BOSTON, Nov. 16, 2005 – Eastern Bank recently completed construction on its downtown Natick branch and will open the doors Monday, Nov. 21 with a sweepstakes in honor of the town’s favorite son and the bank’s spokesman, Doug Flutie.

The branch, located at 2 South Ave., is next to the commuter rail, and free coffee will be offered to travelers and the public every weekday morning next week. All visitors to the branch are welcome to enter the “Favorite Son, Favorite Bank Sweepstakes” with $5,000 in prizes. No purchase is necessary.

“We’re pleased to be part of Doug Flutie’s hometown and to bring Eastern Bank’s commitment to personal service, local business and community support to Natick,” said Joe Riley, senior vice president of Retail, Small Business and Corporate Sales at Eastern.

The branch’s hours are Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Branch manager Sandy Sawyer will lead a staff of six in the full-service office, which will offer deposit and investment services, 24-hour ATM and a drive-through teller window.

The building was designed to reflect downtown Natick’s historic 19^th-century brick architecture with its steep, sloping roof and adjoining tower. There is parking in the rear of the building overlooking the commuter rail tracks.

About Eastern Bank Corporation
Based in Boston, Eastern Bank is the largest independent, mutually owned commercial banking franchise in New England.  With more than $6 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.

For more information, contact: Joe Bartolotta, Public Relations Director, Eastern Bank,
(781) 596-4411, or e-mail Joe Bartolotta.