Webster Reports Third Quarter Operating Earnings Rise 46%

Oct 14, 1998

WATERBURY, Conn., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WBST), holding company for Webster Bank, today reported operating earnings of $20.1 million, or $.52 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 1998, up 46 percent from $13.8 million, or $.35 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for 1998 and 1997 periods have been adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split effective in April of this year.

''We are pleased to report higher earnings and continuing significant progress in our evolution as a financial services provider,'' said James C. Smith, Webster chairman and chief executive officer. ''In particular, we have seen strong growth in income from fee-based services, including trust and insurance services.''

Third Quarter Financial Highlights

Return on average shareholders' equity was 14.68 percent, up from 11.20 percent before acquisition-related expenses in the third quarter of 1997. Book value per common share at Sept. 30, 1998, was $14.91 compared to $13.26 a year earlier. Webster had 37.9 million common shares outstanding at Sept. 30, 1998.

Interest rate spread (the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities) averaged 2.61 percent, up from 2.48 percent in the second quarter of this year.

Income from fee-based services increased 44 percent to $12 million from $8.3 million in the year-ago period, due in part to the acquisition of Damman Insurance Associates, which now operates as a subsidiary of the corporation, and due to expanded product offerings to Webster's growing customer base.

The ratio of noninterest expenses to average assets, excluding expenses related to foreclosed property, acquisitions, capital securities and preferred stock of a subsidiary corporation, improved to 1.81 percent from 1.87 percent in the year earlier period.

''Webster continues to invest in its future with the goal of building strong customer relationships that improve shareholder value,'' Smith said. In the third quarter, Webster restructured its trust and investment services operations and further expanded its commercial banking capabilities.

Income tax expense for the third quarter was $8.5 million, compared to $4.4 million for the year-ago period. During the quarter, Webster recorded a $2.5 million reduction in income tax expense, related to tax benefits from a prior acquisition.

Nonaccrual assets declined to 0.39 percent of total assets at Sept. 30, 1998, from 0.67 percent. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonaccrual loans was 193 percent, up from 152 percent a year earlier. Allowances for nonaccrual assets as a percent of nonaccrual assets were 159 percent, up from 110 percent.

Other Third Quarter 1998 Highlights

In August, Webster opened a new full-service branch at 64 South Main Street in the highly desirable Wallingford market. The branch features extended weekday hours and is also open on Saturday and Sunday.

In September, Webster Trust moved its headquarters to an existing Webster building in centrally located Kensington. The new headquarters consolidates what had been separate offices that resulted from acquisitions in the past two years of a trust company and the trust operations of a savings bank. The central location will facilitate the development of a clearer identity and more cohesive culture for Webster Trust. Other initiatives under way include the introduction of an improved customer records system and new approaches to attracting and retaining customers.

Webster Financial Corporation, headquartered in Waterbury, Conn., is the holding company for Webster Bank, which was founded in 1935. Webster Bank delivers consumer, commercial, mortgage, insurance, and trust and investment management services to individuals, families and businesses through a network of more than 100 banking offices, three commercial banking centers, two insurance offices, and more than 160 ATMs, in addition to telephone banking, video banking and PC banking. Total assets at Sept. 30, 1998, were $9.2 billion, total deposits were $5.6 billion and total loans were $4.9 billion.

Webster Bank has the number one or number two deposit market share in its primary markets of Hartford, New Haven and Litchfield counties. Webster is also the second-largest mortgage lender in Connecticut and a leading, full-service commercial lender. Webster Trust, the bank's trust and investment management subsidiary, is the second-largest bank trust company based in Connecticut.

                    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
           Consolidated Statements of Condition (unaudited)

                                 September 30,   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)                1998            1997
Assets:
Cash and Due From Depository
Institutions                       $  127,795    $  154,163
Interest-bearing Deposits               8,728       132,816
Securities:
Trading at Fair Value                  97,849        94,222
Available for Sale, at Fair Value   3,150,556     2,801,099
Held to Maturity, (Market Value:
$444,726 for 1998)                    439,836       444,980
Loans Receivable, Net               4,931,885     4,906,859
Accrued Interest Receivable            55,863        51,684
Premises and Equipment, Net            79,372        71,014
Foreclosed Properties, Net              6,153        16,395
Intangible Assets                      81,037        80,829
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets     184,612        63,706
    Total Assets                   $9,163,686    $8,817,767

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
Deposits                           $5,621,371    $5,650,442
Borrowed Funds                      2,654,126     2,422,275
Accrued Expenses and Other 
Liabilities                           122,696       107,176
    Total Liabilities               8,398,193     8,179,893

Corporation-Obligated Mandatorily
  Redeemable Capital Securities
  of Subsidiary Trust                 150,000       143,858
Preferred Stock of Subsidiary
  Corporation                          49,577            --
Shareholders' Equity             565,916       494,016

    Total Liabilities and
      Shareholders' Equity    $9,163,686    $8,817,767

                    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
            Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

                     Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                        September 30,        September 30,
                     1998          1997   1998         1997

 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Interest Income:
  Loans          $ 95,056      $ 97,957  $287,949  $288,469
  Securities and
   Interest-bearing
   Deposits        57,227        52,551   183,161   135,201
     Total Interest
      Income      152,283       150,508   471,110   423,670

Interest Expense:
   Deposits        55,465        55,614   169,158   168,148
   Borrowings      37,175        29,830   119,261    68,479
    Total Interest
     Expense       92,640        85,444   288,419   236,627

Net Interest 
Income             59,643        65,064   182,691   187,043
Provision for Loan
 Losses             1,500        10,828     5,300    22,138
Net Interest Income
 After Provision   58,143        54,236   177,391   164,905

Noninterest Income:
  Fees and Service
   Charges         12,039         8,343    31,104    23,373
  Gain on Sale of
   Loans and Loan
   Servicing, Net     235           194     2,800       551
  Gain on Sale
   of Securities, 
Net                 1,143         1,169    11,269     1,845
  Other Noninterest
   Income           2,977         1,189     8,357     4,308
    Total Noninterest
     Income        16,394        10,895    53,530    30,077

Noninterest Expenses:
  Salaries and Employee
   Benefits        19,640        19,572    58,396    57,741
  Occupancy Expense
   of Premises      4,251         4,174    12,018    12,184
  Furniture and
   Equipment 
Expenses            4,352         3,321    12,990     10,231
  Foreclosed Property
   Expenses and
   Provisions, Net      8         1,902       567     3,403
   Intangible
   Amortization     2,512         2,304     7,174     6,950
  Marketing 
Expenses            1,837         2,187     5,866     5,802
  Other Operating
   Expenses         8,651         8,316    25,721    25,518
                   41,251        41,776    122,732  121,829
  Acquisition Related
   Expenses             0         9,934    17,400    29,792
  Capital Securities
   Expense          3,692         3,660    11,046     7,706
  Dividends on
   Preferred Stock of
   Subsidiary
   Corporation      1,037             0     3,113         0
    Total Noninterest
     Expenses      45,980        55,370   154,291   159,327

Income Before Income
 Taxes             28,557         9,761    76,630    35,655
Income Taxes        8,474         4,386    27,426    13,814
Net Income       $ 20,083      $  5,375  $ 49,204  $ 21,841

Net Income Per Common
 Share Before Acquisition
 Related Expenses:
   Basic    (a)  $   0.53      $   0.37  $   1.64  $   1.21
   Diluted  (a)  $   0.52      $   0.35  $   1.61  $   1.17

Net Income Per Common
 Share After Acquisition
 Related Expenses:
   Basic    (a)  $   0.53      $   0.14  $   1.30  $   0.58
   Diluted  (a)  $   0.52      $   0.14  $   1.27  $   0.56

(a) Earnings per share for 1998 and 1997 have been adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split effective for shareholders of record on April 6, 1998.

               WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
          Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)

                        At or For the        At or For the
                     Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                        September 30,        September 30,
                    1998          1997   1998           1997

     (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Operating and Performance Ratios (annualized):

Return on Average
 Shareholders' Equity
 Before Acquisition
 Related Expenses 14.68 %       11.20 %   15.77 %  12.58 %
Return on Average
 Shareholders'
 Equity           14.68          4.37      2.44     6.07

Return on Average
 Assets Before
 Acquisition Related
 Expenses          0.88          0.65      0.89     0.75
Return on Average
 Assets            0.88          0.25      0.70     0.36

Noninterest Expenses/
 Average Assets    2.02          2.60      2.20     2.65
Noninterest Expenses
 Excluding Foreclosed
 Property, Acquisition
 Related, Capital Sec.
 & Preferred Dividend
 Expenses/Average
 Assets            1.81          1.87      1.74     1.97

Efficiency Ratio 
(a)               59.37         54.79     58.44    55.29
Efficiency Ratio
(b)               52.91         49.93     52.04    51.71
Shareholders' Equity/
 Total Assets      6.18          5.61      6.18     5.61
Interest Rate 
Spread             2.61          2.98      2.59     3.05
Net Interest Margin 2.79         3.21      2.77     3.27

Loan
 Originations   $395,633   $  289,304 $1,137,238 $855,108

Asset Quality:
Nonaccrual 
Loans            $29,579      $42,487   $29,579  $42,487
Nonaccrual 
Assets            35,734        58,882   35,734   58,882
Allowance for Loan
 Losses           57,000        64,763    57,000   64,763
Allowances for
 Nonaccrual 
Assets            57,312        65,848    57,312   65,848
Nonaccrual Assets/
Total Assets        0.39 %        0.67 %    0.39 %   0.67 %
Allowance for Loan
 Losses/Nonaccrual
 Loans            192.70        152.43    192.70   152.43
Allowances for
Nonaccrual Assets/
Nonaccrual Assets 159.00        109.81    159.00   109.81

Share Related: (c)
Book Value Per
 Common Share     $14.91        $13.26    $14.91   $13.26
Tangible Book Value
 Per Common Share $12.78        $11.09    $12.78   $11.09
Common Stock Closing
 Price            $24.38        $29.38    $24.38   $29.38
Dividend Declared
 Per Common Share $ 0.11        $ 0.10    $ 0.32    $0.30
Common Shares Issued
 and Outstanding 37,943,394  37,262,139 37,943,394  37,262,139
Basic Shares     38,011,104  37,526,042 37,952,903  37,443,160
Diluted Shares   38,663,761  38,844,339 38,650,302  37,697,620

(a) Excludes Acquisition Related, Intangible Amortization and Foreclosed Property Expenses.
(b) Excludes Acquisition Related, Intangible Amortization, Capital Securities, Preferred Dividend and Foreclosed Property Expenses.
(c) Amounts for 1998 and 1997 have been adjusted to reflect a two-for-one stock split for shareholders of record on April 6, 1998.

 

                    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
      Consolidated Average Statements of Condition  (unaudited)

                           Three Months Ended September 30,
                                         1998
                                    Interest Fully Tax
                         Average     Income/ Equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)   Balance     Expense Yield/Rate

Assets:

Interest Earning Assets:
Loans                 $4,982,028     $95,056    7.60  %
Securities             3,642,054      57,227    6.28
  Total Interest
   Earning Assets      8,624,082     152,283    7.04
Noninterest Earning
 Assets                  493,081
   Total Assets       $9,117,163

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

Interest Bearing Liabilities:
Interest-bearing
 Deposits             $5,314,678      55,465    4.14  %
 Noninterest-bearing
 Deposits                404,984          --      --
Federal Home Loan
 Bank Advances         1,473,172      21,415    5.69
Repurchase Agreements
 and Other Borrowings  1,042,378      14,845    5.57
Senior Notes              40,000         915    9.15
  Total Interest
  Bearing
   Liabilities         8,275,212      92,640    4.43
Noninterest Bearing
 Other Liabilities        95,013
   Total Liabilities   8,370,225

Capital Securities and
 Preferred Stock of
 Subsidiary Corporation  199,577

Shareholders' Equity547,361
  Total Liabilities and
   Shareholders'
   Equity             $9,117,163

Net Interest Income                  $59,643
Interest Rate Spread                           2.61  %
Net Interest Margin                            2.79  %


                           Three Months Ended September 30,
                                      1997
                                    Interest Fully Tax
                         Average     Income/ Equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)   Balance     Expense Yield/Rate

Assets:

Interest Earning Assets:
Loans                 $4,973,522     $97,957    7.85  %
Securities             3,150,578      52,551    6.67
  Total Interest
   Earning Assets      8,124,100     150,508    7.39
Noninterest
Earning Assets           387,940
Total Assets          $8,512,040

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

Interest Bearing Liabilities:
Interest-bearing
Deposits              $5,343,519      55,614    4.15  %
Noninterest-bearing
Deposits                 370,931          --      --
Federal Home Loan
 Bank Advances         1,319,861      19,036    5.66
Repurchase Agreements
 and Other Borrowings    710,055       9,879    5.45
Senior Notes              40,000         915    9.15
  Total Interest
   Bearing
   Liabilities         7,784,366      85,444    4.41
Noninterest Bearing
 Other Liabilities        86,519
  Total Liabilities    7,870,885

Capital Securities and
 Preferred Stock of
 Subsidiary Corporation  148,970

Shareholders' Equity 492,185
 Total Liabilities and
  Shareholders'
  Equity              $8,512,040

Net Interest Income                  $65,064

Interest Rate Spread                            2.98  %
Net Interest Margin                             3.21  %

                    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
              Retail and Wholesale Interest Rate Spreads

                          Three Months Ended
                       Sept.    June  March  Dec.  Sept.
                       1998     1998   1998  1997  1997
Retail Interest
Rate Spread
Yield on Loans         7.60%    7.66% 7.83% 7.86% 7.89%
Rate on Deposits       3.87     3.93  3.94  3.86  3.86
Spread                 3.73%    3.73% 3.89% 4.00% 4.03%

Wholesale Interest
Rate Spread
Yield on Securities    6.28%    6.21% 6.31% 6.43% 6.63%
Rate on Borrowings     5.70     5.68  5.71  5.77  5.66
Spread                 0.58%    0.53% 0.60% 0.66% 0.97%