D. Dean Mason Named Chief Executive Officer of HSA Bank

WATERBURY, Conn., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Bank, National Association, a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corporation , announces the appointment of D. Dean Mason as chief executive officer of its HSA Bank subsidiary in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. HSA Bank is the nation's largest health savings account (HSA) administrator measured by total deposits (more than $500 million).

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Most recently, Mason was president of Exante Bank, a large and respected player in the field of HSAs. Prior to becoming president he was chief operating officer of Exante Financial Services.

Before joining Exante, Dean was chief information officer and chief technology officer at Marquette Financial Companies. He also spent five years at Deloitte Consulting in Minneapolis, where he was central region leader of Deloitte Consulting's Information Strategies service line.

Mason earned a B.A. degree in computer science from Yale University. He will begin his new role Feb. 11, reporting to William T. Bromage, president, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Webster Bank and Webster Financial Corporation.

"Dean is a recognized leader in the HSA field with experience in strategic planning, operations, finance, information technology and public policy," Bromage said. "His talent and understanding of this rapidly-growing field and the strength of the HSA Bank team he will lead add up to a promising opportunity for him to add value and continue HSA Bank's remarkable growth."

"Dean will work closely with Kirk Hoewisch, president of HSA Bank, and with the capable team in Sheboygan to ensure HSA Bank extends its position as the nation's leading bank administrator of HSAs," he said.

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 headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut 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 http://www.websteronline.com/

HSA Bank serves customers in every state in the nation and is one of the first financial institutions nationwide to offer health savings accounts. In 2006, HSA Bank was named to the Kiplinger's Personal Finance "The Best List" as the "best health savings account." HSA Bank combines convenience, service and savings with low account maintenance fees, high interest rates, investments, 24-hour account access online or through an automated telephone system and outstanding personal service. For more information about HSA Bank, visit the HSA Bank Web site at http://www.hsabank.com/.

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