Webster Bank Announces Plans To Create 150 New Jobs; Schedules Job Fairs Across Four-State Region

WATERBURY, Conn., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Bank, the main subsidiary of Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), announced today its intention to hire 150 individuals in the coming months for new full- and part-time positions in sales and service being created in Webster's branches, Customer Care Center, and small business banking in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Westchester County, N.Y.  

"Webster is poised to grow in 2010 as we finance our regional economic recovery," said James C. Smith, Webster chairman and CEO.  "In order to achieve our goal of increasing lending to small- and medium-sized businesses by $400 million this year, we have a growing need for individuals who share our passion for high-quality personal service and our mission to help families and businesses reach their financial goals.  We are especially interested in bankers who are experienced in sales of financial products and services and in small business banking."

Full- and part-time positions for days, evenings, and weekends are available in Webster's Customer Care Center in Wallingford, Conn., and Retail branches across four states. Webster has scheduled four job fairs to fill these positions:

• 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, January 20 at the Webster Resource Center, 436 Slater Road in New Britain, Conn.

• 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, January 26 at the Webster branch, 330 Swansea Mall Drive in Swansea, Mass.

• 4-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 27, Webster Customer Care Center, 777 Northrup Road, Wallingford, Conn.

• 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, February 3, at Courtyard by Marriott, 780 Bridgeport Avenue, in Shelton, Conn.

Successful candidates can expect job offers as quickly as within one week of each job fair.  Job-seekers can learn more about Webster, view open position postings, and apply on-line by visiting websterbank.com.

Smith added, "As the largest independent commercial bank headquartered in New England, Webster sees an opportunity to help jump-start our economy.  We want people on our team who share our commitment to the Webster Way and our vision to be New England's bank."  

Serving businesses, consumers, and governmental entities stretching from Boston's financial district through Westchester County in New York with 181 branches, 492 ATMs, and a robust online presence, Webster Bank delivers the full suite of financial products and services of a big bank with the personal service of a local bank.

About Webster

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association. With $17.8 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, financial planning, trust and investment services through 181 banking offices, 492 ATMs, telephone banking and the Internet.  Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation, Center Capital Corporation, an equipment finance company headquartered in Farmington, Conn., and provides health savings account trustee and administrative services through HSA Bank, a division of Webster 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.websterbank.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could differ materially from management expectations, projections and estimates. Factors that could cause future results to vary from current management expectations include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, legislative and regulatory changes, monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government, changes in tax policies, rates and regulations of federal, state and local tax authorities, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, the cost of funds, demand for loan products, demand for financial services, competition, changes in the quality or composition of our loan and investment portfolios, changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines, and other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Some of these and other factors are discussed in the annual and quarterly reports of Webster Financial Corporation previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such developments, or any combination thereof, could have an adverse impact on the company's financial position and results of operations. Except as required by law, Webster does not undertake to update any such forward looking statements.

SOURCE Webster Financial Corporation