EXHIBIT 99.1

                               CERTIFICATIONS

      I, James B. Keegan, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Port Financial
Corp.;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
      statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
      necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
      under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to
      the period covered by this annual report; and

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
      information included in this annual report, fairly present in all
      material respects the financial condition, results of operations and
      cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
      this annual report.

4.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
      establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
      defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant
      and we have:

      (a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
            material information relating to the registrant, including its
            consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
            those entities, particularly during the period in which this
            annual report is being prepared;

      (b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
            controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to
            the filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date");
            and

      (c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
            effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based
            on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed,
      based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and
      the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or
      persons performing the equivalent function):

      (a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
            internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's
            ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data
            and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material
            weaknesses in internal controls; and

      (b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
            other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
            internal controls; and


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6.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in
      this annual report whether or not there significant changes in
      internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect
      internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent
      evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to
      significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.


Date: March 31, 2003                   /s/ James B. Keegan
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       James B. Keegan
                                       Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


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      I, Charles D. Jeffrey, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Port Financial
      Corp.;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
      statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
      necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
      under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to
      the period covered by this annual report; and

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
      information included in this annual report, fairly present in all
      material respects the financial condition, results of operations and
      cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in
      this annual report.

4.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
      establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
      defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant
      and we have:

      (a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
            material information relating to the registrant, including its
            consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within
            those entities, particularly during the period in which this
            annual report is being prepared;

      (b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure
            controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to
            the filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date");
            and

      (c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
            effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based
            on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed,
      based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and
      the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or
      persons performing the equivalent function):

      (a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of
            internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's
            ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data
            and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material
            weaknesses in internal controls; and

      (b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or
            other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's
            internal controls; and

6.    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in
      this annual report whether or not there significant changes in
      internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect
      internal controls subsequent to the date of our most


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      recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to
      significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.


Date: March 31, 2003                   /s/ Charles D. Jeffrey
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Charles D. Jeffrey
                                       Senior Vice President and
                                       Chief Financial Officer


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