8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 12, 2006

WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-31486	06-1187536
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

Webster Plaza, Waterbury, Connecticut 06702

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 465-4364

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers
	Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-99.1: PRESS RELEASE

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

On April 13, Webster Financial Corporation issued a press release announcing the election of Karen R. Osar to membership on Webster’s board, effective April 12, 2006. That press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit
No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated April 13, 2006.

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)
 

/s/ Harriet Munrett Wolfe

Harriet Munrett Wolfe
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary 

Date: April 13, 2006

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated April 13, 2006.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Media Contact:
Clark Finley, 203-578-2287
cfinley@websterbank.com

WEBSTER NAMES KAREN R. OSAR TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WATERBURY, Conn., April 13, 2006 — Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS), the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A., announced that its Board of Directors has elected Karen R. Osar to membership on Webster’s board, effective April 12, 2006.

Osar is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Chemtura Corporation, the specialty chemicals company in Middlebury, CT, having served in this capacity since 2004. Osar is responsible for managing the corporate controllership and treasury functions as well as tax, auditing and investor relations. She was previously senior vice president and chief financial officer of MeadWestvaco Corporation in Stamford, CT, and also served as vice president and treasurer of Tenneco Inc. in Houston, TX and Greenwich, CT. Prior to those positions, Osar spent nineteen years with J.P. Morgan & Company, reaching the position of managing director of corporate finance

Osar received a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Smith College and an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia University.

Osar is a director of the Bank of New York Hamilton Mutual Funds and Encore Medical Corporation.

She resides in Wilton, CT.

***

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $17.8 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 157 banking offices, 304 ATMs, telephone banking and the Internet. Webster Bank owns the asset-based lending firm Webster Business Credit Corporation, the insurance premium finance company Budget Installment Corp., Center Capital Corporation, an equipment finance company headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut and provides health savings account trustee and administrative services through HSA Bank, Member FDIC and equal housing lender.

For more information about Webster, including past press releases and the latest annual report, visit the Webster website at www.WebsterOnline.com

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