Joe Gentile reports in the Register Star five local Bank of America retail branches are among 20 statewide to be transferred to Berkshire Bank under a recently reached agreement. The acquisition is expected to be finalized by the first quarter of 2014. Affected branches in Columbia and Greene counties include those located Cairo, Chatham, Greenville, Hudson and New Lebanon. Berkshire is awaiting regulatory approval for the acquisition. According to a company statement, “Berkshire intends to offer continued employment to branch associates who are on staff when the acquisition is completed.” Customers have not yet been contacted. With currently $5.2 million in assets, Berkshire Bank manages 74 full-service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Vermont. Read the full story in the Register Star.