Benjamin Franklin Bancorp of Franklin, the holding company for Benjamin Franklin Bank, reported a 45 percent increase in second quarter net income year-over-year, to $1.2 million from $829,000 last year.

Year-to-date, the company reported net income of $2.3 million, compared to $1.4 in 2007.

The company also announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 8 cents per common share, payable Aug. 22 to stockholders of record as of Aug. 8.