Webster Bank Opens Danbury Branch, Continuing Expansion Efforts Into Fairfield County

Sep 30, 2002
WATERBURY, Conn., Sep 30, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Sept. 30, 2002--Webster Bank (NASDAQ:WBST) today celebrated the opening of a new branch at 105 Mill Plain Road in Danbury.

The opening marks the Waterbury-based bank's second branch in Danbury and the fourth branch opening in its aggressive expansion into Fairfield County. Webster plans to establish at least 20 new branches and 35 ATM locations in the region over the next three years.

"Webster is firmly committed to our Fairfield County de novo branch expansion," stated Webster's senior executive vice president, retail banking, Peter Mulligan. "We are encouraged by our development in the Stamford and Darien communities, and we look forward to building more strong personal and business relationships in Danbury."

Webster initiated its expansion plan in February of this year with a new branch on Summer Street in Stamford, followed by branch openings at Atlantic Street in downtown Stamford and a Boston Post Road branch in Darien.

In June, Webster announced that its Summer Street branch in Stamford had achieved its annual deposit goal after its first three months of operation. The Stamford branch opened in February of this year and experienced a growth rate in deposits four times greater than initial projections.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank and Webster Insurance. With $12 billion in assets, Connecticut-based Webster Bank provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, trust and investment services through more than 100 banking offices, 210 ATMs and the Internet. Webster Financial Corporation is majority owner of Chicago-based Duff & Phelps, LLC, a leader in investment banking and financial advisory services, and Webster Bank owns Center Capital Corporation, an equipment leasing and financing company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut and Webster Trust Company, N.A.

For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest Annual Report, visit the Webster Bank web site at www.websteronline.com.

CONTACT:
Webster
Clark Finley, 203/578-2429
cfinley@websterbank.com