Webster Declares Quarterly Common Stock Dividend

Oct 20, 2003

WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 2003--Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.21 per common share.

The dividend is payable on November 17, 2003, to shareholders of record on November 3, 2003. This is the 65th consecutive quarterly dividend since Webster first paid a dividend in 1987.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank and Webster Insurance. With $14.6 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, trust and investment services through 110 banking offices, 220 ATMs, a Connecticut-based call center and the Internet. Webster Financial Corporation is majority owner of Chicago-based Duff & Phelps, LLC, a leader in financial advisory services. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm, Whitehall Business Credit Corporation, the insurance premium finance company, Budget Installment Corp., Center Capital Corporation, an equipment finance 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 website at www.websteronline.com.

CONTACT: Webster Financial Corporation Media: Clark Finley, 203-578-2429 cfinley@websterbank.com or Investors: Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318 tmangan@websterbank.com SOURCE: Webster Financial Corporation