EXHIBIT 99.1

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      WRITTEN STATEMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


The undersigned, the Chief Executive Officer of Webster Financial Corporation
(the "Company"), hereby certifies that, to his knowledge on the date hereof:

(a)    the Form 10-K Report of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2002
       filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
       "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d)
       of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(b)    information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
       respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
       Company.

                                            /s/ James C. Smith
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                                            James C. Smith
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

March 20, 2003