Boston Private Adds Two New Members to Its Board of Directors

Business Wire, July 26, 2007

BOSTON -- Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPFH), today announced that Deborah Foye Kuenstner and Adolfo Henriques have been elected to the Board of Directors. Ms. Kuenstner is the Chief Investment Officer and Vice President of Investment Management at Brandeis University. Mr. Henriques is President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida East Coast Industries.

"We are delighted that Deborah Kuenstner and Adolfo Henriques have both agreed to join our Board," said Timothy Vaill, Chairman & CEO, Boston Private. "They bring a wealth of experience and particular expertise to our Board, which complements the already diverse business competencies represented. We welcome the new perspectives and knowledge they will bring to the table," he stated.

Deborah Kuenstner joined Brandeis University as Chief Investment Officer and Vice President of Investment Management in January 2007. Before joining Brandeis, she was Managing Director of Research for Fidelity Management & Research Company. Prior to Fidelity, Ms. Kuenstner was employed at Putnam Investments as the Chief Investment Officer of Global Value, and also held roles as Chief Investment Officer of International Value and Senior Portfolio Manager of International Equities. She has prior experience at DuPont Pension Fund Investment, Merrill Lynch and at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Ms. Kuenstner received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics summa cum laude from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She was also a Durant Scholar and received the Natalie Bolton Prize in Economics. She did her graduate studies in Statistics at Columbia University Graduate School in New York before earning her Master's degree in Business Administration with Distinction from New York University.

"I have known about Boston Private and its stellar reputation in the wealth management industry for a number of years," Ms. Kuenstner said. "Boston Private is at a very exciting stage in its growth trajectory and I am really looking forward to becoming a part of this Board."

Adolfo Henriques is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida East Coast Industries. He has served on the board of the company since 1998 and was chairman of their audit committee and a member of their governance committee. Mr. Henriques was previously at Regions Bank, where he most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the South Region. He joined the bank in 1997 to lead its expansion into the Florida market. Prior to joining Regions Bank, Mr. Henriques served in executive capacities at Bank of America's predecessor banks since 1986. These positions included Chairman of NationsBank in South Florida and executive vice president of Barnett Bank.

In addition to his professional obligations, Mr. Henriques is involved extensively in the community through participation in numerous civic organizations. Mr. Henriques was the recipient of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship and was recently named among the 12 most powerful people in Miami by The Miami Herald.

"The opportunity to serve on the Board of Boston Private is truly an honor," said Mr. Henriques. He continued, "I know this Board was recently recognized for its excellence, and it is known to be at the forefront of corporate governance issues - this is exactly the type of organization with which I want to be associated."

Ms. Kuenstner's and Mr. Henriques' elections to the Boston Private Board of Directors are effective July 25, 2007. Their elections will bring the total number of current Boston Private Board members to thirteen.

Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc. was honored this year as the recipient of the Board of the Year Award by the New England Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Boston Private Wealth Management Group

Boston Private is a financial services company that owns independently operated affiliates located in key geographic regions of the U.S. Boston Private's affiliates offer private banking, wealth advisory and investment management services to the high net worth marketplace, selected businesses and institutions. The Company's strategy is to enter new markets primarily through selected acquisitions, and then expand its wealth management business by way of organic growth. It makes investments in mid-size firms in demographically attractive areas, forming geographic clusters that represent the firm's core competencies. Boston Private provides continuing assistance to its affiliates with strategic matters, marketing, compliance and operations. For more information about Boston Private, visit the Company's web site at www.bostonprivate.com

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include, but are not limited to, prospects for long term financial performance and growth. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond Boston Private's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include, among others, adverse conditions in the capital markets and the impact of such conditions on Boston Private's business activities; interest rate compression which may adversely impact net interest income; competitive pressures from other financial institutions which, together with other factors, may affect the Company's growth and financial performance; the effects of national and local economic conditions; and the risk that goodwill and intangibles recorded in the Company's financial statements will become impaired; as well as the other risks and uncertainties detailed in Boston Private's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Boston Private does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.