Webster Reports $.90 in Per Share Net Income for the First Quarter

Apr 15, 2004

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WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2004--Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE:WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, today announced net income of $42.3 million in the first quarter, compared to $39.9 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 6 percent. Net income per diluted share was $.90 in the first quarter, an increase of 5 percent compared to $.86 in the year-ago period.

"We are pleased to report higher earnings and continuing double-digit loan and deposit growth," stated Webster chairman and chief executive officer James C. Smith. "We look forward to advancing our strategic plan and capitalizing on new opportunities as we complete our conversion to a commercial bank. With our expansion into the Rhode Island and Massachusetts markets through our pending acquisition of FirstFed, Webster will become the largest independent bank headquartered in southern New England."

Revenues and Expenses

Total revenues (net interest income plus total noninterest income) were $160.5 million in the first quarter, compared to $157.8 million a year ago. Impacting the quarter was the implementation on December 31, 2003 of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. ("FIN") 46 (revised), which required the reclassification of $3.5 million of capital trust securities expense in the first quarter of 2004 from noninterest expense to interest expense. Adjusting the prior period for this effect, total revenues would have grown by $5.6 million, or 4 percent, from a year ago.

Net interest income was $105.8 million in the first quarter of 2004, compared to $104.7 million in the year-ago period and $107.3 million in the fourth quarter. Excluding the effect of FIN 46R, net interest income would have grown by $4.1 million, or 4 percent, from a year ago and by $2.0 million, or 2 percent, from the fourth quarter. These increases reflect growth in the loan portfolio over the past year.

Webster's net interest margin (annualized net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) was 3.09 percent in the quarter compared to FIN 46R-adjusted 3.21 percent in the year-ago period and 3.08 percent in the fourth quarter. The decline from the year-ago period reflects the generally lower interest rate environment over the past year.

In the first quarter of 2004, total noninterest income increased 3 percent to $54.7 million, compared to $53.1 million in the year-ago period. Excluding securities gains of $5.5 million in the first quarter and $2.6 million in the year-ago period, noninterest income decreased 3 percent in the first quarter to $49.2 million from $50.5 million in the year-ago period. This decrease principally reflects reductions in financial advisory services due to the sale of Duff & Phelps during the quarter and lower net gains on sales of loans and loan servicing due to reduced mortgage origination volume. Partially offsetting this was growth in insurance revenues, wealth management and investment services and loan service fees.

Total noninterest expenses for the 2004 first quarter were $92.1 million, a decrease from $92.8 million in the year-ago period and $98.3 million in the fourth quarter. Adjusting for the effect of FIN 46R, noninterest expenses grew by $2.3 million, or 3%, from a year ago reflecting the impact of acquisitions and continuing investment in personnel, technology and infrastructure to meet our strategic plan for growth. Also adjusting for $1.3 million of acquisition costs in the fourth quarter, total noninterest expenses declined by $1.3 million, or 1%, largely as a result of active management of mortgage-related costs.

Balance Sheet Growth

At March 31, 2004, total assets were $15.1 billion, up 5 percent from $14.4 billion a year ago. Total loans of $9.5 billion at March 31, 2004 increased 12 percent from $8.5 billion the prior year. Deposits totaled $8.6 billion at March 31, 2004, up over $850 million, or 11 percent, compared to a year ago. Over the past year, core deposit growth was especially strong at 13 percent.

"Continuing strong loan and deposit growth have helped to produce another solid quarter and strengthened our growing commercial franchise," stated Webster president and chief operating officer William T. Bromage.

At the end of the first quarter, commercial loans, including commercial real estate, were $3.4 billion, up 13 percent from $3.0 billion a year ago. Consumer loans, primarily home equity loans and lines, increased 18 percent to $2.2 billion, compared to $1.8 billion one year ago. All loan categories showed growth compared to the fourth quarter. Commercial and consumer loans comprised 58 percent of total loans at March 31, 2004, compared to 57 percent a year ago.

Core deposits (consisting of checking, money market and savings accounts) of $5.9 billion at March 31, 2004 increased by 13 percent from one year ago and represented 68 percent of total deposits, compared to 66 percent one year ago. Total deposits at March 31, 2004 grew at an annualized rate of 13 percent from year-end. Webster's growth in deposits has been driven in part by its High Performance Checking products and the continuing success of its de novo branches in Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York.

Book value per common share of $26.18 at March 31, 2004 increased from $23.47 one year ago. Tangible book value per share of $19.60 at March 31, 2004 increased from $16.92 one year ago.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $41.3 million or 0.27 percent of total assets at March 31, 2004, compared to $61.9 million or 0.43 percent a year ago and $42.9 million or 0.29 percent at December 31, 2003.

"Webster's commitment to a balanced and diversified portfolio has allowed us to maintain overall credit quality during a period of significant growth," stated Webster chief financial officer William J. Healy.

The allowance for loan losses totaled $123.6 million, or 1.30 percent of total loans at March 31, 2004, compared to $118.6 million, or 1.39 percent, a year ago and $121.7 million, or 1.32 percent, at December 31, 2003. The ratio of the allowance to nonperforming loans at March 31, 2004 increased to 338 percent, compared to 219 percent a year ago and 323 percent at December 31, 2003. The improvements in this ratio are due primarily to the decline in nonperforming loans. The provision for loan losses totaled $5.0 million in the first quarter compared to $5.0 million in the year-ago period.

Webster's net loan charge-offs in the first quarter of 2004 were $3.1 million compared to $3.4 million in the year-ago period. The annualized net charge-off ratio was 0.13 percent in the 2004 first quarter, compared to 0.16 percent in the year-ago period.

Strategic Actions

Webster announced in January that its Board of Directors has elected Laurence C. Morse to membership on Webster's board, effective January 2004.

In March, Webster announced the sale of its majority interest in Duff & Phelps, LLC, the Chicago-based financial advisory services and investment banking firm, to a group including management teams from Duff & Phelps and Stone Ridge Partners and an investor group led by Lovell Minnick Partners, LLC. Webster will maintain a strategic alliance with Duff & Phelps, with preferred customer status.

FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC., of Swansea, Massachusetts and the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of America, has announced that its annual shareholder meeting will be on April 22. A shareholder vote to approve the sale of FIRSTFED to Webster is the primary agenda for the meeting. Webster had announced its definitive agreement to acquire FIRSTFED in October 2003.

Webster also is scheduled to appear before the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Bank Inc. on April 27 to seek approval of the FIRSTFED sale. Board approval is anticipated to be the final regulatory stage for Webster. If approved, the sale of FIRSTFED to Webster will be finalized in the middle of the second quarter.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank and Webster Insurance. With $15.1 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 119 banking offices, 233 ATMs, a Connecticut-based call center and the Internet. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster 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. In addition, Webster expects to close on its acquisition of FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC., which has $2.6 billion in assets, during the second quarter of 2004.

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

Conference Call

A conference call covering Webster's 2004 first quarter earnings announcement will be held today, Thursday, April 15, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and may be heard through Webster's investor relations Web site at www.wbst.com, or in listen-only mode by calling 1-800-901-5218 (Access Code: 32674862). The call will be archived on the Web site 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 2003.

WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 At or for the Three
                                                Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)              2004       2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Net income                                      $  42,323  $  39,937
Net income per diluted common share                  0.90       0.86
Return on average shareholders' equity              14.28 %    15.21 %
Return on average assets                             1.15       1.16
Noninterest income as a percentage of total
 revenue                                            34.09      33.68
Efficiency Ratio (a)                                57.40      58.80


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

Net income                                      $  42,323  $  39,937
Tax-effected stock-based compensation                 647        913
Tax-effected intangible amortization                2,660      2,575
                                                ---------- -----------
Cash income                                        45,630     43,425

Cash income per diluted common share                 0.97       0.94
Cash return on average shareholders' equity         15.40 %    16.54 %
Cash return on average assets                        1.24       1.27

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

Allowance for loan losses                       $ 123,613  $ 118,596
Nonperforming assets                               41,262     61,921
Allowance for loan losses / total loans              1.30 %     1.39 %
Net charge-offs/ average loans (annualized)          0.13       0.16
Nonperforming loans / total loans                    0.38       0.64
Nonperforming assets / total assets                  0.27       0.43
Allowance for loan losses / nonperforming loans    338.30     218.51

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

Shareholders' equity / total assets                  8.03 %     7.46 %
Interest-rate spread                                 3.04       3.26
Net interest margin                                  3.09       3.30

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

Book value per common share                     $   26.18  $   23.47
Tangible book value per common share                19.60      16.92
Common stock closing price                          50.71      35.12
Dividends declared per common share                  0.21       0.19

Common shares issued and outstanding               46,299     45,617
Basic shares (average)                             46,146     45,461
Diluted shares (average)                           47,059     46,192

Footnotes:

(a) Noninterest expense as a percentage of net interest income plus
    noninterest income.
(b) Cash income represents net income excluding the after tax effects
    of non-cash charges related to the amortization of intangible
    assets and stock-based compensation, which includes stock options
    and restricted stock.
(c) Webster adopted FIN 46R on December 31, 2003, and in accordance
    with its provisions, deconsolidated the capital trusts and
    reported the associated liabilities as other long-term debt.
    Commencing in 2004, the costs have been reclassified from
    noninterest expenses to interest expense.
(d) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains (losses) are
    excluded from the average balance for rate calculations.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 March 31,   December 31,    March 31,
(In thousands)                     2004          2003          2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:

Cash and due from depository
 institutions                $    230,137  $    209,234  $    238,370
Short-term investments             22,130        42,420        13,696

Securities:
  Trading, at fair value            2,845           555        10,924
  Available for sale, at fair
   value                        4,231,102     4,128,255     4,497,686
  Held-to-maturity securities     200,531       173,371             -
                             ------------- ------------- -------------
    Total securities            4,434,478     4,302,181     4,508,610

Loans held for sale               135,771        89,830       321,637

Loans:
  Residential mortgages         3,972,123     3,744,013     3,657,707
  Commercial                    2,101,195     2,040,921     1,947,167
  Commercial real estate        1,288,509     1,281,516     1,062,891
  Consumer                      2,169,011     2,146,359     1,841,526
                             ------------- ------------- -------------
    Total loans                 9,530,838     9,212,809     8,509,291
Allowance for loan losses        (123,613)     (121,674)     (118,596)
                             ------------- ------------- -------------
    Loans, net                  9,407,225     9,091,135     8,390,695

Accrued interest receivable        51,297        52,756        58,137
Premises and equipment, net        99,866        95,631        82,525
Goodwill and intangible
 assets                           322,483       330,929       320,942
Cash surrender value of life
 insurance                        182,511       180,556       174,181
Prepaid expenses and other
 assets                           204,372       174,018       246,866
                             ------------- ------------- -------------

Total Assets                 $ 15,090,270  $ 14,568,690  $ 14,355,659
                             ============= ============= =============

Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:

Deposits:
  Demand deposits            $  1,081,455  $  1,090,060  $    974,044
  NOW accounts                  1,098,972     1,052,690       991,592
  Money market deposit
   accounts                     1,779,468     1,581,276     1,454,157
  Savings accounts              1,891,298     1,869,398     1,746,447
  Certificates of deposit       2,676,910     2,681,986     2,543,060
                             ------------- ------------- -------------
    Total retail deposits       8,528,103     8,275,410     7,709,300
  Treasury deposits               109,979        96,725        74,509
                             ------------- ------------- -------------
    Total deposits              8,638,082     8,372,135     7,783,809

Federal Home Loan Bank
 advances                       2,437,014     2,511,495     2,885,098
Federal funds purchased and
 securities sold under
  agreements to repurchase      2,150,719     1,892,138     2,030,553
Other long-term debt (c)          532,760       532,760       326,000
Accrued expenses and other
 liabilities                      110,156        97,690       128,921
                             ------------- ------------- -------------
    Total liabilities          13,868,731    13,406,218    13,154,381

Corporation-obligated
 mandatorily redeemable
  capital securities of
   subsidiary trusts (c)                -             -       121,255

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

Shareholders' equity            1,211,962     1,152,895     1,070,446
                             ------------- ------------- -------------

Total Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity        $ 15,090,270  $ 14,568,690  $ 14,355,659
                             ============= ============= =============

See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)              2004        2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest income:
Loans                                           $ 118,591   $ 113,221
Securities and short-term investments              44,608      51,745
Loans held for sale                                 1,070       4,481
                                                ----------  ----------
    Total interest income                         164,269     169,447
                                                ----------  ----------

Interest expense:
Deposits                                           25,830      29,418
Borrowings                                         32,633      35,353
                                                ----------  ----------
    Total interest expense                         58,463      64,771
                                                ----------  ----------

    Net interest income                           105,806     104,676
Provision for loan losses                           5,000       5,000
                                                ----------  ----------
    Net interest income after provision
     for loan losses                              100,806      99,676
                                                ----------  ----------

Noninterest income:
Deposit service fees                               17,185      16,890
Insurance revenue                                  11,638      10,964
Loan and loan servicing fees                        6,649       5,905
Wealth and investment services                      5,116       4,578
Financial advisory services                         3,808       5,431
Gain on sale of loans and loan servicing, net       1,025       2,771
Increase in cash surrender value of life
 insurance                                          1,954       2,115
Other                                               1,848       1,861
                                                ----------  ----------
                                                   49,223      50,515
Gain on sale of securities, net                     5,500       2,633
                                                ----------  ----------
    Total noninterest income                       54,723      53,148
                                                ----------  ----------

Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and benefits                          53,127      50,561
Occupancy                                           8,365       8,099
Furniture and equipment                             7,641       7,521
Intangible amortization                             4,092       3,962
Marketing                                           2,984       3,485
Professional services                               2,899       2,478
Capital trust securities (c)                            -       2,922
Other                                              13,033      13,778
                                                ----------  ----------
    Total noninterest expenses                     92,141      92,806
                                                ----------  ----------


Income before income taxes                         63,388      60,018
Income taxes                                       21,065      20,081
                                                ----------  ----------
    Net income                                  $  42,323   $  39,937
                                                ==========  ==========

Net income per common share:
  Basic                                         $    0.92   $    0.88
  Diluted                                            0.90        0.86

See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Three Months Ended
(In thousands,
 except per share    March 31,  Dec. 31, Sept. 30,  June 30, March 31,
 data)                 2004      2003      2003      2003      2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest income:
Loans                $118,591  $117,982  $114,750  $114,724  $113,221
Securities and short-
 term investments      44,608    43,065    42,050    45,772    51,745
Loans held for sale     1,070     1,791     4,896     4,241     4,481
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Total interest
     income           164,269   162,838   161,696   164,737   169,447
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Interest expense:
Deposits               25,830    26,319    26,824    28,750    29,418
Borrowings             32,633    29,224    33,943    35,368    35,353
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Total interest
     expense           58,463    55,543    60,767    64,118    64,771
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

    Net interest
     income           105,806   107,295   100,929   100,619   104,676
Provision for loan
 losses                 5,000     5,000    10,000     5,000     5,000
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Net interest
     income after
      provision for
       loan losses    100,806   102,295    90,929    95,619    99,676
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Noninterest income:
Deposit service fees   17,185    17,731    17,868    17,529    16,890
Insurance revenue      11,638     9,077     9,954     9,980    10,964
Loan and loan
 servicing fees         6,649     8,001     7,755     4,723     5,905
Wealth and investment
 services               5,116     4,416     4,826     4,521     4,578
Financial advisory
 services               3,808     7,265     4,833     5,229     5,431
Gain on sale of loans
 and loan servicing,
  net                   1,025     2,854     9,829     4,066     2,771
Increase in cash
 surrender value of
  life insurance        1,954     2,082     2,150     2,143     2,115
Other                   1,848     2,402     2,737     1,423     1,861
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
                       49,223    53,828    59,952    49,614    50,515
Gain on sale of
 securities, net        5,500     2,715     4,560     8,666     2,633
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Total noninterest
     income            54,723    56,543    64,512    58,280    53,148
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and
 benefits              53,127    53,722    51,592    50,506    50,561
Occupancy               8,365     7,470     7,457     7,672     8,099
Furniture and
 equipment              7,641     7,792     8,255     7,575     7,521
Intangible
 amortization           4,092     4,067     4,001     3,968     3,962
Marketing               2,984     2,058     2,729     3,236     3,485
Professional services   2,899     3,654     2,582     2,994     2,478
Capital trust
 securities (c)             -     3,485     2,774     2,742     2,922
Acquisition costs           -     1,349       142         6         -
Other                  13,033    14,683    14,165    14,500    13,778
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Total noninterest
     expenses          92,141    98,280    93,697    93,199    92,806
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------


Income before income
 taxes                 63,388    60,558    61,744    60,700    60,018
Income taxes           21,065    19,172    20,429    20,090    20,081
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Net income       $ 42,323  $ 41,386  $ 41,315  $ 40,610  $ 39,937
                     ========= ========= ========= ========= =========


Net income per common
 share:
  Basic              $   0.92  $   0.90  $   0.91  $   0.89  $   0.88
  Diluted                0.90      0.89      0.89      0.88      0.86

See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Three Months Ended,        March  December September   June    March
                            2004     2003     2003     2003     2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest-rate spread
--------------------
Total interest-earning
 assets                     4.78 %   4.81 %   4.75 %   5.06 %   5.35 %
Total interest-bearing
 liabilities                1.74     1.68     1.80     2.00     2.09
                          -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Interest-rate spread      3.04 %   3.13 %   2.95 %   3.06 %   3.26 %
  Net interest margin       3.09     3.18     2.99     3.10     3.30

Retail interest-rate
 spread
--------------------
Yield on loans and loans
 held for sale              5.05 %   5.09 %   5.09 %   5.30 %   5.52 %
Cost of deposits            1.24     1.26     1.32     1.46     1.57
                          -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Spread                    3.81 %   3.83 %   3.77 %   3.84 %   3.95 %
                          =======  =======  =======  =======  =======

Wholesale interest-rate
 spread
-----------------------
Yield on securities and
 short-term investments     4.19 %   4.17 %   4.02 %   4.52 %   5.02 %
Cost of borrowings          2.56     2.41     2.55     2.88     2.90
                          -------  -------  -------  -------  -------
  Spread                    1.63 %   1.76 %   1.47 %   1.64 %   2.12 %
                          =======  =======  =======  =======  =======
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Three Months Ended March 31,                2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Fully tax-
                           Average                       equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)     balance        Interest       yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
  Interest-earning
   assets:
  Loans                  $ 9,368,169    $   118,591           5.05  %
  Securities               4,331,501         45,161           4.22 (d)
  Loans held for sale         85,276          1,070           5.02
  Short-term investments      35,759             66           0.73
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total interest-
     earning assets       13,820,705        164,888           4.78
                                        ------------
  Noninterest-earning
   assets                    889,392
                         ------------
    Total assets         $14,710,097
                         ============

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
  Interest-bearing
   liabilities:
  Demand deposits        $ 1,058,849    $         -              -  %
  Savings, NOW and money
   market deposit
    accounts               4,539,038          8,984           0.80
  Time deposits            2,789,750         16,846           2.43
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total deposits         8,387,637         25,830           1.24
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
  Federal Home Loan Bank
   advances                2,428,829         19,004           3.10
  Fed funds and
   repurchase agreements   2,093,519          5,431           1.03
  Other long-term debt (c)   532,760          8,198           6.16
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total borrowings       5,055,108         32,633           2.56
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total interest-
     bearing liabilities  13,442,745         58,463           1.74
                                        ------------
  Noninterest-bearing
   liabilities                72,405
                         ------------
    Total liabilities     13,515,150

  Capital securities and
   preferred stock of
    subsidiary
     corporation (c)           9,577

  Shareholders' equity     1,185,370
                         ------------
    Total liabilities
     and shareholders'
      equity             $14,710,097
                         ============
                                            106,425
  Less: tax-equivalent
   adjustment                                  (619)
                                        ------------

  Net interest income                   $   105,806
                                        ============

  Interest-rate spread                                        3.04  %
                                                       ============
  Net interest margin                                         3.09  %
                                                       ============



----------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Ended March 31,                2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Fully tax-
                           Average                       equivalent
(Dollars in thousands)     balance        Interest       yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
  Interest-earning
   assets:
  Loans                  $ 8,225,032    $   113,221           5.52  %
  Securities               4,208,492         52,027           5.05 (d)
  Loans held for sale        327,620          4,481           5.47
  Short-term investments      27,260             62           0.91
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total interest-
     earning assets       12,788,404        169,791           5.35
                                        ------------
  Noninterest-earning
   assets                    935,423
                         ------------
    Total assets         $13,723,827
                         ============

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
  Interest-bearing
   liabilities:
  Demand deposits        $   951,230    $         -              -  %
  Savings, NOW and money
   market deposit
    accounts               3,982,828         11,204           1.14
  Time deposits            2,663,492         18,214           2.77
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total deposits         7,597,550         29,418           1.57
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
  Federal Home Loan Bank
   advances                2,581,216         23,791           3.69
  Fed funds and
   repurchase agreements   2,000,136          6,252           1.25
  Other long-term debt (c)   297,111          5,310           7.15
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total borrowings       4,878,463         35,353           2.90
                         ------------   ------------   ------------
    Total interest-
     bearing liabilities  12,476,013         64,771           2.09
                                        ------------
  Noninterest-bearing
   liabilities                66,604
                         ------------
    Total liabilities     12,542,617

  Capital securities and
   preferred stock of
    subsidiary
     corporation (c)         130,832

  Shareholders' equity     1,050,378
                         ------------
    Total liabilities
     and shareholders'
      equity             $13,723,827
                         ============
                                            105,020
  Less: tax-equivalent
   adjustment                                  (344)
                                        ------------

  Net interest income                   $   104,676
                                        ============

  Interest-rate spread                                        3.26  %
                                                       ============
  Net interest margin                                         3.30  %
                                                       ============

See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset Quality (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                             At or for the Three Months Ended
                     -------------------------------------------------

(Dollars in          March 31,  Dec. 31, Sept. 30, June 30,  March 31,
 thousands)            2004      2003      2003      2003      2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Nonperforming loans:
  Commercial:
    Commercial       $ 11,832  $ 14,266  $ 17,024  $ 27,881  $ 27,784
    Specialized
     industry           5,019     6,427     6,493     3,399     3,399
    Equipment
     financing          5,561     5,583     8,241     8,722     8,960
                     -------------------------------------------------
      Total
       commercial      22,412    26,276    31,758    40,002    40,143

  Commercial real
   estate               5,583     4,281     1,940     4,920     6,910
  Residential           7,941     6,128     7,087     6,596     5,712
  Consumer                604       959       718       767     1,510
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 loans                 36,540    37,644    41,503    52,285    54,275
                     -------------------------------------------------

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

Other real estate
 owned and
  repossessed assets:
  Commercial            4,273     4,296     4,019     4,224     3,967
  Residential             325       942       541       520       234
  Consumer                124         -         -         9         1
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total other real
 estate owned and
  repossessed assets    4,722     5,238     4,560     4,753     4,202
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 assets              $ 41,262  $ 42,882  $ 46,063  $ 57,038  $ 61,921
                     =================================================


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

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

  Substandard:
    Accruing         $ 87,477  $ 72,638  $ 69,216  $ 62,064  $ 74,398
    Nonaccruing        31,595    29,403    36,365    44,313    45,005
                     -------------------------------------------------
      Total
       substandard    119,072   102,041   105,581   106,377   119,403

  Doubtful:
    Nonaccruing         4,377     6,791     3,792     6,617     7,279

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

  Total classified
   loans             $123,449  $108,832  $109,373  $112,994  $126,682
                     =================================================

Classified as a
 percent of total
  loans                   1.3%      1.2%      1.2%      1.3%      1.5%
                     -------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowance for Loan Losses (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                             At or for the Three Months Ended
                     -------------------------------------------------

(Dollars in          March 31,  Dec. 31, Sept. 30, June 30,  March 31,
 thousands)            2004      2003      2003      2003      2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Beginning balance    $121,674  $117,707  $119,239  $118,596  $116,804

  Allowance for
   purchased loans          -     1,970         -         -       146
  Provision             5,000     5,000    10,000     5,000     5,000

  Charge-offs:
    Commercial:
      Specialized
       industry           826       558     3,870       327         -
      All other
       commercial       2,249     2,949     9,361     4,232     3,601
                     -------------------------------------------------
        Total
         commercial     3,075     3,507    13,231     4,559     3,601
    Residential           983       330        39       160        78
    Consumer               97       174       122       153       195
                     -------------------------------------------------
        Total
         charge-
          offs          4,155     4,011    13,392     4,872     3,874
    Recoveries         (1,094)   (1,008)   (1,860)     (515)     (520)
                     -------------------------------------------------
        Net loan
         charge-
          offs          3,061     3,003    11,532     4,357     3,354
                     -------------------------------------------------

Ending balance       $123,613  $121,674  $117,707  $119,239  $118,596
                     =================================================



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

Allowance for loan
 losses / total
  loans                  1.30%     1.32%     1.29%     1.37%     1.39%
Net charge-offs/
 average loans
  (annualized)           0.13      0.13      0.52      0.20      0.16
Nonperforming loans
 / total loans           0.38      0.41      0.46      0.60      0.64
Nonperforming
 assets / total
  assets                 0.27      0.29      0.32      0.39      0.43
Allowance for loan
 losses /
  nonperforming loans  338.30    323.22    283.61    228.06    218.51
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.