News Details

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Webster Financial Corporation (“Webster”) (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., today announced net income applicable to common stockholders of $248.7 million, or $1.55 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to $171.8 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Fourth quarter 2025 results include gains on debt redemption, a charitable contribution to the Webster Foundation, asset disposal and contact termination costs, acquisition expenses, and a benefit related to the FDIC special assessment. Excluding these items, adjusted earnings per diluted share would have been $1.59¹ for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to $1.43¹ for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

“Webster continued to excel from a fundamental perspective in the fourth quarter, and we enter 2026 from a position of strength,” said John R. Ciulla, chairman and chief executive officer. “It was appropriate that Webster produced record EPS and tangible book value per share in the year of its 90th anniversary.”

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2025:

• Revenue of $746.2 million.
• Period end loans and leases balance of $56.6 billion, up $1.5 billion, or 2.8 percent from prior quarter.
• Period end deposits balance of $68.8 billion, up $0.6 billion, or 0.9 percent, from prior quarter.
• Provision for credit losses of $42.0 million.
• Return on average assets of 1.23 percent.
• Return on average tangible common equity of 17.10 percent ¹.
• Net interest margin of 3.35 percent, down 5 basis points from prior quarter.
• Common equity tier 1 ratio of 11.22 percent ².
• Efficiency ratio of 46.95 percent ¹.
• Tangible common equity ratio of 7.42 percent ¹.
• Repurchased 3.6 million shares under Webster’s share repurchase program.

“Our solid operating foundation enables Webster to maintain strong profitability while building scale,” said Neal Holland, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We continue to invest in businesses and capabilities that enhance Webster’s strategic capabilities.”

Consolidated financial performance:

Quarterly net interest income compared to the fourth quarter of 2024:

• Net interest income was $632.9 million, compared to $608.5 million.
• Net interest margin ¹ was 3.35 percent, compared to 3.44 percent. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased by 22 basis points, and the cost of deposits and interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 16 basis points.
• Average interest-earning assets totaled $76.7 billion, an increase of $4.8 billion, or 6.7 percent.
• Average loans and leases totaled $55.9 billion, an increase of $3.7 billion, or 7.0 percent.
• Average deposits totaled $68.5 billion, an increase of $3.7 billion, or 5.6 percent.

Quarterly provision for credit losses:

• The provision for credit losses was $42.0 million, compared to $44.0 million in the prior quarter, and $63.5 million a year ago.
• Net charge-offs were $49.5 million, compared to $38.4 million in the prior quarter, and $60.9 million a year ago. The ratio of net charge-offs to average loans and leases was 0.35 percent, compared to 0.28 percent in the prior quarter, and 0.47 percent a year ago.
• The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases represented 1.27 percent of total loans and leases, compared to 1.32 percent at September 30, 2025, and 1.31 percent at December 31, 2024.
• The allowance for credit losses on loans and leases represented 144 percent of non-performing loans and leases, compared to 134 percent at September 30, 2025, and 149 percent at December 31, 2024.

Quarterly non-interest income compared to the fourth quarter of 2024:

• Total non-interest income was $113.4 million, compared to $52.5 million, an increase of $60.9 million. Total non-interest income includes gains on debt redemption of $9.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and losses on sales of investment securities of $56.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Excluding those items, total non-interest income decreased $5.8 million. The decrease is primarily driven by lower direct investment gains and a decrease in the credit valuation adjustment on derivatives, partially offset by increased client hedging activities.

Quarterly non-interest expense compared to the fourth quarter of 2024:

• Total non-interest expense was $383.2 million, compared to $340.4 million, an increase of $42.8 million. Total non-interest expense includes a $20.0 million charitable contribution to the Webster Foundation, $7.0 million in asset disposal and contract termination costs, and $1.1 million in acquisition expenses, partially offset by a $10.3 million benefit related to the FDIC special assessment. Excluding those items, total non-interest expense increased $25.0 million. The increase is primarily driven by increased investments in human capital and technology, performance-based incentives, and marketing expenses.

Quarterly income taxes compared to the fourth quarter of 2024:

• Income tax expense was $65.1 million, compared to $79.3 million, and the effective tax rate was 20.3 percent, compared to 30.9 percent. The higher tax expense and effective tax rate a year ago reflected the recognition of a $29.4 million deferred tax asset valuation adjustment, which impacted the effective tax rate by 11.4 percentage points in that period.

Investment securities:

• Total investment securities, net, were $18.0 billion, compared to $18.0 billion at September 30, 2025, and $17.5 billion at December 31, 2024. The carrying value of the available-for-sale portfolio included $457.5 million of net unrealized losses, compared to $496.8 million at September 30, 2025, and $712.9 million at December 31, 2024. The carrying value of the held-to-maturity portfolio does not reflect $801.1 million of net unrealized losses, compared to $836.7 million at September 30, 2025, and $991.2 million at December 31, 2024.

Loans and leases:

• Total loans and leases were $56.6 billion, compared to $55.1 billion at September 30, 2025, and $52.5 billion at December 31, 2024. Compared to September 30, 2025, commercial loans and leases increased by $982.5 million, commercial real estate loans increased by $423.5 million, residential mortgages increased by $90.4 million, and consumer loans increased by $48.5 million. Compared to December 31, 2024, commercial loans and leases increased by $2.2 billion, commercial real estate loans increased by $943.8 million, residential mortgages increased by $745.9 million, and consumer loans increased by $183.8 million.
• Loan originations for the portfolio were $4.5 billion, compared to $4.1 billion in the prior quarter, and $3.4 billion a year ago.

Asset quality:

• Total non-performing loans and leases were $500.7 million, compared to $543.9 million at September 30, 2025, and $461.3 million at December 31, 2024. The ratio of total non-performing loans and leases to total loans and leases was 0.88 percent, compared to 0.99 percent at September 30, 2025, and 0.88 percent at December 31, 2024.
• Past due loans and leases were $66.5 million, compared to $65.6 million at September 30, 2025, and $113.4 million at December 31, 2024. The increase from prior quarter is primarily driven by an increase in commercial non-mortgage, partially offset by a decrease in commercial real estate. The decrease from a year ago is primarily driven by decreases in commercial real estate and asset-based lending.

Deposits and borrowings:

• Total deposits were $68.8 billion, compared to $68.2 billion at September 30, 2025, and $64.8 billion at December 31, 2024. The ratio of core deposits to total deposits ¹ was 87.5 percent, compared to 88.9 percent at September 30, 2025, and 87.3 percent at December 31, 2024. The loan to deposit ratio was 82.3 percent, compared to 80.8 percent at September 30, 2025, and 81.1 percent at December 31, 2024.
• Total borrowings were $4.3 billion, compared to $3.9 billion at September 30, 2025, and $3.4 billion at December 31, 2024.

Capital:

• The return on average common stockholders’ equity and the return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity ¹ were 10.91 percent and 17.10 percent, respectively, compared to 11.23 percent and 17.64 percent, respectively, in the prior quarter, and 7.80 percent and 12.73 percent, respectively, a year ago.
• The tangible equity ¹ and tangible common equity ¹ ratios were 7.77 percent and 7.42 percent, respectively, compared to 7.86 percent and 7.50 percent, respectively, at September 30, 2025, and 7.82 percent and 7.45 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2024.
• The common equity tier 1 ² ratio was 11.22 percent, compared to 11.39 percent at September 30, 2025, and 11.54 percent at December 31, 2024.
• Book value per common share and tangible book value per common share ¹ were $57.12 and $37.20, respectively, compared to $55.69 and $36.42, respectively, at September 30, 2025, and $51.63 and $32.95, respectively, at December 31, 2024.

Reportable segments:

Commercial Banking

Webster’s Commercial Banking segment delivers financial solutions both nationally and regionally to a wide range of companies, investors, government entities, and other public and private institutions. Commercial Banking helps its clients achieve their business and financial goals with expertise in Commercial & Institutional Lending, Commercial Real Estate, Capital Markets, Capital Finance, and Treasury Management. Its Private Banking team also pairs holistic wealth solutions, including tailored lending, with commercial banking services. At December 31, 2025, Commercial Banking had $43.8 billion in loans and leases and $17.3 billion in deposits, as well as a combined $2.8 billion in assets under administration (“AUA”) and management (“AUM”).

Commercial Banking Operating Results:

Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue decreased $8.0 million, to $256.7 million, in the quarter as compared to the prior year. Net interest income increased $0.2 million, to $330.6 million, primarily driven by higher loan and deposit balances, partially offset by lower net spread on loans and leases. Non-interest income decreased $4.8 million, to $36.3 million, primarily driven by lower direct investment gains, partially offset by an increase in client hedging activities and higher syndication fees. Non-interest expense increased $3.4 million, to $110.2 million, primarily driven by increased investments in human capital, operational process improvements, and technology, and higher loan related expenses.

Healthcare Financial Services

Webster’s Healthcare Financial Services segment includes HSA Bank and Ametros. HSA Bank is one the country’s largest providers of employee benefits solutions, including being one of the leading bank administrators of health savings accounts, emergency savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts administration services in 50 states. Ametros, the nation’s largest professional administrator of medical insurance claim settlements, helps individuals manage their ongoing medical care through their CareGuard service and proprietary technology platform. At December 31, 2025, Healthcare Financial Services had $16.9 billion in total footings comprising $10.4 billion in deposits and $6.5 billion in AUA through linked investment accounts.

Healthcare Financial Services Operating Results:

Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue increased $3.3 million, to $67.0 million, in the quarter as compared to the prior year. Net interest income increased $3.7 million, to $98.9 million, primarily driven by higher deposit balances, partially offset by lower deposit spreads. Non-interest income increased $1.9 million, to $27.0 million, primarily driven by higher interchange and medical fees. Non-interest expense increased $2.3 million, to $58.9 million, primarily driven by higher compensation and benefits costs and marketing expenses.

Consumer Banking

Webster’s Consumer Banking segment delivers customized financial solutions to individuals, families, and small to mid-sized businesses through its experienced relationship managers and wealth advisors across 195 banking centers located throughout the Northeast. Consumer Banking offers a full suite of deposit, lending, treasury management, and wealth management solutions. Consumer Banking also provides a fully digital banking experience through its mobile banking apps and BrioDirect. At December 31, 2025, Consumer Banking had $12.8 billion in loans and $27.7 billion in deposits, as well as $8.0 billion in AUA.

Consumer Banking Operating Results:

Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue decreased $4.0 million, to $106.0 million, in the quarter as compared to the prior year. Net interest income increased $8.0 million, to $210.2 million, primarily driven by higher average loan and deposit balances coupled with a higher interest rate spread on loans, partially offset by a lower interest rate spread on deposits. Non-interest income decreased $2.4 million, to $24.5 million, primarily driven by lower deposit service fees and lower investment services income. Non-interest expense increased $9.6 million, to $128.8 million, primarily driven by increased investments in technology, employee-related expenses, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Webster Financial Corporation (“Webster”) (NYSE:WBS) is the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A. (“Webster Bank”). Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Webster is a values-driven organization with more than $84 billion in total consolidated assets. Webster Bank is a commercial bank that provides a wide range of financial products and services to businesses, individuals, and families across three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Healthcare Financial Services, and Consumer Banking. While its core footprint spans the Northeast from the New York metropolitan area to Rhode Island and Massachusetts, certain businesses operate in extended geographies. Webster Bank is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.websterbank.com.

Conference Call

A conference call covering Webster’s fourth quarter 2025 earnings announcement will be held today, Friday, January 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the live call, please dial 888-330-2446, or 1-240-789-2732 for international callers. The passcode is 8607257. The webcast, along with related slides, will be available via Webster’s Investor Relations website at investors.websterbank.com. A replay of the conference call will be available for one week via the website listed above, beginning at approximately 12:00 noon (Eastern Time) on January 23, 2026. To access the replay, dial 800-770-2030, or 1-609-800-9909 for international callers. The replay conference ID number is 8607257.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “could,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “outlook,” “target,” “continue,” “remain,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “might,” “plans,” “estimates,” “likely,” “future,” and similar references to future periods. However, these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, and other financial items; statements of plans, objectives, and expectations of Webster or its management or Board of Directors; statements of future economic performance; and statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Webster’s current expectations and assumptions regarding its business, the economy, and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, and in many cases, are beyond Webster's control. Webster’s actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Factors that could cause Webster’s actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: Webster’s ability to successfully execute its business plan and strategic initiatives, and manage any risks or uncertainties; continued regulatory changes or other risk mitigation efforts taken by government agencies in response to the risk to safety and soundness in the banking industry; volatility in Webster’s stock price due to investor sentiment and perception of the banking industry; local, regional, national, and international economic conditions or macroeconomic instability (including any economic slowdown or recession, inflation, monetary fluctuation, tariff increases, interest rate changes, credit loss trends, unemployment, changes in housing or securities markets, or other factors) and the impact of the same on Webster or its customers; volatility, disruption, or uncertainty in national and international financial markets, including as a result of geopolitical developments; the impact of unrealized losses in Webster’s financial instruments, particularly in Webster’s available-for-sale securities portfolio; changes in laws and regulations, or existing laws and regulations that Webster becomes subject to, including those concerning banking, taxes, dividends, securities, insurance, cybersecurity, and healthcare administration, with which Webster must comply; adverse conditions in the securities markets that could lead to impairment in the value of Webster’s securities portfolio; possible changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies, or any leadership changes of those determining such policies, including, but not limited to, Federal Reserve policies in connection with continued inflationary pressures; the effects of any restructurings, staff reductions, or other disruptions in the U.S. federal government or in agencies regulating or otherwise impacting Webster’s business; the direct or indirect impact of any new regulatory, policy, or enforcement developments resulting from the policies or actions of the current U.S. presidential administration, including trade deals, changes in tariffs and other protectionist trade policies, any reciprocal and/or retaliatory tariffs by foreign countries, and any uncertainties related thereto; the timely development and acceptance of any new products and services, and the perceived value of those products and services by customers; changes in deposit flows, consumer spending, borrowings, and savings habits; Webster’s ability to implement new technologies and maintain secure and reliable information and technology systems; the effects, including reputational damage, of any cybersecurity threats, attacks or disruptions, fraudulent activity, or other data breaches or security events, including those involving Webster’s third-party vendors and service providers; issues with the performance of Webster’s counterparties and third-party vendors; Webster’s ability to increase market share and control expenses; changes in the competitive environment among banks, financial holding companies, and other traditional and non-traditional financial service providers; Webster’s ability to maintain adequate sources of funding and liquidity; possible downgrades in Webster’s credit ratings; limitations on Webster’s ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries; Webster’s ability to attract, develop, motivate, and retain skilled employees; changes in loan demand or real estate values; changes in the mix of loan geographies, sectors, or types and the level of non-performing assets, charge-offs, and delinquencies; changes in Webster’s estimates of current expected credit losses based upon periodic review under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices applicable to Webster, including impacts of recently adopted accounting guidance; legal and regulatory developments, including any due to judicial decisions, the initiation or resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries, the results of regulatory examinations or reviews, disruptions at regulatory agencies, government funding or other issues; Webster’s ability to navigate differing environmental, social, governmental, and sustainability concerns among federal and state governmental administrations and judicial decisions, Webster’s stakeholders, and other activists that may arise from Webster’s business activities; Webster’s ability to assess and monitor the effect of evolving uses of artificial intelligence on its business and operations; the occurrence of natural disasters, severe weather events, and public health crises, and any governmental or societal responses thereto; the impact of any of the foregoing on the business or credit quality of Webster’s customers; and the other factors that are described in Webster’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made by Webster in this release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause Webster’s actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Webster to predict all of them. Webster undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to results presented in accordance with GAAP, this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including the efficiency ratio, the return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity, the tangible equity ratio, the tangible common equity ratio, tangible book value per common share, and core deposits. A reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP financial measure is included in the accompanying selected financial highlights table.

Webster believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with information useful in understanding its financial position, results of operations, the strength of its capital position, and overall business performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are used by Webster for performance measurement purposes, as well as for internal planning and forecasting, and by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties to assess peer company operating performance. Webster believes that this presentation, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provides investors with a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting its business and allows investors to view its performance in a manner similar to management.

The efficiency ratio represents the costs expended to generate a dollar of revenue and is calculated excluding certain non-operational items. The return on average tangible common stockholders’ equity (“ROATCE”) is calculated using net income less preferred stock dividends, adjusted for the tax-effected amortization of intangible assets, as a percentage of average stockholders’ equity less average preferred stock and average goodwill and other intangible assets. The tangible equity ratio represents stockholders’ equity less goodwill and other intangible assets (“tangible stockholders’ equity”) divided by total assets less goodwill and other intangible assets (“tangible assets”). The tangible common equity ratio represents stockholders’ equity less preferred stock and goodwill and other intangible assets (“tangible common stockholders’ equity”) divided by tangible assets. Tangible book value per common share represents tangible common stockholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding at the end of the reporting period. Core deposits reflect total deposits less certificates of deposit and brokered certificates of deposit. Adjusted pre-tax net income, adjusted net income available to common stockholders, adjusted diluted earnings per share (“EPS”), adjusted ROATCE, and adjusted return on average assets (“ROAA”) are calculated excluding certain non-recurring transactions or events, which have been tax-effected, as applicable.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP-basis financial measures. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these with other companies that present financial measures having the same or similar names. Webster strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and to not rely on any single financial measure.

Refer the tables beginning on page 19 for Non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliations.