Annual Report (10-k)

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements. See the section captioned "Forward-Looking Statements" in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

General

Webster Financial Corporation is a bank holding company and financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act, incorporated under the laws of Delaware in 1986, and headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut. Its principal asset is all of the outstanding capital stock of Webster Bank.

At December 31, 2016 , Webster had assets of $26.1 billion , net loans and leases of $16.8 billion , deposits of $19.3 billion and shareholders' equity of $2.5 billion .

At December 31, 2016 , Webster had 3,168 full-time equivalent employees. None of the employees were represented by a collective bargaining group. Management considers relations with its employees to be good.

Webster Financial Corporation's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WBS. Webster's internet address is www.websterbank.com and investor relations internet address is www.wbst.com. Webster makes available free of charge on its website its Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and amendments, if any, to those documents filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as soon as practicable after it electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the SEC. These documents are also available free of charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Information on Webster’s website is not incorporated by reference into this report.

References in this report to Webster, the Company, we, our, or us, mean Webster Financial Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Description of Business

Webster delivers financial services to individuals, families, and businesses, primarily within its regional footprint from New York to Massachusetts. Webster provides business and consumer banking, mortgage lending, financial planning, trust, and investment services through 175 banking offices, 350 ATMs, mobile banking, and its internet website (www.websterbank.com). Investment services, including securities-related services, and brokerage and investment advice, is offered through a strategic partnership with LPL, a broker dealer registered with the SEC, a registered investment advisor under federal and applicable state laws, a member of the FINRA, and a member of the SIPC. Webster also offers equipment financing, commercial real estate lending, and asset-based lending primarily across the Northeast. On a nationwide basis, through its HSA Bank division, Webster Bank offers and administers health savings accounts, as well as flexible spending, health reimbursement, and commuter benefit accounts.

The core of our Company's value proposition is the service delivery model that comes to life through our brand promise, “Living Up to You,” which encapsulates how our bankers build meaningful relationships with our customers through a deeper understanding of their lives beyond the bank. This value proposition is delivered by our bankers who are knowledgeable, are deeply committed to the communities that we serve, know their markets well, and make decisions at the local level. We operate with a local market orientation as a community-focused, values-guided regional bank. Operating objectives include acquiring and developing high value customer relationships through sales specialists, universal bankers, and marketing.

Segments

Webster has four reportable segments: Commercial Banking, Community Banking, HSA Bank, and Private Banking, and has been operating under this structure for management reporting purposes since 2015. A description of and financial information for each of the Company’s segments is included in the section captioned "Segment Results" in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and Note 19: Segment Reporting in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained elsewhere in this report.

Subsidiaries of Webster Financial Corporation

Webster Financial Corporation's direct consolidated subsidiaries include Webster Bank, Webster Wealth Advisors, Inc., and Webster Licensing, LLC. Additionally, the Holding Company owns all of the outstanding common stock of Webster Statutory Trust, an unconsolidated financial vehicle that has issued, and may in the future issue, trust preferred securities.

Webster Bank provides consumer banking services, residential mortgage originations, various commercial banking products and services, and financial planning and investment services. Also, its HSA Bank division offers and administers health savings accounts, as well as flexible spending, health reimbursement, and commuter benefit accounts.

Webster Bank's significant direct subsidiaries include; Webster Mortgage Investment Corporation, a passive investment subsidiary whose primary function is to provide servicing on qualified passive investments, such as residential real estate and commercial mortgage real estate loans acquired from Webster Bank; Webster Business Credit Corporation, which provides asset-based lending services; and Webster Capital Finance, Inc., which provides equipment financing for end users of equipment. Webster Bank also has various other subsidiaries that are not significant to the consolidated group.

Competition

Webster is subject to strong competition from banks, thrifts, credit unions, non-bank health savings account trustees, consumer finance companies, investment companies, insurance companies, e-commerce and other internet-based companies. Certain of these competitors are larger financial institutions with substantially greater resources, lending limits, larger branch systems, and a wider array of commercial banking services than Webster. Competition could intensify in the future as a result of industry consolidation, the increasing availability of products and services from non-bank entities, greater technological developments in the industry, and continued bank regulatory reforms.

Webster faces substantial competition for deposits and loans throughout its market areas. The primary factors in competing for deposits are interest rates, personalized services, the quality and range of financial services, convenience of office locations, automated services, and office hours. Competition for deposits comes from other commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, mutual funds, and other investment alternatives. The primary factors in competing for consumer and commercial loans are interest rates, loan origination fees, the quality and range of lending services, personalized service and ability to close within customers' desired time frame. Competition for origination of mortgage loans comes primarily from savings institutions, mortgage banking firms, mortgage brokers, other commercial banks, and insurance companies. Other factors which affect competition include the general and local economic conditions, current interest rate levels, and volatility in the mortgage markets.

Supervision and Regulation

Webster and its banking and non-banking subsidiaries are subject to comprehensive regulation under federal and state laws. The regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies and their subsidiary banks is intended to protect depositors, the DIF, and the U.S. banking system as a whole. This system is not designed to protect equity investors in bank holding companies.

Set forth below is a summary of the significant laws and regulations applicable to Webster and its banking and non-banking subsidiaries. The description that follows is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations, and policies that are described. Such statutes, regulations, and policies are subject to ongoing review by Congress and state legislatures and federal and state regulatory agencies. A change in any of the statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies applicable to Webster and its banking and non-banking subsidiaries could have a material effect on the results of the Company.

Overview

Webster Financial Corporation is a separate and distinct legal entity from Webster Bank and its other subsidiaries. As a registered bank holding company and a financial holding company it is subject to inspection, examination, and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and is regulated under the BHC Act. Webster is under the jurisdiction of the SEC and is subject to the disclosure and other regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as administered by the SEC. Webster is subject to the rules for listed companies of the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, the CFPB supervises Webster for compliance with federal consumer financial protection laws. Webster also is subject to oversight by state attorneys general for compliance with state consumer protection laws. Webster's non-bank subsidiaries are subject to federal and state laws and regulations, including regulations of the Federal Reserve System.

Webster Bank is organized as a national banking association under the National Bank Act. Webster Bank is subject to the supervision of, and to regular examination by, the OCC as its primary supervisory agency, as well as by the FDIC as its deposit insurer. Webster Bank's deposits are insured by the FDIC up to the applicable deposit insurance limits in accordance with FDIC laws and regulations.

The Dodd-Frank Act significantly changed the financial regulatory regime in the United States. Since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, U.S. banks and financial services firms have been subject to enhanced regulation and oversight. Several provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to further rulemaking, guidance, and interpretation by the federal banking agencies.

Bank Holding Company Regulation

Webster Financial Corporation is a bank holding company as defined under the BHC Act. The BHC Act generally limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks, and other activities that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has determined to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. Bank holding companies that have elected to become financial holding companies, such as Webster Financial Corporation, may engage in any activity, or acquire and retain the shares of a company engaged in any activity that is either (i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity (as determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury) or (ii) complementary to a financial activity, and that does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system (as solely determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). Activities that are financial in nature include securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting, and making merchant banking investments.

Mergers and Acquisitions

The BHC Act, the Bank Merger Act, and other federal and state statutes regulate acquisitions of commercial banks. The BHC Act requires the prior Federal Reserve System approval for a bank holding company to acquire, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of any class of voting securities of a commercial bank or its parent holding company and for a company, other than a bank holding company, to acquire 25% or more of any class of voting securities of a bank or bank holding company.  Under the Change in Bank Control Act, any person, including a company, may not acquire, directly or indirectly, control of a bank without providing 60 days prior notice and receiving a non-objection from the appropriate federal banking agency. 

Under the Bank Merger Act, the prior approval of the appropriate federal banking agency is required for insured depository institutions to merge or enter into purchase and assumption transactions.  In reviewing applications seeking approval of merger and purchase and assumption transactions, the federal banking agencies will consider, among other things, the competitive effect and public benefits of the transactions, the capital position of the combined banks, the applicant's performance record under the CRA, and the effectiveness of the merging banks in combating money laundering. For further information relating to the CRA, see the section titled "Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws."

Enhanced Prudential Standards

Section 165 of the Dodd-Frank Act imposes enhanced prudential standards on larger banking organizations. Certain of these standards are applicable to banking organizations over $10 billion, including Webster and Webster Bank. Additionally, the FDIC, the OCC, and the Federal Reserve System issued separate but similar rules requiring covered banks and bank holding companies with $10 billion to $50 billion in total consolidated assets, which includes Webster and Webster Bank, to conduct an annual company-run stress test. Annual company-run stress tests are conducted for Webster and Webster Bank, as required by the Dodd-Frank Act. Webster submitted its most recent company-run capital stress test results on July 29, 2016.

The Federal Reserve System also issued a rule further implementing the enhanced prudential standards required by the Dodd-Frank Act. Although most of the standards only apply to bank holding companies with more than $50 billion in assets, as directed by the Dodd-Frank Act, the rule contains certain standards that apply to bank holding companies with more than $10 billion in assets, including a requirement to establish a risk committee of the Company's board of directors to manage enterprise-wide risk. Webster meets these requirements.

Debit Card Interchange Fees

The Dodd-Frank Act requires that any interchange transaction fee charged for a debit transaction be reasonable and proportional to the cost incurred by the issuer for the transaction, with new regulations that establish such fee standards, eliminate exclusivity arrangements between issuers and networks for debit card transactions, and limit restrictions on merchant discounting for use of certain payment forms and minimum or maximum amount thresholds as a condition for acceptance of credit cards. Under the Federal Reserve System's approved final debit card interchange rule pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, an issuer's base fee is capped at 21 cents per transaction and allows for an additional amount equal to 5 basis points of the transaction's value. The Federal Reserve System separately issued a final rule that also allows a fraud-prevention adjustment of 1 cent per transaction conditioned upon an issuer developing, implementing, and updating reasonably designed fraud-prevention policies and procedures.

Identity Theft

The SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission jointly issued final rules and guidelines implementing provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act which require certain regulated entities to establish programs to address risks of identity theft. The rules require financial institutions and creditors to develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program that is designed to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft in connection with certain existing accounts or the opening of new accounts. The rules include guidelines to assist entities in the formulation and maintenance of programs that would satisfy these requirements. In addition, the rules establish special requirements for any credit and debit card issuers that are subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, to assess the validity of notifications of changes of address under certain circumstances. Webster implemented an ID Theft Prevention Program, approved by its Board of Directors, to address the rules.

Volcker Rule

Section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act, commonly known as the Volcker Rule, restricts the ability of banking entities, such as Webster and Webster Bank, from: (i) engaging in proprietary trading and (ii) investing in or sponsoring certain covered funds, subject to certain limited exceptions. Under the Volcker Rule, the term covered funds is defined as any issuer that would be an investment company under the Investment Company Act but for the exemption in section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of that Act, which includes collateralized loan obligation securities and collateralized debt obligation securities. There are also several exemptions from the definition of covered fund, including, among other things, loan securitizations, joint ventures, certain types of foreign funds, entities issuing asset-backed commercial paper, and registered investment companies. Compliance with the Volcker Rule provisions is generally required by July 21, 2017. Section 619 and the Federal Reserve’s implementing Regulation Y provides for a single compliance extension of up to five years for certain illiquid funds. Regulation Y, the Federal Reserve’s SR 16-18, dated December 9, 2016, and the Federal Reserve’s Statement of Policy Regarding Illiquid Fund Investments, dated December 12, 2016, provide details regarding how banking entities may seek extensions to conform their illiquid funds to the Volcker Rule. As noted in these releases, the Federal Reserve expects that the illiquid funds of banking entities will generally qualify for extensions, though extensions may not be granted in all cases. Webster submitted an illiquid funds extension request on January 13, 2017. Webster has not yet received notice from the Federal Reserve indicating whether Webster’s illiquid funds extension request has been granted.

Derivatives Regulation

Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act imposes requirements related to over-the-counter derivatives. Key provisions of the Title VII regulation are implemented by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Among other things, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's rules apply to swap dealers, major swap participants and commercial entities that enter into OTC derivatives transactions to hedge or mitigate risk. Under rules and guidance of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, end users are subject to a wide range of requirements including capital, margining, clearing, documentation, reporting, eligibility and business conduct requirements. The Company complies with all aspects of the Title VII regulation that impact derivative activities, including interest rate risk hedges and its customer loan hedge program.

Dividends

The principal source of the Holding Company's liquidity is dividends from Webster Bank. The prior approval of the OCC is required if the total of all dividends declared by a national bank in a year would exceed the sum of its net income for that year and its undistributed net income for the preceding two years, less any required transfers to surplus. Federal law also prohibits a national bank from paying dividends that would be greater than its undivided profits after deducting statutory bad debt in excess of ALLL. Webster Bank paid the Holding Company $145.0 million in dividends during the year ended December 31, 2016 , and $313.9 million of undistributed net income available for the payment of dividends remained at December 31, 2016 .

In addition, Webster Financial Corporation and Webster Bank are subject to other regulatory policies and requirements relating to the payment of dividends, including requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory minimums. The appropriate federal regulatory authority is authorized to determine, under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company or a bank, that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. The appropriate banking agency authorities have indicated that paying dividends that deplete a bank's capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice and that banking organizations should generally pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.

Federal Reserve System

Federal Reserve System regulations require depository institutions to maintain reserves against their transaction accounts, primarily interest-bearing and regular checking accounts. The required reserves can be in the form of vault cash and, if vault cash does not fully satisfy the required reserves, in the form of a balance maintained with Federal Reserve Banks. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System generally makes annual adjustments to the tiered reserve requirements. The regulations require that Webster maintain reserves against aggregate transaction accounts in excess of the exempt amount of $15.2 million at December 31, 2016 . Amounts greater than $15.2 million up to and including $110.2 million have a reserve requirement of 3%. Amounts in excess of $110.2 million have a reserve requirement of 10%. Webster Bank is in compliance with these reserve requirements.

As a national bank and member of the Federal Reserve System, Webster Bank is required to hold capital stock of the FRB of Boston. The required shares may be adjusted up or down based on changes to Webster Bank's common stock and paid-in surplus. Webster Bank was in compliance with these requirements, with a total investment in FRB of Boston stock of $50.7 million at December 31, 2016 . The FRBs pay a semi-annual dividend, to member banks with total assets greater than $10 billion, equal to the lesser of 6% or the high yield of the 10-year Treasury note auctioned at the last auction prior to the dividend payment date. On December 31, 2016 , the FRB of Boston declared a semi-annual cash dividend equal to an annual yield of 2.485% .

Federal Home Loan Bank System

The FHLB System provides a central credit facility for member institutions. Webster Bank is a member of the FHLB of Boston. The Bank is required to purchase and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in an amount equal to 0.35% of the aggregate principal amount of its unpaid residential mortgage loans and similar obligations at the beginning of each year, up to a maximum of $25 million . The Bank is also required to hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in amounts that vary from 3.0% to 4.5% of its advances, depending on the maturities of those advances, which totaled approximately $2.8 billion at December 31, 2016 . Webster Bank was in compliance with these requirements, with a total investment in FHLB stock of $143.9 million at December 31, 2016 . On October 28, 2016 , the FHLB declared a quarterly cash dividend equal to an annual yield of 3.80% .

Source of Strength Doctrine

Federal Reserve System policy requires bank holding companies to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary banks. Section 616 of the Dodd-Frank Act codified the requirement that bank holding companies act as a source of financial strength. As a result, Webster Financial Corporation is expected to commit resources to support Webster Bank, including at times when Webster Financial Corporation may not be in a financial position to provide such resources. Any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary banks. The U.S. bankruptcy code provides that, in the event of a bank holding company's bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment. In addition, under the National Bank Act, if the capital stock of Webster Bank is impaired by losses, or otherwise, the OCC is authorized to require payment of the deficiency by assessment upon the Holding Company. If the assessment is not paid within three months, the OCC could order a sale of the Webster Bank stock held by Webster Financial Corporation to cover any deficiency.

Capital Adequacy

The Federal Reserve System, the OCC, and the FDIC have approved Capital Rules which generally implement the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s December 2010 final capital framework referred to as Basel III for strengthening international capital standards. The Capital Rules revise the definitions and the components of regulatory capital, as well as address other issues affecting the numerator in banking institutions’ regulatory capital ratios. The Capital Rules also address asset risk weights and other matters affecting the denominator in banking institutions’ regulatory capital ratios and replace the existing general risk-weighting approach with a more risk-sensitive approach.

The Capital Rules: (i) include a new capital measure known as CET1 and related regulatory capital ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets; (ii) specify that Tier 1 capital consists of CET1 and Additional Tier 1 capital instruments meeting certain revised requirements; (iii) mandate that most deductions/adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to the other components of capital; and (iv) expand the scope of the deductions from and adjustments to capital as compared to existing regulations. Under the Capital Rules, for most banking organizations, including Webster, the most common form of Additional Tier 1 capital is non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, and the most common forms of Tier 2 capital are subordinated notes and the qualifying portion of loan and lease losses, in each case, subject to the Capital Rules’ specific requirements.

Pursuant to the Capital Rules, the minimum capital ratios are as follows:

The Capital Rules also include a new capital conservation buffer, composed entirely of CET1, in addition to these minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the capital conservation buffer will face constraints on dividends, equity, and other capital instrument repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall. When fully phased-in on January 1, 2019, the capital standards applicable to Webster and Webster Bank will include an additional capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of CET1, effectively resulting in minimum ratios inclusive of the capital conservation buffer of: (i) CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7%; (ii) Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.5%; and (iii) Total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 10.5%.

The Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1. These include, for example, the requirement that mortgage servicing assets, DTAs arising from temporary differences that could not be realized through net operating loss carrybacks, and significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be deducted from CET1 to the extent that any one such category exceeds 10% of CET1 or all such items, in the aggregate, exceed 15% of CET1. The deductions and adjustments are being incrementally phased in between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2019.

In addition, under the current general risk-based capital rules, the effects of accumulated other comprehensive income or loss items included in shareholders’ equity (for example, mark-to-market of securities held in the available-for-sale portfolio) under GAAP are reversed for the purposes of determining regulatory capital ratios. Pursuant to the Capital Rules, the effects of certain of these items are not excluded; however, non-advanced approaches banking organizations, including the Company, may make a one-time permanent election to continue to exclude these items. The Company made the one-time permanent election to continue to exclude these items concurrently with the first filing of certain of Webster’s periodic regulatory reports in 2015. This election will not affect Webster's ability to meet all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.  

The Capital Rules also preclude certain hybrid securities, such as trust preferred securities, from inclusion in Tier 1 capital of bank holding companies, subject to phase-out for bank holding companies, such as Webster Financial Corporation, that had $15 billion or more in total consolidated assets as of December 31, 2009. The Company had approximately $18 million of trust preferred securities included in Tier 1 capital for regulatory reporting purposes, pursuant to the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve System, at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2016 , trust preferred securities are excluded from Tier 1 capital.

Implementation of the deductions and other adjustments to CET1 began on January 1, 2015 and is being phased in over a 4-year period (beginning at 40% on January 1, 2015 and an additional 20% per year thereafter). In addition, implementation of the capital conservation buffer began on January 1, 2016 at the 0.625% level and increases by 0.625% on each subsequent January 1, until it reaches 2.5% on January 1, 2019.

The risk-weighting categories are standardized and include a risk-sensitive number of categories, depending on the nature of the assets, generally ranging from 0% for U.S. government and agency securities, to 600% for certain equity exposures, and resulting in higher risk weights for a variety of asset classes. Management believes Webster is in compliance, and will continue to be in compliance, with the targeted capital ratios as such requirements are phased in.

Prompt Corrective Action and Safety and Soundness

Pursuant to Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, federal banking agencies are required to take prompt corrective action should an insured depository institution fail to meet certain capital adequacy standards. At each successive lower capital category, an insured depository institution is subject to more restrictions and prohibitions, including restrictions on growth, restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, restrictions or prohibitions on payment of dividends and restrictions on the acceptance of brokered deposits. Furthermore, if an insured depository institution is classified in one of the under capitalized categories, it is required to submit a capital restoration plan to the appropriate federal banking agency, and the holding company must guarantee the performance of that plan. Based upon its capital levels, a bank that is classified as well capitalized, adequately capitalized, or under capitalized may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if the appropriate federal banking agency, after notice and opportunity for hearing, determines that an unsafe or unsound condition, or an unsafe or unsound practice, warrants such treatment.

For purposes of prompt corrective action, to be: (i) well-capitalized, an insured depository institution must have a total risk based capital ratio of at least 10%, a Tier 1 risk based capital ratio of at least 8%, a CET1 risk based capital ratio of at least 6.5%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 5%; (ii) adequately capitalized, an insured depository institution must have a total risk based capital ratio of at least 8%, a Tier 1 risk based capital ratio of at least 6%, a CET1 risk based capital ratio of at least 4.5%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 4%; (iii) undercapitalized, an insured depository institution would have a total risk based capital ratio of less than 8%, a Tier 1 risk based capital ratio of less than 6%, a CET1 risk based capital ratio of less than 4.5%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of less than 4%; (iv) significantly undercapitalized, an insured depository institution would have a total risk based capital ratio of less than 6%, a Tier 1 risk based capital ratio of less than 4%, a CET1 risk based capital ratio of less than 3%, and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of less than 3%; (v) critically undercapitalized, an insured depository institution would have a ratio of tangible equity to total assets that is less than or equal to 2%.

Bank holding companies and insured depository institutions may also be subject to potential enforcement actions of varying levels of severity by the federal banking agencies for unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their business, or for violation of any law, rule, regulation, condition imposed in writing by the agency or term of a written agreement with the agency. In more serious cases, enforcement actions may include the issuance of directives to increase capital; the issuance of formal and informal agreements; the imposition of civil monetary penalties; the issuance of a cease and desist order that can be judicially enforced; the issuance of removal and prohibition orders against officers, directors, and other institution affiliated parties; the termination of the insured depository institution’s deposit insurance; the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the insured depository institution; and the enforcement of such actions through injunctions or restraining orders based upon a judicial determination that the FDIC, as receiver, would be harmed if such equitable relief was not granted.

Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders

Under federal law, transactions between insured depository institutions and their affiliates are governed by Sections 23A and 23B of the FRA and its implementing Regulation W. In a bank holding company context, at a minimum, the parent holding company of a bank, and any companies which are controlled by such parent holding company, are affiliates of the bank. Generally, sections 23A and 23B of the FRA are intended to protect insured depository institutions from losses arising from transactions with non-insured affiliates by limiting the extent to which a bank or its subsidiaries may engage in covered transactions with any one affiliate and with all affiliates of the bank in the aggregate, and requiring that such transactions be on terms consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

Further, Section 22(h) of the FRA and its implementing Regulation O restricts loans to directors, executive officers, and principal stockholders or "insiders." Under Section 22(h), loans to insiders and their related interests may not exceed, together with all other outstanding loans to such persons and affiliated entities, the institution's total capital and surplus. Loans to insiders above specified amounts must receive the prior approval of the board of directors. Further, under Section 22(h) of the FRA, loans to directors, executive officers, and principal stockholders must be made on terms substantially the same as offered in comparable transactions to other persons, except that such insiders may receive preferential loans made under a benefit or compensation program that is widely available to the bank's employees and does not give preference to the insider over the employees. Section 22(g) of the FRA places additional limitations on loans to executive officers.

Consumer Protection and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Supervision

The Dodd-Frank Act centralized responsibility for consumer financial protection by creating the CFPB, an independent agency charged with responsibility for implementing, enforcing, and examining compliance with federal consumer financial laws. The Company is subject to a number of federal and state laws designed to protect borrowers and promote lending to various sectors of the economy and population. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Procedures Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Practices Act, various state law counterparts, and the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, which is part of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act does not prevent states from adopting stricter consumer protection standards. State regulation of financial products and potential enforcement actions could also adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or operations.

The CFPB issued a final rule implementing the ability-to-repay and qualified mortgage provisions of the Truth in Lending Act, as amended by the Dodd-Frank Act, commonly known as the QM Rule, which became effective on January 10, 2014. The ability-to-repay provision requires creditors to make reasonable, good faith determinations that borrowers are able to repay their mortgages before extending the credit based on a number of factors and consideration of financial information about the borrower from reasonably reliable third-party documents. Under the Dodd-Frank Act and the QM Rule, loans meeting the definition of qualified mortgage are entitled to a presumption that the lender satisfied the ability-to-repay requirements. The presumption is a conclusive presumption/safe harbor for prime loans meeting QM requirements and a rebutable presumption for higher-priced/subprime loans meeting QM requirements. The QM definition incorporates the statutory requirements, such as not allowing negative amortization or terms longer than 30 years. The QM Rule also adds an explicit maximum 43% debt-to-income ratio for borrowers if the loan is to meet the QM definition, though some mortgages that meet GSE, FHA, and VA underwriting guidelines may, for a period not to exceed seven years, meet the QM definition without being subject to the 43% debt-to-income limits. The CFPB is expected to continue to issue and amend rules implementing the consumer financial protection laws, which may impact Webster Bank's operations.

Financial Privacy and Data Security

Webster is subject to federal laws, including the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and certain state laws containing consumer privacy protection provisions. These provisions limit the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose nonpublic information about consumers to affiliated and non-affiliated third parties and limit the reuse of certain consumer information received from nonaffiliated financial institutions. These provisions require notice of privacy policies to clients and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain nonpublic personal information to affiliates or non-affiliated third parties by means of opt-out or opt-in authorizations.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires that financial institutions implement comprehensive written information security programs that include administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect consumer information. Federal banking agencies have also adopted guidelines for establishing information security standards and programs to protect such information.  Further, pursuant to interpretive guidance issued under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and certain state laws, financial institutions are required to notify clients of security breaches resulting in unauthorized access to their personal information.

Depositor Preference

The Federal Deposit Insurance Act provides that, in the event of the liquidation or other resolution of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors of the institution, including the claims of the FDIC as subrogee of insured depositors, and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as a receiver, will have priority over other general unsecured claims against the institution. If an insured depository institution fails, insured and uninsured depositors, along with the FDIC, will have priority in payment ahead of unsecured, non-deposit creditors, including the parent bank holding company, with respect to any extensions of credit they have made to such insured depository institution.

Federal Deposit Insurance

The FDIC uses a risk-based assessment system that imposes insurance premiums based upon a risk matrix that takes into account a bank's capital level and supervisory rating. The risk matrix utilizes different risk categories distinguished by capital levels. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, the base for insurance assessments is now consolidated average assets less average tangible equity. Assessment rates are calculated using formulas that take into account the risk of the institution being assessed. FDIC deposit insurance expense includes deposit insurance assessments and FICO assessments related to outstanding FICO bonds.

The FDIC’s deposit insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Substantially all of the deposits of Webster Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the DIF of the FDIC and are subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF.

The Dodd-Frank Act requires that the FDIC raise the minimum reserve ratio of the DIF from 1.15% to 1.35%, and that the FDIC offset the effect of this increase on insured depository institutions with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion. In March 2016, the FDIC issued a final rule affecting insured depository institutions with total consolidated assets of more than $10 billion, such as Webster Bank. The final rule imposes a surcharge of 4.5 cents per $100 of the institution’s assessment base on deposit insurance assessment rates paid by these larger institutions. If the reserve ratio does not reach 1.35% by December 31, 2018, through implementation of the surcharge, the FDIC will impose an additional, one-time shortfall assessment on insured depository institutions with more than $10 billion in assets on March 31, 2019, to be paid by June 30, 2019. The FDIC also has authority to further increase deposit insurance assessments.

Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. Webster's management is not aware of any practice, condition, or violation that might lead to the termination of its deposit insurance.

Incentive Compensation

The Dodd-Frank Act requires the federal banking agencies and the SEC to establish joint regulations or guidelines prohibiting incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities, including Webster and Webster Bank, with at least $1 billion in total consolidated assets that encourage inappropriate risks by providing an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. The federal banking agencies and the SEC most recently proposed such regulations in 2016, but the regulations have not yet been finalized. If the regulations are adopted in the form initially proposed, they will restrict the manner in which executive compensation is structured.

The Dodd-Frank Act also requires publicly traded companies to give stockholders a non-binding vote on executive compensation at their first annual meeting taking place six months after the date of enactment and at least every three years thereafter and on so-called "golden parachute" payments in connection with approvals of mergers and acquisitions. At Webster's 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, its shareholders voted on a non-binding, advisory basis to hold a non-binding, advisory vote on the compensation of named executive officers of Webster annually. As a result of the vote, the Board of Directors determined to hold the vote annually.

Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws

Webster Bank has a responsibility under the CRA, as implemented by OCC regulations to help meet the credit needs of its communities, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods. The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions nor does it limit an institution's discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community, consistent with the CRA. In connection with its examination, the OCC assesses Webster Bank's record of compliance with the CRA. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act prohibit discrimination in lending practices on the basis of characteristics specified in those statutes. Webster Bank's failure to comply with the provisions of the CRA could, at a minimum, result in regulatory restrictions on its activities and the activities of Webster. Webster Bank's failure to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act could result in enforcement actions against it by the OCC, as well as other federal regulatory agencies, including the CFPB and the Department of Justice. Webster Bank's latest OCC CRA rating was Satisfactory.

USA PATRIOT Act

Under Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act, all financial institutions are required to take certain measures to identify their customers, prevent money laundering, monitor customer transactions, and report suspicious activity to U.S. law enforcement agencies. Financial institutions also are required to respond to requests for information from federal banking regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies. Information sharing among financial institutions for the above purposes is encouraged by an exemption granted to complying financial institutions from the privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and other privacy laws. Financial institutions that hold correspondent accounts for foreign banks or provide private banking services to foreign individuals are required to take measures to avoid dealing with certain foreign individuals or entities, including foreign banks with profiles that raise money laundering concerns, and are prohibited from dealing with foreign "shell banks" and persons from jurisdictions of particular concern. The primary federal banking regulators and the Secretary of the Treasury have adopted regulations to implement several of these provisions. All financial institutions also are required to establish internal anti-money laundering programs. The effectiveness of a financial institution in combating money laundering activities is a factor to be considered in any application submitted by the financial institution under the Bank Merger Act. Webster has in place a Bank Secrecy Act and USA PATRIOT Act compliance program and engages in very few transactions of any kind with foreign financial institutions or foreign persons.

Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation

The United States government has imposed economic sanctions that affect transactions with designated foreign countries, nationals, and others. These are typically known as the "OFAC" rules based on their administration by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control. The Office of Foreign Assets Control-administered sanctions targeting countries take many different forms. Generally, they contain one or more of the following elements: (i) restrictions on trade with or investment in a sanctioned country, including prohibitions against direct or indirect imports from and exports to a sanctioned country and prohibitions on U.S. persons engaging in financial transactions relating to making investments in, or providing investment-related advice or assistance to, a sanctioned country; and (ii) a blocking of assets in which the government or specially designated nationals of the sanctioned country have an interest, by prohibiting transfers of property subject to U.S. jurisdiction (including property in the possession or control of U.S. persons). Blocked assets (property and bank deposits) cannot be paid out, withdrawn, set off, or transferred in any manner without a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences.

Future Legislative Initiatives

Considering the recent changes in administration and controlling party in the United States, Congress, state legislatures, and financial regulatory agencies are expected to introduce various legislative and regulatory initiatives that are likely to impact the financial services industry, generally. Such initiatives may include proposals to expand or contract the powers of bank holding companies and/or depository institutions or proposals to substantially change the financial institution regulatory system. Such legislation could change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company in substantial and unpredictable ways. If enacted, such legislation could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities, or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other financial institutions. The Company cannot predict whether any such legislation will be enacted, and, if enacted, the effect that it or any implementing regulations would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. A change in statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies applicable to Webster or any of its subsidiaries could have a material effect on the business of the Company.

Risk Management Framework

Webster’s enterprise risk management framework provides a structured approach for identifying, assessing and managing risks across the Company in a coordinated manner, including strategic and reputational risks, as well as, credit, market, liquidity, capital, and operational and compliance risks as discussed in detail below.

The enterprise risk management framework enables the aggregation of risk across the enterprise and ensures the Company has the tools, programs and processes in place to support informed decision making, anticipate risks before they materialize and maintain Webster's risk profile consistent with its risk strategy and appetite.

Key components of the enterprise risk management framework include a culture that promotes proactive risk management by all Webster bankers, a risk appetite framework, which is embedded in the corporate strategy and risk culture of the bank and consists of a risk appetite statement and board and business-level scorecards with defined risk tolerance limits, and robust risk governance with effective and credible challenge including three lines of defense to manage and oversee risk. Bankers in each line of business serve as the first line of defense and have responsibility for identifying, managing and owning the risks in their businesses. Risk and other corporate support functions (for example, Human Resources and Legal departments) serve as the second line of defense and are responsible for providing guidance, oversight and appropriate challenge to the first line of defense. Internal Audit and Credit Risk Review, both of which are independent of management, serve as the third line of defense and ensure that appropriate risk management controls, processes and systems are in place and functioning effectively.

The Risk Committee of the Board of Directors, comprised of independent directors, oversees all Webster's risk-related matters and provides input and guidance to the Board of Directors and the Executive team, as appropriate. Webster's ERMC, which reports directly to the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors, is chaired by the Chief Risk Officer and is comprised of members of Webster's Executive Management Committee and Senior Risk Officers.

The Chief Risk Officer is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Company's enterprise risk management framework and overseeing credit risk, operational and compliance risk, Bank Secrecy Act compliance and loan workout/recovery programs. The Corporate Treasurer, who reports to the Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for overseeing market, liquidity, and capital risk management activities.

Credit Risk

Webster manages and controls credit risk in its loan and investment portfolios through established underwriting practices, adherence to standards, and utilization of various portfolio and transaction monitoring tools and processes. Credit policies and underwriting guidelines provide limits on exposure and establish various other standards as deemed necessary and prudent. Additional approval requirements and reporting are implemented to ensure proper risk identification, decision rationale, risk ratings, and disclosure of policy exceptions.

Credit risk management policies and transaction approvals are managed under the supervision of the Chief Credit Officer who reports to the Chief Risk Officer. The Chief Credit Officer and team of credit executives are independent of the loan production and Treasury areas. The credit risk function oversees the underwriting, approval and portfolio management process, establishes and ensures adherence to credit policies, and manages the collections and problem asset resolution activities.

As part of credit risk management governance, Webster established a Credit Risk Management Committee that meets regularly to review key credit risk topics, issues, and policies. The Credit Risk Management Committee reviews Webster's credit risk scorecard, which covers key risk indicators and limits established as part of the Company's risk appetite framework. The Credit Risk Management Committee is chaired by the Chief Credit Officer and includes senior managers responsible for lending as well as senior managers from the credit risk management function. Important findings regarding credit quality and trends within the loan and investment portfolios are regularly reported by the Chief Credit Officer to the ERMC and Risk Committee of the Board of Directors.

In addition to the credit risk management team, there is an independent Credit Risk Review function that assesses risk ratings and credit underwriting process for all areas of the organization that incur credit risk. The head of Credit Risk Review reports directly to the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors and administratively to the Chief Risk Officer. Credit Risk Review findings are reported to the Credit Risk Management Committee, ERMC and Risk Committee of the Board of Directors. Corrective measures are monitored and tested to ensure risk issues are mitigated or resolved.