Webster Reports Six Percent Increase in Per Share Net Income for the Third Quarter

Oct 15, 2003

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WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2003--Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE:WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, today announced that net income per diluted share was $.89 for the third quarter of 2003, compared to $.84 in the year-ago period, an increase of six percent. Net income for the quarter totaled $41.3 million, compared to $40.4 million in the year-ago period.

For the first nine months of 2003, net income was $2.63 per diluted share, compared to $2.31 in the year-ago period. Net income was $121.9 million, compared to $113.3 million in the year-ago period. Excluding the cumulative effect of a change in accounting method in the 2002 first quarter, net income for the first nine months of 2002 was $120.6 million or $2.46 per diluted share.

"In a quarter marked by historic milestones for Webster, we are pleased to report significant progress advanced on Webster's strategic plan, including double-digit growth in core loans and deposits, improved asset quality and a breakout acquisition opportunity," stated Webster chairman and chief executive officer, James C. Smith. "Webster is fast fulfilling its promise as a leading regional financial services provider."

In a major step toward regional expansion, Webster announced last week a definitive agreement to acquire FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC., headquartered in Swansea, Massachusetts, the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of America. "This partnership creates new opportunities for growth across southern New England, as we expand our footprint from lower Fairfield County through Connecticut and Rhode Island to southeastern Massachusetts," stated Smith.

After 68 years as a thrift institution, Webster applied in September to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national commercial bank charter.

Revenues and Expenses

Net interest income was $98.2 million in the third quarter of 2003, compared to $102.6 million in the year-ago period and $100.6 million in the second quarter. The decline resulted from continued lower interest rates during the quarter and the acceleration of prepayments on fixed rate loans and investments, with reinvestments into lower yielding assets. Also impacting the quarter was the implementation on July 1, 2003 of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity," which required the reclassification of $2.8 million of capital trust securities expense from noninterest expense to interest expense. Excluding the effect of SFAS No. 150, net interest income would have grown slightly, compared to the second quarter, as a result of the growth in the loan portfolio.

Webster's net interest margin (annualized net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) for the quarter was 2.91 percent, compared to 3.52 percent in the year-ago period and 3.10 percent in the second quarter. The implementation of SFAS No. 150 accounted for eight basis points of the decline in the net interest margin during the quarter. Webster's margin is positioned to benefit from an improving economy and the higher interest rates that likely would result.

In the third quarter of 2003, total noninterest income, including securities gains, increased by 40 percent to $64.5 million, up from $46.1 million in the year-ago period. Securities gains totaled $4.6 million in the third quarter, compared to $4.9 million in the year-ago period. Excluding securities gains, total fee revenue grew by 46 percent to $60.0 million from $41.2 million in the year-ago period. Deposit service fees were up 13 percent year over year, due primarily to growth in accounts. Insurance revenues were up 56 percent due primarily to the Mathog & Moniello acquisition in the first quarter of 2003. Loan and loan servicing fees increased 78 percent to $7.8 million, due primarily to higher prepayment penalties, line usage fees and the year-ago writedown of mortgage servicing rights. Net gains on sales of loans and loan servicing totaled $9.8 million, compared to $1.8 million a year ago, with $5.6 million of the gains due to continued strength in mortgage origination volumes owing to record low interest rates. The remaining balance of $4.2 million were gains from the sale of telecommunications loans, which in December 2002 were charged down to their realizable value and transferred to loans held for sale.

Total noninterest expenses for the 2003 third quarter were $90.9 million, up from $84.1 million one year ago and a decrease from $93.2 million in the second quarter of 2003. Excluding the implementation of SFAS No. 150 and reclassification of $2.8 million of capital trust securities expense to interest expense, Webster's total noninterest expenses would have been $93.7 million in the third quarter, relatively unchanged from the second quarter. Webster expects that core expenses will remain flat in the 2003 fourth quarter.

Balance Sheet Growth

At September 30, 2003, total assets were $14.6 billion, up 10 percent from $13.3 billion one year ago. Total loans of $9.1 billion at September 30, 2003 increased 14 percent from $8.0 billion from a year ago. Deposits totaled $8.1 billion at September 30, 2003 and grew by approximately $800 million, or 11 percent, compared to a year ago.

"Webster's strategic plan has continued to drive loan and deposit growth over the past year," stated Webster president and chief operating officer, William T. Bromage. "In this challenging economic climate, we have delivered on our promise to increase loans and deposits faster than the market while maintaining our disciplined approach to credit quality."

At the end of the third quarter, commercial loans, including commercial real estate, were $3.2 billion, up 11 percent from $2.9 billion a year ago. Consumer loans increased 36 percent to $2.1 billion, compared to $1.6 billion one year ago, with growth over the past year led by Webster's home equity product offering. Commercial and consumer loans comprised 59 percent of total loans at September 30, 2003, compared to 56 percent a year ago.

Webster's mortgage banking business generated $1.3 billion in mortgage originations in the third quarter, compared to $0.8 billion a year ago. For the first nine months of 2003, mortgage originations totaled $3.4 billion, an increase of 97 percent over the same period in 2002. Webster now has regional mortgage offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and Seattle, in addition to its mortgage headquarters in Cheshire, CT.

Total deposits were $8.1 billion at September 30, 2003, an increase of 11 percent from $7.4 billion a year ago. Core deposits at September 30, 2003 represented 67 percent of total deposits, up from 63 percent a year ago. Webster's growth in deposits was driven in part by its High Performance Checking product initiated in August 2002 and the continuing success of its de novo branches in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Book value per common share of $24.22 at September 30, 2003 increased from $22.43 one year ago. Tangible book value per share of $17.73 at September 30, 2003 increased from $16.52 one year ago.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $46.1 million or 0.32 percent of total assets at September 30, 2003, compared to $72.2 million or 0.54 percent a year ago and $57.0 million or 0.39 percent at June 30, 2003. Classified loans decreased 35 percent to $109.4 million at September 30, 2003 from $168.3 million one year ago and decreased 3 percent from $113.0 million at June 30, 2003. Classified loans were 1.2 percent of total loans at the end of the third quarter, compared to 2.1 percent one year ago and 1.3 percent at June 30, 2003.

"Webster follows a disciplined approach to portfolio management," stated Webster chief financial officer, William J. Healy. "Our ability to identify and manage problem loans at an early stage has contributed significantly to the improvement in our asset quality."

The allowance for loan losses totaled $117.7 million, or 1.29 percent of total loans at September 30, 2003, compared to $116.1 million, or 1.45 percent, a year ago and $119.2 million, or 1.37 percent, at June 30, 2003. The ratio of the allowance to nonperforming loans at September 30, 2003 increased to 284 percent, compared to 170 percent a year ago and 228 percent at June 30, 2003. The increase is due primarily to a 39 percent decline in nonperforming loans from a year ago.

Webster's net loan charge-offs in the third quarter of 2003 were $11.5 million, compared to $4.9 million in the year-ago period. The annualized net charge-off ratio was 52 basis points in the 2003 third quarter, compared to 26 basis points in the year-ago period. The increase in net charge-offs is entirely attributable to a single commercial nonperforming loan.

The provision for loan losses totaled $10.0 million in the third quarter, compared to $5.0 million in both the year-ago period and the second quarter of 2003. The $5.0 million increase over each period is due primarily to the higher level of net charge-offs in the third quarter. For the first nine months of 2003, the provision for loan losses totaled $20.0 million while net loan charge-offs were $19.2 million.

Strategic Actions

Webster announced in July that its Board of Directors declared a regular cash dividend of $.21 per common share, the 64th consecutive dividend since Webster first paid a dividend in 1987, and authorized the repurchase of up to approximately 2.3 million shares. The 2.3 million shares authorized for stock repurchase represented 5 percent of the company's 45.6 million shares of outstanding stock.

Webster Insurance also announced in July the acquisition of LJF Insurance Services, Inc., a full-service insurance agency with offices in Southport and Norwalk, Connecticut.

In September, Webster Bank filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to convert to a national bank charter. Webster Bank currently is a federal savings bank regulated by the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). As part of its conversion, Webster also is filing an application with the Federal Reserve System to become a financial holding company. Webster expects to complete the conversion in late 2003 or early 2004.

Webster announced in September that it had completed a $75 million capital trust preferred stock offering. The securities bear an interest rate of three-month LIBOR plus 2.95 percent, and will mature on September 17, 2033. The securities constitute new funding and further strengthen Webster's existing capital.

On October 7, Webster announced a definitive agreement to acquire FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC. (AMEX:FAB), headquartered in Swansea, Massachusetts and the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of America. The agreement is a combination stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $465 million, or $24.50 per common share of FIRSTFED stock, payable 60 percent in Webster stock and 40 percent in cash. FIRSTFED reported $2.7 billion in assets and 26 branches at June 30, 2003. The combined bank would rank as the 46th largest in the United States, with $16 billion in assets, market capitalization of $2.2 billion and a 141-branch retail footprint in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Also in October, Webster opened a new branch in Norwalk, Connecticut, marking the fifth branch opening in its de novo branch expansion plan into Fairfield County since February 2002.

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.

Conference Call

A conference call covering today's announcement will be held today, Wednesday, October 15, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and may be heard through Webster's investor relations website at www.wbst.com, or in listen-only mode by calling 1-800-901-5217 (Access Code: 62139638). 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 that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statement, see "Forward-Looking Statements" in Webster's Annual Report for 2002.

Webster Financial Corporation

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                         At or for the Three    At or for the Nine
                            Months Ended           Months Ended
(In thousands, except       September 30,          September 30,
 per share data)           2003       2002        2003       2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Net income and performance
 ratios (annualized):
-----------------------

Net income             $  41,315  $  40,424     $ 121,862  $ 113,331
Net income per diluted
 common share               0.89       0.84          2.63       2.31
Return on average
 shareholders' equity      15.54 %    15.30 %       15.25 %    14.56 %
Return on average
 assets                     1.13       1.28          1.15       1.23

Net income and performance
 ratios before cumulative
  effect of change in
   accounting method
    (annualized):
-----------------------

Net income             $  41,315  $  40,424     $ 121,862  $ 113,331
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
  method (a)                   -          -             -      7,280
                       ---------  ---------     ---------  ---------
Net income before
 cumulative effect of
  change in accounting
   method                 41,315     40,424       121,862    120,611

Net income per diluted
 common share               0.89       0.84          2.63       2.46
Return on average
 shareholders' equity      15.54 %    15.30 %       15.25 %    15.50 %
Return on average
 assets                     1.13       1.28          1.15       1.31
Noninterest income as a
 percentage of total
  revenue                  39.66      31.01         36.70      29.66
Efficiency ratio (b)       55.90      56.58         57.77      55.77

Cash income and
 performance ratios
 (annualized) (c):
-----------------------

Net income             $  41,315  $  40,424     $ 121,862  $ 113,331
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
 method (b)                    -          -             -      7,280
Tax-effected intangible
 amortization              2,601      2,586         7,755      7,813
                       ---------  ---------     ---------  ---------
Cash income               43,916     43,010       129,617    128,424

Cash income per diluted
 common share               0.95       0.89          2.80       2.62
Cash return on average
 shareholders' equity      16.52 %    16.28 %       16.22 %    16.50 %
Cash return on average
 assets                     1.21       1.36          1.22       1.40

Asset Quality:
-----------------------

Allowance for loan
 losses                $ 117,707  $ 116,118     $ 117,707  $ 116,118
Nonperforming assets      46,063     72,202        46,063     72,202
Allowance for loan
 losses / total loans       1.29 %     1.45 %        1.29 %     1.45 %
Net charge-offs/
 average loans
  (annualized)              0.52       0.26          0.30       0.19
Nonperforming loans /
 total loans                0.46       0.86          0.46       0.86
Nonperforming assets /
 total assets               0.32       0.54          0.32       0.54
Allowance for loan
 losses / nonperforming
  loans                   283.61     169.52        283.61     169.52

Other ratios (annualized):
-----------------------

Shareholders' equity /
 total assets               7.55 %     7.84 %        7.55 %     7.84 %
Interest-rate spread        2.88       3.45          3.07       3.46
Net interest margin         2.91       3.52          3.10       3.55

Share related:
-----------------------

Book value per common
 share                 $   24.22  $   22.43     $   24.22  $   22.43
Tangible book value per
 common share              17.73      16.52         17.73      16.52
Common stock closing
 price                     39.88      33.58         39.88      33.58
Dividends declared per
 common share               0.21       0.19          0.61       0.55

Common shares issued
 and outstanding          45,562     46,415        45,562     46,415
Basic shares (average)    45,444     47,303        45,450     48,240
Diluted shares (average)  46,313     48,121        46,249     49,091

Footnotes:

(a) Cumulative effect of change in accounting method for 2002 is a
SFAS No. 142 transitional goodwill impairment charge of $11.2 million,
net of taxes, $7.3 million.
(b) Noninterest expense as a percentage of net interest income
plus noninterest income.
(c) Net income excluding tax-effected intangible amortization and
cumulative effect of change in accounting method.
(d) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains (losses)
are excluded from the average balance for rate calculations.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                              September 30,  June 30,   September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)            2003         2003         2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:

Cash and due from depository
 institutions                 $    214,566 $    254,645 $    212,606
Short-term investments              26,196       20,671       30,542

Securities:
 Trading, at fair value                 56        3,893        1,104
 Available for sale, at fair
  value                          4,284,134    4,395,400    4,106,734
                              ------------ ------------ ------------
  Total securities               4,284,190    4,399,293    4,107,838

Loans held for sale                278,402      321,055      315,585

Loans:
 Residential mortgages           3,758,106    3,541,922    3,538,632
 Commercial                      2,018,279    2,010,109    1,884,215
 Commercial real estate          1,187,065    1,144,429    1,005,296
 Consumer                        2,131,878    2,013,486    1,562,849
                              ------------ ------------ ------------
  Total loans                    9,095,328    8,709,946    7,990,992
Allowance for loan losses         (117,707)    (119,239)    (116,118)
                              ------------ ------------ ------------
  Loans, net                     8,977,621    8,590,707    7,874,874

Accrued interest receivable         53,091       54,034       58,480
Premises and equipment, net         85,521       85,062       82,667
Goodwill and intangible assets     315,556      316,989      297,054
Cash surrender value of life
 insurance                         178,474      176,324      169,803
Prepaid expenses and other
 assets                            195,166      233,792      124,124
                              ------------ ------------ ------------

  Total assets                $ 14,608,783 $ 14,452,572 $ 13,273,573
                              ============ ============ ============

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

Deposits:
 Demand deposits              $  1,017,870 $  1,035,389 $    911,283
 NOW accounts                    1,010,071    1,064,336      863,625
 Money market accounts           2,301,148    2,249,805    1,871,007
 Savings accounts                1,113,085    1,115,976      987,470
 Certificates of deposit         2,590,513    2,555,442    2,637,066
                              ------------ ------------ ------------
  Total retail deposits          8,032,687    8,020,948    7,270,451
 Treasury deposits                 100,884       64,754       82,972
                              ------------ ------------ ------------
  Total deposits                 8,133,571    8,085,702    7,353,423

Federal Home Loan Bank advances  2,149,762    2,185,830    2,362,298
Federal funds purchased and
 securities sold under
  agreements to repurchase       2,531,875    2,480,666    2,165,665
Other long-term debt               511,255      326,000      126,000
Accrued expenses and other
 liabilities                       169,301      155,233       82,679
                              ------------ ------------ ------------
  Total liabilities             13,495,764   13,233,431   12,090,065

Corporation-obligated
 mandatorily redeemable
  capital securities of
   subsidiary trusts                     -      110,255      132,650

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

Shareholders' equity             1,103,442    1,099,309    1,041,281
                              ------------ ------------ ------------

  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity       $ 14,608,783 $ 14,452,572 $ 13,273,573
                              ============ ============ ============


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of  Income (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------


                         Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
(In thousands, except      September 30,           September 30,
 per share data)          2003       2002         2003       2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest income:
Loans and loans held
 for sale              $ 119,646  $ 118,492    $ 356,313   $ 344,014
Securities and short-
 term investments         42,050     55,507      139,567     174,445
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
  Total interest income  161,696    173,999      495,880     518,459
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Interest expense:
Deposits                  26,824     36,169       84,992     112,787
Borrowings                36,717     35,240      107,438     104,034
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
  Total interest expense  63,541     71,409      192,430     216,821
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

  Net interest income     98,155    102,590      303,450     301,638
Provision for loan
 losses                   10,000      5,000       20,000      13,000
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
  Net interest income
   after provision for
    loan losses           88,155     97,590      283,450     288,638
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Noninterest income:
Deposit service fees      17,868     15,797       52,287      44,527
Insurance revenue          9,954      6,386       30,898      20,198
Loan and loan servicing
 fees                      7,755      4,346       18,383      12,442
Financial advisory
 services                  4,833      5,997       15,493      14,313
Wealth and investment
 advisors                  4,826      3,770       13,925      12,225
Gain on sale of loans
 and loan servicing, net   9,829      1,839       16,666       3,471
Increase in cash
 surrender value of life
  insurance                2,150      2,310        6,408       6,779
Other                      2,737        750        6,021       3,807
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
  Total fee revenue       59,952     41,195      160,081     117,762
Gain on sale of
 securities, net           4,560      4,912       15,859       9,443
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
  Total noninterest
   income                 64,512     46,107      175,940     127,205
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and
 benefits                 51,592     43,303      152,659     124,699
Occupancy                  7,457      6,665       23,228      19,162
Furniture and equipment    8,255      7,559       23,351      20,939
Intangible amortization    4,001      3,978       11,931      12,020
Marketing                  2,729      2,622        9,450       7,484
Professional services      2,582      2,754        8,054       7,901
Capital securities and
 preferred stock
  dividend                   216      3,449        6,312      11,034
Other                     14,091     13,799       41,943      35,932
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
  Total noninterest
   expenses               90,923     84,129      276,928     239,171
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------

Income before income
 taxes and cumulative
  effect of change in
   accounting method      61,744     59,568      182,462     176,672
Income taxes              20,429     19,144       60,600      56,061
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
 Income before
  cumulative effect of
   change in accounting
    method                41,315     40,424      121,862     120,611
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
  method, net of
   taxes (a)                   -          -            -      (7,280)
                       ---------  ---------    ---------   ---------
  Net income           $  41,315  $  40,424    $ 121,862   $ 113,331
                       =========  =========    =========   =========

Net income per common
 share before cumulative
  effect of change in
   accounting method:
  Basic                $    0.91  $    0.85    $    2.68   $    2.50
  Diluted                   0.89       0.84         2.63        2.46

Net income per common
 share:
  Basic                $    0.91  $    0.85    $    2.68   $    2.35
  Diluted                   0.89       0.84         2.63        2.31


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      Three Months Ended

(In thousands,
 except per        Sept. 30,  June 30,  March 31,  Dec. 31, Sept. 30,
 share data)          2003      2003      2003      2002      2002
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest income:
Loans and loans held
 for sale           $ 119,646 $ 118,965 $ 117,702 $ 120,386 $ 118,492
Securities and
 short-term
  investments          42,050    45,772    51,745    53,189    55,507
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total interest
   income             161,696   164,737   169,447   173,575   173,999
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Interest expense:
Deposits               26,824    28,750    29,418    33,375    36,169
Borrowings             36,717    35,368    35,353    36,110    35,240
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total interest
   expense             63,541    64,118    64,771    69,485    71,409
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

  Net interest income  98,155   100,619   104,676   104,090   102,590
Provision for loan
 losses                10,000     5,000     5,000    16,000     5,000
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Net interest income
   after provision
    for loan losses    88,155    95,619    99,676    88,090    97,590
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Noninterest income:
Deposit service fees   17,868    17,529    16,890    17,083    15,797
Insurance revenue       9,954     9,980    10,964     6,875     6,386
Loan and loan
 servicing fees         7,755     4,723     5,905     6,089     4,346
Financial advisory
 services               4,833     5,229     5,431     4,964     5,997
Wealth and investment
 advisors               4,826     4,521     4,578     3,693     3,770
Gain on sale of
 loans and loan
  servicing, net        9,829     4,066     2,771     2,337     1,839
Increase in cash
 surrender value of
  life insurance        2,150     2,143     2,115     2,263     2,310
Other                   2,737     1,423     1,861     1,129       750
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total fee revenue    59,952    49,614    50,515    44,433    41,195
Gain on sale of
 securities, net        4,560     8,666     2,633    13,934     4,912
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total noninterest
   income              64,512    58,280    53,148    58,367    46,107

Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and
 benefits              51,592    50,506    50,561    46,343    43,303
Occupancy               7,457     7,672     8,099     7,444     6,665
Furniture and
 equipment              8,255     7,575     7,521     8,228     7,559
Intangible
 amortization           4,001     3,968     3,962     3,997     3,978
Marketing               2,729     3,236     3,485     3,038     2,622
Professional services   2,582     2,994     2,478     3,503     2,754
Capital securities
 and preferred stock
  dividend                216     2,958     3,138     3,355     3,449
Other                  14,091    14,290    13,562    13,244    13,799
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total noninterest
   expenses            90,923    93,199    92,806    89,152    84,129
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Income before income
 taxes and cumulative
  effect of change in
   accounting method   61,744    60,700    60,018    57,305    59,568
Income taxes           20,429    20,090    20,081    17,904    19,144
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Income before
   cumulative effect
    of change in
     accounting method 41,315    40,610    39,937    39,401    40,424
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
  method, net of
   taxes (a)                -         -         -         -         -
                    --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Net income        $  41,315 $  40,610 $  39,937 $  39,401 $  40,424
                    ========= ========= ========= ========= =========

Net income per common
 share before
  cumulative effect
   of change in
    accounting method:
  Basic             $    0.91 $    0.89 $    0.88 $    0.86 $    0.85
  Diluted                0.89      0.88      0.86      0.85      0.84

Net income per
 common share:
  Basic             $    0.91 $    0.89 $    0.88 $    0.86 $    0.85
  Diluted                0.89      0.88      0.86      0.85      0.84


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads  (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Three Months Ended,   September     June    March  December  September
                           2003     2003     2003      2002     2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest-rate spread
--------------------
Total interest-earning
 assets                    4.75 %   5.06 %    5.35 %   5.61 %   5.93 %
Total interest-bearing
 liabilities               1.87     2.00      2.09     2.26     2.48
                           ----     ----      ----     ----     ----
  Interest-rate spread     2.88 %   3.06 %    3.26 %   3.35 %   3.45 %
  Net interest margin      2.91     3.10      3.30     3.39     3.52

Retail interest-rate spread
---------------------------
Yield on loans and loans
 held for sale             5.09 %   5.30 %    5.52 %   5.71 %   6.01 %
Cost of deposits           1.32     1.46      1.57     1.77     1.96
                           ----     ----      ----     ----     ----
  Spread                   3.77 %   3.84 %    3.95 %   3.94 %   4.05 %
                           ====     ====      ====     ====     ====

Wholesale interest-rate
 spread
-----------------------
Yield on securities and
 short-term investments    4.04 %   4.52 %    5.02 %   5.40 %   5.77 %
Cost of borrowings         2.70     2.88      2.90     3.07     3.40
                           ----     ----      ----     ----     ----
  Spread                   1.34 %   1.64 %    2.12 %   2.33 %   2.37 %
                           ====     ====      ====     ====     ====


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Three Months Ended September 30,               2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Fully tax-
                                Average                   equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)          balance     Interest       yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                       $  8,953,970  $  114,792         5.09 %
 Loans held for sale              385,059       4,854         5.04
 Securities                     4,201,679      42,408         4.04 (d)
 Short-term investments            18,593          56         1.18
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
  Total interest-earning
   assets                      13,559,301     162,110         4.75
                                           ----------
 Noninterest-earning assets     1,017,648
                             ------------
  Total assets               $ 14,576,949
                             ============

Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits             $  1,042,556  $        -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposits               4,393,262       9,851         0.89
 Time deposits                  2,642,488      16,973         2.55
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
  Total interest-bearing
   deposits                     8,078,306      26,824         1.32
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                      2,319,927      22,127         3.73
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                    2,576,065       7,486         1.14
 Other long-term debt             447,643       7,104         6.35
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
  Total borrowings              5,343,635      36,717         2.70
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
  Total interest-bearing
   liabilities                 13,421,941      63,541         1.87
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                      81,836
                             ------------
  Total liabilities            13,503,777

 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of
   subsidiary corporation           9,577

 Shareholders' equity           1,063,595
                             ------------
  Total liabilities and
   shareholders' equity      $ 14,576,949
                             ============
                                               98,569
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                     (414)
                                           ----------

 Net interest income                       $   98,155
                                           ==========

 Interest-rate spread                                         2.88 %
                                                        ==========
 Net interest margin                                          2.91 %
                                                        ==========


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition  (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Three Months Ended September 30,               2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Fully tax-
                               Average                    equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)         balance      Interest       yield/rate

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                       $  7,636,246  $  115,846         6.01 %
 Loans held for sale              190,867       2,646         5.55
 Securities                     3,946,460      55,758         5.79 (d)
 Short-term investments            14,712          49         1.30
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-earning
    assets                     11,788,285     174,299         5.93
                                           ----------
 Noninterest-earning assets       857,424
                             ------------
   Total assets              $ 12,645,709
                             ============

Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits             $    923,065  $        -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposits               3,617,743      13,190         1.45
 Time deposits                  2,769,955      22,979         3.29
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-bearing
    deposits                    7,310,763      36,169         1.96
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                      2,312,409      25,348         4.29
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                    1,619,238       7,102         1.72
 Other long-term debt             126,000       2,790         8.86
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total borrowings             4,057,647      35,240         3.40
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-bearing
    liabilities                11,368,410      71,409         2.48
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                      76,724
                             ------------
   Total liabilities           11,445,134

 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of
   subsidiary corporation         144,041

 Shareholders' equity           1,056,534
                             ------------
   Total liabilities and
    shareholders' equity     $ 12,645,709
                             ============
                                              102,890
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                     (300)
                                           ----------

 Net interest income                       $  102,590
                                           ==========

 Interest-rate spread                                         3.45 %
                                                        ==========
 Net interest margin                                          3.52 %
                                                        ==========


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months Ended September 30,               2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Fully tax-
                               Average                    equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)         balance      Interest       yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                       $  8,608,235  $  342,793         5.29 %
 Loans held for sale              342,533      13,520         5.26
 Securities                     4,185,538     140,521         4.54 (d)
 Short-term investments            23,161         174         0.99
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-earning
    assets                     13,159,467     497,008         5.05
                                           ----------
 Noninterest-earning assets       967,783
                             ------------
   Total assets              $ 14,127,250
                             ============

Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits             $    994,803  $        -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposits               4,218,937      32,403         1.03
 Time deposits                  2,651,806      52,589         2.65
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-bearing
    deposits                    7,865,546      84,992         1.44
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                      2,428,287      69,204         3.76
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                    2,245,481      20,521         1.21
 Other long-term debt             357,469      17,713         6.61
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total borrowings             5,031,237     107,438         2.82
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-bearing
    liabilities                12,896,783     192,430         1.98
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                      77,393
                             ------------
   Total liabilities           12,974,176

 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of
   subsidiary corporation          87,517

 Shareholders' equity           1,065,557
                             ------------
   Total liabilities and
    shareholders' equity     $ 14,127,250
                             ============
                                              304,578
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                   (1,128)
                                           ----------

 Net interest income                       $  303,450
                                           ==========

 Interest-rate spread                                         3.07 %
                                                        ==========
 Net interest margin                                          3.10 %
                                                        ==========


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Nine Months Ended September 30,             2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Fully tax-
                               Average                   equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)         balance       Interest     yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                       $  7,254,589  $  338,927         6.20 %
 Loans held for sale              123,397       5,087         5.50
 Securities                     4,024,696     175,048         5.89 (d)
 Short-term investments            22,031         298         1.78
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-earning
    assets                     11,424,713     519,360         6.08
                                           ----------
 Noninterest-earning assets       849,422
                             ------------
   Total assets              $ 12,274,135
                             ============

Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits             $    880,540  $        -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposits               3,458,844      36,725         1.42
 Time deposits                  2,846,438      76,062         3.57
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-bearing
    deposits                    7,185,822     112,787         2.10
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                      2,324,385      77,626         4.40
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                    1,368,187      18,038         1.74
 Other long-term debt             126,000       8,370         8.86
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total borrowings             3,818,572     104,034         3.60
                             ------------  ----------   ----------
   Total interest-bearing
    liabilities                11,004,394     216,821         2.62
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                      78,913
                             ------------
   Total liabilities           11,083,307

 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of
  subsidiary corporation          153,132

 Shareholders' equity           1,037,696
                             ------------
   Total liabilities and
    shareholders' equity     $ 12,274,135
                             ============
                                              302,539
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                     (901)
                                           ----------

 Net interest income                       $  301,638
                                           ==========

 Interest-rate spread                                         3.46 %
                                                        ==========
 Net interest margin                                          3.55 %
                                                        ==========


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset Quality (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                At or for the Three Months Ended,
                                --------------------------------

(Dollars in        Sept. 30,  June 30,  March 31,  Dec. 31,  Sept. 30,
 thousands)           2003      2003      2003      2002      2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Nonperforming Assets
--------------------

Nonperforming loans:
 Commercial:
  Commercial        $  17,024 $  27,881 $  27,784 $  16,001 $  19,000
  Specialized
   industry             6,493     3,399     3,399     3,399    27,231
  Equipment financing   8,241     8,722     8,960     6,586     5,559
                    --------------------------------------------------
    Total commercial   31,758    40,002    40,143    25,986    51,790

 Commercial real
  estate                1,940     4,920     6,910     9,109    10,124
 Residential            7,087     6,596     5,712     7,263     5,521
 Consumer                 718       767     1,510       894     1,062
                    --------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 loans                 41,503    52,285    54,275    43,252    68,497
                    --------------------------------------------------

Loans held for sale         -         -     3,444     3,706         -
                    --------------------------------------------------

Other real estate owned
 and repossessed assets:
 Commercial             4,019     4,224     3,967     2,568     3,007
 Residential              541       520       234       477       686
 Consumer                   -         9         1        32        12
                    --------------------------------------------------

Total other real estate
 owned and repossessed
  assets                4,560     4,753     4,202     3,077     3,705
                    --------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 assets             $  46,063 $  57,038 $  61,921 $  50,035 $  72,202
                    ==================================================


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary of Classified Loans
---------------------------

 Substandard:
  Accruing          $  69,216 $  62,064 $  74,398 $  70,245 $ 102,436
  Nonaccruing          36,365    44,313    45,005    38,994    62,170
                    --------------------------------------------------
    Total
     substandard      105,581   106,377   119,403   109,239   164,606

  Doubtful:
   Accruing                 -         -         -         -         3
   Nonaccruing          3,792     6,617     7,279     3,743     3,724
                    --------------------------------------------------
    Total doubtful      3,792     6,617     7,279     3,743     3,727

  Loss                      -         -         -         -         -
                    --------------------------------------------------

  Total classified
   loans            $ 109,373 $ 112,994 $ 126,682 $ 112,982 $ 168,333
                    ==================================================

Classified as a
 percent of loans         1.2%      1.3%      1.5%      1.4%      2.1%
                    --------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowance for Loan Losses (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                                At or for the Three Months Ended,
                               ----------------------------------


(Dollars in        Sept. 30,  June 30,  March 31, Dec. 31,  Sept. 30,
 thousands)           2003      2003      2003     2002      2002
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Allowance for Loan Losses
-------------------------

Beginning balance  $ 119,239 $ 118,596 $ 116,804 $ 116,118 $  99,698

 Allowance for
  purchased loans          -         -       146         -    16,338
 Provision            10,000     5,000     5,000    16,000     5,000
 Write-down of loans
  transferred to held
   for sale                -         -         -   (12,432)        -

 Charge-offs:
  Residential             39       160        78        84       249

  Commercial:
   Specialized
    industry           3,870       327         -     2,569     1,892
   All other
    commercial         9,361     4,232     3,601     1,031     3,029
                   ---------------------------------------------------
     Total
      commercial      13,231     4,559     3,601     3,600     4,921

  Commercial real
   estate                  -         -         -         -         -
  Consumer               122       153       195       220       246
                   ---------------------------------------------------
     Total charge-
      offs            13,392     4,872     3,874     3,904     5,416
 Recoveries           (1,860)     (515)     (520)   (1,022)     (498)
                   ---------------------------------------------------
     Net loan charge-
      offs            11,532     4,357     3,354     2,882     4,918
                   ---------------------------------------------------

Ending balance     $ 117,707 $ 119,239 $ 118,596 $ 116,804 $ 116,118
                   ===================================================


Asset Quality Ratios:
---------------------

Allowance for loan
 losses / total loans   1.29%     1.37 %    1.39 %    1.48 %    1.45 %
Net charge-offs/
 average loans
 (annualized)           0.52      0.20      0.16      0.14      0.26
Nonperforming loans
 / total loans          0.46      0.60      0.64      0.55      0.86
Nonperforming
 assets / total
 assets                 0.32      0.39      0.43      0.37      0.54
Allowance for loan
 losses /
 nonperforming loans  283.61    228.06    218.51    270.05    169.52
CONTACT: Webster Financial Corporation, Waterbury Media Contact: Clark Finley, 203-578-2429 cfinley@websterbank.com or Investor Contact: Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318 tmangan@websterbank.com SOURCE: Webster Financial Corp.