Webster Reports 19 Percent Increase in Net Income for the Third Quarter

Oct 21, 2004

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WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 2004--Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., today announced net income of $49.4 million in the third quarter, compared to $41.3 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 19 percent. Net income per diluted share was $.92 in the third quarter, compared to $.89 in the year-ago period, an increase of 3 percent.

For the first nine months of 2004, net income was $137.5 million compared to $121.9 million in the year-ago period, an increase of 13 percent. Net income per diluted share was $2.73 compared to $2.63 the prior year, an increase of 4 percent.

"Webster has grown to be the largest independent bank based in southern New England and is well positioned for future growth. We are pleased to report higher earnings and continuing double-digit growth in loans and deposits in a quarter marked by a higher net interest margin and improved asset quality," said Webster chairman and chief executive officer James C. Smith. "We also announced in the quarter the strategic acquisition of the leading bank administrator in the fast-growing arena of health savings accounts, which will become a new source of core deposits and fee revenue."

The third quarter of 2004 results reflect the first full quarter of Webster's acquisition of FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC., which became effective on May 14, 2004. Upon acquisition, FIRSTFED had loans of $1.5 billion and deposits of $1.5 billion with 26 branches and 33 ATMs.

Revenues and Expenses

Total revenues (net interest income plus total noninterest income) were $180.4 million in the third quarter, compared to $165.4 million a year ago. Impacting the quarter and the first nine months 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 third quarter of 2003 for $2.8 million of this expense, total revenues would have grown by $17.7 million, or 11 percent, from a year ago.

Net interest income was $121.3 million in the third quarter of 2004, compared to $100.9 million in the year-ago period and $113.5 million in the second quarter. Adjusting for the effect of FIN 46R, net interest income grew by $23.1 million, or 24 percent, from a year ago and by $7.8 million, or 7 percent, from the second quarter. The increase over the prior year reflects growth in loans funded by core deposit growth, while the increase over the second quarter is mainly due to loan growth plus improvement in the net interest margin.

Webster's net interest margin (annualized net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) improved four basis points to 3.06 percent from 3.02 percent in the second quarter. This compares to 2.91 percent in the year-ago period adjusted for FIN 46R. The increases reflect the growth in higher yielding loans and the benefit of rising rates during the quarter.

In the third quarter of 2004, total noninterest income was $59.1 million, compared to $64.5 million in the year-ago period. Excluding securities gains, noninterest income declined in the third quarter to $53.3 million from $60.0 million in the year-ago period. This decline is explained by a one-time gain of $4.2 million from the sale of telecommunication loans that were Held for Sale and proceeds of $1.6 million from an insurance investment in the year-ago quarter and $4.8 million of revenue from Duff & Phelps, which was sold in the first quarter of this year. The core fee categories of deposit services, insurance, loan and loan servicing and wealth management grew by 10 percent, 6 percent excluding FIRSTFED. Gains on sales of loans, excluding the telecommunication loan gains, declined by $1.2 million due to a slowdown in the volume of mortgage originations.

Total noninterest expenses for the 2004 third quarter were $103.8 million, an increase of 11 percent from $93.7 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 7 percent in the third quarter. This increase reflects continuing investment in personnel, technology and de novo branches under our strategic plan for growth.

Balance Sheet Trends

At September 30, 2004, total assets were $17.8 billion, up 22 percent from $14.6 billion a year ago. Total loans of $11.6 billion at September 30, 2004 increased 27 percent from $9.1 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 11 percent, over the past year, while total deposits increased $0.8 billion, or 10 percent.

"Webster continues to achieve strong, double-digit growth in loans and deposits through the execution of our strategic plan," stated Webster president and chief operating officer William T. Bromage. "We look forward to carrying these strategies into Massachusetts and Rhode Island, creating new growth opportunities through our FIRSTFED acquisition."

At the end of the third quarter, commercial loans including commercial real estate were $4.2 billion, up 31 percent from $3.2 billion a year ago. Commercial real estate loans were $1.6 billion, up 36 percent. Consumer loans, primarily home equity loans and lines, increased 22 percent to $2.6 billion, compared to $2.1 billion one year ago. Excluding FIRSTFED, commercial loans including commercial real estate were up 16 percent, commercial real estate loans were up 19%, and consumer loans increased 10 percent.

Core deposits (consisting of checking, money market and savings accounts) of $7.0 billion at September 30, 2004 increased by 29 percent from a year ago and represented 67 percent of total deposits. Excluding FIRSTFED, core deposits grew 11 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 $28.54 at September 30, 2004 increased from $24.22 one year ago. Tangible book value per share of $16.30 at September 30, 2004 decreased from $17.73 one year ago, principally reflecting an increase in intangible assets related to the FIRSTFED acquisition.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $40.0 million or 0.22 percent of total assets at September 30, 2004, compared to $46.1 million or 0.32 percent a year ago and $47.7 million or 0.28 percent at June 30, 2004.

"Webster's asset quality strengthened further in the third quarter" stated Webster chief financial officer William J. Healy. "Nonperforming assets have declined substantially compared to a year ago and June 30, and our allowance for loan losses now exceeds four-times the level of our nonperforming loans."

The allowance for loan losses was $148.2 million, or 1.28 percent of total loans at September 30, 2004, compared to $117.7 million, or 1.29 percent, a year ago and $146.5 million, or 1.30 percent, at June 30, 2004. The ratio of the allowance to nonperforming loans at September 30, 2004 was 401 percent, compared to 284 percent a year ago and 332 percent at June 30, 2004.

The provision for loan losses totaled $4.0 million in the third quarter, $1.7 million more than net loan charge-offs of $2.3 million, compared to a provision of $10.0 million and net loan charge-offs of $11.5 million a year ago. The annualized net charge-off ratio was 0.08 percent of average loans in the third quarter, compared to 0.52 percent a year ago. The prior-year amounts reflect the charge-off of a single commercial nonperforming loan during the third quarter of 2003.

Webster Announces Plans to Complete 2003 Balance Sheet Restructuring Program

In light of the current interest rate environment, Webster plans to implement and complete during the fourth quarter a balance sheet de-leveraging through the sale of approximately $750 million of securities with an effective duration of 2.1 years. This transaction follows an initial de-leveraging of $750 million in securities that occurred during the second quarter in connection with the FIRSTFED acquisition. Proceeds from this de-leveraging will be used to prepay approximately $500 million of Federal Home Loan Bank advances that were swapped to floating rates and approximately $250 million of overnight borrowings. The current yield on the securities being sold is 3.53 percent while the current cost on the borrowings being repaid is 4.27 percent. The de-leveraging is expected to result in an after-tax loss of approximately $34 million ($50 million pre-tax) that will be reflected in Webster's financial results for the fourth quarter.

On a pro-forma basis over the next twelve months assuming implied levels of forward interest rates, the de-leveraging improves the tangible capital ratio by an additional 22 basis points, significantly reduces sensitivity to interest rate increases and improves the net interest margin, depending upon the movement of interest rates, by approximately 15 - 20 basis points. In addition, the pro-forma ratios of securities and borrowings as a percent of assets each decline by 3 percent immediately.

"Completion of this $750 million balance sheet restructuring at this time strengthens Webster's capital position and reduces our vulnerability to potential increases in interest rates by moving our balance sheet to a modest asset sensitive position," stated Mr. Healy. "In addition, the de-leveraging enhances our position as an emerging commercial bank by improving our ongoing net interest margin and reducing our securities and borrowings."

In a related transaction, Webster announced that it completed earlier this month the transfer of $921 million of 15-year mortgage-backed securities from its Available for Sale portfolio to its Held to Maturity portfolio. These bonds represent the longest duration securities that Webster owns. This transfer further protects Webster's tangible capital from upward movements in interest rates.

Strategic Actions

In July, Webster announced a definitive agreement to acquire First City Bank (Amex: FBK), headquartered in New Britain, Connecticut, with assets totaling $187 million at June 30, 2004. The agreement is a combination cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $33 million or $27 per common share of First City stock, payable 60% in Webster stock and 40% in cash. This acquisition is expected to close in December.

Webster entered the health savings account market in September with the announcement of its definitive agreement to acquire Eastern Wisconsin Bancshares, the holding company for State Bank of Howards Grove, for $26 million in cash. The State Bank of Howards Grove, which operates under the trade name "HSA Bank," will make Webster the nation's leading bank administrator of health savings accounts. Health savings accounts, paired with high-deductible health plans, Webster believes, will be a catalyst toward improving the cost, quality and availability of health care in the United States in the future. HSA Bank had $157 million in assets and $138 million in deposits at June 30, 2004. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005.

Also in September, Webster announced a ten-year agreement with Fidelity Information Services, Inc. (FIS), under which FIS will provide information technology and application processing services. Webster will use new software for core data processing services and to support its transition to a commercial bank, enhancing both capacity and speed for customer benefit in consumer, commercial mortgage and small business accounts in Fidelity's application service provider (ASP) environment. Webster will complete its migration to the new technology platform in the third quarter of 2005.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $17.8 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 148 banking offices, 273 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 third quarter earnings announcement will be held today, Thursday, October 21, 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 1-800-638-5495 (Access Code: 91089965). 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 Nine
                                Months Ended          Months Ended
(In thousands, except per       September 30,         September 30,
  share data)                  2004      2003        2004      2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Net income                  $ 49,361  $ 41,315    $137,527  $121,862
Net income per diluted
 common share                   0.92      0.89        2.73      2.63
Return on average
 shareholders' equity          13.25 %   15.54 %     13.75 %   15.25 %
Return on average tangible
 equity                        23.56     21.57       21.64     21.14
Return on average assets        1.13      1.13        1.13      1.15
Noninterest income as a
 percentage of total
  revenue                      32.76     38.99       33.41     36.49
Efficiency Ratio (a)           57.53     56.63       57.30     58.01


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

Net income                  $ 49,361  $ 41,315    $137,527  $121,862
Tax-effected stock-based
 compensation                  1,260       971       3,242     2,855
Tax-effected intangible
 amortization                  3,138     2,601       8,776     7,755
                             --------  --------   --------- ---------
Cash income                   53,759    44,887     149,545   132,472

Cash income per diluted
 common share                   1.00      0.97        2.96      2.86
Cash return on average
 shareholders' equity          14.43 %   16.88 %     14.95 %   16.58 %
Cash return on average
 tangible equity               25.65     23.43       23.53     22.98
Cash return on average
 assets                         1.23      1.23        1.23      1.25

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

Allowance for loan losses   $148,179  $117,707    $148,179  $117,707
Nonperforming assets          39,993    46,063      39,993    46,063
Allowance for loan losses /
 total loans                    1.28 %    1.29 %      1.28 %    1.29 %
Net charge-offs/ average
 loans (annualized)             0.08      0.52        0.10      0.30
Nonperforming loans /
 total loans                    0.32      0.46        0.32      0.46
Nonperforming assets /
 total assets                   0.22      0.32        0.22      0.32
Allowance for loan losses /
 nonperforming loans          400.87    283.61      400.87    283.61

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

Tangible capital ratio          4.92 %    5.51 %      4.92 %    5.51 %
Shareholders' equity /
 total assets                   8.53      7.55        8.53      7.55
Interest-rate spread   (c)      3.04      2.95        3.02      3.09
Net interest margin    (c)      3.06      2.99        3.05      3.13

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

Book value per common
 share                      $  28.54  $  24.22    $  28.54  $  24.22
Tangible book value per
 common share                  16.30     17.73       16.30     17.73
Common stock closing price     49.39     39.88       49.39     39.88
Dividends declared per
 common share                   0.23      0.21        0.67      0.61

Common shares issued and
 outstanding                  53,185    45,562      53,185    45,562
Basic shares (average)        52,938    45,444      49,606    45,450
Diluted shares (average)      53,767    46,313      50,448    46,249

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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                              September 30,   June 30,   September 30,
(In thousands)                   2004           2004        2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Assets:

 Cash and due from depository
  institutions                $    234,449  $   252,818  $    214,566
 Short-term investments             25,783       39,887        26,196

 Securities:
   Trading, at fair value            2,635        1,944            56
   Available for sale, at fair
    value                        4,164,056    3,853,154     4,284,134
   Held-to-maturity securities     323,378      284,392             -
                                -----------  -----------   -----------
      Total securities           4,490,069    4,139,490     4,284,190

 Loans held for sale               111,175      153,396       278,402

 Loans:
   Residential mortgages         4,773,284    4,731,950     3,758,106
   Commercial                    2,586,351    2,455,512     2,018,279
   Commercial real estate        1,619,968    1,572,289     1,187,065
   Consumer                      2,595,629    2,530,443     2,131,878
                                -----------  -----------   -----------
     Total loans                11,575,232   11,290,194     9,095,328
 Allowance for loan losses        (148,179)    (146,511)     (117,707)
                                -----------  -----------   -----------
     Loans, net                 11,427,053   11,143,683     8,977,621

 Accrued interest receivable        65,812       59,737        53,091
 Premises and equipment, net       136,385      132,842        85,521
 Goodwill and intangible
  assets                           676,176      681,252       315,556
 Cash surrender value of life
  insurance                        226,503      224,082       178,474
 Prepaid expenses and other
  assets                           408,837      198,683       195,166
                                -----------  -----------   -----------

 Total Assets                 $ 17,802,242  $17,025,870  $ 14,608,783
                                ===========  ===========   ===========

 Liabilities and Shareholders'
  Equity:

 Deposits:
   Demand deposits            $  1,356,924  $ 1,362,339  $  1,017,870
   NOW accounts                  1,271,553    1,423,822     1,010,071
   Money market deposit
    accounts                     2,153,852    2,013,894     1,606,342
   Savings accounts              2,243,949    2,281,312     1,807,891
   Certificates of deposit       3,204,624    3,184,991     2,590,513
                                -----------  -----------   -----------
     Total retail deposits      10,230,902   10,266,358     8,032,687
   Treasury deposits               208,521      106,564       100,884
                                -----------  -----------   -----------
     Total deposits             10,439,423   10,372,922     8,133,571

 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                       3,021,503    2,731,332     2,149,762
 Federal funds purchased and
  securities sold under
   agreements to repurchase      1,973,478    1,670,594     2,531,875
 Other long-term debt  (c)         695,316      695,417       326,000
 Accrued expenses and other
  liabilities                      144,963       95,112       169,301
                                -----------  -----------   -----------
     Total liabilities          16,274,683   15,565,377    13,310,509

 Corporation-obligated
  mandatorily redeemable
   capital securities of
    subsidiary trusts  (c)               -            -       185,255

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

 Shareholders' equity            1,517,982    1,450,916     1,103,442
                                -----------  -----------   -----------

 Total Liabilities and
  Shareholders' Equity        $ 17,802,242  $17,025,870  $ 14,608,783
                                ===========  ===========   ===========


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

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

 Interest income:
 Loans                         $145,456  $114,750  $393,131  $342,695
 Securities and short-term
  investments                    45,541    42,050   135,311   139,567
 Loans held for sale              1,755     4,896     4,964    13,618
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total interest income         192,752   161,696   533,406   495,880
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

 Interest expense:
 Deposits                        32,611    26,824    87,613    84,992
 Borrowings                      38,853    33,943   105,232   104,664
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total interest expense         71,464    60,767   192,845   189,656
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

  Net interest income           121,288   100,929   340,561   306,224
 Provision for loan losses        4,000    10,000    14,000    20,000
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Net interest income after
   provision for loan losses    117,288    90,929   326,561   286,224
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

 Noninterest income:
 Deposit service fees            20,596    17,868    57,031    52,287
 Insurance revenue               10,924     9,954    33,158    30,898
 Loan and loan servicing fees     6,893     7,755    20,847    18,383
 Wealth and investment
  services                        6,044     4,826    17,009    13,925
 Financial advisory services          -     4,833     3,808    15,493
 Gain on sale of loans and
  loan servicing, net             4,467     9,829    10,813    16,666
 Increase in cash surrender
  value of life insurance         2,421     2,150     6,552     6,408
 Other                            1,912     2,737     4,724     6,021
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
                                 53,257    59,952   153,942   160,081
 Gain on sale of securities,
  net                             5,843     4,560    16,959    15,859
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
   Total noninterest income      59,100    64,512   170,901   175,940
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------

 Noninterest expenses:
 Compensation and benefits       55,606    51,592   162,392   152,659
 Occupancy                        9,144     7,457    25,911    23,228
 Furniture and equipment         10,103     8,255    26,737    23,351
 Intangible amortization          4,827     4,001    13,501    11,931
 Marketing                        4,233     2,729    10,847     9,450
 Professional services            4,294     2,582    10,131     8,054
 Acquisition costs                    -       142       265       148
 Capital trust securities (c)         -     2,774         -     8,439
 Other                           15,562    14,165    43,305    42,442
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total noninterest expenses    103,769    93,697   293,089   279,702
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------


 Income before income taxes      72,619    61,744   204,373   182,462
 Income taxes                    23,258    20,429    66,846    60,600
                               --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Net income                   $ 49,361  $ 41,315  $137,527  $121,862
                               ========= ========= ========= =========

 Diluted shares (average)        53,767    46,313    50,448    46,249

 Net income per common share:
   Basic                       $   0.93  $   0.91  $   2.77  $   2.68
   Diluted                         0.92      0.89      2.73      2.63


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

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

Interest income:
Loans                $145,456  $129,084  $118,591  $117,982  $114,750
Securities and
 short-term
  investments          45,541    45,162    44,608    43,065    42,050
Loans held for
 sale                   1,755     2,139     1,070     1,791     4,896
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Total interest
  income              192,752   176,385   164,269   162,838   161,696
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Interest expense:
Deposits               32,611    29,172    25,830    26,319    26,824
Borrowings             38,853    33,746    32,633    29,224    33,943
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Total interest
  expense              71,464    62,918    58,463    55,543    60,767
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

 Net interest income  121,288   113,467   105,806   107,295   100,929
Provision for
 loan losses            4,000     5,000     5,000     5,000    10,000
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Net interest income
  after provision for
  loan losses         117,288   108,467   100,806   102,295    90,929
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Noninterest
 income:
Deposit service
 fees                  20,596    19,250    17,185    17,731    17,868
Insurance
 revenue               10,924    10,596    11,638     9,077     9,954
Loan and loan
 servicing fees         6,893     7,305     6,649     8,001     7,755
Wealth and
 investment
  services              6,044     5,849     5,116     4,416     4,826
Financial
 advisory
  services                  -         -     3,808     7,265     4,833
Gain on sale of
 loans and loan
  servicing, net        4,467     5,321     1,025     2,854     9,829
Increase in cash
 surrender value
  of life insurance     2,421     2,177     1,954     2,082     2,150
Other                   1,912       964     1,848     2,402     2,737
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
                       53,257    51,462    49,223    53,828    59,952
Gain on sale of
 securities, net        5,843     5,616     5,500     2,715     4,560
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  Total noninterest
   income              59,100    57,078    54,723    56,543    64,512
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Noninterest
 expenses:
Compensation and
 benefits              55,606    53,659    53,127    53,722    51,592
Occupancy               9,144     8,402     8,365     7,470     7,457
Furniture and
 equipment             10,103     8,993     7,641     7,792     8,255
Intangible
 amortization           4,827     4,582     4,092     4,067     4,001
Marketing               4,233     3,630     2,984     2,058     2,729
Professional
 services               4,294     2,938     2,899     3,654     2,582
Capital trust
 securities  (c)            -         -         -     3,485     2,774
Acquisition
 costs                      -       265         -     1,349       142
Other                  15,562    14,710    13,033    14,683    14,165
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Total
  noninterest
  expenses            103,769    97,179    92,141    98,280    93,697
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------


Income before
 income taxes          72,619    68,366    63,388    60,558    61,744
Income taxes           23,258    22,523    21,065    19,172    20,429
                     --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Net income          $ 49,361  $ 45,843  $ 42,323  $ 41,386  $ 41,315
                     ========= ========= ========= ========= =========

Diluted shares
 (average)             53,767    50,475    47,059    46,699    46,313

Net income per
 common share:
  Basic              $   0.93  $   0.92  $   0.92  $   0.90  $   0.91
  Diluted                0.92      0.91      0.90      0.89      0.89


See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

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

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

 Interest-rate spread
--------------------------------
 Total interest-earning assets      4.82%  4.68%   4.78%  4.81%  4.75%
 Total interest-bearing liabilities 1.78   1.69    1.74   1.68   1.80
                                   ------ ------ ------- ------ ------
     Interest-rate spread           3.04%  2.99%   3.04%  3.13%  2.95%
     Net interest margin            3.06   3.02    3.09   3.18   2.99

 Retail interest-rate spread
--------------------------------
 Yield on loans and loans held
  for sale                          5.07%  4.93%   5.05%  5.09%  5.09%
 Cost of deposits                   1.25   1.23    1.24   1.26   1.32
                                   ------ ------ ------- ------ ------
     Spread                         3.82%  3.70%   3.81%  3.83%  3.77%
                                   ====== ====== ======= ====== ======

 Wholesale interest-rate spread
--------------------------------
 Yield on securities and short-
  term investments                  4.18%  4.09%   4.19%  4.17%  4.02%
 Cost of borrowings                 2.80   2.50    2.56   2.41   2.55
                                   ------ ------ ------- ------ ------
     Spread                         1.38%  1.59%   1.63%  1.76%  1.47%
                                   ====== ====== ======= ====== ======

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

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                      $11,401,076  $   145,456         5.06 %
 Securities                   4,456,849       47,095         4.20  (d)
 Loans held for sale            129,157        1,755         5.44
 Short-term investments          31,231          106         1.33
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total interest-earning
     assets                  16,018,313      194,412         4.82
                                         ------------
 Noninterest-earning assets   1,413,030
                            ------------
    Total assets            $17,431,343
                            ============

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits            $ 1,357,230  $         -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposit accounts     5,673,797       12,703         0.89
 Time deposits                3,366,232       19,908         2.35
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total deposits           10,397,259       32,611         1.25
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                    3,147,887       23,373         2.91
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                  1,608,818        5,919         1.44
 Other long-term debt (c)       695,365        9,561         5.50
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total borrowings          5,452,070       38,853         2.80
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities             15,849,329       71,464         1.78
                                         ------------
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                    82,696
                            ------------
    Total liabilities        15,932,025

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

 Shareholders' equity         1,489,741
                            ------------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity   $17,431,343
                            ============
                                             122,948
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                  (1,660)
                                         ------------

 Net interest income                     $   121,288
                                         ============

 Interest-rate spread                                        3.04 %
                                                      ============
 Net interest margin                                         3.06 %
                                                      ============

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

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

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits            $ 1,042,556  $         -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposit accounts     4,393,262        9,851         0.89
 Time deposits                2,642,488       16,973         2.55
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total deposits            8,078,306       26,824         1.32
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                    2,319,927       22,127         3.73
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                  2,576,065        7,486         1.14
 Other long-term debt (c)       326,000        4,330         5.31
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total borrowings          5,221,992       33,943         2.55
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities             13,300,298       60,767         1.80
                                         ------------
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                    81,836
                            ------------
    Total liabilities        13,382,134

 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of
   subsidiary corporation (c)   131,220

 Shareholders' equity         1,063,595
                            ------------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity   $14,576,949
                            ============
                                             101,343
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                    (414)
                                         ------------

 Net interest income                     $   100,929
                                         ============

 Interest-rate spread                                        2.95 %
                                                      ============
 Net interest margin                                         2.99 %
                                                      ============

See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

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

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                      $10,407,028  $   393,131         5.01 %
 Loans held for sale            127,846        4,964         5.18
 Securities                   4,424,813      138,533         4.18  (d)
 Short-term investments          32,290          256         1.04
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total interest-earning
     assets                  14,991,977      536,884         4.76
                                         ------------
 Noninterest-earning assets   1,174,680
                            ------------
    Total assets            $16,166,657
                            ============

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits            $ 1,207,649  $         -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposit accounts     5,166,808       33,143         0.86
 Time deposits                3,071,795       54,470         2.37
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total deposits            9,446,252       87,613         1.24
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                    2,802,588       62,282         2.92
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                  1,853,465       16,238         1.15
 Other long-term debt (c)       633,343       26,712         5.62
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total borrowings          5,289,396      105,232         2.62
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities             14,735,648      192,845         1.74
                                         ------------
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                    88,132
                            ------------
    Total liabilities        14,823,780

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

 Shareholders' equity         1,333,300
                            ------------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity   $16,166,657
                            ============
                                             344,039
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                  (3,478)
                                         ------------

 Net interest income                     $   340,561
                                         ============

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


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

Assets:
 Interest-earning assets:
 Loans                      $ 8,605,386  $   342,695         5.29 %
 Loans held for sale            345,382       13,618         5.26
 Securities                   4,185,538      140,521         4.54  (d)
 Short-term investments          23,161          174         0.99
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total interest-earning
     assets                  13,159,467      497,008         5.05
                                         ------------
 Noninterest-earning assets     967,783
                            ------------
    Total assets            $14,127,250
                            ============

Liabilities and
 Shareholders' Equity:
 Interest-bearing
  liabilities:
 Demand deposits            $   994,803  $         -            - %
 Savings, NOW and money
  market deposit accounts     4,218,937       32,403         1.03
 Time deposits                2,651,806       52,589         2.65
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total deposits            7,865,546       84,992         1.44
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
 Federal Home Loan Bank
  advances                    2,428,287       69,204         3.76
 Fed funds and repurchase
  agreements                  2,245,481       20,521         1.21
 Other long-term debt (c)       316,476       14,939         6.29
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total borrowings          4,990,244      104,664         2.77
                            ------------ ------------ ------------
    Total interest-bearing
     liabilities             12,855,790      189,656         1.96
                                         ------------
 Noninterest-bearing
  liabilities                    77,393
                            ------------
    Total liabilities        12,933,183

 Capital securities and
  preferred stock of
   subsidiary
    corporation (c)             128,510

 Shareholders' equity         1,065,557
                            ------------
    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity   $14,127,250
                            ============
                                             307,352
 Less: tax-equivalent
  adjustment                                  (1,128)
                                         ------------

 Net interest income                     $   306,224
                                         ============

 Interest-rate spread                                        3.09 %
                                                      ============
 Net interest margin                                         3.13 %
                                                      ============

See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Asset Quality  (unaudited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                             At or for the Three Months Ended
                     -------------------------------------------------

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

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

Nonperforming loans:
 Commercial:
    Commercial       $ 12,407  $ 15,895  $ 11,832  $ 14,266  $ 17,024
    Specialized
     industry               -         -     5,019     6,427     6,493
    Equipment
     financing          4,501     5,021     5,561     5,583     8,241
                     -------------------------------------------------
         Total
          commercial   16,908    20,916    22,412    26,276    31,758

 Commercial real
  estate               11,157    13,757     5,583     4,281     1,940
 Residential            7,695     8,599     7,941     6,128     7,087
 Consumer               1,204       826       604       959       718
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 loans                 36,964    44,098    36,540    37,644    41,503
                     -------------------------------------------------

Other real estate owned and
 repossessed assets:
 Commercial             2,482     3,192     4,273     4,296     4,019
 Residential              527       238       325       942       541
 Consumer                  20       130       124         -         -
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total other real
 estate owned and
  repossessed assets    3,029     3,560     4,722     5,238     4,560
                     -------------------------------------------------

Total nonperforming
 assets              $ 39,993  $ 47,658  $ 41,262  $ 42,882  $ 46,063
                     =================================================

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

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

Substandard:
 Accruing            $ 89,463  $ 90,421  $ 87,477  $ 72,638  $ 69,216
 Nonaccruing           32,234    39,600    31,595    29,403    36,365
                     -------------------------------------------------
    Total
     substandard      121,697   130,021   119,072   102,041   105,581

Doubtful:
 Nonaccruing            3,615     3,286     4,377     6,791     3,792

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

Total classified
 loans               $125,312  $133,307  $123,449  $108,832  $109,373
                     =================================================

Classified as a
 percent of total
  loans                   1.1%      1.2%      1.3%      1.2%      1.2%
                     =================================================

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

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

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

Allowance for
 purchased loans           -    20,081         -     1,970         -
Provision              4,000     5,000     5,000     5,000    10,000

Charge-offs:
  Commercial:
   Specialized
    industry               -         -       826       558     3,870
   All other
    commercial         3,556     2,646     2,249     2,949     9,361
                     -------------------------------------------------
        Total
         commercial    3,556     2,646     3,075     3,507    13,231
  Residential             92       187       983       330        39
  Consumer               195       174        97       174       122
                     -------------------------------------------------
   Total charge-offs   3,843     3,007     4,155     4,011    13,392
Recoveries            (1,511)     (824)   (1,094)   (1,008)   (1,860)
                     -------------------------------------------------
   Net loan charge-
    offs               2,332     2,183     3,061     3,003    11,532
                     -------------------------------------------------

Ending balance      $148,179  $146,511  $123,613  $121,674  $117,707
                     =================================================

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

Allowance for loan
 losses / total
  loans                 1.28 %    1.30 %    1.30 %    1.32 %    1.29 %
Net charge-offs/
 average loans
  (annualized)          0.08      0.08      0.13      0.13      0.52
Nonperforming loans /
 total loans            0.32      0.39      0.38      0.41      0.46
Nonperforming
 assets / total
  assets                0.22      0.28      0.27      0.29      0.32
Allowance for loan
 losses /
  nonperforming loans 400.87    332.24    338.30    323.22    283.61
CONTACT: Webster Bank, N.A.
Media:
Meghan Thompson, 203-578-2287
mthompson@websterbank.com
or
Investors:
Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com

SOURCE: Webster Financial Corporation