Meridian Interstate Bancorp Adopts Fourth Stock Repurchase Program

Meridian Interstate Bancorp, Inc.

announced that it has completed its third repurchase program, which consisted of 472,428 shares at an average price of $12.53 per share. In addition, the Company's Board of Directors voted to adopt a fourth stock repurchase program of up to 10% of its outstanding common stock, or 904,224 shares of its common stock. Shares may be repurchased in open market or private transactions, through block trades, or pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission.