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Retirement Benefit Plans
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Retirement Benefit Plans Retirement Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Bank had offered a qualified noncontributory defined benefit Pension Plan (“Webster Bank Pension Plan”) and a non-qualified SERP (“Webster Bank Supplemental Defined Benefit Plan for Executive Officers”) to eligible employees and key executives who met certain age and service requirements, both of which were frozen effective December 31, 2007. Only those employees who were hired prior to January 1, 2007, and who became participants of the plans prior to January 1, 2008, have accrued benefits under the plans. The Bank also provides an OPEB plan to certain retired employees (“Webster Bank Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan”).
In connection with the Sterling merger in 2022, the Company assumed the benefit obligations of Sterling’s non-qualified SERPs, which included the Astoria Bank Excess Benefit and Supplemental Benefit Plans, Astoria Bank Directors’ Retirement Plan, Retirement Plan of the Greater New York Saving Bank for Non-Employee Directors, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Provident Bank, and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Provident Bank - Other; and OPEB plans, which included the Sterling Bancorp Supplemental Postretirement Life Insurance Plan, Astoria Postretirement Welfare Benefit Plans, and a Split Dollar Life Insurance Arrangement. In 2024, the Split Dollar Life Insurance Arrangement was liquidated.
In 2025, the Eagle Benefit Equalization Plan, which is a non-qualified SERP that had previously been managed off-balance sheet, was integrated into the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Each of the above plan’s measurement dates coincides with the Company’s December 31 year end.
The following table summarizes the changes in the benefit obligation, fair value of plan assets, and funded status of the defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans at December 31:
  
PensionSERPOPEB
(In thousands)202520242025202420252024
Change in benefit obligation:
Beginning balance$174,112 $189,986 $3,598 $4,139 $13,667 $22,669 
Benefit obligation (1)
— — 106 — — — 
Service cost— — — — 19 17 
Interest cost8,775 8,648 172 178 692 956 
Actuarial loss (gain) (2)
4,269 (13,588)241 (260)(88)3,637 
Benefits paid(11,466)(10,934)(449)(459)(741)(13,612)
Ending balance175,690 174,112 3,668 3,598 13,549 13,667 
Change in plan assets:
Beginning balance209,339 217,167 — — — — 
Actual return on plan assets (3)
23,194 3,106 — — — — 
Employer contributions— — 449 459 741 13,612 
Benefits paid(11,466)(10,934)(449)(459)(741)(13,612)
Ending balance221,067 209,339 — — — — 
Funded status (4)
$45,377 $35,227 $(3,668)$(3,598)$(13,549)$(13,667)
(1)Reflects the benefit obligation as of the date that the Eagle Benefit Equalization Plan was integrated into the Company’s consolidated financial statements in 2025.
(2)The change in actuarial (gain) loss is primarily due to actuarial losses in 2025 resulting from a decrease in discount rates, as compared to actuarial (gains) in 2024 resulting from an increase in discount rates.
(3)The increase in the actual return on plan assets for the Pension Plan is primarily due to the performance of fixed income investments, which comprise approximately 65% of the portfolio. In 2025, fixed income investments earned a positive return, as compared to a negative return in 2024.
(4)The overfunded (underfunded) status of each plan is respectively included in Accrued interest receivable and other assets or Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, as applicable.
The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at December 31:
  
Discount Rate
  
20252024
Pension:
Webster Bank Pension Plan5.26 %5.43 %
SERP:
Webster Bank Supplemental Defined Benefit Plan for Executive Officers5.00 %5.31 %
Astoria Bank Excess Benefit and Supplemental Benefit Plans4.67 5.14 
Astoria Bank Directors’ Retirement Plan
4.49 5.04 
Eagle Benefit Equalization Plan4.88 n/a
Retirement Plan of the Greater New York Savings Bank for Non-Employee Directors4.47 5.03 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Provident Bank4.80 5.32 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Provident Bank - Other4.41 5.09 
OPEB:
Webster Bank Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan4.48 %5.01 %
Sterling Bancorp Supplemental Postretirement Life Insurance Plan4.75 5.20 
Astoria Bank Postretirement Welfare Benefit Plans5.18 5.39 
The following table summarizes the amounts recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) that have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit (income) cost at December 31:
  
PensionSERPOPEB
(In thousands)202520242025202420252024
Transition obligation$— $— $104 $— $— $— 
Net actuarial loss (gain)25,686 34,440 207 (44)(1,613)(1,788)
Deferred tax (benefit) expense(4,120)(6,488)(50)8 258 337 
Net amount recorded in (AOCL)$21,566 $27,952 $261 $(36)$(1,355)$(1,451)
The following table summarizes the components of net periodic benefit (income) cost for the years ended December 31:
PensionSERPOPEB
(In thousands)202520242023202520242023202520242023
Service cost $— $— $— $— $— $— $19 $17 $27 
Interest cost8,775 8,648 8,782 172 178 191 692 956 1,042 
Expected return on plan assets(12,231)(12,709)(11,778)— — — — — — 
Amortization of transition obligation— — — (2)— — — — — 
Amortization of actuarial loss (gain)2,061 2,871 4,781 (11)12 6 (528)(976)(2,704)
Other (1)
——— ——— — 3,212 — 
Net periodic benefit (income) cost (2)
$(1,395)$(1,190)$1,785 $159 $190 $197 $183 $3,209 $(1,635)
(1)Reflects the loss recognized upon cessation of the Split Dollar Life Insurance Arrangement in 2024.
(2)Net periodic benefit (income) cost is included in Other expense on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit (income) cost for the years ended December 31:
  Discount Rate
  202520242023
Pension:
Webster Bank Pension Plan5.43 %4.76 %4.96 %
SERP:
Webster Bank Supplemental Defined Benefit Plan for Executive Officers5.31 %4.68 %4.88 %
Astoria Bank Excess Benefit and Supplemental Benefit Plans5.14 4.56 4.77 
Astoria Bank Directors’ Retirement Plan
5.04 4.50 4.70 
Eagle Benefit Equalization Plan5.06 n/an/a
Retirement Plan of the Greater New York Savings Bank for Non-Employee Directors5.03 4.50 4.70 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Provident Bank5.32 4.83 5.04 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan of Provident Bank - Other5.09 4.71 4.90 
OPEB:
Webster Bank Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan5.01 %4.54 %4.72 %
Sterling Bancorp Supplemental Postretirement Life Insurance Plan5.20 4.51 4.70 
Astoria Bank Postretirement Welfare Benefit Plans5.39 4.74 4.94 
Split Dollar Life Insurance Arrangementn/a4.45 4.63 
Expected Long-Term Rate of Return on Plan Assets
202520242023
Pension:
Webster Bank Pension Plan6.00 %6.00 %6.00 %
Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rate (1)
202520242023
OPEB:
Webster Bank Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan7.00 %6.50 %6.50 %
Astoria Bank Postretirement Welfare Benefit Plans7.00 6.50 6.40 
(1)The rates to which the healthcare cost trend rates are assumed to decline (ultimate trend rates) along with the year that the ultimate trend rates will be reached are 4.40% in 2036 for the Webster Bank Postretirement Medical Benefit Plan and 4.40% in 2036 for the Astoria Bank Postretirement Welfare Benefit Plans.
The discount rates used to determine the benefit obligation and net periodic benefit (income) cost for the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans were generally selected by reference to a high-quality bond yield curve, using a full yield curve approach, and matched to the timing and amount of each plan’s expected benefit payments.
The following table summarizes amounts recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), including reclassification adjustments, for the years ended December 31:
PensionSERPOPEB
(In thousands)202520242023202520242023202520242023
Net actuarial (gain) loss$(6,693)$(3,985)$(10,639)$241 $(260)$183 $(251)$955 $(382)
Amortization of transition obligation— — — 2 — — — — — 
Amortization of actuarial (loss) gain(2,061)(2,871)(4,781)11 (12)(6)528 976 2,704 
Total (gain) loss recognized in
OCI (OCL)		$(8,754)$(6,856)$(15,420)$254 $(272)$177 $277 $1,931 $2,322 
At December 31, 2025, the expected future benefit payments for the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefits plans are as follows:
(In thousands)PensionSERPOPEB
2026$11,383 $471 $1,195 
202711,890 451 1,219 
202812,287 428 1,185 
202912,580 404 1,153 
203012,801 377 1,108 
Thereafter65,432 1,463 5,078 
Asset Management
The Pension Plan invests primarily in common collective trusts and registered investment companies. However, the Pension Plan’s investment policy guidelines also allow for the investment in cash and cash equivalents, fixed income securities, and equity securities. Common collective trusts and registered investment companies are both benchmarked against the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Incremental benchmarks used to assess the common collective trusts include the S&P 400 Mid Cap Index, Russell 200 Index, MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Index, and the Bloomberg U.S. Long Credit Index. The standard deviation should not exceed that of the composite index. The Pension Plan’s investment strategy and asset allocations are monitored by the Company’s Retirement Plans Committee with the assistance of external investment advisors, and the investment portfolio is rebalanced, as appropriate. The target asset allocation percentages for the year ended December 31, 2025, were 64.5%
fixed-income investments and 35.5% equity investments. The actual asset allocation percentages for the year ended
December 31, 2025, were 64.1% fixed-income investments, 35.3% equity investments, and 0.6% cash and cash equivalents.
The overall investment objective of the Pension Plan is to maintain a diversified portfolio with a targeted expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of approximately 6.00%. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is the average rate of return expected to be realized on funds invested, or expected to be invested, to provide for the benefits included in the benefit obligation. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is generally established as of the beginning of the year based upon historical and projected returns for each asset category, with subsequent remeasurements occurring in interim periods, as appropriate. Depending on market conditions, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets may exceed or fall short of the targeted percentage.
Fair Value Measurement
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for the Pension Plan’s assets measured at fair value:
Common Collective Trusts. Common collective trusts are valued based on the net asset value as reported by the trustee of the funds. The underlying investments of the common collective trusts are valued using quoted market prices in active markets or observable inputs for similar assets. Therefore, common collective trusts are classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Registered Investment Companies. Registered investment companies are valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. Registered investment companies held by the Plan are quoted in an active market and are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.
The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Pension Plan’s assets at fair value:
December 31,
  
20252024
(In thousands)Level 1Level 2Level 3TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
Common collective trusts$— $198,764 $— $198,764 $— $188,399 $— $188,399 
Registered investment companies22,303 — — 22,303 20,940 — — 20,940 
Total pension plan assets$22,303 $198,764 $— $221,067 $20,940 $188,399 $— $209,339 
Multiple-Employer Defined Benefit Pension Plan
The Bank participates in a multi-employer plan that provides pension benefits to former employees of a bank acquired by the Company. Participation in the plan was frozen as of September 1, 2004. The plan maintains a single trust and does not segregate the assets or liabilities of its participating employers. Minimum required employer contributions are determined by an independent actuary and are calculated using a 15-year shortfall amortization factor. There are no collective bargaining agreements or other obligations requiring contributions to the plan, nor has a funding improvement plan been implemented.
The following table summarizes information related to the Bank’s participation in the multi-employer plan:
(Dollars in thousands)Contributions
Years Ended December 31,		Funded Status
At December 31,
Plan NameEmployer Identification NumberPlan NumberSurcharge Imposed20252024202320252024
Pentegra Defined Benefit Plan
for Financial Institutions		13-5645888333No$475$482$448At least 80 percentAt least 80 percent
The Bank’s contributions to the multi-employer plan for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, did not exceed more than 5% of total plan contributions for the plan years ended June 30, 2024, 2023, and 2022. The plan’s Form 5500 was not available for the plan year ended June 30, 2025, as of the date the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements were issued. As of July 1, 2025, the date of the most recent actuarial valuation, the plan administrator confirmed that the Bank’s portion of the multi-employer plan was $2.8 million underfunded.
Defined Contribution Postretirement Benefit Plans
The Bank also sponsors the Webster Bank Retirement Savings Plan, which is a defined contribution postretirement benefit plan established under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the Webster Bank Retirement Savings Plan, employees who have met a certain age requirement may elect to contribute a percentage of their eligible compensation to the plan on either a pre-tax or post-tax basis. During the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, the Bank made matching employer contributions to their accounts equal to 100% of the first 2% and 50% of the next 6% of participants’ contributions.
The Sterling National Bank 401k and Profit Sharing Plan, which was offered to eligible legacy Sterling employees who became employees of the Company in 2022, was effectively merged with and into the Webster Bank Retirement Savings Plan on December 29, 2023. Prior to the merger of these plans, participants of the Sterling National Bank 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan could elect to contribute a percentage of their eligible compensation to the plan on either a pre-tax or post-tax basis. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Bank made (i) matching employer contributions equal to 50% of participant contributions up to 4% of eligible compensation for a maximum match of 2%, and (ii) profit sharing contributions equal to 3% of eligible compensation for all eligible legacy Sterling participants, regardless of whether they had contributed to the plan.
Compensation and benefits expense included total employer contributions under the defined contribution postretirement benefit plans of $23.4 million, $20.6 million, and $20.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively.