UNITED STATES
                       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). October 26, 1997





                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


      Delaware                       0-15213                     06-1187536
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (State or Other           (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
   Jurisdiction of                                           Identification No.)
   Incorporation)


                  Webster Plaza, Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
                 ---------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (203) 753-2921
                                                     ---------------


                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events.
                  -------------


     On October 26, 1997, Webster Financial Corporation ("Webster") entered into
an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the  "Agreement") by which Webster will acquire
Eagle  Financial  Corp.  ("Eagle") in a tax-free  stock-for-stock  exchange (the
"Merger").  The Merger must be approved by the stockholders of Webster and Eagle
and by  regulatory  authorities  and is  subject to  various  customary  closing
conditions. In connection with the Agreement,  Webster and Eagle entered into an
Option Agreement pursuant to which Eagle granted Webster an option,  exercisable
under certain circumstances,  to purchase an aggregate of 1,256,991 newly issued
shares of common stock,  par value $.01 per share, of Eagle at an exercise price
of $41.25.

     Webster  issued a press release on October 27, 1997 relating to the signing
of the Agreement with Eagle.  Such press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto
and is  incorporated  by reference  herein.  On October 27, 1997  management  of
Webster and Eagle held a discussion  with  securities  analysts  relating to the
proposed  Merger.  The related  analyst  presentation  is filed at Exhibit  99.2
hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.



Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits.
                  ----------------------------------

         (a)      Not applicable.

         (b)      Not applicable.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  Exhibit No.       Description
                  -----------       -----------
 
                  99.1              Press    Release   of   Webster    Financial
                                    Corporation dated October 27, 1997.

                  99.2              Analyst  Presentation  of Webster  Financial
                                    Corporation dated October 27, 1997


<PAGE>


                                   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/ John V. Brennan
                                                   -------------------------
                                                   John V. Brennan
                                                   Executive Vice President,
                                                   Chief Financial Officer
                                                   and Treasurer


Date: November 7, 1997
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UNITED STATES
                       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). October 26, 1997

                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      Delaware                       0-15213                     06-1187536
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (State or Other           (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
   Jurisdiction of                                           Identification No.)
   Incorporation)

                  Webster Plaza, Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
                 ---------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (203) 753-2921
                                                     ---------------

                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5.           Other Events.
                  -------------

     On October 26, 1997, Webster Financial Corporation ("Webster") entered into
an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the  "Agreement") by which Webster will acquire
Eagle  Financial  Corp.  ("Eagle") in a tax-free  stock-for-stock  exchange (the
"Merger").  The Merger must be approved by the stockholders of Webster and Eagle
and by  regulatory  authorities  and is  subject to  various  customary  closing
conditions. In connection with the Agreement,  Webster and Eagle entered into an
Option Agreement pursuant to which Eagle granted Webster an option,  exercisable
under certain circumstances,  to purchase an aggregate of 1,256,991 newly issued
shares of common stock,  par value $.01 per share, of Eagle at an exercise price
of $41.25.

     Webster  issued a press release on October 27, 1997 relating to the signing
of the Agreement with Eagle.  Such press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto
and is  incorporated  by reference  herein.  On October 27, 1997  management  of
Webster and Eagle held a discussion  with  securities  analysts  relating to the
proposed  Merger.  The related  analyst  presentation  is filed at Exhibit  99.2
hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits.
                  ----------------------------------

         (a)      Not applicable.

         (b)      Not applicable.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  Exhibit No.       Description
                  -----------       -----------
 
                  99.1              Press    Release   of   Webster    Financial
                                    Corporation dated October 27, 1997.

                  99.2              Analyst  Presentation  of Webster  Financial
                                    Corporation dated October 27, 1997
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/ John V. Brennan
                                                   -------------------------
                                                   John V. Brennan
                                                   Executive Vice President,
                                                   Chief Financial Officer
                                                   and Treasurer

Date: November 7, 1997