HSA Bank Reports Accountholder Balance Growth in 2006

HSA Bank(TM), a division of Webster Bank, N.A., a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS - News), announced today that its accountholders' average balances have increased by more than $350 to nearly $1,940 during the first six months of 2006. HSA Bank attributes the increase in balances to both a greater number of accountholders saving their HSA funds and an increased level of contributions to individual accounts.

In the first six months of 2006, nearly 52 percent of accountholders saved at least half of their HSA contributions. The average contribution surpassed the average distribution in 2006 by more than $100 per month, an increase of more than $40 during all of 2005.

"These statistics demonstrate that HSA Bank accountholders are learning how to manage their accounts and in many cases are able build savings for future health care costs," said Kirk Hoewisch, president of HSA Bank.

HSA Bank serves customers in every state in the nation and is one of the first financial institutions nationwide to offer health savings accounts. HSA Bank combines convenience, service and savings with low account maintenance fees, high interest rates for investments, 24-hour account access online or through an automated telephone system and outstanding personal service. For more information about HSA Bank, visit the HSA Bank website at http://www.hsabank.com.

Webster Financial Corporation is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. With $18.0 billion in assets, Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, insurance, financial planning, trust and investment services through 160 banking offices, 308 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, a division of Webster Bank, Member FDIC and equal housing lender.

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.