Webster Reports 2007 Fourth Quarter Results and 2008 Outlook and Focus

Jan 24, 2008

Fourth Quarter 2007:

  • Reported diluted loss per share of $.16 including the effect of a previously announced $40.0 million ($26.0 million net of tax, or $.49 per share) special provision for credit losses for the discontinued indirect residential construction and home equity portfolios and other charges specific to the quarter aggregating $.39 per share).
  • Announced ATM branding arrangement for 131 locations in Massachusetts, 20 in Rhode Island and 7 in Connecticut as part of expansion toward Boston.
  • Opened 2 new branches in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts and Woodbridge, Connecticut; 29 branches now opened since 2002.

WATERBURY, Conn., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., today announced a net loss for the fourth quarter of 2007 of $8.7 million or $.16 per diluted share, compared to $35.0 million in net income or $.64 in earnings per share for the third quarter of 2007 and $37.8 million in net income or $.67 in earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2006. Results in the fourth quarter of 2007 reflect previously announced charges of $.86 per share, including a special provision of $40.0 million ($26.0 million net of tax or $.49 per share) for credit losses for the discontinued residential construction and home equity portfolios, and other charges taken in the quarter aggregating $.37 per share. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, net income from continuing operations totaled $110.7 million or $2.01 per diluted share compared to $133.7 million or $2.47 per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006.

"Webster closes 2007 having addressed head-on the challenges facing the financial services industry and taken aggressive, constructive action," said Webster Chairman and CEO James C. Smith. "Our future is in-market and contiguous franchise growth and lending relationships that are direct to consumer and commercial customers. We look forward with confidence in our strategy and in our ability to be New England's bank."

Webster will provide details on its 2008 outlook and ongoing business focus during its fourth quarter earnings conference call later today (refer to details for the conference call at the end of this release). Additional details are also available on our website at http://www.wbst.com.

Webster had previously announced that it discontinued indirect residential construction lending and indirect out of market home equity lending. In the aggregate, these two indirect loan portfolios totaled $424.0 million and have been placed into a liquidating portfolio which will be managed by a designated credit team. With the addition of the $40.0 million special provision as of December 31, 2007, the allowance for loan losses for these portfolios totals $49.9 million at year end 2007.

Smith further stated: "Our objective in setting up the liquidating portfolio was to identify, segregate and reserve against estimated losses inherent in these portfolios using default rates and loss rates that reflect our view that such rates will significantly worsen from current levels."

Regarding the other previously announced charges taken in the fourth quarter, $14.0 million or $.27 per share related to the company's anticipated sale of its insurance operations. The company expects that the sale will be structured such that the consideration will comprise an upfront payment and additional potential consideration over a multi-year earn-out period. Given this structure, Webster has accordingly written down the carrying value of its investment and as of year end 2007 is reporting Webster Insurance separately from its continuing operations.

The company also recorded other previously announced charges totaling $8.5 million or $.10 per share. Included in the other charges was a $3.6 million pre-tax write down in value in a direct investment based on management's assessment that the decline in market value of the underlying securities will not be recovered in the near term and on uncertainty of intent to continue to hold this investment in the future. Other charges in the fourth quarter of 2007 include $1.4 million in pre-tax, nonrecurring charges related to a retail office lease termination and a technology service contract settlement. Webster also discontinued all national wholesale mortgage banking activities and, as a result, is closing its wholesale lending offices in Seattle, Washington; Phoenix, Arizona; Cheshire, Connecticut; and Chicago, Illinois. As a result, the company recorded severance and other costs, primarily for lease terminations and outplacement, of $3.5 million (pre tax) in the fourth quarter of 2007. Webster's remaining mortgage and home equity operations in Cheshire, CT will now focus solely on direct to consumer retail originations.

In addition, fourth quarter 2007 results include an additional pre-tax charge of $2.0 million or $.03 per share consisting of $0.5 million of other severance costs and $1.5 million for the recording of a liability relating to Visa Inc. legal dispute settlements reflecting Webster's share as a Visa U.S.A. member. If Visa Inc. is successful in completing its planned public offering, Webster expects that shares received from an anticipated Class B common stock redemption related to its ownership interest in Visa Inc. will more than offset the Visa U.S.A.-related liability.

Also as previously announced, Webster has launched an earnings optimization program, assigning senior officers from each line of business and shared services area to teams dedicated to enhance revenues and reduce expenses. Harvest Earnings Group, LLC, a highly regarded firm with expertise in this area, will assist with this employee-led program. The effort to ensure that positive operating leverage and improved operating efficiency are achieved will be undertaken over the next four months and implemented through the end of the year and into 2009. The company anticipates that some job eliminations will be necessary as an outcome of this initiative.

During the fourth quarter, Webster announced an ATM branding agreement with plans for 158 in-store Webster branded ATMs in select Walgreens stores in Massachusetts (131 locations, primarily in the eastern part of the state), Rhode Island (20 locations) and Connecticut (7 locations). The project is scheduled to begin and reach completion in the first quarter of 2008. This branding agreement complements Webster's branch expansion program and establishes another distribution platform for future growth in Rhode Island and the Boston market. Also during the fourth quarter, Webster opened two new branches, one in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts and one in Woodbridge, Connecticut. In 2007, Webster added four de novo branches for a total of 29 branches opened since 2002.

 

Revenues

Total revenue, which consists of net interest income plus total noninterest income, totaled $170.7 million in the fourth quarter. This compares to total revenue of $178.5 million in the third quarter and $172.2 million a year ago.

Net interest income totaled $122.7 million in the fourth quarter compared to $127.1 million in the third quarter and $129.2 million a year ago with the reductions compared to the fourth quarter of 2007 reflecting lower levels of average interest-earning assets in 2007 from Webster's balance sheet repositioning actions. The net interest margin was 3.26 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared to 3.38 percent in the third quarter of 2007 and 3.23 percent a year ago. The 12 basis point reduction from the third quarter relates to stock buyback activity in the fourth quarter coupled with the negative near term impact of recent Fed Funds rate reductions and higher levels of nonaccrual loans. The spread between the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 3.18 percent in the fourth quarter compared to 3.29 percent in the third quarter and 3.14 percent a year ago.

Total noninterest income was $48.0 million in the fourth quarter, inclusive of the aforementioned $3.6 million loss on the write-down of a direct investment to fair value. This compares to $51.4 million in the third quarter and $43.1 million a year ago, which was reduced by a $5.7 million loss on the sale of mortgage loans. Deposit service fees totaled $30.6 million compared to $30.0 million in the third quarter and $25.5 million a year ago, with growth partly reflecting the implementation of a new consumer fee structure during 2007. Loan-related fees were $7.3 million compared to $7.7 million in the third quarter and $9.6 million a year ago, which included higher commercial real estate prepayment fees. Wealth and investment services revenues totaled $7.5 million compared to $7.1 million in the third quarter and $7.2 million a year ago. Income from mortgage banking activities was $1.3 million in the fourth quarter compared to income of $1.8 million in the third quarter and $2.9 million a year ago. Other non-interest income was $2.1 million compared to $1.7 million in the third quarter and $3.8 million a year ago, which included a $1.4 million gain on the sale of properties.

 

Provision For Credit Losses

The provision for credit losses was $45.25 million compared to $15.25 million in the third quarter and $3.0 million a year ago. As previously disclosed, $40.0 million of the provision for credit losses recorded in the fourth quarter was to increase the allowance for credit losses for $424.0 million of loans in the discontinued indirect residential construction lending and indirect out of footprint home equity portfolios.

Net loan charge-offs totaled $11.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2007, of which $7.1 million and $1.8 million were in the discontinued indirect national construction and indirect, out of footprint home equity portfolios, respectively.

The allowance for credit losses, which consists of the allowance for loan losses and the reserve for unfunded credit commitments, was $197.6 million or 1.58 percent of total loans at December 31, 2007, compared to 1.32 percent of total loans at September 30, 2007 and 1.20 percent at December 31, 2006. Of the total allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2007, $49.9 million was allocated toward the discontinued indirect residential construction lending and indirect out of footprint home equity portfolios.

 

Noninterest Expenses

Total noninterest expenses were $120.3 million in the fourth quarter, or $113.4 million excluding $6.9 million of severance and other costs. This amount compares to $113.6 million in the third quarter, which included $0.5 million of severance and other costs in connection with Webster's recently completed strategic review, and $112.7 million a year ago, which included $2.0 million of acquisition costs. Adjusting for the aforementioned costs particular to each quarter, noninterest expenses increased slightly from the third quarter and increased by 2 percent from a year ago.

 

Balance Sheet Trends

Total assets were $17.2 billion at December 31, 2007 compared to $17.1 billion a year ago. Total loans were $12.5 billion, a decrease of $0.4 billion or 3 percent from a year ago that reflects a $0.8 billion reduction in residential loans primarily from loans that were securitized and transferred into the securities portfolio during the first quarter of 2007. Securities totaled $2.7 billion and increased by $0.9 billion primarily due to the aforementioned securitization of residential loans. Commercial loans (consisting of commercial and industrial and commercial real estate) and consumer loans increased at a combined rate of 4 percent compared to a year ago and totaled $8.8 billion at December 31, 2007. Commercial and consumer loans represent 71 percent of total loans at December 31, 2007 compared to 66 percent a year ago. Securities represented 16 percent of total assets at December 31, 2007 compared to 11 percent a year ago.

Total deposits were $12.4 billion, a decrease of $0.1 billion or 1 percent from a year ago, as a result of a $0.2 billion decline in brokered deposits. Borrowings totaled $2.9 billion, an increase of $350 million primarily in repurchase agreements, from a year ago. Total borrowings were 17 percent of total assets at December 31, 2007 compared to 15 percent a year ago.

The loan to deposit ratio was 101 percent at December 31, 2007 compared to 104 percent a year ago. Improvement from a year ago reflects completion of balance sheet repositioning actions.

Book value per common share of $33.09 at December 31, 2007 compared to $33.25 a year ago. Tangible book value per share was $18.73 at December 31, 2007 compared to $19.76 a year ago. The ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets was 5.89 percent at December 31, 2007 compared to 6.72 percent a year ago. Webster's projected leverage ratio was 7.99 at December 31, 2007 compared to 7.43% a year ago, and projected total risk based ratio was 11.5% at December 31, 2007 compared with 11.45% a year ago. Webster repurchased 1.3 million shares of its common stock during the fourth quarter and 4.39 million shares throughout 2007. As of December 31, 2007, Webster had 2.1 million shares remaining under a 2.7 million share authorization that was announced on September 26, 2007. Given the target levels the company has established for tangible, leverage and total risk based capital, it does not intend to continue to repurchase its stock in the near term.

 

Asset Quality

Non-performing assets totaled $121.1 million or 0.97 percent of total loans and other real estate owned at December 31, 2007 compared to $104.2 million or 0.84 percent at September 30, 2007 and $61.8 million or 0.48 percent a year ago. Non-performing loans in the liquidating indirect national construction and indirect out of footprint home equity portfolio totaled $22.8 million and $7.1 million at December 31, 2007, respectively compared to $18.5 million and $4.2 million at September 30, 2007 respectively and $1.1 million and $2.5 million a year ago. Non-performing assets from the ongoing portfolios totaled $91.2 million or 0.73 percent of total loans at December 31, 2007. The increase in non-performing assets from September 30, 2007 was primarily composed of $4.7 million in residential, $1.8 million in home equity, and $4.3 million and $2.9 million from the discontinued liquidating indirect national construction and indirect, out of footprint home equity portfolios.

The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans was 175 percent at December 31, 2007 compared to 172 percent at September 30, 2007 and 263 percent a year ago. At December 31, 2007, the $49.9 million allowance for the discontinued indirect portfolios was 153 percent of non-performing loans from the discontinued portfolios, while the $147.7 million allowance for the continuing portfolios was 184 percent of non-performing loans from the continuing portfolios.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $17.2 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 181 banking offices, 343 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, 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.

Conference Call

A conference call covering Webster's fourth quarter earnings announcement will be held today, Thursday, January 24, at 9:00 a.m. EST and may be heard through Webster's investor relations website at www.wbst.com, or in listen- only mode by calling 1-877-407-8289 or 201-689-8341 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 2006. 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. A reconciliation of net income and other performance ratios, as adjusted is included in the accompanying selected financial highlights table.

We believe that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends and financial position. Specifically, we provide measures based on what we believe are our operating earnings on a consistent basis and exclude non-core operating items which affect the GAAP reporting of results of operations. We utilize these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We, as well as securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, also use these measures to compare peer company operating performance. We believe that our presentation and discussion, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provides a complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business and allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to management. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names.

Media Contact
Arthur House 203-578-2391
ahouse@websterbank.com

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

    WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
    Selected Financial Highlights (unaudited)

                                At or for the Three     At or for the Twelve
                               Months Ended December   Months Ended December
                                        31,                     31,
    (In thousands, except per
     share data)                  2007       2006 (c)     2007      2006 (c)

    Adjusted net income and
     performance ratios, net
     of tax (annualized):

    Income from continuing
     operations                  $5,169     $38,808    $110,696    $133,680
    Net debt prepayment
     expense                        -           -         4,427         -
    Recognition of loss on
     direct investments           2,317         -         2,317         -
    Closing costs-National
     Wholesale Operations         2,250         -         2,250         -
    Software development cost
     write-off                      -           -         2,212         -
    Severance and other costs     2,233         -         5,184         -
    Closing costs - Peoples
     Mortgage Company               -           -         1,509         -
    Write-down of construction
     loans held for sale            -           -         1,071         -
    Recognition of loss on AFS
     securities                     -         1,560         -        33,328
    Loss on sale of mortgage
     loans                          -         3,713         -         3,713
    NewMil acquisition costs        -         1,312         -         1,918
    Net gain from pension plan
     curtailment                    -          (195)        -          (195)
    Gain on sale of properties      -          (910)        -          (910)
    Adjusted net income from
     continuing operations       11,969      44,288     129,666     171,534

    Net income from continuing
     operations per diluted
     common share                  0.23        0.78        2.36        3.17
    Return on average
     shareholders' equity          2.68 %      9.46  %     7.00 %      9.99  %
    Return on average tangible
     equity                        4.63       15.80       11.84       16.26
    Return on average assets       0.29        0.99        0.77        0.96
    Noninterest income as a
     percentage of total
     revenue                      29.61       28.39       28.79       27.05
    Efficiency ratio (a)          65.07       62.31       64.20       62.41

    Net income and performance
     ratios (annualized):

    Income from continuing
     operations                  $5,169     $38,808    $110,696    $133,680
    Net income  from
     continuing operations per
     diluted common share          0.10        0.69        2.01        2.47
    Return on average
     shareholders' equity          1.16 %      8.29  %     5.97 %      7.78  %
    Return on average tangible
     equity                        2.00       13.84       10.10       12.67
    Return on average assets       0.13        0.87        0.66        0.75
    Noninterest income as a
     percentage of total
     revenue                      28.14       25.01       28.48       20.56
    Efficiency ratio (a)          70.47       65.42       68.12       68.16

    Asset quality:

    Allowance for credit
     losses                    $197,586    $154,994    $197,586    $154,994
    Nonperforming assets        121,071      61,825     121,071      61,825
    Allowance for credit
     losses / total loans          1.58 %      1.20  %     1.58 %      1.20  %
    Net charge-offs / average
     loans (annualized)            0.38        0.27        0.20        0.13
    Nonperforming loans /
     total loans                   0.90        0.46        0.90        0.46
    Nonperforming assets /
     total loans plus OREO         0.97        0.48        0.97        0.48
    Allowance for credit
     losses / nonperforming
     loans                       175.01      263.09      175.01      263.09

    Other ratios (annualized):

    Tangible capital ratio         5.89 %      6.72  %     5.89 %      6.72  %
    Shareholders' equity /
     total assets                 10.10       10.96       10.10       10.96
    Interest-rate spread           3.18        3.14        3.32        3.09
    Net interest margin            3.26        3.23        3.40        3.16

    Share related:

    Book value per common
     share                       $33.09      $33.24      $33.09      $33.24
    Tangible book value per
     common share                 18.73       19.76       18.73       19.76
    Common stock closing price    31.97       48.72       31.97       48.72
    Dividends declared per
     common share                  0.30        0.27        1.17        1.06

    Common shares issued and
     outstanding                 52,475      56,389      52,475      56,389
    Basic shares (average)       52,400      55,753      54,469      53,435
    Diluted shares (average)     52,795      56,452      54,996      54,065

    Footnotes:

    (a) Noninterest expense as a percentage of net interest income plus
        noninterest income.
    (b) For purposes of the yield computation, unrealized gains (losses) are
        excluded from the average balance.
    (c) Certain previously reported information has been reclassified for the
        effect of reporting Webster Insurance as discontinued operations.



    Consolidated Statements of Condition   (unaudited)

                                          December    September    December
    (In thousands)                        31, 2007    30, 2007(c)  31, 2006(c)

      Assets:

      Cash and due from depository
       institutions                        $306,654     $264,929    $311,888
      Short-term investments                  5,112       80,270     175,648
      Federal Home Loan and Federal
       Reserve Bank stock                   110,962      110,962     137,755
      Trading, at fair value                  2,340          635       4,842
      Available for sale, at fair value     640,117      344,546     366,163
      Held-to-maturity                    2,107,227    2,051,277   1,453,973
      Loans held for sale                   221,568      211,659     354,798

      Loans:
        Residential mortgages             3,641,602    3,677,682   4,424,634
        Commercial                        3,516,213    3,562,394   3,386,274
        Commercial real estate            2,059,881    1,896,566   1,904,597
        Consumer                          3,258,247    3,283,914   3,207,986
          Total loans                    12,475,943   12,420,556  12,923,491
      Allowance for loan losses            (188,086)    (154,532)   (147,719)
          Loans, net                     12,287,857   12,266,024  12,775,772

      Accrued interest receivable            80,432       86,654      90,565
      Premises and equipment, net           193,063      192,880     191,492
      Goodwill and other intangible
       assets                               768,015      769,893     777,659
      Cash surrender value of life
       insurance                            269,366      266,729     259,318
      Assets held for disposition            51,603       64,971      69,580
      Prepaid expenses and other assets     157,644      140,418     127,937

      Total Assets                      $17,201,960  $16,851,847 $17,097,390

      Liabilities and Shareholders'
       Equity:

      Deposits:
        Demand deposits                  $1,538,083   $1,479,503   $1,588,783
        NOW accounts                      1,718,757    1,664,025    1,671,778
        Money market deposit accounts     1,828,656    2,065,474    1,908,496
        Savings accounts                  2,259,747    2,211,125    1,985,202
        Certificates of deposit           4,772,624    4,847,060    4,911,860
        Brokered deposits                   236,291      286,806      392,277
          Total deposits                 12,354,158   12,553,993   12,458,396

      Federal Home Loan Bank advances     1,052,228      628,445    1,074,933
      Securities sold under agreements
       to repurchase and
       other short-term debt              1,238,012      994,624      893,206
      Long-term debt                        650,643      666,236      621,936
      Reserve for unfunded credit
       commitments                            9,500        9,479        7,275
      Liabilities held for disposition        9,261        9,310       10,807
      Accrued expenses and other
       liabilities                          141,949      175,140      147,126
          Total liabilities              15,455,751   15,037,227   15,213,679

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

      Shareholders' equity                1,736,632    1,805,043    1,874,134

      Total Liabilities and
       Shareholders' Equity             $17,201,960  $16,851,847  $17,097,390

      See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.



    Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

                                   Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
                                      December 31,          December 31,
    (In thousands, except per
     share data)                      2007    2006 (c)      2007    2006 (c)

      Interest income:
      Loans                       $205,363    $225,634  $837,711     $843,398
      Securities and short-term
       investments                  36,318      32,514   136,324      154,127
      Loans held for sale            3,276       6,191    21,560       17,213
         Total interest income     244,957     264,339   995,595    1,014,738

      Interest expense:
      Deposits                      89,510      90,195   361,307      310,199
      Borrowings                    32,748      44,994   126,096      195,989
         Total interest expense    122,258     135,189   487,403      506,188

         Net interest income       122,699     129,150   508,192      508,550
      Provision for credit losses   45,250       3,000    67,750       11,000
         Net interest income
          after provision for
          credit losses             77,449     126,150   440,442      497,550

      Noninterest income:
      Deposit service fees          30,577      25,494   114,645       96,765
      Loan related fees              7,328       9,643    30,830       34,389
      Wealth and investment
       services                      7,507       7,161    29,164       27,183
      Mortgage banking activities    1,276       2,917     9,316        8,542
      Increase in cash surrender
       value of life insurance       2,637       2,550    10,386        9,603
      Gain (loss) on sale of
       securities, net                 195      (2,732)    1,721        1,289
      Other                          2,094       3,761     7,685        8,426
                                    51,614      48,794   203,747      186,197
      Loss on write-down of
       investments to fair value    (3,565)        -      (3,565)         -
      Loss on write-down of AFS
       securities to fair value        -           -         -        (48,879)
      Loss on sale of mortgage
       loans                           -        (5,713)      -         (5,713)
      Gain on Webster Capital
       Trust I and II securities       -           -       2,130          -
          Total noninterest
           income                   48,049      43,081   202,312      131,605

      Noninterest expenses:
      Compensation and benefits     59,910      57,552   243,515      229,556
      Occupancy                     12,321      12,396    48,878       46,083
      Furniture and equipment       15,353      14,352    59,771       54,828
      Intangible amortization        1,881       3,322    10,374       13,865
      Marketing                      1,727       3,338    14,213       15,417
      Professional services          3,721       5,253    15,038       15,927
      Other                         18,513      14,451    66,078       57,708
                                   113,426     110,664   457,867      433,384

      Debt redemption premium          -           -       8,940          -
      Severance and other costs      6,898         -      17,163          -
      Acquisition costs                -         2,018       -          2,951
         Total noninterest
          expenses                 120,324     112,682   483,970      436,335

      Income from continuing
       operations before income
       taxes                         5,174      56,549   158,784      192,820
      Income taxes                       5      17,741    48,088       59,140
         Income from continuing
          operations                 5,169      38,808   110,696      133,680
      (Loss) income from
       discontinued operations,
       net of tax                  (13,867)     (1,010)  (13,923)         110
         Net (loss) income         $(8,698)    $37,798   $96,773     $133,790

      Diluted shares (average)      52,795      56,452    54,996       54,065

      Net income per common
       share:
      Basic
         Income from continuing
          operations                 $0.10       $0.70     $2.03        $2.50
         Net (loss) income           (0.17)       0.68      1.78         2.50
      Diluted
         Income from continuing
          operations                  0.10        0.69      2.01         2.47
         Net (loss) income           (0.16)       0.67      1.76         2.47

      See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.



    Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited)

                                            Three Months Ended

                             Dec. 31,  Sept. 30,  June 30, March 31,  Dec. 31,
    (In thousands, except      2007     2007 (c)  2007 (c)  2007 (c)  2006 (c)
     per share data)

    Interest income:
    Loans                    $205,363  $212,847  $210,337  $209,164  $225,634
    Securities and short-
     term investments          36,318    34,163    32,563    33,280    32,514
    Loans held for sale         3,276     4,616     7,419     6,249     6,191
    Total interest income     244,957   251,626   250,319   248,693   264,339

    Interest expense:
    Deposits                   89,510    94,484    89,683    87,630    90,195
    Borrowings                 32,748    30,083    30,283    32,982    44,994
    Total interest expense    122,258   124,567   119,966   120,612   135,189

    Net interest income       122,699   127,059   130,353   128,081   129,150
    Provision for credit
     losses                    45,250    15,250     4,250     3,000     3,000
    Net interest income
     after provision for
     credit losses             77,449   111,809   126,103   125,081   126,150

    Noninterest income:
    Deposit service fees       30,577    29,956    28,758    25,354    25,494
    Loan related fees           7,328     7,661     7,901     7,940     9,643
    Wealth and investment
     services                   7,507     7,142     7,637     6,878     7,161
    Mortgage banking
     activities                 1,276     1,849     3,962     2,229     2,917
    Increase in cash
     surrender value of life
     insurance                  2,637     2,629     2,586     2,534     2,550
    Gain (loss) on sale of
     securities, net              195       482       503       541    (2,732)
    Other                       2,094     1,688     2,025     1,878     3,761
                               51,614    51,407    53,372    47,354    48,794
    Loss on write-down of
     investments to fair
     value                     (3,565)      -         -         -         -
    Gain on Webster Capital
     Trust I and II
     securities                   -         -       2,130       -         -
    Loss on sale of mortgage
     loans                        -         -         -         -      (5,713)
     Total noninterest
      income                   48,049    51,407    55,502    47,354    43,081

    Noninterest expenses:
    Compensation and
     benefits                  59,910    61,171    60,899    61,535    57,552
    Occupancy                  12,321    11,932    12,064    12,561    12,396
    Furniture and equipment    15,353    14,846    15,014    14,558    14,352
    Intangible amortization     1,881     2,027     3,144     3,322     3,322
    Marketing                   1,727     4,123     4,175     4,188     3,338
    Professional services       3,721     3,625     3,181     4,511     5,253
    Other                      18,513    15,377    16,224    15,964    14,451
                              113,426   113,101   114,701   116,639   110,664

    Debt redemption premium       -         -       8,940       -         -
    Severance and other
     costs                      6,898       452     5,291     4,522       -
    Acquisition costs             -         -         -         -       2,018
    Total noninterest
     expenses                 120,324   113,553   128,932   121,161   112,682

    Income from continuing
     operations before
     income taxes               5,174    49,663    52,673    51,274    56,549
    Income taxes                    5    15,088    16,801    16,194    17,741
       Income from
        continuing
        operations              5,169    34,575    35,872    35,080    38,808
    (Loss) income from
     discontinued
     operations, net of tax   (13,867)      393      (405)      (44)   (1,010)
       Net (loss) income      $(8,698)  $34,968   $35,467   $35,036   $37,798

    Diluted shares (average)   52,795    54,259    56,243    56,762    56,452

    Net income per common
     share:
    Basic
       Income from
        continuing
        operations              $0.10     $0.64     $0.64     $0.63     $0.70
       Net (loss) income        (0.17)     0.65      0.64      0.62      0.68
    Diluted
       Income from
        continuing
        operations               0.10      0.64      0.64      0.62      0.69
       Net (loss) income        (0.16)     0.64      0.63      0.62      0.67

      See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.



    Interest-Rate Spread   (unaudited)

                                             Three Months Ended
                                Dec. 31, Sept. 30, June 30, March 31, Dec. 31,
                                  2007     2007     2007     2007      2006

      Interest-rate spread
      Yield on interest-
       earning assets             6.42 %   6.61 %   6.62 %   6.61 %    6.52 %
      Cost of interest-bearing
       liabilities                3.24     3.32     3.25     3.29      3.38
          Interest-rate spread    3.18 %   3.29 %   3.37 %   3.32 %    3.14 %

          Net interest margin     3.26 %   3.38 %   3.47 %   3.41 %    3.23 %



    Consolidated Average Statements of Condition   (unaudited)

                                          Three Months Ended December 31, 2007
                                                                   Fully tax-
                                             Average               equivalent
    (Dollars in thousands)                   balance     Interest  yield/rate

    Assets:
       Interest-earning assets:
       Loans                                $12,422,076    $205,363    6.54 %
       Securities (b)                         2,561,459      37,569    5.85
       Loans held for sale                      208,199       3,276    6.29
       Federal Home Loan and Federal
        Reserve Bank stock                      110,962       1,760    6.29
       Short-term investments                    18,464         132    2.79
          Total interest-earning assets      15,321,160     248,100    6.42
       Noninterest-earning assets             1,564,878
          Total assets                      $16,886,038

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
       Interest-bearing liabilities:
       Demand deposits                       $1,492,936    $    -       -   %
       Savings, NOW and money market
           deposit accounts                   5,795,625      31,608    2.16
       Time deposits                          5,104,534      57,902    4.50
          Total deposits                     12,393,095      89,510    2.86
       Federal Home Loan Bank advances          797,713       8,812    4.32
       Repurchase agreements and other
          short-term debt                     1,072,976      11,560    4.22
       Long-term debt                           662,904      12,376    7.47
          Total borrowings                    2,533,593      32,748    5.10
          Total interest-bearing
           liabilities                       14,926,688     122,258    3.24
       Noninterest-bearing liabilities          161,761
          Total liabilities                  15,088,449

       Preferred stock of subsidiary
        corporation                               9,577

       Shareholders' equity                   1,788,012
          Total liabilities and
           shareholders' equity             $16,886,038
                                                            125,842
       Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                       (3,143)

       Net interest income                                 $122,699

       Interest-rate spread                                            3.18 %
       Net interest margin                                             3.26 %


                                         Three Months Ended December 31, 2006
                                                                   Fully tax-
                                             Average               equivalent
    (Dollars in thousands)                   balance     Interest  yield/rate

    Assets:
       Interest-earning assets:
       Loans                                $13,362,185    $225,634    6.69 %
       Securities (b)                         2,289,026      32,085    5.63
       Loans held for sale                      417,479       6,191    5.93
       Federal Home Loan and Federal
        Reserve Bank stock                      146,960       2,610    7.05
       Short-term investments                    29,896         368    4.82
          Total interest-earning assets      16,245,546     266,888    6.52
       Noninterest-earning assets             1,617,888
          Total assets                      $17,863,434

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
       Interest-bearing liabilities:
       Demand deposits                       $1,522,571    $    -       -   %
       Savings, NOW and money market
           deposit accounts                   5,582,187      29,609    2.10
       Time deposits                          5,405,010      60,586    4.44
          Total deposits                     12,509,768      90,195    2.86
       Federal Home Loan Bank advances        1,444,155      18,169    4.92
       Repurchase agreements and other
          short-term debt                     1,239,065      14,100    4.45
       Long-term debt                           637,853      12,725    7.98
          Total borrowings                    3,321,073      44,994    5.33
          Total interest-bearing
           liabilities                       15,830,841     135,189    3.38
       Noninterest-bearing liabilities          149,623
          Total liabilities                  15,980,464

       Preferred stock of subsidiary
        corporation                               9,577

       Shareholders' equity                   1,873,393
          Total liabilities and
           shareholders' equity             $17,863,434
                                                            131,699
       Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                       (2,549)

       Net interest income                                 $129,150

       Interest-rate spread                                            3.14 %
       Net interest margin                                             3.23 %


      See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.



    Consolidated Average Statements of Condition (unaudited)

                                         Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2007
                                                                    Fully tax-
                                               Average              equivalent
    (Dollars in thousands)                     balance     Interest yield/rate

    Assets:
       Interest-earning assets:
       Loans                                $12,390,955     $837,711    6.76 %
       Securities (b)                         2,356,669      136,398    5.79
       Loans held for sale                      344,663       21,560    6.26
       Federal Home Loan and Federal
        Reserve Bank stock                      113,731        7,954    6.99
       Short-term investments                    59,345        3,045    5.13
          Total interest-earning assets      15,265,363    1,006,668    6.60
       Noninterest-earning assets             1,590,282
          Total assets                      $16,855,645

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
       Interest-bearing liabilities:
       Demand deposits                       $1,506,696     $    -       -   %
       Savings, NOW and money market
           deposit accounts                   5,749,378      125,590    2.18
       Time deposits                          5,218,449      235,717    4.52
          Total deposits                     12,474,523      361,307    2.90
       Federal Home Loan Bank advances          757,367       35,302    4.66
       Repurchase agreements and other
          short-term debt                       996,341       44,769    4.49
       Long-term debt                           609,371       46,025    7.55
          Total borrowings                    2,363,079      126,096    5.34
          Total interest-bearing
           liabilities                       14,837,602      487,403    3.28
       Noninterest-bearing liabilities          156,083
          Total liabilities                  14,993,685

       Preferred stock of subsidiary
        corporation                               9,577

       Shareholders' equity                   1,852,383
          Total liabilities and
           shareholders' equity             $16,855,645
                                                             519,265
       Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                       (11,073)

       Net interest income                                  $508,192

       Interest-rate spread                                             3.32 %
       Net interest margin                                              3.40 %


                                         Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2006
                                                                   Fully tax-
                                             Average               equivalent
    (Dollars in thousands)                   balance       Interest yield/rate

    Assets:
       Interest-earning assets:
       Loans                                $12,800,864     $843,398    6.59 %
       Securities (b)                         3,061,432      152,832    4.93
       Loans held for sale                      288,892       17,213    5.96
       Federal Home Loan and Federal
        Reserve Bank stock                      163,344        9,672    5.92
       Short-term investments                    25,514        1,079    4.23
          Total interest-earning assets      16,340,046    1,024,194    6.25
       Noninterest-earning assets             1,531,421
          Total assets                      $17,871,467

    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
       Interest-bearing liabilities:
       Demand deposits                       $1,470,861     $    -       -   %
       Savings, NOW and money market
           deposit accounts                   5,427,812      100,165    1.85
       Time deposits                          5,193,608      210,034    4.04
          Total deposits                     12,092,281      310,199    2.57
       Federal Home Loan Bank advances        2,035,786       94,322    4.63
       Repurchase agreements and other
          short-term debt                     1,243,269       52,301    4.21
       Long-term debt                           633,667       49,366    7.79
          Total borrowings                    3,912,722      195,989    5.01
          Total interest-bearing
           liabilities                       16,005,003      506,188    3.16
       Noninterest-bearing liabilities          139,057
          Total liabilities                  16,144,060

       Preferred stock of subsidiary
        corporation                               9,577

       Shareholders' equity                   1,717,830
          Total liabilities and
           shareholders' equity             $17,871,467
                                                             518,006
       Less: tax-equivalent adjustment                        (9,456)

       Net interest income                                  $508,550

       Interest-rate spread                                             3.09 %
       Net interest margin                                              3.16 %


      See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.



    Nonperforming Assets (unaudited)

                               Dec. 31,  Sept. 30, June 30, March 31, Dec. 31,
    (Dollars in thousands)       2007      2007      2007     2007      2006

    Nonperforming loans:
       Continuing Portfolio:
      Commercial:
        Commercial              $26,804   $25,845  $20,142  $13,679  $21,105
        Equipment financing       6,473     5,054    2,584    2,405    2,616
           Total commercial      33,277    30,899   22,726   16,084   23,721

      Commercial real estate     12,896    14,238   12,242   18,524   17,618
      Residential:
        Residential
         construction to
         permanent                2,820       -        -        -        -
        All other                19,532    14,811   13,288   10,838   10,231
           Total residential     22,352    14,811   13,288   10,838   10,231

      Consumer                   14,455    12,688    8,164    8,114    3,779
      Nonperforming loans -
       continuing portfolio      82,980    72,636   56,420   53,560   55,349

       Liquidating Portfolio:
        NCLC                     22,797    18,486   13,395    2,635    1,076
        Consumer                  7,126     4,199    2,711    2,694    2,487
      Nonperforming loans -
       liquidating portfolio     29,923    22,685   16,106    5,329    3,563
    Total nonperforming loans   112,903    95,321   72,526   58,889   58,912

    Other real estate owned
     and repossessed assets:
      Commercial                  2,211     5,233    3,950    4,833    1,922
      Residential                 1,061       985      711      350      383
      Consumer                    4,896     2,635    1,467      758      608
     Total other real estate
      owned and repossessed
      assets                      8,168     8,853    6,128    5,941    2,913

    Total nonperforming assets $121,071  $104,174  $78,654  $64,830  $61,825

     Accruing loans 90 or more
      days past due              $1,891    $1,286   $2,088   $4,636   $1,490


    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.



    Past Due Loans (unaudited)
                                Dec. 31, Sept. 30, June 30, March 31, Dec. 31,
    (Dollars in thousands)        2007     2007      2007     2007     2006

    Past Due 30-89 days:
       Continuing Portfolio:
      Commercial:
        Commercial               $13,291   $4,237   $9,999  $20,537   $5,672
        Equipment financing        5,644    3,057    3,355    3,582    1,443
           Total commercial       18,935    7,294   13,354   24,119    7,115
      Commercial real estate      12,054   21,017   13,452    6,429   26,476
      Residential:
        Residential construction
         to permanent              3,743    1,656      536      -        -
        All other                 19,967   22,501   14,556   10,354   14,269
           Total residential      23,710   24,157   15,092   10,354   14,269
      Consumer                    22,347   17,836   17,005    6,801   11,730
      Past Due 30-89 days -
       continuing portfolio       77,046   70,304   58,903   47,703   59,590

       Liquidating Portfolio:
        NCLC                      13,143   10,209    9,037    1,835      685
        Consumer                   8,793    7,815    5,379    2,815    2,288
      Past Due 30-89 days -
       liquidating portfolio      21,936   18,024   14,416    4,650    2,973

    Past Due 90 days or more:
      Commercial                   1,141    1,031    1,188    1,361    1,490
      Commercial real estate         750      255      900    3,275      -
        Total                   $100,873  $89,614  $75,407  $56,989  $64,053

    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.



    Allowance for Credit Losses (unaudited)

                                For the Three Months Ended
                  Dec. 31,    Sept. 30,     June 30,   March 31,    Dec. 31,
                    2007         2007         2007       2007         2006
    (Dollars
    in thousands)

    Beginning
     balance      $164,011     $152,750     $152,660    $154,994    $156,331

     Provision      45,250       15,250        4,250       3,000       3,000

     Allowance
      for acquired
      loans              -            -            -           -       4,724


    Charge-offs
     continuing
     portfolio:
    Commercial       2,485        1,992        2,034       2,293       9,352

    Residential         71          364          286         442         199

    Consumer         1,833        1,613        1,892       1,136         382

    Charge-offs
     continuing
     portfolio:      4,389        3,969        4,212       3,871       9,933

    Charge-offs
     liquidating
     portfolio:
    NCLC             7,051           69            -       2,139           -

    Consumer         1,846          969        1,284         857          72

    Charge-offs
     liquidating
     portfolio:      8,897        1,038        1,284       2,996          72

    Total
     charge-offs    13,286        5,007        5,496       6,867      10,005

    Recoveries      (1,611)      (1,018)      (1,336)     (1,533)       (944)

    Net loan
     charge-offs    11,675        3,989        4,160       5,334       9,061


    Ending
     balance      $197,586     $164,011     $152,750    $152,660    $154,994


     Components:
    Allowance
     for loan
     losses       $188,086     $154,532     $144,974    $145,367    $147,719

    Reserve for
     unfunded
     credit
     commitments     9,500        9,479        7,776       7,293       7,275

    Allowance
     for credit
     losses       $197,586     $164,011     $152,750    $152,660    $154,994


    Asset Quality Ratios:

    Allowance
     for loan
     losses
     / total loans   1.51%        1.24%        1.17%       1.18%       1.14%
    Allowance
     for credit
     losses
     / total loans   1.58         1.32         1.23        1.24        1.20

    Net charge-
     offs /
     average loans
     (annualized)    0.38         0.13         0.14        0.17        0.27

    Nonperforming
     loans /
     total loans     0.90         0.77         0.58        0.48        0.46

    Nonperforming
     assets /
     total loans
     plus OREO       0.97         0.84         0.63        0.53        0.48

    Allowance
     for credit
     losses /
     nonperforming
     loans         175.01       172.06       210.61      259.23      263.09


    Continuing Portfolio
     Allowance
     for loan
     losses /
     total loans     1.15%         n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Allowance
     for credit
     losses /
     total loans     1.23          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Net charge-offs
     / average
     loans
     (annualized)    0.09          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Nonperforming
     loans /
     total loans     0.69          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Nonperforming
     assets /
     total loans
     plus OREO       0.76          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Allowance for
     credit
     losses /
     nonperforming
     loans         177.98          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a


    Liquidating
     Portfolio

    NCLC
    Allowance
     for loan
     losses /
     total loans    20.65%         n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Net charge-
     offs /
     average
     loans
     (annualized)   25.43          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Nonperforming
     loans / total
     loans          27.37          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Allowance
     for loan
     losses /
     nonperforming
     loans          75.45          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a


    Consumer
    Allowance
     for loan
     losses /
     total loans     9.60%         n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Net charge
     -offs /
     average loans
     (annualized)    2.17          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Nonperforming
     loans / total
     loans           2.09          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a

    Allowance
     for loan
     losses /
     nonperforming
     loans         458.88          n/a          n/a         n/a        n/a


    See Selected Financial Highlights for footnotes.

SOURCE: Webster Financial Corporation

CONTACT: Media
Arthur House
+1-203-578-2391
ahouse@websterbank.com

Investor
Terry Mangan
+1-203-578-2318
tmangan@websterbank.com