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On April 19, 2011, the Company entered into a merger agreement with Brookline Bancorp, Inc.
(“Brookline Bancorp”) pursuant to which the Company will merge with and into Brookline Bancorp,
whereupon the separate corporate existence of the Company will cease and its subsidiary, Bank Rhode
Island will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookline Bancorp. In connection with the merger,
Brookline Bancorp intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a registration
statement on Form S-4, which will include a proxy statement of the Company and a prospectus of
Brookline Bancorp, as well as other relevant materials concerning the merger. Investors and security
holders of the Company are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant
materials when they become available because they will contain important information about Brookline
Bancorp, the Company and the proposed transaction. The proxy statement/prospectus and other
relevant materials (when they become available), and any and all documents filed by Brookline Bancorp
or the Company with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In
addition, investors may obtain free copies of the documents filed by Brookline Bancorp with the SEC by
directing a written request to Paul R. Bechet, Chief Financial Officer, Brookline Bancorp, 160 Washington
Street, Brookline, MA 02445. Investors may obtain free copies of the documents filed by the Company
with the SEC by directing a written request to Linda H. Simmons, Chief Financial Officer, One Turks
Head Place, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. The Company and certain of their directors and executive
officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of the
Company in connection with the merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of the
Company is set forth in the proxy statement for the Company’s 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, as
filed with the SEC on a Schedule 14A on April 15, 2011. Additional information regarding the interests of
those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be
obtained by reading the proxy statement regarding the merger when it becomes available.