Webster Appoints Donald A. Cyr to Be General Auditor

Aug 28, 2006

WATERBURY, Conn., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS) announced today the appointment of Donald A. Cyr as General Auditor, responsible for leading Webster's internal audit functions. In this capacity, Cyr will report directly to Webster's audit committee and administratively to Webster Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James C. Smith.

Cyr spent twenty years with FleetBoston Financial, serving as deputy auditor and managing director of its audit department and director, operating risk management. As deputy auditor he directed internal audit activities for technology and operations, retail, wealth management and brokerage audit teams, and he reported the results of all audit activities directly to the company's corporate audit committee. Most recently, Cyr directed Bank of America's corporate security team with responsibilities for the company's fraud and due diligence investigations and other security-related activities.

Cyr is a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Risk Professional. He also is a member of both the International Bank Security Association and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Cyr earned a B.A. in accounting from Providence College.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $18.0 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 160 banking offices, 308 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 www.websteronline.com.

Media Contact
Clark Finley, 203-578-2287
cfinley@websterbank.com
or
Investor Contact
Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com

SOURCE Webster Financial Corporation