UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

[X]       Annual  Report  Pursuant  to  Section  13 or 15(d)  of the  Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1997 OR

[ ]       Transition  Report  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934 For the transition period from _______ to _____ .

          Commission File Number: 0-15213

                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                          -----------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             DELAWARE                                       06-1187536
             --------                                       ----------
  (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

   WEBSTER PLAZA, WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT                      06702
   -------------------------------------                      -----
 (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 753-2921
        
           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                 Not Applicable

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                          Common Stock, $.01 per value
                          ----------------------------
                                (Title of class)

          Indicate  by check  mark  whether  the  registrant  (1) has  filed all
reports  required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No

          Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,
to the best of  registrant's  knowledge,  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in Part  III of this  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. X

         Based upon the closing  price of the  registrant's  common  stock as of
March  25,  1998,  the  aggregate  market  value  of the  voting  stock  held by
non-affiliates  of the registrant is  $916,700,397.  Solely for purposes of this
calculation,  the  shares  held  by  directors  and  executive  officers  of the
registrant  have  been  excluded  because  such  persons  may  be  deemed  to be
affiliates.  This reference to affiliate  status is not necessarily a conclusive
determination for other purposes.

         The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date is:

                  Class: Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
              Issued and Outstanding at March 25, 1998: 13,701,649

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part I and II: Portions of  the Annual  Report to  Shareholders  for fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997

Part III:  Portions of the Definitive  Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on April 23, 1998.




                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                          1997 FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            PAGE

                                     PART I

ITEM 1.   Business...........................................................  3
           
             General.........................................................  3
             Acquisition Pending Consummation................................  4
             Recent Acquisitions.............................................  4
             FDIC Assisted Acquisitions......................................  6
             Lending Activities..............................................  7
             Segregated Assets .............................................. 13
             Investment Activities........................................... 13
             Trust Activities................................................ 14
             Sources of Funds  .............................................. 15
             Bank Subsidiaries............................................... 17
             Employees....................................................... 17
             Market Area and Competition..................................... 18
             Regulation...................................................... 18
             Taxation........................................................ 19

ITEM 2.   Properties......................................................... 20
ITEM 3.   Legal Proceedings.................................................. 21
ITEM 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders................ 21


                                     PART II

ITEM 5.   Market for Registrant's Common Equity and
            Related Stockholder Matters...................................... 21
ITEM 6.   Selected Financial Data............................................ 22
ITEM 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
            Results of Operations ........................................... 23
ITEM 7.a  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk......... 23
ITEM 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data........................ 23
ITEM 9.   Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
            and Financial Disclosure ........................................ 24

                                    PART III

ITEM 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant................ 24
ITEM 11.   Executive Compensation............................................ 24
ITEM 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.... 24
ITEM 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.................... 24


                                     PART IV

ITEM 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.. 24


                                       2




                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

GENERAL

         Webster  Financial  Corporation,   ("Webster"  or  the  "Corporation"),
through its subsidiary,  Webster Bank (the "Bank"),  delivers financial services
to individuals,  families and businesses located throughout Connecticut. Webster
Bank is  organized  along four  business  lines:  consumer,  business,  mortgage
banking  and  trust  and  investment  management  services,  each  supported  by
centralized   administration   and   operations.   The   Corporation  has  grown
significantly in recent years,  primarily through a series of acquisitions which
have expanded and strengthened its franchise.

         At December  31,  1997,  total  assets were $7.0 billion as compared to
$5.6 billion a year earlier.  Net loans  receivable  amounted to $3.8 billion at
December  31, 1997 as compared to $3.6  billion a year ago.  Deposits  were $4.4
billion at December 31,1997 as compared to $4.5 billion at December 31, 1996.

         Webster  expanded  its banking  operations  by  acquiring  Sachem Trust
National Association ("Sachem Trust") in August 1997, People's Savings Financial
Corp.  ("People's") in July 1997 and DS Bancor,  Inc. ("Derby") in January 1997.
(See "Recent Acquisitions"). In preceding years, Webster expanded its operations
through  the  acquisitions  of  20  former  Shawmut  Bank  Connecticut  National
Association  ("Shawmut")  branch banking offices in the Greater Hartford banking
market in 1996, Shelton Bancorp,  Inc. ("Shelton") in 1995, Bristol Savings Bank
("Bristol")  in 1994  and  Shoreline  Bank & Trust  ("Shoreline")  in 1994  (see
"Recent  Acquisitions") and the FDIC assisted acquisitions of First Constitution
Bank ("First Constitution") in 1992 and Suffield Bank ("Suffield") in 1991. (See
"FDIC Assisted  Acquisitions").  These acquisitions have significantly  expanded
the market areas served by the Corporation.

         At  December  31,  1997,   the  assets  of  the   Corporation,   on  an
unconsolidated  basis,  consisted  primarily of its  investment  in the Bank and
$87.6  million  of cash and  investment  securities.  The  principal  sources of
Webster's  revenues on an  unconsolidated  basis are dividends from the Bank and
interest and dividend  income from other  investments.  See Note 22 to Webster's
Consolidated Financial Statements for parent-only financial statements.

         The  Bank's  deposits  are  federally  insured by the  Federal  Deposit
Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The Bank is a Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF") member
institution and at December 31, 1997,  approximately  81% of the Bank's deposits
were subject to BIF assessment rates and 19% were subject to Savings Association
Insurance Fund ("SAIF") assessment rates. (See "Regulation").

         Webster,   as  a  holding   company,   and  the  Bank  are  subject  to
comprehensive regulation, examination and supervision by the OTS, as the primary
federal  regulator.  The Bank is also  subject to  regulation,  examination  and
supervision by the FDIC as to certain matters.  Webster's  executive offices are
located at Webster Plaza, Waterbury, Connecticut, 06702. Its telephone number is
(203) 753-2921.

                                       3

ACQUISITION PENDING CONSUMMATION

     The Eagle  Acquisition.  During the second quarter of 1998, Webster expects
to  complete  its   acquisition  of  Eagle  Financial  Corp  ("Eagle")  and  its
subsidiary,  Eagle Bank, a $2.1 billion savings bank  headquartered  in Bristol,
Connecticut.  In connection with the acquisition of Eagle,  Webster had expected
to issue 5.1 million shares of its common stock for all the  outstanding  shares
of  Eagle  common  stock.  Under  the  original  terms  of the  argeement,  each
outstanding  share of Eagle common  stock was expected to be converted  into .84
shares  of  Webster  common  stock.  On March  17,  1998,  Webster  announced  a
two-for-one  stock split to shareholders of record as of April 6, 1998,  subject
to  shareholder  approval of an amendment to the  Corporation's  Certificate  of
Incorporation  to increase  the  authorized  number of shares of Webster  common
stock from  30,000,000  to  50,000,000.  Due to the stock split,  and subject to
shareholder  approval of the Eagle  acquisition  on April 2, 1998,  the exchange
ratio will change to 1.68 shares and  accordingly,  approximately  10.2  million
shares  of  Webster  common  stock  are  expected  to be  issued  for all of the
outstanding shares of Eagle common stock. This acquisition will be accounted for
as a pooling of interests, and as such, future Consolidated Financial Statements
of the  Corporation  will include  Eagle's  financial  data as if Eagle had been
combined at the beginning of the earliest period presented.

RECENT ACQUISITIONS

     The Sachem Acquisition. On August 1, 1997, Webster acquired Sachem Trust, a
trust company headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut with $300 million of assets
under management, in a tax-free stock-for-stock exchange. Under the terms of the
agreement,  Webster issued 83,385 shares of Webster common stock for all 173,000
outstanding  shares of Sachem  Trust.  This  acquisition  was accounted for as a
purchase,  and as such,  results are reported in the Corporation's  Consolidated
Financial Statements only for the periods subsequent to the acquisition date.

     The People's  Acquisition.  On July 31, 1997, Webster acquired People's and
its subsidiary,  People's  Savings Bank & Trust,  headquartered  in New Britain,
Connecticut,   which  had  $482  million  of  assets.  In  connection  with  the
acquisition of People's, Webster issued 1,575,996 shares of its common stock for
all the  outstanding  shares of People's  common  stock.  Under the terms of the
merger agreement each  outstanding  share of People's common stock was converted
into .85 shares of Webster common stock. This acquisition was accounted for as a
pooling of interests,  and as such,  the  Corporation's  Consolidated  Financial
Statements  include People's  financial data as if People's had been combined at
the beginning of the earliest period presented.

     The Derby Acquisition.  On January 31, 1997, Webster acquired Derby and its
subsidiary,  Derby Savings Bank, headquartered in Derby, Connecticut,  which had
$1.2 billion of assets.  In connection  with the  acquisition of Derby,  Webster
issued  3,501,370  shares of its common stock for all the outstanding  shares of
Derby common stock.  Under the terms of the merger  agreement,  each outstanding
share of Derby common stock was converted  into 1.14158 shares of Webster common
stock.  This  acquisition  was accounted  for as a pooling of interests,  and as
such,  the  Corporation's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  include  Derby's
financial  data as if Derby had been  combined at the  beginning of the earliest
period presented.

                                       4

     The Shawmut  Transaction.  On February 16, 1996,  Webster Bank  acquired 20
branches  in  the  Greater   Hartford   market  from   Shawmut   (the   "Shawmut
Transaction"),  as part of a divesture in connection  with the merger of Shawmut
and Fleet Bank. In the branch purchase, Webster Bank acquired approximately $845
million in deposits and $586 million in loans. As a result of this  transaction,
Webster recorded $44.2 million as a core deposit intangible asset. In connection
with the Shawmut  Transaction,  Webster  raised net  proceeds  of $32.1  million
through  the sale of  1,249,600  shares of its common  stock in an  underwritten
public offering in December 1995. The Shawmut Transaction was accounted for as a
purchase,  and as such,  results are reported in the Corporation's  Consolidated
Financial  Statements only for the periods subsequent to the consummation of the
Shawmut Transaction.

     The  Shelton  Bancorp,  Inc.  Acquisition.  On  November  1, 1995,  Webster
acquired  Shelton and its  subsidiary,  Shelton Savings Bank,  headquartered  in
Shelton,  Connecticut,  which had $295 million of assets. In connection with the
acquisition of Shelton,  Webster issued 1,292,549 shares of its common stock for
all the outstanding  shares of Shelton common stock,  based on an exchange ratio
of .92 shares of Webster common stock for each of Shelton's  outstanding  shares
of common stock.  This  acquisition was accounted for as a pooling of interests,
and  as  such,  the  Corporation's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  include
Shelton's financial data as if Shelton had been combined at the beginning of the
earliest period presented.

     Shoreline Bank and Trust Company.  On December 16, 1994,  Webster  acquired
Shoreline,  a commercial bank headquartered in Madison,  Connecticut,  which had
$51 million of assets.  Shoreline  was merged into  Webster Bank and its Madison
banking office became a full service office of Webster Bank. In connection  with
the acquisition,  the Corporation  issued 266,500 shares of its common stock for
all of the outstanding  shares of Shoreline  common stock.  This acquisition was
accounted  for as a  pooling  of  interests,  and  as  such,  the  Corporation's
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  include  Shoreline's  financial  data as if
Shoreline had been combined at the beginning of the earliest period presented.

     Bristol Savings Bank. On March 3, 1994,  Webster acquired Bristol,  a state
chartered  savings bank with $486 million in assets which became a  wholly-owned
subsidiary  of Webster.  In  connection  with the  conversion  of Bristol from a
mutual to a stock charter, concurrently with the acquisition,  Webster completed
the sale of  1,150,000  shares of its common stock in related  subscription  and
public  offerings.  Webster  invested  in  Bristol  a total  of  $31.0  million,
including the net proceeds of approximately  $21.9 million from subscription and
public  offerings plus existing funds from the holding  company.  As a result of
this   investment,   Bristol  met  all  ratios   required  by  the  FDIC  for  a
"well-capitalized"  savings bank. The Bristol acquisition was accounted for as a
purchase.  Results  of  operations  relating  to  Bristol  are  included  in the
Corporation's  Consolidated  Financial Statements only for the period subsequent
to the  effective  date of the  acquisition.  Webster  maintained  Bristol  as a
separate savings bank subsidiary until November 1, 1995, when First Federal Bank
and Bristol were merged and concurrently renamed as Webster Bank.


                                       5


FDIC ASSISTED ACQUISITIONS

     Webster Bank  significantly  expanded its retail banking operations through
assisted  acquisitions  of First  Constitution  in October  1992 and Suffield in
September 1991 from the FDIC.  These  acquisitions,  which were accounted for as
purchases,  involved  financial  assistance  from the FDIC and extended  Webster
Bank's  retail  banking  operations  into new  market  areas by adding 21 branch
offices,  $1.5 billion in retail  deposits and  approximately  150,000  customer
accounts.


                                       6

LENDING ACTIVITIES

     General. Webster originates residential, consumer and business loans. Total
loans  receivable,  before the allowance  for loan losses,  were $3.8 billion at
December 31, 1997 and $3.6 billion at December 31, 1996.  All references to loan
and  allowance  for loan loss  balances  and  ratios in the  Lending  Activities
section exclude  Segregated Assets,  which are discussed  immediately after this
section.  At December 31, 1997,  first  mortgage  loans  secured by  one-to-four
family  properties  comprised 73.9% of the  Corporation's  loan  portfolio.  The
allowance for losses on residential mortgage loans was $22.0 million at December
31, 1997.

     Nonaccrual  loans,  which  include loans  delinquent 90 days or more,  were
$37.7  million at December 31, 1997,  compared to $41.6  million at December 31,
1996, out of a total loan  portfolio,  before net items, of  approximately  $3.9
billion at December 31, 1997 and $3.7 billion at December 31, 1996. The ratio of
nonaccrual  loans to total loans  before net items was 1.0% and 1.1% at December
31, 1997 and 1996,  respectively.  Nonaccrual  assets,  which include nonaccrual
loans and foreclosed properties were $45.9 million and $54.8 million at December
31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

     One-to-Four Family First Mortgage Loans. Webster originates both fixed-rate
and   adjustable-rate   residential   mortgage  loans.  At  December  31,  1997,
approximately 55% of Webster's total residential mortgage loans before net items
were  adjustable-rate  loans. Webster offers  adjustable-rate  mortgage loans at
initial interest rates  discounted from the fully indexed rate.  Adjustable-rate
loans  originated  during  1997,  when fully  indexed,  will be 2.75%  above the
constant maturity one-year U.S. Treasury yield index.

     At December 31, 1997, $1.3 billion or approximately  45% of Webster's total
residential  mortgage  loans  before net items had fixed  rates.  Webster  sells
mortgage loans in the secondary  market when such sales are consistent  with its
asset/liability  management  objectives.  At December 31, 1997, Webster had $1.7
million of adjustable and fixed-rate mortgage loans held for sale.

     Commercial and Commercial Real Estate  Mortgage  Loans.  Webster had $493.8
million,  or 12.9% of its total  loans  receivable,  net of fees and  costs,  in
commercial and commercial real estate loans outstanding as of December 31, 1997,
excluding  Segregated  Assets.  At December 31, 1997, $19.2 million of Webster's
$49.8  million  allowance  for loan  losses  was  allocated  to  commercial  and
commercial  real estate  loans.  See  "Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of
Financial  Condition & Results of Operations"  ("MD&A")  contained in the Annual
Report to Shareholders incorporated herein by reference.  Portions of the Annual
Report are filed as an exhibit hereto.  Also see "Business -- Lending Activities
- --Nonaccrual  Assets and  Delinquencies"  for more  information  about Webster's
asset quality, allowance for loan losses and provisions for loan losses.

     Consumer Loans. At December 31, 1997, consumer loans were $455.0 million or
11.9% of Webster's total loans receivable net of fees and costs.  Consumer loans
consist primarily of home equity credit lines, home improvement loans,  passbook
loans and other consumer  loans.  The allowance for losses on consumer loans was
$8.6 million at December 31, 1997.

                                       7





The following  table sets forth the  composition  of Webster's  loan  portfolio,
excluding  Segregated  Assets, in dollar amounts and in percentages at the dates
shown, and a reconciliation of loans receivable, net.



                                                                              AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            1997                  1996                  1995          
                                                   --------------------    ------------------    -----------------    
                                                      AMOUNT       %         AMOUNT      %        AMOUNT       %      
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                                 
 Residential mortgage loans:
  1-4 family units...............................  $  2,824,280  73.9%   $ 2,686,792   73.8%   $ 2,379,622   79.2%    
  Multi-family units.............................           787   0.0         21,151    0.5         28,226    0.9     
  Construction...................................       100,524   2.6         93,973    2.6         60,836    2.0     
                                                     ---------- ------   -----------  ------   -----------  ------    
    Total residential mortgage loans.............     2,925,591  76.5      2,801,916   76.9      2,468,684   82.1     
                                                      --------- -----     ----------  ------    ----------  ------    

Commercial loans:
  Commercial real estate.........................       251,997   6.6        245,714    6.8        172,836    5.8     
  Commercial construction........................        22,203   0.6          9,079    0.2          9,895    0.3     
  Commercial non-mortgage........................       219,610   5.7        202,900    5.6         72,253    2.4     
                                                   ------------ ------   -----------  ------   ------------ ------    
    Total commercial loans.......................       493,810   12.9       457,693   12.6        254,984    8.5     
                                                   ------------ ------   -----------  -----    -----------  ------    

Consumer loans:
  Home equity credit lines.......................       384,274  10.1        343,112    9.4        262,634    8.8     
   Other consumer................................        70,680   1.8         82,986    2.3         68,993    2.3     
                                                   ------------ ------   -----------  ------   -----------  ------    
    Total consumer loans.........................       454,954  11.9        426,098   11.7        331,627   11.1     
                                                   ------------ ------   -----------  -----    -----------  ------    

Loans receivable (net of fees and costs).........     3,874,355 101.3      3,685,707  101.2      3,055,295  101.7    

Allowance for loan losses........................        49,753   1.3         43,185    1.2         50,281    1.7     
                                                   ------------ ------   -----------  ------     ---------  -----      
 Loans receivable, net  ........................   $  3,824,602 100.0%  $  3,642,522  100.0%  $  3,005,014  100.0%    
                                                   ============ =====   ============== =====   ============ =====    





                                                                     AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                                1994                  1993         
                                                        ------------------    ------------------
                                                          AMOUNT        %        AMOUNT      %     
                                                        ----------    -----    ----------  -----  
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                                                                            
                                                                                   
 Residential mortgage loans:                                                                      
  1-4 family units...............................       $2,377,182    81.0%   $2,098,920       85.3%  
  Multi-family units.............................           18,512     0.7        12,220        0.5   
  Construction...................................           59,252     2.0        33,930        1.4   
                                                        ----------    -----    ----------      -----  
    Total residential mortgage loans.............        2,454,946     83.7    2,145,070       87.2   
                                                         ----------   -----    ---------       -----  
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
Commercial loans:                                      
  Commercial real estate.........................           167,364     5.7         71,637      2.9   
  Commercial construction........................             4,237     0.1          2,083      0.1   
  Commercial non-mortgage........................            69,094     2.4         42,214      1.7   
                                                          ---------    ----      ---------      ----  
    Total commercial loans.......................           240,695     8.2        115,934      4.7   
                                                          ---------    ----        -------      ----  
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
Consumer loans:                                       
  Home equity credit lines.......................           243,097     8.3        212,059      8.6 
  Other consumer.................................            51,595     1.7         40,702      1.7 
                                                          ---------   ------     ---------     ---- 
    Total consumer loans.........................           294,692    10.0        252,761     10.3 
                                                           --------   -----      ---------    ------
                                                                                                    
Loans receivable (net of fees and costs).........         2,990,333   101.9      2,513,765    102.2 
                                                                                                    
Allowance for loan losses........................            55,366     1.9         54,370      2.2 
                                                           ---------  -----      ---------    ------
 Loans receivable, net  ........................         $2,934,967   100.0%  $  2,459,395    100.0% 
                                                         ==========  =======  =============   ===== 

 
                                        8
 

         The   following   table  sets  forth  the   contractual   maturity  and
interest-rate sensitivity of residential and commercial real estate construction
loans and commercial loans at December 31, 1997.


                                        
                                                       CONTRACTUAL MATURITY
                                          --------------------------------------------------
                                                       MORE THAN
                                         ONE YEAR       ONE TO        MORE THAN
                                          OR LESS      FIVE YEARS     FIVE YEARS       TOTAL
                                          -------      ----------     ----------       -----

 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                          
Contractual Maturity:
  Construction loans:
    Residential mortgage............... $  100,378    $      146     $     --      $  100,524
    Commercial mortgage................      3,529         15,987        2,687         22,203
  Commercial non-mortgage loans........     93,688         84,533       41,389        219,610
                                        ----------     ----------    ---------       --------
     Total   .......................... $  197,595    $   100,666    $  44,076     $  342,337
                                        ==========    ===========    ==========      ========
Interest-Rate Sensitivity:
  Fixed rates.......................... $   23,120    $   24,854    $    8,510     $   56,484
  Variable rates.......................    174,475        75,812        35,566        285,853
                                        ----------     ----------    ---------     ----------
     Total   .......................... $  197,595    $  100,666    $   44,076     $  342,337
                                        ==========     ===========  ==========     ==========




         Purchase  and Sale of  Loans  and Loan  Servicing.  Webster  has been a
seller and purchaser of whole loans and  participations in the secondary market.
Webster,  in general sells fixed-rate  mortgage loans and retains  servicing for
the loans sold whenever  possible.  During the 1997 period,  Webster reduced its
level of mortgage loans sold as it retained both fixed and  variable-rate  loans
for its own loan portfolio.  Loans purchased in the secondary  market by Webster
are typically  adjustable-rate mortgage loans and purchased, in most cases, with
serving retained by the seller.

         The following  table sets forth  information  as to Webster's  mortgage
loan  servicing  portfolio  at the dates  shown.  The  increase  of total  loans
serviced  for  1996  is  primarily  due to the  loans  acquired  in the  Shawmut
Transaction and purchased mortgage loan servicing.


                                                                AT DECEMBER 31,     
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1997                   1996                  1995
                                        --------------------    -------------------    -----------------
                                             AMOUNT      %          AMOUNT      %       AMOUNT         %
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

                                                                                     
Loans owned and serviced............... $ 2,553,336    69.0%  $   2,571,474    68.5%   $ 2,313,355    70.5%
Loans serviced for others..............   1,146,853    31.0       1,184,713    31.5        967,008    29.5
                                          ---------   -------   -----------  -------   ------------- ------

    Total loans serviced by Webster.... $3,700,189    100.0%    $3,756,187    100.0%   $ 3,280,363   100.0%
                                        ==========  ========    ========== =========   ============= =======


                                       9




         The table below shows  mortgage loan  origination,  purchase,  sale and
repayment activities of Webster for the periods indicated.



                                                                                     AT DECEMBER 31 ,
                                                                       --------------------------------------

                                                                        1997            1996             1995
                                                                        ----            ----             ----
(IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                                    
First mortgage loan originations and purchases:
- -----------------------------------------------
  Permanent:
    Mortgage loans originated.....................................  $   406,870     $    411,967    $    338,122
  Construction:
    1-4 family units..............................................      152,298           61,844          64,528
                                                                    -----------     ------------    ------------

  Total permanent and construction loans originated...............      559,168          473,811         402,650


  Loans and participations purchased..............................      187,815           77,440          99,224
  Loans acquired in the Shawmut Transaction. . . . . . ...........           --          344,036              --
                                                                    ------------    ------------    ------------

    Total loans originated and purchased..........................      746,983          895,287         501,874
                                                                    -----------     ------------     -----------

First mortgage loan sales and principal reductions:
- ---------------------------------------------------
  Loans securitized and sold......................................       56,649           84,838         145,655
  Loan principal reductions.......................................      542,124          459,076         326,706
  Reclassified to Foreclosed Properties...........................       24,535           18,141          15,775
                                                                    -----------     ------------    ------------

    Total loans sold and principal reductions.....................      623,308          562,055         488,136
                                                                    -----------     ------------    ------------

      Increase in mortgage loans receivable.......................    $ 123,675        $ 333,232       $  13,738
                                                                    ===========     ============    ============



     Nonaccrual Assets and Delinquencies. When an insured institution classifies
problem  assets  as  either  "substandard"  or  "doubtful,"  it is  required  to
establish  general  allowances  for loan losses in an amount  deemed  prudent by
management.  General  allowances  represent  loss  allowances  which  have  been
established to recognize the inherent risk associated  with lending  activities,
but which,  unlike  specific  allowances,  have not been allocated to particular
problem assets. When an insured institution classifies problem assets as "loss,"
it is required either to establish a specific allowance for losses equal to 100%
of the  amount of the asset so  classified  or to  charge-off  such  amount.  An
institution's  determination  as to the  classification  of its  assets  and the
amount of its  valuation  allowances  is  subject to review by the OTS which can
order the establishment of additional valuation allowances.  See "Classification
of Assets" below.

     Interest on  nonaccrual  loans that would have been  recorded as additional
income for the years ended  December 31, 1997,  1996 and 1995 had the loans been
current  in  accordance  with  their  original  terms  approximated  $3,178,000,
$3,984,000, and $5,528,000, respectively.

     See MD&A and Note 1(e) to the Consolidated  Financial  Statements contained
in the  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  incorporated  herein by  reference  for
further  nonaccrual loan  information and a description of Webster's  nonaccrual
loan policy.


                                       10





     The  following  table  sets forth  information  as to  delinquent  loans in
Webster's loans receivable portfolio before net items.  Delinquency  information
for Segregated Assets has been excluded.



                                                                           AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                                  1997                                1996
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                  PRINCIPAL                          PRINCIPAL
                                                  BALANCES             %             BALANCES             %
                                                  --------             -             --------             -
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

                                                                                               
Past due 30-89 days and still accruing:
   Residential real estate....................   $   30,986           0.79%         $   54,260           1.47%
   Commercial.................................       12,689           0.33               5,214           0.14
   Consumer...................................        6,413           0.16               7,810           0.21
                                                  ---------           ------        ----------          -----
      Total...................................     $ 50,088           1.28%           $ 67,284           1.82%
                                                   ========         =======         ==========          ======



     Classification  of Assets.  Under the OTS'  problem  assets  classification
system, a savings  institution's problem assets are classified as "substandard,"
"doubtful"  or  "loss"  (collectively  "classified  assets"),  depending  on the
presence of certain  characteristics.  An asset is considered  "substandard"  if
inadequately  protected  by the  current  net worth and paying  capacity  of the
obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. "Substandard" assets include those
characterized  by the "distinct  possibility"  that the institution will sustain
"some  loss"  if the  deficiencies  are  not  corrected.  Assets  classified  as
"doubtful" have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified "substandard"
with the added  characteristic  that the weaknesses  present make "collection or
liquidation  in full"on the basis of currently  existing  facts,  conditions and
values, "highly questionable and improbable." Assets classified "loss" are those
considered  "uncollectible"  and of such little value that to continue to report
them as assets  without  the  establishment  of a specific  loss  reserve is not
warranted.  In addition,  assets that do not currently warrant classification in
one of the foregoing  categories but which are deserving of  management's  close
attention are designated as "special mention" assets.

     At December 31, 1997, the Bank's  classified  assets totaled $72.9 million,
consisting of $70.8 million in loans classified as  "substandard,"  $2.1 million
in loans classified as "doubtful" and none classified as "loss". At December 31,
1996, the Bank's  classified  loans totaled $91.7  million,  consisting of $89.6
million in loans classified as  "substandard,"  $1.4 million in loans classified
as "doubtful"  and $700,000  classified as "loss." In addition,  at December 31,
1997 and 1996,  the Bank had $8.9 million and $13.2  million,  respectively,  of
special mention loans.

     Allowance for Loan Losses.  Webster's allowance for loan losses at December
31, 1997 totaled $49.8 million.  See MD&A - "Asset  Quality" and  "Comparison of
1997 and 1996 Years" contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders incorporated
herein by reference.  In assessing the specific risks inherent in the portfolio,
management  takes into  consideration  the risk of loss on Webster's  nonaccrual
loans,  classified  loans and watch  list loans  including  an  analysis  of the
collateral  for  the  loans.   Other  factors   considered  are  Webster's  loss
experience, loan concentrations, local economic conditions and other factors.


                                       11





     The following table presents an allocation of Webster's  allowance for loan
losses  at the  dates  indicated  and the  related  percentage  of loans in each
category to Webster's loan receivable portfolio.



                                                                     DECEMBER 31,                                 
                                             ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     1997                 1996                    1995            
                                                     ----                 ----                    ----            
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
                                              AMOUNT        %       AMOUNT          %        AMOUNT       %       
                                             ------     -------    ------       -------     ------    -------     
                                                                                             
Balance at End of Period
 Applicable to:
Residential mortgage loans..............    $  21,979    75.51%    $  14,090    75.26%     $  23,898    80.43%     
Commercial mortgage loans...............       10,711     7.08        10,549     7.65         12,385     6.47      
Commercial non-mortgage loans...........        8,448     5.67        10,975     5.50          4,185     2.25      
Consumer loans..........................        8,615    11.74         7,571    11.59          9,813    10.85     
                                            ---------   ------     ----------  ------      ----------  ------     
    Total...............................    $  49,753   100.00%    $  43,185   100.00%     $  50,281   100.00%   
                                            ========    ======      ========   =======       =======    ======    



                                                            DECEMBER 31,                                       
                                              -------------------------------------------------
                                                    1994                   1993                
                                                    ----                    ----               
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                                                                         
                                                AMOUNT     %          AMOUNT      %            
                                                 ------   ----       --------   ----           
                                                                                               
                                                                                               
                                                                                
Balance at End of Period                                                                       
 Applicable to:                                                                                
Residential mortgage loans..............      $ 30,787     81.81%     $  41,010     84.86%     
Commercial mortgage loans...............        11,426      6.16          3,820      3.59      
Commercial non-mortgage loans...........         4,325      2.18          1,992      1.52      
Consumer loans..........................         8,828      9.85          7,548     10.03      
                                             ---------  --------        -------     -----      
    Total...............................      $ 55,366    100.00%     $  54,370    100.00%   
                                              ========   =======      =========    ======    



     During 1997,  Webster  recorded an additional $7.2 million to the provision
for loan  losses  related  to the  loans  acquired  in the  Derby  and  People's
acquisitions  in order to bring the  allowance  allocated  to these  loans  into
conformity with Webster's allowance policy.

     During  1996,  Webster sold $18.0  million of  nonaccrual  residential  and
foreclosed  properties in a bulk sale, and incurred  charge-offs of $6.3 million
related  to the sale.  Approximately  50% of the  assets  sold were  secured  by
two-four family  properties,  condominiums  or non-owner  occupied single family
properties.  Charge-offs of $6.3 million  reduced the allowance for  residential
mortgage loans and had no impact on 1996 earnings. The increase in the allowance
for  commercial  non-mortgage  loans in 1996 was  primarily a result of acquired
allowances for purchased loans related to the Shawmut Transaction.

                                       12




SEGREGATED ASSETS

     Segregated  Assets  consist  of the assets  purchased  from the FDIC in the
First Constitution  acquisition which are subject to a loss-sharing  arrangement
with the FDIC.

     The following  table sets forth  information  regarding  Segregated  Assets
delinquencies and nonaccruals at December 31, 1997 and 1996:

                                                            AT DECEMBER 31,
                                                            ---------------
                                                       1997              1996
                                                      ------           ------
     (IN THOUSANDS)

    Past due 30-89 days and still accruing:
      Commercial real estate loans................  $   1,967         $   1,318
      Multi-family loans..........................         --               769
                                                    ---------         ---------
                                                        1,967             2,087
                                                    ---------         ---------
    Loans accounted for on a nonaccrual basis:
      Commercial real estate loans................      2,912             3,337
      Commercial non-mortgage loans...............        500               192
      Multi-family real estate loans..............         --               495
                                                    ---------         ---------
                                                        3,412             4,024
                                                    ---------         ---------
         Total....................................    $ 5,379         $   6,111
                                                      =======           =======

     Interest on nonaccrual  Segregated  Assets that would have been recorded as
additional  income had the loans been current in accordance  with their original
terms  approximated  $374,000,  $433,000  and  $1,207,000  for the  years  ended
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

     The following table sets forth the  contractual  maturity and interest rate
sensitivity of commercial loans contained in the Segregated  Assets portfolio at
December 31, 1997.



                                                    CONTRACTUAL MATURITY
                                                    --------------------
                                                    MORE THAN
                                       ONE YEAR      ONE TO         MORE THAN
                                        OR LESS    FIVE YEARS      FIVE YEARS       TOTAL
                                    ----------     ----------    ----------     ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                           
Contractual Maturity:
  Commercial loans................     $   500        $ 1,914       $ 1,903        $ 4,317
                                    ----------     ----------    ----------     ----------

Interest Rate Sensitivity:
  Fixed Rates.....................     $    --        $   198       $    --        $   198
  Variable Rates..................         500          1,716         1,903          4,119
                                    ----------     ----------    ----------     ----------
      Total.......................     $   500        $ 1,914       $ 1,903        $ 4,317
                                    ==========     ==========       =======     ==========



     Additional information concerning Segregated Assets is included in the MD&A
and in Note 5 of the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  contained in the 1997
Annual Report to Shareholders incorporated herein by reference.


INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES

     The Bank has  authority  to  invest  in  various  types of  liquid  assets,
including United States Treasury  obligations,  securities of federal  agencies,
certificates  of deposit of federally  insured  banks and savings  institutions,
federal  funds  and  mortgage-backed   securities  and  collateralized  mortgage
obligations. Subject to various restrictions, the Bank may also invest a portion
of its assets in commercial paper,  corporate debt securities,  and mutual funds


                                       13





whose  assets  conform to the  investments  that a federally  chartered  savings
institution is otherwise authorized to make directly.  The Bank also is required
to maintain  liquid assets at regulatory  minimum levels which vary from time to
time. See "Regulation."

     Webster, as a Delaware corporation,  has authority to invest in any type of
investment permitted under Delaware law. As a unitary holding company,  however,
its investment activities are subject to certain regulatory restrictions.

     Webster,  directly or through the Bank,  maintains an investment  portfolio
that  provides not only a source of income but also,  due to staggered  maturity
dates, a source of liquidity to meet lending demands and fluctuations in deposit
flows. The securities  constituting Webster's investments in corporate bonds and
notes generally are publicly traded and are considered  investment grade quality
by a nationally  recognized rating firm. The commercial paper and collateralized
mortgage obligations ("CMOs") in Webster's investment portfolio are all rated in
at least the top two  rating  categories  by at least  one of the  major  rating
agencies at the time of  purchase.  One of the  inherent  risks of  investing in
mortgage-backed  securities,  including CMOs, is the ability of such instruments
to  incur  prepayments  of  principal  prior to  maturity  at  prepayment  rates
different than those  estimated at the time of purchase.  This generally  occurs
because of changes in market  interest  rates.  The market  values of fixed-rate
mortgage-backed  securities  are sensitive to  fluctuations  in market  interest
rates,  declining  in value as interest  rates rise and  increasing  in value as
interest rates decrease. If interest rates decrease, as had been the case during
1997, the market value of loans and  mortgage-backed  securities  generally will
increase  causing the level of  prepayments  to increase.  Webster also utilizes
interest-rate  financial  instruments  to  hedge  mismatches  in  interest  rate
maturities to reduce exposure to movements in interest  rates.  The objective of
interest-rate  financial  instruments  is to offset  the  change in value of the
available for sale securities and trading account portfolios. See Notes 3 and 11
contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders incorporated herein by reference.
Except for $85.8  million  invested by Webster at the holding  company  level in
common and preferred stock of certain  entities and mutual funds at December 31,
1997, Webster's investments,  directly and through the Bank, were investments of
the type  permitted  by  federally  chartered  savings  institutions.  Webster's
investment  portfolio is managed by its Treasurer in  accordance  with a written
investment  policy  approved by the Board of  Directors.  A report on investment
activities is presented to the Board of Directors monthly.

         The average  remaining life of the securities  portfolio,  exclusive of
equity  securities with no maturity,  is 23.4 and 22.6 years at December 31,1997
and 1996, respectively.  Although the stated final maturity of these obligations
are  long-term,  the  weighted  average  life  generally  is much shorter due to
prepayments  of  principal.  At December 31, 1997,  the duration of the trading,
available for sale and held to maturity portfolios: were approximately less than
one month, 1.7 years and 1.6 years, respectively.

     Additional  information  for  Investments  is  included  in  Note  3 of the
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  contained  in the  1997  Annual  Report  to
Shareholders incorporated herein by reference.

TRUST ACTIVITIES

     The Bank  through  its  subsidiary  trust  company,  manages  the assets of
individuals,   small  to  medium   size   companies,   as  well  as   non-profit
organizations.  At December 31, 1997, approximately $646 million in trust assets
were under management.

                                       14



SOURCES OF FUNDS

     Deposits, loan repayments,  securities payments and maturities,  as well as
earnings, are the primary sources of the Bank's funds for use in its lending and
investment  activities.  While scheduled loan repayments and securities payments
are a relatively stable source of funds,  deposit flows and loan prepayments are
influenced  by  prevailing  interest  rates,  money  market  and local  economic
conditions. The Bank also derives funds from Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHL Bank")
advances and other borrowings,  as necessary, when the cost of these alternative
sources of funds are favorable.

     Webster's  main sources of liquidity  are  dividends  from the Bank and net
proceeds from capital offerings and borrowings,  while the main outflows are the
payments of dividends to common stockholders, capital securities expense and the
payment of interest to holders of Webster's 8 3/4% Senior Notes.

     Webster  attempts  to  control  the flow of funds in its  deposit  accounts
according  to its need for funds and the cost of  alternative  sources of funds.
Webster  controls the flow of funds primarily by the pricing of deposits,  which
is  influenced to a large extent by  competitive  factors in its market area and
overall asset/liability management strategies.

     Deposit  Activities.  Webster has developed a variety of innovative deposit
programs that are designed to meet depositors  needs and attract both short-term
and  long-term  deposits from the general  public.  Webster's  checking  account
programs  offer a full line of  accounts  with  varying  features  that  include
non-interest-bearing  and  interest-bearing  account  types.  Webster's  savings
account programs includes statement and passbook accounts,  money market savings
accounts, club accounts and certificate of deposit accounts that offer short and
long-term  maturity  options.  Webster  offers IRA  savings and  certificate  of
deposit accounts that earn interest on a tax-deferred basis. Webster also offers
special  rollover  IRA  accounts  for  individuals  who have  received  lump-sum
distributions.  Webster's  checking and savings  deposit  accounts  have several
features that include:  ATM Card and Check Card use,  direct  deposit,  combined
statements,  24 hour automated telephone banking services, bank by mail services
and  overdraft  protection.  Deposit  customers  can access their  accounts in a
variety of ways including ATMs, PC banking,  telephone  banking or by visiting a
nearby  branch.  Webster had $25.0  million of brokered  certificate  of deposit
accounts at December 31, 1997.

     Webster receives retail and commercial deposits through its 84 full service
banking offices.  Webster relies  primarily on competitive  pricing policies and
effective  advertising  to attract and retain  deposits  while  emphasizing  the
objectives of quality customer service and customer convenience.  The WebsterOne
Account is a banking  relationship  that affords  customers the  opportunity  to
avoid fees,  receive  free checks,  earn  premium  rates on savings and simplify
their  bookkeeping  with one  combined  account  statement  that  links  account
balances. Webster's Check Card can be used at over twelve million Visa merchants
worldwide to pay for  purchases  with money in a linked  checking  account.  The
Check Card also serves as a ATM Card for receiving cash, for processing deposits
and  transfers,  and to  obtain  account  balances  24 hours  per day.  Customer
services also include ATM facilities that use  state-of-the-art  technology with
membership  in NYCE and PLUS  networks  and  provide  24 hour  access  to linked
accounts. The Bank's PC Banking service allows customers the ability to transfer
money between accounts, review statements,  check balances and pay bills through
personal  computer use. The Bank's First Call telephone banking service provides
automated  customer  access to account  information 24 hours per day, seven days
per week and also to  service  representatives  at  certain  established  hours.
Customers  can transfer  account  balances,  process  stop  payments and address
changes,  place check  reorders,  open deposit  accounts,  inquire about account
transactions  and request  general  information  about  Webster's  products  and


                                       15





services.  Webster's  services  provide for automatic loan payment features from
its  accounts as well as for direct  deposit of Social  Security,  payroll,  and
other retirement benefits.

     Additional  information  concerning  the deposits of Webster is included in
Note 8 of the Consolidated  Financial  Statements contained in the Annual Report
to Shareholders incorporated herein by reference.

     The  following  table sets forth the deposit  accounts of Webster in dollar
amounts and as percentages of total deposits at the dates indicated.



                                                                       AT DECEMBER 31,   
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------

                                                             1997                              1996  
                                                             ----                              ----  

                                            WEIGHTED                     % OF      WEIGHTED                  % OF 
                                             AVERAGE                     TOTAL     AVERAGE                  TOTAL 
                                              RATE          AMOUNT     DEPOSITS     RATE       AMOUNT     DEPOSITS
                                            --------        ------     --------    -------     ------     --------

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                                                                                            
                                                                                            
Balance by account type:                                                                                          

         Demand deposits and NOW accounts...  1.36%    $   784,850      18.0%      1.66%   $    711,498    16.0% 
                                                                                                                  
         Regular savings....................  2.44         956,285      21.9       2.34         935,312    21.0   
         Money market accounts..............  3.76         103,765       2.4       3.49         208,932     4.6   
         Time deposits......................  5.35       2,520,856      57.7       5.39       2,601,819    58.4   
                                              ----      ----------     -----       -----   ------------   -----   
Total deposits..............................  3.84%    $ 4,365,756     100.0%      3.95%   $  4,457,561   100.0%  
                                              ====      ==========     =====       ====    ============   =====   





                                                         AT DECEMBER 31,         
                                              -----------------------------------
                                                               1995            
                                                               ----            
                                               WEIGHTED                    % OF  
                                               AVERAGE                    TOTAL  
                                                RATE          AMOUNT     DEPOSITS
                                              --------        ------     --------

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)                                                           

                                                                     
Balance by account type:                                                         

         Demand deposits and NOW accounts...    1.85%    $   451,733      11.9%  
                                                                                 
         Regular savings....................    2.06         766,413      20.2   
         Money market accounts..............    5.12         300,636       7.9   
         Time deposits......................    5.61       2,278,930      60.0   
                                                -----     ----------      -----  
Total deposits..............................    4.33%    $ 3,797,712     100.0%  
                                                ====      ==========     ======  



                                       16




     Borrowings.  The FHL Bank System functions in a reserve credit capacity for
savings institutions and certain other home financing  institutions.  Members of
the FHL Bank System are required to own capital  stock in the FHL Bank.  Members
are  authorized  to apply for advances on the security of such stock and certain
of their home  mortgages  and other  assets  (principally  securities  which are
obligations  of,  or  guaranteed  by,  the  United  States)   provided   certain
creditworthiness standards have been met. Under its current credit policies, the
FHL Bank limits advances based on a member's  assets,  total  borrowings and net
worth.

     The Bank  uses FHL  Bank  advances  as an  alternative  source  of funds to
deposits in order to fund its lending  activities when it determines that it can
profitably  invest the borrowed funds over their term. At December 31, 1997, the
Bank had outstanding  FHL Bank advances of $1.1 billion and other  borrowings of
$956.6  million  compared  with FHL Bank  Advances  of $559.9  million and other
borrowings of $166.1 million at December 31, 1996.

     During 1997,  reverse  repurchase  agreement  transactions,  federal  funds
purchased  and  lines of credit  with  correspondent  banks  also were used as a
source of short-term borrowings. The Bank uses reverse repurchase agreements and
the  aforementioned  alternate  sources of borrowed  funds when the cost of such
borrowings are favorable as compared to other funding sources.  The Bank's Money
Desk  operation   provided  business  and  governmental   customers   short-term
investment  services primarily through  repurchase  agreement and certificate of
deposit transactions.

     Additional information concerning FHL Bank advances and other borrowings of
Webster is included in Notes 9 and 10 of the Consolidated  Financial  Statements
contained  in the 1997  Annual  Report to  Shareholders  incorporated  herein by
reference.


BANK SUBSIDIARIES

     At  December  31,  1997,  the  Bank's  direct  investment  in  its  service
subsidiary corporation,  Webster Investment Services, Inc., totaled $496,000. As
of December 31, 1997,  the  activities  of such service  corporation  subsidiary
consisted primarily of the selling of mutual funds and annuities through a third
party  provider.  The  service  corporation  receives  a  portion  of the  sales
commissions  generated  and rental  income for the  office  space  leased to the
provider.

     The  Bank's  direct  investment  in its  trust  subsidiary,  Webster  Trust
Company,  N.A.,  totaled  $9.7  million  at  December  31,  1997.  The trust had
approximately  $645.6  million in trust assets under  management at December 31,
1997.

     The Bank's direct investment in its operating subsidiary  corporation,  FCB
Properties,  Inc.,  totaled  $1.7  million at  December  31,  1997.  The primary
function of this operating subsidiary is the disposal of foreclosed properties.

     The  Bank  also  has a real  estate  investment  trust  ("REIT")  operating
subsidiary  corporation,  Webster  Preferred  Capital  Corporation.  The primary
purpose  of the REIT is to  provide a cost  effective  means of  raising  funds,
including capital,  on a consolidated basis for the Bank. The REIT's strategy is
to acquire,  hold and manage real estate mortgage assets.  At December 31, 1997,
the Bank's direct investment in this subsidiary totaled $737.1 million.

EMPLOYEES

     At December 31, 1997, Webster had 1,449 employees (including 290 part-time

                                       17



employees),  none of whom were  represented  by a collective  bargaining  group.
Webster  maintains a comprehensive  employee  benefit program  providing,  among
other benefits, group medical and dental insurance,  life insurance,  disability
insurance,  a pension plan, an employee  investment  plan and an employee  stock
ownership plan.  Management  considers Webster's relations with its employees to
be good.

MARKET AREA AND COMPETITION

     The Bank is headquartered in Waterbury,  Connecticut (New Haven County) and
conducts  business  from its home  office in  downtown  Waterbury  and 83 branch
offices in Waterbury,  Ansonia, Bethany, Branford,  Cheshire, Derby, East Haven,
Hamden,  Madison,  Milford,  Naugatuck,  New Haven, North Haven, Orange, Oxford,
Prospect,  Seymour,  Southbury  and West  Haven (New  Haven  County):  Watertown
(Litchfield  County);  Fairfield,  Shelton,  Stratford  and Trumbull  (Fairfield
County);  Avon,  Berlin,   Bristol,  East  Hartford,   East  Windsor,   Enfield,
Farmington,  Glastonbury, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, New Britain, Newington,
Plainville,  Rocky  Hill,  Simsbury,  Southington,  Suffield,  Terryville,  West
Hartford,  Wethersfield,  Windsor  and  Windsor  Locks  (Hartford  County);  and
Cromwell and Middletown (Middlesex County).  Waterbury is approximately 30 miles
southwest of Hartford and is located on Route 8 midway  between  Torrington  and
the New Haven and Bridgeport  metropolitan  areas. Most of the Bank's depositors
live, and most of the properties securing its mortgage loans are located, in the
same area or the  adjoining  counties.  The Bank's market area has a diversified
economy  with the  workforce  employed  primarily  in  manufacturing,  financial
services,  health care, industrial and technology  companies.  Webster has trust
offices located in the towns of Guilford,  Westport,  Greenwich, New Britain and
Meriden.

     The Bank faces  substantial  competition for deposits and loans  throughout
its market  areas.  The primary  factors  stressed by the Bank in competing  for
deposits are interest  rates,  personalized  services,  the quality and range of
financial  services,  convenience of office  locations,  automated  services and
office  hours.  Competition  for deposits  comes  primarily  from other  savings
institutions, commercial banks, credit unions, mutual funds and other investment
alternatives.  The primary  factors in competing  for loans are interest  rates,
loan   origination   fees,  the  quality  and  range  of  lending  services  and
personalized service.  Competition for origination of first mortgage loans comes
primarily from other savings  institutions,  mortgage  banking  firms,  mortgage
brokers,  commercial banks and insurance  companies.  The Bank faces competition
for  deposits  and  loans  throughout  its  market  area  not  only  from  local
institutions but also from out-of-state financial institutions which have opened
loan production offices or which solicit deposits in its market area.

REGULATION

     Webster,  as a savings and loan holding  company,  and Webster  Bank,  as a
federally   chartered  savings  bank,  are  subject  to  extensive   regulation,
supervision  and  examination  by the OTS as their  primary  federal  regulator.
Webster Bank is also subject to regulation,  supervision  and examination by the
FDIC and as to certain  matters by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (the  "Federal  Reserve  Board").  See "MD&A" and "Notes to  Consolidated
Financial  Statements,"  incorporated  herein by  reference  in the 1997  Annual
Report to Shareholders,  as to the impact of certain laws, rules and regulations
on the  operations of the  Corporation  and Webster  Bank.  Set forth below is a
description of certain regulatory developments.

     Legislation    was   enacted   in    September    1996   to   address   the
undercapitalization of the

                                       18




SAIF  of  the  FDIC  (the  "SAIF   Recapitalization   Legislation").   The  SAIF
Recapitalization  Legislation, in addition to providing for a special assessment
to recapitalize  the insurance fund,  also  contemplated  the merger of the SAIF
with the BIF, of which  Webster Bank is a member,  and which  generally  insures
deposits in national and  state-chartered  banks. The combined deposit insurance
fund,  which  would be formed no earlier  than  January 1,  1999,  would  insure
deposits at all FDIC  insured  depository  institutions.  As a condition  to the
combined  insurance  fund,  however,  no insured  depository  institution can be
chartered as a savings association (such as Webster Bank). Several proposals for
abolishing the federal thrift charter were introduced in Congress during 1997 in
bills addressing financial services modernization, including a proposal from the
Treasury   Department   developed   pursuant   to   requirements   of  the  SAIF
Recapitalization  Legislation.  While no  legislation  was passed in 1997, it is
anticipated  that the  issue  will be taken up  again by  Congress  in 1998.  If
legislation is passed abolishing the federal thrift charter, Webster Bank may be
required  to convert its  federal  charter to either a new federal  type of bank
charter or state depository  institution  charter.  Such future legislation also
may result in the  Corporation  becoming  regulated as a bank holding company by
the  Federal  Reserve  Board  rather  than a savings  and loan  holding  company
regulated by the OTS.  Regulation by the Federal Reserve Board could subject the
Corporation  to capital  requirements  that are not currently  applicable to the
Corporation  as a  holding  company  under  OTS  regulation  and may  result  in
statutory   limitations  on  the  type  of  business  activities  in  which  the
Corporation may engage at the holding company level,  which business  activities
currently are not  restricted.  The  Corporation  and Webster Bank are unable to
predict whether such legislation will be enacted.

     Various proposals were introduced in Congress in 1997 to permit the payment
of interest on required reserve balances, and to permit savings institutions and
other  regulated  financial  institutions  to pay  interest on  business  demand
accounts.  While this  legislation  appears  to have  strong  support  from many
constituencies,  Webster and  Webster  Bank are unable to predict  whether  such
legislation will be enacted.

     During 1997, the OTS continued its comprehensive  review of its regulations
to eliminate duplicative, unduly burdensome and unnecessary regulations. The OTS
revised or has proposed revising regulations addressing liquidity  requirements,
capital distributions, deposit accounts and application processing. The recently
adopted  revisions  to  the  OTS  liquidity  requirements  lowered  the  minimum
liquidity  requirement for a federal savings institution from 5% to 4%, but made
clear that an institution must maintain sufficient  liquidity to ensure its safe
and  sound  operation.   The  revisions  also  added  certain   mortgage-related
securities  and  mortgage  loans to the types of assets that can be used to meet
liquidity requirements,  and provided alternatives for measuring compliance with
the requirements.

         The  recently  proposed  revisions  to  the  OTS  capital  distribution
regulation  would  conform  the  definition  of  "capital  distribution"  to the
definition  used in the OTS  prompt  corrective  action  regulations,  and would
delete the three  classifications  of  institutions.  Under the proposal,  there
would  be  no  specific   limitation  on  the  amount  of  permissible   capital
distributions,  but the OTS  could  disapprove  a  capital  distribution  if the
institution  would not be at least adequately  capitalized  under the OTS prompt
correction action  regulations  following the distribution,  if the distribution
raised  safety  or  soundness  concerns,  or  if  the  distribution  violated  a
prohibition  contained in any  statute,  regulation,  or  agreement  between the
institution  and the OTS, or a condition  imposed on the institution by the OTS.
The OTS would consider the amount of the distribution  when determining  whether
it raised safety or soundness concerns.

TAXATION

     Federal.  Webster,  on  behalf  of  itself  and its  subsidiaries,  files a
calendar tax year
                                       19



consolidated  federal income tax return,  except for the Bank's REIT subsidiary,
which files a stand alone  return.  Webster and its  subsidiaries  report  their
income and expenses using the accrual method of accounting. Tax law changes were
enacted in August 1996 to eliminate the "thrift bad debt" method of  calculating
bad debt  deductions  for tax years  after 1995 and to impose a  requirement  to
recapture  into taxable  income (over a six-year  period) all bad debt  reserves
accumulated  after  1987.  Since  Webster  previously  recorded a  deferred  tax
liability  with respect to these post 1987  reserves,  its total tax expense for
financial reporting purposes will not be affected by the recapture  requirement.
The tax law changes  also provide that taxes  associated  with the  recapture of
pre-1988 bad debt reserves would become payable under more limited circumstances
than under prior law.  Under the tax laws, as amended,  events that would result
in  recapture  of  the  pre-1988  bad  debt  reserves  include  stock  and  cash
distributions  to the  holding  company  from the Bank in  excess  of  specified
amounts.  Webster does not expect such  reserves to be  recaptured  into taxable
income.  At December  31, 1997, Webster had pre-1988  reserves of  approximately
$27.2 million.

     Depending on the composition of its items of income and expense,  a savings
institution  may be  subject  to the  alternative  minimum  tax.  For tax  years
beginning after 1986, a savings  institution must pay an alternative minimum tax
equal to the amount (if any) by which 20% of alternative  minimum taxable income
("AMTI"),  as reduced by an exemption varying with AMTI, exceeds the regular tax
due.  AMTI equals  regular  taxable  income  increased  or  decreased by certain
adjustments  and increased by certain tax  preferences,  including  depreciation
deductions in excess of those  allowable for  alternative  minimum tax purposes,
tax-exempt  interest on most private  activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986
(reduced by any related interest  expense  disallowed for regular tax purposes),
the amount of the bad debt reserve  deduction claimed in excess of the deduction
based on the experience  method and, for tax years after 1989, 75% of the excess
of adjusted  current  earnings over AMTI.  AMTI may be reduced only up to 90% by
net operating loss carryovers,  but the payment of alternative  minimum tax will
give rise to a minimum tax credit  which will be  available  with an  indefinite
carryforward period, to reduce federal income taxes of the institution in future
years (but not below the level of alternative minimum tax arising in each of the
carryforward years).

     Webster's  federal  income tax returns  have been  examined by the Internal
Revenue Service for tax years through 1993.

     State. State income taxation is in accordance with the corporate income tax
laws of the State of Connecticut and other states on an apportioned  basis.  For
the State of Connecticut,  the Bank and its subsidiaries,  exclusive of the REIT
Subsidiary,  are  required  to pay taxes  under the larger of two methods but no
less than the minimum tax of $250 per entity. Method one is 10.50% (scheduled to
decrease to 7.5% by 2000) of the year's  taxable  income  (which,  with  certain
exceptions,  is equal to taxable  income  for  federal  purposes)  or method two
(additional  tax on capital),  an amount equal to 3 and 1/10 mills per dollar on
its average capital and a special rule for banks to calculate its additional tax
base is an amount equal to 4% of the amount of interest or dividends credited by
the Bank on  savings  accounts  of  depositors  or  account  holders  during the
preceding taxable year,  provided that, in determining such amount,  interest or
dividends  credited to the savings  account of a depositor or account holder are
deemed to be the lesser of the actual  interest  or  dividends  credited  or the
interest or dividend  that would have been  credited if it had been computed and
credited at the rate of one-eighth of 1% per annum.

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

     At December 31, 1997,  Webster had 31 banking  offices in New Haven County,
41 banking offices in Hartford County, 7 banking offices in Fairfield  County, 2
banking offices in

                                       20


Litchfield  County  and 3 banking  offices in  Middlesex  County.  Of these,  46
offices are owned and 38 offices are leased. Lease expiration dates range from 1
to 24 years  with  renewal  options  of 3 to 10  years.  Additionally,  the Bank
maintains five trust offices:  two in New Haven County,  two in Fairfield County
and one in Hartford county.

     The total net book value of properties and furniture and fixtures owned and
used for banking offices at December 31, 1997 was $39.9 million,  which includes
the aggregate net book value of leasehold  improvements  on properties  used for
offices of $2.3 million at that date.


ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     At December 31, 1997,  there were no material  pending  legal  proceedings,
other than  ordinary  routine  litigation  incident  to its  business,  to which
Webster was a party or to which any of its property was subject.

ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

         Not Applicable

                                     PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

     The  common  stock of  Webster  is traded  over-the-counter  on the  Nasdaq
National Market System under the symbol "WBST."

     The following table shows dividends declared and the market price per share
by quarter for 1997 and 1996.  Webster increased its quarterly  dividend to $.20
per share in 1997.



                                               Common Stock (Per Share)
                            ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Market Price
                            Cash            ------------------------------------------
                          Dividends                                             End of
                          Declared             Low             High             Period
                          --------             ---             ----             ------
1997:

                                                                  
    Fourth..............  $     .20          $   57           $  67 3/4       $ 66 1/2
    Third...............        .20              43 3/8          59 3/4         58 3/4
    Second..............        .20              34 5/8          45 3/4         45 1/2
    First...............        .20              35 1/8          41 3/8         35 1/8

1996:

    Fourth..............  $     .18          $   33 1/2       $  38 1/4       $ 36 3/4
    Third...............        .18              28              35 3/4         35 1/4
    Second..............        .16              26 3/4          29 3/8         28
    First...............        .16              27 1/2          30 1/4         28


     Payment of  dividends  from  Webster  Bank to Webster is subject to certain
regulatory and other restrictions.  Payment of dividends by Webster on its stock
is subject  to  various  restrictions,  none of which is  expected  to limit any
dividend  policy which the Board of Directors may in the future decide to adopt.
Under  Delaware  law,  Webster may pay dividends out of surplus or, in the event
there is no  surplus,  out of net  profits  for the  fiscal  year in  which  the
dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. Dividends may not be paid
out of net

                                       21



profits,  however,  if the capital of Webster has been  diminished  to an amount
less than the aggregate  amount of capital  represented by all classes of issued
and outstanding preferred stock.

Other Events

     Webster announced on March 17, 1998 that its Board of Directors declared a
two-for-one  stock  split.  The stock split is subject to approval by  Webster's
shareholders  of an amendment  to  Webster's  certificate  of  incorporation  to
increase the authorized number of shares of Webster common stock from 30,000,000
to 50,000,000  shares,  which will be considered  by  shareholders  at a special
meeting to be held on April 2, 1998. Webster issued a press release on March 17,
1998  describing  the stock split and  providing  additional  information  about
Webster.

 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA



STATEMENT OF CONDITION DATA      (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA)*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                       AT DECEMBER 31,
                                              --------------------------------------------------------------------
     AT OR FOR YEAR ENDED:                        1997          1996          1995          1994          1993
     ---------------------                    ------------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                                                
Total assets                                    $7,019,621    $5,607,210    $4,883,402    $4,677,859    $4,032,451
Loans receivable, net                            3,824,602     3,642,522     3,005,014     2,934,967     2,459,395
Securities                                       2,787,240     1,577,702     1,505,919     1,300,793     1,135,168
Intangible assets                                   48,919        49,448        10,865        12,806        16,083
Deposits                                         4,365,756     4,457,561     3,797,712     3,781,393     3,272,262
Shareholders' equity                               382,186       336,832       334,580       264,404       235,151



OPERATING DATA                                                      YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- --------------                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                1997           1996           1995          1994           1993
                                             ------------  --------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
                                                                                                         
Net interest income                             $191,925      $ 169,037      $ 135,331      $ 140,612      $ 117,785
Provision for loan losses                         15,835          9,788          5,726          5,609          8,082
Noninterest income                                35,990         32,179         27,902         17,467         20,024
Noninterest expenses:                                                                                    
                                                                                                         
     Merger and acquisition expenses (a)          27,058            500          4,271            700             --
     Other noninterest expenses                  131,489        130,055        108,465        112,599         89,001
                                                 --------  --------------  -------------  -----------        -------
     Total noninterest expenses                  158,547        130,555        112,736        113,299         89,001
                                                 --------  --------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
Income before taxes                               53,533         60,873         44,771         39,171         40,726
Income taxes                                      19,735         22,372         15,450         11,211         17,033
                                                ---------  --------------  -------------  -------------  ------------
Net income before cumulative change               33,798         38,501         29,321         27,960         23,693
Cumulative effect of change in method                                                                    
     of accounting for income taxes                   --             --             --             --          6,408
                                                ---------  --------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
NET INCOME                                        33,798         38,501         29,321         27,960         30,101
Preferred stock dividends                             --          1,149          1,296          1,716          2,653
                                                ---------  --------------  -------------  -------------  -----------
                                                                                                         
Income available to common shareholders         $ 33,798       $ 37,352       $ 28,025       $ 26,244       $ 27,448
                                                =========  ==============  =============  =============  ===========


                                       22






SIGNIFICANT STATISTICAL DATA

                                                                         
         Interest-rate spread                        3.02%   3.12%    2.80%    3.18%    3.03%
         Net interest margin                         3.17%   3.23%    2.96%    3.27%    3.14%
         Return on average shareholders' equity      9.72%  11.20%   10.08%   10.76%   10.17%
         Net income per common share (b)
           Basic                                   $ 2.51  $ 2.82   $ 2.35   $ 2.30   $ 2.04
           Diluted                                 $ 2.44  $ 2.66   $ 2.22   $ 2.17   $ 1.94
         Dividends declared per common share (c)   $ 0.80  $ 0.68   $ 0.64   $ 0.52   $ 0.50
         Dividend payout ratio                      32.79%  25.56%   28.83    23.96%   25.77%
         Noninterest expenses to average assets      2.50%   2.38%    2.37%   2.47%     2.27%
         Noninterest expenses (excluding foreclosed
           property expenses and provisions, net)
           to average assets                         2.46%   2.32%    2.24%    2.25%    2.00%
         Diluted weighted average shares           13,828  14,460   13,202   12,877   11,810

         Book value per common share              $ 27.99 $ 25.18  $ 24.41  $ 21.37  $ 20.74
         Tangible book value per common share     $ 24.41 $ 21.61  $ 23.57  $ 20.26  $ 19.16
         Shareholders' equity to total assets        5.44%   6.01%    6.85%    5.65%    5.83%


*  Information  for all  periods  presented  has been  restated  to reflect  the
inclusion of the results of People's Savings  Financial Corp., DS Bancor,  Inc.,
Shelton  Bancorp,  Inc. and Shoreline Bank and Trust Company which were acquired
on July 31,  1997,  January 31,  1997,  November 1, 1995 and  December 16, 1994,
respectively, and were accounted for using the pooling of interests method.

(a) See Management's Discussion and Analysis,  Comparison of 1997 and 1996 Years
and 1996 and 1995 Years and Note 18 to the Consolidated  Financial Statements in
the  Corporation's  1997 Annual  Report to  Shareholders  which is  incorporated
herein by reference.

(b) Before  cumulative  change in the method of  accounting  for Income Taxes in
1993. After such cumulative  change,  basic net income per common share for 1993
was $2.72 and diluted net income per share was $2.48.

(c) Webster has continuously declared dividends since the third quarter of 1987.

All per share data and the  number of  outstanding  shares of common  stock have
been adjusted retroactively to give effect to the payment of stock dividends.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION & RESULTS OF
        OPERATIONS

     "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations"  on  Pages  19 to 28 of the  Corporation's  1997  Annual  Report  to
Shareholders is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7a. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     The required  information is incorporated herein by reference from pages 22
to 24 of the Corporation's 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders.

ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     The required  information is incorporated herein by reference from Pages 29
to 60 of the Corporation's 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders.

                                       23



ITEM  9.  CHANGES  IN  AND  DISAGREEMENTS  WITH  ACCOUNTANTS ON  ACCOUNTING  AND
          FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

     Not Applicable.

                                    PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

         Information  regarding  the  directors  and  executive  officers of the
Corporation  is  omitted  from  this  report  as the  Corporation  has filed its
definitive  proxy  statement  within 120 days  after the end of the fiscal  year
covered by this Report,  and the  information  included  therein is incorporated
herein by reference.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         Information regarding  compensation of executive officers and directors
is omitted  from this Report as the  Corporation  has filed a  definitive  proxy
statement  within  120 days  after the end of the  fiscal  year  covered by this
Report, and the information  included therein (excluding the Personnel Resources
Committee  Report  on  Executive   Compensation  and  the  Comparative   Company
Performance information) is incorporated herein by reference.

 ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         Information  required  by this Item is omitted  from this Report as the
Corporation has filed a definitive proxy statement within 120 days after the end
of the fiscal year covered by this Report, and the information  included therein
is incorporated by reference.

ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

         Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is
omitted  from  this  Report as the  Corporation  has  filed a  definitive  proxy
statement  within  120 days  after the end of the  fiscal  year  covered by this
Report,  and  the  information   included  therein  is  incorporated  herein  by
reference.

                                     PART IV

ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

     (a)(1)    The following Consolidated Financial Statements of the Registrant
               and its subsidiary  included in its Annual Report to Shareholders
               for the year ended December 31, 1997, are incorporated  herein by
               reference in Item 8. The remaining  information  appearing in the
               Annual Report to  Shareholders  is not deemed to be filed as part
               of this Report, except as expressly provided herein.

                                       24



               Consolidated Statements of Condition - December 31, 1997 and 1996

               Consolidated  Statements  of Income - Years  Ended  December  31,
               1997, 1996 and 1995

               Consolidated  Statements  of  Shareholders'  Equity - Years Ended
               December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995

               Consolidated  Statements of Cash Flows - Years Ended December 31,
               1997, 1996 and 1995

               Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

               Independent Auditor's Report

               (a)(2)      All  schedules  for  which  provision  is made in the
               applicable accounting  regulations of the Securities and Exchange
               Commission are not required under the related instructions or are
               inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.

               (a)(3)      The  following  exhibits  are either filed as part of
               this Report or are incorporated  herein by reference;  references
               herein to First Federal Bank now mean Webster Bank.

Exhibit No. 2. Plan of Acquisition, Reorganization,  Arrangement, Liquidation or
Succession.

     2.1       Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of October 26, 1997,  by
               and   between  the   Corporation   and  Eagle   Financial   Corp.
               (incorporated   herein  by   reference  to  Exhibit  2.1  to  the
               Corporation's  Current  Report on Form 8-K filed on November  24,
               1997).

     2.2       Stock Option  Agreement,  dated  October 26, 1997,  between Eagle
               Financial  Corp.  and the  Corporation  (incorporated  herein  by
               reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the  Corporation's  Current Report on
               Form 8-K filed on November 24, 1997).

Exhibit No. 3.  Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

     3.1       Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  (incorporated  herein by
               reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on
               March 27, 1997).

     3.2       Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation
               (incorporated   herein  by   reference  to  Exhibit  3.2  to  the
               Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

     3.3       Certificate  of  Designation   for  the  Series  C  Participating
               Preferred Stock (incorporated  herein by reference to Exhibit 3.5
               to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

     3.4       Certificate of Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation
               (incorporated   herein  by   reference  to  Exhibit  3.6  to  the
               Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

     3.5        Bylaws of Registrant.

                                       25



Exhibit No. 10.  Material Contracts.

     10.1      1986  Stock   Option  Plan  of  Webster   Financial   Corporation
               (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10(a)  to  the
               Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1987).

     10.2      1992  Stock   Option  Plan  of  Webster   Financial   Corporation
               (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the  Corporation's
               Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

     10.3      Amendment  No.  1 to 1992  Stock  Option  Plan  (incorporated  by
               reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on
               March 31, 1994).

     10.4      Amendment No. 2 to 1992 Stock Option Plan.

     10.5      Short-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference
               to Exhibit 10.4 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31,
               1995).

     10.6      Economic Value Added Incentive Plan (the  description of the plan
               in the  first  full  paragraph  on page  15 of the  Corporation's
               definitive  proxy  materials  for  the  1998  Annual  Meeting  of
               Shareholders is incorporated herein by reference).

     10.7      Long-Term Incentive  Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference
               to Exhibit 99.6 to the Corporation's Form 8-K/A filed on November
               10, 1993).

     10.8      Performance  Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
               A  to  the  Corporation's  definitive  proxy  materials  for  the
               Corporation's 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders).

     10.9      First Federal Bank Deferred  Compensation  Plan for Directors and
               Officers,  effective  December  7, 1987  (incorporated  herein by
               reference to Exhibit 10(1) to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed
               on March 29, 1988).

     10.10     Directors Retainer Fees Plan (incorporated herein by reference to
               Exhibit B to the Corporation's definitive proxy materials for the
               Corporation's 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders).

                                       26

     10.11     Form of Stock Option Agreement for Executive  Officers  (Initial)
               (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10(l)  to  the
               Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 29, 1988).

     10.12     Form  of  Stock  Option   Agreement   for   Directors   (Initial)
               (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10(m)  to  the
               Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 29, 1988).

     10.13     Form of Stock Option Agreement for Employees (1987) (incorporated
               herein by reference to Exhibit  10(n) to the  Corporation's  Form
               10-K filed on March 29, 1988).

     10.14     Form of Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement  (for  employees  with
               employment  agreements)  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
               10.15 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

     10.15     Form of Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement  (for  employees  with
               severance agreements) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16
               to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

     10.16     Form of Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement (for employees with no
               employment or severance agreements) (incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.17 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on March 31,
               1994).

     10.17     Form of Nonqualified  Stock Option  Agreement (for employees with
               employment  agreements)  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
               10.18 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

     10.18     Form of Non-Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement (for  non-employee
               directors)  (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit  10.19 to the
               Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

     10.19     Form of Non-Incentive  Stock Option Agreement (for employees with
               employment  agreements)  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit
               10.20 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

     10.20     Form of Non-Incentive  Stock Option Agreement (for employees with
               severance agreements) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21
               to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

     10.21     Form of Non-Incentive  Stock Option Agreement (for employees with
               no employment or severance agreements) (incorporated by reference
               to Exhibit  10.22 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on March
               31, 1994).

     10.22     Form  of  Incentive   Stock  Option   Agreement  (for  employees)
               (revised)  (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.22 to the
               Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

     10.23     Form of Nonqualified  Stock Option  Agreement (for employees with
               employment  agreements)  (revised)  (incorporated by reference to
               Exhibit 10.23 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on March 31,
               1995).

     10.24     Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement  (immediate  vesting)
               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the  Corporation's
               Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

     10.25     Form of Nonqualified  Stock Option Agreement (for senior officers
               of Bristol Mortgage)  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25
               to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

     10.26     Supplemental Retirement Plan for Employees of First Federal Bank,
               as  amended  and  restated   effective  as  of  October  1,  1994
               (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the  Corporation's
               Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

     10.27     Employment Agreement,  dated as of January 1, 1998, among Webster
               Bank, the Corporation and James C. Smith.  See Schedule 10.27 for
               a list of other executive officers of the Corporation and Webster
               Bank who have an Employment Agreement  substantially identical in
               all material  respects to the Employment  Agreement of Mr. Smith,
               except as to the name of the
 
                                       27



               executive  who is a  party  to  the  agreement  and as  otherwise
               indicated on Schedule 10.27.

     10.28     Amendment To Employment  Agreement,  entered into as of March 17,
               1998,  by and among Webster Bank,  the  Corporation  and James C.
               Smith. See Schedule 10.28 for a list of other executive  officers
               of the  Corporation  and Webster  Bank who have an  Amendment  To
               Employment  Agreement  substantially  identical  in all  material
               respects to the Amendment To  Employment  Agreement of Mr. Smith,
               except  as to the  name of the  executive  who is a party  to the
               agreement.

     10.29     Change of Control Employment Agreement,  dated as of December 15,
               1997,  by and between  the  Corporation  and James C. Smith.  See
               Schedule  10.29  for a list of other  executive  officers  of the
               Corporation  who have a Change of  Control  Employment  Agreement
               substantially identical in all material respects to the Change of
               Control Employment  Agreement of Mr. Smith, except as to the name
               of the executive who is a party to the agreement.

     10.30     Purchase  and  Assumption   Agreement  among  the  FDIC,  in  its
               corporate  capacity as receiver of First Constitution Bank, First
               Federal  Bank  and  the  FDIC,   dated  as  of  October  2,  1992
               (incorporated  herein by reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K
               filed on October 19, 1992).

     10.31     Amendment No. 1 to Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of
               August 8, 1994, between the FDIC and First Federal  (incorporated
               by  reference  to Exhibit  10.36 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K
               filed on March 31, 1995).

     10.32     Indenture, dated as of June 15, 1993, between the Corporation and
               Chemical Bank, as Trustee,  relating to the Corporation's  Senior
               Notes due 2000 (incorporated  herein by reference to Exhibit 99.5
               to the Corporation's Form 8-K/A filed on November 10, 1993).

     10.33     Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated January 29, 1997 between the
               Corporation and the Bank of New York as Trustee,  relating to the
               Corporation's Junior Subordinated  Deferrable Interest Debentures
               (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.44  to  the
               Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

Exhibit No. 13.  Annual Report to Shareholders.

Exhibit No. 21.  Subsidiaries.

Exhibit No. 23.  Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

                                       28



Exhibit No. 27.  Financial Data Schedule.

     27.1 Financial Data Schedule.

     27.2 Restated Financial Data Schedule.

     27.3 Restated Financial Data Schedule.

     (b) The following  current reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Registrant
during the last quarter of the fiscal year 1997.

          (i)       Current  Report on Form 8-K filed on  November 7, 1997 (date
                    of  report  October  26,  1997)  relating  to  the  proposed
                    acquisition of Eagle Financial Corp. by the Corporation.


          (ii)      Current  Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 1997 (date
                    of report October 26, 1997) attaching the Agreement and Plan
                    of Merger and Stock Option  Agreement in connection with the
                    proposed   acquisition  of  Eagle  Financial  Corp.  by  the
                    Corporation.

          (iii)     Current  Report on Form 8-K filed on November 17, 1997 (date
                    of report  November 17,  1997)  attaching  the  consolidated
                    financial  statements of the Corporation restated to reflect
                    the  acquisition  of People's  Savings  Financial  Corp. (as
                    amended  by  the  Form  8-K/As  filed on January  26,  1998,
                    January 26, 1998 and February 6, 1998).

     (c) Exhibits to this Form 10-K are attached or incorporated by reference as
stated above.

     (d) Not applicable.

                                       29




                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, as of March 31, 1998.

                             WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                             -----------------------------
                                   Registrant

                             BY:   /s/ James C. Smith
                               ---------------------------
                            James C. Smith, Chairman
                            and Chief Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
registrant and in the capacities noted as of March 31, 1998.

By:      /s/ James C. Smith
  --------------------------------------------
                  James C. Smith, Chairman and
                  Chief Executive Officer
                  Principal Executive Officer

By:      /s/ John V. Brennan
  ---------------------------------------------
                  John V. Brennan, Executive Vice President,
                  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
                  Principal Financial Officer
                  Principal Accounting Officer

By:      /s/ Achille A. Apicella
  ---------------------------------------------
                  Achille A. Apicella
                  Director

By:      /s/ Joel S. Becker
  ---------------------------------------------
                  Joel S. Becker
                  Director

By:      /s/ O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.
  ---------------------------------------------
                  O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.
                  Director

                                        30







By:
  ----------------------------------------------
                  John J. Crawford
                  Director

By:      /s/ Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.
   ---------------------------------------------
                  Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.
                  Director

By:      /s/ Robert A. Finkenzeller
  ----------------------------------------------
                  Robert A. Finkenzeller
                  Director

By:      /s/ Walter R. Griffin
  ----------------------------------------------
                  Walter R. Griffin
                  Director

By:      /s/ J. Gregory Hickey
  ----------------------------------------------
                  J. Gregory Hickey
                  Director

By:
  ----------------------------------------------
                  C. Michael Jacobi
                  Director

By:      /s/ Marguerite F. Waite
  ----------------------------------------------
                  Marguerite F. Waite
                  Director

                                       31


EXHIBIT INDEX*
NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
- ------                                  -----------

2.1       Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of October 26,  1997,  by and
          between the Corporation and Eagle Financial Corp. (incorporated herein
          by reference  to Exhibit 2.1 to the  Corporation's  Current  Report on
          Form 8-K filed on November 24, 1997).

2.2       Stock  Option  Agreement,   dated  October  26,  1997,  between  Eagle
          Financial Corp. and the Corporation  (incorporated herein by reference
          to Exhibit 2.2 to the  Corporation's  Current Report on Form 8-K filed
          on November 24, 1997).

3.1       Restated   Certificate  of  Incorporation   (incorporated   herein  by
          reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March
          27, 1997).

3.2       Certificate  of Amendment  of Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation
          (incorporated  herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Corporation's
          Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

3.3       Certificate of Designation  for the Series C  Participating  Preferred
          Stock  (incorporated  herein  by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.5  to  the
          Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

3.4       Certificate  of Amendment  to Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation
          (incorporated  herein by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Corporation's
          Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

3.5       Bylaws of Registrant.

10.1      1986 Stock Option Plan of Webster Financial Corporation  (incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibit  10(a) to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K
          filed on March 27, 1987).

10.2      1992 Stock Option Plan of Webster Financial Corporation  (incorporated
          by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on
          March 31, 1994).

10.3      Amendment No. 1 to 1992 Stock Option Plan  (incorporated  by reference
          to  Exhibit  10.3 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K  filed on March 31,
          1994).

10.4      Amendment No. 2 to 1992 Stock Option Plan.

10.5      Short-Term  Incentive  Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit 10.4 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

10.6      Economic Value Added  Incentive  Plan (the  description of the plan in
          the first full  paragraph on page 15 of the  Corporation's  definitive
          proxy  materials  for the  1998  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  is
          incorporated herein by reference).

10.7      Long-Term  Incentive  Compensation Plan  (incorporated by reference to
          Exhibit  99.6 to the  Corporation's  Form 8-K/A filed on November  10,
          1993).

10.8      Performance  Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to
          the  Corporation's  definitive  proxy materials for the  Corporation's
          1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders).

10.9      First  Federal  Bank  Deferred  Compensation  Plan for  Directors  and
          Officers, effective December 7, 1987 (incorporated herein by reference
          to  Exhibit  10(1) to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on March 29,
          1988).

10.10     Directors  Retainer  Fees Plan  (incorporated  herein by  reference to
          Exhibit B to the  Corporation's  definitive  proxy  materials  for the
          Corporation's 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders).

10.11     Form of  Stock  Option  Agreement  for  Executive  Officers  (Initial)
          (incorporated   herein  by   reference   to   Exhibit   10(l)  to  the
          Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 29, 1988).

10.12     Form of Stock Option Agreement for Directors  (Initial)  (incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibit  10(m) to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K
          filed on March 29, 1988).

10.13     Form of Stock Option  Agreement  for  Employees  (1987)  (incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibit  10(n) to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K
          filed on March 29, 1988).

10.14     Form  of  Incentive   Stock  Option   Agreement  (for  employees  with
          employment agreements)  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to
          the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.15     Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (for employees with severance
          agreements)  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.16  to  the
          Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.16     Form of  Incentive  Stock  Option  Agreement  (for  employees  with no

                                       32




          employment  or  severance  agreements)  (incorporated  by reference to
          Exhibit 10.17 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.17     Form of  Nonqualified  Stock  Option  Agreement  (for  employees  with
          employment agreements)  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to
          the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.18     Form  of  Non-Incentive   Stock  Option  Agreement  (for  non-employee
          directors)   (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.19  to  the
          Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.19     Form of  Non-Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement  (for  employees  with
          employment agreements)  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to
          the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.20     Form of  Non-Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement  (for  employees  with
          severance  agreements)  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to
          the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.21     Form of Non-Incentive Stock Option Agreement (for employees with no

                                       33



          employment  or  severance  agreements)  (incorporated  by reference to
          Exhibit 10.22 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1994).

10.22     Form of Incentive  Stock Option  Agreement (for  employees)  (revised)
          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Corporation's  Form
          10-K  filed on March  31,  1995).

10.23     Form of  Nonqualified  Stock  Option  Agreement  (for  employees  with
          employment agreements) (revised) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
          10.23 to the Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

10.24     Form  of  Nonqualified  Stock  Option  Agreement  (immediate  vesting)
          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Corporation's  Form
          10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

10.25     Form of  Nonqualified  Stock Option  Agreement (for senior officers of
          Bristol  Mortgage)  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the
          Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 31, 1995).

10.26     Supplemental  Retirement  Plan for Employees of First Federal Bank, as
          amended and restated  effective as of October 1, 1994 (incorporated by
          reference  to Exhibit  10.26 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on
          March 31, 1995).

10.27     Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1998, among Webster Bank,
          the Corporation  and James C. Smith.  See Schedule 10.27 for a list of
          other executive  officers of the Corporation and Webster Bank who have
          an  Employment  Agreement  substantially  identical  in  all  material
          respects to the  Employment  Agreement of Mr. Smith,  except as to the
          name of the  executive  who is a party to the  agreement and otherwise
          indicated on Schedule 10.27.

10.28     Amendment To Employment Agreement,  entered into as of March 17, 1998,
          by and among Webster Bank,  the  Corporation  and James C. Smith.  See
          Schedule  10.28  for  a  list  of  other  executive  officers  of  the
          Corporation  and  Webster  Bank who have an  Amendment  To  Employment
          Agreement  substantially  identical  in all  material  respects to the
          Amendment To Employment  Agreement of Mr. Smith, except as to the name
          of the executive who is a party to the agreement.

10.29     Change of Control Employment Agreement, dated as of December 15, 1997,
          by and between the Corporation and James C. Smith.  See Schedule 10.29
          for a list of other  executive  officers of the Corporation who have a
          Change of Control Employment Agreement  substantially identical in all
          material respects to the Change of Control Employment Agreement of Mr.
          Smith,  except as to the name of the  executive  who is a party to the
          agreement.

10.30     Purchase and  Assumption  Agreement  among the FDIC,  in its corporate
          capacity as receiver of First  Constitution  Bank,  First Federal Bank
          and the FDIC,  dated as of  October  2, 1992  (incorporated  herein by
          reference from the Registrant's Form 8-K filed on October 19, 1992).

                                       34



10.31     Amendment  No. 1 to Purchase  and  Assumption  Agreement,  dated as of
          August 8, 1994,  between the FDIC and First Federal  (incorporated  by
          reference  to Exhibit  10.36 to the  Corporation's  Form 10-K filed on
          March 31, 1995).

10.32     Indenture,  dated as of June 15,  1993,  between the  Corporation  and
          Chemical Bank, as Trustee,  relating to the Corporation's Senior Notes
          due 2000  (incorporated  herein by  reference  to Exhibit  99.5 to the
          Corporation's Form 8-K/A filed on November 10, 1993).

10.33     Junior  Subordinated  Indenture,  dated  January 29, 1997  between the
          Corporation  and the  Bank of New  York as  Trustee,  relating  to the
          Corporation's  Junior  Subordinated   Deferrable  Interest  Debentures
          (incorporated   herein  by   reference   to   Exhibit   10.44  to  the
          Corporation's Form 10-K filed on March 27, 1997).

13.       Annual Report to Shareholders.

21.       Subsidiaries.

23.       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

27.1      Financial Data Schedule.

27.2      Restated Financial Data Schedule.

27.3      Restated Financial Data Schedule.

* References herein to First Federal Bank now mean Webster Bank.

                                       35