Webster Reports 11 Percent Rise in Operating Earnings in the Quarter

Oct 18, 2001

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WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 18, 2001--Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WBST), the holding company for Webster Bank, today reported an 11 percent increase in operating earnings for the third quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2001, operating earnings increased 20 percent over the same period a year ago.

Operating earnings (defined as net income excluding nonrecurring items) for the quarter rose to $35.0 million or $.70 per diluted share, compared to $31.6 million or $.64 per diluted share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2000. There were no nonrecurring items in the 2001 and 2000 third quarters. For the first nine months of 2001, operating earnings increased to $102.3 million or $2.06 per diluted share, compared to $85.4 million or $1.88 per diluted share in the year-ago period.

For the first nine months of 2001, net income was $96.5 million or $1.94 per diluted share, compared to $86.5 million or $1.90 per diluted share the prior year. The 2001 results included, net of taxes, net non-recurring charges of $5.8 million compared to a benefit of $1.1 million, net of taxes, in the year- ago period.

"We are pleased to report strong operating results as we move forward to invest in our franchise and increase our geographic reach," said James C. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer. "Webster today is a leading Connecticut-based financial services provider dedicated to building strong customer relationships that increase shareholder value."

The improvement in operating earnings continues to be driven by increases in net interest income and growth in revenues from fee-based services. Net interest income increased 9 percent in the third quarter compared to a year ago, due primarily to the benefits of a lower interest-rate environment. Revenue from fee-based services increased 21 percent in the third quarter compared to a year ago as a result of growth in Webster's fee-based businesses and expanded product offerings to Webster's growing customer base.

"Webster achieved strong results, despite slowing loan demand and higher loan loss provisions," said William T. Bromage, president and vice chairman. "Webster's strong results were driven by increases in net interest income, growth in revenue from fee based services and emphasis on expense control."

Financial Highlights

Net interest income for the quarter increased by 9.0 percent to $93.6 million from $85.8 million in the year-ago period. For the first nine months of 2001, net interest income increased by 12.7 percent to $271.7 million from $241.1 million in the year-ago period. The increase for the first nine months of 2001 is aided by a full period's benefit of higher interest-earning assets from Mechanics Savings Bank, which was acquired in June 2000. Both 2001 periods benefited from a lower interest-rate environment.

Net interest margin (net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) was 3.54 percent in the third quarter, compared to 3.30 percent in the year-ago period and 3.39 percent in the second quarter of 2001. The improvement in the net interest margin was driven by the lower interest-rate environment and by the increasingly positive slope of the yield curve.

Revenue from fee-based services and other noninterest income, excluding gains on the sale of securities, increased 21 percent in the quarter to $37.9 million from $31.3 million in 2000. For the first nine months of 2001, these revenues increased 35 percent to $111.6 million from $82.5 million in the year ago period. These increases are due primarily to revenue related to Duff & Phelps, which offers financial advisory services, to Webster Insurance and to expanded product offerings to Webster's growing customer base. Income from fee-based services as a percent of total revenue increased to 29 percent in the third quarter from 27 percent in the year-ago period.

The allowance for loan losses increased to $96.6 million or 1.40 percent of gross loans at September 30, 2001, from $88.9 million or 1.28 percent of gross loans in the year-ago period and $96.1 million or 1.38 percent of gross loans in the second quarter. The provision for loan losses for the quarter increased to $4.0 million from $3.2 million in the year ago period, due primarily to a rise in the level of non-performing assets.

Nonperforming assets amounted to $60.2 million or 0.52 percent of total assets at September 30, 2001, compared to $47.9 million or 0.43 percent a year earlier and $47.4 million or 0.40 percent in the second quarter. It is too early to predict the longer-term impact the September 11 tragedy will have on the economy and the extent it will affect our business and retail borrowers. Webster has no direct credit exposure to the airline and tourist industry.

Book value per common share increased to $20.63 from $19.18 at June 30, 2001 due primarily to earnings and increases in the fair value of available-for-sale securities. Shareholders' equity reached $1 billion at the close of the third quarter, up from $890 million at the end of 2000, representing 8.8% percent of total assets.

Recent Highlights

In September, Webster announced a concerted branch expansion program, with initial focus on lower Fairfield County, as part of its strategy to increase deposits and to expand its retail franchise in Connecticut and contiguous states. During the next three years Webster plans to establish at least 20 new branches as well as 35 ATM locations as part of its "WE FIND A WAY" initiative to provide increasing levels of service and convenience to our growing base of consumers and businesses in Connecticut. Expansion will begin in 2002 in Fairfield County where Webster currently has 12 locations. Webster will examine expansion opportunities in New London County and the northern part of the Hartford/Springfield corridor as well as other areas bordering Connecticut.

Also in September, Webster announced plans to repurchase 2.5 million common shares, or approximately 5 percent of Webster's outstanding shares. With this announcement, Webster has completed nine stock repurchases since the company became public in 1986.

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 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.

Conference Call

A conference call covering today's announcement will be held today, Thursday, October 18, at 1 p.m., Eastern Time and may be heard through Webster's investor relations website at www.wbst.com, or in listen-only mode by calling 1-800-521-5428 (Access Code: 1255790). 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

Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)

                       At or for the Three          At or for the Nine
                         Months Ended                 Months Ended 
                          September 30,               September 30,
(Dollars in thousands, 
 except per share data)   2001       2000         2001           2000

Operating income and 
 performance ratios before 
  nonrecurring items
  (annualized) (a):

Operating income        $ 35,031   $ 31,583    $ 102,274      $ 85,401
Operating income per
 common share (diluted)     0.70       0.64         2.06          1.88
Return on average
 shareholders' equity      14.35%     16.17%       14.55%       17.19%
Return on average assets    1.21       1.12         1.18          1.09
Fee income as a percentage
 of total revenue          28.85      26.73        28.77         25.49
Efficiency ratio (b)       49.95      49.11        50.48         51.60

Net income and performance 
 ratios after nonrecurring items
 (annualized):

Net income              $ 35,031   $ 31,583     $ 96,518      $ 86,501
Net income per common
 share (diluted)            0.70       0.64         1.94          1.90
Return on average
 shareholders' equity      14.35%     16.17%       13.73%       17.41%
Return on average assets    1.21       1.12         1.12          1.10
Fee income as a percentage
 of total revenue          28.85      26.73        29.12         25.74

Cash income and performance 
 ratios before nonrecurring items
 (annualized) (c):

Cash income             $ 41,868   $ 37,633    $ 122,459      $ 98,072
Cash income per common
 share (diluted)            0.84       0.76         2.46          2.16
Cash return on average
 shareholders' equity      17.15%     19.26%       17.42%       19.74%
Cash return on average 
 assets                     1.45       1.34         1.42          1.25

Other ratios (annualized):

Shareholders' equity / 
 total assets               8.76%      7.36%        8.76%        7.36%
Interest-rate spread        3.43       3.18         3.34          3.15
Net interest margin         3.54       3.30         3.43          3.27

Asset quality:

Allowance for loan
 losses                  $ 96,654  $ 88,917     $ 96,654      $ 88,917
Nonperforming assets, net  60,241    47,868       60,241        47,868
Net loan charge-offs        3,466       483        6,392         3,321
Allowance for loan losses /
 gross loans               1.40%      1.28%        1.40%         1.28%
Nonperforming assets / total 
 assets                     0.52       0.43         0.52          0.43
Allowance for loan losses / 
 nonperforming loans      167.36     199.91       167.36        199.91

Share related:

Book value per 
 common share            $ 20.63    $ 16.95      $ 20.63       $ 16.95
Tangible book value per 
 common share              14.02      10.55        14.02         10.55
Common stock closing price 32.96      26.94        32.96         26.94
Dividend declared per
 common share               0.17       0.16         0.50          0.46
Common shares issued and
 outstanding          49,325,947 48,862,027   49,325,947    48,862,027
Basic shares
 (average)            49,223,332 48,870,159   49,094,463    44,946,750
Diluted shares 
 (average)            49,928,543 49,438,353   49,760,573    45,460,378

    (a) Excludes the following nonrecurring items for the 2001 period,
net of taxes: $352,000 related to net insurance proceeds (2nd Qtr),
$2.5 million of branch reconfiguration expenses (1st Qtr), $2.4
million related to the adoption of recent accounting standards for
derivative instruments and hedging activities (1st Qtr) and $1.2
million related to the early extinquishment of debt (1st Qtr).
Nonrecurring item for the 2000 period is $1.1 million of nontaxable
insurance proceeds (2nd Qtr).

    (b) Excludes nonrecurring income and operating expense items
(refer to item a), intangible amortization, capital securities,
preferred dividend and foreclosed property expenses.

    (c) Net income excluding tax-effected intangible amortization and
nonrecurring items (refer to item a).

       Webster Financial Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Condition   (unaudited)
                          September 30,     June 30,     September 30,
 (Dollars in thousands)      2001             2001          2000(a)

 Assets:

 Cash and due from 
  depository institutions $255,620          $ 326,732     $ 232,294
 Interest-bearing
  deposits                   1,782             11,278        10,240
 Securities:
  Trading, at fair value       147                  -             -
  Available for sale,
   at fair value         3,743,350          3,821,140     3,060,994
  Held to maturity, 
   (fair value:$258,503 
     at 9/30/00)                 -                  -       275,006
 Loans receivable:
 Residential mortgages   3,755,401          3,943,841     4,215,112
 Commercial and 
  industrial             1,358,904          1,329,669     1,052,920
 Commercial real estate    952,914            975,698       999,040
 Consumer                  833,998            739,119       682,610

 Gross loans receivable  6,901,217          6,988,327     6,949,682
  Allowance for loan 
   losses                  (96,654)           (96,135)      (88,917)

 Loans receivable, net   6,804,563          6,892,192     6,860,765

 Accrued interest 
  receivable                61,808             64,090        71,781
 Premises and equipment, 
  net                       84,511             85,495       104,803
 Intangible assets         326,396            334,159       312,525
 Cash surrender value of 
  life insurance           161,690            159,479       171,973
 Prepaid expenses and 
  other assets             182,384            123,997       156,169

         Total assets $ 11,622,251        $11,818,562  $ 11,256,550

   Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

Deposits:
 Checking and NOW      $ 1,568,905        $ 1,629,256   $ 1,565,898
 Savings and MMDAs       2,309,147          2,217,910     1,990,509
 Certificates of deposit 2,917,210          3,080,078     3,296,313

Total retail deposits    6,795,262          6,927,244     6,852,720
 Treasury deposits         169,741            122,278       201,107

Total deposits           6,965,003          7,049,522     7,053,827

Borrowed funds           3,268,003          3,573,684     3,085,703
Accrued expenses and 
 other liabilities         211,839             88,877        89,461

  Total liabilities     10,444,845         10,712,083    10,228,991

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

Preferred stock of 
 subsidiary corporation      9,577              9,577        49,577

Shareholders' equity     1,017,829            946,902       827,982

 Total liabilities and 
  shareholders' equity $11,622,251        $11,818,562   $11,256,550

(a) Reflects reclassifications between certain loan categories.

     Webster Financial Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

                               Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30,        September 30,  
(Dollars in thousands, 
 except per share data)        2001          2000     2001       2000

Interest income:
Loans                        $127,991      $139,867 $401,321  $377,000
Securities and 
 interest-bearing 
  deposits                     60,572        57,733  178,311   165,189

  Total interest income       188,563       197,600  579,632   542,189

Interest expense:
Deposits                       53,627        60,376  170,765   162,445
Borrowings                     41,385        51,414  137,161   138,631

  Total interest expense       95,012       111,790  307,926   301,076

  Net interest income          93,551        85,810  271,706   241,113
  Provision for loan losses     4,000         3,200   10,400     8,600

  Net interest income after 
   provision for loan losses   89,551        82,610  261,306   232,513

Noninterest income:
Deposit service fees           14,142        13,259   41,699    35,146
Loan and loan servicing fees    5,131         5,288   13,698    11,105
Trust and investment services   4,984         4,837   13,969    13,566
Financial advisory services     3,942             -   12,239         -
Insurance commissions           5,806         3,685   16,393    10,909
Gain on sale of securities, 
 net                            2,566         1,871    8,609     7,829
Increase in cash surrender 
 value of life insurance        2,211         2,271    6,926     6,233
Other                           1,709         1,958    6,695     5,529

  Total noninterest income     40,491        33,169  120,228    90,317

Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and benefits      35,827        31,235  107,506    90,751
Occupancy                       6,057         6,573   19,463    17,651
Furniture and equipment         7,032         6,090   20,903    18,830
Intangible amortization         7,888         6,907   23,338    15,065
Marketing                       2,045         1,778    6,428     6,577
Professional services           2,896         1,688    7,008     5,171
Capital securities              3,616         3,477   10,847    10,708
Other                          11,840        10,853   32,529    30,001

  Total noninterest expenses   77,201        68,601  228,022   194,754

Income before income taxes and 
 nonrecurring items            52,841        47,178  153,512   128,076
Income taxes                   17,810        15,595   51,238    42,675

Income before nonrecurring 
 items                         35,031        31,583  102,274    85,401
Nonrecurring items, 
 net of taxes (a)                   -             -   (5,756)    1,100

Net income                   $ 35,031      $ 31,583 $ 96,518  $ 86,501

Net income per common share 
 before nonrecurring items:
  Basic                         $0.71         $0.65    $2.08     $1.90
  Diluted                       $0.70         $0.64    $2.06     $1.88

Net income per common share:
  Basic                         $0.71         $0.65    $1.97     $1.92
  Diluted                       $0.70         $0.64    $1.94     $1.90

(a) See footnotes to Selected Financial Highlights

    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads   (unaudited)

Three Months Ended         September  June   March  December September
                             2001     2001    2001    2000      2000

Interest-rate spread
Total interest-earning 
 assets (a)                 7.06 %   7.28 %  7.55 %   7.62 %    7.56 %
Total interest-bearing
 liabilities                3.63     3.96    4.32     4.43      4.38
  Interest-rate spread      3.43 %   3.32 %  3.23 %   3.19 %    3.18 %
  Net interest margin       3.54     3.39    3.35     3.32      3.30

Retail interest-rate spread
Yield on loans              7.33 %   7.61 %  7.99 %   8.12 %    8.06 %
Rate on deposits            3.06     3.34    3.52     3.52      3.44
    Spread                  4.27 %   4.27 %  4.47 %   4.60 %    4.62 %

Wholesale interest-rate spread
Yield on securities (a)     6.57 %   6.63 %  6.67 %   6.58 %    6.58 %
Rate on borrowings          4.79     5.18    5.98     6.53      6.43
    Spread                  1.78 %   1.45 %  0.69 %   0.05 %    0.15 %

Consolidated Average Statements of Condition   (unaudited)
  Three Months Ended September 30, 
                                                2001      
                                                           Fully tax     
(Dollars in thousands)              Average                equivalent    
                                    balance     Interest   yield/rate    

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                           $ 6,932,448   $ 127,994       7.33 %    
 Securities and interest-bearing
  deposits                         3,742,996      60,883       6.57 (a)  
 Total interest-earning 
  assets                          10,675,444     188,877       7.06      
 Noninterest-earning assets          878,582                             

    Total assets                $ 11,554,026                             

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing liabilities:
 Interest-bearing deposits       $ 6,152,366    $ 53,627       3.46 %    
 Noninterest-bearing deposits        799,312          -           -      
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1,932,931      26,810       5.43      
 Repurchase agreements 
  and other borrowings             1,326,400      11,785       3.48      
 Senior notes                        126,000       2,790       8.86      

  Total interest-bearing
   liabilities                    10,337,009      95,012       3.63      

 Noninterest-bearing 
  liabilities                         81,153                             

  Total liabilities               10,418,162                             

 Capital securities and 
  preferred stock of
   subsidiary corporation            159,577                             

 Shareholders' equity                976,287                             

  Total liabilities and 
   shareholders' equity         $ 11,554,026                             

 Net interest income                            $ 93,865                 

 Interest-rate spread                                          3.43 %    

 Net interest margin                                           3.54 %    


Consolidated Average Statements of Condition   (unaudited)
  Three Months Ended September 30, 
                                                2000
                                                           Fully tax   
(Dollars in thousands)              Average                equivalent 
                                    balance     Interest   yield/rate 

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                           $ 6,927,869   $ 139,867      8.06 %
 Securities and interest-bearing
  deposits                         3,413,888      57,733      6.58(a)
 Total interest-earning 
  assets                          10,341,757     197,600      7.56
 Noninterest-earning assets          889,849

    Total assets                $ 11,231,606

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing liabilities:
 Interest-bearing deposits       $ 6,162,524    $ 60,376      3.90 %
 Noninterest-bearing deposits        815,308           -         -
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances   2,185,577      35,408      6.45
 Repurchase agreements 
  and other borrowings               995,367      15,916      6.36
 Senior notes                              -          90         -

  Total interest-bearing
   liabilities                    10,158,776     111,790      4.38

 Noninterest-bearing 
  liabilities                         91,865

  Total liabilities               10,250,641

 Capital securities and 
  preferred stock of
  subsidiary corporation             199,577

 Shareholders' equity                781,388

  Total liabilities and 
   shareholders' equity         $ 11,231,606

 Net interest income                            $ 85,810

 Interest-rate spread                                          3.18 %

 Net interest margin                                           3.30 %

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

WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Consolidated Average Statements of Condition   (unaudited)


Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,                                  2001                      

                                                           Fully tax   
                                    Average                equivalent 
(Dollars in thousands)              balance     Interest   yield/rate   

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                           $ 6,978,408   $ 401,330      7.64 %    
 Securities and interest-bearing 
  deposits                         3,624,762     179,114      6.62(a) 
 Total interest-earning 
  assets                          10,603,170     580,444      7.30      
 Noninterest-earning assets          905,852                                

    Total assets                $ 11,509,022                     

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing liabilities:
 Interest-bearing deposits       $ 6,108,950   $ 170,765      3.74 %    
 Noninterest-bearing deposits        806,022           -         -      
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1,907,696      84,334      5.83      
 Repurchase agreements 
  and other borrowings             1,377,122      44,455      4.26      
 Senior notes                        126,000       8,372      8.86      

  Total interest-bearing 
   liabilities                    10,325,790     307,926      3.96      
 Noninterest-bearing 
  liabilities                         84,035                                
  Total liabilities                10,409,825                              

Capital securities and
 preferred stock of subsidiary 
  corporation                        161,775                                

Shareholders' equity                 937,422                                

  Total liabilities and 
   shareholders' equity         $ 11,509,022                               

Net interest income                            $ 272,518                   

Interest-rate spread                                          3.34 %    

Net interest margin                                           3.43 %    


Consolidated Average Statements of Condition   (unaudited)

Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,                                  2000                             

                                                           Fully tax
                                    Average                equivalent
                                    balance     Interest   yield/rate
(Dollars in thousands)      

Assets:                     
 Interest-earning assets:                                             
 Loans                           $ 6,406,198   $ 377,000      7.85 %    
 Securities and interest-bearing  
  deposits                         3,294,119     165,189      6.46 (a) 
 Total interest-earning 
  assets                           9,700,317     542,189      7.37      
 Noninterest-earning assets          774,288                              

    Total assets                $ 10,474,605                              

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing liabilities:                                         
 Interest-bearing deposits       $ 5,790,577   $ 162,445      3.75 %    
 Noninterest-bearing deposits        730,927           -         -      
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances   1,986,311      91,473      6.15      
 Repurchase agreements 
  and other borrowings             1,001,440      45,238      6.03      
 Senior notes                         26,423       1,920      9.69      

  Total interest-bearing 
   liabilities                     9,535,678     301,076      4.22      

 Noninterest-bearing 
  liabilities                         76,970                              

  Total liabilities                9,612,648                           

Capital securities and                                                  
 preferred stock of subsidiary                                          
  corporation                        199,577                              

Shareholders' equity                 662,380                              

  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity         $ 10,474,605                              

Net interest income                            $ 241,113                 

Interest-rate spread                                          3.15 %    

Net interest margin                                           3.27 %    

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

--30--jeh/ny* aw/ny emb/ny km/ny mem/ny muj/ny

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