Webster Reports Record Quarterly Earnings, Declares Quarterly Dividend

Jul 21, 1999

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WATERBURY, Conn., July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WBST), holding company for Webster Bank, today reported record net income of $23.2 million, or $.61 per diluted share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 1999, compared to $9.4 million, or $.24 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 1998. Operating earnings for the year-ago period were $22.6 million, or $.58 per diluted share, excluding expenses and provisions related to the acquisition of Eagle Financial Corporation. There were no special charges in the 1999 period.

The earnings improvement is due primarily to increases in net interest income and revenue from fee-based services. Noninterest income, excluding gains on sales of securities and loans, increased 43 percent to $17.8 million from $12.5 million in the year-ago period due to increased revenue from Damman Insurance Associates and from expanded product offerings to Webster's growing customer base. Webster reported gains on sales of securities and loans of $2.3 million in the 1999 period, compared to $9.3 million in the 1998 period.

"Our results demonstrate that by building strong customer relationships, Webster is steadily increasing shareholder value," said chairman and chief executive officer James C. Smith. "Our acquisitions of Maritime Bank & Trust and Village Bancorp and our pending merger with New England Community Bancorp enhances our commercial banking capabilities while strengthening and extending our Connecticut franchise. Our customers enjoy greater access and convenience and a broader product selection than ever before. With NECB, we will become the fifth largest bank based in New England."

Webster Financial also announced today that it has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.12 per common share. The dividend is payable on Aug. 16, 1999, to shareholders of record on Aug. 2, 1999. This is the 48th consecutive quarterly dividend and the eighth dividend increase since Webster first paid a dividend in 1987. In April, Webster increased its regular quarterly cash dividend to $.12 cents per common share from $.11 per common share.

Second Quarter Financial Highlights

Return on average shareholders' equity for the second quarter was 17.5 percent, up from 7.1 percent in the second quarter of 1998. Before acquisition related charges in the year-ago period, return on average shareholders equity was 17.1 percent.

Interest rate spread (the difference between the average yield on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities) was 3.07 percent in the second quarter, up from 2.91 percent in the first quarter of 1999 and 2.48 percent in the second quarter of 1998.

"We have seen the positive effect from a fourth consecutive quarterly increase in the interest rate spread," said John V. Brennan, chief financial officer. "Once again, growth in core deposits, increases in business loans and lower borrowing costs contributed to the spread improvement. Our 43 percent year-over-year improvement in noninterest income demonstrates the success of our strategy to expand and diversify our business lines."

Loan originations totaled $475 million for the quarter, up from $421 million in the year ago period. The efficiency ratio improved to 49.85 percent in the second quarter from 52.90 percent in the year-ago period.

Nonaccrual assets declined to 0.39 percent of total assets at June 30, 1999, from 0.41 percent. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonaccrual loans was 198 percent, up from 191 percent a year earlier. Allowances for nonaccrual assets as a percent of nonaccrual assets were 175 percent, up from 149 percent.

Webster had 38 million common shares outstanding at June 30, 1999. Book value for the company per common share increased to $14.88 at June 30, 1999, from $14.31 in the year-ago period.

Additional Second Quarter Highlights:

In June, Webster announced a definitive agreement to acquire New England Community Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: NECB) in a tax-free, stock-for-stock exchange valued at approximately $220 million. NECB is a Windsor, Conn.-based multi-bank holding company with three subsidiary Connecticut banks, one New Hampshire bank and a mortgage company. New England Community Bancorp's banking subsidiaries are state-chartered commercial banks with total assets of approximately $800 million, and 18 banking offices. The New England Community Mortgage Corporation recorded $160 million in loan originations in 1998.

With the addition of NECB, Webster will have approximately $10 billion in assets. The acquisition is expected to contribute positively to Webster's earnings per share in the first year. Webster expects to account for the transaction as a pooling of interests. The agreement, which has been approved by both companies' boards of directors, is subject to approval by regulatory authorities and NECB shareholders, and may require approval by Webster shareholders. Webster expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 1999.

In May, Webster completed its acquisition of Ridgefield-based Village Bancorp, Inc., the holding company for Village Bank & Trust Company. Predominately a Fairfield County state-chartered commercial bank, Village had assets of $235 million and banking offices in Ridgefield, Danbury (2), New Milford, Wilton and Westport.

In April, Webster completed its acquisition of Essex-based Maritime Bank & Trust, a state-chartered commercial bank with assets of $100 million and offices in Essex, Old Saybrook and Old Lyme.

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 115 banking offices, three commercial banking centers, two insurance offices, and 180 ATMs, in addition to telephone banking, video banking and PC banking. Total assets at June 30, 1999, were $9.1 billion, total deposits were $5.7 billion and total loans were $5.3 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 a full-service commercial lender and the second-largest mortgage lender in Connecticut. Webster Trust, the bank's trust and investment management subsidiary, is the second-largest bank trust company based in Connecticut. Webster's insurance subsidiary, Damman Insurance Associates, is one of the largest agencies in the state. Webster's Access National Mortgage subsidiary, www.discountmortgages.com on the Worldwide Web, originates low-cost mortgages over the Internet for customers across the United States.

Webster Bank has received ITAA*2000 certification from the Information Technology Association of America. ITAA has performed a rigorous evaluation of Webster Bank's approach to Year 2000 date conversion and indicated that the company has the core capabilities needed to address the Year 2000 challenge.

Conference Call

The second quarter earnings conference call will be held on July 21, 1999 at 9:45 a.m., Eastern Time and may be heard through www.websterbank.com. The call can be accessed from the home page by clicking the "About Webster" button and then the "Investor Focus" button. The call will be archived on the website and available for future retrieval.

For more information on Webster, including past press releases and the latest Annual Report, visit the Webster Bank website at www.websterbank.com.

Statements in this press release regarding Webster Financial Corporation's business that are not historical facts are "forward looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statement, see "Forward Looking Statements" in the Company's Annual Report for the most recently ended fiscal year.


                        Webster Financial Corporation

              Consolidated Statements of Condition   (unaudited)

                                                June 30,      June 30,
    (Dollars in thousands)                        1999          1998

    Assets:

    Cash and Due From
     Depository Institutions                $   161,332    $   144,556
    Interest-bearing Deposits                     6,658          9,005
    Securities:
      Trading, at Fair Value                     70,561         77,527
      Available for Sale, at Fair Value       2,693,847      3,285,305
      Held to Maturity, (Fair Value:$338,802
       in 1999; $375,777 in 1998)               346,826        374,192
    Loans Receivable:
      Residential Loans                       3,802,376      3,832,334
      Commercial Real Estate Loans              510,584        394,497
      Commercial and Industrial Loans           534,224        245,357
      Home Equity Loans                         448,904        459,864
      Other Consumer Loans                       44,099         45,215
      Allowance for Loan Losses                 (61,379)       (56,604)
    Loans Receivable, Net                     5,278,808      4,920,663

    Accrued Interest Receivable                  55,883         53,287
    Premises and Equipment, Net                  85,883         77,944
    Foreclosed Properties, Net                    3,939          8,137
    Intangible Assets                           139,338         83,550
    Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance      144,788        102,662
    Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets            69,127         52,315

      Total Assets                          $ 9,056,990    $ 9,189,143


    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

    Deposits:
      Checking and NOW                      $ 1,202,577    $   963,702
      Savings and MMDAs                       1,572,770      1,401,951
      Certificates of Deposit                 2,944,519      3,370,721
    Total Deposits                            5,719,866      5,736,374

    Borrowed Funds                            2,476,449      2,570,566
    Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities       95,660        134,200
      Total Liabilities                       8,291,975      8,441,140


    Corporation-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable
     Capital Securities of Subsidiary Trusts    150,000        150,000

    Preferred Stock of Subsidiary Corporation    49,577         49,577

    Shareholders' Equity                        565,438        548,426

      Total Liabilities and
       Shareholders' Equity                 $ 9,056,990    $ 9,189,143

               Consolidated Statements of Income   (unaudited)

                       Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
    (Dollars in thousands,
      except per
      share data)           1999        1998         1999          1998

    Interest Income:
    Loans               $  95,669   $  95,035    $  188,894    $  192,893
    Securities and
     Interest-bearing
      Deposits             49,844      64,593       102,528       125,934
       Total Interest
         Income           145,513     159,628       291,422       318,827

    Interest Expense:
    Deposits               46,906      57,018        95,486       113,693
    Borrowings             31,519      42,959        65,261        82,086
       Total Interest
         Expense           78,425      99,977       160,747       195,779

    Net Interest Income    67,088      59,651       130,675       123,048
    Provision for
     Loan Losses            2,100       1,900         4,100         3,800
    Net Interest Income
     After Provision for
      Loan Losses          64,988      57,751       126,575       119,248

    Noninterest Income:
    Fees and Service
     Charges               14,057       9,552        26,943        19,065
    Gain on Sale of Loans
     and Loan Servicing, Net  634       2,299         1,439         2,565
    Gain on Sale
     of Securities, Net     1,712       7,028         3,419        10,126
    Other Noninterest
     Income                 3,757       2,931         7,856         5,380
       Total Noninterest
         Income            20,160      21,810        39,657        37,136

    Noninterest Expenses:
    Salaries and
     Employee Benefits     21,430      19,219        42,396        38,756
    Occupancy Expense
     of Premises            4,434       3,892         8,771         7,767
    Furniture and
     Equipment Expenses     4,799       4,271         9,481         8,638
    Intangible Amortization 3,091       2,363         5,610         4,662
    Marketing Expenses      2,203       2,140         4,350         4,029
    Other Operating
     Expenses               9,416       8,833        18,152        17,629
                           45,373      40,718        88,760        81,481
    Acquisition-Related
     Expenses                  --      17,400            --        17,400
    Capital Securities
     Expense                3,662       3,692         7,323         7,354
    Dividends on Preferred
     Stock of Subsidiary
      Corporation             980       1,038         2,000         2,076
       Total Noninterest
         Expenses          50,015      62,848        98,083       108,311

    Income Before
     Income Taxes          35,133      16,713        68,149        48,073
    Income Taxes           11,946       7,313        23,171        18,952
    Net Income           $ 23,187     $ 9,400      $ 44,978      $ 29,121

    Net Income Per Common
     Share Before Acquisition
      Related Expenses:
       Basic                $0.63       $0.59         $1.23         $1.12
       Diluted              $0.61       $0.58         $1.20         $1.09

    Net Income Per Common
     Share After Acquisition
      Related Expenses:
       Basic                $0.63       $0.25         $1.23         $0.77
       Diluted              $0.61       $0.24         $1.20         $0.75

                    Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)

                                 At or For the             At or For the
                         Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
    (Dollars in thousands,
     except per share data)  1999          1998         1999         1998

    Operating and Performance Ratios (annualized):

    Return on Average Shareholders'
     Equity Before Acquisition
      Related Expenses      17.52 %       17.13 %      16.91 %      16.36 %

    Return on Average Shareholders'
     Equity After Acquisition
      Related Expenses      17.52          7.13        16.91        11.25

    Return on Average Assets
     Before Acquisition
      Related Expenses       1.04          0.94         1.01         0.89

    Return on Average Assets
     After Acquisition
      Related Expenses       1.04          0.39         1.01         0.61

    Noninterest Expenses
    / Average Assets         2.24          2.62         2.19         2.29

    Noninterest Expenses Excl.
     Foreclosed Property,
      Acquisition Related,
       Non-recurring, Capital Sec. ,
        Pref. Div. & Intangible
         Amortization Expenses
     / Avg. Assets           1.89          1.59         1.86         1.61
    Efficiency Ratio (a)    55.33         59.45        55.71        58.00
    Efficiency Ratio (b)    49.85         52.90        50.10        51.62
    Shareholders' Equity
     / Total Assets          6.24          5.97         6.24         5.97
    Interest Rate Spread     3.07 %        2.48 %       2.99 %       2.59 %
    Net Interest Margin      3.20 %        2.64 %       3.12 %       2.76 %

    Loan Originations:
     Residential        $ 295,797     $ 293,331    $ 603,235    $ 531,191
     Commercial           111,502        57,929      208,542       92,783
     Consumer              67,635        69,913      128,885      117,631

    Asset Quality:

    Nonaccrual Loans    $  31,058     $  29,679    $  31,058    $  29,679
    Nonaccrual Assets, Net 34,998        37,815       34,998       37,815
    Allowance for Loan
     Losses                61,379        56,604       61,379       56,604
    Allowances for
     Nonaccrual Assets     61,605        57,102       61,605       57,102
    Nonaccrual Assets
     / Total Assets          0.39 %        0.41 %       0.39 %       0.41 %
    Allowance for Loan Losses
     / Nonaccrual Loans    197.63        190.72       197.63       190.72
    Allowances for
     Nonaccrual Assets
     / Nonaccrual Assets   174.89        149.04       174.89       149.04

    Share Related:
    Book Value Per
     Common Share         $ 14.88       $ 14.31      $ 14.88      $ 14.31
    Tangible Book Value
     Per Common Share     $ 11.21       $ 12.13      $ 11.21      $ 12.13
    Common Stock
     Closing Price        $ 27.13       $ 33.25      $ 27.13      $ 33.25
    Dividend Declared
     Per Common Share      $ 0.12        $ 0.11       $ 0.23       $ 0.21
    Common Shares Issued
     and Outstanding   38,008,607    38,326,963   38,008,607   38,326,963
    Basic Shares       37,095,498    38,020,449   36,682,728   37,923,320
    Diluted Shares     37,751,574    38,798,872   37,338,282   38,679,191


    (a) Excludes Acquisition Related, Intangible Amortization and Foreclosed
        Property Expenses.

    (b) Excludes Acquisition Related, Intangible Amortization, Capital
        Securities, Preferred Dividend and Foreclosed Property Expenses.

Retail and Wholesale Interest Rate Spreads (unaudited)

Three Months Ended,

June

March

December

September

June

1999

1999

1998

1998

1998

Interest Rate Spread

Total Interest-Earning Assets

6.95

%

6.98

%

7.07

%

7.04

%

7.00

%

Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities

3.88

4.07

4.25

4.43

4.52

Interest Rate Spread

3.07

%

2.91

%

2.82

%

2.61

%

2.48

%

Net Interest Margin

3.20

3.03

2.96

2.79

2.64

Retail Interest Rate Spread

Yield on Loans

7.34

%

7.40

%

7.56

%

7.60

%

7.66

%

Rate on Deposits

3.34

3.50

3.69

3.87

3.93

Spread

4.00

%

3.90

%

3.87

%

3.73

%

3.73

%

Wholesale Interest Rate Spread

Yield on Securities

6.31

%

6.34

%

6.40

%

6.28

%

6.21

%

Rate on Borrowings

5.16

5.27

5.48

5.70

5.68

Spread

1.15

%

1.07

%

0.92

%

0.58

%

0.53

%

Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)

    Three Months Ended June 30,   1999                       1998

    (Dollars                             Fully Tax                Fully Tax
     in              Average             Equivalent Average       Equivalent
     thousands)      Balance   Interest   Yield/    Balance Interest Yield/
                                           Rate                      Rate

    Assets:
    Interest-Earning Assets:
    Loans           $5,220,629 $95,669    7.34 %$4,953,184  $95,035  7.66 %
    Securities       3,159,790  49,844    6.31   4,160,018   64,593  6.21
      Total Interest-
       Earning
        Assets       8,380,419 145,513    6.95   9,113,202  159,628  7.00
    Noninterest-
     Earning Assets    544,095                     496,665
       Total
        Assets      $8,924,514                  $9,609,867

    Liabilities and
     Shareholders' Equity:
    Interest-Bearing
     Liabilities:
    Interest-bearing
     Deposits       $5,155,883 $46,906    3.65 %$5,387,901  $57,018  4.23 %
    Noninterest-bearing
     Deposits          487,446      --      --     401,633       --    --
    Federal Home
     Loan Bank
      Advances       1,413,323  18,413    5.23   1,787,126   25,658  5.68
    Repurchase Agreements
     and Other
      Borrowings       994,721  12,191    4.92   1,166,881   16,386  5.56
    Senior Notes        40,000     915    9.15      40,000      915  9.15
      Total Interest-
       Bearing
        Liabilities  8,091,373  78,425    3.88   8,783,541   99,977  4.52
    Noninterest-Bearing
     Other Liabilities 104,071                      99,057
       Total
        Liabilities  8,195,444                   8,882,598

    Capital Securities
     and Preferred Stock of
      Subsidiary
       Corporation     199,577                     199,577

    Shareholders'
     Equity            529,493                     527,692
       Total Liabilities and
       Shareholders'
        Equity      $8,924,514                  $9,609,867

    Net Interest Income         $67,088                     $59,651

    Interest Rate Spread                    3.07 %                    2.48 %
    Net Interest Margin                     3.20 %                    2.64 %



Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)

    Six Months Ended June 30,     1999                       1998

    (Dollars                             Fully Tax                 Fully Tax
     in              Average             Equivalent Average       Equivalent
     thousands)      Balance   Interest    Yield/   Balance Interest Yield/
                                           Rate                       Rate

    Assets:
    Interest-Earning Assets:
    Loans              $5,139,085 $188,894  7.37 % $4,766,579  $192,893 8.09%
    Securities          3,241,505  102,528  6.33    4,220,979   125,934 5.97
      Total Interest-
       Earning
        Assets          8,380,590  291,422  6.96    8,987,558   318,827 7.10
    Noninterest-
     Earning Assets       559,624                     484,309
       Total
        Assets         $8,940,214                  $9,471,867

    Liabilities and
     Shareholders' Equity:
    Interest-Bearing Liabilities:
    Interest-bearing
     Deposits          $5,127,791  $95,486  3.76%  $5,402,695  $113,693 4.21%
    Noninterest-bearing
     Deposits             467,713       --    --      394,220        --   --
    Federal Home Loan
     Bank Advances      1,543,521   40,224  5.26    1,702,810    49,167 5.74
    Repurchase Agreements
     and Other
      Borrowings          938,304   23,207  4.99    1,102,461    31,089 5.61
    Senior Notes           40,000    1,830  9.15       40,000     1,830 9.15
      Total Interest-
       Bearing
        Liabilities     8,117,329  160,747  3.97    8,642,186   195,779 4.51
    Noninterest-Bearing
      Other Liabilities    91,209                     137,185
        Total
          Liabilities   8,208,538                   8,779,371

    Capital Securities and
     Preferred Stock of
      Subsidiary
       Corporation        199,577                     174,992

    Shareholders'
     Equity               532,099                     517,504
       Total Liabilities
        and Shareholders'
         Equity       $ 8,940,214                 $ 9,471,867

    Net Interest Income           $ 130,675                   $ 123,048

    Interest Rate Spread                    2.99 %                      2.59 %
    Net Interest Margin                     3.12 %                      2.76 %