NATICK, Mass., Sept. 19, 2006 – Eastern Insurance Group today announced it acquired South River Insurance Agency in Marshfield, McAlpine Insurance Agency in Centerville and D.J. Rielly Insurance Agency in Pembroke, providing customers of those agencies with access to a broader range of insurance products and services.

Eastern Insurance has now acquired four agencies in the last seven months, having acquired Howland’s Insurance Agency of Rockland in February.  In each case, the transition will be seamless for consumer and commercial customers of the agencies, as the former owners and employees of the agencies will remain with Eastern Insurance.

“We’re very pleased that these three successful organizations will be partnering with us,” said Hope Aldrich, president and CEO of Eastern Insurance Group. “They bring a depth of experience that will be a tremendous asset to our organization.”

The acquisitions increase Eastern Insurance’s customer base south of Boston, where it currently has seven locations. Eastern Insurance has 18 locations in eastern and central Massachusetts, making it one of New England’s largest insurance agencies.

Ted Foster, who owns South River, and John McAlpine, owner of McAlpine, will remain with Eastern Insurance, as will Donald J. Rielly, Jr., John J. Powers, Jr., and John W. Richardson, the principals of D.J. Rielly.  All employees of the three agencies will remain with Eastern Insurance.

Foster and his team will work in Eastern’s Plymouth office at 71 Carver Road.  McAlpine will remain in the Yarmouth office at One Atlantic Ave. and full-time agent Denise McAlpine will join Eastern’s Quincy location at 382 Quincy Ave.

Foster formed South River in 1973 and previously served as sales manager and underwriting manager at Maryland Casualty, Phoenix Insurance and Aetna. South River’s full-time agents, Denine Kennedy and Jeanne Bowes, are members of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women.

McAlpine created his agency in 1985, serving both consumers and businesses. Previously, he worked at two well-known insurance agencies as a producer. McAlpine has also earned the respected insurance designation of Certified Insurance Councilor (CIC).

Incorporated in 1983, the D.J. Rielly team brings expertise in personal and commercial lines.  It also has a specialty program in collectibles and historic firearms. This program was developed by Richardson and includes exclusive marketing rights to the Historic Firearms and Collectibles Insurance Program, a nationally recognized program.

About Eastern Insurance
Founded in 1935, Eastern Insurance Group, LLC is one of the largest insurance agencies in New England, serving approximately 80,000 consumers and businesses.  A subsidiary of Eastern Bank, Eastern Insurance provides a full range of personal and commercial insurance products, and employee benefits services including group health and life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) planning.  For more information, visit www.easterninsurance.com.

About Eastern Bank Corporation
Founded in 1818 and based in Boston, Eastern Bank is the largest independent, mutually owned commercial banking franchise in New England. With $6.5 billion in assets and more than 70 branches stretching from Merrimack Valley to Cape Cod, Eastern offers superior service, convenience and a full range of financial products for consumers, businesses, investors, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations.  Its subsidiaries are Eastern Insurance and Fantini & Gorga, a real estate advisory firm.