-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 VHDRlL3NP0Bx9VQ1kBdvyw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000801337-08-000103.txt : 20081218
<SEC-HEADER>0000801337-08-000103.hdr.sgml : 20081218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081218174321
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000801337-08-000103
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000801337
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				061187536
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WEBSTER PLAZA
		STREET 2:		145 BANK ST
		CITY:			WATERBURY
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06720
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2037532921

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WEBSTER PLAZA
		CITY:			WATERBURY
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06720

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hart Douglas O
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001403521

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31486
		FILM NUMBER:		081258306

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-465-4344

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		145 BANK STREET
		CITY:			WATERBURY
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000801337</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WBS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001403521</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hart Douglas O</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>145 BANK STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WATERBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06702</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3782</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10701</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14294</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-12-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-12-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14294</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14294</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">4 yr. incremental vesting - 25% vests each year for 4 years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Renee P. Seefried by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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