<ARTICLE>                       9
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000801337
<NAME>                        Webster Financial Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1000
<CURRENCY>                                          US
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                DEC-31-1997
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<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
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