Webster Bank is an American commercial bank based in Stamford, Connecticut. It has 177 branches and 316 ATMs located in Connecticut; Massachusetts; Rhode Island; New Jersey; Westchester, Orange, Ulster, and Rockland counties in New York as well as New York City.[2]
History
Webster was founded in 1935 by Harold Webster Smith as the First Federal Savings of Waterbury in Connecticut. While Smith initially borrowed from family and friends to open the bank, by 1938 its assets had grown to over $1 million.
In 1986, First Federal converted to stock ownership and formed a holding company. Smith served as CEO until 1987, when he was succeeded by his son, James C. Smith. Smith Sr. continued as chairman.
First Federal was renamed to Webster Bank in 1995.[3] The same year, Harold Smith retired and was succeeded by his son.
In 1997, Webster Trust Company, N.A. and Investment Services were added to the bank's offerings. Webster acquired Eagle Bank of Bristol and became the first bank in Connecticut to purchase an insurance agency the following year.