** Massachusetts-based community bank CFSB Bancorp's CFSB.O shares surge ~68% to $13.73 premarket
** Hometown Financial to buy CFSB for $14.25/shr in cash in a deal worth $44 mln
** Combined bank to have assets of ~$6.9 bln and 56 branches across Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, NE Connecticut
** The deal, Hometown's eighth in 10 years, to close in Q4 2025
** As of last close, CFSB stock up 21.2% YTD
(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)
((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))