Webster Reports 13 Percent Increase in Net Income for the Second Quarter

Jul 15, 2004

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WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 15, 2004--Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, today announced net income of $45.8 million in the second quarter, compared to $40.6 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 13 percent. Net income per diluted share was $.91 in the second quarter, compared to $.88 in the year-ago period, an increase of 3 percent.

For the first six months of 2004, net income was $88.2 million compared to $80.5 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 9 percent. Net income per diluted share was $1.81 compared to $1.74 in the year-ago period, an increase of 4 percent.

"We are pleased to report higher quarterly earnings and continuing progress in pursuit of Webster's strategic objectives. Continued double-digit organic growth in loans and deposits, combined with strength in our fee-based businesses, helped to offset effects of continuing lower interest rates on asset yields," stated Webster chairman and chief executive officer James C. Smith. "We achieved two significant strategic milestones in the quarter. Webster converted to a national commercial bank charter and became a bank holding company. In addition, we completed our merger with FIRSTFED, making Webster the largest independent bank headquartered in southern New England."

Webster previously announced the completion of its acquisition of FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC., which became effective on May 14, 2004. FIRSTFED had assets of $2.7 billion, including loans of $1.5 billion, and deposits of $1.5 billion with 26 branches and 33 ATM's. FIRSTFED's results of operations are included in Webster's consolidated financial statements subsequent to the date of acquisition, and reflect the sale and de-leveraging of $750 million of FIRSTFED's securities portfolio.

Revenues and Expenses

Total revenues (net interest income plus total noninterest income) were $170.5 million in the second quarter, compared to $158.9 million a year ago. Impacting the quarter and the first half of this year was the implementation on December 31, 2003 of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. ("FIN") 46 (revised), which required the reclassification of capital trust securities expense as of January 1, 2004 from noninterest expenses to interest expense. Adjusting the second quarter of 2003 for $2.7 million of this expense, total revenues would have grown by $14.4 million, or 9 percent, from a year ago.

Net interest income was $113.5 million in the second quarter of 2004, compared to $100.6 million in the year-ago period and $105.8 million in the first quarter. Adjusting for the effect of FIN 46R, net interest income grew by $15.6 million, or 16 percent, from a year ago and by $7.7 million, or 7 percent, from the first quarter. The increase over the prior year reflects strong growth in the loan portfolio funded predominantly by core deposits, while the increase over the first quarter is mainly due to the FIRSTFED acquisition.

Webster's net interest margin (annualized net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) was 3.02 percent in the quarter compared to FIN 46R-adjusted 3.01 percent in the year-ago period and 3.09 percent in the first quarter. The decline from the first quarter reflects the continuing effect of lower interest rates on our asset yields and the impact of FIRSTFED's lower net interest margin.

In the second quarter of 2004, total noninterest income was $57.1 million, compared to $58.3 million in the year-ago period, a decline of 2 percent. Excluding securities gains, noninterest income increased by 4 percent in the second quarter to $51.5 million from $49.6 million in the year-ago period. Growth in the core fee categories of deposit services, insurance, loan and servicing and wealth management offset a $5.2 million decline in financial advisory services due to the sale of Duff & Phelps in the first quarter. Excluding securities gains, the acquisition of FIRSTFED and the sale of Duff & Phelps, noninterest income increased by 7 percent in the second quarter compared to a year ago.

Total noninterest expenses for the 2004 second quarter were $97.2 million, an increase of 4 percent from $93.2 million in the year-ago period. Adjusting the prior year for the effect of FIN 46R, and excluding FIRSTFED and Duff & Phelps, expenses grew by 6 percent in the second quarter. These increases reflect continuing investment in personnel, technology and de novo branches under our strategic plan for growth.

Balance Sheet Growth

At June 30, 2004, total assets were $17.0 billion, up 18 percent from $14.5 billion a year ago. Total loans of $11.3 billion at June 30, 2004 increased 30 percent from $8.7 billion the prior year, while deposits were $10.4 billion, up 28 percent from $8.1 billion a year ago. Excluding FIRSTFED, total loans increased by $1.0 billion, or 12 percent, over the past year, while total deposits increased $0.8 billion, or 10 percent.

"Strong organic growth in both our loans and deposits was augmented by strategic acquisitions," stated Webster president and chief operating officer William T. Bromage. "This success demonstrates how the We Find a Way attitude of our employees is establishing Webster as the trusted local provider of financial services in our southern New England marketplace."

At the end of the second quarter, commercial loans, including commercial real estate, were $4.0 billion, up 28 percent from $3.2 billion a year ago. Consumer loans, primarily home equity loans and lines, increased 26 percent to $2.5 billion, compared to $2.0 billion one year ago. Excluding FIRSTFED, commercial loans, including commercial real estate, increased 12 percent while consumer loans increased 13 percent.

Core deposits (consisting of checking, money market and savings accounts) of $7.1 billion at June 30, 2004 increased by 30 percent from one year ago and represented 68 percent of total deposits. Excluding FIRSTFED, core deposits grew 12 percent. Webster's overall 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 $27.37 at June 30, 2004 increased from $24.09 one year ago. Tangible book value per share of $15.02 at June 30, 2004 decreased from $17.59 one year ago, principally reflecting an increase in intangible assets related to the FIRSTFED acquisition.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $47.7 million or 0.28 percent of total assets at June 30, 2004, compared to $57.0 million or 0.39 percent a year ago and $41.3 million or 0.27 percent at March 31, 2004.

"We are pleased to report continued strong asset quality in the second quarter," stated Webster chief financial officer William J. Healy. "The loan loss reserve remains strong given Webster's loan portfolio mix."

The allowance for loan losses was $146.5 million, or 1.30 percent of total loans at June 30, 2004, compared to $119.2 million, or 1.37 percent, a year ago and $123.6 million, or 1.30 percent, at March 31, 2004. The ratio of the allowance to nonperforming loans at June 30, 2004 was 332 percent, compared to 228 percent a year ago and 338 percent at March 31, 2004.

The provision for loan losses totaled $5.0 million in the second quarter, unchanged from a year ago. Net loan charge-offs were $2.2 million, compared to $4.4 million in the year-ago period. The annualized net charge-off ratio was 0.08 percent of average loans in the second quarter, compared to 0.20 percent a year ago.

Strategic Actions

In April, Webster announced a 10 percent increase in its annual dividend to $.92 per common share, or $.23 on a quarterly basis. The announcement marked the 67th consecutive quarterly dividend since Webster first paid a dividend in 1987 and the 14th time the dividend has been increased.

During the second quarter, Webster announced the opening of new branches in Monroe and Danbury, CT and Scarsdale, NY. With the new Monroe and Danbury offices, Webster now operates 19 branch locations in 13 Fairfield County towns. The Scarsdale branch is Webster's first branch in New York State under our plan to open 12 to 15 branches in Westchester County over the next three years.

Webster held its second annual Investor Day presentation for analysts and portfolio managers in Southbury, CT on June 10th. Webster senior management delivered presentations on the corporation's strategic objectives and business activities. The presentation slides and a replay of the audio webcast are available at the Investor Relations section of Webster's website, www.wbst.com.

Earlier this month, Webster announced the appointment of Denis W. St. Marie to the position of executive vice president, Consumer Finance, for Webster Bank, N.A. In this capacity, St. Marie is responsible for residential and consumer lending, mortgage banking and secondary marketing. Prior to joining Webster, St. Marie was president of KeyMortgage Services, where he led the company's consumer lending and mortgage operations centers and its national vendor management company.

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 147 banking offices, 268 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.

Conference Call

A conference call covering Webster's 2004 second quarter earnings announcement will be held today, Thursday, July 15, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time and may be heard through Webster's investor relations website at www.wbst.com, or in listen-only mode by calling 1-800-299-8538 (Access Code: 32555118). 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 2003.

    Webster Financial Corporation

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                            At or for the Three   At or for the Six
                           Months Ended June 30, Months Ended June 30,
(In thousands, except per
  share data)                  2004      2003        2004      2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Net income                  $ 45,843   $40,610    $ 88,166   $80,547
Net income per diluted
 common share                   0.91      0.88        1.81      1.74
Return on average
 shareholders' equity          13.86 %   15.01 %     14.06 %   15.10 %
Return on average tangible
 equity                        22.13     20.69       20.70     20.91
Return on average assets        1.12      1.15        1.14      1.16
Noninterest income as a
 percentage of total
  revenue                      33.47     36.68       33.77     35.18
Efficiency Ratio (a)           56.98     58.65       57.18     58.73


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

Net income                  $ 45,843   $40,610    $ 88,166   $80,547
Tax-effected stock-based
 compensation                  1,206       971       1,981     1,877
Tax-effected intangible
 amortization                  2,978     2,579       5,638     5,155
                            --------- ---------   --------- ---------
Cash income                   50,027    44,160      95,785    87,579

Cash income per diluted
 common share                   0.99      0.95        1.96      1.89
Cash return on average
 shareholders' equity          15.12 %   16.32 %     15.27 %   16.42 %
Cash return on average
 tangible equity               24.15     22.50       22.48     22.74
Cash return on average
 assets                         1.22      1.26        1.23      1.26

Asset quality:
----------------------------

Allowance for loan losses   $146,511  $119,239    $146,511  $119,239
Nonperforming assets          47,658    57,038      47,658    57,038
Allowance for loan losses
 / total loans                  1.30 %    1.37 %      1.30 %    1.37 %
Net charge-offs/ average
 loans (annualized)             0.08      0.20        0.11      0.18
Nonperforming loans /
 total loans                    0.39      0.60        0.39      0.60
Nonperforming assets /
 total assets                   0.28      0.39        0.28      0.39
Allowance for loan losses /
 nonperforming loans          332.24    228.06      332.24    228.06

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

Shareholders' equity /
 total assets                   8.52 %    7.61 %      8.52 %    7.61 %
Interest-rate spread   (c)      2.99      3.06        3.02      3.16
Net interest margin    (c)      3.02      3.10        3.05      3.20

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

Book value per common
 share                      $  27.37   $ 24.09    $  27.37   $ 24.09
Tangible book value per
 common share                  15.02     17.59       15.02     17.59
Common stock closing price     47.02     37.80       47.02     37.80
Dividends declared per
 common share                   0.23      0.21        0.44      0.40

Common shares issued and
 outstanding                  53,016    45,640      53,016    45,640
Basic shares (average)        49,699    45,446      47,922    45,453
Diluted shares (average)      50,475    46,242      48,767    46,217

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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   June 30,    March 31,      June 30,
(In thousands)                       2004         2004          2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Assets:

   Cash and due from depository
    institutions               $   252,818  $   230,137   $   254,645
   Short-term investments           39,887       22,130        20,671

   Securities:
     Trading, at fair value          1,944        2,845         3,893
     Available for sale, at
      fair value                 3,853,154    4,231,102     4,395,400
     Held-to-maturity
      securities                   284,392      200,531             -
                               ------------ ------------  ------------
            Total securities     4,139,490    4,434,478     4,399,293

   Loans held for sale             153,396      135,771       321,055

   Loans:
     Residential mortgages       4,731,950    3,972,123     3,541,922
     Commercial                  2,455,512    2,101,195     2,010,109
     Commercial real estate      1,572,289    1,288,509     1,144,429
     Consumer                    2,530,443    2,169,011     2,013,486
                               ------------ ------------  ------------
           Total loans          11,290,194    9,530,838     8,709,946
   Allowance for loan losses      (146,511)    (123,613)     (119,239)
                               ------------ ------------  ------------
           Loans, net           11,143,683    9,407,225     8,590,707

   Accrued interest receivable      59,737       51,297        54,034
   Premises and equipment, net     132,842       99,866        85,062
   Goodwill and intangible
    assets                         681,252      322,483       316,989
   Cash surrender value of life
    insurance                      224,082      182,511       176,324
   Prepaid expenses and other
    assets                         198,683      204,372       233,792
                               ------------ ------------  ------------

   Total Assets                $17,025,870  $15,090,270   $14,452,572
                               ============ ============  ============

   Liabilities and
    Shareholders' Equity:

   Deposits:
     Demand deposits           $ 1,362,339  $ 1,081,455   $ 1,035,389
     NOW accounts                1,423,822    1,098,972     1,064,336
     Money market deposit
      accounts                   2,013,894    1,779,468     1,544,692
     Savings accounts            2,281,312    1,891,298     1,821,089
     Certificates of deposit     3,184,991    2,676,910     2,526,429
                               ------------ ------------  ------------
           Total retail
            deposits            10,266,358    8,528,103     7,991,935
     Treasury deposits             106,564      109,979        93,767
                               ------------ ------------  ------------
           Total deposits       10,372,922    8,638,082     8,085,702

   Federal Home Loan Bank
    advances                     2,731,332    2,437,014     2,185,830
   Federal funds purchased
    and securities sold under
     agreements to repurchase    1,670,594    2,150,719     2,480,666
   Other long-term debt  (c)       695,417      532,760       326,000
   Accrued expenses and other
    liabilities                     95,112      110,156       155,233
                               ------------ ------------  ------------
           Total liabilities    15,565,377   13,868,731    13,233,431

   Corporation-obligated
    mandatorily redeemable
     capital securities of
      subsidiary trusts  (c)             -            -       110,255

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

   Shareholders' equity          1,450,916    1,211,962     1,099,309
                               ------------ ------------  ------------

   Total Liabilities and
    Shareholders' Equity       $17,025,870  $15,090,270   $14,452,572
                               ============ ============  ============


   See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                    June 30,            June 30,
(In thousands, except per
  share data)                      2004      2003      2004      2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Interest income:
  Loans                        $129,084  $114,734  $247,675  $227,944
  Securities and short-term
   investments                   45,162    45,772    89,770    97,517
  Loans held for sale             2,139     4,231     3,209     8,723
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Total interest income       176,385   164,737   340,654   334,184
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

  Interest expense:
  Deposits                       29,172    28,750    55,002    58,168
  Borrowings                     33,746    35,368    66,379    70,721
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Total interest expense       62,918    64,118   121,381   128,889
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

    Net interest income         113,467   100,619   219,273   205,295
  Provision for loan losses       5,000     5,000    10,000    10,000
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
    Net interest income after
     provision for loan losses  108,467    95,619   209,273   195,295
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

  Noninterest income:
  Deposit service fees           19,250    17,529    36,435    34,419
  Insurance revenue              10,596     9,980    22,234    20,944
  Loan and loan servicing
   fees                           7,305     4,723    13,954    10,628
  Wealth and investment
   services                       5,849     4,521    10,965     9,099
  Financial advisory services         -     5,229     3,808    10,660
  Gain on sale of loans and
   loan servicing, net            5,321     4,066     6,346     6,837
  Increase in cash surrender
   value of life insurance        2,177     2,143     4,131     4,258
  Other                             964     1,423     2,812     3,284
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
                                 51,462    49,614   100,685   100,129
  Gain on sale of securities,
   net                            5,616     8,666    11,116    11,299
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
   Total noninterest income      57,078    58,280   111,801   111,428
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

  Noninterest expenses:
  Compensation and benefits      53,659    50,506   106,786   101,067
  Occupancy                       8,402     7,672    16,767    15,771
  Furniture and equipment         8,993     7,575    16,634    15,096
  Intangible amortization         4,582     3,968     8,674     7,930
  Marketing                       3,630     3,236     6,614     6,721
  Professional services           2,938     2,994     5,837     5,472
  Acquisition costs                 265         6       265         6
  Capital trust securities(c)         -     2,743         -     5,665
  Other                          14,710    14,499    27,743    28,277
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total noninterest expenses     97,179    93,199   189,320   186,005
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------


  Income before income taxes     68,366    60,700   131,754   120,718
  Income taxes                   22,523    20,090    43,588    40,171
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Net income                   $ 45,843  $ 40,610  $ 88,166  $ 80,547
                               ========= ========= ========= =========

  Net income per common share:
    Basic                      $   0.92  $   0.89  $   1.84  $   1.77
    Diluted                        0.91      0.88      1.81      1.74


   See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

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

(In thousands,                      Three Months Ended
 except per share    June 30,  March 31, Dec. 31,  Sept. 30, June 30,
  data)                2004       2004     2003       2003     2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest income:
Loans                $129,084  $118,591  $117,982  $114,750  $114,724
Securities and short-
 term investments      45,162    44,608    43,065    42,050    45,772
Loans held for sale     2,139     1,070     1,791     4,896     4,241
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total interest
   income             176,385   164,269   162,838   161,696   164,737
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Interest expense:
Deposits               29,172    25,830    26,319    26,824    28,750
Borrowings             33,746    32,633    29,224    33,943    35,368
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total interest
   expense             62,918    58,463    55,543    60,767    64,118
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

  Net interest income 113,467   105,806   107,295   100,929   100,619
Provision for loan
 losses                 5,000     5,000     5,000    10,000     5,000
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Net interest income
   after provision for
    loan losses       108,467   100,806   102,295    90,929    95,619
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Noninterest income:
Deposit service
 fees                  19,250    17,185    17,731    17,868    17,529
Insurance revenue      10,596    11,638     9,077     9,954     9,980
Loan and loan
 servicing fees         7,305     6,649     8,001     7,755     4,723
Wealth and
 investment
  services              5,849     5,116     4,416     4,826     4,521
Financial advisory
 services                   -     3,808     7,265     4,833     5,229
Gain on sale of loans
 and loan servicing,
  net                   5,321     1,025     2,854     9,829     4,066
Increase in cash
 surrender value of
  life insurance        2,177     1,954     2,082     2,150     2,143
Other                     964     1,848     2,402     2,737     1,423
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
                       51,462    49,223    53,828    59,952    49,614
Gain on sale of
 securities, net        5,616     5,500     2,715     4,560     8,666
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Total noninterest
  income               57,078    54,723    56,543    64,512    58,280
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and
 benefits              53,659    53,127    53,722    51,592    50,506
Occupancy               8,402     8,365     7,470     7,457     7,672
Furniture and
 equipment              8,993     7,641     7,792     8,255     7,575
Intangible
 amortization           4,582     4,092     4,067     4,001     3,968
Marketing               3,630     2,984     2,058     2,729     3,236
Professional
 services               2,938     2,899     3,654     2,582     2,994
Capital trust
 securities  (c)            -         -     3,485     2,774     2,743
Acquisition costs         265         -     1,349       142         6
Other                  14,710    13,033    14,683    14,165    14,499
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total noninterest
 expenses              97,179    92,141    98,280    93,697    93,199
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Income before
 income taxes          68,366    63,388    60,558    61,744    60,700
Income taxes           22,523    21,065    19,172    20,429    20,090
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income           $ 45,843  $ 42,323  $ 41,386  $ 41,315  $ 40,610
                     ========= ========= ========= ========= =========

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

   See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

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

Three Months Ended,                      June March  Dec.  Sept. June
                                         2004  2004  2003  2003  2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest-rate spread
--------------------
Total interest-earning assets            4.68% 4.78% 4.81% 4.75% 5.06%
Total interest-bearing liabilities       1.69  1.74  1.68  1.80  2.00
                                         ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
    Interest-rate spread                 2.99% 3.04% 3.13% 2.95% 3.06%
    Net interest margin                  3.02  3.09  3.18  2.99  3.10

Retail interest-rate spread
---------------------------
Yield on loans and loans held for sale   4.93% 5.05% 5.09% 5.09% 5.30%
Cost of deposits                         1.23  1.24  1.26  1.32  1.46
                                         ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
    Spread                               3.70% 3.81% 3.83% 3.77% 3.84%
                                         ===== ===== ===== ===== =====

Wholesale interest-rate spread
------------------------------
Yield on securities and short-term
 investments                             4.09% 4.19% 4.17% 4.02% 4.52%
Cost of borrowings                       2.50  2.56  2.41  2.55  2.88
                                         ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
    Spread                               1.59% 1.63% 1.76% 1.47% 1.64%
                                         ===== ===== ===== ===== =====

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Three Months Ended June 30,                       2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Fully tax-
                                      Average               equivalent
 (Dollars in thousands)               balance    Interest   yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
  Loans                             $10,440,916  $129,084      4.93%
  Securities                          4,485,738    46,277      4.11(d)
  Loans held for sale                   169,092     2,139      5.06
  Short-term investments                 29,891        84      1.11
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total interest-earning assets   15,125,637   177,584      4.68
                                                 --------
  Noninterest-earning assets          1,219,002
                                    -----------
     Total assets                   $16,344,639
                                    ===========

Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Demand deposits                   $ 1,205,224  $      -         -%
  Savings, NOW and money market
   deposit accounts                   5,282,018    11,456      0.87
  Time deposits                       3,056,167    17,716      2.33
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total deposits                   9,543,409    29,172      1.23
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances     2,827,253    19,905      2.79
  Fed funds and repurchase
   agreements                         1,860,747     4,888      1.04
  Other long-term debt (c)              671,223     8,953      5.34
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total borrowings                 5,359,223    33,746      2.50
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total interest-bearing
      liabilities                    14,902,632    62,918      1.69
                                                 --------
  Noninterest-bearing liabilities       109,360
                                    -----------
     Total liabilities               15,011,992

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

  Shareholders' equity                1,323,070
                                    -----------
     Total liabilities and
      shareholders' equity          $16,344,639
                                    ===========
                                                  114,666
  Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                  (1,199)
                                                 --------

  Net interest income                            $113,467
                                                 ========

  Interest-rate spread                                         2.99%
                                                          ===========
  Net interest margin                                          3.02%
                                                          ===========

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

Assets:
  Interest-earning assets:
  Loans                             $ 8,629,616  $114,736      5.30%
  Securities                          4,146,519    46,086      4.54(d)
  Loans held for sale                   322,371     4,229      5.25
  Short-term investments                 23,724        56      0.93
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total interest-earning assets   13,122,230   165,107      5.06
                                                 --------
  Noninterest-earning assets            949,376
                                    -----------
     Total assets                   $14,071,606
                                    ===========

Liabilities and Shareholders'
 Equity:
  Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Demand deposits                   $   989,619  $      -         -%
  Savings, NOW and money market
   deposit accounts                   4,276,209    11,348      1.06
  Time deposits                       2,649,670    17,402      2.63
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total deposits                   7,915,498    28,750      1.46
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
  Federal Home Loan Bank advances     2,386,590    23,286      3.86
  Fed funds and repurchase agreements 2,153,916     6,783      1.25
  Other long-term debt (c)              326,000     5,299      6.50
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total borrowings                 4,866,506    35,368      2.88
                                    -----------  -------- -----------
     Total interest-bearing
      liabilities                    12,782,004    64,118      2.00
                                                 --------
  Noninterest-bearing liabilities        83,574
                                    -----------
     Total liabilities               12,865,578

  Capital securities and preferred
   stock of subsidiary
    corporation (c)                     123,475

  Shareholders' equity                1,082,553
                                    -----------
     Total liabilities and
      shareholders' equity          $14,071,606
                                    ===========
                                                  100,989
  Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                    (370)
                                                 --------

  Net interest income                            $100,619
                                                 ========

  Interest-rate spread                                         3.06%
                                                          ===========
  Net interest margin                                          3.10%
                                                          ===========


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Six Months Ended June 30,                 2004
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Fully tax-
                             Average                  equivalent
 (Dollars in thousands)      balance     Interest     yield/rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets:
 Interest-earning
  assets:
 Loans                   $  9,904,542  $    247,675         4.99  %
 Loans held for sale          127,184         3,209         5.05
 Securities                 4,408,620        91,438         4.16 (d)
 Short-term investments        32,825           150         0.90
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total interest-
     earning assets        14,473,171       342,472         4.73
                                       -------------
 Noninterest-earning
  assets                    1,054,197
                         -------------
    Total assets         $ 15,527,368
                         =============

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits         $  1,132,037  $       -              -   %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposit
   accounts                 4,910,528        20,440         0.84
 Time deposits              2,922,958        34,562         2.38
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total deposits          8,965,523        55,002         1.23
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                  2,628,041        38,909         2.93
 Fed funds and
  repurchase agreements     1,977,133        10,319         1.03
 Other long-term debt (c)     601,991        17,151         5.70
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total borrowings        5,207,165        66,379         2.53
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total interest-
     bearing liabilities   14,172,688       121,381         1.71
                                       -------------
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                  90,883
                         -------------
    Total liabilities      14,263,571

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

 Shareholders' equity       1,254,220
                         -------------
    Total liabilities
     and shareholders'
      equity             $ 15,527,368
                         =============
                                            221,091
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                 (1,818)
                                       -------------

 Net interest income                   $    219,273
                                       =============

 Interest-rate spread                                       3.02  %
                                                     ============
 Net interest margin                                        3.05  %
                                                     ============


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

Assets:
 Interest-earning
  assets:
 Loans                   $  8,428,441  $    227,942         5.41  %
 Loans held for sale          324,980         8,725         5.37
 Securities                 4,177,334        98,113         4.80 (d)
 Short-term investments        25,483           118         0.92
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total interest-
     earning assets        12,956,238       334,898         5.20
                                       -------------
 Noninterest-earning
  assets                      942,439
                         -------------
    Total assets         $ 13,898,677
                         =============

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits         $    970,530  $       -              -   %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposit accounts   4,130,329        22,552         1.10
 Time deposits              2,656,542        35,616         2.70
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total deposits          7,757,401        58,168         1.51
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                  2,483,365        47,077         3.77
 Fed funds and
  repurchase agreements     2,077,451        13,035         1.25
 Other long-term debt (c)     311,635        10,609         6.81
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total borrowings        4,872,451        70,721         2.89
                         ------------- ------------- ------------
    Total interest-
     bearing liabilities   12,629,852       128,889         2.04
                                       -------------
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                  75,137
                         -------------
    Total liabilities      12,704,989

 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of
   subsidiary
    corporation (c)           127,133

 Shareholders' equity       1,066,555
                         -------------
    Total liabilities
     and shareholders'
      equity             $ 13,898,677
                         =============
                                            206,009
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                   (714)
                                       -------------

 Net interest income                   $    205,295
                                       =============

 Interest-rate spread                                       3.16  %
                                                     ============
 Net interest margin                                        3.20  %
                                                     ============


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

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

                           At or for the Three Months Ended
                     -------------------------------------------------
(Dollars in           June 30,  March 31, Dec. 31,  Sept. 30, June 30,
  thousands)            2004       2004     2003       2003     2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Nonperforming loans:
 Commercial:
    Commercial       $ 15,895  $ 11,832  $ 14,266  $ 17,024  $ 27,881
    Specialized
     industry               -     5,019     6,427     6,493     3,399
    Equipment
     financing          5,021     5,561     5,583     8,241     8,722
                     -------------------------------------------------
         Total
          commercial   20,916    22,412    26,276    31,758    40,002

 Commercial real
  estate               13,757     5,583     4,281     1,940     4,920
 Residential            8,599     7,941     6,128     7,087     6,596
 Consumer                 826       604       959       718       767
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 loans                 44,098    36,540    37,644    41,503    52,285
                     -------------------------------------------------

Other real estate owned
 and repossessed assets:
  Commercial            3,192     4,273     4,296     4,019     4,224
  Residential             238       325       942       541       520
  Consumer                130       124         -         -         9
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total other real
 estate owned and
  repossessed assets    3,560     4,722     5,238     4,560     4,753
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 assets              $ 47,658  $ 41,262  $ 42,882  $ 46,063  $ 57,038
                     =================================================

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

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

Substandard:
 Accruing            $ 90,421  $ 87,477  $ 72,638  $ 69,216  $ 62,064
 Nonaccruing           39,600    31,595    29,403    36,365    44,313
                     -------------------------------------------------
    Total
     substandard      130,021   119,072   102,041   105,581   106,377

Doubtful:
 Nonaccruing            3,286     4,377     6,791     3,792     6,617

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

Total classified
 loans               $133,307  $123,449  $108,832  $109,373  $112,994
                     =================================================

Classified as a
 percent of total
 loans                    1.2%      1.3%      1.2%      1.2%      1.3%
                     -------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowance for Loan Losses (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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


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

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

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

Allowance for
 purchased loans       20,081         -     1,970         -         -
Provision               5,000     5,000     5,000    10,000     5,000

Charge-offs:
 Commercial:
   Specialized
    industry                -       826       558     3,870       327
   All other
    commercial          2,646     2,249     2,949     9,361     4,232
                     -------------------------------------------------
    Total commercial    2,646     3,075     3,507    13,231     4,559
 Residential              187       983       330        39       160
 Consumer                 174        97       174       122       153
                     -------------------------------------------------
   Total charge-offs    3,007     4,155     4,011    13,392     4,872
Recoveries               (824)   (1,094)   (1,008)   (1,860)     (515)
                     -------------------------------------------------
    Net loan charge-
     offs               2,183     3,061     3,003    11,532     4,357
                     -------------------------------------------------

Ending balance       $146,511  $123,613  $121,674  $117,707  $119,239
                     =================================================

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

Allowance for loan
 losses / total loans   1.30 %    1.30 %    1.32 %    1.29 %    1.37 %
Net charge-offs/
 average loans
 (annualized)           0.08      0.13      0.13      0.52      0.20
Nonperforming loans
 / total loans          0.39      0.38      0.41      0.46      0.60
Nonperforming assets
 / total assets         0.28      0.27      0.29      0.32      0.39
Allowance for loan
 losses /
 nonperforming loans   332.24    338.30    323.22    263.61    228.06
CONTACT: Webster Financial Corporation
Media
Meghan Thompson, 203-578-2287
mthompson@websterbank.com
or
Investors
Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com

SOURCE: Webster Financial Corporation