Webster Increases Presence in Fairfield County with Monroe Branch Opening

May 25, 2004

WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2004--Webster Bank, the largest independent bank headquartered in southern New England, announced today the opening of a new branch at 495 Monroe Turnpike in Monroe, Conn., Webster's sixth de novo branch opening in Fairfield County.

Webster expects to open two more branches, in Bridgeport and Norwalk, by the end of 2004. Over the next two to three years, Webster is planning between six and eight Fairfield County de novo branch openings. Likely sites include Stamford, Greenwich and New Canaan.

Webster's Executive Vice President for Retail Banking, Candy Fitzek, officially opened the branch. She was joined by Southern Region Market Manager Mike Fitzsimmons, Market Manager Christy Verrelli and Branch Manger John Prior. First Selectman Andrew Nunn and Victor Catalano, President of the Chamber of Commerce, represented the Town of Monroe at the ribbon cutting.

Webster initiated its lower Fairfield County expansion in February 2002 with branches in Stamford, Darien and Danbury. Webster now operates 19 branch locations in 13 Fairfield County towns: Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Fairfield, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Westport and Wilton.

On May 18, Webster expanded into Westchester County, New York with the opening of a branch in Scarsdale. Webster plans to open 12 to 15 branches in Westchester County over the next few years, with initial locations in Greenburgh, Larchmont, Rye, Yonkers and Yorktown Heights.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $17 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 145 banking offices, 266 ATMs, telephone banking and the Internet. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation, the insurance premium finance company Budget Installment Corp., and Center Capital Corporation, an equipment finance company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. 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
Meghan Thompson, 203-578-2287
mthompson@websterbank.com

SOURCE: Webster Financial Corporation