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                                  UNITED STATES
                       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) February 20, 2002
                                                        -----------------

                         FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC.
                         ------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     Delaware                       1-12305                      04-3331237
     --------                       -------                      ----------
(State or other Juris-             (Commission                  (IRS Employer
diction of incorporation)          File Number)              Identification No.)


                 ONE FIRSTFED PARK, Swansea, Massachusetts 02777
                 -----------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

                                 (508) 679-8181
                                 ---------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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




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ITEM 5.    OTHER EVENTS.
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     On February 20, 2002, FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP,  INC. ("FIRSTFED") issued a
press release  announcing  that FIRSTFED had received the approval of the Office
of  Thrift  Supervision  and the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  Board of Bank
Incorporation to acquire People's Bancshares,  Inc., New Bedford,  Massachusetts
and announcing the preliminary  allocation of merger  consideration with respect
to the merger. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
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           (c)    Exhibits:  The following exhibits are filed as part of this
                  report:

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

                  99.1                Press Release, dated February 20, 2002














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CONFORMED                         SIGNATURES

     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.


Dated: February 20, 2002             By:/s/ Robert F. Stoico
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Robert F. Stoico
                                        Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                        Officer