Exhibit 23.6



                   CONSENT OF ALEX. BROWN & SONS INCORPORATED

                  We  hereby  consent  to the  reference  to our firm and to the
inclusion  of the copy of our  opinion  letter as  Appendix A in the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus  which  is a part of the  Registration  Statement  filed by
Webster  Financial  Corporation on Form S-4 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. By giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the
category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended,  or the rules and  regulations  of the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we thereby admit that we are experts with
respect to any part of such  Registration  Statement  within the  meaning of the
term "experts" as used in the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

                                    ALEX. BROWN & SONS INCORPORATED



                                    By:  /s/ Howard J. Loewenberg
                                         -----------------------------
                                         Howard J. Loewenberg
                                         Principal


Baltimore, Maryland
November 5, 1996

                                      E-61