Variable Interest Entities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Variable Interest Entities

The Company has an investment interest in several entities that meet the definition of a VIE. The following discussion provides information about the Company's VIEs.

Consolidated

Rabbi Trust. The Company established a Rabbi Trust to meet the obligations due under its Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Officers and to mitigate the expense volatility of the aforementioned plan. The funding of the Rabbi Trust and the discontinuation of the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Officers occurred during 2012.

Investments held in the Rabbi Trust primarily consist of mutual funds that invest in equity and fixed income securities. The Company is considered the primary beneficiary of the Rabbi Trust as it has the power to direct the activities of the Rabbi Trust that significantly affect the VIE's economic performance and it has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

The Company consolidates the invested assets of the trust along with the total deferred compensation obligations and includes them in accrued interest receivable and other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Earnings in the Rabbi Trust, including appreciation or depreciation, are reflected as other non-interest income, and changes in the corresponding liability are reflected as compensation and benefits, in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note 16: Fair Value Measurements for additional information.

Non-Consolidated

Securitized Investments. The Company, through normal investment activities, makes passive investments in securities issued by VIEs for which Webster is not the manager. The investment securities consist of Agency CMO, Agency MBS, Agency CMBS, CLO, and single issuer-trust preferred. The Company has not provided financial or other support with respect to these investment securities other than its original investment. For these investment securities, the Company determined it is not the primary beneficiary due to the relative size of its investment in comparison to the principal amount of the structured securities issued by the VIEs, the level of credit subordination which reduces the Company’s obligation to absorb losses or right to receive benefits and its inability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss is limited to the amount of its investment in the VIEs. Refer to Note 3: Investment Securities for additional information.

Tax Credit - Finance Investments. The Company makes equity investments in entities that finance affordable housing and other community development projects and provide a return primarily through the realization of tax benefits. In most instances the investments require the funding of capital commitments in the future. While the Company's investment in an entity may exceed 50% of its outstanding equity interests, the entity is not consolidated as Webster is not involved in its management. For these investments, the Company determined it is not the primary beneficiary due to its inability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs. The Company applies the proportional amortization method to account for its investments in qualified affordable housing projects.

At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the aggregate carrying value of the Company's tax credit-finance investments were $33.5 million and $22.8 million, respectively, which represents the Company's maximum exposure to loss. At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, unfunded commitments have been recognized, totaling $17.3 million and $14.0 million, respectively, and are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Webster Statutory Trust. The Company owns all the outstanding common stock of Webster Statutory Trust, a financial vehicle that has issued, and in the future may issue, trust preferred securities. The trust, is a VIE in which the Company is not the primary beneficiary and therefore, is not consolidated. The trust's only assets are junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company, which were acquired by the trust using the proceeds from the issuance of the trust preferred securities and common stock. The junior subordinated debentures are included in long-term debt in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the related interest expense is reported as interest expense on long-term debt in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Other Investments. The Company invests in various alternative investments in which it holds a variable interest. Alternative investments are non-public entities which cannot be redeemed since the Company’s investment is distributed as the underlying equity is liquidated. For these investments, the Company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary due to its inability to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs.

At December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the aggregate carrying value of the Company's other investments in VIEs was $13.8 million and $12.3 million, respectively, and the maximum exposure to loss of the Company's other investments in VIEs, including unfunded commitments, was $22.9 million and $19.9 million, respectively. Refer to Note 16: Fair Value Measurements for additional information.

The Company's equity interests in Tax Credit-Finance Investments, Webster Statutory Trust, and Other Investments are included in accrued interest receivable and other assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.