Westfield Financial, Inc. Added to Russell 3000 Index

WESTFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Westfield Financial, Inc. WFD, the holding company of Westfield Bank, is set to join the broad-market Russell 3000^® Index at the conclusion of the Russell US Indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the US market opens on June 27, according to a preliminary list of additions posted on June 10.

Annual reconstitution of the Russell US indexes captures the 4,000 largest US stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization. Westfield's membership in the US all-cap Russell 3000^® Index, which will remain in place for at least one year, means automatic inclusion in the small-cap Russell 2000^® Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

"We are very pleased to join the Russell 3000^® Index as part of the largest 4,000 US Stocks" said James C. Hagan, President and CEO. "Westfield's addition to the Russell 3000^® Index, along with our recently announced merger with Chicopee Bancorp, reflects our continued positive momentum and efforts to increase shareholder value. On April 4, 2016, Westfield Financial announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement with Chicopee Bancorp whereby Chicopee will merge with and into Westfield. The partnership is exciting because of the commonality of our cultures, our operating models and customer service focus of our two institutions. The complimentary nature of our branch footprints creates opportunity for growth and expansion into new markets for Westfield. A merger of our banks will be extremely favorable for the shareholders, customers, employees and communities of both institutions."

Indexes provided by FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider, are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $6 trillion in assets are benchmarked against the Russell US indexes.

For more information on the Russell 3000^® Index and the Russell US Indexes reconstitution, go to the "Russell Reconstitution" section on the FTSE Russell website.

About Westfield Financial, Inc.

Westfield Financial, Inc. is a Massachusetts-chartered stock holding company and the parent company of Westfield Bank, Elm Street Securities Corporation, WFD Securities, Inc. and WB Real Estate Holdings, LLC. Westfield Financial and its subsidiaries are headquartered in Westfield, Massachusetts and operate through 13 banking offices located in Agawam, East Longmeadow, Feeding Hills, Holyoke, Southwick, Springfield, West Springfield and Westfield, Massachusetts, and Granby and Enfield, Connecticut. To learn more, visit our website at www.westfieldbank.com.

About FTSE Russell

FTSE Russell is a global index leader and data provider that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally.

FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $10 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance, and embraces the IOSCO principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and client collaboration as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering.

FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Westfield Financial wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date made. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and in subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Westfield Financial and the Westfield Bank do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160613006446/en/