Webster Financial (WBS)

Loan Portfolio Review and Allowance for Credit Losses Methodology

Webster devotes significant attention to maintaining asset quality through conservative underwriting standards, active servicing of loans and aggressive management of nonperforming and classified assets. The allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level estimated by management to provide adequately for probable losses inherent in the current loan portfolio and unfunded commitments. Probable losses are estimated based upon a quarterly review of the loan portfolio, past loss experience, specific problem loans, economic conditions and other pertinent factors which, in management’s judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating credit losses. In assessing the specific risks inherent in the portfolio, management takes into consideration the risk of loss on nonaccrual loans, classified loans and watch list loans including an analysis of the collateral for such loans.

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The allowance for credit losses analysis includes consideration of the risks associated with unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit. These commitments are converted to estimates of potential loss using loan equivalency factors, and include internal and external historic loss experience. At September 30, 2007, the reserve for unfunded credit commitments was $9.5 million, which represents 5.8% of the total allowance for credit losses.

Management considers the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses to be a critical accounting policy. The adequacy of the allowance is subject to judgment in its determination. Actual loan losses could differ materially from management’s estimate if actual loss factors and conditions differ significantly from the assumptions utilized. These factors and conditions include the general economic conditions within Webster’s market and nationally, trends within industries where the loan portfolio is concentrated, real estate values, interest rates and the financial condition of individual borrowers. While management believes the allowance for credit losses is adequate as of September 30, 2007, actual results may prove different and these differences could be significant.

See the Allowance for Credit Losses Methodology section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis on pages 40 through 43 of Webster’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

Loan Portfolio Review and Allowance for Credit Losses Methodology

Webster devotes significant attention to maintaining asset quality through conservative underwriting standards, active servicing of loans and aggressive management of nonperforming and classified assets. The allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level estimated by management to provide adequately for probable losses inherent in the current loan portfolio and unfunded commitments. Probable losses are estimated based upon a quarterly review of the loan portfolio, past loss experience, specific problem loans, economic conditions and other pertinent factors which, in management’s judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating credit losses. In assessing the specific risks inherent in the portfolio, management takes into consideration the risk of loss on nonaccrual loans, classified loans and watch list loans including an analysis of the collateral for such loans.

The allowance for credit losses analysis includes consideration of the risks associated with unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit. These commitments are converted to estimates of potential loss using loan equivalency factors, and include internal and external historic loss experience. At June 30, 2007, the reserve for unfunded credit commitments was $7.8 million, which represents 5.1% of the total allowance for credit losses.

Management considers the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses to be a critical accounting policy. The adequacy of the allowance is subject to judgment in its determination. Actual loan losses could differ materially from management’s estimate if actual loss factors and conditions differ significantly from the assumptions utilized. These factors and conditions include the general economic conditions within Webster’s market and nationally, trends within industries where the loan portfolio is concentrated, real estate values, interest rates and the financial condition of individual borrowers. While management believes the allowance for credit losses is adequate as of June 30, 2007, actual results may prove different and these differences could be significant.

See the Allowance for Credit Losses Methodology section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis on pages 40 through 43 of Webster’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

Loan Portfolio Review and Allowance for Credit Losses Methodology

Webster devotes significant attention to maintaining asset quality through conservative underwriting standards, active servicing of loans and aggressive management of nonperforming and classified assets. The allowance for credit losses is maintained at a level estimated by management to provide adequately for probable losses inherent in the current loan portfolio and unfunded commitments. Probable losses are estimated based upon a quarterly review of the loan portfolio, past loss experience, specific problem loans, economic conditions and other pertinent factors which, in management’s judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating credit losses. In assessing the specific risks inherent in the portfolio, management takes into consideration the risk of loss on nonaccrual loans, classified loans and watch list loans including an analysis of the collateral for such loans.

The allowance for credit losses analysis includes consideration of the risks associated with unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit. These commitments are converted to estimates of potential loss using loan equivalency factors, and include internal and external historic loss experience. At March 31, 2007, the reserve for unfunded credit commitments was $7.3 million, which represents 1.24% of the total allowance for credit losses.

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Management considers the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses to be a critical accounting policy. The adequacy of the allowance is subject to judgment in its determination. Actual loan losses could differ materially from management’s estimate if actual loss factors and conditions differ significantly from the assumptions utilized. These factors and conditions include the general economic conditions within Webster’s market and nationally, trends within industries where the loan portfolio is concentrated, real estate values, interest rates and the financial condition of individual borrowers. While management believes the allowance for credit losses is adequate as of March 31, 2007, actual results may prove different and these differences could be significant.

See the Allowance for Credit Losses Methodology section within Management’s Discussion and Analysis on pages 40 through 43 of Webster’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.