with and into Brookline Bank, with Brookline Bank as the surviving bank. That surviving bank then changed its name to Beacon Bank & Trust, commonly referred to as Beacon Bank. Company disclosures explain that clients of Berkshire Bank, Brookline Bank, Bank Rhode Island and PCSB Bank would continue to be served through their existing branches and channels as divisions of Beacon Bank & Trust during the integration period.
Before the merger, Berkshire Hills Bancorp regularly reported financial results and key performance indicators such as net interest income, net interest margin, efficiency ratio, asset quality metrics and capital ratios. Earnings releases highlighted trends in operating earnings per share, loan and deposit balances, and credit quality. These disclosures show that Berkshire Hills Bancorp operated as a traditional banking organization focused on interest income from loans and securities, deposit funding, non-interest income from fee-based activities, and disciplined expense management.
Following the completion of the merger and the subsequent name and ticker change, the legal successor to Berkshire Hills Bancorp is Beacon Financial Corporation. Investors researching the historical BHLB stock are effectively reviewing the predecessor phase of what is now Beacon Financial Corporation (NYSE: BBT). For current information on the combined company’s strategy, financial performance and governance, users should refer to materials filed and disclosed under the Beacon Financial Corporation name and BBT ticker.
Business focus prior to the merger
Company earnings releases describe Berkshire Bank as a community-focused bank that offered commercial banking, retail banking, wealth management and private banking solutions. The bank’s activities included lending to commercial and industrial borrowers, commercial real estate lending, residential mortgage lending and consumer lending, alongside deposit products and related services. Non-interest income sources included loan-related fee income and gains on government-guaranteed small business loan sales, as reflected in the company’s financial highlights.
Berkshire Hills Bancorp’s public communications also referenced multi-year programs and initiatives focused on operating efficiency, balance sheet optimization and community impact. For example, management commentary in earnings releases discussed transformation programs, branch network sales and consolidations, sales of certain securities and loan portfolios, and a Community Comeback program aimed at lending and investing across the company’s markets. These elements illustrate how the bank sought to refine its franchise and support its regional communities.
Corporate transformation into Beacon Financial Corporation
SEC filings dated September 2, 2025 report that, as of September 1, 2025, the merger of equals with Brookline Bancorp was completed, Berkshire Hills Bancorp changed its name to Beacon Financial Corporation, and the NYSE ticker changed from BHLB to BBT. The same filings note that, immediately following the merger, Berkshire Bank, Bank Rhode Island and PCSB Bank were merged into Brookline Bank, and that the surviving bank adopted the Beacon Bank & Trust name.
Later filings and amendments, including an 8-K/A filed on November 17, 2025, reiterate that Beacon Financial Corporation is the new name of the former Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc., and that the company’s common stock continues to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BBT. These filings also provide pro forma financial information for the combined company, reflecting the reverse acquisition accounting treatment with Brookline as the accounting acquirer.
For users viewing this page under the historical symbol BHLB, it is important to understand that Berkshire Hills Bancorp as a standalone holding company has been transformed into Beacon Financial Corporation through this merger. The BHLB ticker is no longer the active trading symbol; instead, Beacon Financial Corporation’s common stock is listed as BBT on the New York Stock Exchange.
Key points for investors researching BHLB
- Historical identity: Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. was a regional bank holding company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and the parent of Berkshire Bank, with a focus on commercial, retail, wealth and private banking in New England and New York.
- Sector and industry: The company operated in the finance and insurance sector and was associated with savings and community banking activities.
- Corporate change: On September 1, 2025, Berkshire Hills Bancorp completed a merger of equals with Brookline Bancorp, Inc., changed its name to Beacon Financial Corporation, and changed its NYSE ticker from BHLB to BBT, as disclosed in SEC Form 8-K filings.
- Bank consolidation: Berkshire Bank, Bank Rhode Island and PCSB Bank were merged into Brookline Bank, which then changed its name to Beacon Bank & Trust, serving as the combined banking platform.
- Continuity of operations: Filings and press releases indicate that the combined organization continues to operate as a regional banking franchise serving the Northeast, with clients of the legacy banks served through branches and channels operating as divisions of Beacon Bank & Trust.