Exhibit 23.7


HAS ASSOCIATES, INC.

           76 Northeastern Blvd.,                  P.O. Box 84
           Suite 34                                Boston, MA 02171
           Nashua, NH 03062                        (617) 472-5086
           (603) 880-4529                          Fax:  (617) 472-6903
           Fax (603) 880-4351                      hasq@msn.com



September 27, 1999

Board of Directors
New England Community Bancorp, Inc.
176 Broad Street
Windsor, CT  06095

CONSENT OF HAS ASSOCIATES, INC.:

          We hereby consent to the use of our opinion letter dated September 27,
1999, to the Board of Directors of New England Community Bancorp, Inc., attached
as Appendix B to Webster Financial  Corporation's Proxy  Statement/Prospectus on
Form S-4 ("S-4") and to the references to our firm in the S-4 under the headings
"Summary  -  Fairness  Opinion  of New  England  Community  Bancorp's  Financial
Advisor",  "The Merger - Background of the Merger", "The Merger - Recommendation
of the New England  Community  Bancorp  Board of  Directors  and Reasons for the
Merger",  "The Merger - Opinion of New  England  Community  Bancorp's  Financial
Advisor".  In giving  such  consent,  we do not admit  that we come  within  the
category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended,  or the rules and  regulations  of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  thereunder and we do not thereby admit that we are experts
with respect to any part of the Registration  Statement under the meaning of the
term "expert" as used in the Securities Act.

/s/ HAS Associates, Inc.

HAS Associates, Inc.
September 27,1999



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