EXHIBIT 23

                        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,  (Nos.  333-58965) and 333-71707) on
Forms S-3 and (Nos. 333-46073,  333-71141 and 333-71983) on Forms S-4 of Webster
Financial  Corporation  of our report dated  January 21,  1999,  relating to the
consolidated  statements  of  condition  of Webster  Financial  Corporation  and
subsidiaries  as of  December  31, 1998 and 1997,  and the related  consolidated
statements of income,  comprehensive income, shareholders' equity and cash flows
for each of the years in the three-year  period ended  December 31, 1998,  which
report  appears in the December  31, 1998 annual  report on Form 10-K of Webster
Financial Corporation.


                                                       /s/ KPMG LLP




Hartford, Connecticut
March 31, 1999