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<div align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font><br>
<font face="Times New Roman" size="2">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div>
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<p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>FORM 8-K<br>CURRENT REPORT</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the<br>
Securities Exchange Act of 1934</b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 5, 2004</font></p>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><b>WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION.</b></font></td>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></td>
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<td valign="top" width="33%" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>Delaware</b></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="33%" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>001-31486</b></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="33%" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>06-1187536</b></font></td>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><hr size="1" noshade color="#000000" width="65%"></td>
<td valign="top" align="center"><hr size="1" noshade color="#000000" width="50%"></td>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(State or other jurisdiction<br>of incorporation)</font></td>
<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(Commission<br>File Number)</font></td>
<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(IRS Employer<br>Identification No.)</font></td>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><b>Webster Plaza, Waterbury, Connecticut 06702</b></font></td>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(Address of principal executive offices)</font></td>
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<p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:<b>&#160;<u>(203) 578-2476</u></b></font></p>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>Not Applicable</b></font></td>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(Former name or former address,
 if changed since last report)</font></td>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>Item 5.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<u>Other Events</u></b></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">In February 2004, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved Webster Bank&#146;s application to convert from a federal savings bank to a national bank. The approval is subject to customary conditions. Webster Financial Corporation has filed its notice to become a bank holding company and a declaration to be a financial holding company with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Webster expects to complete the Bank conversion in the second quarter of 2004.</font></p>
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<p align="center"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><b>SIGNATURES</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;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.</font></p>
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<td valign="top" width="40%"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">&#160;</font></td>
<td valign="top" nowrap><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><u>WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION</u></font></td>
<td valign="top"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">&#160;</font></td>
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<td valign="top"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">&#160;</font></td>
<td valign="top"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">(Registrant)</font></td>
<td valign="top"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">&#160;</font></td>
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<td valign="top" width="40%"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">&#160;</font></td>
<td valign="top"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2"><u>/s/ William J. Healy&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</u>
<br>William J. Healy
<br>Executive Vice President and<br>
Chief Financial Officer<br></font></td>
<td valign="top"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">&#160;</font></td>
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<p align="left"><font face="Times New Roman" size="2">Date: February 20, 2004</font></p>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0000801337", "assigned-sic": "6035", "irs-number": "061187536", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-31486", "film-number": "04619228"}, "business-address": {"street1": "WEBSTER PLAZA", "street2": "145 BANK ST", "city": "WATERBURY", "state": "CT", "zip": "06720", "phone": "2037532921"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "WEBSTER PLAZA", "city": "WATERBURY", "state": "CT", "zip": "06720"}}
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): February 5, 2004
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-31486
06-1187536
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
Webster Plaza, Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(203) 578-2476
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address,
 if changed since last report)
Item 5.
Other Events
In February 2004, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency approved Webster Bank's application to convert from a federal savings bank to a national bank. The approval is subject to customary conditions. Webster Financial Corporation has filed its notice to become a bank holding company and a declaration to be a financial holding company with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Webster expects to complete the Bank conversion in the second quarter of 2004.
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/ William J. Healy
William J. Healy
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Date: February 20, 2004