Webster Declares Quarterly Common Stock Dividend

Jul 24, 2001

WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001--Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WBST), the holding company for Webster Bank, announced today that it has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.17 per common share.

The dividend is payable on August 20, 2001, to shareholders of record on August 6, 2001. This is the 56th consecutive quarterly dividend since Webster first paid a dividend in 1987.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, which provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, trust and investment services through more than 100 banking offices, 210 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. Webster Financial Corporation owns Center Capital Corporation, an equipment financing company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, and is majority owner of Chicago-based Duff & Phelps, a leader in investment banking and financial advisory services.

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

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CONTACT: Webster Financial Corporation, Waterbury
Media: Art House, 203/578-2391
ahouse@websterbank.com
Investors: James M. Sitro, 203/578-2399
jsitro@websterbank.com