| **FOR                IMMEDIATE RELEASE** | **For                More Information Contact:** |
|------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
|                                     | Dena                M. Hall                      |
|                                     | Vice                President                    |
|                                     | (413)                787-1700                    |

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**WEST      SPRINGFIELD, MA—April 27, 2006—**

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**Financial      Highlights Include: **

|   | · | For                the period ended March 31, 2006, growth in net loans consisted of                a $3.7                million increase in residential mortgages, a $4.5 million increase                in                commercial real estate loans and a $1.9 million increase in consumer                loans. |
|--------|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | · | Asset                quality remained strong with delinquencies at .26% of total loans                and                non-performing assets at .18% of total assets at March 31, 2006 compared                to .27% and .37%, respectively, at December 31, 2005. At March 31,                2006                the allowance for loan losses amounted to $6.6 million. This represented                1.02% of total loans. This is a slight increase from 1.00% which                existed                at December 31, 2005. |
|--------|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | · | Deposits                were $685.8 million at March 31, 2006, compared to $653.6 million                at                December 31, 2005. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2006,                interest bearing accounts grew by 5.8%, reflecting increased marketing                and                promotional activity in an effort to attract new customers and retain                existing funds on deposit. |
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|   | · | Net                interest income before provision for loan losses for the three-month                period ended March 31, 2006 grew to $6.9 million from $6.3 million                at                December 31, 2005. Net interest margin was 3.10% for the three-month                period ended March 31, 2006 compared to 3.19% for the three-month                period                ended December 31, 2005 and 3.34% for the three-month period ended                March                31, 2005. |
|--------|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | · | Non-interest                income increased $141,000, or 11.6%, for the three months ended March                31,                2006 compared to the same period last year, reflecting growth in                fee                income on deposit accounts. For the three months ended March 31,                2006,                non-interest income was $1.4 million, compared to $1.2 million for                the                same period ended March 31, 2005. |
|--------|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | · | Non-interest                expense increased 17.1% to $5.9 million for the three months ended                March                31, 2006 from $5.0 million for the prior year period. The increase                included $390,000 in salary and benefits, which included a $95,000                expense                related to the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP); $63,000 in                occupancy costs, $145,000 in professional fees and $246,000 in other                operating expenses. |
|--------|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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**UNITED      FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY**

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|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   | **March                31,** |    | **December                31,** |   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|------------------------------|---------|---------------------------------|--------|
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   | **2006**                     |    | **2005**                        |   |
| **ASSETS**                                                                                                                                                                              |   |                    |    |                       |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                    |    |                       |   |
| Cash                and due from banks                                                                                                                                                  |   | $                            | 16,473  |                            | $      | 15,841 |   |
| Interest                bearing deposits                                                                                                                                                |   |                         | 35,942  |                            |   | 2 |   |
| Liquidity                and cash funds                                                                                                                                                 |   |                         | 385     |                            |   | — |   |
| Total                cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                          |   |                         | 52,800  |                            |   | 15,843 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| Securities                available for sale, at fair value                                                                                                                             |   |                         | 220,485 |                            |   | 226,465 |   |
| Securities                to be held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $3,298 at March                31,                2006 and $3,298 at December 31, 2005)                 |   |                         | 3,323   |                            |   | 3,325 |   |
| Loans,                net of allowance for loan losses of $6,580 at March 31, 2006 and                $6,382 at                December 31, 2005                                        |   |                         | 641,008 |                            |   | 630,558 |   |
| Other                real estate owned                                                                                                                                                  |   |                         | — |                            |   | 1,602 |   |
| Accrued                interest receivable                                                                                                                                              |   |                         | 4,202   |                            |   | 3,928 |   |
| Deferred                tax asset, net                                                                                                                                                  |   |                         | 1,494   |                            |   | 1,245 |   |
| Stock                in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston                                                                                                                            |   |                         | 6,684   |                            |   | 6,588 |   |
| Banking                premises and equipment, net                                                                                                                                      |   |                         | 8,141   |                            |   | 8,236 |   |
| Bank-owned                life insurance                                                                                                                                                |   |                         | 6,113   |                            |   | 6,031 |   |
| Other                assets                                                                                                                                                             |   |                         | 3,319   |                            |   | 2,692 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| TOTAL                ASSETS                                                                                                                                                             |   | $                            | 947,569 |                            | $      | 906,513 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| **LIABILITIES                AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY**                                                                                                                           |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| Liabilities:                                                                                                                                                                            |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| Deposits:                                                                                                                                                                               |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| Interest                bearing                                                                                                                                                         |   | $                            | 593,019 |                            | $      | 560,310 |   |
| Non-interest                bearing                                                                                                                                                     |   |                         | 92,762  |                            |   | 93,301 |   |
| Total                deposits                                                                                                                                                           |   |                         | 685,781 |                            |   | 653,611 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| Federal                Home Loan Bank of Boston advances                                                                                                                                |   |                         | 112,542 |                            |   | 101,880 |   |
| Repurchase                agreements                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         | 6,388   |                            |   | 8,434 |   |
| Escrow                funds held for borrowers                                                                                                                                          |   |                         | 1,259   |                            |   | 1,129 |   |
| Accrued                expenses and other liabilities                                                                                                                                   |   |                         | 4,307   |                            |   | 4,454 |   |
| Total                liabilities                                                                                                                                                        |   |                         | 810,277 |                            |   | 769,508 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| Stockholders’                equity:                                                                                                                                              |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| Preferred                stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized 5,000,000 shares;                none                issued                                                       |   |                         | — |                            |   | — |   |
| Common                stock, par value $0.01 per share, authorized 60,000,000 shares;                17,205,995                shares issued at March 31, 2006 and at December 31, 2005 |   |                         | 172     |                            |   | 172 |   |
| Paid-in                capital                                                                                                                                                          |   |                         | 78,460  |                            |   | 78,446 |   |
| Retained                earnings                                                                                                                                                        |   |                         | 67,928  |                            |   | 66,944 |   |
| Unearned                ESOP shares                                                                                                                                                     |   |                         | (6,012  | )                               |   | (6,092 | ) |
| Accumulated                other comprehensive (loss), net of taxes                                                                                                                     |   |                         | (3,256  | )                               |   | (2,465 | ) |
| Total                stockholders’ equity                                                                                                                                         |   |                         | 137,292 |                            |   | 137,005 |   |
|                                                                                                                                                                                    |   |                         |    |                            |   |   |   |
| TOTAL                LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                                                                                                                         |   | $                            | 947,569 |                            | $      | 906,513 |   |

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**UNITED      FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY**

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|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
|                                                                |   | **Three                Months Ended****March                31,** |   |
|                                                                |   | **2006**                                                          |   | **2005** |   |
| Interest                and dividend income:                        |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Loans                                                               |   | $                                                                 | 9,600  |   | $ | 8,048 |   |
| Investments                                                         |   |                                                              | 2,305  |   |   | 1,528 |   |
| Other                interest-earning assets                        |   |                                                              | 242    |   |   | 140 |   |
| Total                interest and dividend income                   |   |                                                              | 12,147 |   |   | 9,716 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Interest                expense:                                    |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Deposits                                                            |   |                                                              | 4,042  |   |   | 2,580 |   |
| Short-term                borrowings                                |   |                                                              | 576    |   |   | 268 |   |
| Long-term                debt                                       |   |                                                              | 621    |   |   | 521 |   |
| Total                interest expense                               |   |                                                              | 5,239  |   |   | 3,369 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net                interest income before provision for loan losses |   |                                                              | 6,908  |   |   | 6,347 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Provision                for loan losses                            |   |                                                              | 162    |   |   | 275 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Net                interest income after provision for loan losses  |   |                                                              | 6,746  |   |   | 6,072 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Non-interest                income:                                 |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Fee                income on depositors’ accounts             |   |                                                              | 1,044  |   |   | 903 |   |
| Income                from bank-owned life insurance                |   |                                                              | 81     |   |   | 81 |   |
| Other                income                                         |   |                                                              | 231    |   |   | 231 |   |
| Total                non-interest income                            |   |                                                              | 1,356  |   |   | 1,215 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Non-interest                expense:                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Salaries                and benefits                                |   |                                                              | 3,029  |   |   | 2,638 |   |
| Occupancy                expenses                                   |   |                                                              | 403    |   |   | 340 |   |
| Marketing                expenses                                   |   |                                                              | 415    |   |   | 345 |   |
| Data                processing expenses                             |   |                                                              | 730    |   |   | 746 |   |
| Contributions                and sponsorships                       |   |                                                              | 31     |   |   | 73 |   |
| Professional                fees                                    |   |                                                              | 256    |   |   | 111 |   |
| Other                expenses                                       |   |                                                              | 1,011  |   |   | 764 |   |
| Total                non-interest expense                           |   |                                                              | 5,874  |   |   | 5,017 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Income                before income taxes                           |   |                                                              | 2,228  |   |   | 2,270 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Income                tax expense                                   |   |                                                              | 873    |   |   | 904 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| NET                INCOME                                           |   | $                                                                 | 1,355  |   | $ | 1,366 |   |
|                                                                |   |                                                              |   |   |   |   |   |
| Basic              and diluted earnings per share              |   | $                                                                 | .08    |   |   | NA |   |

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**UNITED      FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY**

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|                                                                        |   | Three                months ended |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------|
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                        |   | Mar-06                            | Dec-05 | Sep-05 | Jun-05 | Mar-05 |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Performance                Ratios:**                                      |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Return                on average assets*                                    |   |                              | 0.59 | % |   | 0.70 | % |   | -0.08 | % |   | 0.77 | % |   | 0.69 | % |
| Return                on average equity*                                    |   |                              | 3.93 | % |   | 4.62 | % |   | -0.73 | % |   | 10.04 | % |   | 8.67 | % |
| Average                equity to average interest-earning assets            |   |                              | 15.48 | % |   | 15.61 | % |   | 10.80 | % |   | 7.94 | % |   | 8.30 | % |
| Equity                to total assets at end of period*                     |   |                              | 14.49 | % |   | 15.14 | % |   | 15.12 | % |   | 6.81 | % |   | 7.85 | % |
| Average                interest-earning assets to average                   |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| interest-bearing                liabilities                                 |   |                              | 128.95 | % |   | 129.49 | % |   | 127.71 | % |   | 120.33 | % |   | 119.27 | % |
| Total                non-interest expense to average total assets*          |   |                              | 2.55 | % |   | 2.57 | % |   | 3.83 | % |   | 2.37 | % |   | 2.56 | % |
| Efficiency                ratio                                             |   |                              | 71.08 | % |   | 69.56 | % |   | 101.06 | % |   | 68.02 | % |   | 66.40 | % |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Regulatory                Capital Ratios: (United Bank only)**            |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Core                capital                                                 |   |                              | 11.21 | % |   | 11.60 | % |   | 11.35 | % |   | 6.90 | % |   | 8.02 | % |
| Tangible                capital                                             |   |                              | 11.21 | % |   | 11.60 | % |   | 11.35 | % |   | 6.90 | % |   | 8.02 | % |
| Risk-based                capital                                           |   |                              | 17.98 | % |   | 18.30 | % |   | 18.25 | % |   | 12.40 | % |   | 13.03 | % |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Asset                Quality Ratios:**                                    |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Non-performing                assets as a percent of total assets           |   |                              | 0.18 | % |   | 0.37 | % |   | 0.29 | % |   | 0.30 | % |   | 0.57 | % |
| Non-performing                loans as a percent of total loans, gross      |   |                              | 0.26 | % |   | 0.27 | % |   | 0.43 | % |   | 0.48 | % |   | 0.78 | % |
| Allowance                for loan losses as a percent of total loans, gross |   |                              | 1.02 | % |   | 1.00 | % |   | 1.05 | % |   | 1.05 | % |   | 1.07 | % |
| Allowance              for loan losses as a percent of non-performing loans |   |                              | 390.18 | % |   | 371.91 | % |   | 246.29 | % |   | 216.14 | % |   | 137.46 | % |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| **Selected                Average Yields/Rates**                            |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Loans                                                                       |   |                              | 5.99 | % |   | 5.92 | % |   | 5.82 | % |   | 5.80 | % |   | 5.61 | % |
| Securities                                                                  |   |                              | 4.06 | % |   | 3.99 | % |   | 4.26 | % |   | 3.85 | % |   | 3.75 | % |
| Total                interest earning assets                                |   |                              | 5.46 | % |   | 5.37 | % |   | 5.32 | % |   | 5.18 | % |   | 5.12 | % |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Savings                accounts                                             |   |                              | 0.82 | % |   | 0.84 | % |   | 0.69 | % |   | 0.63 | % |   | 0.62 | % |
| Money                Market/NOW accounts                                    |   |                              | 2.45 | % |   | 2.20 | % |   | 1.90 | % |   | 1.54 | % |   | 1.30 | % |
| Certificates                of deposit                                      |   |                              | 3.71 | % |   | 3.43 | % |   | 3.12 | % |   | 2.95 | % |   | 2.76 | % |
| Federal                Home Loan Bank of Boston advances                    |   |                              | 3.97 | % |   | 4.15 | % |   | 3.81 | % |   | 3.49 | % |   | 3.48 | % |
| Total                interest-bearing liabilities                           |   |                              | 3.04 | % |   | 2.83 | % |   | 2.59 | % |   | 2.31 | % |   | 2.12 | % |
|                                                                        |   |                              |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Average                interest rate spread                                 |   |                              | 2.42 | % |   | 2.54 | % |   | 2.73 | % |   | 2.87 | % |   | 3.00 | % |
| Net                interest margin                                          |   |                              | 3.10 | % |   | 3.19 | % |   | 3.34 | % |   | 2.97 | % |   | 3.34 | % |