WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP
8-K, 1997-11-24
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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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)



<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events.

                  On October 26, 1997, Webster Financial Corporation ("Webster")
and Eagle Financial Corp. ("Eagle") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of such date (the  "Agreement").  The Agreement is filed as Exhibit 2.1
hereto and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

                  In   connection   with  the  execution  and  delivery  of  the
Agreement,  Webster and Eagle entered into a Stock Option  Agreement dated as of
October 26, 1997 (the  "Option  Agreement").  The Option  Agreement  is filed as
Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits.

                  (a)      Not applicable.

                  (b)      Not applicable.

                  (c)      Exhibits

                           Exhibit No.      Description

                           2.1              Agreement and Plan of Merger,  dated
                                            as  of  October  26,  1997,  by  and
                                            between      Webster       Financial
                                            Corporation   and  Eagle   Financial
                                            Corp.

                           2.2              Stock Option Agreement,  dated as of
                                            October  26,  1997,  by and  between
                                            Webster  Financial  Corporation  and
                                            Eagle Financial Corp.



<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 24, 1997





                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                 BY AND BETWEEN

                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                       AND

                              EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP.

                                   DATED AS OF

                                OCTOBER 26, 1997



<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page

ARTICLE I           THE MERGER.............................................   2
         1.1        The Merger.............................................   2
         1.2        Effective Time.........................................   2
         1.3        Effects of the Merger..................................   2
         1.4        Conversion of Eagle Common Stock.......................   2
         1.5        Webster Common Stock...................................   4
         1.6        Options................................................   4
         1.7        Certificate of Incorporation...........................   5
         1.8        By-Laws................................................   5
         1.9        Directors and Officers.................................   5
         1.10       Tax Consequences.......................................   6
         1.11       Accounting Treatment...................................   6
         2.
ARTICLE II EXCHANGE OF SHARES..............................................   6
         2.1        Webster to Make Shares Available.......................   6
         2.2        Exchange of Shares.....................................   6

ARTICLE II-A DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE; STANDARDS FOR
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.......................   8
         2A.1       Disclosure Schedule....................................   8
         2A.2       Standards..............................................   9

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                      OF EAGLE.............................................   9
         3.1        Corporate Organization.................................   9
         3.2        Capitalization.........................................  10
         3.3        Authority; No Violation................................  12
         3.4        Consents and Approvals.................................  13
         3.5        Loan Portfolio; Reports................................  14
         3.6        Financial Statements; Exchange Act
                     Filings; Books and Records............................  15
         3.7        Broker's Fees..........................................  16
         3.8        Absence of Certain Changes or Events...................  16
         3.9        Legal Proceedings......................................  17
         3.10       Taxes and Tax Returns..................................  17
         3.11       Employee Plans.........................................  18
         3.12       Certain Contracts......................................  21
         3.13       Agreements with Regulatory Agencies....................  22
         3.14       State Takeover Laws;
                     Certificate of Incorporation..........................  22
         3.15       Environmental Matters..................................  23
         3.16       Reserves for Losses....................................  24
         3.17       Properties and Assets..................................  24
         3.18       Insurance..............................................  25
         3.19       Compliance with Applicable Laws........................  26

                                      -i-

<PAGE>



         3.20       Loans..................................................  26
         3.21       Ownership of Webster Common Stock......................  27
         3.22       Eagle DRIP.............................................  28
         3.23       Fairness Opinion.......................................  28
         3.24       Tax and Accounting Treatment of Merger.................  28
         3.25       Rights Agreement.......................................  28
         3.26       Eagle Information......................................  28

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                      OF WEBSTER...........................................  29
         4.1        Corporate Organization.................................  29
         4.2        Capitalization.........................................  29
         4.3        Authority; No Violation................................  30
         4.4        Regulatory Approvals...................................  32
         4.5        Financial Statements; Exchange Act
                     Filings; Books and Records............................  33
         4.6        Absence of Certain Changes or Events...................  34
         4.7        Compliance with Applicable Law.........................  34
         4.8        Ownership of Eagle Common Stock;
                     Affiliates and Associates.............................  35
         4.9        Employee Benefit Plans.................................  35
         4.10       Agreements with Regulatory Agencies....................  35
         4.11       Tax and Accounting Treatment of Merger.................  35
         4.12       Legal Proceedings......................................  36
         4.13       Reserves for Losses....................................  36
         4.14       Broker's Fees..........................................  36
         4.15       Fairness Opinion.......................................  37
         4.16       Taxes..................................................  37
         4.17       Webster Information....................................  37

ARTICLE V COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS........................  38

         5.1        Covenants of Eagle.....................................  38
         5.2        Covenants of Webster...................................  43
         5.3        Merger Covenants.......................................  43
         5.4        Employment and Other Agreements........................  44

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS...........................................  44
         6.1        Regulatory Matters.....................................  44
         6.2        Access to Information..................................  46
         6.3        Stockholder Meetings...................................  47
         6.4        Legal Conditions to Merger.............................  47
         6.5        Stock Exchange Listing.................................  48
         6.6        Employees..............................................  48
         6.7        Indemnification........................................  49
         6.8        Subsequent Interim and Annual Financial
                     Statements............................................  51
         6.9        Additional Agreements..................................  51
         6.10       Advice of Changes......................................  51
         6.11       Current Information....................................  52

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>



         6.12       Execution and Authorization of
                     Bank Merger Agreement.................................  52
         6.13       Change in Structure....................................  52
         6.14       Transaction Expenses of Eagle..........................  52
         6.15       Affiliate Agreements...................................  53

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT...........................................  53
         7.1        Conditions to Each Party's Obligation
                     To Effect the Merger..................................  53
         7.2        Conditions to Obligations of Webster...................  55
         7.3        Conditions to Obligations of Eagle.....................  56

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT.....................................  57
         8.1        Termination............................................  57
         8.2        Effect of Termination..................................  61
         8.3        Amendment..............................................  61
         8.4        Extension; Waiver......................................  62

ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS..............................................  62
         9.1        Closing................................................  62
         9.2        Nonsurvival of Representations,
                     Warranties and Agreements.............................  62
         9.3        Expenses...............................................  62
         9.4        Notices................................................  63
         9.5        Interpretation.........................................  64
         9.6        Counterparts...........................................  64
         9.7        Entire Agreement.......................................  64
         9.8        Governing Law..........................................  64
         9.9        Enforcement of Agreement...............................  65
         9.10       Severability...........................................  65
         9.11       Publicity..............................................  65
         9.12       Assignment; Limitation of Benefits.....................  65
         9.13       Additional Definitions.................................  66


     EXHIBITS
         A          Form of Articles of Combination and
                      Bank Merger Agreement
         B          Form of Option Agreement
         C          Form of Certificate of Merger
         D          Form of Agreement of Eagle Affiliates
         E          Form of Agreement of Webster Affiliates

                                     -iii-

<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


     This  AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF  MERGER,  dated as of October  26,  1997 (this
"Agreement"),  is entered into by and between Webster Financial  Corporation,  a
Delaware   corporation   ("Webster")  and  Eagle  Financial  Corp.,  a  Delaware
corporation ("Eagle").

     WHEREAS,  the Boards of Directors of Webster and Eagle have determined that
it is in the best interests of their  respective  companies and  stockholders to
consummate  the business  combination  transaction  provided for herein in which
Eagle will, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, merge with and
into Webster,  with Webster being the surviving  corporation in such merger (the
"Merger");

     WHEREAS,  prior to the  consummation of the Merger,  Webster and Eagle will
respectively  cause  Webster  Bank,  a  federal  savings  bank and  wholly-owned
subsidiary  of Webster,  and Eagle Bank ("Eagle  Bank"),  a federally  chartered
savings  bank and  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Eagle,  to enter  into a merger
agreement,  in  the  form  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  A  (the  "Bank  Merger
Agreement"), providing for the merger (the "Bank Merger") of Eagle Bank with and
into Webster  Bank,  with Webster  Bank being the  "Surviving  Bank" of the Bank
Merger, and it is intended that the Bank Merger be consummated immediately after
consummation of the Merger;

     WHEREAS,  as an inducement to Webster to enter into this  Agreement,  Eagle
will enter into an option  agreement,  in the form attached  hereto as Exhibit B
(the "Option  Agreement"),  with Webster immediately  following the execution of
this Agreement pursuant to which Eagle will grant Webster an option to purchase,
under  certain  circumstances,  an aggregate  number of newly  issued  shares of
common stock equal to 19.9% of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of Eagle ("Eagle Common Stock") and otherwise upon the terms and
conditions therein contained; and

     WHEREAS, the Merger is intended to be treated as a "reorganization"  within
the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and as a "pooling of interests" under generally accepted accounting  principles;
and

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and
agreements  in  connection  with  the  Merger  and  also  to  prescribe  certain
conditions to the Merger;



<PAGE>



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants,  representations,
warranties and agreements  contained  herein,  and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I
                                   THE MERGER

     1.1 THE MERGER.

     Subject to the terms and conditions of this  Agreement,  in accordance with
the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law (the "DGCL") at the  Effective  Time (as
defined in Section 1.2 hereof),  Eagle shall merge with and into  Webster,  with
Webster  being the  surviving  corporation  (hereinafter  sometimes  called  the
"Surviving  Corporation") in the Merger.  Upon  consummation of the Merger,  the
corporate  existence of Eagle shall cease and the  Surviving  Corporation  shall
continue to exist as a Delaware corporation.

     1.2 EFFECTIVE TIME.

     The Merger  shall  become  effective  on the  Closing  Date (as  defined in
Section 9.1 hereof), as set forth in the certificate of merger (the "Certificate
of Merger") in the form  attached as Exhibit C hereto  which shall be filed with
the  Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on the Closing  Date.  The term
"Effective Time" shall be the date and time when the Merger becomes effective on
the Closing Date, as set forth in the Certificate of Merger.

     1.3 EFFECTS OF THE MERGER.

     At and after the  Effective  Time,  the Merger  shall have the  effects set
forth in Sections 259 and 261 of the DGCL.

     1.4 CONVERSION OF EAGLE COMMON STOCK.

         (a) At the Effective Time, subject to Sections 1.4(b),  1.4(c),  1.4(d)
and 8.1(h) hereof, each share of Eagle Common Stock issued and outstanding prior
to the Effective Time,  together with the rights (the "Eagle  Rights")  attached
thereto issued  pursuant to the Rights  Agreement,  dated as of October 22, 1996
(the "Eagle Rights  Agreement"),  between  Eagle and The First  National Bank of
Boston,  as Rights  Agent,  shall,  by virtue of this  Agreement and without any
action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into and exchangeable for
0.84  shares  (the  "Exchange  Ratio") of the common  stock,  par value $.01 per
share,  of Webster (the  "Webster  Common  Stock"),

                                      -2-

<PAGE>



together with the number of rights  ("Webster  Rights")  issued  pursuant to the
Rights Agreement, dated as of February 5, 1996 (the "Webster Rights Agreement"),
between  Webster and Chemical Mellon  Shareholder  Services,  L.L.C.,  as Rights
Agent,  associated  therewith.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  this
Agreement other than Sections 1.4(b) and 8.1(h),  no more than 5,893,366  shares
of Webster  Common Stock (the "Maximum  Share Amount") shall be issued or become
issuable in connection with the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement  (including  shares issued or issuable in respect of shares of
any  capital  stock of Eagle,  including  Eagle  Common  Stock,  or any right to
acquire any such capital stock).

         (b) All of the shares of Eagle  Common  Stock  converted  into  Webster
Common Stock pursuant to this Article I shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each certificate (each a
"Certificate")  previously  representing  any such shares of Eagle  Common Stock
shall  thereafter  represent the right to receive (i) the number of whole shares
of Webster  Common Stock and (ii) cash in lieu of  fractional  shares into which
the shares of Eagle  Common  Stock  represented  by such  Certificate  have been
converted   pursuant  to  this  Section   1.4(b)  and  Section   2.2(e)  hereof.
Certificates  previously  representing  shares of Eagle  Common  Stock  shall be
exchanged for certificates representing whole shares of Webster Common Stock and
cash in lieu of  fractional  shares  issued in  consideration  therefor upon the
surrender of such  Certificates in accordance  with Section 2.2 hereof,  without
any interest  thereon.  If after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time
Webster  should  split or combine its common  stock,  or pay a dividend or other
distribution in such common stock, then the Exchange Ratio and the Maximum Share
Amount  shall be  appropriately  adjusted to reflect  such  split,  combination,
dividend or distribution.

         (c) At the  Effective  Time,  all shares of Eagle Common Stock that are
owned by Eagle as treasury  stock and all shares of Eagle  Common Stock that are
owned  directly  or  indirectly  by Webster or Eagle or any of their  respective
Subsidiaries  (other  than  shares  of  Eagle  Common  Stock  held  directly  or
indirectly in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like or otherwise held in
a fiduciary  capacity  that are  beneficially  owned by third  parties (any such
shares,  and shares of Webster  Common Stock which are similarly  held,  whether
held  directly  or  indirectly  by Webster or Eagle,  as the case may be,  being
referred to herein as "Trust Account Shares") and other than any shares of Eagle
Common Stock held by Webster or Eagle or any of their respective Subsidiaries in
respect of a debt previously  contracted (any such shares of Eagle Common Stock,
and shares of Webster  Common  Stock  which are  similarly  held,  whether  held

                                      -3-

<PAGE>



directly or  indirectly  by Webster or Eagle,  being  referred to herein as "DPC
Shares"))  shall be canceled and shall cease to exist and no stock of Webster or
other  consideration  shall be  delivered  in exchange  therefor.  All shares of
Webster Common Stock that are owned by Eagle or any of its  Subsidiaries  (other
than Trust  Account  Shares  and DPC  Shares)  shall  become  treasury  stock of
Webster.

         (d)  Certificates  for fractions of shares of Webster Common Stock will
not be issued.  In lieu of a fraction of a share of Webster  Common Stock,  each
holder of Eagle  Common  Stock  otherwise  entitled  to a fraction of a share of
Webster Common Stock shall be entitled to receive an amount of cash equal to (i)
the  fraction of a share of the Webster  Common Stock to which such holder would
otherwise be entitled, multiplied by (ii) the market value of the Webster Common
Stock,  which shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing  prices per
share for Webster Common Stock for the twenty consecutive  trading days on which
shares of Webster  Common Stock are  actually  traded (as reported on the Nasdaq
Stock Market  National  Market)  ending on the third  trading day  preceding the
Closing Date.  Following  consummation of the Merger,  no holder of Eagle Common
Stock shall be entitled to  dividends or any other rights in respect of any such
fraction.

     1.5 WEBSTER COMMON STOCK.

     Each share of Webster Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be unchanged and shall remain issued and outstanding
as common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

     1.6 OPTIONS.

     At the Effective  Time,  each option granted by Eagle to purchase shares of
Eagle  Common  Stock which is  outstanding  and  unexercised  immediately  prior
thereto shall be converted  automatically  into an option to purchase  shares of
Webster  Common  Stock in an  amount  and at an  exercise  price  determined  as
provided below (and otherwise  subject to the terms of the Eagle Financial Corp.
Stock Option Plan (the "Eagle Stock Plan"),  the BFS Bancorp,  Inc. Stock Option
Plan (the "BFS Plan") or the Eagle  Financial  Corp. 1988 Stock Option Plan (the
"1988 Plan") (the Eagle Stock Plan, the BFS Plan and the 1988 Plan  collectively
the "Eagle Stock Plans"), in each case, under which such option was granted):

         (1) The number of shares of Webster  Common  Stock to be subject to the
option immediately after the Effective Time shall be equal to the product of the
number of shares

                                      -4-

<PAGE>



of Eagle Common Stock  subject to the option  immediately  before the  Effective
Time,  multiplied by the Exchange Ratio,  provided that any fractional shares of
Webster Common Stock resulting from such multiplication shall be rounded down to
the nearest share; and

         (2) The  exercise  price per share of Webster  Common  Stock  under the
option immediately after the Effective Time shall be equal to the exercise price
per  share of Eagle  Common  Stock  under  the  option  immediately  before  the
Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio,  provided that such exercise price
shall be rounded to the nearest cent.

The  adjustment  provided  herein  shall be and is  intended to be effected in a
manner which is consistent  with Section 424(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of
1986,  as amended  (the  "Code").  The  duration  and other  terms of the option
immediately  after the  Effective  Time  shall be the same as the  corresponding
terms  in  effect  immediately  before  the  Effective  Time,  except  that  all
references   to  Eagle  or  Eagle  Bank  in  the  Eagle  Stock  Plans  (and  the
corresponding  references in the option agreement documenting such option) shall
be deemed to be references to Webster.

     1.7 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.

     At the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation  of Webster,  as in
effect at the Effective Time,  shall be the Certificate of  Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation.

     1.8 BY-LAWS.

     At the Effective  Time,  the By-Laws of Webster,  as in effect  immediately
prior to the Effective Time, shall be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation.

     1.9 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     At the Effective  Time,  the directors and officers of Webster  immediately
prior to the Effective  Time shall  continue to be directors and officers of the
Surviving Corporation.  Three directors of Eagle, to be selected by the Board of
Directors of Webster in  consultation  with Eagle,  shall be invited to serve as
additional members (the "New Members") of the Board of Directors of Webster. The
New Members will receive directors fees on the same basis as other  non-employee
directors of Webster.  In addition,  the other  non-employee  directors of Eagle
serving  immediately  prior to the Effective Time will be invited to serve on an
advisory  board to Webster  after the Bank  Merger for a period not less than 24
months following the Effective

                                      -5-

<PAGE>



Time. Such advisory directors will each be paid a retainer of $3,250 per quarter
and a meeting fee of $1,750 per meeting for such service, such advisory board to
meet not less frequently than 4 times per year.

     1.10 TAX CONSEQUENCES.

     It is intended  that the Merger,  either alone or in  conjunction  with the
Bank Merger,  shall  constitute a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section
368(a)  of the  Code,  and  that  this  Agreement  shall  constitute  a "plan of
reorganization" for the purposes of the Code.

     1.11 ACCOUNTING TREATMENT.

     It is  intended  that the Merger  shall be  accounted  for as a "pooling of
interests" under generally accepted accounting  principles ("GAAP").

                                   ARTICLE II
                               EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     2.1 WEBSTER TO MAKE SHARES AVAILABLE.

     At or prior to the Effective Time, Webster shall deposit, or shall cause to
be deposited,  with Webster's  transfer  agent,  American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company,  or such other bank,  trust  company or  transfer  agent as Webster may
select (the "Exchange  Agent"),  for the benefit of the holders of Certificates,
for exchange in accordance with this Article II,  certificates  representing the
shares of Webster  Common Stock and the cash in lieu of fractional  shares (such
cash and  certificates  for shares of Webster  Common Stock,  being  hereinafter
referred  to as the  "Exchange  Fund") to be issued  pursuant to Section 1.4 and
paid  pursuant to Section  2.2(a) hereof in exchange for  outstanding  shares of
Eagle Common Stock.

     2.2 EXCHANGE OF SHARES.

         (a) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent
shall mail to each  holder of record of a  Certificate  or  Certificates  a form
letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected,  and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the
Certificates  to the Exchange Agent) and  instructions  for use in effecting the
surrender of the  Certificates  in exchange for  certificates  representing  the
shares of Webster  Common Stock and the cash in lieu of  fractional  shares into
which the  shares of Eagle  Common  Stock  represented  by such  Certificate  or
Certificates shall have been converted  pursuant

                                      -6-

<PAGE>



to this  Agreement.  Eagle  shall  have the right to review  both the  letter of
transmittal and the instructions  prior to such documents being finalized.  Upon
surrender of a Certificate for exchange and  cancellation to the Exchange Agent,
together  with such letter of  transmittal,  duly  executed,  the holder of such
Certificate  shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (x) a certificate
representing  that number of whole shares of Webster  Common Stock to which such
holder  of Eagle  Common  Stock  shall  have  become  entitled  pursuant  to the
provisions of Article I hereof and (y) a check  representing  the amount of cash
in lieu of fractional shares, if any, which such holder has the right to receive
in respect of the  Certificate  surrendered  pursuant to the  provisions of this
Article II, and the Certificate so surrendered  shall forthwith be canceled.  No
interest  will be paid or accrued on the cash in lieu of  fractional  shares and
unpaid dividends and distributions, if any, payable to holders of Certificates.

         (b) No dividends or other  distributions  declared  after the Effective
Time with  respect to Webster  Common Stock and payable to the holders of record
thereof shall be paid to the holder of any  unsurrendered  Certificate until the
holder thereof shall surrender such  Certificate in accordance with this Article
II. After the surrender of a Certificate in accordance with this Article II, the
record holder  thereof shall be entitled to receive any such  dividends or other
distributions,  without  any  interest  thereon,  which  theretofore  had become
payable  with  respect to shares of Webster  Common  Stock  represented  by such
Certificate.  No holder of an unsurrendered Certificate shall be entitled, until
the surrender of such  Certificate,  to vote the shares of Webster  Common Stock
into which his Eagle Common Stock shall have been converted.

         2.3 If any certificate  representing  shares of Webster Common Stock is
to be issued in a name other than that in which the  Certificate  surrendered in
exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of the issuance thereof
that the Certificate so surrendered  shall be properly  endorsed (or accompanied
by an  appropriate  instrument  of  transfer)  and  otherwise in proper form for
transfer, and that the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange
Agent in advance any transfer or other taxes  required by reason of the issuance
of a certificate  representing  shares of Webster Common Stock in any name other
than that of the  registered  holder of the  Certificate  surrendered,  or shall
establish to the  satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid
or is not payable.

                                      -7-

<PAGE>



         (a) After the close of  business  on the day  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of Eagle
of  the  shares  of  Eagle  Common  Stock  which  were  issued  and  outstanding
immediately  prior  to  the  Effective  Time.  If,  after  the  Effective  Time,
Certificates representing such shares are presented for transfer to the Exchange
Agent, they shall be canceled and exchanged for certificates representing shares
of Webster Common Stock as provided in this Article II.

         (b) Any portion of the  Exchange  Fund that  remains  unclaimed  by the
stockholders  of Eagle for six months after the Effective Time shall be returned
to Webster.  Any  stockholders of Eagle who have not  theretofore  complied with
this  Article  II shall  thereafter  look only to Webster  for  payment of their
shares of Webster  Common Stock,  cash in lieu of  fractional  shares and unpaid
dividends and  distributions  on Webster Common Stock  deliverable in respect of
each share of Eagle Common Stock such stockholder  holds as determined  pursuant
to this Agreement,  in each case, without any interest thereon.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing,  none of Webster,  Eagle,  the Exchange Agent or any other person
shall be liable to any  former  holder of shares of Eagle  Common  Stock for any
amount properly delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable  abandoned
property, escheat or similar laws.

         (c) In the event  any  Certificate  shall  have  been  lost,  stolen or
destroyed,  upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person  claiming
such  Certificate  to be lost,  stolen or destroyed and, if required by Webster,
the posting by such  person of a bond in such  amount as Webster may  reasonably
direct as  indemnity  against any claim that may be made against it with respect
to such  Certificate,  the Exchange  Agent will issue in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed  Certificate  the shares of Webster Common Stock and cash in
lieu of  fractional  shares  deliverable  in respect  thereof  pursuant  to this
Agreement.


                                  ARTICLE II-A

                         DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE; STANDARDS
                       FOR REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES


         2A.1 Disclosure  Schedule.  Prior to the execution and delivery hereof,
Eagle has  delivered  to Webster a schedule  (the  "Eagle  Disclosure  Schedule"
setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or
appropriate either in response to an express disclosure  requirements  contained
in a  provision  hereof or as an  exception

                                      -8-

<PAGE>



to one or  more of such  party's  representations  or  warranties  contained  in
Article III or to one or more of its covenants contained in Article V; provided,
however,  that (a) subject to Section  3.18,  no such item is required to be set
forth by either  party  hereto in a  Disclosure  Schedule as an  exception  to a
representation  or  warranty  if its  absence  would not  result in the  related
representation  or warranty being deemed untrue or incorrect  under the standard
established  by  Section  2A.2,  and  (b)  the  mere  inclusion  of an item in a
Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be
deemed an admission by a party that such item represents a material exception or
fact,  event or  circumstance or that such item has had or would have a Material
Adverse Effect (as defined in Section 9.13) with respect to such party.

         2A.2  Standards.  No  representation  or warranty of Eagle contained in
Article  III or of Webster  contained  in  Article IV shall be deemed  untrue or
incorrect  for any purpose  under this  Agreement,  and no party hereto shall be
deemed to have breached a representation  or warranty for any purpose under this
Agreement,   as  a  consequence  of  the  existence  or  absence  of  any  fact,
circumstance or event unless such fact,  circumstance or event,  individually or
when taken together with all other facts,  circumstances or events  inconsistent
with any representations or warranties  contained in Article III, in the case of
Eagle,  or Article  IV, in the case of Webster,  has had or would be  reasonably
certain to have a Material  Adverse  Effect  with  respect to Eagle or  Webster,
respectively.


                                   ARTICLE III
                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF EAGLE

         Eagle hereby makes the  following  representations  and  warranties  to
Webster as set forth in this Article III,  each of which is being relied upon by
Webster as a material inducement to it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

     3.1 CORPORATE ORGANIZATION.

         (a) Eagle is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Eagle has the corporate power
and authority to own or lease all of its  properties  and assets and to carry on
its business as it is now being conducted,  and is duly licensed or qualified to
do business in each  jurisdiction  in which the nature of any material  business
conducted  by it or the  character  or location of any  material  properties  or
assets owned or leased by it makes such  licensing or  qualification  necessary.
Eagle is duly  registered as a savings and loan holding  company with the Office
of Thrift  Supervision  (the "OTS") under the

                                      -9-

<PAGE>



Home  Owners'  Loan  Act of 1933  (the  "HOLA").  The  Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation  and  By-Laws  of Eagle,  copies  of which  have  previously  been
delivered to Webster, are true, correct and complete copies of such documents as
in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

         (b) Eagle Bank is a federally  chartered  savings bank duly  organized,
validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States.  The
deposit  accounts  of Eagle Bank are insured by the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance
Corporation  (the "FDIC")  through the Savings  Association  Insurance Fund (the
"SAIF") to the fullest extent permitted by law, and all premiums and assessments
required in connection therewith have been paid by Eagle Bank. Eagle Bank is the
only  subsidiary  of Eagle that is a  "Significant  Subsidiary"  as such term is
defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the "SEC"). Eagle Bank has the corporate or other power and authority to own or
lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now
being  conducted  and is duly  licensed  or  qualified  to do  business  in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of any material business conducted by it or the
character or the location of any material  properties  or assets owned or leased
by it makes such  licensing  or  qualification  necessary.  The  Certificate  of
Incorporation  and By-Laws of Eagle Bank,  copies of which have  previously been
delivered to Webster, are true, correct and complete copies of such documents as
in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

     3.2 CAPITALIZATION.

         (a) The authorized  capital stock of Eagle consists of 8,000,000 shares
of Eagle Common Stock and 2,000,000  shares of serial preferred stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Eagle Preferred Stock").  As of the date hereof,  there are
(x)  6,316,537  shares of Eagle  Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding  and an
additional 47,373 shares of Eagle Common Stock held in Eagle's treasury,  (y) no
shares of Eagle Common Stock  reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding
stock options or otherwise,  except for (i) 580,491 shares of Eagle Common Stock
reserved  for issuance  pursuant to the Eagle Stock Plans (of which  options for
518,688 shares are currently  outstanding),  (ii) 180,687 shares of Eagle Common
Stock reserved for issuance  pursuant to the Eagle DRIP (as defined  herein) and
(iii) 1,256,991 shares of Eagle Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise
of the option to be issued to Webster pursuant to the Option Agreement,  and (z)
no shares  of Eagle  Preferred  Stock  issued or  outstanding,  held in  Eagle's
treasury or reserved for

                                      -10-

<PAGE>



issuance upon  exercise of  outstanding  stock options or otherwise,  except for
8,000  shares of Series A  Participating  Preferred  Stock,  par value  $.01 per
share, of Eagle reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Eagle Rights.  All of
the  issued  and  outstanding  shares  of Eagle  Common  Stock  have  been  duly
authorized  and  validly  issued and are fully paid,  nonassessable  and free of
preemptive  rights,  with  no  personal  liability  attaching  to the  ownership
thereof.  Except for the Option Agreement and the Eagle Stock Plans,  Eagle does
not have and is not bound by any outstanding  subscriptions,  options, warrants,
calls,  commitments  or agreements of any character  calling for the purchase or
issuance of any shares of Eagle  Common  Stock or Eagle  Preferred  Stock or any
other  equity  security  of Eagle or any  securities  representing  the right to
purchase  or  otherwise  receive any shares of Eagle  Common  Stock or any other
equity security of Eagle. The names of the optionees, the date of each option to
purchase Eagle Common Stock  granted,  the number of shares subject to each such
option and the price at which each such option may be exercised  under the Eagle
Stock Plans are set forth in Section  3.2(a) of the Eagle  Disclosure  Schedule,
and no such  option  expires  more  than 10 years  from  the  date of the  grant
thereof. Since September 30, 1997 Eagle has not issued any shares of its capital
stock or any securities  convertible  into or exercisable  for any shares of its
capital stock, other than pursuant to the exercise of director or employee stock
options  granted  prior to September  30, 1997,  under the Eagle Stock Plans and
pursuant  to the Eagle  Financial  Corp.  Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan and Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Eagle DRIP").

         (b) Section 3.2(b) of the Eagle Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a true,
correct and complete  list of all  Subsidiaries  of Eagle as of the date of this
Agreement. Eagle owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding
shares  of  capital  stock of each of its  Subsidiaries,  free and  clear of all
liens, charges,  encumbrances and security interests whatsoever, and all of such
shares are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,  nonassessable
and free of  preemptive  rights,  with no personal  liability  attaching  to the
ownership  thereof.  No Eagle  Subsidiary  has or is  bound  by any  outstanding
subscriptions,  options,  warrants,  calls,  commitments  or  agreements  of any
character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock or
any other equity security of such Subsidiary or any securities  representing the
right to purchase or otherwise  receive any shares of capital stock or any other
equity security of such Subsidiary.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>



     3.3 AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION.

         (a) Eagle has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this  Agreement  and the Option  Agreement and to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby and thereby.  The execution and delivery of this  Agreement
and the Option Agreement and the  consummation of the transactions  contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors
of Eagle.  The Board of Directors of Eagle has directed that this  Agreement and
the transactions  contemplated  hereby be submitted to Eagle's  stockholders for
approval at a special meeting of such  stockholders and, except for the adoption
of  this  Agreement  by the  requisite  vote  of  Eagle's  stockholders  and the
requisite approval,  if any, of Eagle stockholders in connection with the Option
Agreement pursuant to the Eagle Restated Certificate of Incorporation,  no other
corporate  proceedings  on the part of Eagle  (except  for  matters  related  to
setting  the date,  time,  place and record date for the  special  meeting)  are
necessary to approve this Agreement or the Option Agreement or to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby or thereby.  This Agreement has been, and the
Option  Agreement will be, duly and validly  executed and delivered by Eagle and
(assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Webster of this Agreement
and  of the  Option  Agreement)  this  Agreement  constitutes,  and  the  Option
Agreement will constitute,  a valid and binding obligation of Eagle, enforceable
against Eagle in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited
by general  principles of equity whether applied in a court of law or a court of
equity and by  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and similar  laws  affecting  creditors'
rights and remedies generally.

         (b) Eagle  Bank has full  corporate  or other  power and  authority  to
execute and deliver the Bank Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated  thereby.  The execution and delivery of the Bank Merger  Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  thereby will be duly and
validly  approved by the Board of Directors  of Eagle Bank,  and by Eagle as the
sole  stockholder  of Eagle  Bank prior to the  Effective  Time.  All  corporate
proceedings on the part of Eagle Bank  necessary to consummate the  transactions
contemplated  thereby will have been taken prior to the Effective Time. The Bank
Merger  Agreement,  upon execution and delivery by Eagle Bank,  will be duly and
validly   executed  and   delivered  by  Eagle  Bank  and  will   (assuming  due
authorization,  execution and delivery by Webster  Bank)  constitute a valid and
binding obligation of Eagle Bank,  enforceable  against Eagle Bank in accordance
with its terms,  except as enforcement  may be limited by general  principles of
equity whether applied

                                      -12-

<PAGE>



in a court of law or a court of equity and by bankruptcy, insolvency and similar
laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally.

         (c) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Option
Agreement  by  Eagle  or the  Bank  Merger  Agreement  by  Eagle  Bank,  nor the
consummation  by Eagle or Eagle  Bank,  as the case may be, of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby or thereby,  nor compliance by Eagle or Eagle Bank with any
of the terms or provisions hereof or thereof,  will (i) violate any provision of
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of Eagle or the Certificate
of  Incorporation  or By-Laws of Eagle Bank,  or (ii) assuming that the consents
and approvals  referred to in Section 3.4 hereof are duly obtained,  (x) violate
any Laws (as defined in Section 9.13)  applicable to Eagle or Eagle Bank, or any
of their respective properties or assets, or (y) violate,  conflict with, result
in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit  under,  constitute a
default  (or an event  which,  with  notice  or lapse  of time,  or both,  would
constitute  a  default)  under,  result  in the  termination  of or a  right  of
termination or cancellation  under,  accelerate the performance  required by, or
result in the creation of any lien, pledge,  security interest,  charge or other
encumbrance  upon any of the  respective  properties or assets of Eagle or Eagle
Bank  under,  any of the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any note,  bond,
mortgage,   indenture,  deed  of  trust,  license,  lease,  agreement  or  other
instrument or  obligation  to which Eagle or Eagle Bank is a party,  or by which
they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected.

     3.4 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS.

         (a)  Except  for  (i)  the  filing  of  applications  and  notices,  as
applicable, as to the Merger and the Bank Merger with the OTS under the HOLA and
the Bank Merger Act and  approval of such  applications  and  notices,  (ii) the
filing with the SEC of a  registration  statement  on Form S-4 to  register  the
shares  of  Webster  Common  Stock to be issued in  connection  with the  Merger
(including  the  shares of  Webster  Common  Stock  that may be issued  upon the
exercise of the options  referred to in Section 1.6 hereof),  which will include
the joint proxy statement/prospectus (the "Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus") to
be used in soliciting the requisite approvals of Webster  stockholders and Eagle
stockholders at special meetings of such  stockholders  (the "Eagle Meeting" and
the  "Webster  Meeting,"  respectively)  to be  held  in  connection  with  this
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  hereby, (iii) the approval of this
Agreement by the requisite vote of the  stockholders  of Eagle and the requisite
approval,  if any, of Eagle stockholders in connection with the Option Agreement
pursuant to the Eagle

                                      -13-

<PAGE>



Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation,  (iv) the approval of this Agreement by
the  requisite  vote of the  stockholders  of  Webster,  (v) the  filing  of the
Certificate  of Merger with the  Secretary of State of Delaware  pursuant to the
DGCL and (vi) the filings  required in connection with the Bank Merger Agreement
and the Bank Merger,  no consents or  approvals  of or filings or  registrations
with any  court,  administrative  agency  or  commission  or other  governmental
authority or instrumentality  (each a "Governmental  Entity"), or with any third
party are necessary in  connection  with (1) the execution and delivery by Eagle
of this Agreement and the Option Agreement, (2) the consummation by Eagle of the
Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  (3) the execution and
delivery by Eagle Bank of the Bank Merger  Agreement,  (4) the  consummation  by
Eagle  of  transactions  contemplated  by the  Option  Agreement;  and  (5)  the
performance  by Eagle Bank of the Bank  Merger  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated  thereby,  except,  in each case, for such  consents,  approvals or
filings,  the failure of which to obtain will not have a material adverse effect
on the ability of Webster to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

         (b) Eagle hereby  represents  to Webster  that,  as of the date of this
Agreement,  it has no knowledge of any reason why approval or  effectiveness  of
any of the applications, notices or filings referred to in Section 3.4(a) cannot
be obtained or granted on a timely basis.

     3.5 LOAN PORTFOLIO; REPORTS.

         (a) Except as disclosed  on Schedule  3.5(a),  neither  Eagle nor Eagle
Bank  is a party  to any  written  or oral  loan  agreement,  note or  borrowing
arrangement  (including,   without  limitation,   leases,  credit  enhancements,
commitments,  guarantees and interest-bearing  assets) (collectively,  "Loans"),
with any director,  officer or five percent or greater  stockholder  of Eagle or
any of its  Subsidiaries,  or any Affiliated Person (as defined in Section 9.13)
of the  foregoing.  Within 10 business  days after the date hereof,  Eagle shall
provide to Webster a list of each  employee  of Eagle or its  Subsidiaries  with
which Eagle or Eagle Bank is a party to any Loan.

         (b) Eagle and Eagle Bank have timely filed all  reports,  registrations
and  statements,  together with any amendments  required to be made with respect
thereto,  that they were  required to file since  December 31, 1995 with (i) the
OTS,  (ii) the  FDIC,  (iii) the SEC and (iv) any  self-regulatory  organization
("SRO") (collectively  "Regulatory  Agencies").  As of its respective date, each
such report,  registration,  statement  and  amendment  complied in all material
respects with all rules and

                                      -14-

<PAGE>



regulations  promulgated by the applicable Regulatory Agency and did not contain
any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to  state a  material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading, except that information as of a later date shall be deemed to modify
information as of an earlier date. Except for normal examinations conducted by a
Regulatory  Agency  in the  regular  course  of the  business  of Eagle  and its
Subsidiaries,  no  Governmental  Entity is  conducting,  or has  conducted,  any
proceeding  or  investigation  into the business or operations of Eagle or Eagle
Bank since December 31, 1995.

     3.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; EXCHANGE ACT FILINGS; BOOKS AND RECORDS.

     Eagle has previously delivered to Webster true, correct and complete copies
of (i) the audited  consolidated balance sheets of Eagle and its Subsidiaries as
of  September  30 for the  fiscal  years 1995 and 1996 and the  related  audited
consolidated  statements of income,  shareholders' equity and cash flows for the
fiscal years 1994 through 1996, inclusive,  as reported in Eagle's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal  year ended  September  30,  1996 filed with the SEC
under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange  Act"), in
each case accompanied by the audit report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,  independent
public  accountants with respect to Eagle,  (ii) in draft form, the consolidated
balance  sheet of Eagle and its  Subsidiaries  as of September  30, 1997 and the
related consolidated  statements of income,  shareholders' equity and cash flows
for the fiscal year ended  September  30, 1997 in the form Eagle expects to file
under the  Exchange  Act in  connection  with its Form 10-K for the fiscal  year
ended September 30, 1997 and (iii) the unaudited  consolidated balance sheets of
Eagle  and its  Subsidiaries  as of June  30,  1997  and  1996  and the  related
unaudited consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows
for the interim  periods  ended June 30,  1997 and 1996,  as reported on Eagle's
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1997 filed with the
SEC under the Exchange Act. The financial statements referred to in this Section
3.6 (including the related notes,  where  applicable)  fairly  present,  and the
financial  statements  referred to in Section  6.8 hereof  will  fairly  present
(subject, in the case of the unaudited and draft statements,  to recurring audit
adjustments  normal in nature  and  amount),  the  results  of the  consolidated
operations and  consolidated  financial  condition of Eagle and its Subsidiaries
for the  respective  fiscal  periods or as of the  respective  dates therein set
forth; each of such statements  (including the related notes,  where applicable)
comply,  and the  financial  statements  referred  to in Section 6.8 hereof will

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



comply, with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and
regulations  of the SEC  with  respect  thereto  and  each  of  such  statements
(including  the related  notes,  where  applicable)  has been, and the financial
statements referred to in Section 6.8 hereof will be prepared in accordance with
GAAP consistently  applied during the periods  involved,  except in each case as
indicated  in  such  statements  or in the  notes  thereto  or,  in the  case of
unaudited  statements,  as  permitted  by Form  10-Q  or,  in the  case of draft
statements,  subject to revisions  that in the  aggregate  will not be material.
Eagle's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  September 30, 1996
and all reports  subsequently filed under Sections 13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of
the  Exchange  Act (the "Eagle  Exchange  Act  Reports")  comply in all material
respects with the appropriate  requirements  for such reports under the Exchange
Act,  and Eagle has  previously  delivered or made  available  to Webster  true,
correct and complete copies of such reports.  The books and records of Eagle and
Eagle Bank have been,  and are being,  maintained  in all  material  respects in
accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

     3.7 BROKER'S FEES.

     Neither Eagle nor any Eagle Subsidiary nor any of their respective officers
or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any
broker's  fees,  commissions  or  finder's  fees in  connection  with any of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  the Bank Merger  Agreement or the
Option  Agreement,  except  that  Eagle  has  engaged,  and  will  pay a fee  or
commission to Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P. ("Sandler O'Neill") in accordance
with the terms of a letter  agreement  between Sandler O'Neill and Eagle,  dated
October 20, 1997, a true, complete and correct copy of which has been previously
delivered by Eagle to Webster.

     3.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.

         (a) Except as disclosed in any Eagle Exchange Act Report filed with the
SEC prior to the date of this  Agreement,  since  September 30, 1996 (i) neither
Eagle nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material liability, except as
contemplated by this Agreement or in the ordinary course of their business, (ii)
neither  Eagle nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has  discharged  or  satisfied  any
material  lien or  paid  any  material  obligation  or  liability  (absolute  or
contingent),  other than in the ordinary course of business; (iii) neither Eagle
nor any of its Subsidiaries has sold, assigned,  transferred,  leased, exchanged
or otherwise disposed of any of its material

                                      -16-

<PAGE>



properties or assets other than in the ordinary course of business; (iv) neither
Eagle nor any of its Subsidiaries has suffered any material damage, destruction,
or loss, whether as a result of fire, explosion, earthquake, accident, casualty,
labor trouble,  requisition  or taking of property by any Regulatory  Authority,
flood, windstorm,  embargo, riot, act of God or other casualty or event, whether
or not covered by insurance;  (v) neither Eagle nor any of its  Subsidiaries has
cancelled or compromised  any debt,  except for debts charged off or compromised
in accordance  with the past practice of Eagle or such  Subsidiary,  as the case
may be, and (vi) no event has occurred which has had or is reasonably certain to
have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.

         (b) Since September 30, 1996, Eagle and its  Subsidiaries  have carried
on their respective  businesses in the ordinary and usual course consistent with
their past practices.

     3.9 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

         (a) Neither  Eagle nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to any, and
there are no pending or threatened, legal, administrative,  arbitration or other
proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any
nature against Eagle or any of its  Subsidiaries  in which there is a reasonable
probability of any material  recovery  against or other material  adverse effect
upon  Eagle  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or which  challenge  the  validity  or
propriety of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  the Bank Merger
Agreement or the Option Agreement as to which there is a reasonable  probability
of success.

         (b) There is no  injunction,  order,  judgment or decree  imposed  upon
Eagle,  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  or  the  assets  of  Eagle  or  any  of  its
Subsidiaries.

     3.10 TAXES AND TAX RETURNS.

         (a) Each of Eagle and its  Subsidiaries  has duly  filed  all  material
Federal,  state,  local and foreign Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or
prior to the date hereof (all such  returns  being  accurate and complete in all
material  respects) and has duly paid or made  provisions for the payment of all
material  Taxes which have been incurred or are due or claimed to be due from it
by Federal,  state, local and foreign taxing authorities on or prior to the date
hereof.  All  liability  with respect to the income tax returns of Eagle and its
Subsidiaries  has been  satisfied  for all  years  to and  including  1996.  The
Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS")  has not  notified  Eagle of,  or  otherwise
asserted,  that there are any material

                                      -17-

<PAGE>



deficiencies  with  respect  to the income  tax  returns of Eagle.  There are no
material  disputes  pending,  or claims asserted for, Taxes or assessments  upon
Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries,  nor has Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries been
requested  to give any waivers  extending  the  statutory  period of  limitation
applicable to any Federal, state or local income tax return for any period.

         For the  purposes  of this  Agreement,  "Taxes"  shall  mean all taxes,
charges,  fees,  levies,  penalties or other  assessments  imposed by any United
States federal,  state,  local or foreign taxing authority,  including,  but not
limited  to income,  excise,  property,  sales,  transfer,  franchise,  payroll,
withholding,  social security or other taxes, including any interest,  penalties
or additions attributable thereto.

         For purposes of this  Agreement,  "Tax  Return"  shall mean any return,
report,   information  return  or  other  document  (including  any  related  or
supporting information) with respect to Taxes.

         (b)  Eagle  Funding  Corp.  (i) will be,  for the  taxable  year  ended
December 31, 1997 and at the Effective Time, a "real estate investment trust" as
defined in Section  856(a) of the Code,  (ii) will meet,  for the  taxable  year
ended December 31, 1997 and at the Effective  Time, the  requirements of Section
857(a) of the Code,  (iii) will not be, for the taxable year ended  December 31,
1997 or at the Effective Time,  described in Section 856(c)(7) of the Code, (iv)
has not had,  and at the  Effective  Time  will not have  had,  any "net  income
derived from prohibited transactions" within the meaning of Section 857(b)(6) of
the Code, (v) has not, and at the Effective Time will not have, issued any stock
or securities as part of a multiple  party  financing  transaction  described in
Internal  Revenue Service Notice 97-21,  1997-11 I.R.B. 2, and (vi) will be, for
the taxable year ended December 31, 1997 and at the Effective Time, a "Qualified
Real Estate  Investment  Trust" of which Eagle Bank will be for the taxable year
ended  December  31,  1997 and at the  Effective  Time,  a  "Qualified  Dividend
Recipient"  (as those terms are defined in Connecticut  Public Act 97-119,  1997
Ct. ALS 119,  1997 Ct. P.A.  119,  1997 Ct. SB 1205).  As of December  31, 1997,
persons  (not  including  Eagle Bank or any person  that is a "related  person,"
employee  or  director  of  Eagle  Bank)  will  have  outstanding  cash  capital
contributions to Eagle Funding Corp. that, in the aggregate, exceed 5 percent of
the fair  market  value of the  aggregate  "real  estate  assets,"  valued as of
December 31, 1997,  then held by Eagle Funding Corp.  (as such terms are used in
Connecticut Public Act 97-119,  1997 Ct. ALS 119, 1997 Ct. P.A. 119, 1997 Ct. SB
1205).

                                      -18-

<PAGE>



     3.11 EMPLOYEE PLANS.

         (a) Section 3.11(a) of the Eagle Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a true
and complete list of each  employee  benefit plan (within the meaning of Section
3(3)  of the  Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of  1974,  as  amended
("ERISA")),  arrangement or agreement that is maintained or contributed to as of
the  date of this  Agreement,  or that  has  within  the  last  six  years  been
maintained or contributed  to, by Eagle or any of its  Subsidiaries or any other
entity which together with Eagle would be deemed a "single  employer" within the
meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or Code  Sections  414(b),  (c), (m) or (o) (an
"ERISA Affiliate") or under which Eagle or any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate has
any liability (collectively, the "Plans").

         (b) Eagle has heretofore  made  available to Webster true,  correct and
complete  copies of each of the Plans and all related  documents,  including but
not limited to (i) the actuarial  report for such Plan (if  applicable)  for the
last year, (ii) the most recent  determination  letter from the Internal Revenue
Service  (if  applicable)  for  such  Plan,   (iii)  the  current  summary  plan
description and any summaries of material modification,  (iv) all annual reports
(Form 5500  series)  for each Plan filed for the  preceding  plan year,  (v) all
agreements with fiduciaries and service providers relating to the Plan, and (vi)
all  substantive  correspondence  relating  to any  such  Plan  addressed  to or
received from the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor, the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental agency.

         (c)  Except as set forth at  Section  3.11(c)  of the Eagle  Disclosure
Schedule,  (i) each of the  Plans  has been  operated  and  administered  in all
material respects in compliance with applicable Laws,  including but not limited
to ERISA and the Code, (ii) each of the Plans intended to be "qualified"  within
the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, (iii) with respect to
each Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA,  the  present  value of accrued
benefits under such Plan, based upon the actuarial  assumptions used for funding
purposes in the most recent  actuarial  report  prepared by such Plan's  actuary
with respect to such Plan, did not, as of its latest valuation date,  exceed the
then  current  value  of the  assets  of such  Plan  allocable  to such  accrued
benefits,  and there has not been a  material  adverse  change in the  financial
condition of such Plans,  (iv) no Plan  provides  benefits,  including,  without
limitation,  death or medical benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to
current  or former  employees  of Eagle or any  Eagle  Subsidiary  beyond  their
retirement or other

                                      -19-

<PAGE>


termination of service,  other than (w) coverage mandated by applicable Law, (x)
death benefits or retirement  benefits under a Plan that is an "employee pension
plan,"  as  that  term  is  defined  in  Section  3(2) of  ERISA,  (y)  deferred
compensation  benefits under a Plan that are accrued as liabilities on the books
of Eagle or any  Eagle  Subsidiary,  or (z)  benefits  the full cost of which is
borne by the current or former employee (or his beneficiary),  (v) Eagle and its
Subsidiaries  have  reserved the right to amend,  terminate  and modify any Plan
providing  post-retirement death or medical benefits, (vi) no material liability
under Title IV of ERISA has been incurred by Eagle,  any Eagle Subsidiary or any
ERISA  Affiliate that has not been  satisfied in full,  and no condition  exists
that  presents  a material  risk to Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary  incurring  a
material  liability  thereunder,  (vii) none of Eagle,  its  Subsidiaries or any
ERISA  Affiliate  has  incurred,  and Eagle does not expect that any such entity
will incur, any withdrawal  liability with respect to a  "multiemployer  pension
plan" (as such term is  defined  in Section  3(37) of ERISA)  under  Title IV of
ERISA,  or  any  material  liability  in  connection  with  the  termination  or
reorganization  of a multiemployer  pension plan,  (viii) all  contributions  or
other amounts payable by Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary as of the Effective Time
with  respect to each Plan and all other  liabilities  of each such  entity with
respect to each Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been paid or
accrued in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  practices and Section
412 of the Code,  (ix) neither Eagle nor any Eagle  Subsidiary  has engaged in a
transaction in connection with which Eagle or any Eagle Subsidiary is subject to
either a material  civil penalty  assessed  pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of
ERISA or a material  tax imposed  pursuant to Section  4975 or 4976 of the Code,
(x) to the knowledge of Eagle,  there are no pending,  threatened or anticipated
claims (other than routine  claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any
of the Plans or any trusts related thereto, (xi) no Plan, program,  agreement or
other arrangement, either individually or collectively, provides for any payment
by Eagle or any  Eagle  Subsidiary  that  would  not be  deductible  under  Code
Sections 162(a)(1), 162(m) or 404 or that would constitute a "parachute payment"
within the meaning of Code Section 280G, nor is there outstanding under any such
Plan, program, agreement or arrangement, any limited stock appreciation right or
any similar right or instrument that could reasonably be expected to prevent the
Merger from being accounted for as a pooling-of-interests, (xii) no "accumulated
funding  deficiency," as defined in Section 302(a)(2) of ERISA or Section 412 of
the Code,  whether  or not  waived,  and no  "unfunded  current  liability,"  as
determined  under Section  412(l) of the Code,  exists with respect to any Plan,
and (xiii) no Plan has experienced a "reportable event" (as such term is defined
in  Section  4043(c)  of ERISA)  that is

                                      -20-

<PAGE>



not  subject  to an  administrative  or  statutory  waiver  from  the  reporting
requirement.

     3.12 CERTAIN CONTRACTS.

         (a)  Except  as set  forth  at  Section  3.12 of the  Eagle  Disclosure
Schedule,  neither Eagle nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to or bound by
any contract,  arrangement  or commitment  (i) with respect to the employment of
any  directors,  officers,  employees  or  consultants,  (ii)  which,  upon  the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement or the Bank
Merger  Agreement  will (either alone or upon the  occurrence of any  additional
acts or events)  result in any payment  (whether of severance  pay or otherwise)
becoming  due from  Webster,  Eagle,  Eagle Bank,  Webster  Bank or any of their
respective  Subsidiaries  to any director,  officer or employee  thereof,  (iii)
which materially restricts the conduct of any line of business by Eagle or Eagle
Bank or of any  current or future  affiliates  thereof,  (iv) with or to a labor
union or guild (including any collective bargaining  agreement),  (v) (including
any stock option plan, stock appreciation rights plan,  restricted stock plan or
stock  purchase  plan) any of the  benefits of which will be  increased,  or the
vesting of the benefits of which will be  accelerated,  by the occurrence of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Bank Merger Agreement,
or the value of any of the benefits of which will be  calculated on the basis of
any of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or the  Bank  Merger
Agreement,  (vi)  that is  material  and is not made in the  ordinary  course of
business or pursuant to which Eagle or any of its  Subsidiaries is or may become
obligated to invest in or contribute  capital to any Eagle  Subsidiaries,  (vii)
not fully disclosed in the financial statements contemplated by Section 3.6 that
relates to borrowings  of money (or  guarantees  thereof by Eagle,  or any Eagle
Subsidiary), other than in the ordinary course of business, or (viii) is a lease
or similar  arrangement  with annual rental payments of $100,000 or more.  Eagle
has previously delivered or made available to Webster true, correct and complete
copies of all  employment,  consulting and deferred  compensation  agreements to
which Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.  Section 3.12(a) of the Eagle
Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a list of all material  contracts (as defined in
Item  601(b)(10) of Regulation  S-K) of Eagle.  Each  contract,  arrangement  or
commitment  of the type  described in this Section  3.12(a),  whether or not set
forth in Section 3.12(a) of the Eagle Disclosure Schedule, is referred to herein
as a  "Eagle  Contract,"  and  neither  Eagle  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
received notice of, nor do any executive  officers of such entities know of, any
violation  or  imminent  violation  of any Eagle  Contract  by any  other  party
thereto.

                                      -21-

<PAGE>



         (b) (i) Each Eagle  Contract is valid and binding and in full force and
effect,  (ii) Eagle and each of its  Subsidiaries  has in all material  respects
performed  all  obligations  required to be  performed  by it to date under each
Eagle  Contract,  and (iii) no event or condition  exists which  constitutes or,
after notice or lapse of time or both, would  constitute,  a material default on
the part of Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries under any such Eagle Contract.

     3.13 AGREEMENTS WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES.

     Neither  Eagle nor Eagle Bank is subject to any  cease-and-desist  or other
order issued by, or is a party to any written  agreement,  consent  agreement or
memorandum  of  understanding  with, or is a party to any  commitment  letter or
similar  undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has been
a recipient of any  extraordinary  supervisory  letter from,  or has adopted any
board  resolutions at the request of (each,  whether or not set forth on Section
3.13  of  the  Eagle  Disclosure  Schedule,  a  "Regulatory   Agreement"),   any
Governmental  Entity that  restricts  the conduct of its business or that in any
manner relates to its capital adequacy,  its credit policies,  its management or
its  business,  nor has Eagle or Eagle  Bank been  advised  by any  Governmental
Entity that it is considering issuing or requesting any Regulatory Agreement.

     3.14 STATE TAKEOVER LAWS; CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.

     The Board of  Directors of Eagle has approved the offer of Webster to enter
into this Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement and the Option Agreement, and has
approved Eagle's entering into this Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement and the
Option Agreement, and the transactions contemplated thereby, such that under the
DGCL (including,  without limitation,  Section 203 thereof) and Eagle's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation  (including,  without limitation,  Articles 10, 12,
and 13 thereof) the only vote of Eagle stockholders  necessary to consummate the
transactions  contemplated hereby (including the Bank Merger and, subject to any
additional  vote of Eagle  stockholders  required  pursuant to Article 13 of the
Eagle Restated  Certificate of Incorporation,  the transactions  contemplated by
the Option  Agreement)  is the approval of the holders of at least a majority of
the outstanding Eagle Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Eagle Meeting
or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

                                      -22-

<PAGE>


     3.15 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

         (a) Each of Eagle and the Eagle  Subsidiaries  is in  compliance in all
material  respects with all  applicable  federal and state laws and  regulations
relating to  pollution  or  protection  of the  environment  (including  without
limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases and
threatened  releases  of  Hazardous  Material  (as  hereinafter  defined)),   or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials;

         (b)  There is no suit,  claim,  action,  proceeding,  investigation  or
notice  pending  or to the  knowledge  of  Eagle's  and Eagle  Bank's  executive
officers  threatened (or to the knowledge of Eagle's and Eagle Bank's  executive
officers past or present actions or events that could  reasonably be expected to
form the basis of any such suit,  claim,  action,  proceeding,  investigation or
notice),  in which Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary  has been or, with  respect to
threatened suits, claims,  actions,  proceedings,  investigations or notices may
be, named as a defendant (x) for alleged  material  noncompliance  (including by
any predecessor), with any environmental law, rule or regulation or (y) relating
to any  material  release or  threatened  release  into the  environment  of any
Hazardous  Material,  whether or not occurring at or on a site owned,  leased or
operated (directly or indirectly in a fiduciary  capacity) by Eagle or any Eagle
Subsidiary;

         (c) To the  knowledge of Eagle's and Eagle Bank's  executive  officers,
there has not been any release of Hazardous Materials in, on, under or affecting
any such property;

         (d) To the  knowledge of Eagle's and Eagle Bank's  executive  officers,
neither Eagle nor any Eagle  Subsidiary has made or  participated in any loan to
any person who is subject to any suit, claim, action, proceeding,  investigation
or notice,  pending or  threatened,  with  respect to (i) any  alleged  material
noncompliance as to any property securing such loan with any environmental  law,
rule or  regulation,  or (ii) the  release or the  threatened  release  into the
environment of any Hazardous Material at any property securing such loan.

         (e) For purposes of this section 3.15,  the term  "Hazardous  Material"
means  any  hazardous  waste,  petroleum  product,   polychlorinated   biphenyl,
chemical, pollutant,  contaminant,  pesticide, radioactive substance, lead paint
or other toxic  material,  or other  material or  substance  (in each such case,
other than small quantities of such substances in retail 

                                      -23-

<PAGE>


containers)  regulated  under any  applicable  environmental  or  public  health
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation.

     3.16 RESERVES FOR LOSSES.

     All reserves or other  allowances for possible losses  reflected in Eagle's
most recent  financial  statements  referred to in Section 3.6 complied with all
Laws and are adequate under GAAP. Neither Eagle nor Eagle Bank has been notified
by the OTS, the FDIC, any other regulatory  authority or by Eagle's  independent
auditor, in writing or otherwise,  that such reserves are inadequate or that the
practices and policies of Eagle or Eagle Bank in establishing  such reserves and
in accounting for delinquent and classified assets generally fail to comply with
applicable accounting or regulatory requirements, or that the OTS, the FDIC, any
other regulatory authority or Eagle's independent auditor believes such reserves
to be inadequate or inconsistent with the historical loss experience of Eagle or
Eagle  Bank.  Eagle has  previously  furnished  or made  available  to Webster a
complete list of all  extensions of credit and other real estate owned  ("OREO")
that have been classified by any bank examiner (regulatory or internal) as other
loans  specially  mentioned,  special  mention,  substandard,   doubtful,  loss,
classified  or  criticized,  credit  risk  assets,  concerned  loans or words of
similar  import.  All OREO held by Eagle or Eagle Bank is being  carried  net of
reserves at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

     3.17 PROPERTIES AND ASSETS.

     Section 3.17 of the Eagle Disclosure  Schedule lists as of the date of this
Agreement (i) all real property owned by Eagle and each Eagle  Subsidiary;  (ii)
each real property lease,  sublease or installment purchase arrangement to which
Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary is a party;  (iii) a description of each contract
for the  purchase,  sale,  or  development  of real estate to which Eagle or any
Eagle  Subsidiary  is a party;  and  (iv) all  items  of  Eagle's  or any  Eagle
Subsidiary's  tangible  personal  property  and  equipment  with a book value of
$50,000 or more or having any annual  lease  payment of $25,000 or more.  Except
for (a) items reflected in Eagle's consolidated  financial statements as of June
30, 1997 referred to in Section 3.6 hereof,  (b) exceptions to title that do not
interfere materially with Eagle's or any Eagle Subsidiary's use and enjoyment of
owned or leased real  property  (other than  OREO),  (c) liens for current  real
estate taxes not yet  delinquent,  or being  contested  in good faith,  properly
reserved against,  (d) properties and assets sold or transferred in the ordinary
course of business  consistent  with past practices since June 30, 1997, and (e)
items listed in Section 3.17 of the Eagle  Disclosure  Schedule, 

                                      -24-

<PAGE>


Eagle  and each  Eagle  Subsidiary  have good and,  as to owned  real  property,
marketable and insurable title to all their properties and assets,  reflected in
the  consolidated  financial  statements of Eagle as of June 30, 1997,  free and
clear of all liens, claims, charges and other encumbrances. Eagle and each Eagle
Subsidiary,  as lessees,  have the right under  valid and  subsisting  leases to
occupy,  use and possess all property  leased by them. All properties and assets
used by Eagle and each Eagle  Subsidiary  are in good  operating  condition  and
repair  (subject to ordinary wear and tear)  suitable for the purposes for which
they are  currently  utilized and comply in all material  respects with all Laws
relating  thereto now in effect.  Eagle and each Eagle Subsidiary enjoy peaceful
and  undisturbed  possession  under all leases for the use of all property under
which  they  are the  lessees,  and all  leases  to  which  Eagle  or any  Eagle
Subsidiary is a party are valid and binding  obligations in accordance  with the
terms  thereof.  Neither Eagle nor any Eagle  Subsidiary is in material  default
with  respect to any such lease,  and there has  occurred no default by Eagle or
Eagle Bank or event  which  with the lapse of time or the  giving of notice,  or
both,  would  constitute a material  default under any such lease.  There are no
Laws,  conditions  of record,  or other  impediments  which  interfere  with the
intended  use by Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary  of any of the  property  owned,
leased, or occupied by them.

     3.18 INSURANCE.

     Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in Article II-A,  Section 3.18 of
the Eagle Disclosure  Schedule contains a true, correct and complete list of all
insurance  policies  and bonds  maintained  by Eagle  and any Eagle  Subsidiary,
including the name of the insurer, the policy number, the type of policy and any
applicable  deductibles.  The  existing  insurance  carried  by Eagle  and Eagle
Subsidiaries  is and will  continue to be, in respect of the nature of the risks
insured against and the amount of coverage  provided,  substantially  similar in
kind and amount to that customarily  carried by parties  similarly  situated who
own properties and engage in businesses  substantially  similar to that of Eagle
and the Eagle  Subsidiaries,  and is sufficient  for compliance by Eagle and the
Eagle Subsidiaries with all requirements of Law and agreements to which Eagle or
any of the Eagle Subsidiaries is subject or is party. True, correct and complete
copies of all such  policies  and bonds  reflected  at Section 3.18 of the Eagle
Disclosure  Schedule,  as in effect on the date hereof,  have been  delivered or
made available to Webster.

                                      -25-

<PAGE>


     3.19 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

     Each of  Eagle  and any  Eagle  Subsidiary  has  complied  in all  material
respects  with all Laws  applicable  to it or to the  operation of its business.
Neither Eagle nor any Eagle  Subsidiary  has received any notice of any material
alleged or threatened  claim,  violation,  or liability under any such Laws that
has not heretofore been cured and for which there is no remaining liability.

     3.20 LOANS.

     As of the date hereof:

         (a) All loans owned by Eagle or any Eagle Subsidiary, or in which Eagle
or any Eagle  Subsidiary has an interest,  comply in all material  respects with
all Laws, including, but not limited to, applicable usury statutes, underwriting
and  recordkeeping  requirements  and the Truth in Lending Act, the Equal Credit
Opportunity  Act and the  Real  Estate  Procedures  Act,  and  other  applicable
consumer protection statutes and the regulations thereunder.

         (b) All loans owned by Eagle or any Eagle Subsidiary, or in which Eagle
or any Eagle Subsidiary has an interest,  have been made or acquired by Eagle in
all  material  respects  in  accordance  with  board of  director-approved  loan
policies.  Each of Eagle and each Eagle Subsidiary holds mortgages  contained in
its loan  portfolio  for its own  benefit  to the extent of its  interest  shown
therein;  such mortgages  evidence liens having the priority  indicated by their
terms,  subject,  as of the date of recordation or filing of applicable security
instruments,  only to such  exceptions as are  discussed in attorneys'  opinions
regarding title or in title insurance policies in the mortgage files relating to
the loans secured by real property or are not material as to the  collectability
of such loans;  and all loans owned by Eagle and each Eagle  Subsidiary are with
full recourse to the borrowers,  and each of Eagle and any Eagle  Subsidiary has
taken no action  which  would  result in a waiver or  negation  of any rights or
remedies available against the borrower or guarantor, if any, on any loan, other
than in the ordinary  course of business.  All applicable  remedies  against all
borrowers and guarantors are enforceable except as may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency,  moratorium or other similar laws  affecting  creditors'  rights and
except as may be limited by the  exercise  of  judicial  discretion  in applying
principles  of  equity.  Except as set  forth at  Section  3.20(b)  of the Eagle
Disclosure  Schedule,  all loans  purchased or  originated by Eagle or any Eagle
Subsidiary and subsequently sold by Eagle or any Eagle Subsidiary have been sold
without 

                                      -26-

<PAGE>


recourse to Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary  and without any liability  under any
yield maintenance or similar  obligation.  True,  correct and complete copies of
loan  delinquency  reports as of September  30, 1997  prepared by Eagle and each
Eagle  Subsidiary,  which reports  include all loans  delinquent or otherwise in
default,  have been  furnished or made available to Webster.  True,  correct and
complete  copies of the currently  effective  lending  policies and practices of
Eagle and each Eagle  Subsidiary  also have been  furnished or made available to
Webster.

         (c)  Except as set forth in  Section  3.20(c)  of the Eagle  Disclosure
Schedule,  each  outstanding  loan  participation  sold by  Eagle  or any  Eagle
Subsidiary  was sold with the risk of  non-payment of all or any portion of that
underlying loan to be shared by each  participant  (including Eagle or any Eagle
Subsidiary)  proportionately  to the  share  of such  loan  represented  by such
participation  without any recourse of such other lender or participant to Eagle
or any Eagle  Subsidiary  for payment or  repurchase  of the amount of such loan
represented by the  participation  or liability  under any yield  maintenance or
similar  obligation.  Eagle and any Eagle Subsidiary have properly  fulfilled in
all material respects its contractual responsibilities and duties in any loan in
which it acts as the lead lender or servicer  and has  complied in all  material
respects with its duties as required under applicable regulatory requirements.

         (d) Eagle and each Eagle  Subsidiary have properly  perfected or caused
to be properly  perfected all security  interests,  liens, or other interests in
any collateral securing any loans made by it.

     3.21 OWNERSHIP OF WEBSTER COMMON STOCK.

     Except  as set forth at  Section  3.21 of the  Eagle  Disclosure  Schedule,
neither Eagle nor any of its directors, officers, 10% or greater stockholders or
affiliates (i) beneficially own,  directly or indirectly,  or (ii) is a party to
any  agreement,  arrangement  or  understanding  for the  purpose of  acquiring,
holding, voting or disposing of, in each case, any shares of outstanding capital
stock of Webster (other than those  agreements,  arrangements or  understandings
specifically contemplated hereby).

     3.22 EAGLE DRIP.

     Eagle has  suspended  the Eagle  DRIP  such that from the date  hereof,  no
issuances  or  purchases  of Eagle  Common  Stock  

                                      -27-

<PAGE>


under the  Eagle  DRIP  shall be  permitted,  nor  shall  any other  obligations
thereunder accrue.

     3.23 FAIRNESS OPINION.

     Eagle has received an opinion from Sandler  O'Neill to the effect that,  in
its  opinion,  the  Exchange  Ratio  pursuant to this  Agreement  is fair to the
holders of Eagle Common Stock from a financial point of view.

     3.24 TAX AND ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF MERGER.

     As of the date of this  Agreement,  Eagle is not aware of any fact or state
of affairs  that could cause the Merger not to be treated as a  "reorganization"
under  Section  368(a)  of the  Code or to  qualify  for  "pooling-of-interests"
accounting treatment.

     3.25 RIGHTS AGREEMENT.

     Subject to the  execution of an  amendment  to the Eagle  Rights  Agreement
which has been  approved  by Eagle's  Board of  Directors  and shall be executed
promptly  after  the date of this  Agreement,  Eagle  has taken or will take all
action  (including,  if required,  redeeming all of the outstanding Eagle Rights
issued  pursuant to the Eagle Rights  Agreement or amending or  terminating  the
Eagle Rights  Agreement)  so that the entering  into of this  Agreement  and the
Option Agreement and the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
and  thereby do not and will not result in the grant of any rights to any person
under the Eagle  Rights  Agreement  or enable or require the Eagle  Rights to be
exercised, distributed or triggered.

     3.26 EAGLE INFORMATION.

     The  information  relating to Eagle and its  Subsidiaries to be provided by
Eagle  to  be  contained  in  the  Joint  Proxy   Statement/Prospectus  and  the
Registration  Statement will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact  necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the  circumstances  in which they are made, not  misleading.  The Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus (except for such portions thereof that relate only to
Webster or any of its  Subsidiaries)  will comply in all material  respects with
the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

                                      -28-

<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE IV
                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF WEBSTER

     Webster,  on behalf of itself and Webster Bank,  hereby makes the following
representations and warranties to Eagle as set forth in this Article IV, each of
which is being relied upon by Eagle as a material  inducement  to enter into and
perform this Agreement.

     4.1 CORPORATE ORGANIZATION.

         (a) Webster is a corporation  duly organized,  validly  existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Webster has the corporate
power and  authority  to own or lease all of its  properties  and  assets and to
carry on its  business  as it is now being  conducted,  and is duly  licensed or
qualified  to do  business  in each  jurisdiction  in which  the  nature  of the
business  conducted  by it or the  character or location of the  properties  and
assets owned or leased by it makes such  licensing or  qualification  necessary.
Webster is duly  registered  as a savings and loan holding  company with the OTS
under HOLA. The Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  and By-Laws of Webster,
copies of which have previously been made available to Eagle, are true,  correct
and  complete  copies  of such  documents  as in  effect  as of the date of this
Agreement.

         (b) Webster Bank is a federal  savings bank  chartered by the OTS under
the laws of the United States with its main office in the State of  Connecticut.
Webster Bank has the  corporate  power and  authority to own or lease all of its
properties and assets and to carry on business as is now being conducted, and is
duly  licensed or  qualified  to do business in each  jurisdiction  in which the
nature of the  business  conducted  by it or the  character  or  location of the
properties   and  assets  owned  or  leased  by  it  makes  such   licensing  or
qualification  necessary.  The Charter and  By-Laws of Webster  Bank,  copies of
which have  previously  been made  available  to Eagle,  are true,  correct  and
complete copies of such documents as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

     4.2 CAPITALIZATION.

         (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of  Webster  as of the date  hereof
consists of  30,000,000  shares of Webster  Common  Stock,  of which  13,554,224
shares were  outstanding  (net of 83,639 treasury  shares) at September 30, 1997
and  3,000,000  shares  of serial  preferred  stock,  par  value  $.01 per share
("Webster  Preferred  Stock"),  14,000  of  which  are  designated  as  Series C
Preferred  Stock,  none of which were outstanding at 

                                      -29-

<PAGE>


September 30, 1997.  At such date,  there were options  outstanding  to purchase
754,744 shares of Webster Common Stock. All of the issued and outstanding shares
of Webster  Common Stock have been duly  authorized  and validly  issued and are
fully  paid,  nonassessable  and free of  preemptive  rights,  with no  personal
liability  attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the date of this Agreement,
except  as set  forth  above,  Webster  does not  have  and is not  bound by any
outstanding  subscriptions,  options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements
of any  character  calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of Webster
Common  Stock or  Webster  Preferred  Stock or any other  equity  securities  of
Webster  or any  securities  representing  the right to  purchase  or  otherwise
receive any shares of Webster  Common Stock or Webster  Preferred  Stock,  other
than (i) a warrant to purchase  300,000 shares of Webster Common Stock issued to
Fleet Financial Group and a contingent payment  arrangement with Fleet Financial
Group as  described  in the Form 8-K filed by Webster  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  for such  event,  (ii)  pursuant  to that  certain  Rights
Agreement  between  Webster  and  American  Stock  Transfer & Trust Co and (iii)
pursuant to that  certain  Escrow  Agreement  between  Webster,  American  Stock
Transfer & Trust Co., as Escrow Agent, and certain former shareholders of Sachem
Trust  National  Association.  The shares of Webster  Common  Stock to be issued
pursuant to the Merger are duly  authorized and, at the Effective Time, all such
shares will be validly issued, fully paid,  nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.

         (b) The  authorized  capital  stock of Webster  Bank  consists of 2,000
shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share,  1,000 of which are issued and
outstanding, and 1,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, none
of which is issued or  outstanding.  The  outstanding  shares of common stock of
Webster  Bank  are  owned by  Webster  free and  clear  of all  liens,  charges,
encumbrances and security interests whatsoever,  and all of such shares are duly
authorized  and  validly  issued  and  fully  paid,  nonassessable  and  free of
preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to ownership thereof.

     4.3 AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION.

         (a)  Webster  has full  corporate  power and  authority  to execute and
deliver  this  Agreement  and  the  Option   Agreement  and  to  consummate  the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Option  Agreement  and the  consummation  of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly approved
by the Board of  Directors  of Webster.  Except for 

                                      -30-

<PAGE>


the adoption and approval of this Agreement by the requisite vote of the Webster
stockholders,  no  other  corporate  proceedings  on the  part  of  Webster  are
necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been, and the Option  Agreement will be, duly and validly executed and delivered
by Webster and  (assuming  due  authorization,  execution and delivery by Eagle)
this  Agreement   constitutes  a  valid  and  binding   obligation  of  Webster,
enforceable  against Webster in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement
may be limited by general principles of equity whether applied in a court of law
or a court of equity and by  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and similar law  affecting
creditors' rights and remedies generally.

         (b) Webster Bank has full corporate  power and authority to execute and
deliver  the  Bank  Merger   Agreement  and  to  consummate   the   transactions
contemplated  thereby.  The execution and delivery of the Bank Merger  Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  thereby will be duly and
validly  approved by the Board of Directors of Webster  Bank,  and by Webster as
the sole  stockholder of Webster Bank prior to the Effective Time. All corporate
proceedings on the part of Webster Bank necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated  thereby will have been taken prior to the Effective Time. The Bank
Merger Agreement,  upon execution and delivery by Webster Bank, will be duly and
validly   executed  and  delivered  by  Webster  Bank  and  will  (assuming  due
authorization,  execution  and  delivery by Eagle Bank)  constitute  a valid and
binding  obligation  of  Webster  Bank,  enforceable  against  Webster  Bank  in
accordance  with its  terms,  except as  enforcement  may be  limited by general
principles of equity whether  applied in a court of law or a court of equity and
by  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and similar laws  affecting  creditors'  rights and
remedies generally.

         (c) Neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement or the Option
Agreement  by Webster or the Bank  Merger  Agreement  by Webster  Bank,  nor the
consummation by Webster or Webster Bank, as the case may be, of the transactions
contemplated  hereby or thereby,  nor  compliance by Webster or Webster Bank, as
the case may be, with any of the terms or provisions hereof or thereof, will (i)
violate any provision of the Restated  Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of
Webster or the Charter or By-Laws of Webster  Bank,  as the case may be, or (ii)
assuming  that the  consents and  approvals  referred to in Section 4.4 are duly
obtained,  (x) violate any Laws  applicable to Webster or Webster Bank or any of
their respective properties or assets, or (y) violate,  conflict with, result in
a breach of any  provision  of or the loss of any benefit  under,  constitute  a
default  (or an event  which,  with  notice  or lapse  of time,  or

                                      -31-

<PAGE>


both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right
of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or
result in the creation of any lien, pledge,  security interest,  charge or other
encumbrance  upon any of the  respective  properties  or  assets of  Webster  or
Webster Bank under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond,
mortgage,   indenture,  deed  of  trust,  license,  lease,  agreement  or  other
instrument  or  obligation  to which  Webster or Webster Bank is a party,  or by
which  they or any of their  respective  properties  or  assets  may be bound or
affected.

     4.4 REGULATORY APPROVALS.

         (a)  Except  for  (i)  the  filing  of  applications  and  notices,  as
applicable, as to the Merger and the Bank Merger with the OTS under HOLA and the
Bank Merger Act and approval of such  applications and notices,  (ii) the filing
with the SEC of a  registration  statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of
Webster Common Stock to be issued in connection  with the Merger  (including the
shares of Webster  Common  Stock  that may be issued  upon the  exercise  of the
options  referred to in Section 1.6 hereof),  which will include the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, (iii) the approval of this Agreement by the requisite vote
of the  stockholders  of Eagle  and the  requisite  approval,  if any,  of Eagle
stockholders  in  connection  with the Option  Agreement  pursuant  to the Eagle
Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation,  (iv) the approval of this Agreement by
the  requisite  vote of the  stockholders  of  Webster,  (v) the  filing  of the
Certificate  of Merger with the  Secretary of State of Delaware  pursuant to the
DGCL,  (vi) the filings in  connection  with the Bank Merger  Agreement  and the
transactions  contemplated  thereby and (vii) such filings and  approvals as are
required  to be made or  obtained  under the  securities  or "Blue  Sky" laws of
various  states or with Nasdaq (or such other  exchange as may be applicable) in
connection  with the issuance of the shares of Webster  Common Stock pursuant to
this Agreement, no consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any
Governmental  Entity are  necessary in  connection  with (1) the  execution  and
delivery  by  Webster  of this  Agreement  and  the  Option  Agreement,  (2) the
performance  by  Webster of this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  (3) the  execution  and  delivery  by Webster  Bank of the Bank  Merger
Agreement,  and  (4)  the  consummation  by  Webster  Bank  of the  transactions
contemplated by the Bank Merger Agreement except for such consents, approvals or
filings the failure of which to obtain will not have a material  adverse  effect
on the ability of Eagle to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.

                                      -32-

<PAGE>


         (b) Webster  hereby  represents  to Eagle that,  as of the date of this
Agreement,  it has no knowledge of any reason why approval or  effectiveness  of
any of the applications, notices or filings referred to in Section 4.4(a) cannot
be obtained or granted on a timely basis.

         (c)  Webster  and  Webster   Bank  have  timely   filed  all   reports,
registrations and statements,  together with any amendments  required to be made
with respect  thereto,  that they were required to file since December 31, 1993,
with any  Regulatory  Agencies.  As of its  respective  date,  each such report,
registration, statement and amendment complied in all material respects with all
rules and regulations  promulgated by the applicable  Regulatory  Agency and did
not contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading.  Except for normal examinations  conducted by a Regulatory Agency in
the  regular  course  of the  business  of  Webster  and  its  Subsidiaries,  no
Governmental  Entity  is  conducting,   or  has  conducted,  any  proceeding  or
investigation  into the business or  operations  of Webster  since  December 31,
1993.

     4.5 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; EXCHANGE ACT FILINGS; BOOKS AND RECORDS.

     Webster has previously delivered to Eagle true, correct and complete copies
of (i) the  audited  consolidated  statements  of  condition  of Webster and its
Subsidiaries  as of  December  31 for the  fiscal  years  1995  and 1996 and the
related  audited  consolidated  statements of income,  changes in  shareholders'
equity and cash flows for the fiscal  years 1994  through  1996,  inclusive,  as
reported  in  Webster's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
December  31,  1996  filed  with the SEC under the  Exchange  Act,  in each case
accompanied  by the audit report of KPMG Peat Marwick  LLP,  independent  public
accountants  with  respect  to  Webster;  and  (ii) the  unaudited  consolidated
statements of condition of Webster and its  Subsidiaries as of June 30, 1997 and
1996 and the related  unaudited  consolidated  statements of income,  changes in
shareholders'  equity and cash flows for the interim periods ended June 30, 1997
and 1996, as reported on Webster's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended June 30, 1997 filed with the SEC under the  Exchange  Act.  The  financial
statements  referred to in this Section 4.5 (including the related notes,  where
applicable) fairly present,  and the financial statements referred to in Section
6.8  hereof  will  fairly  present  (subject,  in  the  case  of  the  unaudited
statements,  to recurring audit  adjustments  normal 

                                      -33-

<PAGE>


in  nature  and  amount),  the  results  of  the  consolidated   operations  and
consolidated  financial  condition  of  Webster  and  its  Subsidiaries  for the
respective  fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth; each
of such statements  (including the related notes, where applicable)  comply, and
the  financial  statements  referred to in Section 6.8 hereof will comply,  with
applicable accounting  requirements and with the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect  thereto;  and each of such  statements  (including  the
related notes, where applicable) has been, and the financial statements referred
to in Section 6.8 hereof will be, prepared in accordance with GAAP  consistently
applied  during the periods  involved,  except as indicated in the notes thereto
or, in the case of unaudited  statements,  as permitted by Form 10-Q.  Webster's
Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996 and all
subsequently filed reports under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act comply in all material  respects with the
appropriate  requirements  for such reports  under the Exchange Act, and Webster
has previously  delivered or made available to Eagle true,  correct and complete
copies of such  reports.  The books and records of Webster and Webster Bank have
been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP
and any other  applicable  legal and  accounting  requirements  and reflect only
actual transactions.

     4.6 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.

     (a) Except as  disclosed in  Webster's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal  year ended  December  31,  1996 and all  reports  subsequently  filed by
Webster under  Sections  13(a),  13(e),  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act,  true,
correct and  complete  copies of which have  previously  been  delivered or made
available to Eagle,  since  December 31, 1996,  no event has occurred  which has
had, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Webster.

     (b) Since September 30, 1996,  Webster and its Subsidiaries have carried on
their  respective  businesses in the ordinary and usual course  consistent  with
their past practices.

     4.7 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW.

     Webster and each Webster  Subsidiary has complied in all material  respects
with all Laws  applicable  to it or to the  operation of its  business.  Neither
Webster nor any Webster  Subsidiary  has  received  any notice of any alleged or
threatened claim,  violation of or liability or potential  responsibility  under
any such  Laws that has not  heretofore  been  cured  and for which  there is no
remaining liability.

                                      -34-

<PAGE>


     4.8 OWNERSHIP OF EAGLE COMMON STOCK; AFFILIATES AND ASSOCIATES.

     (a) Except for this Agreement, neither Webster nor any of its affiliates or
associates (as such terms are defined under the Exchange Act), (i)  beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, or (ii) is a party to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding for the purpose of acquiring,  holding, voting or disposing of, in
each case,  more than five percent of the  outstanding  capital  stock of Eagle,
excluding  the shares of Eagle  Common  Stock  issuable  pursuant  to the Option
Agreement to be executed subsequent to the execution of the Agreement.

     4.9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

     Webster has  heretofore  made  available for  inspection,  or delivered (if
requested) to Eagle true,  correct and complete copies of each employee  benefit
plan  arrangement  or  agreement  that  is  maintained  as of the  date  of this
Agreement  (the  "Webster  Plans")  by Webster  or any of its  Subsidiaries.  No
"accumulated  funding  deficiency"  as defined in Section  302(a)(2) of ERISA or
Section  412 of the  Code,  whether  or not  waived,  and no  "unfunded  current
liability" as determined under Section 412(l) of the Code exists with respect to
any Webster Plan.  The Webster Plans are in compliance in all material  respects
with the applicable requirements of ERISA and the Code.

     4.10 AGREEMENTS WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES.

     Neither   Webster   nor  any  of  its   affiliates   is   subject   to  any
cease-and-desist  or  other  order  issued  by,  or is a  party  to any  written
agreement,  consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party
to any commitment  letter or similar  undertaking to, or is subject to any order
or directive by, or has been a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter
from, or has adopted any board  resolutions at the request of (each,  whether or
not set forth on Section 4.10 of the Webster Disclosure  Schedule, a "Regulatory
Agreement"),  any Governmental Entity that restricts the conduct of its business
or that in any manner relates to its capital adequacy,  its credit policies, its
management or its business,  nor has Webster or Webster Bank been advised by any
Governmental  Entity that it is considering issuing or requesting any Regulatory
Agreement.

     4.11 TAX AND ACCOUNTING TREATMENT OF MERGER.

     As of the date of this Agreement, Webster is not aware of any fact or state
of affairs  that could cause the Merger not to be treated as a  "reorganization"
under  Section 

                                      -35-

<PAGE>


368(a)  of  the  Code  or  to  qualify  for  "pooling-of-interests"   accounting
treatment.

     4.12 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

     (a) Neither  Webster  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to any,  and
there are no pending or threatened, legal, administrative,  arbitration or other
proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any
nature against Webster or any of its Subsidiaries in which there is a reasonable
probability of any material  recovery  against or other material  adverse effect
upon  Webster or any of its  Subsidiaries  or which  challenge  the  validity or
propriety of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  the Bank Merger
Agreement or the Option Agreement as to which there is a reasonable  probability
of success.

     (b) There is no injunction, order, judgment or decree imposed upon Webster,
any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of Webster or any of its Subsidiaries.

     4.13 RESERVES FOR LOSSES.

     All reserves or other allowances for possible losses reflected in Webster's
most recent  financial  statements  referred to in Section 4.5 complied with all
Laws and are  adequate  under GAAP.  Neither  Webster nor Webster  Bank has been
notified by the OTS,  the FDIC,  any other  regulator  authority or by Webster's
independent  auditor,  in  writing  or  otherwise,  that the  reserves  or other
allowances for possible loan losses reflected in Webster's most recent financial
statements  referred to in Section 4.5 are  inadequate or that the practices and
policies  of  Webster or  Webster  Bank in  establishing  such  reserves  and in
accounting for delinquent  and classified  assets  generally fail to comply with
applicable accounting or regulatory  requirements or that the OTS, the FDIC, any
other  regulatory  authority  or Webster's  independent  auditor  believes  such
reserves to be inadequate or inconsistent with the historical loss experience of
Webster or Webster Bank. Webster has previously  furnished Eagle with a complete
list of all OREO that have been  classified by any bank examiner  (regulatory or
internal) as other loans  specially  mentioned,  special  mention,  substandard,
doubtful, loss, classified or criticized, credit risk assets, concerned loans or
words of similar  import.  All OREO held by  Webster  or  Webster  Bank is being
carried net of reserves at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

                                      -36-

<PAGE>


     4.14 BROKER'S FEES.

     Neither  Webster nor any  Webster  Subsidiary  nor any of their  respective
officers  or  directors  has  employed  any  broker or finder  or  incurred  any
liability for any broker's fees, commissions or finder's fees in connection with
any  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  the  Bank  Merger
Agreement or the Option Agreement, except that Webster has engaged, and will pay
a fee or  commission  to Merrill,  Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner & Smith  Incorporated
("Merrill  Lynch") in accordance  with the terms of a letter  agreement  between
Merrill Lynch and Webster,  dated October 21, 1997, a true, complete and correct
copy of which has been  previously  delivered  or made  available  by Webster to
Eagle.

     4.15 FAIRNESS OPINION.

     Webster has received an opinion from Merrill  Lynch to the effect that,  in
its opinion,  the Exchange  pursuant to this Agreement is fair to Webster from a
financial point of view.

     4.16 TAXES.

     Each of Webster and its Subsidiaries  has duly filed all material  Federal,
state,  local and foreign Tax Returns  required to be filed by it on or prior to
the date hereof (all such  returns  being  accurate and complete in all material
respects) and has duly paid or made  provisions  for the payment of all material
Taxes  which  have  been  incurred  or are due or  claimed  to be due from it by
Federal,  state,  local and foreign  taxing  authorities on or prior to the date
hereof.  All liability with respect to the income tax returns of Webster and its
Subsidiaries  has been  satisfied  for all  years  to and  including  1996.  The
Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") has not  notified  Webster of, or  otherwise
asserted,  that there are any material  deficiencies  with respect to the income
tax  returns of  Webster.  There are no  material  disputes  pending,  or claims
asserted for, Taxes or assessments upon Webster or any of its Subsidiaries,  nor
has  Webster  or any of its  Subsidiaries  been  requested  to give any  waivers
extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any Federal, state or
local income tax return for any period.

     4.17 WEBSTER INFORMATION.

     The information  relating to Webster and its Subsidiaries to be provided by
Webster  to be  contained  in  the  Joint  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  and  the
Registration  Statement will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact  necessary to make the statements  therein, 

                                      -37-

<PAGE>


in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.  The Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus (except for such portions thereof that relate only to
Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries)  will comply in all material respects with the
provisions  of the Exchange Act and the rules and  regulations  thereunder.  The
Registration  Statement will comply in all material respects with the provisions
of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

                                    ARTICLE V
                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

     5.1 COVENANTS OF EAGLE.

     During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing  until the
Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement,
the Bank Merger  Agreement or the Option  Agreement,  or with the prior  written
consent  of  Webster,  Eagle  and each  Eagle  Subsidiary  shall  carry on their
respective  businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practices and
consistent  with prudent banking  practices.  Eagle will use its reasonable best
efforts  to (x)  preserve  its  business  organization  and  that of each  Eagle
Subsidiary intact, (y) keep available to itself and Webster the present services
of the employees of Eagle and each Eagle  Subsidiary and (z) preserve for itself
and Webster the goodwill of the customers of Eagle and each Eagle Subsidiary and
others with whom business  relationships  exist. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, and except as set forth in the Eagle Disclosure Schedule or as
otherwise  contemplated by this Agreement or consented to by Webster in writing,
Eagle shall not, and shall not permit any Eagle Subsidiary to:

         (a) declare or pay any  dividends  on, or make other  distributions  in
respect  of,  any of its  capital  stock
(except for the payment of regular  quarterly  cash  dividends by Eagle of $0.25
per share on the Eagle Common Stock with  declaration,  record and payment dates
corresponding  to the quarterly  dividends  paid by Eagle during its fiscal year
ended  September 30, 1996 and except that any Eagle  Subsidiary  may declare and
pay dividends and  distributions to Eagle).  Until the Effective Time, Eagle and
Webster shall  coordinate  with the other  declaration of any dividends or other
distributions  with  respect to the Eagle  Common  Stock and the Webster  Common
Stock and the record  dates and payment  dates  relating  thereto,  it being the
intention of the parties that holders of shares of Eagle Common Stock or Webster
Common  Stock shall not receive more than one  dividend,  or fail to receive one
dividend,  for any single calendar quarter on their shares of Eagle Common Stock
(including

                                      -38-

<PAGE>


any shares of Webster Common Stock received in exchange  therefor in the Merger)
or Webster Stock, as the case may be.

         (b) (i) split, combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock or
issue,  authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of,
in lieu of or in  substitution  for shares of its capital  stock except upon the
exercise or fulfillment  of rights or options  issued and  outstanding as of the
date hereof  pursuant to the Eagle Stock Plans in accordance  with their present
terms, and except pursuant to the Option Agreement,  or (ii) repurchase,  redeem
or otherwise acquire (except for the acquisition of Trust Account Shares and DPC
Shares,  as such terms are defined in Section  1.4(c)  hereof) any shares of the
capital stock of Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary,  or any securities  convertible
into or  exercisable  for any shares of the capital  stock of Eagle or any Eagle
Subsidiary;

         (c) issue,  deliver or sell,  or  authorize  or propose  the  issuance,
delivery  or  sale  of,  any  shares  of its  capital  stock  or any  securities
convertible  into or  exercisable  for,  or any  rights,  warrants or options to
acquire, any such shares, or enter into any agreement with respect to any of the
foregoing,  other than (i) the issuance of Eagle Common Stock  pursuant to stock
options or similar rights to acquire Eagle Common Stock granted  pursuant to the
Eagle Stock Plans and outstanding  prior to the date of this Agreement,  in each
case in  accordance  with their  present  terms and (ii)  pursuant to the Option
Agreement;

         (d) amend its Restated  Certificate of Incorporation,  By-Laws or other
similar governing documents;

         (e)  authorize or permit any of its officers,  directors,  employees or
agents to, directly or indirectly,  solicit, initiate or encourage any inquiries
relating  to,  or  the  making  of  any  proposal  from,  hold   discussions  or
negotiations  with or provide any  information  to, any person,  entity or group
(other than Webster) concerning any Acquisition  Transaction (as defined below);
provided,  however,  that Eagle may, and may  authorize and permit its officers,
directors,  employees or agents to, provide or cause to be provided  information
and  may  participate  in such  discussions  or  negotiations  if the  Board  of
Directors of Eagle,  after having  consulted  with and  considered the advice of
outside counsel,  has determined that the failure to provide such information or
participate in such  negotiations or discussions could cause the members of such
Board of Directors to breach their fiduciary duties under applicable laws. Eagle
shall  promptly  communicate  to Webster  the  material  terms of any  proposal,
whether written or oral, which it may receive 

                                      -39-

<PAGE>


in  respect  of any  such  Acquisition  Transaction  and  whether  it is  having
discussions or negotiations with a third party about an Acquisition  Transaction
or  providing  information  in  connection  with,  or  which  may  lead  to,  an
Acquisition  Transaction with a third party. Eagle will promptly cease and cause
to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations previously
conducted  with any  parties  other  than  Webster  with  respect  to any of the
foregoing. As used in this Agreement,  "Acquisition  Transaction" shall mean any
offer, proposal or expression of interest relating to (i) any tender or exchange
offer involving Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary,  (ii) merger,  consolidation  or
other business combination involving Eagle or any Eagle Subsidiary, or (iii) the
acquisition in any manner of a substantial  equity interest in, or a substantial
portion of the assets,  out of the  ordinary  course of  business,  of, Eagle or
Eagle  Bank  other  than the  transactions  contemplated  or  permitted  by this
Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement and the Option Agreement;

         (f) make capital expenditures  aggregating in excess of $100,000, other
than related to the matters and in no more than the amounts set forth on Section
5.1(f) of the Eagle Disclosure Schedule;

         (g) enter into any new line of business;

         (h) acquire or agree to acquire,  by merging or consolidating  with, or
by  purchasing  an equity  interest in or the assets of, or by any other manner,
any business or any  corporation,  partnership,  association  or other  business
organization or division thereof or otherwise acquire any assets,  other than in
connection  with  foreclosures,  settlements  in lieu of foreclosure or troubled
loan or debt  restructurings,  or in the ordinary course of business  consistent
with prudent banking practices;

         (i) take any action that is intended or may  reasonably  be expected to
result in any of its  representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement
being or becoming  untrue or in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in
Article VII not being  satisfied,  or in a violation  of any  provision  of this
Agreement  or the  Bank  Merger  Agreement,  except,  in every  case,  as may be
required by applicable Law;

         (j) change its methods of  accounting  in effect at September  30, 1996
except as required by changes in GAAP or  regulatory  accounting  principles  as
concurred to by Eagle's independent auditors;

                                      -40-

<PAGE>


         (k)  (i)  except  as  required  by   applicable   law  or  to  maintain
qualification  pursuant to the Code,  adopt,  amend,  renew  (other than through
operation of evergreen  provisions  or renewals of the  agreements  set forth in
Section 5.1(k) of the Eagle Disclosure  Schedule  consistent with past practice)
or terminate  any Plan or any  agreement,  arrangement,  plan or policy  between
Eagle  or any  Eagle  Subsidiary  and  one or  more  of its  current  or  former
directors,  officers or employees,  (ii) other than normal  annual  increases in
pay, consistent with past practice,  for employees not subject to an employment,
change  of  control  or  severance   agreement,   increase  in  any  manner  the
compensation  of any employee or director or pay any benefit not required by any
Plan or  agreement  as in  effect  as of the  date  hereof  (including,  without
limitation, the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted
stock, restricted stock units or performance units or shares), (iii) enter into,
modify or renew  (other  than  through  operation  of  evergreen  provisions  or
renewals of the agreements  set forth in Section 5.1(k) of the Eagle  Disclosure
Schedule consistent with past practice) any contract,  agreement,  commitment or
arrangement  providing for the payment to any  director,  officer or employee of
compensation or benefits,  other than normal annual increases in pay, consistent
with past  practice,  for  employees  not  subject to an  employment,  change of
control or severance agreement, and except for the retention and incentive bonus
arrangements described on Section 5.1(k) of the Eagle Disclosure Schedule,  (iv)
hire any new employee at an annual  compensation  in excess of $30,000,  (v) pay
expenses of any  employees or directors  for  attending  conventions  or similar
meetings which conventions or meetings are held after the date hereof, except as
set forth on Section 5.1(k) of the Eagle Disclosure Schedule,  (vi) promote to a
rank of vice  president or more senior any employee,  or (vii) pay any retention
or other bonuses to any employees  except for the retention and incentive  bonus
arrangements described on Section 5.1(k) of the Eagle Disclosure Schedule;

         (l) incur any  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money,  assume,  guarantee,
endorse or otherwise as an accommodation  become responsible for the obligations
of any other individual,  corporation or other entity other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;

         (m)  except as set  forth in  Section  5.1(m)  of the Eagle  Disclosure
Schedule,  sell,  purchase,  enter  into a lease,  relocate,  open or close  any
banking or other office,  or file an application  pertaining to such action with
any Governmental Entity;

                                      -41-

<PAGE>


         (n) make any equity investment or commitment to make such an investment
in  real  estate  or in any  real  estate  development  project,  other  than in
connection with  foreclosure,  settlements in lieu of  foreclosure,  or troubled
loan or debt  restructuring,  in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past banking practices;

         (o) make any new loans to, modify the terms of any existing loan to, or
engage in any other transactions (other than routine banking transactions) with,
any Affiliated Person of Eagle or any Eagle Subsidiary;

         (p) make any investment,  or incur deposit  liabilities,  other than in
the ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past  practices,  or make any
equity investments;

         (q)  except as set  forth in  Section  5.1(q)  of the Eagle  Disclosure
Schedule,  purchase  any loans or sell,  purchase  or lease  any real  property,
except for the sale of real  estate  that is the  subject of a casualty  loss or
condemnation or the sale of OREO on a basis consistent with past practices;

         (r) originate (i) any loans except in  accordance  with existing  Eagle
Bank lending policies, (ii) unsecured consumer loans in excess of $10,000, (iii)
commercial  real estate first  mortgage or other  commercial  loans in excess of
$250,000 as to any loan or $500,000 in the  aggregate  as to related  loans,  or
loans to related persons, or (iv) land acquisition loans to borrowers who intend
to  construct  a  residence  on such land in excess of the  lesser of 75% of the
appraised value of such land or $100,000,  except in each case for (A) loans for
which written  commitments have been issued by Eagle Bank as of the date hereof,
as disclosed in Section 5.1(r) of the Eagle Disclosure Schedule, (B) renewals of
loans existing as of the date of this Agreement or loans  permitted  pursuant to
this Section 5.1(r) and (C) increases in the principal  amount of loans existing
as of the date of this  Agreement,  subject  to a limit of 30% of the  principal
amount of such loans as of the date of this Agreement or $500,000,  whichever is
less.

         (s) make any  investments  in any equity or  derivative  securities  or
engage  in  any  forward  commitment,  futures  transaction,  financial  options
transaction,   hedging  or  arbitrage   transaction  or  covered  asset  trading
activities or make any investments in any investment security with a maturity of
greater than one year;

         (t) sell or purchase any mortgage loan servicing rights; or

                                      -42-

<PAGE>


         (u) agree or commit to do any of the actions set forth in clauses (a) -
(t) of this Section 5.1.

The  consent of Webster to any action by Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary  that is
not permitted by any of the preceding  paragraphs  shall be evidenced  only by a
writing  signed by the President or any Executive  Vice President of Webster or,
in the case of 5.1(r), the Chief Credit Policy Officer of Webster.

     5.2 COVENANTS OF WEBSTER.

     During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing  until the
Effective Time, except as expressly  contemplated or permitted by this Agreement
or with Eagle's prior written  consent,  Webster shall not, and shall not permit
Webster Bank to:

         (a)  take  any   action   that  will   result   in  any  of   Webster's
representations  and warranties  set forth in this  Agreement  being or becoming
untrue or any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being
satisfied  or in a violation  of any  provision  of this  Agreement  or the Bank
Merger  Agreement,  except, in every case, as may be required by applicable Law;
or

         (b) take any other  action that would  materially  adversely  affect or
materially  delay the  ability of Webster  to obtain  the  Requisite  Regulatory
Approvals or otherwise  materially adversely affect Webster's and Webster Bank's
ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     5.3 MERGER COVENANTS.

     Notwithstanding  that Eagle believes that it has  established  all reserves
and  taken  all  provisions  for  possible  loan  losses  required  by GAAP  and
applicable laws,  rules and regulations,  Eagle recognizes that Webster may have
adopted   different  loan,   accrual  and  reserve   policies   (including  loan
classifications  and levels of  reserves  for  possible  loan  losses).  In that
regard,  and in  general,  from  and  after  the date of this  Agreement  to the
Effective Time, Eagle and Webster shall consult and cooperate with each other in
order to formulate  the plan of  integration  for the Merger,  including,  among
other  things,  with respect to  conforming  immediately  prior to the Effective
Time, based upon such  consultation,  Eagle's loan, accrual and reserve policies
to those policies of Webster to the extent consistent with GAAP; provided,  that
any change in Eagle's  policies  in  connection  with such  matters  need not be
effected until Webster  irrevocably agrees in writing that (i) all conditions to
Webster's  obligation to consummate  the Merger

                                      -43-

<PAGE>


have been satisfied, (ii) that Webster will waive any and all rights that it may
have to terminate this Agreement and (iii) Webster will complete the Merger.

     5.4 EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER AGREEMENTS.

     Following  the Merger,  Webster  agrees  that it shall  honor the  existing
written  deferred  compensation,  employment,  change of control  and  severance
contracts  with  directors and employees of Eagle and Eagle Bank that are listed
at Section 5.4 of the Eagle  Disclosure  Schedule;  provided,  however,  that
in making the foregoing agreement, Webster will honor such contracts only to the
extent  that,  as  represented  at Section 3.11  hereof,  none of such  deferred
compensation,  employment,  change of control and severance  contracts,  nor any
other Eagle Plan,  program,  agreement or other arrangement under which any such
director or employee is a  beneficiary,  either  individually  or  collectively,
provides  for any  payment  by Eagle or any Eagle  Subsidiary  that would not be
deductible  under Code  Sections  162(a)(1)  or 404 or that would  constitute  a
"parachute  payment"  within the  meaning of Code  Section  280G.  In  addition,
following  the  Merger,  Webster  agrees  that it shall  continue to provide the
benefits set forth in Section 5.4-A of the Eagle Disclosure Schedule as provided
therein.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

          6.1 REGULATORY MATTERS.

         (a) Upon the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement,  Webster and
Eagle (as to  information  to be included  therein  pertaining  to Eagle)  shall
promptly cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC a registration statement of
Webster  on Form  S-4,  including  the  Joint  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  (the
"Registration  Statement")  for the purpose of  registering  the Webster  Common
Stock to be issued in the Merger,  and for  soliciting the adoption and approval
of this  Agreement  and the  Merger by the  stockholders  of Eagle and  Webster.
Webster  and  Eagle  shall  use  their  reasonable  best  efforts  to  have  the
Registration  Statement  declared effective by the SEC as soon as possible after
the filing thereof. The parties shall cooperate in responding to and considering
any questions or comments from the SEC staff regarding the information contained
in the Registration  Statement.  If at any time after the Registration Statement
is filed with the SEC,  and prior to the  Closing  Date,  any event  relating to
Eagle is  discovered by Eagle which should be set forth in an amendment of, or a
supplement   to,  the   Registration   Statement,   including  the  Joint 

                                      -44-

<PAGE>


Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  Eagle shall  promptly  inform  Webster,  and shall
furnish Webster with all necessary information relating to such event, whereupon
Webster  shall  promptly  cause an  appropriate  amendment  to the  Registration
Statement to be filed with the SEC. Upon the  effectiveness  of such  amendment,
each  of  Eagle  and  Webster  (if  prior  to  the  meeting  of  its  respective
stockholders  pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof) will take all necessary  action as
promptly as practicable  to permit an appropriate  amendment or supplement to be
transmitted to its stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting.  Webster shall
also use  reasonable  efforts to obtain all necessary  state  securities  law or
"Blue  Sky"  permits  and  approvals  required  to  carry  out the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement  and the Bank Merger  Agreement and Eagle shall
furnish all information  concerning  Eagle and the holders of Eagle Common Stock
as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action.

         (b) The parties  hereto shall  cooperate  with each other and use their
best efforts to promptly prepare and file all necessary documentation, to effect
all applications,  notices,  petitions and filings, and to obtain as promptly as
practicable all permits,  consents,  approvals and  authorizations  of all third
parties and Governmental Entities which are necessary or advisable to consummate
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement  (including  without limitation
the  Merger  and the Bank  Merger).  Eagle and  Webster  shall have the right to
review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult the other on,
in each case subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange of information,
all the  information  relating  to Eagle or Webster,  as the case may be,  which
appears in any filing made with,  or written  materials  submitted to, any third
party  or  any   Governmental   Entity  in  connection  with  the   transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing contained herein
shall be deemed to provide  either party with a right to review any  information
provided to any Governmental  Entity on a confidential  basis in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby. In exercising the foregoing right, each of
the parties  hereto shall act  reasonably  and as promptly as  practicable.  The
parties  hereto agree that they will consult with each other with respect to the
obtaining of all permits,  consents,  approvals and  authorizations of all third
parties and  Governmental  Entities  necessary or advisable  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and each party will keep the other
apprised of the status of matters  relating to consummation of the  transactions
contemplated herein.

                                      -45-

<PAGE>


         (c) Eagle shall,  upon request,  furnish  Webster with all  information
concerning  Eagle and its directors,  officers and  stockholders  and such other
matters as may be  reasonably  necessary  or advisable  in  connection  with the
Registration  Statement or any other  statement,  filing,  notice or application
made by or on behalf of Webster to any  Governmental  Entity in connection  with
the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         (d) Webster and Eagle shall  promptly  advise each other upon receiving
any  communication  from any  Governmental  Entity whose  consent or approval is
required for  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
which causes such party to believe that there is a  reasonable  likelihood  that
any Requisite Regulatory Approval (as defined in Section 7.1(c) hereof) will not
be obtained or that the receipt of any such approval will be materially delayed.

          6.2 ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

         (a) Upon  reasonable  notice and subject to applicable Laws relating to
the  exchange of  information,  Eagle shall accord to the  officers,  employees,
accountants, counsel and other representatives of Webster, access, during normal
business  hours during the period prior to the  Effective  Time,  to all its and
Eagle Bank's properties,  books, contracts,  commitments and records and, during
such  period,  Eagle shall make  available to Webster (i) a copy of each report,
schedule,  registration  statement  and other  document  filed or received by it
(including  Eagle  Bank)  during such period  pursuant  to the  requirements  of
federal  securities  laws or  federal or state  banking  laws and (ii) all other
information  concerning  its  (including  Eagle Bank)  business,  properties and
personnel as Webster may reasonably request. Webster shall receive notice of all
meetings of the Eagle and Eagle  Bank's Board of  Directors  and any  committees
thereof,  and of any management  committees (in all cases, at least as timely as
all Eagle and Eagle Bank, as the case may be,  representatives  to such meetings
are required to be provided notice). One representative of Webster, who shall be
a senior  officer of Webster,  shall be  permitted to attend all meetings of the
Board of Directors  (except for the portion of such meetings which relate to the
Merger or such other matters  deemed  confidential  ("Confidential  Matters") of
Eagle or Eagle Bank,  as the case may be) and such meetings of committees of the
Board of Directors and management of Eagle and Eagle Bank which Webster desires.
Webster will hold all such  information in confidence to the extent required by,
and in accordance  with, the provisions of the  confidentiality  agreement which
Webster  entered  into with Eagle dated  October 15, 1997 (the  "Confidentiality
Agreement").

                                      -46-

<PAGE>


         (b) Upon  reasonable  notice and subject to applicable Laws relating to
the exchange of  information,  Webster shall afford to the officers,  employees,
accountants,  counsel and other  representatives of Eagle, access, during normal
business  hours  during  the  period  prior  to  the  Effective  Time,  to  such
information  regarding  Webster as shall be  reasonably  necessary  for Eagle to
fulfill its  obligations  pursuant to this  Agreement or which may be reasonably
necessary  for Eagle to  confirm  that the  representations  and  warranties  of
Webster  contained herein are true and correct and that the covenants of Webster
contained herein have been performed in all material  respects.  Eagle will hold
all such  information in confidence to the extent required by, and in accordance
with, the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

         (c) No  investigation  by either  of the  parties  or their  respective
representatives shall affect the representations and warranties of the other set
forth herein.

         (d) Eagle shall provide Webster with true,  correct and complete copies
of all financial and other information  provided to directors of Eagle and Eagle
Bank in  connection  with  meetings of their Boards of  Directors or  committees
thereof.

     6.3 STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS.

     Each of Webster and Eagle shall take all steps necessary to duly call, give
notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its  stockholders  within 40 days after
the Registration  Statement becomes effective for the purpose of voting upon the
approval of this Agreement and the Merger. Management and the Board of Directors
of  each  of  Webster  and  Eagle  shall  recommend  to  Webster's  and  Eagle's
stockholders,  as the case may be,  approval of this  Agreement,  including  the
Merger,  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  together with any matters
incident  thereto;  and in each case shall  oppose any third  party  proposal or
other action that is inconsistent with this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  (subject in each case to compliance with its
fiduciary duties as advised by counsel).  Eagle and Webster shall coordinate and
cooperate with respect to the foregoing matters.

     6.4 LEGAL CONDITIONS TO MERGER.

     Each of Webster and Eagle shall use their  reasonable  best  efforts (a) to
take,  or cause  to be  taken,  all  actions  reasonably  necessary,  proper  or
advisable to comply promptly with all legal requirements which may be imposed on
such party with respect to the Merger and,  subject to the  conditions set

                                      -47-

<PAGE>


forth in Article VII hereof, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement  and (b) to obtain (and to  cooperate  with the other party to obtain)
any  consent,  authorization,  order or approval  of, or any  exemption  by, any
Governmental  Entity and any other  third party which is required to be obtained
by Eagle or Webster  in  connection  with the Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     6.5 STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING.

     Webster shall cause the shares of Webster  Common Stock to be issued in the
Merger and pursuant to options  referred to herein to be approved for  quotation
on the Nasdaq Stock Market  National Market (or such other exchange on which the
Webster Common Stock has become listed,  or approved for listing) prior to or at
the Effective Time.

     6.6 EMPLOYEES.

         (a) To the extent  permissible  under the applicable  provisions of the
Code and ERISA, for purposes of crediting  periods of service for eligibility to
participate and vesting,  but not for benefit accrual  purposes,  under employee
pension  benefit plans (within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(2))  maintained by
Webster or Webster Bank, as applicable,  individuals  who are employees of Eagle
or Eagle Bank at the  Effective  Time will be credited  with  periods of service
with Eagle or Eagle Bank before the Effective Time  (including  service with any
predecessor  employer for which service credit was given under similar  employee
benefit  plans of Eagle or Eagle Bank) as if such  service had been with Webster
or Webster Bank, as applicable. Similar credit shall also be given by Webster or
Webster Bank in calculating other retirement plan, vacation and similar benefits
for such employees of Eagle or Eagle Bank after the Merger. Webster will or will
cause Webster Bank to (i) give credit to employees of Eagle and Eagle Bank, with
respect to the  satisfaction  of the  limitations as to  pre-existing  condition
exclusions  and  waiting  periods  for  participation  and  coverage  which  are
applicable  under the welfare benefit plans of Webster or Webster Bank, equal to
the credit that any such employee had received as of the Effective  Time towards
the  satisfaction  of  any  such  limitations  and  waiting  periods  under  the
comparable  welfare  benefit plans of Eagle and Eagle Bank and (ii) provide each
employee of Eagle and Eagle Bank with credit for any co-payment and  deductibles
paid prior to the Effective Time in satisfying  any deductible or  out-of-pocket
requirements.

         (b) Webster  shall,  and shall cause  Webster Bank to pay  severance to
employees  of Eagle and Eagle  Bank (i) for a 

                                      -48-

<PAGE>


period of one year following the Effective Time, in accordance with the terms of
the  severance  policy  set forth in  Section  6.6(b)  of the  Eagle  Disclosure
Schedule and (ii)  thereafter in accordance with the terms of the severance plan
maintained  by Webster or Webster  Bank,  as the case may be (as in effect  from
time to time).

         (c)  Webster  will cause  Webster  Bank to offer a position  of at-will
employment to each of Eagle Bank's  non-management  branch  office  personnel in
good standing as of the Effective  Time.  Webster will use its  reasonable  best
efforts in connection with reviewing applicants for employment positions to give
Eagle and Eagle Bank  employees  who are not offered  positions at the Effective
Time the same consideration as is afforded Webster or Webster Bank employees for
such positions in accordance with existing formal or informal policies.  Webster
will provide  outplacement  assistance to each Eagle and Eagle Bank employee who
is not offered a position at the Effective Time.

     6.7 INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a) In the event of any  threatened  or  actual  claim,  action,  suit,
proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, in which
any  person  who is now,  or has  been at any  time  prior  to the  date of this
Agreement,  or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, a director or officer or
employee of Eagle or any of its Subsidiaries (the "Indemnified  Parties") is, or
is  threatened  to be,  made a party based in whole or in part on, or arising in
whole  or in part out of,  or  pertaining  to (i) the  fact  that he is or was a
director,  officer or  employee  of Eagle or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of
their respective  predecessors or (ii) this Agreement or the Option Agreement or
any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby or  thereby,  whether in any case
asserted or arising before or after the Effective Time,
the  parties  hereto  agree to  cooperate  and use their best  efforts to defend
against  and  respond  thereto.  It is  understood  and agreed  that,  after the
Effective Time, Webster shall indemnify and hold harmless, as and to the fullest
extent  permitted by  applicable  law, each such  Indemnified  Party against any
losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities,  costs,  expenses (including reasonable
attorney's  fees and expenses in advance of the final  disposition of any claim,
suit,  proceeding  or  investigation  to each  Indemnified  Party to the fullest
extent  permitted by law upon receipt of any undertaking  required by applicable
law),  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement  in connection  with any
such threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation,  and
in the event of any such threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation  (whether asserted or arising before 

                                      -49-

<PAGE>


or after the  Effective  Time),  the  Indemnified  Parties  may  retain  counsel
reasonably  satisfactory to Webster;  provided,  however, that (1) Webster shall
have the right to assume the defense  thereof and upon such  assumption  Webster
shall not be liable to any  Indemnified  Party for any legal  expenses  of other
counsel or any other expenses  subsequently incurred by any Indemnified Party in
connection with the defense thereof, except that if Webster elects not to assume
such  defense or counsel  for the  Indemnified  Parties  reasonably  advises the
Indemnified  Parties  that there are issues  which raise  conflicts  of interest
between Webster and the Indemnified  Parties, the Indemnified Parties may retain
counsel reasonably satisfactory to Webster, and Webster shall pay the reasonable
fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties, (2) Webster shall
be obligated  pursuant to this paragraph to pay for only one firm of counsel for
each  Indemnified  Party, and (3) Webster shall not be liable for any settlement
effected  without  its  prior  written  consent  (which  consent  shall  not  be
unreasonably  withheld  or  delayed).  Any  Indemnified  Party  wishing to claim
indemnification under this Section 6.7, upon learning of any such claim, action,
suit,  proceeding or  investigation,  shall notify  Webster  thereof;  provided,
however,  that the  failure to so notify  shall not affect  the  obligations  of
Webster  under this  Section  6.7 except to the  extent  such  failure to notify
materially  prejudices  Webster.  Webster's  obligations  under this Section 6.7
continue  in full force and effect for a period of six years from the  Effective
Time;  provided,  however,  that all rights to indemnification in respect of any
claim  asserted  or made  within  such  period  shall  continue  until the final
disposition of such claim.

         (b)  Webster  shall use  commercially  reasonable  efforts to cause the
persons  serving as officers  and  directors of Eagle  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time to be covered by a directors' and officers'  liability  insurance
policy  ("Tail  Insurance")  of  substantially  the same  coverage  and  amounts
containing terms and conditions which are generally not less  advantageous  than
Eagle's current policy with respect to acts or omissions  occurring prior to the
Effective  Time which were  committed by such  officers  and  directors in their
capacity as such for a period not less than one year.

         (c) In the  event  Webster  or any of its  successors  or  assigns  (i)
consolidates  with  or  merges  into  any  other  person  and  shall  not be the
continuing or surviving  corporation or entity of such  consolidation or merger,
or (ii)  transfers or conveys all or  substantially  all of its  properties  and
assets to any  person,  then,  and in each such case,  to the extent  necessary,
proper  provision  shall be made so that the  successors  

                                      -50-

<PAGE>


and assigns of Webster assume the obligations set forth in this section.

         (d) The  provisions  of this  Section  6.7 are  intended  to be for the
benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each  Indemnified  Party and his or her
heirs and representatives.

     6.8 SUBSEQUENT INTERIM AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

     As soon as  reasonably  available,  but in no event more than 45 days after
the end of each fiscal quarter (other than the fourth fiscal  quarter),  Webster
will  deliver  to Eagle and Eagle  will  deliver  to  Webster  their  respective
Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q,  as filed with the SEC under the Exchange  Act.
Each party shall  deliver to the other any Current  Reports on Form 8-K promptly
after filing such reports with the SEC.

     6.9 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.

     In case at any  time  after  the  Effective  Time  any  further  action  is
necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this  Agreement,  or to vest
the  Surviving  Corporation  or  the  Surviving  Bank  with  full  title  to all
properties,  assets, rights, approvals,  immunities and franchises of any of the
parties to the Merger,  or the constituent banks to the Bank Merger, as the case
may be, the proper  officers and  directors of each party to this  Agreement and
Webster's and Eagle's  Subsidiaries  shall take all such necessary action as may
be reasonably requested by Webster.

     6.10 ADVICE OF CHANGES.

     Webster  and Eagle shall  promptly  advise the other party of any change or
event that,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  has had or would be reasonably
certain  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on it or to cause or  constitute  a
material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained
herein.  From time to time prior to the Effective Time, each party will promptly
supplement or amend its  disclosure  schedule  delivered in connection  with the
execution of this Agreement to reflect any matter which, if existing,  occurring
or known at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set forth
or  described in such  disclosure  schedule or which is necessary to correct any
information  in such  disclosure  schedule  which has been  rendered  inaccurate
thereby.  No supplement or amendment to such disclosure  schedule shall have any
effect for the purpose of determining  satisfaction  of the conditions set forth
in Sections  7.2(a) or 7.3(a)  hereof,  as the case may be, or the compliance by
Eagle or Webster,

                                      -51-

<PAGE>


as the case may be, with the respective  covenants set forth in Sections 5.1 and
5.2 hereof.

     6.11 CURRENT INFORMATION.

     During the period from the date of this  Agreement to the  Effective  Time,
Eagle will cause one or more of its  designated  representatives  to confer on a
regular and  frequent  basis (not less than  monthly)  with  representatives  of
Webster and to report the general  status of the  ongoing  operations  of Eagle.
Eagle will promptly  notify Webster of any material  change in the normal course
of  business  or in  the  operation  of  the  properties  of  Eagle  and  of any
governmental   complaints,   investigations   or  hearings  (or   communications
indicating that the same may be contemplated),  or the institution or the threat
of litigation  involving  Eagle,  and will keep Webster  fully  informed of such
events.

     6.12 EXECUTION AND AUTHORIZATION OF BANK MERGER AGREEMENT.

     Prior to the Effective  Time,  (a) Webster and Eagle shall each approve the
Bank Merger  Agreement as the sole  stockholder  of Webster Bank and Eagle Bank,
respectively,  and (b) Eagle Bank shall  execute  and  deliver  the Bank  Merger
Agreement.

     6.13 CHANGE IN STRUCTURE.

     Webster may elect to modify the structure of the transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement  as noted  herein  so long as (i) there  are no  adverse  tax
consequences to the Eagle  stockholders as a result of such  modification,  (ii)
the consideration to be paid to the Eagle  stockholders  under this Agreement is
not thereby changed or reduced in amount,  and (iii) such  modification will not
delay or jeopardize receipt of any required regulatory  approvals.  In the event
that the structure of the Merger is modified  pursuant to this Section 6.13, the
parties  agree to modify  this  Agreement  and the  various  exhibits  hereto to
reflect such revised structure. In such event, Webster shall prepare appropriate
amendments  to this  Agreement  and the  exhibits  hereto for  execution  by the
parties  hereto.  Eagle  agrees to  cooperate  fully with Webster to effect such
amendments.

     6.14 TRANSACTION EXPENSES OF EAGLE.

     As promptly as  practicable  after the execution of this  Agreement,  Eagle
will  provide to Webster an estimate of the expenses  Eagle  expects to incur in
connection  with the

                                      -52-

<PAGE>


Merger, and shall keep Webster  reasonably  informed of material changes in such
estimate.

     6.15 AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS.

         (a) Not later than the 15th day prior to the mailing of the Joint Proxy
Statement/Prospectus,  (i)  Webster  shall  deliver to Eagle a schedule  of each
person that, to the best of its knowledge,  is or is reasonably likely to be, as
of the date of the Webster  stockholder  meeting called pursuant to Section 6.3,
deemed to be an "affiliate" of it (each, a "Webster  Affiliate") as that term is
used in SEC Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135; and (ii) Eagle shall deliver
to Webster a schedule of each person that, to the best of its  knowledge,  is or
is  reasonably  likely to be, as of the date of the  Eagle  stockholder  meeting
called  pursuant to Section  6.3,  deemed to be an  "affiliate  of it (each,  an
"Eagle  Affiliate") as that term is used in Rule 145 under the Securities Act or
SEC Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135.

         (b) Each of Eagle and Webster shall use its respective  reasonable best
efforts to cause each  person  who may be deemed to be an Eagle  Affiliate  or a
Webster  Affiliate,  as the case may be, to  execute  and  deliver  to Eagle and
Webster on or before the date of mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus
an  agreement  in  the  form  attached   hereto  as  Exhibit  D  or  Exhibit  E,
respectively.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     7.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER.

     The  respective  obligation  of each party to effect  the  Merger  shall be
subject to the  satisfaction  at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:

         (a) STOCKHOLDER APPROVALS.

         This  Agreement  and the Merger shall have been approved and adopted by
the requisite votes of the Eagle stockholders and the Webster stockholders.

         (b) STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING.

         The shares of Webster  Common Stock which shall be issued in the Merger
(including  the Webster  Common  Stock that may be issued  upon  exercise of the
options referred to in Section 1.6 hereof) upon consummation of the Merger shall
have 

                                      -53-


<PAGE>


been  authorized  for quotation on the Nasdaq Stock Market  National  Market (or
such other exchange on which the Webster Common Stock may become listed).

         (c) OTHER APPROVALS.

         All  regulatory  approvals  required  to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and
effect and all statutory  waiting  periods in respect thereof shall have expired
(all  such  approvals  and the  expiration  of all such  waiting  periods  being
referred to herein as the "Requisite Regulatory Approvals").

         (d) REGISTRATION STATEMENT.

         The  Registration  Statement  shall  have  become  effective  under the
Securities  Act,  and  no  stop  order  suspending  the   effectiveness  of  the
Registration  Statement  shall  have been  issued  and no  proceedings  for that
purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC.

         (e) NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS; ILLEGALITY.

         No  order,  injunction  or  decree  issued  by any  court or  agency of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition (an "Injunction")
preventing  the  consummation  of the  Merger or any of the  other  transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement or the Certificate of Merger shall be in effect.
No  statute,  rule,  regulation,  order,  injunction  or decree  shall have been
enacted,  entered,  promulgated  or enforced by any  Governmental  Entity  which
prohibits,  restricts or makes illegal consummation of the Merger. No proceeding
initiated by any Governmental Entity seeking an Injunction shall be pending.

         (f) FEDERAL TAX OPINION.

         Webster shall have received an opinion from Wachtell,  Lipton,  Rosen &
Katz, counsel to Webster, and Eagle shall have received an opinion from Skadden,
Arps,  Slate,  Meagher  & Flom LLP,  counsel  to  Eagle,  in form and  substance
reasonably satisfactory to Webster or Eagle, respectively, dated the date of the
Effective Time, in each case,  substantially  to the effect that on the basis of
facts,  representations,  and  assumptions  set forth in such opinion  which are
consistent  with the state of facts  existing at the Effective  Time, the Merger
will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a  reorganization 

                                      -54-

<PAGE>


within the  meaning of Section  368(a) of the Code and each of Webster and Eagle
will be a party to the reorganization  with the meaning of Section 368(b) of the
Code and that, accordingly, for federal income tax purposes, (i) no gain or loss
will be recognized  by Webster or Eagle as a result of the Merger,  (ii) no gain
or loss will be recognized by the  stockholders of Eagle who exchange all of the
Eagle  Common  Stock  solely for  Webster  Common  Stock  pursuant to the Merger
(except with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional  share interest in
Webster Common  Stock),  and (iii) the aggregate tax basis of the Webster Common
Stock  received by  stockholders  who  exchange  all of their Eagle Common Stock
solely for Webster  Common Stock  pursuant to the Merger will be the same as the
aggregate tax basis of the Eagle Common Stock  surrendered in exchange  therefor
(reduced by any amount  allocable to a fractional  share interest for which cash
is received).  In rendering such opinion, such counsel shall require and, to the
extent  such   counsel   deems   necessary   or   appropriate,   may  rely  upon
representations  and covenants,  including  those  contained in  certificates of
officers of Eagle, Webster, their respective affiliates and others.

     7.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF WEBSTER.

     The  obligation  of Webster  to effect  the  Merger is also  subject to the
satisfaction  or  waiver by  Webster  at or prior to the  Effective  Time of the
following conditions:

         (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         The representations and warranties of Eagle set forth in this Agreement
shall be true and  correct as of the date of this  Agreement  and (except to the
extent such  representations  and warranties  speak as of an earlier date) as of
the  Closing  Date as  though  made  on and as of the  Closing  Date;  provided,
however,  that  for  purposes  of  this  paragraph,   such  representations  and
warranties  shall be  deemed  to be true and  correct,  unless  the  failure  or
failures  of such  representations  and  warranties  to be so true and  correct,
individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on Eagle.
Such  determination  of aggregate  Material  Adverse  Effect shall be made as if
there were no materiality qualifications in such representations and warranties.
Webster shall have  received a certificate  signed on behalf of Eagle by each of
the President and Chief  Executive  Officer and the Chief  Financial  Officer of
Eagle to the foregoing effect.

         (b) PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF EAGLE

         Eagle shall have  performed in all material  respects all covenants and
agreements  required to be performed  by 

                                      -55-

<PAGE>


it under this  Agreement  at or prior to the Closing  Date.  Webster  shall have
received a  certificate  signed on behalf of Eagle by each of the  President and
Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Eagle to such effect.

         (c) POOLING OF INTERESTS.

         Webster shall have received as of the Effective Time, a written opinion
of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP to the effect that the Merger will be accounted  for as
a pooling-of-interests.

     7.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EAGLE.

     The  obligation  of Eagle to  effect  the  Merger  is also  subject  to the
satisfaction  or  waiver  by  Eagle at or  prior  to the  Effective  Time of the
following conditions:

         (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

         The  representations  and  warranties  of  Webster  set  forth  in this
Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and (except
to the extent such  representations  and warranties speak as of an earlier date)
as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing  Date;  provided,
however,  that  for  purposes  of  this  paragraph,   such  representations  and
warranties  shall be  deemed  to be true and  correct,  unless  the  failure  or
failures  of such  representations  and  warranties  to be so true and  correct,
individually  or in the  aggregate,  would  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on
Webster.  Such  determination of aggregate Material Adverse Effect shall be made
as if there  were no  materiality  qualifications  in such  representations  and
warranties.  Eagle shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Webster
by each of the President  and Chief  Executive  Officer and the Chief  Financial
Officer of Webster to the foregoing effect.

         (b) PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF WEBSTER.

         Webster shall have performed in all material respects all covenants and
agreements  required to be performed  by it under this  Agreement at or prior to
the Closing Date.  Eagle shall have  received a certificate  signed on behalf of
Webster  by each of the  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  and the Chief
Financial Officer of Webster to such effect.

                                      -56-

<PAGE>


         (c) POOLING OF INTERESTS.

         Webster shall have received as of the Effective Time, a written opinion
of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP to the effect that the Merger will be accounted  for as
a pooling-of-interests.
                                  ARTICLE VIII
                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

     8.1 TERMINATION.

     This  Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective  Time,
whether before or after approval of this Agreement by the  stockholders of Eagle
or Webster:

         (a) by mutual consent of Webster and Eagle in a written instrument,  if
the Board of  Directors  of each so  determines  by a vote of a majority  of the
members of its entire Board;

         (b) by either  Webster or Eagle upon written  notice to the other party
(i) 30 days after the date on which any request or  application  for a Requisite
Regulatory  Approval  shall  have been  denied or  withdrawn  at the  request or
recommendation  of the  Governmental  Entity  which must  grant  such  Requisite
Regulatory  Approval,  unless within the 30-day period  following such denial or
withdrawal  the  parties  agree to  file,  and have  filed  with the  applicable
Governmental  Entity,  a  petition  for  rehearing  or an  amended  application,
provided,  however,  that no party  shall  have  the  right  to  terminate  this
Agreement,  if such denial or request or recommendation  for withdrawal shall be
due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate  this  Agreement to perform
or observe the covenants and agreements of such party set forth herein;

         (c) by  either  Webster  or Eagle if the  Merger  shall  not have  been
consummated on or before  September 30, 1998,  unless the failure of the Closing
to occur by such  date  shall be due to the  failure  of the  party  seeking  to
terminate  this  Agreement to perform or observe the covenants and agreements of
such party set forth herein;

         (d) by either Webster or Eagle (provided that the terminating  party is
not in breach of its  obligations  under  Section 6.3 hereof) if the approval of
the stockholders of Eagle or Webster required for the consummation of the Merger
shall not have been  obtained  by reason of the  failure to obtain the  required
vote at the respective  duly held meetings of stockholders or at any adjournment
or postponement thereof;

                                      -57-

<PAGE>


         (e) by either Webster or Eagle (provided that the terminating  party is
not then in breach of any representation,  warranty, covenant or other agreement
contained  herein that,  individually or in the aggregate,  would give the other
party the right to terminate  this  Agreement) if there shall have been a breach
of any of the  representations  or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the
part of the other party, if such breach,  individually or in the aggregate,  has
had or would be  reasonably  certain  to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the
breaching  party,  and such  breach  shall  not have been  cured  within 30 days
following  receipt by the breaching  party of written notice of such breach from
the other party hereto or such breach,  by its nature,  cannot be cured prior to
the Closing;

         (f) by either Webster or Eagle (provided that the terminating  party is
not then in breach of any representation,  warranty, covenant or other agreement
contained  herein that,  individually or in the aggregate,  would give the other
party the right to terminate this Agreement) if there shall have been a material
breach of any of the covenants or agreements  set forth in this Agreement on the
part of the other  party,  and such breach  shall not have been cured  within 30
days following  receipt by the breaching  party of written notice of such breach
from the other party hereto or such breach, by its nature, cannot be cured prior
to the Closing;

         (g) by  either  the  Board of  Directors  of  Webster  or the  Board of
Directors  of Eagle,  if the Board of  Directors  of the other  party shall have
withdrawn,  modified or changed in a manner adverse to the terminating party its
approval or recommendation  of this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated
thereby; and

         (h) by the Board of Directors of Eagle,  upon written notice to Webster
at  any  time  during  the  ten-day   period   commencing  two  days  after  the
Determination  Date (as defined below), if both of the following  conditions are
satisfied:

     (i)  the Average  Closing  Price shall be less than the product of 0.80 and
          the Starting Price; and

     (ii) (A) the quotient obtained by dividing the Average Closing Price by the
          Starting  Price (such number being  referred to herein as the "Webster
          Ratio")  shall be less than (B) the quotient  obtained by dividing the
          Average  Index  Price  by the  Index  Price on the  Starting  Date and
          subtracting 0.15 from the quotient in this clause 

                                      -58-


<PAGE>

     (ii)(B) (such number being referred to herein as the "Index Ratio");

subject,  however, to the following provisions.  If Eagle elects to exercise its
termination right pursuant to the immediately  preceding sentence, it shall give
prompt  written  notice to  Webster;  provided,  however,  that  such  notice of
election to termination  may be withdrawn at any time within the  aforementioned
ten-day period.  During the five-day period  commencing with its receipt of such
notice, Webster shall have the option to elect to increase the Exchange Ratio to
equal the lesser of (i) the  quotient  obtained by  dividing  (A) the product of
0.80,  the Starting  Price and the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) by (B) the
Average  Closing  Price,  and (ii) the  quotient  obtained by  dividing  (A) the
product of the Index Ratio and the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) by (B) the
Webster Ratio. If Webster makes such an election within such five-day period, it
shall give prompt  written  notice to Eagle of such  election and of the revised
Exchange Ratio,  whereupon no termination  shall have occurred  pursuant to this
Section 8.1(h) and this Agreement  shall remain in effect in accordance with its
terms  (except  as the  Exchange  Ratio  shall have been so  modified),  and any
references in this Agreement to "Exchange  Ratio" shall  thereafter be deemed to
refer to the Exchange  Ratio as adjusted  pursuant to this  Section  8.1(h) (and
corresponding  a corresponding  modification  shall be made to the Maximum Share
Amount).

     For purposes of this Section  8.1(h),  the  following  terms shall have the
meanings indicated:

     "Average  Closing Price" means the average of the daily last sale prices of
Webster  Common  Stock as  reported  on Nasdaq (as  reported  in The Wall Street
Journal  or,  if  not  reported   therein,   in  another  mutually  agreed  upon
authoritative  source) for the ten  consecutive  full trading days in which such
shares are traded on Nasdaq ending at the close of trading on the  Determination
Date.

     "Average  Index  Price"  means the average of the Index  Prices for the ten
consecutive   full   trading  days  ending  at  the  close  of  trading  on  the
Determination Date.

     "Determination  Date"  means  the date on  which  the  approval  of the OTS
required for consummation of the Merger shall be received.

     "Index Group" means the 16 savings and loan holding companies listed below,
the common stocks of all of which shall be publicly traded and as to which there
shall not have been, since the Starting Date and before the Determination  Date,
an 

                                      -59-

<PAGE>


announcement  of a proposal  for such company to be acquired or for such company
to acquire another  company or companies in transactions  with a value exceeding
25% of the  acquiror's  market  capitalization  as of the Starting  Date. In the
event that the common stock of any such company ceases to be publicly  traded or
any such  announcement  is made with respect to any such  company,  such company
shall be  removed  from the  Index  Group,  and the  weights  (which  have  been
determined  based  on  the  number  of  outstanding   shares  of  common  stock)
redistributed  proportionately  for purposes of determining the Index Price. The
16 savings and loan holding companies and the weights  attributed to them are as
follows:

     Holding Company                                   Weighting (%)
     ---------------                                   ------------

     Washington Federal...................................12.39
     Bank United Corp......................................8.25
     Peoples Heritage Financial Group......................7.17
     Astoria Financial Corp................................5.48
     Commercial Federal Corp...............................5.63
     Roslyn Bancorp Inc...................................11.39
     St. Paul Bancorp Inc..................................8.91
     Downey Financial Corp.................................6.98
     TR Financial Corp.....................................4.57
     Queens County Bancorp Inc.............................3.94
     Westcorp..............................................6.84
     ALBANK Financial Corp.................................3.36
     MAF Bancorp Inc.......................................4.02
     CFX Corp..............................................6.26
     CitFed Bancorp Inc....................................2.25
     JSB Financial Inc.....................................2.57


     "Index  Price" on a given  date means the  weighted  average  (weighted  in
accordance  with the factors listed above) of the closing prices on such date of
the companies comprising the Index Group.

     "Starting  Date"  means  the last  full day on  which  Nasdaq  was open for
trading prior to the execution of this Agreement.

     "Starting Price" shall mean the last sale price per share of Webster Common
Stock on the  Starting  Date,  as  reported  on Nasdaq (as  reported in The Wall
Street  Journal or, if not reported  therein,  in another  mutually  agreed upon
authoritative source).

     If Webster or any company  belonging to the Index Group declares or effects
a stock  dividend,  reclassification, 

                                      -60-

<PAGE>


recapitalization,   slit-up,   combination,   exchange   of  shares  or  similar
transaction between the Starting Date and the Determination Date, the prices for
the  common  stock of such  company  shall  be  appropriately  adjusted  for the
purposes of applying this Section 8.1(h).

     8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION.

     In the event of termination of this Agreement by either Webster or Eagle as
provided in Section 8.1 hereof,  this Agreement shall forthwith  become void and
have no effect except (i) the last  sentences of Sections  6.2(a) and 6.2(b) and
Sections  8.2,  9.2  and  9.3  hereof  shall  survive  any  termination  of this
Agreement,  and (ii) notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement,  no party  shall be  relieved or  released  from any  liabilities  or
damages  arising out of its willful or  intentional  breach of any  provision of
this Agreement.

     8.3 AMENDMENT.

     Subject to compliance with applicable law, this Agreement may be amended by
the parties hereto,  by action taken or authorized by their  respective Board of
Directors,  at any time before or after  approval of the  matters  presented  in
connection with the Merger by the stockholders of Eagle; provided, however, that
after any approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by Eagle's
stockholders,  there may not be, without further approval of such  stockholders,
any amendment of this Agreement  which reduces the amount or changes the form of
the consideration to be delivered to Eagle stockholders  hereunder other than as
contemplated by this  Agreement.  This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

     8.4 EXTENSION; WAIVER.

     At any time prior to the  Effective  Time,  the parties  hereto,  by action
taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors,  may, to the extent
legally  allowed,  (a)  extend  the  time  for  the  performance  of  any of the
obligations  or  other  acts  of  the  other  parties  hereto,   (b)  waive  any
inaccuracies in the  representations  and warranties  contained herein or in any
document  delivered  pursuant  hereto,  and (c) waive compliance with any of the
agreements or conditions  contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party
hereto to any such  extension  or waiver  shall be valid  only if set forth in a
written  instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver
or  failure  to  insist  on  strict  compliance  with an  obligation,  covenant,
agreement or condition shall not

                                      -61-

<PAGE>


operate as a waiver of, or estoppel  with  respect to, any  subsequent  or other
failure.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     9.1 CLOSING.

     Subject to the terms and conditions of this  Agreement,  the closing of the
Merger  (the  "Closing")  will take place at 10:00 a.m.  at the main  offices of
Webster on (i) the fifteenth day after the last Requisite Regulatory Approval is
received and all  applicable  waiting  periods have expired,  or (ii) such other
date, place and time as the parties may agree (the "Closing Date").

     9.2 NONSURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS.

     None of the representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements in this
Agreement or in any instrument  delivered pursuant to this Agreement (other than
pursuant to the Option  Agreement,  which shall terminate in accordance with its
terms)  shall  survive  the  Effective  Time,  except  for those  covenants  and
agreements  contained  herein and therein which by their terms apply in whole or
in part after the Effective Time.

     9.3 EXPENSES.

     All costs and expenses  incurred in connection  with this Agreement and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall be paid by the  party  incurring  such
expense,  except  that all filing  and other fees paid to the SEC in  connection
with this  Agreement  and  printing  fees in  connection  with the  Joint  Proxy
Statement/Prospectus   shall  be   borne   equally   by   Webster   and   Eagle.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and without limitation of any party's rights under
clause (ii) of Section 8.2, in the event that this  Agreement is  terminated  by
either  Webster or Eagle by reason of a material  breach  pursuant  to  Sections
8.1(e) or (f) hereof, the other party shall pay all documented, reasonable costs
and expenses up to $1,500,000  incurred by the  terminating  party in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

     9.4 NOTICES.

     All  notices  and other  communications  hereunder  shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given if delivered personally, mailed by registered or certified
mail  (return  receipt 

                                      -62-

<PAGE>


requested) or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the parties
at the  following  addresses  (or at such other  address for a party as shall be
specified by like notice):

                           (a)      if to Webster, to:
                                    Webster Financial Corporation
                                    Webster Plaza
                                    145 Bank Street
                                    Waterbury, Connecticut  06702
                                    Attn.:  James C. Smith
                                            Chairman and Chief
                                              Executive Officer

                                    WITH A COPY TO:

                                    Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                                    51 West 52nd Street
                                    New York, New York  10019
                                    Attn.:  Craig M. Wasserman, Esq.

                           and

                           (b)      if to Eagle, to:
                                    Eagle Financial Corp.
                                    222 Main Street
                                    Bristol, CT  06010
                                    Attn.:  Robert J. Britton
                                            President and Chief
                                            Executive Officer

                                    WITH A COPY TO:

                                    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                                    919 Third Avenue, 5th Floor
                                    New York, New York  10022
                                    Attn.:  William S. Rubenstein, Esq.

     9.5 INTERPRETATION.

     When a  reference  is made in  this  Agreement  to  Sections,  Exhibits  or
Schedules,  such reference shall be to a Section of or an Exhibit or Schedule to
this Agreement  unless otherwise  indicated.  The table of contents and headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in any way the meaning or interpretation  of this Agreement.  Whenever the words
"include",  "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement,  they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words  "without  limitation".  No provision of this
Agreement  shall  be  construed  to  require  Webster,  Eagle  or any  of 

                                      -63-

<PAGE>


their  respective  Subsidiaries  or  affiliates  to take any  action  that would
violate any applicable law, rule or regulation.

     9.6 COUNTERPARTS.

     This  Agreement  may be  executed  in  counterparts,  all of which shall be
considered  one  and  the  same  agreement  and  shall  become   effective  when
counterparts  have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other
parties,   it  being  understood  that  all  parties  need  not  sign  the  same
counterpart.

     9.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

     This  Agreement  (including  the  disclosure  schedules,  documents and the
instruments  referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes
all prior  agreements  and  understandings,  both  written  and oral,  among the
parties   with   respect  to  the  subject   matter   hereof,   other  than  the
Confidentiality  Agreement, the Bank Merger Agreement, the Certificate of Merger
and the Option Agreement.

     9.8 GOVERNING LAW.

     This Agreement  shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of  Delaware,  without  regard to any  applicable  conflicts of law
rules.

     9.9 ENFORCEMENT OF AGREEMENT.

     The parties hereto agree that  irreparable  damage would occur in the event
that the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance  with its
specific terms or were  otherwise  breached.  It is accordingly  agreed that the
parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of
this Agreement and to enforce  specifically the terms and provisions  thereof in
any court of the United States or any state having  jurisdiction,  this being in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

     9.10 SEVERABILITY.

     Any term or provision of this Agreement  which is invalid or  unenforceable
in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of  such   invalidity  or   unenforceability   without   rendering   invalid  or
unenforceable  the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting
the  validity  or  enforceability  of any of the  terms  or  provisions  of this
Agreement in any other  jurisdiction.  If any

                                      -64-

<PAGE>


provision of this  Agreement is so broad as to be  unenforceable,  the provision
shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

     9.11 PUBLICITY.

     Except as otherwise required by law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market
National  Market (or such other  exchange on which the Webster  Common Stock may
become  listed),  so long as this  Agreement is in effect,  neither  Webster nor
Eagle shall, or shall permit any of Webster's or Eagle's  Subsidiaries to, issue
or cause the publication of any press release or other public  announcement with
respect to, or otherwise make any public statement concerning,  the transactions
contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  the  Bank  Merger  Agreement  or the  Option
Agreement  without the consent of the other party,  which  consent  shall not be
unreasonably withheld.

     9.12 ASSIGNMENT; LIMITATION OF BENEFITS.

     Neither this  Agreement  nor any of the rights,  interests  or  obligations
hereunder  shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto  (whether by operation
of law or  otherwise)  without the prior written  consent of the other  parties.
Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors
and assigns.  Except as otherwise  specifically  provided in Section 6.7 hereof,
this Agreement  (including the documents and instruments  referred to herein) is
not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties  hereto any rights
or remedies  hereunder,  and the covenants,  undertakings and agreements set out
herein shall be solely for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable only by, the
parties hereto and their permitted assigns.

     9.13 ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS.

     In addition  to any other  definitions  contained  in this  Agreement,  the
following words,  terms and phrases shall have the following  meanings when used
in this Agreement.

     "Affiliated  Person":  any director,  officer or 5% or greater stockholder,
spouse or other person living in the same household of such director, officer or
stockholder, or any company,  partnership or trust in which any of the foregoing
persons is an officer,  10% or greater  stockholder,  general  partner or 10% or
greater trust beneficiary.

     "Laws": any and all statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders,
permits,  judgments,  injunctions, 

                                      -65-

<PAGE>


decrees,  case law and other rules of law enacted,  promulgated or issued by any
Governmental Entity.

     "Material  Adverse  Effect":  with respect to Webster or Eagle, as the case
may be,  means a  condition,  event,  change  or  occurrence  that has had or is
reasonably  certain to have a material  adverse  effect  upon (A) the  financial
condition, results of operations or business of such party and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  or (B) the ability of Webster or Eagle to timely  perform its
obligations  under,  and to consummate the  transactions  contemplated  by, this
Agreement  and the Option  Agreement;  provided,  however,  that in  determining
whether a Material  Adverse  Effect has  occurred  there shall be  excluded  any
effect on the  referenced  party the cause of which is (i) any change in banking
or  similar   laws,   rules  or   regulations   of  general   applicability   or
interpretations thereto by courts or governmental  authorities,  (ii) any change
in  generally   accepted   accounting   principles  or   regulatory   accounting
requirements  applicable to banks, thrifts or their holding companies generally,
(iii) any action or omission of Eagle or Webster or any  Subsidiary of either of
them taken with the prior written consent of Webster or Eagle, as applicable, in
contemplation of the Merger, (iv) any expenses reasonably incurred by such party
in connection with this Agreement or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
(v) any changes in general economic conditions affecting banks, thrifts or their
holding companies generally.

     "Subsidiary": with respect to any party means any corporation,  partnership
or  other  organization,  whether  incorporated  or  unincorporated,   which  is
consolidated with such party for financial reporting purposes.

                                      -66-

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Webster and Eagle have caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as
of the date first above written.


                                     WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION



                                     By: /s/ James C. Smith
                                        --------------------------
                                        Name: James C. Smith
                                        Title: Chairman and Chief 
                                               Executive Officer


                                     EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP.



                                      By: /s/ Robert J. Britton
                                         --------------------------
                                         Name: Robert J. Britton
                                         Title: President and Chief 
                                                Executive Officer



                              [Merger Agreement]





                  THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SUBJECT TO
                   CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED HEREIN AND TO
                          RESALE RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE
                       SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED


     STOCK OPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated October 26, 1997,  between Eagle  Financial
Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Issuer"),  and Webster Financial Corporation,  a
Delaware corporation ("Grantee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Grantee and Issuer have  entered  into an  Agreement  and Plan of
Merger of even date herewith (the "Merger Agreement"),  which agreement has been
executed by the parties hereto  immediately prior to this Stock Option Agreement
(the "Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger Agreement and
in  consideration  therefor,  Issuer has agreed to grant  Grantee the Option (as
hereinafter defined);

     NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement,  the parties hereto
agree as follows:

     1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable option
(the "Option") to purchase,  subject to the terms hereof,  up to 1,256,991 fully
paid and  nonassessable  shares of Issuer's  Common  Stock,  par value $0.01 per
share  ("Common  Stock"),  at a price of $41.25 per share (the "Option  Price");
provided,  however,  that in no event shall the number of shares of Common Stock
for which this Option is  exercisable  exceed 19.9% of the  Issuer's  issued and
outstanding  shares of Common Stock without  giving effect to any shares subject
to or issued  pursuant to the Option.  The number of shares of Common Stock that
may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price are subject
to adjustment as herein set forth.

     (b)  Notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement or the Merger Agreement to
the contrary,  (i) Grantee  acknowledges that, as of the date of this Agreement,
Issuer does not have a sufficient  number of authorized but unreserved shares of
Common Stock  available to fulfill its  obligations  under this  Agreement  with
respect to the issuance of the full number of shares covered by the Option, (ii)
Issuer shall use its best efforts to take any corporate action necessary to cure
such insufficiency  (including,  without  limitation,  using its best efforts to
obtain  any  required  vote  of  Issuer's  stockholders)  at  such  time  as  is
appropriate to preserve  Issuer's rights hereunder (but in


<PAGE>


any  event as  promptly  as  practicable  after  the  occurrence  of an  Initial
Triggering  Event);  and (iii) Grantee agrees that there shall not be any breach
or default under, or any liability of Issuer in respect of, any  representation,
warranty,  covenant  or  agreement  of Issuer in this  Agreement  or the  Merger
Agreement  based solely on the  inability of Issuer to issue such full number of
shares,  or the fact of such  inability,  provided that Issuer has complied with
its obligations set forth in clause (ii) of this Section 1(b).

     (c) In the event that any additional  shares of Common Stock are either (i)
issued or otherwise become  outstanding  after the date of this Agreement (other
than  pursuant to this  Agreement)  or (ii)  redeemed,  repurchased,  retired or
otherwise cease to be outstanding after the date of the Agreement, the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to the Option shall be increased or decreased, as
appropriate,  so that,  after such  issuance,  such number  equals  19.9% of the
number of shares of Common  Stock then  issued and  outstanding  without  giving
effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained
in this Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize
Issuer or Grantee to breach any provision of the Merger Agreement.

     2. (a) The Holder (as  hereinafter  defined) may  exercise  the Option,  in
whole  or part,  and  from  time to time,  if,  but  only  if,  both an  Initial
Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) and a Subsequent  Triggering Event (as
hereinafter  defined) shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise
Termination Event (as hereinafter defined),  provided that the Holder shall have
sent the written  notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this
Section 2) within 90 days following such Subsequent  Triggering  Event.  Each of
the following shall be an "Exercise  Termination  Event": (i) the Effective Time
(as defined in the Merger  Agreement)  of the Merger;  (ii)  termination  of the
Merger  Agreement in accordance with the provisions  thereof if such termination
occurs  prior  to  the  occurrence  of an  Initial  Triggering  Event  except  a
termination  by  Grantee  pursuant  to Section  8.1(e) or Section  8.1(f) of the
Merger Agreement (in each case,  unless the breach by Issuer giving rise to such
right of termination is non-volitional); or (iii) the passage of 12 months after
termination of the Merger Agreement if such  termination  follows the occurrence
of an  Initial  Triggering  Event or is a  termination  by Grantee  pursuant  to
Section 8.1(e) or Section 8.1(f) of the Merger  Agreement (in each case,  unless
the   breach  by  Issuer   giving   rise  to  such  right  of   termination   is
non-volitional).  The term  "Holder"  shall  mean the  holder or  holders of the
Option.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>


     (b) The term  "Initial  Triggering  Event" shall mean any of the  following
events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:

          1. Issuer or any of its  Subsidiaries  (each an "Issuer  Subsidiary"),
     without having received Grantee's prior written consent, shall have entered
     into an agreement to engage in an Acquisition  Transaction  (as hereinafter
     defined) with any person (the term "person" for purposes of this  Agreement
     having the meaning assigned thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules
     and regulations  thereunder)  other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries
     (each a "Grantee  Subsidiary")  or the Board of  Directors  of Issuer shall
     have  recommended  that the  stockholders  of Issuer  approve or accept any
     Acquisition  Transaction.  For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  "Acquisition
     Transaction"  shall  mean (w) a merger  or  consolidation,  or any  similar
     transaction,  involving Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (as defined in
     Rule 1-02 of Regulation  S-X  promulgated  by the  Securities  and Exchange
     Commission  (the  "SEC"))  of  Issuer,  (x)  a  purchase,  lease  or  other
     acquisition or assumption of all or a substantial  portion of the assets or
     deposits of Issuer or any Significant  Subsidiary of Issuer, (y) a purchase
     or other  acquisition  (including  by way of merger,  consolidation,  share
     exchange or otherwise) of securities representing 10% or more of the voting
     power of Issuer, or (z) any substantially  similar  transaction;  provided,
     however, that in no event shall any (i) merger, consolidation,  purchase or
     similar  transaction  involving  only  the  Issuer  and  one or more of its
     Subsidiaries or involving only any two or more of such Subsidiaries or (ii)
     merger or consolidation  as to which the common  stockholders of the Issuer
     immediately  prior  thereto own in the aggregate at least 60% of the common
     stock of the surviving  corporation or its publicly held parent corporation
     immediately  following  consummation thereof be deemed to be an Acquisition
     Transaction,  provided  that any such  transaction  is not entered  into in
     violation of the terms of the Merger Agreement;

          2. Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary,  without having received Grantee's
     prior written  consent,  shall have  authorized,  recommended,  proposed or
     publicly  announced its intention to  authorize,  recommend or propose,  to
     engage in an Acquisition  Transaction with any person other than Grantee or
     a Grantee  Subsidiary,  or the Board of  Directors  of  Issuer  shall  have
     publicly 

                                      -3-

<PAGE>


     withdrawn or modified,  or publicly  announced its intention to withdraw or
     modify,  in any manner  adverse to  Grantee,  its  recommendation  that the
     stockholders of Issuer approve the transactions  contemplated by the Merger
     Agreement in anticipation of engaging in an Acquisition Transaction;

          3. Any person other than Grantee, any Grantee Subsidiary or any Issuer
     Subsidiary  acting in a fiduciary  capacity in the  ordinary  course of its
     business shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership or the right to acquire
     beneficial  ownership  of 10% or more of the  outstanding  shares of Common
     Stock (the term  "beneficial  ownership"  for  purposes  of this  Agreement
     having the meaning  assigned  thereto in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, and
     the rules and regulations thereunder);

          4. Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee  Subsidiary shall have
     made  a  bona  fide  proposal  to  Issuer  or its  stockholders  by  public
     announcement  or written  communication  that is or becomes  the subject of
     public disclosure to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;

          5. After  an  overture  is  made by a third  party  to  Issuer  or its
     stockholders  to engage in an  Acquisition  Transaction,  Issuer shall have
     breached any covenant or obligation  contained in the Merger  Agreement and
     such breach (x) would entitle Grantee to terminate the Merger Agreement and
     (y) shall not have been cured prior to the Notice Date (as defined  below);
     or

          6. Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary, other than
     in  connection  with a  transaction  to which  Grantee  has given its prior
     written consent,  shall have filed an application or notice with the Office
     of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS"), or other federal or state bank or thrift
     regulatory  authority,  which  application  or notice has been accepted for
     processing, for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

     (c) The  term  "Subsequent  Triggering  Event"  shall  mean  either  of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:

          1. The  acquisition  by any person of  beneficial  ownership of 25% or
     more of the then outstanding Common Stock; or

                                      -4-

<PAGE>


          2.  The  occurrence  of the  Initial  Triggering  Event  described  in
     paragraph  (i) of  subsection  (b) of  this  Section  2,  except  that  the
     percentage referred to in clause (y) shall be 25%.

     (d) Issuer shall notify  Grantee  promptly in writing of the  occurrence of
any Initial  Triggering  Event or  Subsequent  Triggering  Event of which it has
notice (together,  a "Triggering Event"), it being understood that the giving of
such  notice by Issuer  shall not be a  condition  to the right of the Holder to
exercise the Option.

     (e) In the event the  Holder is  entitled  to and  wishes to  exercise  the
Option, it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the date of which being herein
referred to as the "Notice  Date")  specifying (i) the total number of shares it
will  purchase  pursuant to such  exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier
than three  business  days nor later than 60 business  days from the Notice Date
for the closing of such purchase (the  "Closing  Date");  provided that if prior
notification to or approval of the OTS or of any other  regulatory  agency or of
Issuer's  stockholders is required in connection with such purchase,  the Holder
shall promptly file the required  notice or  application  for approval and shall
expeditiously  process  the same or use best  efforts to  promptly  obtain  such
stockholder  approval, as the case may be, and the period of time that otherwise
would run pursuant to this sentence shall run instead from the date on which any
required  notification periods have expired or been terminated or such approvals
have been  obtained  and any  requisite  waiting  period or  periods  shall have
passed.  Any  exercise of the Option shall be deemed to occur on the Notice Date
relating thereto.

     (f) At the closing  referred to in  subsection  (e) of this  Section 2, the
Holder shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of Common
Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately  available
funds by wire  transfer to a bank account  designated  by Issuer,  provided that
failure or refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude
the Holder from exercising the Option.

     (g) At such  closing,  simultaneously  with  the  delivery  of  immediately
available  funds as provided in  subsection  (f) of this Section 2, Issuer shall
deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates  representing  the number of
shares of Common  Stock  purchased  by the Holder and,  if the Option  should be
exercised in part only, a new Option evidencing the rights of the Holder thereof
to purchase  the  balance of the shares  purchasable  hereunder,  and the Holder
shall deliver to Issuer a copy of this Agreement and a letter 

                                      -5-

<PAGE>


agreeing  that the Holder  will not offer to sell or  otherwise  dispose of such
shares in violation of applicable law or the provisions of this Agreement.

     (h) Certificates  for Common Stock delivered at a closing  hereunder may be
endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read substantially as follows:

     The transfer of the shares  represented  by this  certificate is subject to
     certain provisions of an agreement between the registered holder hereof and
     Issuer and to resale restrictions arising under the Securities Act of 1933,
     as amended.  A copy of such agreement is on file at the principal office of
     Issuer  and will be  provided  to the holder  hereof  without  charge  upon
     receipt by Issuer of a written request therefor.

It is understood and agreed that:  (i) the reference to the resale  restrictions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),  in the above legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if the Holder  shall have  delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff
of the  SEC,  or an  opinion  of  counsel,  in  form  and  substance  reasonably
satisfactory  to Issuer,  to the effect  that such  legend is not  required  for
purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions of this Agreement
in the above  legend shall be removed by delivery of  substitute  certificate(s)
without such reference if the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance
with the  provisions  of this  Agreement  and  under  circumstances  that do not
require the retention of such  reference;  and (iii) the legend shall be removed
in its entirety if both  conditions  in the  preceding  clauses (i) and (ii) are
satisfied.  In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be
required by law.

     (i) Upon the  giving  by the  Holder to  Issuer  of the  written  notice of
exercise of the Option  provided for under  subsection (e) of this Section 2 and
the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately  available funds, the
Holder  shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon such  exercise,  notwithstanding  that the stock transfer books of
Issuer  shall then be closed or that  certificates  representing  such shares of
Common Stock shall not then be actually  delivered  to the Holder.  Issuer shall
pay all expenses,  and any and all United States federal,  state and local taxes
and other charges that may be payable in connection with the preparation,  issue
and  delivery  of stock  certificates  under  this

                                      -6-

<PAGE>


Section 2 in the name of the Holder or its assignee, transferee or designee.

     3.  Issuer  agrees:  (i) that it shall at all  times  maintain,  free  from
preemptive  rights,  sufficient  authorized  but unissued or treasury  shares of
Common   Stock  so  that  the  Option  may  be  exercised   without   additional
authorization  of  Common  Stock  after  giving  effect  to all  other  options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii)
that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation,
merger,  dissolution or sale of assets,  or by any other voluntary act, avoid or
seek  to  avoid  the   observance  or  performance  of  any  of  the  covenants,
stipulations  or  conditions  to be observed or  performed  hereunder by Issuer;
(iii)  promptly  to take  all  action  as may  from  time  to  time be  required
(including (x) complying with all premerger notification,  reporting and waiting
period requirements  specified in 15 U.S.C. ss. 18a and regulations  promulgated
thereunder  and (y) in the event,  under the Home Owners'  Loan Act of 1933,  as
amended,  (the  "HOLA") or any other  federal or state  banking or thrift law or
regulations  thereunder,  prior approval of or notice to the OTS or to any other
federal or any state regulatory  authority is necessary before the Option may be
exercised,  cooperating  fully with the Holder in preparing such applications or
notices and providing  such  information to the OTS or other federal or any such
state regulatory authority as they may require) in order to permit the Holder to
exercise  the Option and Issuer duly and  effectively  to issue shares of Common
Stock pursuant  hereto;  and (iv) promptly to take all action provided herein to
protect the rights of the Holder against dilution.

     4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable, without
expense,  at the option of the Holder,  upon  presentation and surrender of this
Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements  providing for
Options of different  denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase, on
the same terms and subject to the same  conditions as are set forth  herein,  in
the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  hereunder.
The terms  "Agreement"  and  "Option"  as used herein  include any Stock  Option
Agreements and related  Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
hereby)  may be  exchanged.  Upon  receipt  by  Issuer  of  evidence  reasonably
satisfactory  to it of the  loss,  theft,  destruction  or  mutilation  of  this
Agreement,  and (in the  case of  loss,  theft  or  destruction)  of  reasonably
satisfactory  indemnification,  and  upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of this
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and

                                      -7-

<PAGE>


delivered shall constitute an additional  contractual  obligation on the part of
Issuer,  whether or not the  Agreement so lost,  stolen,  destroyed or mutilated
shall at any time be enforceable by anyone.

     5. In addition to the  adjustment  in the number of shares of Common  Stock
that are  purchasable  upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of this
Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of
the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in this  Section 5. In the event of any change in, or  distributions
in  respect  of,  the  Common  Stock by  reason of stock  dividends,  split-ups,
mergers, recapitalizations,  combinations,  subdivisions, conversions, exchanges
of shares,  distributions  on or in  respect  of the Common  Stock that would be
prohibited  under the terms of the Merger  Agreement,  or the like, the type and
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise hereof and the Option
Price shall be appropriately adjusted in such manner as shall fully preserve the
economic benefits  provided  hereunder and proper provision shall be made in any
agreement governing any such transaction for such proper adjustment and the full
satisfaction of the Issuer's obligations hereunder.

     6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent  Triggering  Event that occurs prior
to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  Issuer  shall,  at the  request of Grantee
delivered within 90 days of such Subsequent Triggering Event (whether on its own
behalf or on behalf of any subsequent holder of this Option (or part thereof) or
any of the shares of Common Stock issued  pursuant  hereto),  promptly  prepare,
file and keep current a shelf registration statement under the 1933 Act covering
this Option and any shares issued and issuable pursuant to this Option and shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause such  registration  statement to become
effective and remain current in order to permit the sale or other disposition of
this Option and any shares of Common Stock issued upon total or partial exercise
of this Option  ("Option  Shares") in  accordance  with any plan of  disposition
requested by Grantee.  Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
registration  statement first to become  effective and then to remain  effective
for  such  period  not in  excess  of 180 days  from  the day such  registration
statement  first  becomes  effective or such  shorter time as may be  reasonably
necessary  to effect such sales or other  dispositions.  Grantee  shall have the
right to demand two such registrations.  The foregoing  notwithstanding,  if, at
the time of any  request by  Grantee  for  registration  of the Option or Option
Shares  as  provided  above,  Issuer  is  in  registration  with  respect  to an
underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock, and if in

                                      -8-

<PAGE>


the good faith judgment of the managing  underwriter  or managing  underwriters,
or,  if  none,  the sole  underwriter  or  underwriters,  of such  offering  the
inclusion  of the Holder's  Option or Option  Shares  would  interfere  with the
successful marketing of the shares of Common Stock offered by Issuer, the number
of  Option  Shares  otherwise  to  be  covered  in  the  registration  statement
contemplated  hereby  may be  reduced;  provided,  however,  that after any such
required  reduction  the number of Option Shares to be included in such offering
for the account of the Holder shall  constitute at least 25% of the total number
of shares to be sold by the  Holder and Issuer in the  aggregate;  and  provided
further,  however,  that if such reduction occurs,  then the Issuer shall file a
registration  statement  for the  balance  as  promptly  as  practicable  and no
reduction shall thereafter occur. Each such Holder shall provide all information
reasonably requested by Issuer for inclusion in any registration statement to be
filed  hereunder.  If  requested  by any such  Holder  in  connection  with such
registration, Issuer shall become a party to any underwriting agreement relating
to the sale of such  shares,  but only to the  extent  of  obligating  itself in
respect  of  representations,   warranties,  indemnities  and  other  agreements
customarily  included in  secondary  offering  underwriting  agreements  for the
Issuer. Upon receiving any request under this Section 6 from any Holder,  Issuer
agrees to send a copy thereof to any other person known to Issuer to be entitled
to  registration  rights under this Section 6, in each case by promptly  mailing
the same,  postage prepaid,  to the address of record of the persons entitled to
receive such copies.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
in no event shall  Issuer be  obligated  to effect  more than two  registrations
pursuant  to this  Section 6 by reason of the fact that there shall be more than
one Grantee as a result of any assignment or division of this Agreement.

     7. (a)  Immediately  prior to the  occurrence  of a  Repurchase  Event  (as
defined  below),  (i) following a request of the Holder,  delivered  prior to an
Exercise  Termination Event,  Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase
the Option from the Holder at a price (the "Option  Repurchase  Price") equal to
the amount by which (A) the  Market/Offer  Price (as defined  below) exceeds (B)
the Option  Price,  multiplied by the number of shares for which this Option may
then be exercised (without reference to any limitation set forth in Section 1(b)
hereof) and (ii) at the request of the owner of Option  Shares from time to time
(the "Owner"), delivered within 90 days of such occurrence (or such later period
as provided in Section 10),  Issuer shall  repurchase  such number of the Option
Shares from the Owner as the Owner shall designate at a price (the "Option Share
Repurchase  Price") equal to the Market/Offer  Price multiplied by the number of
Option 

                                      -9-

<PAGE>


Shares so designated.  The term  "Market/Offer  Price" shall mean the highest of
(i) the  price per share of  Common  Stock at which a tender  offer or  exchange
offer  therefor  has been made,  (ii) the price per share of Common  Stock to be
paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement with Issuer,  (iii) the highest
closing price for shares of Common Stock within the six-month period immediately
preceding  the date the Holder gives notice of the required  repurchase  of this
Option or the Owner gives notice of the required repurchase of Option Shares, as
the case may be, or (iv) in the event of a sale of all or a substantial  portion
of Issuer's  assets,  the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets and
the current  market value of the  remaining  assets of Issuer as determined by a
nationally  recognized  investment  banking  firm  selected by the Holder or the
Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably  acceptable to the Issuer,  divided by
the number of shares of Common Stock of Issuer  outstanding  at the time of such
sale. In determining the Market/Offer  Price,  the value of consideration  other
than cash shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm
selected by the Holder or Owner,  as the case may be, and reasonably  acceptable
to the Issuer.

     (b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may exercise its right to
require Issuer to repurchase  the Option and any Option Shares  pursuant to this
Section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at its principal office, a
copy of this  Agreement  or  certificates  for  Option  Shares,  as  applicable,
accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the Holder or the Owner,
as the case may be, elects to require  Issuer to  repurchase  this Option and/or
the Option  Shares in accordance  with the  provisions of this Section 7. Within
the latter to occur of (x) five  business days after the surrender of the Option
and/or certificates representing Option Shares and the receipt of such notice or
notices  relating  thereto  and (y) the time  that is  immediately  prior to the
occurrence of a Repurchase Event,  Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered
to the Holder the Option  Repurchase  Price and/or to the Owner the Option Share
Repurchase  Price  therefor or the portion  thereof,  if any, that Issuer is not
then prohibited  under applicable law and regulation from so delivering (or with
respect  to which  Issuer is not  required  to give  notice to, or to obtain the
prior   approval   of,  any   regulatory   authority   in  order  to  cause  its
federally-chartered savings bank subsidiary to pay dividends sufficient to allow
it to so deliver) or with  respect to which Issuer does not require the approval
(or has obtained such approval) of its stockholders pursuant to Article Thirteen
of Issuer's Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>


     (c) To the  extent  that  Issuer  is  prohibited  under  applicable  law or
regulation from  repurchasing  (or would be required to give prior notice to, or
to obtain the prior approval of, any regulatory  authority in order to cause its
federally-chartered savings bank subsidiary to pay dividends sufficient to allow
Issuer  to  repurchase),  or  requires  any  approval  of  its  stockholders  to
repurchase,   the  Option  and/or  the  Option  Shares  in  full,  Issuer  shall
immediately  so notify the Holder  and/or  the Owner and  thereafter  deliver or
cause to be delivered,  from time to time,  to the Holder  and/or the Owner,  as
appropriate,  the portion of the Option  Repurchase  Price and the Option  Share
Repurchase Price, respectively,  that it is no longer prohibited from delivering
(or with  respect  to which  Issuer has  received  any  required  funds from its
federally-chartered  savings bank  subsidiary),  within five business days after
the date on which Issuer is no longer so prohibited;  provided, however, that if
Issuer  at any  time  after  delivery  of a notice  of  repurchase  pursuant  to
paragraph (b) of this Section 7 is prohibited under applicable law or regulation
from  delivering (or would be required to give prior notice to, or to obtain the
prior   approval   of,  any   regulatory   authority   in  order  to  cause  its
federally-chartered savings bank subsidiary to pay dividends sufficient to allow
Issuer to repurchase),  or requires any approval of its stockholders to deliver,
to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate,  the Option Repurchase Price and
the Option Share  Repurchase  Price,  respectively,  in full (and Issuer  hereby
undertakes to use its best efforts to obtain such  approval of its  stockholders
and all  required  regulatory  and  legal  approvals  and to file  any  required
notices,  in each case as promptly as  practicable  in order to accomplish  such
repurchase),  the Holder or Owner may revoke  its  notice of  repurchase  of the
Option or the Option Shares either in whole or to the extent of the prohibition,
whereupon,  in the latter case,  Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the Holder
and/or the Owner, as appropriate, that portion of the Option Repurchase Price or
the Option Share  Repurchase Price that Issuer is not prohibited from delivering
(or with  respect  to which  Issuer has  received  any  required  funds from its
federally-chartered savings bank subsidiary);  and (ii) deliver, as appropriate,
either (A) to the Holder, a new Stock Option  Agreement  evidencing the right of
the  Holder to  purchase  that  number of shares  of Common  Stock  obtained  by
multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock for which the surrendered Stock
Option  Agreement  was  exercisable  at the time of  delivery  of the  notice of
repurchase by a fraction,  the numerator of which is the Option Repurchase Price
less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the Holder and the denominator
of which is the Option  Repurchase Price, or (B) to the Owner, a certificate for
the Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>


     (d) For purposes of this  Section 7, a Repurchase  Event shall be deemed to
have occurred (i) upon the consummation of any merger,  consolidation or similar
transaction involving Issuer or any purchase,  lease or other acquisition of all
or a  substantial  portion  of  the  assets  of  Issuer,  other  than  any  such
transaction  which would not constitute an Acquisition  Transaction  pursuant to
the  provisos  to Section  2(b)(i)  hereof or (ii) upon the  acquisition  by any
person of beneficial  ownership of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock,  provided that no such event shall  constitute a Repurchase  Event
unless a Subsequent  Triggering  Event shall have occurred  prior to an Exercise
Termination  Event.  The  parties  hereto  agree that  Issuer's  obligations  to
repurchase  the Option or Option Shares under this Section 7 shall not terminate
upon the  occurrence  of an  Exercise  Termination  Event  unless no  Subsequent
Triggering  Event shall have  occurred  prior to the  occurrence  of an Exercise
Termination Event.

     8. (a) In the event that prior to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  Issuer
shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate  with or merge into any person,
other than Grantee or one of its  Subsidiaries,  and shall not be the continuing
or surviving  corporation of such  consolidation  or merger,  (ii) to permit any
person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries,  to merge into Issuer and
Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but, in connection with
such merger,  the then outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall be changed into
or exchanged  for stock or other  securities  of any other person or cash or any
other property or the then  outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall after such
merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding voting shares and voting share
equivalents of the merged company, or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all or
substantially all of its assets to any person,  other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries,  then,  and in  each  such  case,  the  agreement  governing  such
transaction  shall make  proper  provision  so that the Option  shall,  upon the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein,  be  converted  into,  or  exchanged  for,  an option  (the  "Substitute
Option"), at the election of the Holder, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation
(as  hereinafter  defined)  or  (y)  any  person  that  controls  the  Acquiring
Corporation.

     (b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:

          a. "Acquiring  Corporation" shall mean (i) the continuing or surviving
     corporation  of a  consolidation  or merger  with  Issuer  (if  other  than
     Issuer),  (ii)  Issuer in a merger in which  Issuer  is the  continuing  or
     

                                      -12-

<PAGE>


     surviving  person,  and (iii) the transferee of all or substantially all of
     Issuer's assets.

          b. "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock issued by the
     issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the Substitute Option.

          (3) "Assigned Value" shall mean the Market/Offer  Price, as defined in
     Section 7.

          (4) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of a share of
     the  Substitute  Common Stock for the one year  immediately  preceding  the
     consolidation,  merger or sale in question, but in no event higher than the
     closing price of the shares of Substitute Common Stock on the day preceding
     such  consolidation,  merger or sale; provided that if Issuer is the issuer
     of the Substitute  Option, the Average Price shall be computed with respect
     to a share of common stock  issued by the person  merging into Issuer or by
     any company which  controls or is controlled by such person,  as the Holder
     may elect.

     (c) The  Substitute  Option  shall  have  the  same  terms  as the  Option,
provided,  that if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons,
be the same as the Option,  such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no
event less advantageous to the Holder. The issuer of the Substitute Option shall
also enter into an agreement  with the then Holder or Holders of the  Substitute
Option  in  substantially  the  same  form as this  Agreement,  which  shall  be
applicable to the Substitute Option.

     (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares of
Substitute  Common Stock as is equal to the  Assigned  Value  multiplied  by the
number  of shares of  Common  Stock  for  which the  Option is then  exercisable
(without reference to any limitation set forth in Section 1(b) hereof),  divided
by the Average Price.  The exercise price of the Substitute  Option per share of
Substitute  Common Stock shall then be equal to the Option Price multiplied by a
fraction,  the  numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
for which the Option is then  exercisable  (without  reference to any limitation
set forth in Section  1(b)  hereof)  and the  denominator  of which shall be the
number of shares of Substitute  Common Stock for which the Substitute  Option is
exercisable.

     (e) In no event,  pursuant to any of the  foregoing  paragraphs,  shall the
Substitute Option be exercisable for

                                      -13-

<PAGE>


more than 19.9% of the shares of Substitute  Common Stock  outstanding  prior to
exercise of the Substitute Option. In the event that the Substitute Option would
be  exercisable  for more than 19.9% of the shares of  Substitute  Common  Stock
outstanding  prior to  exercise  but for this  clause  (e),  the  issuer  of the
Substitute Option (the "Substitute  Option Issuer") shall make a cash payment to
Holder  equal to the excess of (i) the value of the  Substitute  Option  without
giving  effect to the  limitation  in this clause (e) over (ii) the value of the
Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in this clause (e). This
difference in value shall be determined  by a nationally  recognized  investment
banking  firm  selected  by the  Holder or the  Owner,  as the case may be,  and
reasonably acceptable to the Acquiring Corporation.

     (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in subsection (a)
of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring  Corporation and any person that controls
the  Acquiring  Corporation  assume in  writing  all the  obligations  of Issuer
hereunder.

     9.  (a) At the  request  of  the  holder  of  the  Substitute  Option  (the
"Substitute  Option Holder"),  the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute  Option from the Substitute Option Holder at a price (the "Substitute
Option  Repurchase  Price")  equal to (x) the  amount by which  (i) the  Highest
Closing Price (as  hereinafter  defined)  exceeds (ii) the exercise price of the
Substitute Option, multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock
for  which  the  Substitute  Option  may then be  exercised  plus (y)  Grantee's
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (to the extent not previously reimbursed), and
at the  request  of the  owner  (the  "Substitute  Share  Owner")  of  shares of
Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute Shares"),  the Substitute Option Issuer
shall  repurchase  the  Substitute  Shares  at a price  (the  "Substitute  Share
Repurchase  Price")  equal to (x) the Highest  Closing  Price  multiplied by the
number  of  Substitute  Shares  so  designated  plus  (y)  Grantee's  reasonable
out-of-pocket  expenses  (to the extent  not  previously  reimbursed).  The term
"Highest  Closing  Price"  shall mean the  highest  closing  price for shares of
Substitute  Common Stock within the six-month period  immediately  preceding the
date the Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the required repurchase of the
Substitute  Option or the  Substitute  Share Owner gives  notice of the required
repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as applicable.

     (b) The  Substitute  Option Holder and the Substitute  Share Owner,  as the
case may be, may exercise its respective right to require the Substitute  Option
Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute Shares 

                                      -14-

<PAGE>


pursuant to this Section 9 by  surrendering  for such purpose to the  Substitute
Option Issuer, at its principal office, the agreement for such Substitute Option
(or,  in the  absence  of such an  agreement,  a copy  of  this  Agreement)  and
certificates  for Substitute  Shares  accompanied by a written notice or notices
stating that the Substitute  Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the
case may be, elects to require the  Substitute  Option Issuer to repurchase  the
Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the provisions
of this  Section 9. As promptly  as  practicable,  and in any event  within five
business days after the surrender of the Substitute  Option and/or  certificates
representing  Substitute  Shares  and the  receipt  of such  notice  or  notices
relating  thereto,  the  Substitute  Option  Issuer shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the  Substitute  Share Owner the  Substitute  Share  Repurchase  Price
therefor or, in either case,  the portion  thereof which the  Substitute  Option
Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation,  or under any
express  provision  of its  certificate  of  incorporation  or  similar  charter
document requiring prior stockholder approval, from so delivering.

     (c) To the extent that the  Substitute  Option Issuer is  prohibited  under
applicable law or regulation from repurchasing,  or requires any approval of its
stockholders to repurchase,  the Substitute  Option and/or the Substitute Shares
in part or in full,  the  Substitute  Option  Issuer  following  a  request  for
repurchase pursuant to this Section 9 shall immediately so notify the Substitute
Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner and thereafter  deliver or cause
to be delivered,  from time to time, to the Substitute  Option Holder and/or the
Substitute  Share Owner,  as  appropriate,  the portion of the Substitute  Share
Repurchase  Price,   respectively,   which  it  is  no  longer  prohibited  from
delivering,  within five  business  days after the date on which the  Substitute
Option  Issuer  is no  longer  so  prohibited;  provided,  however,  that if the
Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9 prohibited  under applicable law or
regulation from delivering,  or requires the any approval of its stockholders to
deliver,  to the Substitute  Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as
appropriate,  the Substitute  Option  Repurchase  Price and the Substitute Share
Repurchase Price, respectively,  in full (and the Substitute Option Issuer shall
use its best efforts to obtain any such  required  stockholder  approval and all
required   regulatory  and  legal  approvals,   in  each  case  as  promptly  as
practicable,  in order to accomplish  such  repurchase),  the Substitute  Option
Holder or  Substitute  Share  Owner may revoke its notice of  repurchase  of the
Substitute  Option or the Substitute  Shares

                                      -15-


<PAGE>


either in whole or to the extent of the  prohibition,  whereupon,  in the latter
case, the Substitute  Option Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the Substitute
Option Holder or Substitute  Share Owner,  as  appropriate,  that portion of the
Substitute Option Repurchase Price or the Substitute Share Repurchase Price that
the  Substitute  Option  Issuer  is not  prohibited  from  delivering;  and (ii)
deliver,  as  appropriate,  either (A) to the Substitute  Option  Holder,  a new
Substitute  Option  evidencing  the  right of the  Substitute  Option  Holder to
purchase  that  number of shares of the  Substitute  Common  Stock  obtained  by
multiplying  the number of shares of the  Substitute  Common Stock for which the
surrendered  Substitute  Option was  exercisable  at the time of delivery of the
notice of  repurchase by a fraction,  the  numerator of which is the  Substitute
Option  Repurchase Price less the portion thereof  theretofore  delivered to the
Substitute  Option Holder and the denominator of which is the Substitute  Option
Repurchase  Price,  or (B) to the Substitute  Share Owner, a certificate for the
Substitute Common Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing.

     10. The 90-day period for exercise of certain rights under Sections 2, 6, 7
and 14 shall be extended:  (i) to the extent  necessary to obtain all regulatory
approvals for the exercise of such rights,  for the  expiration of all statutory
waiting periods,  and to the extent required to obtain any required  stockholder
approval or until such stockholder  approval is no longer required;  and (ii) to
the extent  necessary to avoid  liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by
reason of such exercise.

     11. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:

     (a) Issuer has full  corporate  power and  authority to execute and deliver
this  Agreement and to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The
execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the   consummation   of  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly and validly  authorized by the
Board of Directors of Issuer and no other  corporate  proceedings on the part of
Issuer (other than the shareholder  approval  referred to in Sections 2(e), 7(b)
and 9(c) hereof) are necessary to authorize  this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions so contemplated.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and delivered by Issuer.

     (b)  Issuer  has taken all  necessary  corporate  action to  authorize  and
reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from the date hereof through
the  termination  of this  Agreement  in  accordance  with its  terms  will have
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Option, that

                                      -16-


<PAGE>


number of shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock at any time and from time to time issuable hereunder, and all such shares,
upon issuance pursuant hereto,  will be duly authorized,  validly issued,  fully
paid, nonassessable,  and will be delivered free and clear of all claims, liens,
encumbrance and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.

     12. Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer that:

     (a) Grantee has all requisite  corporate  power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and, subject to any approvals or consents  referred to herein, to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of Grantee.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.

     (b) The  Option is not  being,  and any  shares  of  Common  Stock or other
securities acquired by Grantee upon exercise of the Option will not be, acquired
with a view to the public  distribution  thereof and will not be  transferred or
otherwise  disposed  of  except  in a  transaction  registered  or  exempt  from
registration under the Securities Act.

     13.  Neither  of the  parties  hereto  may  assign  any of  its  rights  or
obligations  under this Option Agreement or the Option created  hereunder to any
other person,  without the express  written  consent of the other party,  except
that in the event a Subsequent  Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an
Exercise  Termination Event,  Grantee,  subject to the express provisions hereof
and applicable restrictions under law, may assign in whole or in part its rights
and obligations  hereunder  within 90 days following such Subsequent  Triggering
Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10).

     14.  Each of  Grantee  and  Issuer  will use its best  efforts  to make all
filings  with,  and to obtain  consents of, all third  parties and  governmental
authorities  necessary to the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement, including without limitation making application to have approved
for quotation the shares of Common Stock issuable  hereunder on the NASDAQ Stock
Market  National Market upon official notice of issuance and applying to the OTS
under the HOLA for  approval  to acquire  the  shares  issuable  hereunder,  but
Grantee  shall  not be  obligated  to  apply to state  banking  authorities  for
approval to acquire the shares 

                                      -17-

<PAGE>


of Common  Stock  issuable  hereunder  until  such  time,  if ever,  as it deems
appropriate to do so.

     15. The parties  hereto  acknowledge  that damages  would be an  inadequate
remedy  for a breach of this  Agreement  by  either  party  hereto  and that the
obligations  of the parties  hereto shall be  enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief.

     16. If any term,  provision,  covenant  or  restriction  contained  in this
Agreement  is held  by a court  or a  federal  or  state  regulatory  agency  of
competent  jurisdiction to be invalid,  void or unenforceable,  the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or  invalidated.  If for any reason such court or regulatory  agency  determines
that the Holder is not  permitted  to  acquire,  or Issuer is not  permitted  to
repurchase  pursuant  to  Section 7, the full  number of shares of Common  Stock
provided in Section  1(a)  hereof (as  adjusted  pursuant  to Section  1(b) or 5
hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire or
to  require  Issuer  to  repurchase  such  lesser  number  of  shares  as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.

     17.  All  notices,  requests,  claims,  demands  and  other  communications
hereunder  shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person,  by
cable, telegram,  telecopy or telex, or by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid,  return receipt  requested) at the respective  addresses of the parties
set forth in the Merger Agreement.

     18. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
the laws of the  State of  Delaware,  without  regard to any  conflicts  of laws
rules.

     19. This  Agreement  may be executed in two or more  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all of which shall  constitute one
and the same agreement.

     20.  Except as otherwise  expressly  provided  herein,  each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf
in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereunder,  including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants,  investment bankers,  accountants and
counsel.

                                      -18-

<PAGE>


     21.  Except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  herein  or in  the  Merger
Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder and  supersedes  all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereof,  written or oral. The terms
and  conditions of this  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective  successors and permitted  assigns.
Nothing in this Agreement,  expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party,  other than the  parties  hereto,  and their  respective  successors  and
permitted assigns, any rights, remedies,  obligations or liabilities under or by
reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

     22.  Capitalized  terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.

                                      -19-

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the parties has caused this  Agreement  to be
executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized,  all as of the
date first above written.


                                  EAGLE FINANCIAL CORP.



                                  By: /s/ Robert J. Britton
                                      ------------------------------
                                      Name: Robert J. Britton
                                      Title: President and Chief
                                             Executive Officer


                                   WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION



                                   By: /s/ James C. Smith
                                       -----------------------------
                                       Name: James C. Smith
                                       Title: Chairman and Chief
                                              Executive Office




                            [Stock Option Agreement]



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