Scott McBrair to Head Webster Bank's Retail Operations

Apr 20, 2005

WATERBURY, Conn., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Webster Bank, N.A., a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), announced today that Scott McBrair, of Columbus, Ohio, has been named Executive Vice President, Retail Banking, reporting to Webster President and Chief Operating Officer William T. Bromage. McBrair assumes his new responsibilities today.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050420/NYW048 )

Joining Webster from JP Morgan Chase, where he served as Executive Vice President and Region Executive for the branches in Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia, McBrair leads Webster's retail banking, including consumer and small business operations. He is responsible for Webster's 153 branch system, the bank's contact center and on-line banking capabilities and Webster's full range of retail banking products including checking, money market funds, certificates of deposit and small business loans.

"We are delighted to welcome Scott McBrair to Webster," said President and Chief Operating Officer William T. Bromage. "Webster has a rapidly growing franchise in our four states of operation. Scott's experience in the full breadth of retail banking and success in managing a large, competitive branch network will be a big help to us as we continue our expansion, both organically and through selective mergers and acquisitions."

At JP Morgan Chase, McBrair was responsible for the sales and financial performance of 230 branches. Since late 2003 McBrair has been National Director -- New Branches for Chase, where he coordinated the opening of more than 200 new branches. In this role he led the new build effort including branch financial performance, marketing and sales strategies, new branch training and new build personnel staffing. From 2001 to 2003, McBrair was Executive Vice President, General Manager for Bank One, where he held several roles in Retail Sales and Retail Operations. Key responsibilities included sales training, sales communications, the bank's 5000 national ATMs, deposit risk management, internal help desk, business continuity and equipment support.

From 1983 to 2000, McBrair held positions of increasing responsibility at Bank One and at The Marine Corporation, predecessor to Bank One Wisconsin Corporation. Before that, he worked in marketing research for Blue Cross and Blue Shield United of Wisconsin. McBrair received a Bachelor of Finance degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Tech. He is an avid runner and will relocate with his family to Connecticut.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $17.4 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 153 banking offices, 291 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., Center Capital Corporation, an equipment finance company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut and provides health savings account trustee and administrative services through HSA Bank, a division of Webster Bank.

For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at http://www.websteronline.com .

 

     Media Contact:                            Investor Contact:
     Meghan Thompson 203-578-2287              Terry Mangan 203-578-2318
     mthompson@websterbank.com                 tmangan@websterbank.com

Source: Webster Bank, N.A.