New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. Announces Quarterly Dividend and Annual Meeting Date

NEWPORT, NH--(Marketwire - January 14, 2010) - New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: NHTB), has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of thirteen cents ($0.13) per share payable January 29, 2010, to stockholders of record as of January 22, 2010.

The Board of Directors also announced that the Annual Stockholders' Meeting will be held on May 13, 2010 at the Lake Sunapee Bank Building, 1868 Room, 9 Main Street, Newport, New Hampshire, at 10:00 a.m.

Additionally, NHTB announced its intent to adopt the Securities and Exchange Commission's Notice and Access model for delivering 2010 proxy materials to its stockholders. Under the Notice and Access model, NHTB stockholders will receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. This notice will provide details on viewing proxy materials online and voting shares. It will also include instructions for requesting a paper copy of the proxy material. With the adoption of the Notice and Access model, NHTB will be able to significantly reduce the environmental impact of producing and delivering printed materials.

NHTB is the parent company of Lake Sunapee Bank, fsb, a federally-chartered stock savings bank providing a wide range of banking and financial services through twenty-eight offices strategically located in west-central New Hampshire and central Vermont.

Contact Information: For additional information contact: Stephen R. Theroux President 603-863-0886