KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
                                  City Place 11
                             Hartford, CT 06103-4103



                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
Webster Financial Corporation:

     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements
(Nos.  33-13244 and 33-38286) on Forms S-8, (No. 333-47269) on Form S-3 and (No.
333-46073)  on Form S-4 of Webster  Financial  Corporation  of our report  dated
January 20,  1998,  relating to the  consolidated  statements  of  condition  of
Webster Financial  Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996
and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1997,
which  report  appears in the  December  31, 1997 annual  report on Form 10-K of
Webster Financial Corporation.

/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

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Hartford, Connecticut
March, 31, 1998