Banknorth to Present at Sandler O'Neill Financial Services Conference

Portland, Maine, February 22, 2002 -- Banknorth Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) will present at the Sandler O'Neill West Coast Financial Services Conference to be held at the Four Seasons Resort, Aviara, North San Diego, California February 26-28.

William J. Ryan, Banknorth Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, will give the Company's presentation at 8:55 a.m., West Coast time, on Thursday, February 28. A live webcast of the presentation will be available at http://sandlerdigital.smc.net or through a link at Banknorth's site, www.banknorth.com, Investor Relations. A live telephonic broadcast of the presentation is also available by dialing 888 924-4447. Mr. Ryan's slide presentation will also be available on the Company's website.

Banknorth Group (NASDAQ: BKNG) is one of the country's 35 largest commercial banking companies with $21 billion in assets. Banknorth, NA, a Banknorth Group subsidiary, is the parent company of Peoples Heritage Bank, with the leading market share in Maine, and other banking divisions in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and upstate New York. The company and its banking affiliates also operate subsidiaries in insurance (Banknorth Insurance Group), investments (Bancnorth Investment Planning Group, Inc.), a money management firm (Banknorth Investment Management Group, NA), and a leasing company (Banknorth Leasing). Other subsidiaries and divisions provide services in mortgage banking, asset-based lending, private banking, merchant services and other financial services. For more information about Banknorth, visit the company online at http://www.banknorth.com.

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