Webster Bank is a commercial bank with a national bank charter focused on providing financial products and services to businesses, individuals, and families. While its core footprint spans the Northeast from the New York metropolitan area to Rhode Island and Massachusetts, certain businesses operate in extended geographies. Webster Bank offers three differentiated lines of business: Commercial Banking, Healthcare Financial Services, and Consumer Banking.

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, and include the accounts of the Company and all other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Assets under administration or assets under management that the Company holds or manages in a fiduciary or agency capacity for customers are not included on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

The purpose of Consolidated Financial Statements is to present the results of operations and the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as if the consolidated group were a single economic entity. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance for consolidations, the Consolidated Financial Statements include any VOE in which the Company has a controlling financial interest and any VIE for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. The Company generally consolidates its VOEs if the Company, directly or indirectly, owns more than 50% of the outstanding voting shares of the entity, and if the non-controlling stockholders do not hold any substantive participating or controlling rights. The Company evaluates VIEs to understand the purpose and design of the entity, and its involvement in the ongoing activities of the VIE, and will consolidate the VIE if it has (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance, and (ii) an obligation to absorb losses of the VIE, or the right to receive benefits from the VIE, that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company accounts for unconsolidated partnerships and certain other investments using the equity method of accounting if it has the ability to significantly influence the operating and financial policies of the investee. This is generally presumed to exist when the Company owns between 20% and 50% of a corporation, or when it has greater than 3% to 5% interest in a limited partnership or similarly structured entity. Additional information regarding consolidated and non-consolidated VIEs can be found within Note 15: Variable Interest Entities.

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Business combinations are accounted for under the acquisition method, in which the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are generally measured and recognized at fair value as of the acquisition date, with the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired recognized as goodwill. Items such as acquired ROU lease assets and operating lease liabilities as lessee, employee benefit plans, and income-tax related balances are recognized in accordance with other applicable GAAP, which may result in measurements that differ from fair value. After the adoption of ASU No. 2021-08—Business Combinations (Topic 805)—Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers discussed below, may result in measurements that differ from fair value as well.

Business combinations are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements from the respective dates of acquisition. Historical reporting periods reflect only the results of legacy Webster operations. Merger-related costs are expensed in the period incurred and presented within the applicable non-interest expense category. Additional information regarding the Company’s mergers and acquisitions can be found within Note 2: Acquisitions and Joint Ventures.

The following table summarizes supplemental disclosures of cash flow information and non-cash investing and financing activities:


	Years ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2024		2023		2022
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	$	1,611,201	$	1,248,620	$	240,851
Income taxes paid	124,817		268,598		193,544
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Transfer of loans held for investment to foreclosed properties and repossessed assets	$	2,305	$	10,485	$	774
Transfer of returned finance lease equipment to assets held for sale	5,626		5,139		—
Transfer of loans held for investment to loans held for sale	680,159		629,172		652,855
Transfer of loans held for sale to loans held for investment	133,168		—		—
Transfer of property and equipment to assets held for sale	750		—		4,800
Deposit overdrafts reclassified as loan balances	7,146		10,432		8,721
ROU lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities	10,444		22,989		27,897
Approved commitments to fund LIHTC investments	304,269		334,947		211,796
Receipt of Ametros member deposits from other financial institutions	285,705		—		—
Deposits assumed	—		—		313











Business combinations (1):
Tangible assets acquired	$	256,957	$	24,318	$	26,937,741
Goodwill and other intangible assets	417,085		157,361		2,188,831
Liabilities assumed (2)	299,507		7,994		24,406,001
Forgiveness of long-term debt	12,875		—		—
Pre-existing equity interest	2,200		—		—
Contingent consideration	—		16,039		—
Common stock issued	—		—		5,041,182
Preferred stock exchanged	—		—		138,942

(1)Reflects the effects from the acquisition of Ametros during the year ended December 31, 2024, the acquisition of interLINK during the year ended December 31, 2023, and both the acquisition of Bend and merger with Sterling during the year ended December 31, 2022. In addition, the amounts for 2023 include adjustments to fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed related to the Bend acquisition and Sterling merger, which were recognized during the one-year measurement period.

Debt security transactions are recognized on the trade date, which is the date the order to buy or sell the security is executed. Investments in debt securities are classified as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity at the time of purchase. Any classification change subsequent to the trade date is reviewed for compliance with corporate objectives and accounting policies.

Debt securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded as a component of AOCL. If a debt security is transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, it is recorded at fair value at the time of transfer and any respective gain or loss would be recorded as a separate component of AOCL and amortized as an adjustment to interest income over the remaining life of the security. Debt securities classified as available-for-sale are reviewed for credit losses when the fair value of a security falls below the amortized cost basis and the decline is evaluated to determine if any portion is attributable to credit loss. The decline in fair value attributable to credit loss is recorded directly to earnings, with a corresponding allowance for credit loss, limited to the amount that fair value is less than the amortized cost. If the credit quality subsequently improves, previously recorded allowance amounts may be reversed. An available-for-sale debt security will be placed on non-accrual status if collection of principal and interest in accordance with contractual terms is doubtful. When the Company intends to sell an impaired available-for-sale debt security, or if it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of the amortized cost basis, the entire fair value adjustment will immediately be recognized in earnings through non-interest income. The gain or loss on sale is calculated using the carrying value plus any related AOCL balance associated with the securities sold.

Debt securities classified as held-to-maturity are those in which the Company has the ability and intent to hold to maturity. Debt securities classified as held-to-maturity are recorded at amortized cost net of unamortized premiums and discounts. Discount accretion income and premium amortization expense are recognized as interest income using the effective interest method, with consideration given to prepayment assumptions on mortgage-backed securities. Premiums are amortized to the earliest call date for debt securities purchased at a premium, with explicit, non-contingent call features and are callable at a fixed price and preset date. Debt securities classified as held-to-maturity are reviewed for credit losses under the CECL model with an allowance recorded on the balance sheet for expected lifetime credit losses. The ACL is calculated on a pooled basis using statistical models which include forecasted scenarios of future economic conditions. Forecasts revert to long-run loss rates implicitly through the economic scenario, generally over three years. If the risk for a particular security no longer matches the collective assessment pool, it is removed and individually assessed for credit deterioration. The non-accrual policy for held-to-maturity debt securities is the same as for available-for-sale debt securities.

The Company’s accounting treatment for non-consolidated equity investments differs for those with and without readily determinable fair values. Equity investments with readily determinable fair values are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in non-interest income. For equity investments without readily determinable fair values and are not already accounted for under the equity method, the Company elected the measurement alternative, and therefore carries these investments at cost, less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes in observable prices. Certain equity investments that do not have a readily available fair value may qualify for NAV measurement based on specific requirements. The Company’s alternative investments accounted for at NAV consist of investments in non-public entities that generally cannot be redeemed since the Company’s investments are distributed as the underlying equity is liquidated. On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews its equity investments without readily determinable fair values for impairment. If the equity investment is considered impaired, an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value is recorded through a charge to earnings. The impairment loss may be reversed in a subsequent period if there are observable transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer at a higher amount than the carrying amount that was established when the impairment was recognized. Impairments, as well as upward or downward adjustments resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments, are included in non-interest income.

Loans that are classified as held for sale at the time of origination are accounted for under the fair value option. Loans not originated for sale but subsequently transferred to held for sale are valued at the lower of cost or fair value on an individual asset basis. Any cost amount in excess of fair value is recorded as a valuation allowance and recognized as a reduction of other non-interest income. Interest income on loans held for sale is recognized based on contractual rates and is reflected in Loans held for sale interest income on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Gains or losses on the sale of loans held for sale are recorded as part of Other income on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Additional information regarding the sale of loans held for sale can be found within Note 5: Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets.

For the purpose of presentation in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows from loans are classified based on management’s intent to either sell the loan or hold the loan as an investment for the foreseeable future. When management’s intent is to sell the loan, the cash flows of that loan are presented as operating activities. When management’s intent is to hold the loan as an investment for the foreseeable future, the cash flows of that loan are presented as investing activities. Additionally, proceeds from the sale of loans that were originated for sale are presented as operating activities, and proceeds from the sale of loans that were originated for investment and then subsequently transferred to held for sale are presented as investing activities.

Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is generally considered to have been surrendered when: (i) the transferred assets are legally isolated from the Company or its consolidated affiliates, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (ii) the transferee has the right to pledge or exchange the assets with no conditions that constrain the transferee and provide more than a trivial benefit to the Company, and (iii) the Company does not maintain the obligation or unilateral ability to reclaim or repurchase the assets. Transfers of financial assets that do not qualify for sale accounting are reported as collateralized borrowings. Accordingly, the related assets remain on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and continue to be reported and accounted for as if the transfer had not occurred as discussed within the next policy below.

The Company sells financial assets in the normal course of business, the majority of which are residential mortgage loan sales to government-sponsored enterprises through established programs, as well as commercial loan sales through participation agreements, and other individual or portfolio loan and securities sales. In accordance with the accounting guidance for asset transfers, the Company considers any ongoing involvement with transferred assets in determining whether the assets should be derecognized from the balance sheet. With the exception of servicing, the Company’s continuing involvement with financial assets sold is minimal, and generally is limited to market customary representation and warranty clauses covering certain characteristics of the mortgage loans that were sold, and the Company’s origination process. The gain or loss on sale depends on the previous carrying amount of the transferred financial assets, the consideration received, and the fair value of any other assets obtained or liabilities incurred in exchange for the transferred assets.

When the Company sells financial assets, it may retain servicing rights and/or other interests in the financial assets. Servicing assets and any other interests held by the Company are initially measures at fair value, and subsequently measured using the amortization method. Additional information regarding transfers of financial assets and mortgage servicing assets can be found within Note 5: Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets.

These agreements are accounted for as secured financing transactions since the Company maintains effective control over the transferred investment securities and the transfer meets the other criteria for such treatment. Obligations to repurchase the sold investment securities are reflected as a liability on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The investment securities sold with agreement to repurchase to wholesale dealers are transferred to a custodial account for the benefit of the dealer or to the bank with whom each transaction is executed. The dealers or banks may sell, loan, or otherwise dispose of such securities to other parties in the normal course of their operations and agree to resell to the Company the same securities at the maturity date of the agreements. The Company also enters into repurchase agreements with Bank customers. The investment securities sold to Bank customers with agreements to repurchase are not transferred, but internally pledged to the repurchase agreement transaction. Additional information regarding securities sold under agreements to repurchase can be found within Note 11: Borrowings.

Loans and leases are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of amounts charged-off, unamortized premiums and discounts, and deferred loan and lease fees or costs, which are recognized as yield adjustments in interest income using the effective interest method. These yield adjustments are amortized over the contractual life of the related loans and leases and are adjusted for prepayments as they occur. Interest on loans and leases is credited to interest income as earned based on the interest rate applied to principal amounts outstanding. The Company has elected to present accrued interest receivable separately from the amortized cost basis of Loans and leases on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Amounts of cash receipts and cash payments for loans and leases are presented net within Investing activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Loans are placed on non-accrual status when full collection of principal and interest in accordance with contractual terms is not expected based on available information, which generally occurs when principal or interest payments become 90 days delinquent unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection, or sooner if circumstances indicate that the borrower may be unable to meet contractual principal or interest payments. The Company considers a loan to be “well-secured” when it is secured by collateral in the form of liens on, or pledges of, real or personal property that have a realizable value sufficient to discharge the debt in full, or when it is secured by a contractual guarantee of a financially responsible party. The Company considers a loan “in the process of collection” if collection of the debt is proceeding in due course either through legal action or through collection efforts not involving legal action that are reasonably expected to result in repayment of the debt or in its restoration to a current status in the near future.

When loans and leases are placed on non-accrual status, the accrual of interest income and the amortization or accretion of premiums, discounts, and deferred fees and costs is discontinued, and any previously accrued interest is reversed as a reduction of interest income. For commercial loans and leases, if the Company determines that repayment of non-accrual loans and leases is not expected, any payment received is applied to principal until the unpaid balance has been fully recovered. Any excess is then credited to interest income. For consumer loans, if the Company determines that principal can be repaid, interest payments are taken into income as received on a cash basis.

Loans are generally removed from non-accrual status when they become current as to principal and interest or demonstrate a period of performance under the contractual terms and, in the opinion of management, are fully collectible as to principal and interest. For commercial loans, a sustained period of repayment performance is generally required. Pursuant to regulatory guidance, a loan discharged under Chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy code is removed from non-accrual status when full repayment of the remaining pre-discharged contractual principal and interest is expected, and there have been at least six consecutive months of current payments. Additional information regarding non-accrual loans and leases can be found within Note 4: Loans and Leases.

The ACL on loans and leases, which is established through a provision charged to expense, is a contra-asset account that offsets the amortized cost basis of loans and leases for the credit losses that are expected to occur over the life of the asset. Executive management reviews and advises on the adequacy of the allowance on a quarterly basis, which is maintained at a level that management deems to be sufficient to cover expected credit losses within the loan and lease portfolios. An ACL on accrued interest for a loan is not measured since accrued interest income is reversed against interest income for non-accrual loans immediately after their non-accrual classification.

The ACL on loans and leases is determined using the CECL model, whereby an expected lifetime credit loss is recognized at the origination or purchase of an asset, including those acquired through a business combination, which is then reassessed at each reporting date over the contractual life of the asset. The calculation of expected credit losses includes consideration of past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amounts. Generally, expected credit losses are determined through a pooled, collective assessment of loans and leases with similar risk characteristics. However, if the risk characteristics of a loan or lease change such that it no longer aligns to that of the collectively assessed pool, it is removed from the population and individually assessed for credit losses. The total ACL on loans and leases recorded by management represents the aggregated estimated credit loss determined through both the collective and individual assessments.

Collectively Assessed Loans and Leases. Collectively assessed loans and leases are segmented based on product type and credit quality, and expected losses are determined using models that follow a PD, LGD, or EAD framework. Under these frameworks, expected credit losses are calculated as the product of the probability of a loan defaulting, expected loss given the occurrence of a default, and the expected exposure of a loan at default. Summing the product across loans over their lives yields the lifetime expected credit losses for a given portfolio. The Company’s PD and LGD calculations are predictive models that measure the current risk profile of the loan pools using forecasts of future macroeconomic conditions, historical loss information, loan-level risk attributes, and credit quality indicators. The calculation of EAD follows an iterative process to determine the expected remaining principal balance of a loan based on historical paydown rates for loans of a similar segment within the same portfolio. The calculation of portfolio exposure in future quarters incorporates expected losses, the loan’s amortization schedule, and prepayment rates.

The Company’s models incorporate a single economic forecast scenario and macroeconomic assumptions over a reasonable and supportable forecast period. The development of the reasonable and supportable forecast assumes that each portfolio will revert to its long-term loss rate expectation. The reasonable and supportable forecast period is two years after which the reversion period is one year. Models use output reversion and revert to mean historical portfolio loss rates on a straight-line basis in the third year of the forecast. Historical portfolio loss rates are based on approximately 15 years of available data and are updated annually.

Macroeconomic variables are used as inputs to the models and are selected for each class of financing receivable. The commercial models use unemployment, gross domestic product, corporate profits, housing starts, and retail sales (for commercial unfunded); the residential models use the Case-Shiller Home Price Index and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Home Price Index. Forecasted economic scenarios are sourced from a third party. Data from the baseline forecast scenario is used as the input to the modeled loss calculation. Changes in forecasts of macroeconomic variables will impact expectations of lifetime credit losses calculated by the loss models. However, the impact of changes in macroeconomic forecasts may be different for each portfolio and will reflect the credit quality and nature of the underlying assets at that time.

A portion of the collective ACL is comprised of qualitative adjustments for risk characteristics that are not reflected or captured in the quantitative models, but are likely to impact the measurement of estimated credit losses. Qualitative adjustments are based on management’s judgment of the Company, market, industry, or business specific data, and may be applied in relation to economic forecasts when relevant facts and circumstances are expected to impact credit losses, particularly in times of significant volatility in economic activity. Qualitative factors used in the Company’s models for all loan and lease portfolios include, but are not limited to, nature and volume of portfolio growth, credit quality trends, underwriting exception levels, quality of internal loan review, credit concentrations, and staffing trends.

Individual assessment for commercial loans that are considered to be collateral dependent is based on the fair value of the collateral less estimated cost to sell, the present value of the expected cash flows from the operation of the collateral, or a probability-weighted scenario approach of both of these methods. If a loan is not collateral dependent, the individual assessment is based on a discounted cash flow approach. For collateral dependent commercial loans and leases, the Company’s process requires the Company to determine the fair value of the collateral by obtaining a third-party appraisal or asset valuation, an interim valuation analysis, blue book reference, or other internal methods. Whenever the Company has a third-party real estate appraisal performed by independent licensed appraisers, a licensed in-house appraisal officer or qualified individual reviews these appraisals for compliance with the Financial Institutions Reform Recovery and Enforcement Act and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

Individual assessment for consumer loans are based on the fair value of collateral less the estimated costs to sell or loss factor approach based on historical loss rates. For residential and consumer collateral dependent loans, a third-party appraisal is obtained upon loan default. Fair value of the collateral for residential and consumer collateral dependent loans is reevaluated every six months, by either obtaining a new appraisal or other internal valuation method. Fair value is also reassessed, with any excess amount charged off, for residential and home equity loans that reach 180 days past due per Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council guidelines.

A fair value shortfall relative to the amortized cost balance is reflected as an allowance within the ACL on loans and leases. Subsequent to an appraisal or other fair value estimate, should reliable information come to management’s attention that the value has declined further, an additional allowance may be recorded to reflect the particular situation, thereby increasing the ACL on loans and leases. If the credit quality subsequently improves, the allowance is reversed up to a maximum of the previously recorded credit losses. Any individually assessed loan for which no specific allowance is necessary is the result of either sufficient cash flow or sufficient collateral coverage relative to the amortized cost. Additional information regarding the ACL on loans and leases can be found within Note 4: Loans and Leases.

If all or a portion of a loan is deemed to be no longer collectible upon the occurrence of a loss-confirming event, a charge-off may be recognized. Charge-offs reduce the amortized cost basis of the loan with a corresponding reduction to the ACL. For commercial loans, loss confirming events usually involve the receipt of specific adverse information about the borrower. The Company will generally recognize charge-offs for commercial loans on a case-by-case basis based on the review of the entire credit relationship and financial condition of the borrower. Loss-confirming events for consumer loans, such as bankruptcy or protracted delinquency, are typically based on established thresholds rather than by specific adverse information about the borrower.

PCD loans and leases are defined as those that have experienced a more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. The Company considers a variety of factors to evaluate and identify whether acquired loans are PCD, including but not limited to, nonaccrual status, delinquency, whether the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, partial charge-offs, decreases in FICO scores, risk rating downgrades, and other factors. Upon acquisition, expected credit losses are added to the fair value of individual PCD loans and leases to determine the amortized cost basis. After initial recognition, any changes to the estimate of expected credit losses, favorable or unfavorable, are recorded as a provision for credit loss during the period of change.

PCD accounting is also applied to loans and leases previously charged-off by the acquiree if the Company has contractual rights to the cash flows at the acquisition date. The Company recognizes an additional ACL for amounts previously charged-off by the acquiree with a corresponding increase to the amortized costs basis of the acquired asset. Balances deemed to be uncollectible are immediately charged-off in accordance with the Company’s charge-off policies, resulting in the establishment of the initial ACL for PCD loans and leases to be recorded net of these uncollectible balances.

The ACL on unfunded loan commitments provides for potential exposure inherent with funding the unused portion of legal commitments to lend that are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company. Accounting for unfunded loan commitments follows the CECL model. The calculation of the allowance includes the probability of funding to occur and a corresponding estimate of expected lifetime credit losses on amounts assumed to be funded. Loss calculation factors are consistent with the ACL methodology for funded loans using the PD and LGD applied to the underlying borrower risk and facility grades, a draw down factor applied to utilization rates, relevant forecast information, and management’s qualitative factors. The ACL on unfunded credit commitments is included within Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additional information regarding the ACL on unfunded loan commitments can be found within
Note 23: Commitments and Contingencies.

Prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2022-02—Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, a modified loan was considered a TDR when the following two conditions were met: (i) the borrower was experiencing financial difficulty, and (ii) the modification constituted a concession (i.e., the modified terms of the loan were more attractive to the borrower than standard market terms). The Company’s most common types of TDRs included covenant modifications and forbearance.

The Company’s policy was to place consumer loan TDRs, except those that were performing prior to TDR classification, on non-accrual status for a minimum period of six months. Commercial loan TDRs were evaluated on a case-by-case basis when determining whether or not to place them on non-accrual status. Loans qualified for return-to-accrual status when the borrower had demonstrated performance with the restructured terms of the loan agreement for a minimum period of six months. TDRs were also to be reported as such for the remaining life of the loan and individually assessed for expected credit losses under the Company’s ACL methodology.

Upon adoption of ASU No. 2022-02 on January 1, 2023, the existing measurement and disclosure requirements for TDRs by creditors were eliminated and disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty were enhanced. Additional information regarding modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty can be found under the section captioned “Accounting Standards Adopted During the Current Year” and within Note 4: Loans and Leases.

Real estate acquired through foreclosure or completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure and other assets acquired through repossession are recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell at the date of transfer. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the foreclosed and repossessed assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs and are included within Other assets on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Independent appraisals generally are obtained to substantiate fair value and may be subject to adjustment based upon historical experience or specific geographic trends impacting the property. Upon transfer to OREO, the excess of the loan balance over fair value less cost to sell is charged off against the ACL. Subsequent write-downs in value, maintenance costs as incurred, and gains or losses upon sale are charged to Other expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, while significant improvements are capitalized. Property and equipment that is actively marketed for sale is reclassified to assets held for disposition. The cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization of property and equipment that is sold, retired, or otherwise disposed of, is eliminated from accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in Other expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Additional information regarding property and equipment can be found within Note 6: Premises and Equipment.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception by assessing whether there is an identified asset and whether the contract conveys the right to control the use of the identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. As lessee, operating leases with a term greater than one year are recognized as lease liabilities and corresponding ROU assets on the lease commencement date. The Company has elected not to recognize lease liabilities and ROU assets on operating leases with terms of one year or less. A ROU asset is measured based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments, adjusted for any initial direct costs, incentives, or other payments prior to the lease commencement date. A lease liability represents a legal obligation to make lease payments and is measured based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments. The Company utilizes the incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate of interest that would be incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term on an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment since the interest rate implicit in the lease contract is typically not readily determinable. Variable lease payments that are dependent on either an index or rate are initially measured using the index or rate at the commencement date and included in the measurement of the lease liability. Renewal options are not included as part of the ROU asset or lease liability unless the renewal option is deemed reasonably certain to be exercised. ROU lease assets and operating lease liabilities are included in Premises and equipment and Accrued expenses and other liabilities, respectively, on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

For real estate leases, lease components and non-lease components are accounted for as a single lease component. For equipment leases, lease components and non-lease components are accounted for separately. Operating lease expense, which is comprised of operating lease costs and variable lease costs, net of sublease income, is amortized on a straight-line basis and reflected as a part of Occupancy or Technology and equipment expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Additional information regarding the Company’s lessee arrangements can be found within Note 7: Leasing.

Goodwill represents the excess purchase price of businesses acquired over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired and is assigned to specific reporting units. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but rather is evaluated for impairment annually, or more frequently if events occur or circumstances change indicating it would more likely than not result in a reduction of the fair value of the reporting units below their carrying value, including goodwill.

Goodwill may be evaluated for impairment by first performing a qualitative assessment. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill, or, if for any other reason the Company determines it to be appropriate, then a quantitative assessment will be performed. The quantitative assessment process utilizes an income and market approach to arrive at an indicated fair value range for the reporting units. The fair value calculated for each reporting unit is compared to its carrying amount, including goodwill, to ascertain if goodwill impairment exists. If the fair value exceeds the carrying amount, including goodwill for a reporting unit, it is not considered to be impaired. If the fair value is below the carrying amount, including goodwill for a reporting unit, then an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the calculated fair value, up to but not exceeding the amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The resulting amount is charged to Other expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.

Other intangible assets represent purchased assets that lack physical substance but can be distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights, or because it is capable of being sold or exchanged either separately or in combination with a related contract, asset, or liability. Other intangible assets with finite useful lives, such as core deposits and customer relationships, are amortized to non-interest expense over their estimated useful lives and are evaluated for impairment whenever events occur or circumstances change indicating that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Recognized impairment losses are charged to Other expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Additional information regarding other intangible assets can be found within Note 8: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

Bank-owned life insurance represents the cash surrender value of life insurance policies on certain current and former employees of Webster and Sterling. Cash surrender value increases and decreases are recorded in non-interest income. Death benefit proceeds in excess of the cash surrender value are recorded in other non-interest income upon the death of the insured.

Revenue from contracts with customers comprises non-interest income earned in exchange for services provided to customers and is recognized either when services are completed or as they are rendered. These revenue streams include Deposit service fees, Wealth and investment services, and non-significant portions of Loan and lease related fees and Other income on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company identifies the performance obligations included in its contracts with customers, determines the transaction price, allocates the transaction price to the performance obligations, as applicable, and recognizes revenue when the performance obligations are satisfied. Services provided over a period of time are generally transferred to customers evenly over the term of the contracts, and revenue is recognized evenly over the period the services are provided. On the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, contract assets and deferred costs are included in Accrued interest receivable and other assets, and deferred revenue is included in Accrued expenses and other liabilities. Payment terms vary by services offered, and generally the time between the completion of performance obligations and receipt of payment is not significant. Additional information regarding contracts with customers can be found within Note 22: Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

The Company maintains a stock compensation plan that provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance-based stock, and stock units to employees and directors. Share awards are issued from available treasury shares. Stock compensation expense is recognized over the required service vesting period for each award based on the grant date fair value, and is included within Compensation and benefits expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. For time-based restricted stock awards and average return on equity performance-based restricted stock awards, fair value is measured using the closing price of Webster common stock at the grant date. For total stockholder return performance-based restricted stock awards, fair value is measured using the Monte Carlo simulation model. Performance-based restricted stock awards ultimately vest in a range from 0% to 150% of the target number of shares under the grant. Compensation expense may be subject to adjustment based on management’s assessment of the Company’s average return on equity performance relative to the target number of shares condition. Stock option awards use the Black-Scholes Option-Pricing Model to measure fair value at the grant date. Forfeiture of stock awards are accounted for as they occur. Excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies result when tax return deductions differ from recognized compensation cost determined using the grant-date fair value approach for financial statement purposes. Dividends are paid on time-based shares upon grant and are non-forfeitable, while dividends are accrued on performance-based awards and are paid with the vested shares when the performance target is met. Additional information regarding share-based compensation can be found within Note 20: Share-Based Plans.

Income tax expense (benefit) is comprised of two components, current and deferred. The current component represents income taxes payable or refundable for the current period based on applicable tax laws, while the deferred component represents the tax effects of temporary differences between amounts recognized for financial accounting and tax purposes. DTAs and DTLs reflect the tax effects of such differences that are anticipated to result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future when the temporary differences reverse. DTAs are recognized if it is more likely than not that they will be realized, and may be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that all or some portion will not be realized.

Uncertain tax positions that meet a more likely than not recognition threshold are initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority based on knowledge of all relevant information. The determination of whether or not a tax position meets the more likely than not recognition threshold considers the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date and is subject to management judgment. The Company recognizes interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions and interest on refundable income taxes as a component of Income tax expense and Other income, respectively, on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Additional information regarding income taxes can be found within Note 9: Income Taxes.

Earnings per common share is calculated under the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing earnings applicable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, excluding outstanding participating securities, during the pertinent period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the weighted-average number of shares determined for the basic earnings per common share computation plus the dilutive effect of shares resulting from stock compensation and warrants for common stock using the treasury stock method. The identification of the Company’s participating securities and a reconciliation between the weighted-average common shares used in calculating basic earnings per common share and the weighted-average common shares used in calculating diluted earnings per common share can be found within Note 16: Earnings Per Common Share.

Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity during the period, except those resulting from transactions with stockholders. Comprehensive income (loss) comprises net income and the after-tax effect changes in the following items: net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, and net actuarial gain (loss) related to defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Comprehensive income (loss) is reported on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Income tax effects of these items are released from Comprehensive income (loss) contemporaneously with the related gross pretax amount. Additional information regarding comprehensive income (loss) can be found within
Note 13: Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss), Net of Tax.

Derivatives are recognized at fair value and are included in Accrued interest receivable and other assets and Accrued expenses and other liabilities, as applicable, on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The value of exchange-traded contracts is based on quoted market prices, whereas non-exchange traded contracts are valued based on dealer quotes, pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques in which the determination of fair value may require management judgment or estimation. Net cash flows from derivative contract assets and liabilities are presented within Operating activities on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Derivatives Designated in Hedge Relationships. The Company uses derivatives to hedge exposures or to modify interest rate characteristics for certain balance sheet accounts under its interest rate risk management strategy. The Company designates derivatives in qualifying hedge relationships either as fair value or cash flow hedges for accounting purposes. Derivative financial instruments receive hedge accounting treatment if they are qualified and are properly designated as a hedge, and remain highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flows attributable to the risk being hedged, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis throughout the life of the hedge. Quarterly prospective and retrospective assessments are performed to ensure hedging relationships continue to be highly effective. If a hedge relationship is no longer highly effective, hedge accounting would be discontinued.

The change in fair value on a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge, as well as the offsetting change in fair value on the hedged item attributable to the risk being hedged, is recognized in earnings. The gain or loss on a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge is initially recorded as a component of AOCL, and either subsequently reclassified to interest income as hedged interest payments are received or to interest expense as hedged interest payments are made during the same period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

Offsetting Assets and Liabilities. Derivative assets and derivative liabilities with the same counterparty are presented on a net basis in Accrued interest receivable and other assets or Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets when master netting agreements are in place. Cash collateral paid or received for non-exchange cleared transactions are presented net with the associated derivative assets and derivative liabilities. Securities collateral is not offset. Amounts paid to dealers for initial margin are also included in Accrued interest receivable and other assets. Additional information regarding derivatives can be found within Note 17: Derivative Financial Instruments.

The Company measures many of its assets and liabilities on a fair value basis in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is used to measure certain assets and liabilities on a recurring basis when fair value is the primary basis of accounting, and on a non-recurring basis when evaluating assets or liabilities for impairment. Additional information regarding the Company’s policies and methodologies used to measure fair value can be found within Note 18: Fair Value Measurements.

The Bank had offered a qualified noncontributory defined benefit pension plan and a non-qualified SERP to eligible employees and key executives who met certain age and service requirements, both of which were frozen effective December 31, 2007. The Bank also provides for OPEB to certain retired employees. In connection with the merger with Sterling, the Company also assumed the benefit obligations of Sterling’s non-qualified SERP and OPEB plans.

Pension contributions are funded in accordance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Net periodic benefit cost (income), which is based upon actuarial computations of current and future benefits for eligible employees, are charged to Other expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. The funded status of the plans is recorded as an asset when over-funded or a liability when under-funded. Additional information regarding the defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit plans can be found within Note 19: Retirement Benefit Plans.

In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-02—Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), which permits reporting entities to elect to account for their tax equity investments, regardless of the program from which the income tax credits are received, using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met. A reporting entity may make an accounting policy election to apply the proportional amortization method in accordance with paragraph 323-740-25-4 on a tax-credit-program by tax-credit-program basis rather than electing to apply the proportional amortization method at the reporting entity level or to individual investments.

A reporting entity that applies the proportional amortization method to qualifying tax equity investments must account for the receipt of the investment tax credits using the flow-through method under Topic 740, Income Taxes, even if the entity applies the deferral method for other investment tax credit received. The amendments also remove certain guidance for Qualified Affordable Housing Project Investments, require the application of the delayed equity contribution guidance to all tax equity investments, and require specific disclosures that must be applied to all investments that generate income tax credits and other income tax benefits from a tax credit program for which the entity has elected to apply the proportional amortization method in accordance with Subtopic 323-740.

In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-01—Leases (Topic 842): Common Control Arrangements, which requires that leasehold improvements associated with leases between entities under common control be: (i) amortized by the lessee over the useful lives of the leasehold improvements to the common control group (regardless of the lease term) as long as the lessee controls the use of the underlying asset (the leased asset) through a lease; however, if the lessor obtained the right to control the use of the underlying asset through a lease with another entity not within the same common control group, the amortization period may not exceed the amortization period of the common control group; and (ii) accounted for as a transfer between entities under common control through an adjustment to equity, if, and when, the lessee no longer controls the use of the underlying asset. Additionally, those leasehold improvements are subject to the impairment guidance in Topic 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment.

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-03—Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions, which clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security, and therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. The amendments also clarify that an entity cannot, as a separate unit of account, recognize and measure a contractual sale restriction, and requires the following disclosures for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions: (i) the fair value of equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions reflected on the balance sheet; (ii) the nature and remaining duration of the restriction(s); and (iii) the circumstances that could cause a lapse in the restriction(s).

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07—Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. Specifically, the amendments in this Update require disclosure of: (i) significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss; (ii) an amount for other segment items by reportable segment and a description of its composition; and (iii) the title and position of the chief operating decision maker and an explanation of how the chief operating decision maker uses each reported measure of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources.

In addition, all annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets currently required by Topic 280, will be required in interim periods. Overall, the Update does not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates those operating segments, or determines its reportable segments, or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09—Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, to provide more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. Specifically, the amendments in this Update require disclosure of: (i) a tabular reconciliation, using both percentages and reporting currency amounts, with prescribed categories that are required to be disclosed, and the separate disclosure and disaggregation of prescribed reconciling items with an effect equal to 5% or more of the amount determined by multiplying pretax income from continuing operations by the application statutory rate; (ii) a qualitative description of the states and local jurisdictions that make up the majority (greater than 50%) of the effect of the state and local income taxes; and (iii) amount of income taxes paid, net of refunds received, disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign taxes and by individual jurisdictions that comprise 5% or more of total income taxes paid, net of refunds received. The amendments in this Update also include certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires entities to disclose specified information about certain costs and expenses in the notes to financial statements at each interim and annual reporting period, including the amounts of (a) purchases of inventory, (b) employee compensation, (c) depreciation, (d) intangible asset amortization, and (e) depletion included in each relevant expense caption. For the employee compensation category, bank holding companies may continue to present compensation expense on the face of the income statement in accordance with Regulation S-X Rule 210.9-04. A qualitative description of the amounts remaining in relevant expense captions that are not separately disaggregated quantitatively are also required to be disclosed. In addition, entities must disclose the total amount of selling expenses and, in annual reporting periods, their definition of selling expenses.

The Update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The amendments may be applied on either a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance to determine the impact on its non-interest expense disclosures; however, the impact is not expected to be material.