Webster Financial Corporation Reports Record Earnings

Jul 19, 2000

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WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2000--Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:WBST), holding company for Webster Bank, today reported an 18 percent increase in earnings per share for the second quarter ended June 30, 2000.

Net income for the quarter rose to a record $28.1 million or $.66 per diluted share, compared to $25.4 million or $.56 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 1999. Excluding an extraordinary after-tax item of $1.1 million, operating earnings were $27 million, or $.63 per diluted share. Prior period financial data have been restated to reflect the December 1999 merger with New England Community Bancorp, Inc., which was accounted for using the pooling of interests method of accounting.

"Webster today is a leading Connecticut-based financial services provider. Our results demonstrate continuing progress toward our strategic objectives of achieving a commercial bank like structure and increasing income from fee-based services, while maintaining high asset quality and managing expenses," said James C. Smith, Webster chairman and chief executive officer. "Our acquisition of Mechanics Savings Bank, completed late in the quarter, serves to reinforce our strong market share in Hartford County."

Second Quarter Financial Highlights

Net interest margin (net interest income as a percentage of average earnings assets) was 3.29 percent in the quarter, compared to 3.36 percent in the second quarter of 1999 and 3.22 percent in the first quarter of 2000. The net interest margin has been stable because rising retail interest rate spreads have offset higher borrowing costs.

Total noninterest income for the quarter increased 36 percent to $30.7 million, compared to $22.6 million for the same period in 1999. Excluding income from gains on the sale of securities and loans and a one-time life insurance benefit, total noninterest income increased 38 percent to $26.3 million from $19.0 million in the year-ago period due to revenue related to trust and investment services, revenue from expanded insurance operations and income from fee-based services.

Return on average shareholders' equity for the second quarter was 18.0 percent, up from 16.9 percent in the second quarter of 1999, while cash return on average shareholders' equity rose to 20.4 percent from 18.5 percent in the year-ago period. Both measures exclude the impact of the extraordinary item.

Asset quality remained strong in the quarter with nonaccrual assets amounting to 0.42 percent of total assets compared to 0.44 percent of total assets in the year-ago quarter and 0.40 percent of total assets in the first quarter. The allowance for loan losses as a percent of nonaccrual loans was 204 percent, up from 191 percent a year earlier and 186 percent in the first quarter. Allowances for nonaccrual assets as a percent of nonaccrual assets were 185 percent, up from 166 percent in the year-ago quarter and remained unchanged from the first quarter.

Commercial and consumer loan originations increased 28 percent to $283.9 million for the quarter, compared to $221.7 million in the second quarter of 1999. Deposits, which expanded by $734 million in the quarter as a result of purchase transactions, grew internally by $74.8 with approximately 75 percent of that increase attributable to low-cost core deposits.

Webster has repurchased 4.5 million shares of common stock related to the acquisition of MECH Financial Inc. of the 5 million shares authorized and expects to complete the repurchase program in the third quarter. Webster had 49.1 million common shares outstanding at June 30, 2000, having issued 7.8 million common shares to MECH shareholders. Shareholders equity increased $187 million from the first quarter to $787.2 million, primarily due to the issuance of Webster common stock to MECH shareholders and reported earnings.

Recent News Highlights

In late June, Webster completed its acquisition of Hartford-based MECH Financial, Inc., the holding company for Mechanics Savings Bank, significantly enhancing Webster's franchise in Hartford County, where it ranks a strong second in deposit market share. With the addition of Mechanics, Webster has more than $11 billion in assets, ranking it as the fifth largest New England based bank. The acquisition is expected to contribute positively to Webster's earnings per share in 2001. Webster accounted for the transaction under the purchase accounting method.

During the quarter, Webster announced the launch of Webster Financial Advisors, an organization that combines Webster's investment management, trust and private banking expertise for high net worth clients. Webster Financial Advisors also provides institutional services to Connecticut business owners and not-for-profit organizations.

Also in the quarter, Webster acquired Follis, Wylie & Lane, a privately owned Hamden-based insurance agency. Webster's second insurance agency acquisition of the year, Follis, Wylie & Lane wrote $10 million in premiums in 1999 and had revenues of $1 million.

As part of its continuing transformation into a diversified financial services provider, Webster is implementing a reconfigured organizational structure intended to increase efficiency and speed decision making. As a result, the number of officers reporting to the chairman and chief executive officer has been reduced from ten to five. President William T. Bromage has assumed additional operational responsibilities, including human resources and marketing.

Peter K. Mulligan had been promoted to senior executive vice president. In his new position, Mulligan has overall responsibility for all of Webster's retail operations, including consumer and small business banking, consumer finance including mortgages, investments and insurance. Mulligan earlier held the title of executive vice president, having joined Webster in 1995 with responsibility for consumer and small business banking.

Executive Vice President Mark Tarmy, Chief Information Officer, was given the additional responsibility for consumer loan servicing and all deposit operations.

Connecticut-based Webster Bank provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, trust and investment services through more than 110 banking offices, 200 ATMs and the Internet (www.websterbank.com). Webster's online mortgage subsidiary at www.nowlending.com on the Worldwide Web originates low-cost mortgages across the United States.

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

Conference Call

A conference call covering this announcement will be held today, Wednesday, July 19, at 9:30 a.m., Eastern Time and may be heard through Webster's investor relations website at www.wbst.com. The call will be archived on the website and available for future retrieval.

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,         December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)                   2000               1999
 Assets:

 Cash and due from depository
   institutions                       $ 265,999          $ 245,783
 Interest-bearing deposits                1,415             37,838
 Securities:
   Trading, at fair value                77,633             50,854
   Available for sale, at
    fair value                        2,963,175          2,700,585
   Held to maturity,
    (fair value: $267,769
     in 2000; $300,282 in 1999)         287,829            315,462
 Loans receivable:
   Residential loans                  4,268,372          3,898,943
   Commercial and industrial loans    1,081,667            915,035
   Commercial real estate loans         887,016            741,168
   Home equity loans                    563,454            492,684
   Other consumer loans                 105,881             47,064
   Allowance for loan losses            (86,199)           (72,658)

 Loans receivable, net                6,820,191          6,022,236

 Accrued interest receivable             67,593             58,918
 Premises and equipment, net            109,975            103,403
 Foreclosed properties, net               4,118              4,909
 Intangible assets                      302,037            138,829
 Cash surrender value of life
   insurance                            169,702            148,252
 Prepaid expenses and other assets      118,661            104,675

   Total assets                    $ 11,188,328        $ 9,931,744


 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

 Deposits:
   Checking and NOW                 $ 1,598,534        $ 1,375,692
   Savings and MMDAs                  1,959,661          1,719,562
   Certificates of deposit            3,446,987          3,095,837

 Total deposits                       7,005,182          6,191,091

 Borrowed funds                       3,023,381          2,788,445
 Accrued expenses and other
   liabilities                          173,014            116,964

   Total liabilities                 10,201,577          9,096,500


 Corporation-obligated
   mandatorily redeemable
   capital securities of
   subsidiary trusts                    150,000            150,000

 Preferred stock of subsidiary
   corporation                           49,577             49,577

 Shareholders' equity                   787,174            635,667

   Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity          $ 11,188,328        $ 9,931,744


Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
                            Three months ended      Six months ended
                                  June 30,                June 30,
 (Dollars in thousands,
    except per share data)     2000      1999       2000        1999

 Interest income:
 Loans                      $120,652   $106,752  $237,133     $211,044
 Securities and
  interest-bearing deposits   54,294     53,061   107,456      108,795

   Total interest income     174,946    159,813   344,589      319,839

 Interest expense:
 Deposits                     52,087     50,853   102,069      103,661
 Borrowings                   43,828     32,519    87,217       67,051

   Total interest expense     95,915     83,372   189,286      170,712

 Net interest income          79,031     76,441   155,303      149,127
 Provision for loan losses     3,200      2,268     5,400        4,433

 Net interest income after
  provision for loan losses   75,831     74,173   149,903      144,694

 Noninterest income:
 Fees and service charges     14,218     11,850    26,761       22,116
 Trust and investment
   services                    4,861      1,786     8,729        3,365
 Insurance commissions         3,502      1,550     7,224        3,668
 Gain on sale of loans and
   loan servicing, net           336      1,536       943        3,098
 Gain on sale of securities,
   net                         2,908      2,036     5,958        3,918
 Increase in cash surrender
   value of life insurance     2,003      1,889     3,962        3,729
 Other noninterest income      2,835      1,923     4,671        4,252

   Total noninterest income   30,663     22,570    58,248       44,146

 Noninterest expenses:
 Salaries and employee
   benefits                   30,533     25,404    59,516       50,234
 Occupancy expense of
   premises                    5,445      5,146    11,078       10,250
 Furniture and equipment
   expenses                    6,248      5,356    12,740       10,508
 Intangible amortization       4,283      3,228     8,158        5,845
 Marketing expenses            2,601      2,406     4,799        4,703
 Professional services
   expenses                    1,847      3,193     3,483        5,270
 Capital securities expense    3,615      3,662     7,231        7,323
 Dividends on preferred stock
   of subsidiary corporation   1,038        980     2,076        2,000
 Other operating expenses      8,994      8,897    17,072       17,785

   Total noninterest expenses 64,604     58,272   126,153      113,918

 Income before income taxes   41,890     38,471    81,998       74,922
 Income taxes                 13,783     13,121    27,080       25,599

 Net income                 $ 28,107   $ 25,350  $ 54,918     $ 49,323

 Net income per common share:
   Basic                       $0.66      $0.57     $1.28        $1.12
   Diluted                     $0.66      $0.56     $1.26        $1.10


Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
                         At or for the Three      At or for the Six
                         Months Ended June 30,   Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in thousands,
  except per share data)       2000       1999      2000         1999

Operating and Performance
     Ratios (annualized):

GAAP earnings (a)           $ 28,107   $ 25,350   $ 54,918    $ 49,322

Return on average
  shareholders' equity         18.72 %    16.86  %   18.24  %    16.30%
Return on average
  shareholders' equity
  before non-recurring
  income (b)                   17.99      16.86      17.87       16.30

Return on average assets        1.10       1.04       1.09        1.01
Return on average assets
  before non-recurring
  income (b)                    1.06       1.04       1.07        1.01

Cash earnings               $ 31,679   $ 29,489   $ 61,654    $ 56,374

Cash return on average
  shareholders' equity (c)     21.10 %    18.48 %    20.48       17.71%
Cash return on average
  shareholders' equity
  before non recurring income  20.37      18.48      20.11       17.71

Noninterest expenses /
  average assets                2.54       2.40       2.50        2.34
Noninterest expenses /
  average assets (e)            2.19       2.07       2.16        2.03

Efficiency ratio (f)           56.91      57.60      57.43       57.77
Efficiency ratio (e)           52.53      52.73      52.90       52.78

Shareholders' equity /
  total assets                  7.04       6.42       7.04        6.42
Interest-rate spread            3.18       3.23       3.14        3.16
Net interest margin             3.29       3.36       3.26        3.30

Loan originations:
  Residential              $ 187,520  $ 365,619  $ 349,770   $ 729,462
  Commercial                 196,156    149,764    329,467     284,376
  Consumer                    87,766     71,953    163,998     135,903

Asset Quality:

Nonaccrual loans            $ 42,318   $ 37,582   $ 42,318    $ 37,622
Nonaccrual assets, net        46,436     43,163     46,436      43,163
Allowance for loan losses     86,199     71,661     86,199      71,661
Allowances for nonaccrual
  assets                      86,431     71,887     86,431      71,887
Net loan charge-offs           2,541      1,272      3,023       1,621
Nonaccrual assets /
  total assets                  0.42 %     0.44 %     0.42        0.44%
Allowance for loan losses /
  nonaccrual loans            203.69     190.68     203.69      190.68
Allowances for nonaccrual
  assets / nonaccrual assets  185.20     165.68     185.20      165.68

Share Related:

Book value per common share  $ 16.03    $ 14.00    $ 16.03     $ 14.00
Tangible book value per
  common share                  9.88      10.82       9.88     $ 10.82
Common stock closing price     22.19      27.13      22.19       27.13
Dividend declared per
  common share                $ 0.16     $ 0.12     $ 0.30      $ 0.23
Common shares issued and
  outstanding             49,096,964 45,233,355 49,096,964  45,233,355
Basic shares              42,381,243 44,410,558 42,963,488  44,052,908
Diluted shares            42,851,477 45,243,654 43,449,533  44,869,582

(a) Net income applying General Accepted Accounting Principles.  
(b) Excluding income from a one-time life insurance benefit of $1.1 million.  
(c) Net income, excluding intangible amortization, divided by average shareholders' equity. 
(d) Net income, excluding intangible amortization and income from a one-time life insurance benefit of $1.1 million, divided by average shareholders' equity.  
(e) Excludes acquisition-related, intangible amortization, capital securities, preferred dividend, foreclosed property expenses and non-recurring charges. 
(f) Excludes acquisition-related, intangible amortization, foreclosed property expenses and non-recurring charges.

Retail and Wholesale Interest Rate Spreads (unaudited) Three months ended,


                        June     March    December  September    June
                        2000     2000      1999       1999       1999

Interest-rate spread

 Total interest-earning
   assets (a)           7.32 %    7.21 %   7.14 %      7.05 %    7.02 %
 Total interest-bearing
   liabilities          4.14      4.11     3.91        3.80      3.79
  Interest-rate spread  3.18 %    3.10 %   3.23 %      3.25 %    3.23 %
  Net interest margin   3.29      3.22     3.34        3.36      3.36

Retail interest-rate spread

 Yield on loans         7.79 %    7.68 %   7.57 %      7.44 %    7.46 %
 Rate on deposits       3.25      3.27     3.23        3.15      3.25
   Spread               4.54 %    4.41 %   4.34 %      4.29 %    4.21 %

Wholesale interest-rate spread

 Yield on securities(a) 6.46 %    6.35 %   6.32 %      6.27 %    6.30 %
 Rate on borrowings     6.13      5.85     5.57        5.28      5.15
   Spread               0.33 %    0.50 %   0.75 %      0.99 %    1.15 %


Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
                     Three months ended June 30,  2000
                                                            Fully tax
                                    Average                 equivalent
      (Dollars in thousands)        balance      Interest   yield/rate

Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
  Loans                              $6,206,383    $120,652   7.79 %
  Securities and interest-bearing
    deposits                          3,234,130      54,294   6.46 (a)
    Total interest-earning assets     9,440,513     174,946   7.32
  Noninterest-earning assets            748,840
    Total assets                    $10,189,353

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Interest-bearing deposits          $5,710,483     $52,087   3.67 %
  Noninterest-bearing deposits          728,820         -       -
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances     1,991,351      30,250   6.11
  Repurchase agreements and
     other borrowings                   844,559      12,663   6.03
  Senior notes                           39,561         915   9.25
    Total interest-bearing
      liabilities                     9,314,774      95,915   4.14
  Noninterest-bearing other
      liabilities                        74,523
    Total liabilities                 9,389,297

  Capital securities and preferred
    stock of subsidiary corporation     199,577

  Shareholders' Equity                  600,479
    Total liabilities and
       shareholders' equity         $10,189,353

  Net interest income                               $79,031

  Interest-rate spread                                        3.18 %
  Net interest margin                                         3.29 %

(a) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains(losses) are

excluded from the average rate calculations.

Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)


                           Three months ended June 30, 1999
                                                             Fully tax
                                       Average              equivalent
   (Dollars in thousands)              balance   Interest   yield/rate

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                               $5,741,107   $106,752    7.46 %
 Securities and
   interest-bearing deposits          3,376,054     53,061    6.30 (a)
    Total interest-earning assets     9,117,161    159,813    7.02
 Noninterest-earning assets             591,485

    Total assets                     $9,708,646

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Interest-bearing deposits          $5,644,104    $50,853    3.62 %
  Noninterest-bearing deposits          623,460        -        -
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances     1,442,516     18,871    5.25
  Repurchase agreements and other
    borrowings                        1,049,493     12,733    4.87
  Senior notes                           40,000        915    9.15

    Total interest-bearing
      liabilities                     8,799,573      83,372   3.79
  Noninterest-bearing other
    liabilities                         107,982

    Total liabilities                 8,907,555

  Capital securities and preferred
    stock of subsidiary corporation     199,577

  Shareholders' Equity                  601,514
    Total liabilities and
      shareholders' equity           $9,708,646

  Net interest income                               $76,441

  Interest-rate spread                                        3.23 %
  Net interest margin                                         3.36 %

(a) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains(losses) are

excluded from the average rate calculations.

Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)


              Six months ended June 30,  2000
                                                            Fully tax
                                       Average              equivalent
   (Dollars in thousands)              balance    Interest  yield/rate

Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
  Loans                               6,142,498   $ 237,133     7.74 %
  Securities and
    interest-bearing deposits         3,233,577     107,456     6.40(a)
    Total interest-earning assets     9,376,075     344,589     7.27
  Noninterest-earning assets            715,871
    Total assets                   $ 10,091,946

Liabilities and Shareholders'
    Equity:
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Interest-bearing deposits         $ 5,602,559   $ 102,069     3.66 %
  Noninterest-bearing deposits          688,273         -        -
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances     1,885,583      56,065     5.98
  Repurchase agreements and
     other borrowings                 1,004,509      29,322     5.87
  Senior notes                           39,780       1,830     9.20

    Total interest-bearing
      liabilities                     9,220,704     189,286     4.13
  Noninterest-bearing other
    liabilities                          69,443

    Total liabilities                 9,290,147

  Capital securities and preferred
    stock of subsidiary corporation     199,577

  Shareholders' Equity                  602,222

    Total liabilities and
       shareholders' equity         $10,091,946

  Net interest income                             $ 155,303

  Interest rate spread                                          3.14 %
  Net interest margin                                           3.26 %

(a) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains (losses) are excluded from the average rate calculations.

Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)


              Six months ended June 30, 1999
                                                            Fully tax
                                      Average               equivalent
   (Dollars in thousands)             balance     Interest  yield/rate

Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
  Loans                             $ 5,658,585   $ 211,044     7.52 %
  Securities and
    interest-bearing deposits         3,452,349     108,795     6.32(a)

    Total interest-earning assets     9,110,934     319,839     7.04
  Noninterest-earning assets            613,343

    Total assets                    $ 9,724,277

Liabilities and Shareholders'
    Equity:
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Interest-bearing deposits         $ 5,620,149   $ 103,661     3.72 %
  Noninterest-bearing deposits          607,862         -        -
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances     1,573,512      41,131     5.27
  Repurchase agreements and
     other borrowings                   982,855      24,090     4.94
  Senior notes                           40,000       1,830     9.15

    Total interest-bearing
      liabilities                     8,824,378     170,712     3.88
  Noninterest-bearing other
    liabilities                          95,151

    Total liabilities                 8,919,529

  Capital securities and preferred
    stock of subsidiary corporation     199,577

  Shareholders' Equity                  605,171

    Total liabilities and
       shareholders' equity         $ 9,724,277

  Net interest income                             $ 149,127

  Interest rate spread                                          3.16 %
  Net interest margin                                           3.30 %

(a) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains (losses) are excluded from the average rate calculations.

CONTACT: Webster Financial Corporation, Waterbury
Media: Michael G. Bazinet, 203-578-2391
mbazinet@websterbank.com
Jim Kalach, 203-578-2461
jkalach@websterbank.com
Investors: James M. Sitro, 203-578-2399
jsitro@websterbank.com