Webster Lowers Prime Lending Rate

WATERBURY, Conn., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Webster Bank, National Association, a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corporation , announced today that it has lowered its prime lending rate to 6.0 percent from 6.50 percent effective today. Webster last changed its prime rate on January 22, 2008.

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/.

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