Shareholders of BostonFed Bancorp, Inc. Approve Merger With Banknorth Group, Inc.

Shareholders of BostonFed Bancorp, Inc. Approve Merger With
Banknorth Group, Inc. 


BURLINGTON, Mass., Jan. 11  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BostonFed Bancorp, Inc.
(AMEX:BFD), the parent of Boston Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered
stock savings bank, announced today that its shareholders overwhelmingly
approved the pending merger with Banknorth Group, Inc. (NYSE: BNK), Portland,
Maine, at a meeting held today.  The merger is expected to close on January 21,
2005 and all requisite regulatory approvals have been received.

This report may contain certain forward-looking statements, which are based on
management's current expectations regarding economic, legislative and
regulatory issues that may impact the Company's earnings in future periods.
Factors that could cause future results to vary materially from current
management expectations include, but are not limited to, general economic
conditions, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, real estate values and
competition; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; changes
in legislation or regulation; and other economic, competitive, governmental,
regulatory and technological factors affecting the Company's operations,
pricing, products and services.  The Company does not undertake, and
specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any
revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events
or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence
of anticipated or unanticipated events.

  Contact:
   Amy L. Timmerman, AVP, Investor Relations - 781-221-6396
   John A. Simas, EVP and CFO - 781-221-6307
   FAX: [phone]


DATASOURCE: BostonFed Bancorp, Inc.



CONTACT: Amy L. Timmerman, AVP, Investor Relations, [phone], or

John A. Simas, EVP and CFO, [phone], both of BostonFed Bancorp, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.bostonfed.com/

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