Eastern Bankshares, Inc. [●] shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share Underwriting Agreement

Exhibit 1.2

Eastern Bankshares, Inc.

[●] shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share

Underwriting Agreement

, 2020

X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC

Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.

As Representatives of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC

000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000

c/o Keefe, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.

00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx

Investment Banking, Suite 3400

Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Eastern Bankshares, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of [●] shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”). The shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein as the “Stock”.

Eastern Bank Corporation, a Massachusetts-chartered mutual holding company (the “MHC”), in accordance with the plan of conversion as adopted by its Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Plan”), intends to convert from the current mutual holding company form of organization to a stock holding company form of organization (the “Conversion”). Pursuant to the Plan, the Company offered rights to subscribe for shares of Common Stock in a subscription offering (the “Subscription Offering”) to certain depositors, employees, officers, directors, trustees and corporators of Eastern Bank, a Massachusetts-chartered bank (the “Bank” and, together with the Company and MHC, the “Eastern Parties”) and Eastern Insurance Group LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank (“EIG”), and to the Bank’s tax-qualified employee benefit plans, including the employee stock ownership plan (the “ESOP”) and the 401(k) plan (the “401(k) Plan”), in each case, established by the Bank. [In addition, the Company offered shares of Common Stock in a community offering (the “Community Offering” and, when referred to together with or subsequent to the Subscription Offering, the “Subscription and Community Offering”) the shares of Common Stock not subscribed for or ordered in the Subscription Offering to members of the general public with a preference given first to natural

persons, and trusts of natural persons, residing in the local community.] The Subscription and Community Offering, and the syndicated offering on a firm commitment basis to which this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) relates (the “Syndicated Offering”) are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Offering.” The Company also intends to donate to Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation (the “Charitable Foundation”) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 4.0% of Common Stock that will be outstanding immediately following the Offering (as defined below) and such stock donation to the Charitable Foundation.

In accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws and the rules and regulations governing the conversion of Massachusetts mutual holding companies to stock holding companies (including, without limitation, Chapter 167H of the Massachusetts General Laws and Chapter 33, Subpart D of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations), as from time to time amended or supplemented (the “Massachusetts Regulations”), the MHC has filed the Plan with the Massachusetts Division of Banks (the “Division”) and has filed such amendments thereto and supplementary materials as may have been required to the date hereof (such application, as amended to date, if applicable, and as subsequently amended, if applicable, is hereinafter referred to as the “Massachusetts Conversion Application”), including copies of the MHC’s Notice and Information Statement for a Special Meeting of its Corporators relating to the Conversion (the “Information Statement”), the Appraisal Report prepared by RP Financial, LC, dated [●], 2020, and as amended or supplemented, regarding the appraised pro forma market value of the Common Stock (the “Appraisal”), the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package.

In addition, the Company has filed with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”) an Application to Become a Bank Holding Company and/or Acquire an Additional Bank or Bank Holding Company on Form FR Y-3 (such application, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, is hereinafter referred to as the “Holding Company Application”) to become a bank holding company under Section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”), as in effect at the time and the FRB has approved the Holding Company Application. The Massachusetts Conversion Application and the Holding Company Application are collectively referred to herein as the “Applications”.

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:

1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement (File No. 333-239251), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its

effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, the term “Pricing Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

At or prior to the Applicable Time, the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): the Prospectus dated [●], 2020 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.

“Applicable Time” means [ ] [A/P].M., New York City time, on [●], 2020.

2. Purchase of the Shares.

(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per share of $10.00 (the “Purchase Price”) from the Company the respective number of Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto. Upon consummation of the Syndicated Offering, the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to the Underwriters a fee, payable in cash (which may be netted from the Purchase Price), equal to 5.5% of the aggregate gross proceeds received by the Company from the respective number of Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto.

(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at the offices of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP at 10:00 A.M. New York City time on [●], 2020, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment for the Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”.

Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct. The certificates for the Shares, if any, will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representatives at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives and the other Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Representatives nor the other Underwriters shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Representatives and the other Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus and Pricing Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the

information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Pricing Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Pricing Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(d) Emerging Growth Company. From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on either Section 5(d) of, or Rule 163B under, the Securities Act.

(e) Testing-the-Waters Materials. The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications and (ii) has not authorized anyone (including the Representatives) to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

(f) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(g) Holding Company Application. The Company has filed the Holding Company Application with the FRB and has published notice of such filing and the Holding Company Application is accurate and complete in all material respects. The Company has received written notice from the FRB of its approval of the Conversion, such approval remains in full force and effect and no order has been issued by the FRB suspending or revoking such approval and no proceedings therefor have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the FRB or any other applicable regulator. At the date of such approval, the Holding Company Application complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the BHCA and the regulations promulgated thereunder, except as the FRB or any other applicable regulator has expressly waived such regulations in writing.

(h) Massachusetts Conversion Application. The MHC has filed the Massachusetts Conversion Application with the Division and the Massachusetts Conversion Application is accurate and complete in all material respects. The MHC has received written notice from the Division of its approval of the Prospectus, order form and marketing materials for use in the Offering, such approval remains in full force and effect and no order has been issued by the Division suspending or revoking such approval and no proceedings therefor have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Division. On the Closing Date, the MHC will have received written notice from the Division of its approval of the Conversion, and no order will have been issued by the

Division suspending or revoking such approval and no proceedings therefor will have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Division. At the date of the applicable approval, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, order form and marketing materials for use in the Offering and the Massachusetts Conversion Application complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Massachusetts Regulations, except as the Division or any other applicable regulator has expressly waived such Massachusetts Regulations in writing.

(i) The Plan. The Plan has been adopted by the Board of Trustees of the MHC, and approved by the Boards of Directors, as applicable, of the Eastern Parties, and the offer and sale of the Shares will be conducted in all material respects in accordance with the Plan, the Massachusetts Regulations (except to the extent waived or otherwise approved by the Division) and all other applicable laws, regulations, decisions and orders, including all terms, conditions, requirements and provisions precedent to the Offering imposed upon the Eastern Parties by the Division, the Commission, or any other regulatory authority and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package. To the best knowledge of the Company, no person has sought to obtain review of the final action of the Division or any other applicable regulator in approving the Conversion.

(j) Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements, schedules and notes related thereto which are included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package fairly present the balance sheet, income statement, statement of changes in equity capital and statement of cash flows of the MHC on a consolidated basis at the respective dates indicated and for the respective periods covered thereby and comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act Regulations and Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Such consolidated financial statements, schedules and notes related thereto have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) consistently applied through the periods involved, present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein and are consistent with the financial statements and other reports filed by the Eastern Parties with the Division, the FDIC and the FRB as of the respective dates and for the respective periods covered, except that accounting principles employed in such regulatory filings conform to the requirements of the Division, the FDIC and the FRB and not necessarily to GAAP. The other financial, statistical and pro forma information and related notes included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package present fairly the information shown therein on a basis consistent with the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of the MHC on a consolidated basis included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and as to the pro forma adjustments, the adjustments made therein have been properly applied on the basis described therein. All disclosures included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the Securities Act Regulations) comply with Regulation G of the 1934 Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.

(k) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the MHC on a consolidated basis included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package: (i) there has not been any material adverse change, financial or otherwise, in the condition of the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or in the earnings, capital, properties, business or prospects of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business; (ii) there has not been any material increase in the long-term debt of any of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries or in the principal amount of the MHC’s consolidated assets which are classified by any of such entities as impaired, substandard, doubtful or loss or in loans past due 90 days or more or real estate acquired by foreclosure, by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or deemed in-substance foreclosure or any material decrease in consolidated equity capital or total assets of the MHC; nor has any of the Eastern Parties issued any securities (other than notes to evidence bank loans and reverse repurchase agreements and in connection with the organization of the Company) or incurred any material liability or obligation for borrowing (other than deposit liabilities and other funding in the ordinary course consistent with the disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package); (iii) there have not been any material transactions entered into by any of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries; (iv) there has been no material adverse change in any relationship that any of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has with its insurance carriers, including, without limitation, cancellation or other termination of any fidelity bond or any other type of insurance coverage; (v) there has been no material change in management of any of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries; (vi) none of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its respective business or properties from fire, flood, windstorm, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); (vii) none of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective has defaulted in the payment of principal or interest on any outstanding debt obligations; (viii) the capitalization, liabilities, assets, properties and business of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package; and (ix) the MHC, on a consolidated basis, does not have any material liabilities, contingent or otherwise, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(l) Organization and Good Standing of the Bank. The Bank has been duly organized and validly existing as a Massachusetts-chartered stock bank and upon completion of the Conversion will continue to be a duly organized and validly existing Massachusetts-chartered bank in stock form, in both instances duly authorized to conduct its business and own its property as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package; the Bank has obtained all licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business, except those that individually or in the aggregate would not have a material adverse effect on the conduct of the business, financial condition, results of operations, affairs or prospects of the Eastern

Parties and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”); all such licenses, permits and governmental authorizations are in full force and effect, and the Bank is in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations and orders applicable to the operation of its business, except where failure to be in compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect; the Bank is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, unless the failure to be so qualified in one or more of such jurisdictions would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Bank does not own equity securities or any equity interest in any other business enterprise except as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package or as would not be material to the operations of the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Following completion of the Conversion and the Offering, the Holding Company will own all of the shares of capital stock of the Bank issued and outstanding as of the date hereof and the Closing Date (the “Bank Stock”); the issued and outstanding shares of Bank Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and following completion of the Conversion, will be owned directly by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrances or legal or equitable claim. The Conversion will be effected in all material respects in accordance with all applicable statutes, regulations, decisions and orders; and, except with respect to the filing of certain post-sale, post-Conversion reports, and documents in compliance with the Securities Act, the Massachusetts Regulations or letters of approval, at the Closing Date, all terms, conditions, requirements and provisions with respect to the Conversion imposed by the Commission, the FRB and the Division or any other applicable regulator, if any, will have been complied with by the Eastern Parties in all material respects or appropriate waivers will have been obtained and all applicable notice and waiting periods will have been satisfied, waived or elapsed.

(m) Organization and Good Standing of the Company. The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Company is, and at the Closing Date will be, qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has obtained all licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business except those that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect; all such licenses, permits and governmental authorizations are in full force and effect, and the Company is in all material respects complying therewith and with all laws, rules, regulations and orders applicable to the operation of its business. There are no outstanding warrants or options to purchase any securities of the Company.

(n) Organization and Good Standing of MHC. The MHC is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a mutual holding company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with full corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration

Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and, through the effective time of the Merger (as defined in the Plan), will be qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The MHC has obtained all licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business except those that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect; all such licenses, permits and governmental authorizations are in full force and effect, and the MHC is in all material respects complying therewith and with all laws, rules, regulations and orders applicable to the operations of its business The MHC has no capital stock.

(o) Organization and Good Standing of the Subsidiaries of the Company. Each subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization with full corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and each subsidiary is, and at the Closing Date will be, qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each subsidiary has obtained all licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business except those that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material Adverse Effect; all such licenses, permits and governmental authorizations are in full force and effect, and each subsidiary is in all material respects complying therewith and with all laws, rules, regulations and orders applicable to the operations of its business.

(p) Compliance by the Bank with Applicable Regulations. The Bank has properly administered all accounts for which it acts as a fiduciary, including but not limited to accounts for which it serves as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor, in accordance with the terms of the governing documents and applicable state and federal law and regulation, except where the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Bank, nor any of its respective directors, officers or employees has committed any breach of trust with respect to any such fiduciary account, and the accountings for each such fiduciary account are true and correct and accurately reflect the assets of such fiduciary account, in each case, except where any such breach or the failure to accurately reflect would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Bank is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”). The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) up to the applicable limits, and upon consummation of the Conversion, the liquidation accounts for the benefit of the Eligible Account Holders and the Supplemental Eligible Account Holders will be duly established in accordance with the requirements of the Massachusetts Regulations. No proceedings for the termination or revocation of such insurance are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries are in compliance, in the conduct of their business, with all applicable laws, ordinances, governmental rules, regulatory capital requirements, regulations or court decrees to which they or their

properties or assets may be subject, including, but not limited to, the applicable laws, regulations and rules administered by the Commission, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”), the FDIC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) or any other applicable state, federal or self-regulatory organization, except to the extent that the failure to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Capitalization. Upon consummation of the Conversion and the Offering, the authorized, issued and outstanding equity capital of the Company will be within the range set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package under the caption “Capitalization,” and no Shares have been or will be issued and outstanding prior to the Closing Date; the Shares will have been duly and validly authorized for issuance and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the Plan against payment of the consideration calculated as set forth in the Plan, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, except for shares purchased by the ESOP with funds borrowed from the Company to the extent payment therefor in cash has not been received by the Company; except to the extent that subscription rights and priorities pursuant thereto exist pursuant to the Plan, no preemptive rights exist with respect to the Shares; and the terms and provisions of the Shares will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package. On the Closing Date, the Shares will have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to issuance. Upon the issuance of the Shares, good title to the Shares will be transferred from the Company to the purchasers thereof against payment therefor. Subsequent to the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission and prior to the Closing Date, except as otherwise may be indicated or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Company has not or will not have issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money, except borrowings from the same or similar sources indicated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package. All the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the MHC have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, upon completion of the Conversion, will be owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

(r) Due Authorization. The Company has all such power, authority, authorizations, approvals and orders as may be required to enter into this Agreement, to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and to issue and sell the Shares to be sold by the Company as provided herein and as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, subject to approval or confirmation by the Division or any other applicable regulator of the final Appraisal. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company.

(s) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been validly executed and delivered by the Company.

(t) No Violation or Default. None of the Eastern Parties or any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of their respective articles, charters, organizational certificates or bylaws (and none of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries will be in violation of its articles of incorporation, charters, organizational certificates or bylaws upon completion of the Conversion and the Offering), (ii) in default (nor has any event occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a defect) in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant, or condition contained in any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture, mortgage, or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries is subject or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and there are no contracts or documents of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries that are required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or the Applications that have not been so filed.

(u) No Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not: (i) conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries pursuant to their respective articles of incorporation, charters or bylaws or any contract, lease or other instrument in which any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries has a beneficial interest, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or order; (ii) violate any authorization, approval, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries; or (iii) result in the creation of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries. None of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries is in violation of any directive received from the FRB, the Division or the FDIC to make any material change in the method of conducting its business so as to comply in all material respects with all applicable statutes and regulations (including, without limitation, regulations, decisions, directives and orders of the FRB, the Division or the FDIC) and, except as may be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no suit or proceeding or charge or action before or by any court, regulatory authority or governmental agency or body, pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Company, threatened, which might materially and adversely affect the Offering, or which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Effect.

(v) No Consents Required. No approval of any regulatory or supervisory or other public authority is required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance of the Shares, except for approval by the FRB, the Division and any necessary qualification, notification, registration or exemption under the securities or blue sky laws of the various states in which the Shares are to be offered, and except as may be required under the rules and regulations of the FINRA.

(w) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (“Actions”) pending to which any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of any of the Eastern Parties, or any of their respective subsidiaries, is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such Actions are threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(x) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, which has certified certain financial statements of the MHC included in the Registration Statement, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

(y) Independent Appraiser. RP Financial, LC, which has prepared the Appraisal, has advised the Eastern Parties in writing that it is independent of the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries within the meaning of the Massachusetts Regulations, and to the Company’s knowledge, is experienced and expert in the valuation and the appraisal of business entities, including banks similar to the Bank, and has prepared the pricing information set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package in accordance with the requirements of the Massachusetts Regulations.

(z) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and good title to all other assets material to their respective businesses, taken as a whole, and to those properties and assets described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package as owned by them, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package or as are not material to the business of the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and all of the leases and subleases material to their respective businesses, taken as a whole, under which the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries hold properties, including those described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, are in full force and effect.

(aa) The Company has received an opinion of its counsel, Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP (“Xxxxxx”), with respect to the legality of the Shares to be issued and the income tax consequences under federal law and the laws of Massachusetts and New Hampshire of the Conversion, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement; all material aspects of such opinions are accurately summarized in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package. The facts upon which such opinions are based are truthful, accurate and complete in all material respects. None of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries has taken or will take any action inconsistent therewith.

(bb) Intellectual Property. (i) The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries own or have the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, domain names and other source indicators, copyrights and copyrightable works, know-how, trade secrets, systems, procedures, proprietary or confidential information and all other worldwide intellectual property, industrial property and proprietary rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) used in the conduct of their respective businesses; (ii) the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries’ conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any person; (iii) none of the Eastern Parties nor their subsidiaries has received any written notice of any claim relating to Intellectual Property; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property of the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries is not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person.

(cc) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(dd) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

(ee) Taxes. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries have timely filed or extended all required federal, state and local income and franchise tax returns required to be filed; the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries have timely paid all taxes that have become due and payable in respect of such returns and no deficiency has been asserted with respect thereto by any taxing authority. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries have no knowledge of any tax deficiency which has been or might

be assessed against them which, if subject to an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate with other tax deficiencies, a Material Adverse Effect. All material tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of MHC on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or with the issuance or sale by the Company of the Shares.

(ff) No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. No employee of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries is represented by a collective bargaining unit.

(gg) Certain Environmental Matters. None of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries or any properties owned or operated by any of them, is in violation of or liable under any Environmental Law (as defined below), except for such violations or liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no actions, suits or proceedings, or demands, claims, notices or investigations (including, without limitation, notices, demand letters or requests for information from any environmental agency) instituted or pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened relating to the liability of any property owned or operated by any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries under any Environmental Law. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries relating to any Environmental Law. For purposes of this subsection, the term “Environmental Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or agreement with any regulatory authority relating to (i) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including, without limitation, air, water, vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface soil, subsurface soil, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), and/or (ii) the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of any substance presently listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous, or otherwise regulated, whether by type or by quantity, including any material containing any such substance as a component.

(hh) Compliance with ERISA. Except for the SBERA Pension Plan as adopted by Eastern Bank and those plans set forth on Schedule 3(hh), none of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries maintains any “pension plan,” as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). In addition, (A) the

employee benefit plans, including employee welfare benefit plans, of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries (the “Employee Plans”) have been operated in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), all regulations, rulings and announcements promulgated or issued thereunder and all other applicable laws and governmental regulations, (B) no reportable event under Section 4043(c) of ERISA has occurred with respect to any Employee Plan of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries for which the reporting requirements have not been waived by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, (C) no prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA, for which an exemption does not apply, has occurred with respect to any Employee Plan of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries and (D) all Employee Plans that are group health plans have been operated in compliance with the group health plan continuation coverage requirements of Section 4980B of the Code, except to the extent such noncompliance, reportable event or prohibited transaction would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, claims by or on behalf of any Employee Plan, by any employee or beneficiary covered under any such Employee Plan or by any governmental authority, or otherwise involving such Employee Plans or any of their respective fiduciaries (other than for routine claims for benefits).

(ii) Accounting and Disclosure Controls. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (D) the recorded accounts or assets are compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. The books, records and accounts and systems of internal accounting control of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries comply in all material respects with the requirements of Section 13(b)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries have established and maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 0000 Xxx) that are effective in ensuring that the information the Company will be required to disclose in the reports it files or submits under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management (including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer) in a timely manner and recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. To the knowledge of the Company, Ernst & Young LLP and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors have been advised of: (A) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which could adversely affect the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries’ ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal accounting controls of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries.

(jj) Insurance. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties as is customary for companies engaged in a similar industry.

(kk) Cybersecurity; Data Protection. The information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Eastern Parties and their subsidiaries as currently conducted and, to the knowledge of the Eastern Parties, free and clear of all bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, and there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

(ll) No Unlawful Payments. None of the Eastern Parties, nor any of their respective subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors, officers or employees nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the any of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Xxxxxxx Xxx 0000 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

(mm) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(nn) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Eastern Parties, nor any of their respective subsidiaries, nor any of their respective directors, officers, or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, none of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries has knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(oo) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, there are no contractual encumbrances or restrictions or requirements or legal restrictions or requirements required to be described therein, on the ability of any of the Eastern Parties or their respective subsidiaries, (A) to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its capital stock or to pay any indebtedness owed to another party, (B) to make any loans or advances to, or investments in, another party or (C) to transfer any of its property or assets to another party. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, there are no restrictions, encumbrances or requirements affecting the payment of dividends or the making of any other distributions on any of the capital stock of the Company.

(pp) All Sales Information (as defined in Section 9(a)) used by the Company in connection with the Conversion that is required by the Division to be filed has been filed with and approved by the Division or any other applicable regulator.

(qq) Except for the loan to the ESOP by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective employees has made any payment of funds as a loan for the purchase of the Shares or made any other payment of funds prohibited by law, and no funds have been set aside to be used for any payment prohibited by law.

(rr) None of the Eastern Parties has: (i) issued any securities within the last 18 months (except for notes to evidence bank loans and reverse repurchase agreements and in connection with the organization of the Company) or incurred any material liabilities or obligation for borrowing (other than deposit liabilities or other funding in the ordinary course consistent with the disclosures set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package); (ii) had any material dealings within the 12 months prior to the date hereof with any member of the FINRA, or any person related to or associated with such member, other than discussions and meetings relating to the proposed Offering and routine purchases and sales of United States government and agency and other securities in the ordinary course of business; (iii) entered into a financial or management consulting agreement except as contemplated hereunder; and (iv) engaged any intermediary between the Representatives and the Company or the Bank in connection with the offering of the Shares, and no person is being compensated in any manner for such service.

(ss) All of the loans represented as assets of the Bank in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package meet or are exempt from all requirements of federal, state and local law pertaining to lending, including, without limitation, truth in lending (including the requirements of Regulation Z and 12 C.F.R. Part 226), real estate settlement procedures, consumer credit protection, equal credit opportunity and all disclosure laws applicable to such loans, except for violations which, if asserted, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(tt) To the knowledge of the Company, there are not and have not been any affiliations or associations (as such terms are defined by the FINRA) between any member of the FINRA and any of the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries’ officers or directors, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package or filings with FINRA.

(uu) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares.

(vv) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

(ww) Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(xx) Statistical and Market Data. The statistical and market related data contained in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement are based on or derived from sources which the Eastern Parties and their respective subsidiaries believe were reliable and accurate at the time they were filed with the Commission. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the 0000 Xxx) contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(yy) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(zz) Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

(aaa) No Ratings. There are (and prior to the Closing Date, will be) no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by any of the Eastern Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act.

4. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus (if different than the Prospectus dated [●], 2020) with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, two signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably objects.

(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when the Applications have been approved by the FRB or the Division; (iii) when a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement (if any) has been filed or becomes effective; (iv) when any supplement to the Applications, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (v) of any request by the Commission, the FRB or the Division for any amendment to the Applications, the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission, the FRB or the Division relating to the Applications, the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (vi) of the issuance by the Commission, the FRB, the Division or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the Conversion or the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Pricing Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the

Prospectus or any other filing of the Company or the Bank under the BHCA, the Massachusetts Regulations or other applicable law, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Pricing Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause any post-approval amendment to the Applications to be approved by the FRB, the Division or any other applicable regulator.

(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

(h) Clear Market. For a period of 180 days after the Closing Date, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to undertake any of the foregoing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, other than the Common Stock to be sold in the Offering.

The restrictions described above do not apply to (i) the issuance of shares of Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities or the exercise of warrants or options (including net exercise) or the settlement of RSUs (including net settlement), in each case outstanding on the date of this Agreement and described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (ii) grants of stock options, stock awards, restricted stock, RSUs, or other equity awards and the issuance of shares of Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Stock (whether upon the exercise of stock options or otherwise) to the Company’s employees, officers, directors, advisors, or consultants pursuant to the terms of an equity compensation plan in effect as of the Closing Date and described in the Prospectus; (iii) the filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 relating to securities granted or to be granted pursuant to any plan in effect on the date of this Agreement and described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or any assumed benefit plan pursuant to an acquisition or similar strategic transaction; (iv) the stock donation to the Charitable Foundation described in the Registration Statement; and (v) any acquisition or proposed acquisition of a business (including substantially all of the assets of any business) pursuant to an agreement entered into after the Closing Date.

If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 6(k) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares consistent in all material respects with the disclosure in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “How We Intend to Use the Proceeds from the Offering”.

(j) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries or affiliates will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.

(k) Exchange Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Nasdaq Market”).

(l) Reports. So long as the Shares are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(m) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(n) Filings. The Company will file with the Commission such reports as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

(o) Emerging Growth Company. The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 4(h) hereof.

5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).

(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission.

(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter hereunder is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

(c) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(k) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(d) Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a) and (c) above.

(e) Comfort Letters. (i) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than two business days prior to such Closing Date.

(ii) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, of its chief financial officer with respect to certain financial data contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(f) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. Xxxxxx XxXxxxxxx & Fish LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B hereto.

(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 statement, addressed to the Underwriters, of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(h) No Legal Impediment to Issuance and Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares.

(i) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company, the Bank and EIG and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(j) Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

(k) Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, between you and certain officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be full force and effect on the Closing Date.

(l) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”) or any Pricing Disclosure Package, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to

make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in paragraph (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: [TBD].

(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding

(including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the Offering or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the shares in the Offering and the total fees and underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among

other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total fees and underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the Offering exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

8. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.

9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

10. Defaulting Underwriter.

(a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the

Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent accountants and independent appraisers; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters (subject to proviso under (x) below)); (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (viii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; (ix) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq Market; (x) reasonable and documented fees of counsel and other professional advisors engaged by the Underwriters not to exceed $50,000; and (xi) other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Underwriters not to exceed $50,000.

(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby subject to the limitations on expenses set forth in that certain Agency Agreement dated [●], 2020 between the Eastern Parties and Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters or the directors, officers, controlling persons or affiliates referred to in Section 7 hereof.

14. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

15. Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

16. Miscellaneous.

(a) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (fax: (000) 000-0000); Attention Equity Syndicate Desk, and c/o Keefe, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc., 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx Banking Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxx XxXxxxx. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at Eastern Bank, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, General Counsel.

(b) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(c) Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. The Company agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which Company is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

(f) Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

(g) Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

As used in this Section 16(g):

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with or delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

(i) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(j) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.


Very truly yours,

EASTERN BANKSHARES, INC.

By:
		Name:
		Title:


Accepted: As of the date first written above

X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC

For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.

By:
		Authorized Signatory

XXXXX, XXXXXXXX & XXXXX, INC.

For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.

By:
		Authorized Signatory

Schedule 1


Underwriter	Number of Shares
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC		[•]
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.		[•]

Total

Schedule 3(hh)

Pension Plans

Broad-based ERISA Pension Plans

Eastern Bank 401(k) Plan

SBERA Pension Plan as adopted by Eastern Bank

Top-Hat ERISA Pension Plans

The Eastern Bank Benefit Equalization Plan

The Eastern Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The Eastern Bank 409A Deferred Compensation Plan

The Eastern Bank Deferred Compensation Plan

The Eastern Insurance Group LLC Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The Supplemental Executive Retirement Arrangement by and between Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and MASSBANK

The September 6, 2002 restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Arrangement by and between Xxxxxx Xxxxx and Plymouth Savings Bank

The September 6, 2002 restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Arrangement by and between Xxxxx X. Fantasia and Plymouth Savings Bank.

The Supplemental Executive Retirement Arrangement by and between Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Community Bank.

Amended and Restated Salary Continuation Agreement of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (Centrix)

Amended and Restated Salary Continuation Agreement of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx (Centrix)

Amended and Restated Salary Continuation Agreement of Xxxx X. Xxxxx (Centrix)

Annex A

a.	Pricing Disclosure Package

[None]

b.	Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters

Number of Shares: [ ] shares of Common Stock

Price: $10.00 per share

Exhibit A

[Form of Waiver of Lock-up]

X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC

XXXXX, XXXXXXXX & XXXXX, INC.

Eastern Bankshares, Inc.

Public Offering of Common Stock

, 20__

[Name and Address of

Officer or Director

Requesting Waiver]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by Eastern Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company”) of ______ shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and the lock-up letter dated__________________, 20__ (the “Lock-up Letter”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated__________________, 20__, with respect to ______ shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).

X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC hereby agrees to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Letter, but only with respect to the Shares, effective __________________, 20__ ; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]{36}. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].

Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

Yours very truly,

[Signature of X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC / Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.

Representatives]

[Name of X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC / Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc. Representatives]

cc:

Company

Exhibit B

[Form of Press Release]

Eastern Bankshares, Inc.

[Date]

Eastern Bankshares, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC and Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc., the joint book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of shares of common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company{36}. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on ____________________, 20__, and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Exhibit C

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

, 20__

X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC

Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.

As Representatives of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC

000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000

c/o Keefe, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.

00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx

Investment Banking, Suite 3400

Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000

Re:

Eastern Bankshares, Inc. — Public Offering

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Eastern Bankshares, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters named in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Securities”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, and will not cause any direct or indirect affiliate to, during the period beginning on the date of this letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) and ending at the close of business 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (such period, the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock, $0.01 per share par value, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other

securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) (collectively with the Common Stock, “Lock-Up Securities”), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition or transfer (whether by the undersigned or any other person) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise. The undersigned further confirms that it has furnished X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC and Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc. with the details of any transaction the undersigned, or any of its affiliates, is a party to as of the date hereof, which transaction would have been restricted by this Letter Agreement if it had been entered into by the undersigned during the Restricted Period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may:

(a) transfer the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities:

(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, or for bona fide estate planning purposes,

(ii) by will or intestacy,

(iii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, or if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, current or former marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin),

(iv) to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the undersigned and the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests,

(v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv) above,

(vi) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership), or (B) as part of a distribution to members or shareholders of the undersigned,

(vii) by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or separation agreement,

(viii) to the Company from an employee of the Company upon death, disability or termination of employment, in each case, of such employee,

(ix) as part of a sale of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the closing date for the Public Offering,

(x) to the Company in connection with the vesting, settlement, or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of Common Stock (including, in each case, by way of “net” or “cashless” exercise), including for the payment of exercise price and tax and remittance payments due as a result of the vesting, settlement, or exercise of such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights, provided that any such shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement, and provided further that any such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights are held by the undersigned pursuant to an agreement or equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, each such agreement or plan which is described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or

(xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (for purposes hereof, “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons, of shares of capital stock if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity)); provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the provisions of this Letter Agreement;

provided that (A) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii), such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and each donee, devisee, transferee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter in the form of this Letter Agreement, (B) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (ix) and (x), no filing by any party (donor, donee, devisee, transferor, transferee, distributer or distributee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing

on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period referred to above) and (C) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a)(vii) and (viii), it shall be a condition to such transfer that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and if any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock in co-nection with such transfer or distribution shall be legally required during the Restricted Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer;

(b) exercise outstanding options, settle restricted stock units or other equity awards or exercise warrants pursuant to plans described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that any Lock-up Securities received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement;

(c) convert outstanding preferred stock, warrants to acquire preferred stock or convertible securities into shares of Common Stock or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock; provided that any such shares of Common Stock or warrants received upon such conversion shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement; and

(d) establish trading plans pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Lock-Up Securities; provided that (1) such plans do not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the Restricted Period and (2) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or made voluntarily in connection with such trading plan.

If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to all Securities the undersigned may purchase in the Offering however acquired.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters agrees that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Lock-Up Securities, the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such announcement. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration or that is to an immediate family member as defined in FINRA Rule 5130(i)(5) and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Securities and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Representatives may be required or choose to provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures to you in connection with the Public Offering, the Representatives and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to enter into this Letter Agreement, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representative or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by ________, 20___, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.

This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.


Very truly yours,

[NAME OF STOCKHOLDER]

By:
		Name:
		Title:

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Eastern Bankshares, Inc. [●] shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share Underwriting Agreement

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