Webster Reports 26 Percent Rise in Operating Earnings

Jul 19, 2001

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WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2001--Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WBST), the holding company for Webster Bank, today reported a 26 percent increase in operating earnings for the second quarter ended June 30, 2001. Operating earnings for the quarter rose to $34.2 million or $.69 per diluted share, compared to $27.0 million or $.63 per diluted share for the second quarter ended June 30, 2000. For the first six months of 2001, operating earnings increased to $67.2 million or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to $53.8 million or $1.24 per diluted share in the year-ago period. Operating earnings is defined as net income excluding non-recurring items.

Consistent with the trend of recent quarters, the improvement in operating earnings is due primarily to increases in net interest income and revenue from fee-based services. Revenue from fee-based services increased 44 percent in the second quarter compared to a year ago as a result of financial advisory services, loan and loan servicing fees, insurance commissions and expanded product offerings to Webster's growing customer base.

"We are pleased to report strong operating results as we continue to strengthen our franchise and enhance our capabilities as a leading Connecticut-based financial services provider," said James C. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer. "We remain dedicated to building strong customer relationships that increase shareholder value."

Net income for the second quarter, including non-recurring items, was $34.5 million or $.69 per diluted share, compared to $28.1 million or $.66 per diluted share in the year-ago period. Both periods include a net benefit from insurance proceeds.

For the first six months of 2001, net income was $61.5 million or $1.24 per diluted share, compared to $54.9 million or $1.26 per diluted share. The 2001 results included, net of taxes, net non-recurring charges of $5.7 million compared to a benefit of $1.1 million, net of taxes, in the year-ago period.

Financial Highlights

Net interest income for the quarter increased by 14.4 percent to $90.4 million from $79.0 million in the year-ago period. For the first six months of 2001, net interest income increased by 14.7 percent to $178.2 million from $155.3 million in the year-ago period. The increase in net interest income is due primarily to a full year's benefit of higher interest earning assets from Mechanics Savings Bank, which was acquired in June 2000 using the purchase accounting method, and to the benefits of a lower interest-rate environment.

Net interest margin (net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) was 3.39 percent in the second quarter, compared to 3.29 percent in the year-ago period and 3.35 percent in the first quarter of 2001. The improvement in the net interest margin was due primarily to the benefits of a lower interest-rate environment.

Revenue from fee-based services and other noninterest income, excluding gains on the sale of securities, increased 44 percent in the quarter to $38.5 million from $26.7 million in 2000. For the first six months of 2001, these revenues also increased 44 percent compared to the year-ago period. These increases are due primarily to revenue related to loan and loan servicing fees, insurance commissions, financial advisory fees from Duff & Phelps and expanded product offerings to Webster's growing customer base. Income from fee-based services as a percent of total revenue increased to 29.8 percent in the second quarter from 25.2 percent in the year-ago period.

Asset quality remained sound in the quarter with nonaccrual assets amounting to 0.40 percent of total assets at June 30, 2001, compared to 0.42 percent a year earlier and 0.43 percent in the first quarter. Allowances as a percent of total loans increased to 1.38 percent at June 30, 2001, from 1.25 percent in the year-ago period and 1.33 percent in the first quarter.

Book value per common share increased to $19.18 from $18.85 at March 31, 2001 due primarily to earnings and increases in the fair value of available-for-sale securities. Shareholders' equity reached $947 million at the close of the second quarter, up from $890 million at the end of 2000, representing 8.0% percent of total assets. Webster had 49.4 million shares outstanding at June 30, 2001.

Recent Highlights

Earlier this month Webster was named to the newly re-balanced Russell 1000 Index, which measures the performance of the 1000 largest companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 1000 Index represents approximately 92% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index and has a median market capitalization of $4.1 billion. More than $177 billion is invested in index funds that use Russell's U.S. indexes as their model.

Also in the quarter, Webster acquired Wolff-Zackin & Associates Inc. and Benefits Plans Design & Administration Inc. both privately owned Vernon, Connecticut-based insurance agencies. Webster Insurance now has a staff of 180 employees and writes in excess of $220 million in premiums annually, ranking it as the largest Connecticut-based insurance agency.

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..

Conference Call

A conference call covering today's announcement will be held today, Thursday, July 19, 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: 1113058). 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 Six
                                  Months Ended          Months Ended
                                    June 30               June 30,
                                2001      2000       2001       2000

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)


Operating income and performance 
 ratios before non-recurring items
 (annualized) (a):

Operating income             $ 34,152   $ 27,007    $ 67,243  $ 53,818
Operating income per common 
 share (diluted)                 0.69       0.63        1.35      1.24
Return on average shareholders'
 equity                         14.67%     17.99%      14.66%    17.87%                  
Return on average assets         1.17       1.06        1.17      1.07
Fee income as a percentage of
 total revenue                  29.83      25.22      29.26      24.79
Efficiency ratio (b)            49.51      53.08      50.33      53.19

Net income and performance 
 ratios after non-recurring items
 (annualized):

Net income                   $ 34,504   $ 28,107   $ 61,487   $ 54,918
Net income per common share
 (diluted)                       0.69       0.66       1.24       1.26
Return on average shareholders'
 equity                         14.82%     18.72%     13.40%     18.24%
Return on average assets         1.18       1.10       1.07       1.09
Fee income as a percentage of
 total revenue                  30.83      25.80      29.78      25.19

Cash income and performance 
 ratios before non-recurring 
 items (annualized) (c):

Cash income                  $ 40,987   $ 30,579   $ 80,591   $ 60,554
Cash income per common share 
 (diluted)                       0.82       0.71       1.62       1.39
Cash return on average 
 shareholders' equity           17.61%     20.37%     17.56%     20.11%
Cash return on average assets    1.41       1.20       1.40       1.20

Other ratios (annualized):

Shareholders' equity / total 
 assets                          8.01%      7.04%      8.01%      7.04%
Interest-rate spread             3.32       3.18       3.27       3.14
Net interest margin              3.39       3.29       3.37       3.26

Asset Quality:

Nonaccrual assets, net       $ 47,400   $ 46,436   $ 47,400   $ 46,436
Allowance for loan losses      96,135     86,199     96,135     86,199
Net loan charge-offs            2,035      2,541      2,926      3,023
Nonaccrual assets / total assets 0.40%      0.42%      0.40%      0.42%
Allowance for loan losses / 
gross loans                      1.38       1.25       1.38       1.25

Share related:

Book value per common share   $ 19.18   $  16.03   $  19.18   $  16.03
Tangible book value per common
 share                          12.41       9.88      12.41       9.88
Common stock closing price      32.78      22.19      32.78      22.19
Dividend declared per common 
 share                        $  0.17   $   0.16   $   0.33   $   0.30
Common shares issued and
 outstanding               49,361,799 49,096,964 49,361,799 49,096,964
Basic shares (average)     49,119,360 42,381,243 49,028,961 42,963,488
Diluted shares (average)   49,783,527 42,851,477 49,675,196 43,449,533

    (a) Excludes the following non-recurring 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 extinguishment of debt (1st Qtr).
Non-recurring item for the 2000 period is $1.1 million of non-taxable
insurance proceeds (2nd Qtr).

    (b) Excludes non-recurring 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
non-recurring items (refer to item a).



Webster Financial Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Condition (unaudited)

                                   June 30,    March 31,      June 30,
(Dollars in thousands)               2001       2001(a)        2000(a)

Assets:

Cash and due from depository 
 institutions                     $326,732     $ 237,141     $ 265,999
Interest-bearing deposits           11,278           348         1,415
Securities:
  Trading, at fair value                 -            30        77,633
  Available for sale, at fair 
value                            3,821,140     3,690,313     2,963,175
  Held to maturity, (fair value:
$267,769 at 6/30/00)                     -             -       287,829
Loans receivable:
  Residential mortgages          3,943,841     4,069,946     4,268,372
  Commercial and industrial      1,329,669     1,342,619       955,977
  Commercial real estate           975,698     1,005,915     1,012,706
  Consumer                         739,119       699,579       669,335
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
Gross Loans receivable           6,988,327     7,118,059     6,906,390
  Allowance for loan losses        (96,135)      (94,970)      (86,199)
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------
Loans receivable, net            6,892,192     7,023,089     6,820,191

Accrued interest receivable         64,090        68,898        67,593
Premises and equipment, net         85,495        87,839       109,975
Foreclosed properties, net           2,833         2,762         4,118
Intangible assets                  334,159       334,209       302,037
Cash surrender value of life 
  insurance                        159,479       176,619       169,702
Prepaid expenses and other assets  121,164        82,307       118,661
                                 ---------     ---------     ---------

  Total assets                $ 11,818,562  $ 11,703,555 $  11,188,328
                              ============  ============ =============

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

Deposits:
  Checking and NOW            $ 1,629,256   $  1,569,618 $   1,598,534
  Savings and MMDAs             2,170,423      2,031,518     1,959,661
  Certificates of deposit       3,080,078      3,191,377     3,316,141
                              -----------   ------------ -------------
Total retail deposits           6,879,757      6,792,513     6,874,336
  Treasury deposits               122,278        134,196       130,846
                              -----------   ------------ -------------
Total deposits                  7,002,035      6,926,709     7,005,182

 Borrowed funds                 3,573,684      3,422,933     3,023,381
 Accrued expenses and other 
  liabilities                     136,364        269,425       173,014
                              -----------   ------------ -------------
  Total liabilities            10,712,083     10,619,067    10,201,577
                              -----------   ------------ -------------

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              946,902        924,911       787,174
                                  -------        -------      --------

  Total liabilities and 
shareholders equity          $ 11,818,562   $11,703,555  $  11,188,328
                             ============   ===========  =============

    (a) Reflects reclassifications between certain loan categories.




Webster Financial Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

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


Interest income:
Loans                           $134,702   $120,652  $273,330 $237,133
Securities and interest-bearing 
deposits                          59,755     54,294   117,739  107,456
                                --------  ---------  --------  -------
 Total interest income           194,457    174,946   391,069  344,589
                                --------  ---------  --------  -------
Interest expense:
Deposits                          57,702     52,087   117,138  102,069
Borrowings                        46,311     43,828    95,776   87,217
                                --------  ---------  --------  -------
 Total interest expense          104,013     95,915   212,914  189,286
                                --------  ---------  --------  -------

 Net interest income              90,444     79,031   178,155  155,303
  Provision for loan losses        3,200      3,200     6,400    5,400
                                --------  ---------  --------  -------
 Net interest income after 
  provision for loan losses       87,244     75,831   171,755  149,903
                                --------  ---------  --------  -------
Noninterest income:
Deposit service fees              14,325    11,790     27,557   21,887
Loan and loan servicing fees       5,670     2,764      8,567    5,817
Trust and investment services      4,591     4,861      8,985    8,729
Financial advisory services        3,792         -      8,297       -
Insurance commissions              5,573     3,502     10,587    7,224
Gain on sale of securities, net    1,794     2,908      6,043    5,958
Increase in cash surrender value of
 life insurance                    2,391     2,003      4,715    3,962
Other                              2,115     1,735      4,986    3,571
                                --------   -------   --------  -------
 Total noninterest income         40,251    29,563     79,737   57,148
                                --------   -------   --------  -------

Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and benefits         36,062    30,533     71,679   59,516
Occupancy                          6,526     5,445     13,406   11,078
Furniture and equipment            7,160     6,248     13,871   12,740
Intangible amortization            7,886     4,283     15,450    8,158
Marketing                          2,293     2,601      4,383    4,799
Professional services              2,542     1,847      4,112    3,483
Capital securities                 3,615     3,615      7,231    7,231
Dividends on preferred stock of 
 subsidiaries corporation            215     1,038        554    2,076
Other                             10,005     8,994     20,135   17,072
                                 -------   -------   --------  -------
 Total noninterest expenses:      76,304    64,604    150,821  126,153
                                 -------   -------   --------  -------
Income before income taxes and 
 non-recurring items:             51,191    40,790    100,671   80,898
Income taxes                      17,039    13,783     33,428   27,080
                                 -------   -------   --------  -------
 Income before non-recurring 
  items                           34,152    27,007     67,243   53,818
Non-recurring items, net of taxes
 (a)                                 352     1,100     (5,756)   1,100
                                 -------   -------   --------  -------
 Net income                     $ 34,504  $ 28,107   $ 61,487 $ 54,918
                                ========  ========   ======== ========

Net income per common share before 
 non-recurring items:
 Basic                          $   0.70  $   0.64   $   1.37  $  1.25
 Diluted                        $   0.69  $   0.63   $   1.35  $  1.24

Net income per common share:
 Basic                          $   0.70  $   0.66   $   1.25  $  1.28
 Diluted                        $   0.69  $   0.66   $   1.24  $  1.26

    (a) See Footnotes to Selected Financial Highlights.



Webster Financial Corporation

Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads   (unaudited)

Three Months Ended,                   June        March       December     
                                      2001        2001          2000       

Interest-rate spread
Total interest-earning assets (a)     7.28 %      7.55 %        7.62 %  
Total interest-bearing liabilities    3.96        4.32          4.43    
                                      ------      ------        ------
 Interest-rate spread                 3.32 %      3.23 %        3.19 %  
 Net interest margin                  3.39        3.35          3.32    

Retail interest-rate spread
Yield on loans                        7.61 %      7.99 %        8.12 %  
Rate on deposits                      3.34        3.52          3.52    
                                      ------      ------        ------
 Spread                               4.27 %      4.47 %        4.60 %  
                                      ======      ======        ======

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


Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads   (unaudited)

Three Months Ended,                 September     June       
                                      2000        2000       

Interest-rate spread                                                   
Total interest-earning assets (a)     7.56 %      7.32 % 
Total interest-bearing liabilities    4.38        4.14   
                                      ------      ------
 Interest-rate spread                 3.18 %      3.18 % 
 Net interest margin                  3.30        3.29   

Retail interest-rate spread                                            
Yield on loans                        8.06 %      7.79 % 
Rate on deposits                      3.44        3.25   
                                      ------      ------
 Spread                               4.62 %      4.54 % 
                                      ======      ======

Wholesale interest-rate spread                                         
Yield on securities (a)               6.58 %      6.46 % 
Rate on borrowings                    6.43        6.13   
                                      ------      ------
 Spread                               0.15 %      0.33 % 
                                      ======      ======


Consolidated Average Statements of Condition   (unaudited)

    Three Months Ended June 30,               2001                       
                                                          Fully tax      
                                Average                   equivalent     
 (Dollars in thousands)         balance       Interest    yield/rate     

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                        $ 7,059,838     $ 134,705        7.61 %    
 Securities and interest-
  bearing deposits              3,627,868        60,015        6.63(a)   
                             ------------  ------------  ----------      
   Total interest-earning 
    assets                     10,687,706       194,720        7.28      
                                           ------------
 Noninterest-earning assets       968,906                                
                             ------------
   Total assets              $ 11,656,612                                
                             ============

Liabilities and 
 Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing liabilities:
 Interest-bearing deposits    $ 6,121,596      $ 57,702        3.78 %  
 Noninterest-bearing deposits     817,000             -           -    
 Federal Home Loan Bank                                   
  advances                      1,804,783        26,695        5.85    
 Repurchase agreements and                                   
  other borrowings              1,607,148        16,821        4.14  
 Senior notes                     126,000         2,795        8.87    
                              -----------      --------      ------
  Total interest-bearing                                             
   liabilities                 10,476,527       104,013        3.96       
                                               --------              
 Noninterest-bearing                                                 
  liabilities                      89,471                  
                              -----------
  Total liabilities            10,565,998              

 Capital securities and 
  preferred stock of
  subsidiary corporation          159,577                

 Shareholders' Equity             931,037              
                             ------------
  Total liabilities and 
   shareholders' equity      $ 11,656,612                
                             ============          

 Net interest income                           $ 90,707  
                                               ========

 Interest-rate spread                                          3.32 %               
                                                             ======
 Net interest margin                                           3.39 %               
                                                             ======


                                                 2000                                    
                                                           Fully tax                     
                                 Average                   equivalent                  
                                 balance       Interest    yield/rate                  



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:                $ 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
 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.                      



Webster Financial Corporation

Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30,                    2001                      


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

Assets:
  Interest-earning
   assets:
  Loans                 $  7,001,769      $ 273,336          7.80 %    
  Securities and
   interest-bearing
   deposits                3,564,665        118,231          6.65(a)  
                          ----------        -------         -----
    Total interest-
     earning assets       10,566,434        391,567          7.41      
  Noninterest-                              ------- 
   earning assets            919,713                                   
                          ---------- 
    Total assets        $ 11,486,147                                   
                          ==========
Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
  Interest-bearing
   liabilities:
  Interest-bearing
   deposits             $  6,086,881      $ 117,138          3.88 %    
  Noninterest-bearing
   deposits                  809,433              -             -      
  Federal Home Loan
   Bank advances           1,894,870         57,525          6.04      
  Repurchase agreements
   and other borrowings    1,402,904         32,669          4.63      
  Senior notes               126,000          5,582          8.86      
                           ---------        -------       -------
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities          10,320,088        212,914          4.14      
                                            -------
  Noninterest-bearing
   liabilities                85,500                                   
                          ----------
    Total liabilities     10,405,588                                   

  Capital securities
   and preferred stock of
   subsidiary corporation    162,892                                   
  Shareholders' Equity       917,667                                   
                          ----------
    Total liabilities
     and shareholders'
     equity             $ 11,486,147                                   
                          ==========
  Net interest income                    $  178,653                    
                                            =======
  Interest-rate spread                                       3.27 %    
                                                             ====
  Net interest margin                                        3.37 %    
                                                             ====



Six Months Ended June 30,                    2000
                                                          Fully tax
(Dollars in                   Average                     equivalent
 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
   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.

CONTACT: Webster
Media: Art House, 203/578-2391
ahouse@websterbank.com

Investors: James M. Sitro, 203/578-2399
jsitro@websterbank.com