The bank said the additions are part of its plans to hire 1,000 small business bankers across the nation by mid-2012.

The new hires will support the needs of small business owners in the Massachusetts including Greater Boston, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The bank said it will hire 32 small business bankers Massachusetts, including 13 in Greater Boston and 14 in Connecticut and 5 in Rhode Island.

Bank of America Massachusetts president Bob Gallery said that their small business bankers will provide business owners in New England with the tools they need to continue to be the engine that drives our local and national economy forward.