UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 12, 2008
                                                           ------------

                          NEW ENGLAND BANCSHARES, INC.
                          ----------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         Maryland                         0-51589              04-3693643
         --------                        ----------            ----------
(State or other Jurisdiction of         (Commission          (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)          File Number)       Identification No.)

                 855 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut 06082
                 ----------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (860) 253-5200
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[_]   Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

[_]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)

[_]   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



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Item 2.02    Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
             ---------------------------------------------

         On May 12, 2008, New England Bancshares,  Inc., the holding company for
Enfield  Federal  Savings and Loan  Association  and Valley Bank,  announced the
initiation of a stock repurchase program and the declaration of a cash dividend.
The press release  announcing the initiation of a stock  repurchase  program and
the   declaration  of  the  cash  dividend  is  included  as  Exhibit  99.1  and
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.
             ---------------------------------

       (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired: Not applicable

       (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: Not applicable

       (c)   Shell Company Transactions: Not Applicable

       (d)   Exhibits

             Number            Description
             ------            -----------

             99.1              Press Release Dated May 12, 2008


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<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



Dated: May 12, 2008                     By:   /s/ Scott D. Nogles
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Scott D. Nogles
                                              Executive Vice President and Chief
                                              Financial Officer


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