This acquisition will combine the best capabilities of both organizationssaid Oddleifson

“This acquisition will combine the best capabilities of both organizations,”said Oddleifson. “Benjamin Franklin Bank is an ideal extension of Rockland Trustbecause it brings our bank into new markets and adds 11 branches to our existingfootprint. In addition, Benjamin Franklin employees are committed to customers,communities, and shareholders, much like Rockland Trust. We look forward tocontinuing our long-standing tradition of building relationships with customersand communities in this new territory.” Thomas Venables, president and CEO of Benjamin Franklin, will join IndependentBank Corp.`s Board of Directors. Two additional Benjamin Franklin directors,William Bissonnette and Daniel O`Brien, will also join the board. Locations of New BranchesThe new Rockland Trust branches will be located in Bellingham, Foxborough,Franklin (2), Medfield, Milford, Newtonville, Waltham (2), Watertown, andWellesley Hills.

In addition, Rockland Trust is part of the SUM Program, whichoffers customers access to more than 2,900 surcharge-free ATMs throughout theUnited States. Other than the change in the bank`s name, Benjamin Franklincustomers should notice little difference. All branch managers and bankemployees who work directly with customers will remain in their positions. “We are working very hard to ensure a seamless transition for our customers,”said Oddleifson. “We look forward to offering a wider array of services toBenjamin Franklin`s loyal customers and providing an unyielding focus oncustomer service.” Community SupportRockland Trust has a long history of supporting a variety of non-profitorganizations in the communities in which it operates. “We look forward toupholding this commitment in all of the new communities we`ll now be serving,”said Oddleifson.

When Rockland Trust opens the doors of their new branches on May 11, it willalso kick off a canned food drive to benefit local food pantries. Members of thecommunity are invited to drop off canned goods at all 11 branches for the fooddrive through June 30, 2009. About Rockland TrustRockland Trust Company is a full-service community bank headquartered inMassachusetts, with approximately $4.6 billion in assets The sole banksubsidiary of Independent Bank Corp. (Nasdaq: INDB), Rockland Trust provides awide range of consumer, business, investment, and insurance products andservices. Rockland Trust`s network consists of 71 retail branches, 12 commerciallending centers, and three mortgage banking centers in Massachusetts; and fourInvestment Management Group offices located in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.To find out why Rockland Trust is the bank “Where Each Relationship Matters®”,please visit Rockland Trust CompanyRalph Valente, Copyright Business Wire 2009. WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has 2,532 confirmed cases of the new H1N1 swine influenza in 44 states, and three deaths, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday.

U.S.  |  Health  |  Mexico  |  Swine FluOn Saturday, the CDC reported 2,254 confirmed cases, with 104 people in the hospital.Washington state health officials said on Saturday a man in his 30s with underlying heart conditions succumbed to the virus last week. It was the first death in the state.Although most cases appear to be mild, just as in seasonal flu the swine flu strain has killed, with 48 confirmed deaths in Mexico, three in the United States, one in Canada and one in Costa Rica.It has moved into the southern hemisphere, where influenza season is just beginning, and could mix with circulating seasonal flu viruses or the H5N1 avian influenza virus to create new strains, health officials said.(Reporting by World Desk Americas) U.S. Health Mexico Swine Flu. WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Washington state man with H1N1 influenza died last week, health officials said, the third U.S. sufferer to die as the new flu strain confirmed in more than 2,200 Americans appeared in Japan and Australia. U.S.  |  World  |  Health  |  China  |  Japan  |  Mexico  |  Swine FluHealth officials have warned that the true number of cases may be underestimated. Although most cases appear to be mild, the new swine flu strain has killed just as seasonal flu does.Another 48 people have died in Mexico and one each in Canada and Costa Rica.Washington state officials said on Saturday a man in his 30s with underlying heart conditions died last week, state governor Chris Gregoire describing his death as “a sobering reminder that influenza is serious.”The virus has moved into the southern hemisphere, where influenza season is just beginning, and could mix with circulating seasonal flu viruses or the H5N1 avian influenza virus to create new strains, health officials said.”One of the big challenges with influenza viruses is the way that they change, the way they combine and their prevalence in a number of species,” Dr Anne Schuchat of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told a news briefing on Saturday.”This is why it is so important for countries to have a strong capacity to deal with influenza and also why it is very important to understand what happens at the interface between people and animals.”Before the Washington man’s death was announced, the CDC reported 2,254 confirmed U.S.

cases of the virus with 104 people in hospital, up from 1,639 cases previously.”Today there are almost 3,000 probable and confirmed cases here in the United States,” Schuchat said. “The good news is we are not seeing a rise above the epidemic threshold.”Japan reported four cases, and globally officials reported more than 4,200 people in 30 countries had been ill. Australia reported its first case, a woman who been traveling in the United States but officials said she had made full recovery.VERY GREAT UNDERESTIMATE”We think this virus is in most of the United States,” Schuchat said. “The individual numbers are likely to be a very great underestimate.”More Americans are seeing doctors for influenza-like illnesses at a time of year when such visits usually decline.Schuchat said tests showed they do not all have the new H1N1 virus. TAIPEI (Reuters) – Tests on two people earlier thought to have been the first to be suffering from influenza A in Taiwan have shown they do not have the virus after all, the island’s health department said on Monday. U.S.  |  World  |  Health  |  Japan  |  Mexico  |  Swine FluHealth Minister Yeh Ching-chuan said earlier a 32-year-old mother and her baby from the city of Taipei most probably had the virus after returning from the United States six days ago.”After carrying out a series of tests, we have confirmed that the mother and daughter who returned from the United States do not have influenza A,” the Department of Health said in a brief statement.Over the weekend, the United States said a Washington state man with the H1N1 influenza died last week, the third U.S.