Webster Lowers Prime Lending Rate

Dec 12, 2007

WATERBURY, Conn., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Bank, National Association, a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), announced today that it has lowered its prime lending rate to 7.25% from 7.50%, effective yesterday, December 11, 2007. The prime rate last changed on October 31, 2007.

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Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $16.8 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 179 banking offices, 339 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, Member FDIC and equal housing lender.

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

CONTACT: Webster Bank
Media:
Arthur House, 203-578-2391
ahouse@websterbank.com
or
Investors:
Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com


SOURCE  Webster Financial Corporation
    -0-                             12/12/2007
    /CONTACT: Webster Bank
              Media:
              Arthur House, 203-578-2391
              ahouse@websterbank.com
              or
              Investors:
              Terry Mangan, 203-578-2318
              tmangan@websterbank.com/
    /Photo:  NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050421/NYTH039LOGO
              AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
              PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.websteronline.com/
    (WBS)

CO:  Webster Financial Corporation; Webster Bank, National Association
ST:  Connecticut
IN:  FIN
SU:

AP-MD
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3324 12/12/2007 10:38 EST http://www.prnewswire.com