Webster Reports 20 Percent Rise in Operating Earnings for 2001 and for the Fourth Quarter

Jan 23, 2002

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WATERBURY, Conn., Jan 23, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WBST), the holding company for Webster Bank, today reported a 20 percent increase in annual operating earnings for 2001. For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2001, operating earnings also increased 20 percent over the same period a year ago.

Operating earnings (defined as net income excluding nonrecurring items) for the year rose to $137.7 million or $2.77 per diluted share, compared to $114.8 million or $2.47 per diluted share for 2000. For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2001, operating earnings increased to $35.4 million or $.71 per diluted share, compared to $29.4 million or $.60 per diluted share in the year-ago period.

Net income for 2001 was $133.2 million or $2.68 per diluted share, compared to $118.3 million or $2.55 per diluted share for the previous year. The 2001 results include, net of taxes, net non-recurring charges of $4.5 million compared to net benefits of $3.5 million, in the previous year.

"Simply put, 2001 was Webster's best year ever as we reported strong earnings and further expanded and strengthened our franchise," said James C. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer. "Webster enhanced its product offerings by completing its acquisition of Center Capital Corporation, a successful leasing company, and acquiring two more insurance agencies, making Webster Insurance the largest Connecticut-based insurance agency. In addition, we announced a branch expansion program as part of our commitment to provide more extensive service to our growing customer base. We strengthened our management team and invested in people and systems with an eye to the future. Webster today is a leading Connecticut-based financial services provider dedicated to building strong customer relationships that increase shareholder value and poised for further growth."

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 in 2001 increased 13 percent compared to the previous year, due primarily to the benefits of a lower interest-rate environment. Revenue from fee-based services increased 30 percent compared to the previous year as a result of growth in Webster's fee-based businesses and expanded product offerings to Webster's growing customer base.

Webster also announced today that it has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.17 per common share. The dividend is payable on February 19, 2002, to shareholders of record on February 5, 2002. This is the 58th consecutive dividend since Webster first paid a dividend in 1987.

Financial Highlights

Net interest income for the year increased by 13.0 percent to $367.5 million from $326.5 million in the previous year. For the fourth quarter of 2001, net interest income increased by 12.0 percent to $95.7 million from $85.4 million in the year-ago period. The increase for the year is aided by a full year's benefit of higher interest-earning assets from Mechanics Savings Bank, which Webster acquired in June 2000. The full year and quarter benefited from a lower interest-rate environment.

Net interest margin (net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) was 3.61 percent in the fourth quarter, compared to 3.32 percent in the year-ago period and 3.54 percent in the third quarter of 2001. For the year the net interest margin was 3.48 percent, up from 3.29% reported a year ago. 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 30 percent for the year to $148.4 million from $113.9 million in 2000. For the fourth quarter of 2001 these revenues increased 17 percent to $36.8 million from $31.5 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 2001 from 26 percent in the previous year.

The allowance for loan losses increased to $97.3 million or 1.40 percent of total loans at December 31, 2001, from $90.8 million or 1.31 percent of total loans a year earlier and $96.6 million or 1.40 percent of total loans in the third quarter. The provision for loan losses for the year increased to $14.4 million from $11.8 million in the previous year, due primarily to the economic slowdown, which precipitated a rise in the level of non-performing assets and increases in net loan charge-offs.

Nonperforming assets amounted to $62.5 million or 0.53 percent of total assets at December 31, 2001, compared to $44.3 million or 0.39 percent a year earlier and $60.2 million or 0.52 percent in the third quarter.

Book value per common share increased 12.6 percent in 2001 to $20.48 at December 31, 2001, from $18.19 at December 31, 2000, due primarily to earnings and increases in the fair value of available-for-sale securities. Shareholders' equity increased to $1 billion at the close of the year, up from $890 million at the end of 2000, representing 8.5% percent of total assets.

Balance Sheet Transformation

"I am pleased to report that we have made significant progress toward our goal of transforming the loan portfolio mix to higher yielding commercial and consumer loans and to transforming the deposit mix to lower-cost core deposits," said William T. Bromage, president and vice chairman.

Commercial and consumer loans increased to 50% of the total loan portfolio mix at December 31, 2001, from 40.0% at the end of the previous period.

Core Deposits (defined as checking, savings and money market accounts) increased to 59% of total deposits at December 31, 2001, from 51% at the end of the previous period.

2001 Strategic Actions

In March, Webster announced the acquisition of Center Capital Corporation, a privately held equipment financing company with assets of $260 million headquartered in Farmington, CT. Center Capital finances commercial and industrial equipment through installment sales and leasing programs to customers in all 50 states.

In April, Webster announced the acquisition of Wolff-Zackin & Associates Inc. and Benefit Plans Design & Administration Inc., both of Vernon, CT. Founded in 1954, Wolff-Zackin & Associates is a multiple-lines insurance business specializing in personal and corporate life products, property and casualty and deferred compensation plans. Webster also acquired its sister company, Benefit Plans Design & Administration Inc., which provides businesses with pension, profit sharing, individual retirement account (IRA) and 401(k) investment plans. The company also provides group life, disability income and medical and dental care plans for businesses. Webster Insurance currently 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.

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 its growing base of consumers and businesses in Connecticut. Expansion will begin in 2002 in Fairfield County where Webster currently has 12 branches. 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 the third quarter, Webster announced plans to repurchase 2.5 million common shares, or approximately 5 percent of Webster's outstanding shares. Webster purchased 295,000 related shares in the second half of 2001.

In December, in conjunction with its role of financial advisor to municipalities, Webster announced the expansion of its Government Finance Group and the formation of a municipal underwriting unit. The Government Finance Group provides financial advisory and deposit services to municipalities and other public entities. The group is one of the largest providers of government banking services in Connecticut and works with more than 100 public entities in the state.

Other 2001 Highlights

In July, 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.

Webster strengthened its management team with two key executives. In April, Webster announced the appointment of William J. Healy as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Healy was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Summit Bancorp headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey. In July, Webster appointed Jo D. Keeler as Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Keeler was previously an Executive Credit Officer for FleetBoston Financial in Boston, Massachusetts.

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 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, Wednesday, January 23, 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: 1436487). 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.

Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 At or for            At or for
                                 the Three            the Twelve
                                Months Ended         Months Ended
                                 December 31,         December 31,
(Dollars in thousands,
 except per share data)        2001      2000      2001        2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income and
 performance ratios before
  nonrecurring items
  (annualized) (a):
--------------------------
Operating income            $ 35,433  $ 29,427    $137,707   $114,828
Operating income per
 common share (diluted)         0.71      0.60        2.77       2.47
Return on average
 shareholders' equity          13.83%    13.97%      14.35%     16.23%
Return on average assets        1.22      1.06        1.19       1.08
Fee income as a percentage
 of total revenue              27.76     26.92       28.76      25.87
Efficiency ratio (b)           49.90     50.33       50.34      51.26
Net income and performance
 ratios after nonrecurring
  items (annualized):
---------------------------
Net income                  $ 36,670  $ 31,790    $133,188   $118,291
Net income per common
 share (diluted)                0.74      0.64        2.68       2.55
Return on average
 shareholders' equity          14.31%    15.09%      13.88%     16.72%
Return on average assets        1.26      1.14        1.15       1.11
Fee income as a percentage
 of total revenue              28.42     25.74       29.19      25.74
Cash income and performance
 ratios before nonrecurring
  items (annualized) (c):
---------------------------
Cash income                 $ 42,270  $ 35,783    $164,730   $133,854
Cash income per common
 share (diluted)                0.85      0.73        3.31       2.88
Cash return on average
 shareholders' equity          16.50%    16.99%      17.17%     18.91%
Cash return on average
 assets                         1.46      1.29        1.43       1.26
Other ratios (annualized):
---------------------------
Shareholders' equity / total
 assets                         8.49%     7.91%       8.49%      7.91%
Interest-rate spread            3.51      3.19        3.38       3.16
Net interest margin             3.61      3.32        3.48       3.29
Asset quality:
---------------------------
Allowance for loan losses   $ 97,307  $ 90,809    $ 97,307   $ 90,809
Nonperforming assets, net     62,454    44,329      62,454     44,329
Net loan charge-offs           3,329     1,308       9,721      4,629
Allowance for loan losses /
 gross loans                    1.40%     1.31%       1.40%      1.31%
Nonperforming assets /
 total assets                   0.53      0.39        0.53       0.39
Allowance for loan losses /
 nonperforming loans          169.48    221.30      169.48     221.30
Share related:
---------------------------
Book value per common share $  20.48  $  18.19    $  20.48   $  18.19
Tangible book value per
 common share                  13.97     11.53       13.97      11.53
Common stock closing price     31.53     28.31       31.53      28.31
Dividend declared per common
 share                          0.17      0.16        0.67       0.62
Common shares issued and
 outstanding              49,149,417 48,939,426 49,149,417 48,939,426
Basic shares (average)    49,060,256 48,780,586 49,085,841 45,910,447
Diluted shares (average)  49,690,515 49,307,867 49,742,914 46,427,507
(a) Excludes the following nonrecurring items for the 2001 periods,
    net of taxes: $1.6 million related to net insurance proceeds (2nd
    & 4th Qtrs), $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). Nonrecurring items for the 2000 periods are $3.5
    million of branch sale gains (4th Qtr), $1.1 million related to
    facilities writedowns and $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)).
Consolidated Statements of Condition  (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                            December 31,   September 30,  December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)          2001            2001         2000(a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets:
Cash and due from depository
 institutions               $   218,908    $   255,620   $   265,035
Interest-bearing deposits        35,937          1,782         1,751
Securities:
 Trading, at fair value             162            147             6
 Available for sale, at fair
  value                       3,999,133      3,743,350     3,143,327
 Held to maturity, (fair
  value:$248,215 at 12/31/00)        -              -       261,747
Loans receivable:
 Residential mortgages        3,530,201      3,755,401     4,146,780
 Commercial and industrial    1,367,578      1,358,904     1,078,028
 Commercial real estate         974,976        952,914       986,403
 Consumer                     1,094,463        833,998       698,807
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
Gross loans receivable        6,967,218      6,901,217     6,910,018
  Allowance for loan losses     (97,307)       (96,654)      (90,809)
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
Loans receivable, net         6,869,911      6,804,563     6,819,209
Accrued interest receivable      54,288         61,808        69,733
Premises and equipment, net      82,808         84,511        94,263
Intangible assets               320,051        326,396       326,142
Cash surrender value of life
 insurance                      163,023        161,690       174,295
Prepaid expenses and other
 assets                         113,161        182,384        94,000
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
  Total assets              $11,857,382    $11,622,251   $11,249,508
                            ===========    ===========   ===========
Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
Deposits:
 Checking and NOW           $ 1,708,623    $ 1,568,905   $ 1,603,671
 Savings and MMDAs            2,430,691      2,309,147     1,956,149
 Certificates of deposit      2,831,344      2,917,210     3,244,412
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
Total retail deposits         6,970,658      6,795,262     6,804,232
 Treasury deposits               95,813        169,741       176,896
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
Total deposits                7,066,471      6,965,003     6,981,128
Borrowed funds                3,533,364      3,268,003     3,030,225
Accrued expenses and other
 liabilities                     91,503        211,839       148,204
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
  Total liabilities          10,691,338     10,444,845    10,159,557
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
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          1,006,467      1,017,829       890,374
                            -----------    -----------   -----------
Total liabilities and
 shareholders' equity       $11,857,382    $11,622,251   $11,249,508
                            ===========    ===========   ===========
(a) Reflects reclassifications between certain loan categories.
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Three                Twelve
                                 Months Ended         Months Ended
                                  December 31,         December 31,
(Dollars in thousands,
 except per share data)        2001      2000(a)    2001      2000(a)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest income:
 Loans                       $118,534  $141,315   $519,920  $518,315
 Securities and
  interest-bearing deposits    59,004    55,407    237,315   220,596
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Total interest income       177,538   196,722    757,235   738,911
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
Interest expense:
 Deposits                      45,570    61,849    216,335   224,294
 Borrowings                    36,260    49,470    173,421   188,101
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Total interest expense       81,830   111,319    389,756   412,395
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Net interest income          95,708    85,403    367,479   326,516
Provision for loan losses       4,000     3,200     14,400    11,800
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Net interest income after
   provision for loan losses   91,708    82,203    353,079   314,716
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
Noninterest income:
 Deposit service fees          14,362    14,055     56,061    49,201
 Loan and loan servicing fees   5,054     3,709     19,033    14,814
 Trust and investment services  4,377     4,618     18,346    18,184
 Financial advisory services    3,286     1,290     15,525     1,290
 Insurance commissions          5,358     3,451     21,751    14,360
 Gain on sale of securities,
  net                           2,012       616     10,621     8,445
 Increase in cash surrender
  value of life insurance       2,238     2,322      9,164     8,555
 Other                          2,094     2,007      8,508     7,536
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Total noninterest income     38,781    32,068    159,009   122,385
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
Noninterest expenses:
 Compensation and benefits     35,393    31,506    142,899   122,257
 Occupancy                      6,180     5,423     25,643    23,074
 Furniture and equipment        6,975     7,472     27,878    26,302
 Intangible amortization        7,889     7,335     31,227    22,400
 Marketing                      2,300     2,541      8,728     9,118
 Professional services          2,470     2,228      8,516     7,399
 Capital securities             3,615     3,615     14,462    14,323
 Other                         12,320    10,556     45,876    40,557
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Total noninterest expenses   77,142    70,676    305,229   265,430
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
Income before income taxes
 and nonrecurring items        53,347    43,595    206,859   171,671
Income taxes                   17,914    14,168     69,152    56,843
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Income before nonrecurring
   items                       35,433    29,427    137,707   114,828
Nonrecurring items, net of
 taxes (b)                      1,237     2,363     (4,519)    3,463
                             --------  --------   --------  --------
  Net income                 $ 36,670  $ 31,790   $133,188  $118,291
                             ========  ========   ========  ========
Net income per common share
 before nonrecurring items:
  Basic                         $0.72     $0.60      $2.81     $2.50
  Diluted                       $0.71     $0.60      $2.77     $2.47
Net income per common share:
  Basic                         $0.75     $0.65      $2.71     $2.58
  Diluted                       $0.74     $0.64      $2.68     $2.55
(a) Reflects reclassifications between certain categories
(b) See footnotes to Selected Financial Highlights.
Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended      December   September   June   March  December
                          2001        2001     2001    2001    2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest-rate spread
--------------------
Total interest-earning
 assets (a)              6.64%       7.06%    7.28%   7.55%    7.62%
Total interest-bearing
 liabilities             3.13        3.63     3.96    4.32     4.43
                         -----       -----    -----   -----    -----
  Interest-rate spread   3.51%       3.43%    3.32%   3.23%    3.19%
  Net interest margin    3.61        3.54     3.39    3.35     3.32
Retail interest-rate
 spread
--------------------
Yield on loans           6.78%       7.33%    7.61%   7.99%    8.12%
Cost of deposits         2.59        3.06     3.34    3.52     3.52
                         -----       -----    -----   -----    -----
  Spread                 4.19%       4.27%    4.27%   4.47%    4.60%
                         =====       =====    =====   =====    =====
Wholesale interest-rate
 spread
-----------------------
Yield on securities (a)  6.38%       6.57%    6.63%   6.67%    6.58%
Cost of borrowings       4.24        4.79     5.18    5.98     6.53
                         -----       -----    -----   -----    -----
  Spread                 2.14%       1.78%    1.45%   0.69%    0.05%
                         =====       =====    =====   =====    =====
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended December 31,             2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Fully tax
                              Average                   equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)        balance     Interest      yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
  Loans                    $ 6,942,991    $ 118,535         6.78%
  Securities and interest
   -bearing deposits         3,795,970       59,309         6.38(a)
                           -----------    ---------         -----
    Total interest-earning
     assets                 10,738,961      177,844         6.64
                                          ---------
  Noninterest-earning
   assets                      866,974
                           -----------
    Total assets           $11,605,935
                           ===========
Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
  Interest-bearing
   liabilities:
  Interest-bearing
   deposits                $ 6,136,462    $  45,570         2.95%
  Noninterest-bearing
   deposits                    836,316         -              -
  Federal Home Loan Bank
   advances                  2,319,287       28,450         4.80
  Repurchase agreements
   and other borrowings        905,497        5,020         2.17
  Senior notes                 126,000        2,790         8.86
                           -----------    ---------         -----
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities            10,323,562       81,830         3.13
                                          ---------
  Noninterest-bearing
   liabilities                  97,901
                           -----------
    Total liabilities       10,421,463
Capital securities and
 preferred stock of
  subsidiary corporation       159,577
Shareholders' equity         1,024,895
                           -----------
  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity    $11,605,935
                           ===========
Less tax equivalent adjustment                 (306)
                                           --------
Net interest income                        $ 95,708
                                           ========
Interest-rate spread                                        3.51%
                                                            =====
Net interest margin                                         3.61%
                                                            =====
Three Months Ended December 31,               2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Fully tax
                               Average                   equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)         balance      Interest     yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
  Loans                     $ 6,945,093    $ 141,315        8.12%
  Securities and interest-
   bearing deposits           3,313,372       55,407        6.58(a)
                            -----------    ---------        -----
    Total interest-earning
     assets                  10,258,465      196,722        7.62
                                           ---------
  Noninterest-earning assets    874,980
                            -----------
    Total assets            $11,133,445
                            ===========
Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
  Interest-bearing
   liabilities:
  Interest-bearing
   deposits                 $ 6,146,087    $  61,849        4.00%
  Noninterest-bearing
   deposits                     845,196          -            -
  Federal Home Loan Bank
   advances                   2,230,705       36,974        6.59
  Repurchase agreements and
   other borrowings             739,628       11,506        6.19
  Senior notes                   45,196          990        8.76
                            -----------    ---------        -----
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities             10,006,812      111,319        4.43
                                           ---------
  Noninterest-bearing
   liabilities                   84,524
                            -----------
    Total liabilities        10,091,336
  Capital securities and
   preferred stock of
    subsidiary corporation      199,577
  Shareholders' equity          842,532
                            -----------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity   $11,133,445
                            ===========
  Less tax equivalent adjustment                -
                                            --------
  Net interest income                       $ 85,403
                                            ========
  Interest-rate spread                                      3.19%
                                                            =====
  Net interest margin                                       3.32%
                                                            =====
(a) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains (losses) are
    excluded from the average rate calculations.
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Twelve Months Ended December 31,             2001
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Fully tax
                                 Average                    equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)           balance        Interest    yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                          $ 6,969,481   $  519,930     7.43%
 Securities and interest-
  bearing deposits                3,667,917      238,423     6.56(a)
                                -----------   ----------     -----
   Total interest-earning assets 10,637,398      758,353     7.13
                                              ----------
 Noninterest-earning assets         896,052
                                -----------
  Total assets                  $11,533,450
                                ===========
Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:
 Interest-bearing liabilities:
 Interest-bearing deposits      $ 6,115,884   $  216,335     3.54%
 Noninterest-bearing deposits       813,658          -         -
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances  2,011,440      112,784     5.53
 Repurchase agreements and other
  borrowings                      1,258,247       49,475     3.93
 Senior notes                       126,000       11,162     8.86
                                -----------   ----------    -----
  Total interest-bearing
   liabilities                   10,325,229      389,756     3.75
                                              ----------
 Noninterest-bearing liabilities     87,530
                                -----------
  Total liabilities              10,412,759
 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of subsidiary
   corporation                      161,221
 Shareholders' equity               959,470
                                -----------
  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity         $11,533,450
                                ===========
 Less tax equivalent adjustment                   (1,118)
                                              ----------
 Net interest income                          $  367,479
                                              ==========
 Interest-rate spread                                        3.38%
                                                             =====
 Net interest margin                                         3.48%
                                                             =====
Twelve Months Ended December 31,             2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Fully tax
                                 Average                    equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)           balance        Interest    yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                          $ 6,541,659   $  518,315     7.92%
 Securities and interest-
  bearing deposits                3,298,959      220,596     6.49(a)
                                -----------   ----------     -----
   Total interest-earning assets  9,840,618      738,911     7.43
                                              ----------
 Noninterest-earning assets         799,597
                                -----------
  Total assets                  $10,640,215
                                ===========
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing liabilities:
 Interest-bearing deposits      $ 5,879,940   $  224,294     3.81%
 Noninterest-bearing deposits       759,650         -          -
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances  2,047,743      128,447     6.27
 Repurchase agreements and other
  borrowings                        935,629       56,744     6.06
 Senior notes                        31,142        2,910     9.34
                                -----------   ----------     -----
  Total interest-bearing
   liabilities                    9,654,104      412,395     4.27
                                              ----------
 Noninterest-bearing liabilities     78,870
                                -----------
  Total liabilities               9,732,974
 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of subsidiary
   corporation                      199,577
 Shareholders' equity               707,664
                                -----------
  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity         $10,640,215
                                ===========
 Less tax equivalent adjustment                     -
                                              ----------
 Net interest income                          $  326,516
                                              ==========
 Interest-rate spread                                        3.16%
                                                             =====
 Net interest margin                                         3.29%
                                                             =====
(a) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains (losses) are
    excluded from the average rate calculations.
Note: Pie charts are available at URLs: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.012302/bb1 http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.012302/bb1a http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.012302/bb1b http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.012302/bb1c

CONTACT: Webster Financial Corporation, Media: Art House, 203/578-2391, ahouse@websterbank.com, Clark Finley, 203/578-2507, cfinley@websterbank.com, Investors: James M. Sitro, 203/578-2399, jsitro@websterbank.com