Webster Reports Quarterly Earnings Per Share of $.86 With Continued Strong Increases in Deposits and Commercial Loans

Oct 19, 2005

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WATERBURY, Conn., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., today announced net income of $46.6 million in the third quarter compared to $49.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income per diluted share was $.86 compared to $.92 a year ago. For the first nine months of 2005, net income was $140.4 million compared to $137.5 million a year ago. Net income per share was $2.59 and $2.73 in the respective periods. Average diluted shares outstanding are higher in 2005 as a result of shares issued in connection with the acquisition of FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC. on May 14, 2004.

Cash net income, which adds stock-based compensation and intangible amortization expenses back to net income, was $51.3 million compared to $53.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Cash net income per share was $.95 in the third quarter compared to $1.00 a year ago. For the first nine months of 2005, cash net income was $154.5 million compared to $149.5 million a year ago. Cash net income per share was $2.85 and $2.96 in the respective periods.

Included in net income are gains on the sale of securities. In the third quarter, these gains represented $.01 per share compared to $.07 a year ago. For the first nine months of 2005, securities gains were $.03 per share compared to $.22 a year ago. The reduced level of securities and securities gains in 2005 is consistent with Webster's emphasis on delivering high quality earnings. In addition, one-time expenses equivalent to $.03 per share in the third quarter and $.08 in the first nine months of 2005 were incurred in support of Webster's core infrastructure conversion project.

"Our third quarter results demonstrate continued strong core growth in deposits and commercial loans and the further strengthening of our balance sheet," stated Webster Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James C. Smith. "Webster's plan for growth is producing high quality earnings for our shareholders in the near term while affirming our commitment to investing in our future."

                                   Revenues

Total revenues (net interest income plus total noninterest income) were $185.6 million in the third quarter, compared to $180.4 million a year ago, an increase of 3 percent. Adjusting both periods to exclude securities gains, total revenues grew by 6 percent. Driving the growth in revenues was net interest income, which totaled $129.6 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to $121.3 million in the year-ago period. The increase over the prior year reflects growth in the loan portfolio fully funded by deposit growth and a higher net interest margin.

Webster's net interest margin (annualized tax-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) was 3.26 percent in the third quarter, an improvement of 20 basis points from 3.06 percent in the year-ago period. The increase from a year ago reflects the benefit of Webster's de-leveraging in the fourth quarter of 2004 and the impact of higher interest rates on earning asset yields over the past year. The recent interest rate environment, with longer-term interest rates not rising at the same level as short-term rates, resulted in a 6 basis point decline from the net interest margin of 3.32 percent in the second quarter of 2005.

In the third quarter of 2005, total noninterest income was $56.0 million compared to $59.1 million in the year-ago period. Excluding securities gains of $1.1 million and $5.8 million in the respective periods, noninterest income increased in the third quarter to $54.8 million from $53.3 million in the year-ago period. Deposit service fees grew by $1.6 million, or 8 percent, from a year ago aided by recently acquired HSA Bank while loan and loan servicing fees grew by 12 percent. Gains on sales of loans and loan servicing totaled $3.7 million in the quarter and decreased 17 percent from a year ago primarily as a result of the impact of competitive pricing in the market.

The provision for loan losses totaled $2.0 million in the third quarter and exceeded net loan charge-offs by $0.2 million. This compares to a provision of $4.0 million a year ago, which exceeded net loan charge-offs by $1.7 million. The annualized net loan charge-off ratio was 0.06 percent of average loans in the third quarter compared to 0.08 percent a year ago.

                                   Expenses

Total noninterest expenses for the 2005 third quarter were $114.9 million, which includes $2.2 million of non-recurring charges under Webster's core infrastructure conversion project, compared to $103.8 million in the year-ago period. Adjusting each period for acquisitions, investments in de novo branch expansion and the non-recurring core infrastructure conversion charges, total noninterest expenses were $106.8 million in the third quarter and $101.8 million a year ago for an increase of just under 5 percent. The increase reflects higher employee-related costs and investments in technology to support Webster's new core systems.

                             Balance Sheet Trends

Total assets were $17.8 billion at September 30, 2005, same as a year ago. Total loans of $12.2 billion increased 5 percent from $11.6 billion the prior year, while deposits were $11.7 billion, up 12 percent from $10.4 billion a year ago.

"Webster's double-digit organic growth in deposits and commercial loans over the past year reflects increasing success in our markets," stated Webster President and Chief Operating Officer William T. Bromage. "Our expanding regional footprint and our role as a trusted local provider offer substantial opportunity for future growth."

At the end of the third quarter, commercial loans were $4.6 billion, including commercial and industrial loans at $3.0 billion, up 15 percent from a year ago, and commercial real estate loans at $1.6 billion, up 3 percent. Consumer loans, primarily home equity loans and lines, increased 6 percent to $2.7 billion compared to $2.6 billion a year ago. Commercial, commercial real estate and consumer loans comprised 61 percent of total loans at September 30, 2005 compared to 59 percent a year ago.

Demand and NOW deposits have grown by 6 percent and 26 percent (14 percent adjusted for the HSA Bank acquisition), respectively, compared to a year ago while certificates of deposit balances have grown by 29 percent as consumer preferences have shifted to this product offering. Wholesale borrowings as a percent of total assets declined to 25 percent at September 30, 2005 compared to 32 percent a year ago as total deposit growth exceeded loan growth by $601 million over the past year.

"We actively manage our balance sheet, consistent with our stated operating principles," stated Webster Chief Financial Officer William J. Healy. "In the past year, we've made significant progress improving our loan to deposit ratio, reducing reliance on wholesale borrowings and building our tangible equity ratio."

Book value per common share of $30.41 at September 30, 2005 increased from $28.54 a year ago. Tangible book value per share of $17.71 at September 30, 2005 increased from $16.30 last year. The ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets increased to 5.45 percent at September 30, 2005 compared to 4.92 percent a year ago. Return on average tangible equity was 19.6 percent in the third quarter compared to 23.6 percent a year ago while the cash return on average tangible equity was 21.6 percent and 25.7 percent in the respective periods.

                                Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets increased during the quarter and totaled $60.4 million, or 0.34 percent of total assets, at September 30, 2005 compared to $44.2 million, or 0.25 percent, at June 30 and $40.0 million, or 0.22 percent, a year ago.

The allowance for loan losses was $155.1 million, or 1.27 percent of total loans, at September 30, 2005 compared to $148.2 million, or 1.28 percent, a year ago and $154.8 million, or 1.31 percent, at June 30. The ratio of the allowance to nonperforming loans at September 30, 2005 was 265 percent compared to 401 percent a year ago and 369 percent at June 30.

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 154 banking offices, 293 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.

Conference Call

A conference call covering Webster's 2005 third quarter earnings announcement will be held today, Wednesday, October 19, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and may be heard through Webster's investor relations website at http://www.wbst.com, or in listen-only mode by calling 1-877-407-3980 or 201-689-8475 internationally. The call will be archived on the website and available for future retrieval.

Forward-looking Statements

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 2004. Except as required by law, Webster does not undertake to update any such forward-looking information.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to results presented in accordance with GAAP, this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as cash basis net income, provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends and financial position. A reconciliation of cash basis net income to net income is included in the accompanying financial tables, elsewhere in this report.

Media Contact
Clark Finley 203-578-2287
cfinley@websterbank.com

Investor Contact
Terry Mangan 203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com


    Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)

                                  At or for the Three     At or for the Nine
                                     Months Ended            Months Ended
                                     September 30,           September  30,
    (In thousands, except per
     share data)                   2005        2004        2005        2004

    Net income and performance
     ratios (annualized):

    Net income                  $46,602     $49,361    $140,355    $137,527
    Net income per diluted
     common share                  0.86        0.92        2.59        2.73
    Return on average
     shareholders' equity         11.39%      13.25%      11.69%      13.75%
    Return on average tangible
     equity                       19.59       23.56       20.34       21.64
    Return on average assets       1.06        1.13        1.08        1.13
    Noninterest income as a
     percentage of total revenue  30.16       32.76       29.56       33.41
    Efficiency ratio (a,d)        61.93       57.53       61.09       57.30

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

    Net income                  $46,602     $49,361    $140,355    $137,527
    Stock-based compensation,
     net of tax                   1,470       1,260       4,493       3,242
    Intangible amortization,
     net of tax                   3,251       3,138       9,693       8,776
    Cash income                  51,323      53,759     154,541     149,545

    Cash income per diluted
     common share                  0.95        1.00        2.85        2.96
    Cash return on average
     shareholders' equity         12.55%      14.43%      12.87%      14.95%
    Cash return on average
     tangible equity              21.57       25.65       22.39       23.53
    Cash return on average assets  1.16        1.23        1.19        1.23

    Asset quality:

    Allowance for loan losses  $155,052    $148,179    $155,052    $148,179
    Nonperforming assets         60,355      39,993      60,355      39,993
    Allowance for loan losses/
     total loans                   1.27%       1.28%       1.27%       1.28%
    Net charge-offs/average
     loans (annualized)            0.06        0.08        0.03        0.10
    Nonperforming loans/
     total loans                   0.48        0.32        0.48        0.32
    Nonperforming assets/
     total assets                  0.34        0.22        0.34        0.22
    Allowance for loan losses/
     nonperforming loans         264.87      400.87      264.87      400.87

    Other ratios (annualized):

    Tangible capital ratio         5.45%       4.92%       5.45%       4.92%
    Shareholders' equity/
     total assets                  9.19        8.53        9.19        8.53
    Interest-rate spread           3.22        3.04        3.26        3.02
    Net interest margin            3.26        3.06        3.30        3.05

    Share related:

    Book value per common share  $30.41      $28.54      $30.41      $28.54
    Tangible book value per
     common share                 17.71       16.30       17.71       16.30
    Common stock closing price    44.96       49.39       44.96       49.39
    Dividends declared per
     common share                  0.25        0.23        0.73        0.67

    Common shares issued and
     outstanding                 53,795      53,185      53,795      53,185
    Basic shares (average)       53,648      52,938      53,612      49,606
    Diluted shares (average)     54,310      53,767      54,269      50,448

    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) For purposes of this computation, unrealized gains (losses) are
        excluded from the average balance for rate calculations.
    (d) Excluding conversion and infrastructure cost in 2005, the efficiency
        ratio would be 60.73% and 59.85% for the three and nine months ended
        September 30, 2005, respectively.


    Consolidated Statements of Condition   (unaudited)

                                        September 30,  June 30,  September 30,
    (In thousands)                           2005         2005         2004

    Assets:

    Cash and due from depository
     institutions                          $269,859     $322,376     $234,449
    Short-term investments                    9,224       13,088       25,783

    Securities:
      Trading, at fair value                  1,901        1,409        2,635
      Available for sale, at fair value   2,668,226    2,649,930    4,164,056
      Held-to-maturity securities         1,161,507    1,196,368      323,378
        Total securities                  3,831,634    3,847,707    4,490,069

    Loans held for sale                     247,365      245,174      111,175

    Loans:
      Residential mortgages               4,812,298    4,690,318    4,773,284
      Commercial                          2,978,537    2,781,938    2,586,351
      Commercial real estate              1,666,384    1,666,235    1,619,968
      Consumer                            2,740,019    2,671,197    2,595,629
        Total loans                      12,197,238   11,809,688   11,575,232
    Allowance for loan losses              (155,052)    (154,822)    (148,179)
        Loans, net                       12,042,186   11,654,866   11,427,053

    Accrued interest receivable              73,253       67,380       65,812
    Premises and equipment, net             179,463      171,579      136,385
    Goodwill and intangible assets          703,740      708,387      676,176
    Cash surrender value of life insurance  235,467      233,129      226,503
    Prepaid expenses and other assets       214,865      208,511      408,837

    Total Assets                        $17,807,056  $17,472,197  $17,802,242

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:

    Deposits:
      Demand deposits                    $1,431,642   $1,509,957   $1,356,924
      NOW accounts                        1,600,481    1,640,692    1,271,553
      Money market deposit accounts       1,971,075    1,892,664    2,153,852
      Savings accounts                    2,032,927    2,284,076    2,243,949
      Certificates of deposit             4,118,765    3,830,999    3,204,624
        Total retail deposits            11,154,890   11,158,388   10,230,902
      Treasury deposits                     507,302      420,846      208,521
        Total deposits                   11,662,192   11,579,234   10,439,423

    Federal Home Loan Bank advances       2,064,963    2,126,437    3,021,503
    Securities sold under agreements
     to repurchase and other
     short-term debt                      1,633,906    1,345,910    1,973,478
    Other long-term debt                    673,999      674,117      695,316
    Accrued expenses and other
     liabilities                            126,537      126,011      144,963
        Total liabilities                16,161,597   15,851,709   16,274,683

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

    Shareholders' equity                  1,635,882    1,610,911    1,517,982

    Total Liabilities and
     Shareholders' Equity               $17,807,056  $17,472,197  $17,802,242

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)
                                         Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                           September 30,       September 30,
    (In thousands, except per              2005      2004      2005     2004
     share data)

    Interest income:
    Loans                              $175,680  $145,456  $501,434  $393,131
    Securities and short-term
     investments                         43,775    45,541   127,358   135,311
    Loans held for sale                   3,686     1,755     9,382     4,964
      Total interest income             223,141   192,752   638,174   533,406

    Interest expense:
    Deposits                             51,338    32,611   131,305    87,613
    Borrowings                           42,191    38,853   119,190   105,232
      Total interest expense             93,529    71,464   250,495   192,845

      Net interest income               129,612   121,288   387,679   340,561
    Provision for loan losses             2,000     4,000     7,500    14,000
      Net interest income after
       provision for loan losses        127,612   117,288   380,179   326,561

    Noninterest income:
    Deposit service fees                 22,182    20,596    63,058    57,031
    Insurance revenue                    10,973    10,924    33,337    33,158
    Loan and loan servicing fees          7,739     6,893    23,942    20,847
    Wealth and investment services        5,554     6,044    16,977    17,009
    Gain on sale of loans and loan
     servicing, net                       3,703     4,467     9,251    10,813
    Increase in cash surrender value
     of life insurance                    2,341     2,421     6,881     6,552
    Financial advisory services             -         -         -       3,808
    Other                                 2,347     1,912     6,603     4,724
                                         54,839    53,257   160,049   153,942
    Gain on sale of securities, net       1,141     5,843     2,607    16,959
      Total noninterest income           55,980    59,100   162,656   170,901

    Noninterest expenses:
    Compensation and benefits            60,808    55,406   176,564   162,192
    Occupancy                            10,482     9,144    32,151    25,911
    Furniture and equipment              13,009    10,103    35,418    26,737
    Intangible amortization               5,001     4,827    14,912    13,501
    Marketing                             3,339     4,233    10,286    10,847
    Professional services                 3,626     4,294    11,368    10,131
    Conversion and infrastructure costs   2,217       200     6,857       200
    Other                                16,450    15,562    48,655    43,570
      Total noninterest expenses        114,932   103,769   336,211   293,089

    Income before income taxes           68,660    72,619   206,624   204,373
    Income taxes                         22,058    23,258    66,269    66,846
      Net income                        $46,602   $49,361  $140,355  $137,527

    Diluted shares (average)             54,310    53,767    54,269    50,448

    Net income per common share:
      Basic                               $0.87     $0.93     $2.62     $2.77
      Diluted                              0.86      0.92      2.59      2.73

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

                                           Three Months Ended
                             Sept. 30,  June 30, March 31,  Dec. 31  Sept. 30,
    (In thousands, except       2005      2005      2005      2004      2004
     per share data)

    Interest income:
    Loans                    $175,680  $166,967  $158,787  $154,177  $145,456
    Securities and short-
     term investments          43,775    42,684    40,899    42,807    45,541
    Loans held for sale         3,686     2,964     2,732     1,718     1,755
      Total interest income   223,141   212,615   202,418   198,702   192,752

    Interest expense:
    Deposits                   51,338    44,099    35,868    32,993    32,611
    Borrowings                 42,191    38,681    38,318    38,109    38,853
      Total interest expense   93,529    82,780    74,186    71,102    71,464

      Net interest income     129,612   129,835   128,232   127,600   121,288
    Provision for loan losses   2,000     2,000     3,500     4,000     4,000
      Net interest income
       after provision for
       loan losses            127,612   127,835   124,732   123,600   117,288

    Noninterest income:
    Deposit service fees       22,182    21,747    19,129    20,712    20,596
    Insurance revenue          10,973    10,562    11,802    10,348    10,924
    Loan and loan servicing
     fees                       7,739     7,274     8,929     7,727     6,893
    Wealth and investment
     services                   5,554     6,028     5,395     5,198     6,044
    Gain on sale of loans
     and loan servicing, net    3,703     3,012     2,536     2,492     4,467
    Increase in cash surrender
     value of life insurance    2,341     2,302     2,238     2,283     2,421
    Other                       2,347     2,013     2,243     2,692     1,912
                               54,839    52,938    52,272    51,452    53,257
    Gain (loss) on sale of
     securities, net            1,141       710       756    (2,646)    5,843
      Total noninterest income 55,980    53,648    53,028    48,806    59,100

    Noninterest expenses:
    Compensation and benefits  60,808    57,854    57,902    57,128    55,406
    Occupancy                  10,482    10,810    10,859     9,909     9,144
    Furniture and equipment    13,009    11,611    10,798    10,889    10,103
    Intangible amortization     5,001     5,009     4,902     4,844     4,827
    Marketing                   3,339     3,664     3,283     2,533     4,233
    Professional services       3,626     3,972     3,770     5,523     4,294
    Conversion and
     infrastructure costs       2,217     3,506     1,134       300       200
    Debt prepayment penalties       -         -         -    45,761         -
    Other                      16,450    17,079    15,126    17,161    15,562
    Total noninterest
     expenses                 114,932   113,505   107,774   154,048   103,769

    Income before income taxes 68,660    67,978    69,986    18,358    72,619
    Income taxes               22,058    21,720    22,491     2,052    23,258
      Net income              $46,602   $46,258   $47,495   $16,306   $49,361

    Diluted shares (average)   54,310    54,278    54,217    54,045    53,767

    Net income per common
     share:
      Basic                     $0.87     $0.86     $0.89     $0.31     $0.93
      Diluted                    0.86      0.85      0.88      0.30      0.92

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads (unaudited)

    Three Months Ended,            September  June  March  December  September
                                      2005    2005   2005    2004      2004

    Interest-rate spread
    Yield on interest-earning assets  5.55%   5.40%  5.22%   5.02%     4.82%
    Cost of interest-bearing
     liabilities                      2.33    2.11   1.94    1.80      1.78
      Interest-rate spread            3.22%   3.29%  3.28%   3.22%     3.04%
      Net interest margin             3.26    3.32   3.32    3.25      3.06

    Retail interest-rate spread
    Yield on loans and loans held
     for sale                         5.83%   5.66%  5.44%   5.25%     5.07%
    Cost of deposits                  1.76    1.57   1.37    1.25      1.25
      Spread                          4.07%   4.09%  4.07%   4.00%     3.82%

    Wholesale interest-rate spread
    Yield on securities and short-
     term investments                 4.67%   4.62%  4.52%   4.37%     4.18%
    Cost of borrowings                3.84    3.54   3.23    2.91      2.80
      Spread                          0.83%   1.08%  1.29%   1.46%     1.38%


    Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)

    Three Months Ended September 30,                 2005
                                                                    Fully tax-
                                              Average               equivalent
    (Dollars in thousands)                    balance    Interest   yield/rate

    Assets:
      Interest-earning assets:
      Loans                               $11,974,880    $175,685      5.81%
      Securities                            3,906,118      45,997      4.68(c)
      Loans held for sale                     223,002       3,686      6.61
      Short-term investments                   20,044         117      2.28
        Total interest-earning assets      16,124,044     225,485      5.55
      Noninterest-earning assets            1,505,579
        Total assets                      $17,629,623

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
      Interest-bearing liabilities:
      Demand deposits                      $1,477,230           -         -
      Savings, NOW and money market
       deposit accounts                     5,679,259      18,021      1.26
      Time deposits                         4,413,329      33,317      3.00
        Total deposits                     11,569,818      51,338      1.76
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances       2,128,760      19,134      3.52
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                      1,518,921      11,859      3.06
      Other long-term debt                    674,056      11,198      6.65
        Total borrowings                    4,321,737      42,191      3.84
        Total interest-bearing liabilities 15,891,555      93,529      2.33
      Noninterest-bearing liabilities          92,381
        Total liabilities                  15,983,936

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                              9,577

      Shareholders' equity                  1,636,110
        Total liabilities and
         shareholders' equity             $17,629,623
                                                         131,956
      Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                     (2,344)

      Net interest income                               $129,612

      Interest-rate spread                                             3.22%
      Net interest margin                                              3.26%

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

    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 (c)
      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
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                     1,608,818      5,919       1.44
      Other long-term debt                   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

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                             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%

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)

    Nine Months Ended September 30,                       2005
                                                                    Fully tax-
                                            Average                 equivalent
    (Dollars in thousands)                  balance     Interest    yield/rate

    Assets:
      Interest-earning assets:
      Loans                               $11,796,868   $501,440      5.65%
      Securities                            3,836,811    133,373      4.61 (c)
      Loans held for sale                     226,468      9,382      5.52
      Short-term investments                   20,028        390      2.57
        Total interest-earning assets      15,880,175    644,585      5.39
      Noninterest-earning assets            1,467,085
        Total assets                      $17,347,260

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
      Interest-bearing liabilities:
      Demand deposits                      $1,425,093          -         -
      Savings, NOW and money market
       deposit accounts                     5,678,099     47,161      1.11
      Time deposits                         4,064,228     84,144      2.77
        Total deposits                     11,167,420    131,305      1.57
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances       2,247,887     55,881      3.28
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                      1,542,111     31,274      2.67
      Other long-term debt                    676,426     32,035      6.31
        Total borrowings                    4,466,424    119,190      3.53
        Total interest-bearing
         liabilities                       15,633,844    250,495      2.13
      Noninterest-bearing liabilities         102,981
        Total liabilities                  15,736,825

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                              9,577

      Shareholders' equity                   1,600,858
        Total liabilities and
         shareholders' equity              $17,347,260
                                                         394,090
      Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                     (6,411)

      Net interest income                               $387,679

      Interest-rate spread                                            3.26%
      Net interest margin                                             3.30%

    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%
      Securities                            4,424,813     138,533     4.18 (c)
      Loans held for sale                     127,846       4,964     5.18
      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
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                      1,853,465      16,238     1.15
      Other long-term debt                    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

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                              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%

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


                                           At or for the Three Months Ended
    (Unaudited)                            Sept. 30,    June 30,   March 31,
    (Dollars in thousands)                     2005        2005        2005

    Asset Quality

    Nonperforming loans:
      Commercial:
        Commercial                          $27,544     $19,073     $17,112
        Equipment financing                   3,209       3,466       3,800
          Total commercial                   30,753      22,539      20,912

      Commercial real estate                 19,650      11,654      15,609
      Residential                             6,436       6,690       7,528
      Consumer                                1,699       1,019       1,586

    Total nonperforming loans                58,538      41,902      45,635

    Loans held for sale                         181         -           492

    Other real estate owned and
     repossessed assets:
      Commercial                              1,408       2,217       2,472
      Residential                               218         112         446
      Consumer                                   10          10          85

    Total other real estate owned and
     repossessed assets                       1,636       2,339       3,003

    Total nonperforming assets              $60,355     $44,241     $49,130


    Allowance for Loan Losses

    Beginning balance                      $154,822    $152,519    $150,112
    Allowance for purchased loans                 -           -           -
    Provision                                 2,000       2,000       3,500

    Charge-offs:
      Commercial                              2,204       1,432       2,155
      Residential                               378         178         167
      Consumer                                  137         201         142
        Total charge-offs                     2,719       1,811       2,464
    Recoveries                                 (949)     (2,114)     (1,371)
        Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs     1,770        (303)      1,093

    Ending balance                         $155,052    $154,822    $152,519

    Asset Quality Ratios:

    Allowance for loan losses/total loans      1.27%       1.31%       1.30%
    Net charge-offs (recoveries)/average
     loans (annualized)                        0.06       (0.01)       0.04
    Nonperforming loans/total loans            0.48        0.35        0.39
    Nonperforming assets/total assets          0.34        0.25        0.28
    Allowance for loan losses/
     nonperforming loans                     264.87      369.49      334.21


                                          At or for the Three Months Ended
    (Unaudited)                             Dec. 31,           Sept. 30,
    (Dollars in thousands)                    2004                2004

    Asset Quality

    Nonperforming loans:
      Commercial:
      Commercial                             $14,624            $12,407
      Equipment financing                      3,383              4,501
        Total commercial                      18,007             16,908

      Commercial real estate                   8,431             11,157
      Residential                              7,796              7,695
      Consumer                                 1,894              1,204

    Total nonperforming loans                 36,128             36,964

    Loans held for sale                            -                  -

    Other real estate owned and
     repossessed assets:
      Commercial                               2,824              2,482
      Residential                                100                527
      Consumer                                   114                 20

    Total other real estate owned and
     repossessed assets                        3,038              3,029

    Total nonperforming assets               $39,166            $39,993


    Allowance for Loan Losses

    Beginning balance                       $148,179           $146,511
    Allowance for purchased loans                617                  -
    Provision                                  4,000              4,000

    Charge-offs:
      Commercial                               3,432              3,556
      Residential                                367                 92
      Consumer                                   147                195
        Total charge-offs                      3,946              3,843
    Recoveries                                (1,262)            (1,511)
        Net loan (recoveries) charge-offs      2,684              2,332

    Ending balance                          $150,112           $148,179

    Asset Quality Ratios:

    Allowance for loan losses/total loans       1.28%              1.28%
    Net charge-offs (recoveries)/
     average loans (annualized)                 0.09               0.08
    Nonperforming loans/total loans             0.31               0.32
    Nonperforming assets/total assets           0.23               0.22
    Allowance for loan losses/
     nonperforming loans                      415.50             400.87
SOURCE  Webster Financial Corporation
    -0-                             10/19/2005
    /CONTACT:  Media Contact
               Clark Finley 203-578-2287
               cfinley@websterbank.com

               Investor Contact
               Terry Mangan 203-578-2318
               tmangan@websterbank.com /
    /Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050421/NYTH039LOGO /
    /Web site:  http://www.websteronline.com
                http://www.wbst.com /
    (WBS)

CO:  Webster Financial Corporation
ST:  Connecticut
IN:  FIN
SU:  ERN CCA

JC
-- NYW048 --
7585 10/19/2005 07:30 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com