SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 7, 2005

                             BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.
                             ----------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

           Delaware                      0-23695                04-3402944
           --------                      -------                ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction)     (Commission File No.)      (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)                                     Identification No.)


160 Washington Street, Brookline, Massachusetts                       02447
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                            (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (617) 730-3500
                                                      --------------



                                 Not Applicable
                                 --------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting  material  pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
     CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  14d-2(b)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to Rule  13e-4(c)  under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






Item 2.01       Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
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     On January 7, 2005,  the merger (the  "Merger") of Mystic  Financial,  Inc.
("MFI") with and into Brookline Bancorp, Inc. ("Brookline"),  as contemplated by
the  Agreement  and  Plan of  Merger  dated  as of July 7,  2004 by and  between
Brookline and MFI (the  "Agreement"),  was  completed.  In  accordance  with the
Agreement,  60% of the outstanding  shares of common stock of MFI were exchanged
for shares of  Brookline  common stock at an exchange  rate of 2.6786  shares of
Brookline  common stock per share of MFI common stock (with cash paid in lieu of
fractional  shares  at a  rate  of  $15.978  per  whole  share)  and  40% of the
outstanding  shares of MFI  common  stock were  exchanged  for cash at a rate of
$39.00 per share.  The aggregate  consideration  paid in the merger consisted of
approximately  $24.4 million in cash  (including cash paid in lieu of fractional
shares),  approximately  $3.9 million for the  cancellation  of outstanding  MFI
options,  and  approximately  2,516,724  shares of Brookline  common stock.  The
transaction was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.

     The  preceding is qualified in its entirety by reference to the  Agreement,
attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Form 8-K,  and two press  releases,  attached as
Exhibits  99.1 and 99.2 to this Form 8-K,  which are  incorporated  by reference
herein.

Item 2.03       Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under
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                an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
                -------------------------------------------------

     (a) As a result of the Merger, on January 7, 2005,  Brookline  succeeded to
and  became  obligated  on  (i)  $5.0  million  in  floating-rate   subordinated
debentures issued by MFI and scheduled to mature in 2032 (the "2032 debentures")
and (ii) $7.0 million in floating-rate subordinated debentures issued by MFI and
scheduled to mature in 2033 (the "2033  debentures").  Both issues of debentures
are callable at the option of Brookline and interest payments on both issues may
be deferred  at  Brookline's  option for up to five years.  Interest on the 2032
debentures is payable  semi-annually  at a floating rate of six-month LIBOR plus
3.70%.  Interest on the 2033 debentures is payable  quarterly at a floating rate
of three-month LIBOR plus 3.25%.

     The Junior Subordinated  Indenture between MFI and The Bank of New York, as
trustee,  dated as of February 14, 2003 to which  Brookline  succeeded  and that
relates to the 2033  debentures is  incorporated  herein by reference in Exhibit
99.5. The Subordinated  Indenture  between MFI and Wilmington Trust Company,  as
trustee,  dated  as of April  10,  2002 to which  Brookline  succeeded  and that
relates to the 2032  debentures is  incorporated  herein by reference in Exhibit
99.6.

Item 5.02       Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of 
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                Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.
                ---------------------------------------------

     (d) Pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Agreement,  Brookline  agreed to appoint
one  member of MFI's  Board of  Directors  to  Brookline's  Board of  Directors.
Brookline has selected John J. McGlynn,  with the appointment to be effective at



the January 20, 2005 meeting of the Brookline Board of Directors. Mr. McGlynn is
expected to be appointed as a Board member for a term of office  expiring at the
annual  meeting of  stockholders  expected to be held in April 2005. Mr. McGlynn
also is expected to be nominated by Brookline to its Board of Directors to serve
for a  three-year  term if elected  by  stockholders  at the April  2005  annual
meeting of stockholders.  Mr. McGlynn is not party to any transaction that would
be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Item 9.01.      Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (a)  Financial statements of business acquired.

          (i)  The Audited Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2004 and 2003
               and the Audited  Consolidated  Statements of Income for the years
               ended June 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 of MFI are incorporated herein
               by reference by Exhibit 99.3.

          (ii) The Unaudited  Consolidated  Balance Sheets at September 30, 2004
               and the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the three
               months  ended  September  30,  2004 are  incorporated  herein  by
               reference by Exhibit 99.4.

     (b)  Pro forma financial information.

          (i)  Unaudited  Combined  Condensed  Consolidated  Pro Forma Financial
               Data will be provided by  Brookline  by an amendment to this Form
               8-K not later than 71 days after the date that this Form 8-K must
               be filed.

     (c)  Exhibits.

          Exhibit No.      Description
          -----------      -----------

              2.1          Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 7, 
                           2004, by and between Brookline Bancorp, Inc. and 
                           Mystic Financial, Inc. (incorporated by reference to 
                           Exhibit 99.2 to Brookline Bancorp, Inc.'s Current 
                           Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and 
                           Exchange Commission on July 9, 2004 (Commission File 
                           No. 0-23695)).

              99.1         Brookline Bancorp, Inc. press release dated January 
                           7, 2005.

              99.2         Brookline Bancorp, Inc. press release dated January 
                           10, 2005

              99.3         Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Mystic 
                           Financial, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Mystic 
                           Financial, Inc.'s Annual 



                           Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
                           Exchange Commission on September 21, 2004 (Commission
                           File No. 0-23533)).

              99.4         Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of Mystic
                           Financial, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Mystic 
                           Financial, Inc.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed
                           with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
                           November 15, 2004 (Commission File No. 0-23533)).

              99.5         Junior Subordinated Indenture dated as of February 
                           14, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 
                           of Mystic Financial, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 
                           10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
                           Commission on September 21, 2004 (Commission  File 
                           No. 0-23533)).

              99.6         Subordinated Indenture dated as of April 10, 2002 
                           (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of Mystic
                           Financial, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 
                           with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
                           September 21, 2004 (Commission File No. 0-23533)).








                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                           BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.



Date:   January 11, 2005               By: /s/ Paul R. Bechet 
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Paul R. Bechet
                                           Senior Vice President,
                                           Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer











                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:


        Exhibit No.     Description
        -----------     -----------

           99.1         Brookline Bancorp, Inc. press release dated January 7, 
                        2005.

           99.2         Brookline Bancorp, Inc. press release dated January 10, 
                        2005.