Webster Bank branch robbed

ROCKY HILL -- The Cromwell Avenue branch of Webster Bank, located on Route 99 northbound, became the target of a bank robbery early Thursday morning, police reported.

Officers responded to the scene at 9:36 a.m. after receiving a report that a male suspect had just robbed the bank of an undetermined amount of cash, the Rocky Hill Police Department reported.

According to witnesses, the suspect entered the bank just after 9 a.m. and approached one of the tellers. The suspect handed the teller an envelope with a note written on it, explaining that a bank robbery was now in progress, police said. The suspect then displayed a black-and-silver handgun that witnesses believe was a revolver.

Once the suspect received money from the teller, he took the cash and proceeded to leave on foot heading northbound. The suspect then got into a vehicle and continued to flee heading north, witnesses told police.

The suspect has been described as a heavy-set white male, approximately 50 years old. He was wearing a dark green nylon shirt, jeans and a tan baseball cap.

The escape vehicle has been described as a four-door SUV that police believe may have been a Chevy Blazer or Dodge Durango. The vehicle contained out-of-state license plates with blue and white lettering. No license plate number was acquired.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Detective Division of the Rocky Hill Police Department. Anyone with information regarding Thursday’s incident should call (860) 258-7640.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.