Webster Reports Quarterly Earnings Per Share of $.81

Jul 25, 2006

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Second Quarter Trends Compared To Prior Year:

  • Commercial loans grow by 12 percent
  • Deposits grow by 6 percent
  • Noninterest income increases by 6 percent
  • Wholesale borrowings decline to 22 percent of assets

WATERBURY, Conn., July 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., today announced net income of $43.1 million in the second quarter compared to $46.3 million a year ago. Net income per diluted share was $.81 compared to $.85 a year ago. For the first six months of 2006, net income was $87.0 million compared to $93.8 million a year ago. Net income per share was $1.63 and $1.73 in the respective periods.

Among the factors impacting the quarter were a change in the timing of dividends from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (FHLB Boston) and the continuing effects of a flattened yield curve. Webster did not record any dividend income on its FHLB Boston investment during the quarter, but the FHLB Boston has indicated that it expects to declare the equivalent of two dividend payments in the third quarter. Earnings for the second quarter of 2006 would have been $.02 per share higher had the dividend been recorded. The flattened yield curve reduced wholesale spread revenues from investment securities activities in the quarter, as the cost of borrowings exceeded the yield on securities and reduced earnings per share by $.01 compared to a favorable wholesale spread contribution of $.13 per share a year ago.

Cash net income, which adds stock-based compensation and intangible amortization expenses back to net income, was $46.9 million, or $.88 per share, compared to $51.1 million, or $.94 per share, in the year-ago quarter. For the first six months, cash net income was $94.9 million, or $1.78 per share, compared to $103.2 million, or $1.90 per share, a year ago.

"Solid growth in our core franchise activities underscores Webster's strategic progress," stated Webster Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James C. Smith. "Double-digit combined growth in commercial and consumer loans, coupled with solid growth in deposits and fees and reductions in securities and borrowings, further strengthens our balance sheet and improves earnings quality. We're building on our position as the largest independent bank headquartered in New England."

Commercial loans, including commercial real estate loans, were $5.0 billion at June 30, 2006, up 12 percent from a year ago. Commercial and industrial loans were $3.2 billion, up 14 percent, and commercial real estate loans were $1.8 billion, up 9 percent. Consumer loans, primarily home equity loans and lines, increased 7 percent to $2.9 billion compared to $2.7 billion a year ago. Commercial and consumer loans grew at a combined rate of 10 percent from a year ago while residential loans, which totaled $4.9 billion, grew by 4 percent.

The company also noted that Webster Bank has reached an informal agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to address general bank compliance, including bank secrecy act and related money laundering risks, flood acts compliance and the internal audit program. These increased compliance efforts, already well under way and receiving significant management attention, are not expected to have a material impact on Webster's operations or earnings.

Revenues

Total revenues, consisting of net interest income plus total noninterest income, were $183.9 million in the second quarter compared to $183.5 million a year ago. Net interest income totaled $126.8 million in the second quarter compared to $129.8 million in the year-ago period, a decrease of 2 percent. FHLB Boston's decision to defer the timing of dividends represented $1.8 million of the decline. Strong growth in higher yielding commercial and consumer loans was offset by reduced wholesale spread revenue from the securities portfolio.

Webster's net interest margin (annualized tax-equivalent net interest income as a percentage of average earning assets) was 3.13 percent compared to 3.32 percent in the second quarter of 2005. The net interest margin would have been 4 basis points higher in this quarter had FHLB Boston dividend income been recorded as in prior periods. The decline from a year ago primarily reflects deposit and borrowing costs increasing faster than yields on earning assets due to the flattening of the yield curve.

Total noninterest income was $57.1 million in the second quarter compared to $53.6 million a year ago, an increase of 6 percent. Deposit service fees totaled $24.2 million and increased 11 percent from a year ago reflecting growth in retail banking activities. Loan and loan servicing fees totaled $9.2 million and increased 26 percent aided by higher levels of line usage fees and prepayment penalties. Wealth management fees totaled $6.9 million and increased 15 percent based on strength in trust fees and investment services revenues. These increases were partially offset by declines of $0.6 million in insurance revenue and $0.5 million in gains on sale of loans.

The provision for credit losses totaled $3.0 million in the second quarter and exceeded net loan charge-offs by $0.5 million. The provision was $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2005, which exceeded net loan charge-offs by $2.3 million as a result of a net loan recovery of $0.3 million in that quarter. The annualized net loan charge-off ratio was 0.08 percent of average loans compared to (0.01) percent in the second quarter a year ago and 0.03 percent for the full year 2005.

Expenses

Total noninterest expenses were $117.3 million in the second quarter compared to $113.5 million a year ago, an increase of 3 percent. Contributing to this increase were ongoing investments in de novo branch expansion, HSA Bank and the higher net cost of our new core systems. Adjusting for these items and non-recurring core infrastructure conversion project charges in the second quarter of 2005, noninterest expenses increased by 2 percent to $107.7 million compared to $105.4 million a year ago. This increase includes new revenue-generating personnel in Webster's lines of business, the ongoing build-out of the compliance function and other employee-related costs.

                             Balance Sheet Trends

Total assets were $18.0 billion at June 30, 2006 and increased 3 percent from a year ago. Total loans were $12.7 billion and increased $0.9 billion, or 8 percent, from a year ago while securities totaled $3.4 billion and declined by $0.4 billion, or 11 percent. Deposits were $12.2 billion and increased $0.6 billion, or 6 percent, with contributions from our de novo branching program and ongoing growth in health savings account deposits at HSA Bank.

"Webster continues to deliver sustained organic growth through the strength of our customer relationships," stated Webster President and Chief Operating Officer William T. Bromage. "Our ability to address the totality of customer financial needs in our expanding markets underpins Webster's future opportunities for growth."

Demand and NOW deposits each grew by 3 percent compared to a year ago while certificates of deposit balances grew by 16 percent as customers continued to shift balances to this product category. The $0.4 billion reduction in securities compared to a year ago funded $0.3 billion of loan growth in excess of deposit growth and contributed to a $0.2 billion reduction in wholesale borrowings over the past year. As a result, wholesale borrowings declined to 22 percent of total assets at June 30 compared to 24 percent a year ago.

Book value per common share of $31.27 at June 30, 2006 increased from $29.94 a year ago. Tangible book value per share of $18.36 at June 30 increased from $17.18 last year. The ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets increased to 5.48 percent at June 30 compared to 5.38 percent a year ago. Return on average tangible equity was 17.4 percent in the second quarter compared to 20.2 percent a year ago while the cash return on average tangible equity was 18.9 percent and 22.3 percent in the respective periods.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets totaled $64.3 million, or 0.36 percent of total assets, at June 30, 2006 compared to $61.9 million, or 0.35 percent, at March 31 and $44.2 million, or 0.25 percent, a year ago.

The allowance for credit losses, which consists of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded commitments, was $156.5 million, or 1.23 percent of total loans, at June 30 compared to $154.8 million, or 1.31 percent, a year ago. The ratio of the allowance to nonperforming loans was 253 percent at June 30 compared to 369 percent a year ago.

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 http://www.websteronline.com.

Conference Call

A conference call covering Webster's 2006 second quarter earnings announcement will be held today, Tuesday, July 25, 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 2005. 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.

    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION


    Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)

                                  At or for the Three      At or for the Six
                                 Months Ended June 30,   Months Ended June 30,
    (In thousands, except per
     share data)                    2006        2005        2006        2005

    Net income and performance
     ratios (annualized):

    Net income                   $ 43,143    $ 46,258    $ 86,995    $ 93,753
    Net income per diluted
     common share                    0.81        0.85        1.63        1.73
    Return on average
     shareholders' equity           10.34%      11.57%      10.44%      11.85%
    Return on average tangible
     equity                         17.44       20.20       17.63       20.74
    Return on average assets         0.96        1.07        0.98        1.09
    Noninterest income as a
     percentage of total
     revenue                        31.04       29.24       30.41       29.25
    Efficiency ratio (a,d)          63.80       61.86       64.05       60.67

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

    Net income                   $ 43,143    $ 46,258    $ 86,995    $ 93,753
    Stock-based compensation,
     net of tax                     1,408       1,620       2,796       3,023
    Intangible amortization,
     net of tax                     2,304       3,256       5,149       6,442
    Cash income                    46,855      51,134      94,940     103,218

    Cash income per diluted
     common share                    0.88        0.94        1.78        1.90
    Cash return on average
     shareholders' equity           11.22%      12.78%      11.39%      13.04%
    Cash return on average
     tangible equity                18.94       22.33       19.24       22.83
    Cash return on average
     assets                          1.05        1.18        1.06        1.20

    Asset quality:

    Allowance for credit
     losses                      $156,471    $154,822    $156,471    $154,822
    Nonperforming assets           64,319      44,241      64,319      44,241
    Allowance for credit
     losses / total loans            1.23%       1.31%       1.23%       1.31%
    Net charge-offs
     (recoveries) / average
     loans (annualized)              0.08       (0.01)       0.07        0.01
    Nonperforming loans /
     total loans                     0.49        0.35        0.49        0.35
    Nonperforming assets /
     total assets                    0.36        0.25        0.36        0.25
    Allowance for credit
     losses / nonperforming
     loans                         253.44      369.49      253.44      369.49

    Other ratios (annualized):

    Tangible capital ratio           5.48%       5.38%       5.48%       5.38%
    Shareholders' equity /
     total assets                    9.13        9.22        9.13        9.22
    Interest-rate spread             3.06        3.29        3.13        3.28
    Net interest margin              3.13        3.32        3.18        3.32

    Share related:

    Book value per common
     share                       $  31.27    $  29.94    $  31.27    $  29.94
    Tangible book value per
     common share                   18.36       17.18       18.36       17.18
    Common stock closing price      47.44       46.69       47.44       46.69
    Dividends declared per
     common share                    0.27        0.25        0.52        0.48

    Common shares issued and
     outstanding                   52,610      53,807      52,610      53,807
    Basic shares (average)         52,637      53,618      52,864      53,594
    Diluted shares (average)       53,252      54,278      53,468      54,244

    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 costs, the efficiency ratio
         would have been 59.95% and 59.39% for the three and six months ended
         June 30, 2005, respectively.
     (e) Effective December 31, 2005, Webster transferred the portion of the
         allowance for loan losses related to commercial and consumer lending
         commitments and letters of credit to the reserve for unfunded credit
         commitments.
     (f) The recording of the FHLB dividend of $1.8 million in the second
         quarter of 2006 would have increased the yield by 19 basis points
         (bp) and improved the wholesale spread from (24) bp to (5) bp.
     (g) Cost of borrowings includes long-term debt such as Trust Preferred
         Securities and subordinated debt.



    Consolidated Statements of Condition (unaudited)

                                            June 30,     March 31,    June 30,
    (In thousands)                            2006         2006         2005

      Assets:

      Cash and due from depository
       institutions                      $  327,622    $  267,541  $  322,376
      Short-term investments                 59,666        11,889      13,088

      Securities:
       Trading, at fair value                 2,698         1,042       1,409
       Available for sale, at fair value  2,317,645     2,472,699   2,649,930
        Held-to-maturity securities       1,088,206     1,116,386   1,196,368
         Total securities                 3,408,549     3,590,127   3,847,707

      Loans held for sale                   275,240       201,210     245,174

      Loans:
       Residential mortgages              4,875,134     4,890,887   4,690,318
       Commercial                         3,160,200     3,038,930   2,781,938
       Commercial real estate             1,819,635     1,851,035   1,666,235
       Consumer                           2,855,558     2,809,785   2,671,197
         Total loans                     12,710,527    12,590,637  11,809,688
      Allowance for loan losses            (147,401)     (146,383)   (154,822)
         Loans, net                      12,563,126    12,444,254  11,654,866

      Accrued interest receivable            85,719        94,602      67,380
      Premises and equipment, net           188,125       184,831     171,579
      Goodwill and intangible assets        695,014       698,557     708,387
      Cash surrender value of life
       insurance                            242,740       240,426     233,129
      Prepaid expenses and other assets     176,341       173,749     208,511

      Total Assets                      $18,022,142   $17,907,186 $17,472,197

      Liabilities and Shareholders'
       Equity:

      Deposits:
       Demand deposits                  $ 1,549,051   $ 1,459,855 $ 1,509,957
       NOW accounts                       1,687,297     1,683,677   1,640,692
       Money market deposit accounts      1,888,179     1,761,016   1,892,664
       Savings accounts                   1,954,298     2,004,375   2,284,076
       Certificates of deposit            4,447,504     4,392,731   3,830,999
       Treasury deposits                    690,136       776,623     420,846
         Total deposits                  12,216,465    12,078,277  11,579,234

      Federal Home Loan Bank advances     1,804,140     2,383,118   2,126,437
      Securities sold under agreements
       to repurchase and other
       short-term debt                    1,528,224     1,007,439   1,345,910
      Other long-term debt                  622,267       631,568     674,117
      Reserve for unfunded
       commitments(e)                         9,070         9,574           -
      Accrued expenses and other
       liabilities                          187,445       146,871     126,011
         Total liabilities               16,367,611    16,256,847  15,851,709


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

      Shareholders' equity                1,644,954     1,640,762   1,610,911

      Total Liabilities and
       Shareholders' Equity             $18,022,142   $17,907,186 $17,472,197


    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

                                     Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended
                                          June 30,               June 30,
    (In thousands, except per
     share data)                     2006        2005       2006        2005

      Interest income:
      Loans                        $207,097    $166,967   $402,671    $325,754
      Securities and short-term
       investments                   39,134      42,684     80,729      83,583
      Loans held for sale             3,317       2,964      6,656       5,696
        Total interest income       249,548     212,615    490,056     415,033

      Interest expense:
      Deposits                       72,593      44,099    134,947      79,967
      Borrowings                     50,150      38,681     98,145      76,999
        Total interest expense      122,743      82,780    233,092     156,966

        Net interest income         126,805     129,835    256,964     258,067
      Provision for credit losses     3,000       2,000      5,000       5,500
        Net interest income after
         provision for credit
         losses                     123,805     127,835    251,964     252,567

      Noninterest income:
      Deposit service fees           24,150      21,747     46,019      40,876
      Insurance revenue               9,988      10,562     20,712      22,364
      Loan and loan servicing fees    9,162       7,274     16,986      16,203
      Wealth and investment
       services                       6,930       6,028     13,284      11,423
      Gain on sale of loans and
       loan servicing, net            2,538       3,012      5,811       5,548
      Increase in cash surrender
       value of life insurance        2,314       2,302      4,685       4,540
      Other                           1,284       2,013      3,059       4,256
                                     56,366      52,938    110,556     105,210
      Gain on sale of securities,
       net                              702         710      1,714       1,466
        Total noninterest income     57,068      53,648    112,270     106,676

      Noninterest expenses:
      Compensation and benefits      64,585      57,854    129,588     115,756
      Occupancy                      11,824      10,810     24,006      21,669
      Furniture and equipment        13,962      11,611     27,557      22,409
      Intangible amortization         3,544       5,009      7,921       9,911
      Marketing                       4,292       3,664      7,916       6,947
      Professional services           3,464       3,972      7,008       7,742
      Conversion and
       infrastructure costs               -       3,506          -       4,640
      Other                          15,647      17,079     32,493      32,205
        Total noninterest expenses  117,318     113,505    236,489     221,279


      Income before income taxes     63,555      67,978    127,745     137,964
      Income taxes                   20,412      21,720     40,750      44,211
        Net income                 $ 43,143    $ 46,258   $ 86,995    $ 93,753

      Diluted shares (average)       53,252      54,278     53,468      54,244

      Net income per common share:
        Basic                      $   0.82    $   0.86   $   1.65    $   1.75
        Diluted                        0.81        0.85       1.63        1.73

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

                                            Three Months Ended
    (In thousands, except   June 30,  March 31,  Dec. 31,  Sept. 30,  June 30,
     per share data)          2006      2006       2005      2005      2005

    Interest income:
    Loans                   $207,097  $195,574   $187,607  $175,680  $166,967
    Securities and short-
     term investments         39,134    41,595     42,503    43,775    42,684
    Loans held for sale        3,317     3,339      3,563     3,686     2,964
      Total interest income  249,548   240,508    233,673   223,141   212,615

    Interest expense:
    Deposits                  72,593    62,354     57,132    51,338    44,099
    Borrowings                50,150    47,995     46,879    42,191    38,681
      Total interest
       expense               122,743   110,349    104,011    93,529    82,780

      Net interest income    126,805   130,159    129,662   129,612   129,835
    Provision for credit
     losses                    3,000     2,000      2,000     2,000     2,000
      Net interest income
       after provision for
       credit losses         123,805   128,159    127,662   127,612   127,835

    Noninterest income:
    Deposit service fees      24,150    21,869     22,909    22,182    21,747
    Insurance revenue          9,988    10,724     10,678    10,973    10,562
    Loan and loan servicing
     fees                      9,162     7,824      9,290     7,739     7,274
    Wealth and investment
     services                  6,930     6,354      6,174     5,554     6,028
    Gain on sale of loans
     and loan servicing, net   2,538     3,273      2,322     3,703     3,012
    Increase in cash
     surrender value of life
     insurance                 2,314     2,371      2,360     2,341     2,302
    Other                      1,284     1,775      3,470     2,347     2,013
                              56,366    54,190     57,203    54,839    52,938
    Gain on sale of
     securities, net             702     1,012      1,026     1,141       710
      Total noninterest
       income                 57,068    55,202     58,229    55,980    53,648

    Noninterest expenses:
    Compensation and
     benefits                 64,585    65,003     64,905    60,808    57,854
    Occupancy                 11,824    12,182     11,141    10,482    10,810
    Furniture and equipment   13,962    13,595     14,810    13,009    11,611
    Intangible amortization    3,544     4,377      5,001     5,001     5,009
    Marketing                  4,292     3,624      3,981     3,339     3,664
    Professional services      3,464     3,544      3,594     3,626     3,972
    Conversion and
     infrastructure costs          -         -      1,281     2,217     3,506
    Other                     15,647    16,846     14,646    16,450    17,079
      Total noninterest
       expenses              117,318   119,171    119,359   114,932   113,505


    Income before income
     taxes                    63,555    64,190     66,532    68,660    67,978
    Income taxes              20,412    20,338     21,032    22,058    21,720
      Net income            $ 43,143  $ 43,852   $ 45,500  $ 46,602  $ 46,258

    Diluted shares
     (average)                53,252    53,703     54,129    54,310    54,278

    Net income per common
     share:
      Basic                 $   0.82  $   0.83   $   0.85  $   0.87  $   0.86
      Diluted                   0.81      0.82       0.84      0.86      0.85

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Retail and Wholesale Interest-Rate Spreads (unaudited)

                                                Three Months Ended
                                    June   March   December  September   June
                                    2006    2006     2005      2005      2005

      Interest-rate spread
      Yield on interest-earning
       assets                       6.11%   5.97%    5.73%     5.55%     5.40%
      Cost of interest-bearing
       liabilities                  3.05    2.78     2.55      2.33      2.11
        Interest-rate spread        3.06%   3.19%    3.18%     3.22%     3.29%
        Net interest margin         3.13    3.24     3.22      3.26      3.32

      Retail interest-rate spread
      Yield on loans and loans
       held for sale                6.52%   6.32%    6.02%     5.83%     5.66%
      Cost of deposits              2.43    2.16     1.94      1.76      1.57
        Spread                      4.09%   4.16%    4.08%     4.07%     4.09%

      Wholesale interest-rate
       spread
      Yield on securities and
       short-term investments(f)    4.61%   4.76%    4.75%     4.67%     4.62%
      Cost of borrowings(g)         4.85    4.44     4.19      3.84      3.54
        Spread(f)                  (0.24)%  0.32%    0.56%     0.83%     1.08%


    Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)

      Three Months Ended June 30,                          2006
                                                                    Fully tax-
                                             Average                equivalent
      (Dollars in thousands)                 balance     Interest   yield/rate

    Assets:
      Interest-earning assets:
      Loans                                $12,625,061   $207,097      6.54%
      Securities                             3,496,863     40,991      4.61(c)
      Loans held for sale                      230,268      3,317      5.76
      Short-term investments                    38,412        407      4.19
        Total interest-earning assets       16,390,604    251,812      6.11
      Noninterest-earning assets             1,507,337
        Total assets                       $17,897,941

    Liabilities and Shareholders'
     Equity:
      Interest-bearing liabilities:
      Demand deposits                      $ 1,457,462   $      -         -%
      Savings, NOW and money market
       deposit accounts                      5,371,432     22,489      1.68
      Time deposits                          5,147,276     50,104      3.90
        Total deposits                      11,976,170     72,593      2.43
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances        2,241,811     25,329      4.47
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                       1,230,394     12,606      4.05
      Other long-term debt                     628,735     12,215      7.77
        Total borrowings                     4,100,940     50,150      4.85
        Total interest-bearing liabilities  16,077,110    122,743      3.05
      Noninterest-bearing liabilities          141,469
        Total liabilities                   16,218,579

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                               9,577

      Shareholders' equity                   1,669,785
        Total liabilities and
         shareholders' equity              $17,897,941
                                                          129,069
      Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                      (2,264)

      Net interest income                                $126,805

      Interest-rate spread                                             3.06%
      Net interest margin                                              3.13%


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

    Assets:
      Interest-earning assets:
      Loans                                $11,727,278   $166,968      5.68%
      Securities                             3,851,741     44,687      4.62(c)
      Loans held for sale                      242,351      2,964      4.89
      Short-term investments                    13,260        131      3.91
        Total interest-earning assets       15,834,630    214,750      5.40
      Noninterest-earning assets             1,493,233
        Total assets                       $17,327,863

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
      Interest-bearing liabilities:
      Demand deposits                      $ 1,451,236   $      -         -%
      Savings, NOW and money market
       deposit accounts                      5,749,931     16,181      1.13
      Time deposits                          4,078,793     27,918      2.75
        Total deposits                      11,279,960     44,099      1.57
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances        2,210,809     18,160      3.25
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                       1,449,355      9,872      2.69
      Other long-term debt                     674,178     10,649      6.32
        Total borrowings                     4,334,342     38,681      3.54
        Total interest-bearing
         liabilities                        15,614,302     82,780      2.11
      Noninterest-bearing liabilities          104,104
        Total liabilities                   15,718,406

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                               9,577

      Shareholders' equity                   1,599,880
        Total liabilities and
         shareholders' equity              $17,327,863
                                                          131,970
      Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                      (2,135)

      Net interest income                                $129,835

      Interest-rate spread                                             3.29%
      Net interest margin                                              3.32%


    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


    Consolidated Average Statements of Condition   (unaudited)

       Six Months Ended June 30,                           2006
                                                                    Fully tax-
                                             Average                equivalent
      (Dollars in thousands)                 balance     Interest   yield/rate

    Assets:
      Interest-earning assets:
      Loans                                $12,509,184   $402,671      6.44%
      Securities                             3,563,554     84,810      4.70(c)
      Loans held for sale                      229,486      6,656      5.80
      Short-term investments                    26,861        519      3.84
        Total interest-earning assets       16,329,085    494,656      6.04
      Noninterest-earning assets             1,504,001
        Total assets                       $17,833,086

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
      Interest-bearing liabilities:
      Demand deposits                      $ 1,454,585   $      -         -%
      Savings, NOW and money market
       deposit accounts                      5,340,529     42,297      1.60
      Time deposits                          5,027,758     92,650      3.72
        Total deposits                      11,822,872    134,947      2.30
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances        2,319,410     49,825      4.27
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                       1,259,585     24,436      3.86
      Other long-term debt                     634,736     23,884      7.53
        Total borrowings                     4,213,731     98,145      4.64
        Total interest-bearing
         liabilities                        16,036,603    233,092      2.91
      Noninterest-bearing liabilities          120,349
        Total liabilities                   16,156,952

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                               9,577

      Shareholders' equity                   1,666,557
        Total liabilities and
         shareholders' equity              $17,833,086
                                                          261,564
      Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                      (4,600)

      Net interest income                                $256,964

      Interest-rate spread                                             3.13%
      Net interest margin                                              3.18%


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

    Assets:
      Interest-earning assets:
      Loans                                $11,706,386  $ 325,755      5.56%
      Securities                             3,801,582     87,376      4.58(c)
      Loans held for sale                      228,230      5,696      4.99
      Short-term investments                    20,020        273      2.71
        Total interest-earning assets       15,756,218    419,100      5.31
      Noninterest-earning assets             1,447,520
        Total assets                       $17,203,738

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
      Interest-bearing liabilities:
      Demand deposits                      $ 1,398,593  $       -         -%
      Savings, NOW and money market
       deposit accounts                      5,677,509     29,140      1.04
      Time deposits                          3,886,783     50,827      2.64
        Total deposits                      10,962,885     79,967      1.47
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances        2,308,437     36,747      3.17
      Repurchase agreements and other
       short-term debt                       1,553,899     19,415      2.49
      Other long-term debt                     677,630     20,837      6.15
        Total borrowings                     4,539,966     76,999      3.38
        Total interest-bearing
         liabilities                        15,502,851    156,966      2.03
      Noninterest-bearing liabilities          108,370
        Total liabilities                   15,611,221

      Preferred stock of subsidiary
       corporation                               9,577

      Shareholders' equity                   1,582,940
        Total liabilities and
         shareholders' equity              $17,203,738
                                                          262,134
      Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                      (4,067)

      Net interest income                                $258,067

      Interest-rate spread                                             3.28%
      Net interest margin                                              3.32%


    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


                                        At or for the Three Months Ended
                                   June     March     Dec.     Sept.     June
    (Unaudited)                     30,      31,       31,      30,       30,
    (Dollars in thousands)         2006     2006      2005     2005      2005

    Asset Quality

    Nonperforming loans:
     Commercial:
      Commercial               $ 25,052  $ 20,721  $ 32,678 $ 27,544 $ 19,073
      Equipment financing         2,693     2,864     3,065    3,209    3,466
        Total commercial         27,745    23,585    35,743   30,753   22,539

     Commercial real estate      23,711    24,012    22,678   19,650   11,654
     Residential                  7,218     8,891     6,979    6,436    6,690
     Consumer                     3,065     2,875     1,829    1,699    1,019

    Total nonperforming
     loans                       61,739    59,363    67,229   58,538   41,902

    Loans held for sale               -         -         -      181        -

    Other real estate owned
     and repossessed assets:
     Commercial                   2,254     1,712     5,126    1,408    2,217
     Residential                    316       456       232      218      112
     Consumer                        10       361       427       10       10


    Total other real estate
     owned and repossessed
     assets                       2,580     2,529     5,785    1,636    2,339

    Total nonperforming
     assets                    $ 64,319  $ 61,892  $ 73,014 $ 60,355 $ 44,241



    Allowance for Credit Losses


    Beginning balance          $155,957  $155,632  $155,052 $154,822 $152,519
    Provision                     3,000     2,000     2,000    2,000    2,000

    Charge-offs:
     Commercial                   2,775     1,629     3,272    2,204    1,432
     Residential                     65        75       110      378      178
     Consumer                       239       362       153      137      201
      Total charge-offs           3,079     2,066     3,535    2,719    1,811
    Recoveries                     (593)     (391)   (2,115)    (949)  (2,114)
      Net loan charge-offs
      (recoveries)                2,486     1,675     1,420    1,770     (303)

    Ending balance             $156,471  $155,957  $155,632 $155,052 $154,822

    Components: (e)
     Allowance for loan
      losses                   $147,401  $146,383  $146,486 $155,052 $154,822
     Reserve for unfunded
      credit commitments          9,070     9,574     9,146        -        -
       Allowance for credit
        losses                 $156,471  $155,957  $155,632 $155,052 $154,822

    Asset Quality Ratios:

    Allowance for loan losses
     / total loans                  1.16%    1.16%     1.19%    1.27%    1.31
    Allowance for credit
     losses / total loans           1.23     1.24      1.27     1.27     1.31
    Net charge-offs (recoveries)/
     average loans (annualized)     0.08     0.05      0.05     0.06    (0.01)
    Nonperforming loans /
     total loans                    0.49     0.47      0.55     0.48     0.35
    Nonperforming assets /
     total assets                   0.36     0.35      0.41     0.34     0.25
    Allowance for credit losses /
     nonperforming loans          253.44   262.72    231.50   264.87   369.49


    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.


SOURCE Webster Financial Corporation
CONTACT: Media Contact
Clark Finley 203-578-2287
cfinley@websterbank.com
or
Investor Contact
Terry Mangan 203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com
/Web site: http://www.websteronline.com/
(WBS)