The board of directors of Westfield Financial Inc., the holding company for Westfield Bank, has authorized the company’s second stock repurchase program.

The board has allowed for the repurchase of up to 10 percent, or 2.9 million shares, of the company’s common stock.

The company had previously announced a repurchase program for 3.2 million shares of its common stock on Jan. 22, 2008 and as of today, 3.1 million shares have been repurchased under that program. The second stock repurchase program will commence upon the completion of the first program, which is expected to occur shortly, subject to market conditions.