Webster Declares Quarterly Common Stock Dividend.

Business Editors

WATERBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2000

Webster Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WBST) announced today that it has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.16 per common share.

The dividend is payable on Aug. 28, 2000, to shareholders of record on Aug. 14, 2000.

This is the 52nd consecutive quarterly dividend since Webster first paid a dividend in 1987.

Connecticut-based Webster Bank provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, trust and investment services through more than 110 banking offices, 200 ATMs and the Internet (www.websterbank.com). Webster's online mortgage subsidiary at www.nowlending.com on the Worldwide Web originates low-cost mortgages across the United States.

For more information on Webster, including past press releases and the latest Annual Report, visit the Webster Bank website at www.websterbank.com.