FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/06/06

For Further Information Please Contact:

Joan Trudell
Small Business Administration
617-565-5572

Joseph Schmitt
Brookline Bank
617-730-3600

Brookline Bank Named SBA Participating Lender

Boston, MA, 12/06/06 – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved Brookline Bank as a designated U.S. Small Business Administration participating lender according to an announcement made today by Maurice L. Dubé, Massachusetts Director of the SBA. 

With this approval, Brookline Bank can make loans using SBA’s popular 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program, SBA’s primary loan product.  SBA 7(a) loans are available to help qualified small businesses obtain financing when they might not be eligible for business loans through normal lending channels. It is the agency’s most flexible business loan program since financing under this program can be guaranteed for a variety of general business purposes.  

“We award this status to lenders who have demonstrated their ability to underwrite and service commercial loans,” said Dubé.  “With this status, Brookline Bank will be able to offer its customers access to the same kinds of reasonably priced, long-term financing available to large businesses by virtue of their size and economic clout.”

“We are pleased to be able to offer loans via the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) Guaranty Loan Program,” stated Brookline Bank’s Lead SBA Lender William Henning.  “Brookline Bank has participated in the Small Business Administration’s 504 Program for many years, and this is a natural extension of our commitment to the businesses of Greater Boston.”

The SBA, under its 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program, can guarantee loans up to $2 million.  Loans are available for most business purposes, such as to purchase commercial real estate, equipment, and inventory as well as for short-term working capital.  The interest rate is not to exceed 2.75 over the prime lending rate.  Maturities are up to 10 years for working capital and up to 25 years for fixed assets.  For more information about SBA, visit www.sba.gov/ma.

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About Brookline Bank

Brookline Bank is the sole subsidiary of Brookline Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRKL), headquartered in Brookline, Massachusetts. Brookline Bank is a full-service community bank serving Greater Boston with sixteen branches in Arlington, Bedford, Brookline, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Newton and West Roxbury. To find out more about Brookline Bank, visit our website at BrooklineBank.com or call us at 1-877-668-2265.