UNITED STATES

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| x | Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
|---|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|  ̈ | Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

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|                                                          |   |                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------|----------------------------------|
| Delaware                                                      |   | 02-0430695                       |
| (State or other jurisdiction ofincorporation or organization) |   | (IRS EmployerIdentification No.) |

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|                         |   |                                 |
|------------------------------|--------|--------------------------------------|
| Common Stock, $.01 par value |   | The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC         |
| Title of Class               |   | Name of Exchange on which Registered |

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|                              |   |   |         |                                |   |   |
|-----------------------------------|--------|--------|--------------|-------------------------------------|--------|--------|
| Large accelerated filer |   |  ̈ |    | Accelerated filer              |   |  ̈ |
|                              |   |   |         |
| Non-accelerated filer             |   |  ̈ |    | Smaller reporting company |   | x      |

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| Item 15. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
|---------------|--------------------------------------------|

|   | (1) | The consolidated balance sheets of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, together with the relatednotes and the report of independent registered public accounting firm of Shatswell, MacLeod & Company, P.C. independent public accountants. |
|--------|-----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (2) | Schedules omitted as they are not applicable.  |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------|

|                   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|------------------------|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  ExhibitNo.  |    |  Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|                   |         |
|  2.1              |    | Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between NHTB and First Brandon FinancialCorporation dated as of December 14, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 2.5 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 15, 2006 and incorporated by reference herein). |
|                   |         |
|  2.2              |    | Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between NHTB and First Community Bank dated as of April 16, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 2.6 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Commission on April 16, 2007 and incorporated by reference herein).                         |
|                   |         |
|  3.1.1            |    | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of NHTB (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to NHTB’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on November 5, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).                                              |

|            |         |
|-----------------|--------------|
|  3.1.2     |    | Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of NHTB (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to NHTB’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 filed with the Commission on August 15, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  3.1.3     |    | Certificate of Designations establishing the rights of NHTB’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 22, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  3.2.1     |    | Amended and Restated Bylaws of NHTB (filed as Exhibit 3.2.3 NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1997 filed with the Commission on March 5, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  3.2.2     |    | Amendment to Bylaws of NHTB (filed as an Exhibit 3.2(a) to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 11, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  3.2.3     |    | Amendment to Bylaws of NHTB (filed as an Exhibit 3.2.2 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  4.1       |    | Stock Certificate of NHTB (filed as Exhibit to NHTB’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Commission on March 1, 1989 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  4.2       |    | Indenture by and between NHTB, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee,dated March 30, 2004 for Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures(filed as Exhibit 4.2 to NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|   4.3 |    | Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures issued by NHTB to U.S. Bank National Association dated March 30, 2004 (filed as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2 to NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|   4.4 |    | Indenture by and between New NHTB, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, asTrustee, dated March 30, 2004 for Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated DeferrableInterest Debentures (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  4.5       |    | Form of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures issued byNHTB to U.S. Bank National Association dated March 30, 2004 (filed as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.4 to NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  4.6       |    | Form of specimen stock certificate for NHTB’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 22, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
|  4.7       |    | Warrant to purchase shares of NHTB common stock (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 22, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
| 10.1            |    | Profit Sharing-Stock Ownership Plan of Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to NHTB’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on November 5, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
| 10.2            |    | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to NHTB’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on November 5, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference). |
|            |         |
| 10.3            |    | Employment Agreement between NHTB and Stephen W. Ensign (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to NHTB’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on November 5, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference). |

| 10.4   |    | Employment Agreement between Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb and Steven R. Theroux (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to NHTB’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Commission on November 5, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   |         |
| 10.5   |    | Guarantee Agreement by and between NHTB and U.S. Bank National Association datedMarch 30, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |         |
| 10.6   |    | Guarantee Agreement by and between New NHTB and U.S. Bank National Association dated March 30, 2004 (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|   |         |
| 10.7   |    | NHTB’s 1998 Stock Option Plan (filed as Appendix A to NHTB’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on March 6, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|   |         |
| 10.8   |    | NHTB’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Appendix B to NHTB’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on April 8, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|   |         |
| 10.9   |    | Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of New Hampshire ThriftBancshares, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Commission on December 14, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|   |         |
| 10.10  |    | Amendment to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of New Hampshire ThriftBancshares, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Commission on March 14, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|   |         |
| 10.11  |    | Amendment to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of New Hampshire ThriftBancshares, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Commission on March 14, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|   |         |
| 10.12  |    | Forms of Executive Salary Continuation Agreement among NHTB, Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb and Stephen W. Ensign and Stephen R. Theroux (filed as Exhibit 10.14 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with Commission on March 14, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |         |
| 10.13  |    | Letter Agreement, dated as of January 16, 2009, between New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and the United States Department of the Treasury, and the Securities Purchase Agreement — Standard Terms attached thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to NHTB’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 22, 2009 and incorporatedherein by reference).                                                                                                                         |
|   |         |
| 13.1   |    | Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2009.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|   |         |
| 14.1   |    | Code of Ethics (filed as Exhibit 14.1 to NHTB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed with the Commission on March 30, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|   |         |
| 21.1*  |    | Subsidiaries of NHTB.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|   |         |
| 23.1*  |    | Consent of Shatswell, MacLeoad & Company, P.C.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|   |         |
| 31.1*  |    | Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Executive Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 31.1.1 |         | Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Executive Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 31.2*  |    | Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Financial Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|   |         |
| 31.2.1 |         | Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Financial Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 32.1*  |    | Written statement pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Executive Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |         |
| 32.1.1 |         | Written statement pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Executive Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 32.2*  |         | Written statement pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Financial Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 32.2.1 |         | Written statement pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed by the Principal Financial Officer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 99.1   |         | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 111(b)(4) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|   |         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 99.2   |         | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 111(b)(4) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.                                                                |

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Signatures

|                                  |         |                                                                                         |         |                          |   |              |
|---------------------------------------|--------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|-------------------------------|--------|-------------------|
| New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. |    |                                                                                         |         |                          |
|                                  |         |                                                                                         |         |
| By:                                   |    | /S/    STEPHEN W. ENSIGN         |    | Chairman of the Board         |   | May 25, 2010 |
|                                  |    |  (Stephen W. Ensign)                                                                    |    | Chief Executive Officer       |   |              |
|                                  |    |                                                                                         |    | (Principal Executive Officer) |   |              |

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| 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.; |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this 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 report; |
|----|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this 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 report. |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrant and have: |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, 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 report is being prepared; |
|--------|-----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals; |
|--------|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
|--------|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
|--------|-----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   | (b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.                                                                                                |

|                    |         |                                 |
|-------------------------|--------------|--------------------------------------|
| Date: May 25, 2010 |    | /s/ Stephen W. Ensign           |
|                    |    | Stephen W. Ensign                    |
|                    |    | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |

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|   | 1. | I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.; |
|--------|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | 2. | Based on my knowledge, this 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 report; |
|--------|----|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this 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 report. |
|--------|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrant and have: |
|--------|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, 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 report is being prepared; |
|--------|-----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals; |
|--------|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
|--------|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
|--------|----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
|--------|-----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   | (b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.                                                                                                |

|                    |         |                                                            |
|-------------------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Date: May 25, 2010 |    | /s/ Stephen R. Theroux                                     |
|                    |    | Stephen R. Theroux                                              |
|                    |    | President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer |

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|   | A) | the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)) and |
|--------|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | B) | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods covered by the Report. |
|--------|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|                    |         |                                 |
|-------------------------|--------------|--------------------------------------|
| Date: May 25, 2010 |    | /s/ Stephen W. Ensign           |
|                    |    | Stephen W. Ensign                    |
|                    |    | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |

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|   | A) | the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)) and |
|--------|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | B) | the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods covered by the Report. |
|--------|----|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|               |         |                                                            |
|--------------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Date: May 25, 2010 |    | /s/ Stephen R. Theroux                                     |
|               |    | Stephen R. Theroux                                              |
|               |    | President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer |

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|   | (i) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has discussed, reviewed, and evaluated with senior risk officers at least every six months during the period beginning on the later of September 14, 2009, or ninety days after the closing date of the agreement between New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and Treasury and ending withthe last day of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.’s fiscal year containing that date (the applicable period), the senior executive officer (SEO) compensation plans and the employee compensation plans and the risks these plans pose to New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.; |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (ii) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has identified and limited during the applicable period any features of the SEO compensation plans that could lead SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that could threaten the value of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., and during that same applicable period has identified anyfeatures of the employee compensation plans that pose risks to New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and has limited those features to ensure that New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. is not unnecessarily exposed to risks; |
|--------|------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (iii) | The compensation committee has reviewed, at least every six months during the applicable period, the terms of each employee compensation plan and identified any features of the plan that could encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. to enhance the compensation of an employee, and has limited any such features; |
|--------|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (iv) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will certify to the reviews of the SEO compensation plans and employee compensation plans required under (i) and (iii) above; |
|--------|------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (v) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will provide a narrative description of how it limited during any part of the most recently completed fiscal year that included a TARP period the features in |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (A) | SEO compensation plans that could lead SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that could threaten the value of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.; |
|--------|-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (B) | Employee compensation plans that unnecessarily expose New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. to risks; and |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (C) | Employee compensation plans that could encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. to enhance the compensation of an employee; |
|--------|-----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (vi) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has required that bonus payments, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA (bonus payments), of the SEOs and twenty next most highly compensated employees be subject to a recovery or “clawback” provision during any part of the most recently completed fiscal year thatwas a TARP period if the bonus payments were based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria; |
|--------|------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (vii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has prohibited any golden parachute payment, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, to an SEO or any of the next five most highly compensated employees during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15,2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
|--------|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (viii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has limited bonus payments to its applicable employees in accordance with section 111 of EESA and the regulations and guidance established thereunder during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day ofthe TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
|--------|--------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (ix) | The board of directors of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has established an excessive or luxury expenditures policy, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, by the later of September 14, 2009, or ninety days after the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury; this policy hasbeen provided to Treasury and its primary regulatory agency; New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and its employees have complied with this policy during the applicable period; and any expenses that, pursuant to this policy, required approval of the board of directors, a committee of the board of directors, an SEO, or an executive officer with a similar level of responsibility were properly approved; |
|--------|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (x) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will permit a non-binding shareholder resolution in compliance with any applicable Federal securities rules and regulations on the disclosures provided under the Federal securities laws related to SEO compensation paid or accrued during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between theTARP recipient and Treasury or June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
|--------|-----|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (xi) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will disclose the amount, nature, and justification for the offering during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date of any perquisites,as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, whose total value exceeds $25,000 for any employee who is subject to the bonus payment limitations identified in paragraph (viii); |
|--------|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (xii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will disclose whether New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., the board of directors of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., or the compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has engaged during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasuryor June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date, a compensation consultant; and the services the compensation consultant or any affiliate of the compensation consultant provided during this period; |
|--------|-------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (xiii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has prohibited the payment of any gross-ups, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, to the SEOs and the next twenty most highly compensated employees during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15,2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
|--------|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (xiv) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has substantially complied with all other requirements related to employee compensation that are provided in the agreement between New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and Treasury, including any amendments; |
|--------|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|   | (xv)        | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has submitted to Treasury a complete and accurate list of the SEOs and the twenty next most highly compensated employees for the current fiscal year and the most recently completed fiscal year, with the non-SEOs ranked in descending order of level of annual compensation, and with the name, title, and employer of each SEOand most highly compensated employee identified; and  |
|--------|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   |  (xvi) |  I understand that a knowing and willful false or fraudulent statement made in connection with this certification may be punished by fine, imprisonment, or both.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

|                    |         |                                                              |
|-------------------------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Date: May 25, 2010 |    | /s/ Stephen W. Ensign                                        |
|                    |    | Stephen W. Ensign                                                 |
|                    |    | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer(Principal Executive Officer) |

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|   | (i) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has discussed, reviewed, and evaluated with senior risk officers at least every six months during the period beginning on the later of September 14, 2009, or ninety days after the closing date of the agreement between New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and Treasury and ending withthe last day of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.’s fiscal year containing that date (the applicable period), the senior executive officer (SEO) compensation plans and the employee compensation plans and the risks these plans pose to New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.; |
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|   | (ii) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has identified and limited during the applicable period any features of the SEO compensation plans that could lead SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that could threaten the value of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., and during that same applicable period has identified anyfeatures of the employee compensation plans that pose risks to New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and has limited those features to ensure that New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. is not unnecessarily exposed to risks; |
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|   | (iii) | The compensation committee has reviewed, at least every six months during the applicable period, the terms of each employee compensation plan and identified any features of the plan that could encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. to enhance the compensation of an employee, and has limited any such features; |
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|   | (iv) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will certify to the reviews of the SEO compensation plans and employee compensation plans required under (i) and (iii) above; |
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|   | (v) | The compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will provide a narrative description of how it limited during any part of the most recently completed fiscal year that included a TARP period the features in |
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|   | (A) | SEO compensation plans that could lead SEOs to take unnecessary and excessive risks that could threaten the value of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.; |
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|   | (B) | Employee compensation plans that unnecessarily expose New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. to risks; and |
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|   | (C) | Employee compensation plans that could encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. to enhance the compensation of an employee; |
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|   | (vi) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has required that bonus payments, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA (bonus payments), of the SEOs and twenty next most highly compensated employees be subject to a recovery or “clawback” provision during any part of the most recently completed fiscal year thatwas a TARP period if the bonus payments were based on materially inaccurate financial statements or any other materially inaccurate performance metric criteria; |
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|   | (vii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has prohibited any golden parachute payment, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, to an SEO or any of the next five most highly compensated employees during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15,2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
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|   | (viii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has limited bonus payments to its applicable employees in accordance with section 111 of EESA and the regulations and guidance established thereunder during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day ofthe TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
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|   | (ix) | The board of directors of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has established an excessive or luxury expenditures policy, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, by the later of September 14, 2009, or ninety days after the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury; this policy hasbeen provided to Treasury and its primary regulatory agency; New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and its employees have complied with this policy during the applicable period; and any expenses that, pursuant to this policy, required approval of the board of directors, a committee of the board of directors, an SEO, or an executive officer with a similar level of responsibility were properly approved; |
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|   | (x) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will permit a non-binding shareholder resolution in compliance with any applicable Federal securities rules and regulations on the disclosures provided under the Federal securities laws related to SEO compensation paid or accrued during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between theTARP recipient and Treasury or June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
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|   | (xi) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will disclose the amount, nature, and justification for the offering during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date of any perquisites,as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, whose total value exceeds $25,000 for any employee who is subject to the bonus payment limitations identified in paragraph (viii); |
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|   | (xii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. will disclose whether New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., the board of directors of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., or the compensation committee of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has engaged during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasuryor June 15, 2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date, a compensation consultant; and the services the compensation consultant or any affiliate of the compensation consultant provided during this period; |
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|   | (xiii) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has prohibited the payment of any gross-ups, as defined in the regulations and guidance established under section 111 of EESA, to the SEOs and the next twenty most highly compensated employees during the period beginning on the later of the closing date of the agreement between the TARP recipient and Treasury or June 15,2009 and ending with the last day of the TARP recipient’s fiscal year containing that date; |
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|   | (xiv) | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has substantially complied with all other requirements related to employee compensation that are provided in the agreement between New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and Treasury, including any amendments; |
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|   | (xv)                    | New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. has submitted to Treasury a complete and accurate list of the SEOs and the twenty next most highly compensated employees for the current fiscal year and the most recently completed fiscal year, with the non-SEOs ranked in descending order of level of annual compensation, and with the name, title, and employer of each SEOand most highly compensated employee identified; and  |
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|   |  (xvi)   |  I understand that a knowing and willful false or fraudulent statement made in connection with this certification may be punished by fine, imprisonment, or both.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

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| Date: May 25, 2010 |    | /s/ Stephen R. Theroux                                                  |
|                    |    | Stephen R. Theroux                                                           |
|                    |    | President and Chief Financial Officer(Principal Financial Officer) |