Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments. At September 30, 2014, Webster was obligated under various non-cancelable operating leases for properties used as banking and other office facilities. The leases contain renewal options and escalation clauses which provide for increased rental expense, or equipment replaced with new leased equipment, as the leases expire. Rental expense under leases was $5.2 million and $15.3 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and is recorded as a component of occupancy expense in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Rental income from sub-leases on certain of these properties is also recorded as a component of occupancy expense while rental income under various non-cancelable operating leases for properties owned is recorded as a component of other non-interest income in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Rental income was $0.2 million and $0.6 million and $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. There has been no significant change in future minimum lease payments payable since December 31, 2013. See Webster's 2013 Form 10-K for additional information regarding these commitments.

Credit-Related Financial Instruments. The Company is a party to credit-related financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, and commercial letters of credit. Such commitments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The Company’s exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amount of these commitments as it is for on-balance sheet instruments.

The following table summarizes outstanding contract amounts for off-balance sheet instruments that represent credit risk:



(In thousands)	At September 30, 2014		At December 31, 2013
Unused commitments to extend credit	$	4,390,764	$	4,127,089
Standby letters of credit	146,689		135,761
Commercial letters of credit	26,025		13,621
Total financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk	$	4,563,478	$	4,276,471

Unused commitments to extend credit. The Company makes commitments under various terms to lend funds to customers. These commitments include revolving credit arrangements, term loan commitments, and short-term borrowing agreements. Many of these loans have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses where a fee may be required. Since commitments are expected to expire without being funded, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future liquidity requirements.

Standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit commit the Company to make payments on behalf of customers if certain specified future events occur. The Company has recourse against the customer for any amount required to be paid to a third party under a standby letter of credit. Historically, a large percentage of standby letters of credit expire without being funded. The contractual amount of standby letters of credit represents the maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make and represents the Company's maximum credit risk.

Commercial letters of credit. Commercial letters of credit are issued to facilitate domestic or foreign trade transactions for customers. As a general rule, drafts will be drawn when the goods underlying the transaction are in transit.

The reserve for unfunded credit commitments is reported as a component of accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table provides activity details for the Company’s reserve for unfunded credit commitments:



	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Balance, beginning of period	$	4,749	$	4,593	$	4,384	$	5,662
Provision (benefit)	273		64		638		(1,005		)
Balance, end of period	$	5,022	$	4,657	$	5,022	$	4,657

Litigation Reserves. Webster is involved in routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business and is subject to loss contingencies related to such litigation and claims arising therefrom. Webster evaluates these contingencies based on information currently available, including advice of counsel and assessment of available insurance coverage. Webster establishes accruals for litigation and claims when a loss contingency is considered probable and the related amount is reasonably estimable. These accruals are periodically reviewed and may be adjusted as circumstances change. Webster also estimates certain loss contingencies for possible litigation and claims, whether or not there is an accrued probable loss. Webster believes it has defenses to all the claims asserted against it in existing litigation matters and intends to defend itself in all matters.

Based upon its current knowledge, after consultation with counsel and after taking into consideration its current litigation accruals, Webster believes that as of September 30, 2014 any reasonably possible losses, in addition to amounts accrued, are not material to Webster’s consolidated financial condition. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such actions and proceedings, there is no assurance that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not significantly exceed the reserves currently accrued by Webster or that the Company’s litigation reserves will not need to be adjusted in future periods. Such an outcome could be material to the Company’s operating results in a particular period, depending on, among other factors, the size of the loss or liability imposed and the level of the Company’s income for that period.