WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP
S-8, 2000-10-25
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 25, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
                          WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    DELAWARE
                         (State or other jurisdiction of
                         incorporation or organization)

                                   06-1187536
                      (IRS employer identification number)

                                  Webster Plaza
                          Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
                                 (203) 753-2921
               (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                 including area code, of registrant's principal
                               executive offices)
                            ------------------------

              WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                            ------------------------

                                Peter J. Swiatek
                                   Controller
                          Webster Financial Corporation
                                  Webster Plaza
                          Waterbury, Connecticut 06702
                                 (203) 578-2335
            (Name, address and telephone number of Agent for Service)

                                    Copy to:
                              Stuart G. Stein, Esq.
                             Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
                           555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.
                           Washington, D.C. 20004-1109
                                 (202) 637-8575

                            ------------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 AMOUNT         PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM      AMOUNT OF
           TITLE OF SECURITIES                   TO BE           OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE OFFERING   REGISTRATION
             TO BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED(2)       PER SHARE (1)         PRICE (1)(2)       FEE (1)(2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>               <C>                    <C>                 <C>
Common Stock                                   2,961,000             $22.03              $65,230,830           $17,221
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1)  Estimated  solely  for the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee
pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  based upon
the  average of the high and low  prices  for shares of common  stock of Webster
Financial  Corporation as listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market and calculated as of
October 18, 2000.
(2) The  Registrant is  registering  2,961,000  shares of its common stock,  par
value  $.01 per share  ("Common  Stock"),  reserved  for  issuance  pursuant  to
outstanding  options under the Webster  Financial  Corporation 1992 Stock Option
Plan.
================================================================================

<PAGE>
                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

                  The documents  containing the information  specified in Part I
will be sent or  given  to  employees  as  specified  by Rule  428(b)(1)  of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act").  In accordance with
the  instructions  to Part I of Form S-8, such  documents will not be filed with
the SEC either as part of this  Registration  Statement  or as  prospectuses  or
prospectus  supplements  pursuant  to  Rule  424 of the  Securities  Act.  These
documents and the documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Item 3 of Part
II of this registration statement, taken together,  constitute the prospectus as
required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.           INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

                  Webster   hereby   incorporates   by   reference   into   this
registration statement the following documents filed by it with the SEC:

                  (a)      Webster's  annual  report  on  Form  10-K  for the 12
                           months ended December 31, 1999.

                  (b)      Webster's  quarterly  reports  on Form  10-Q  for the
                           quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2000 and current
                           reports  on Form 8-K  filed  February  9 and June 26,
                           2000.

                  (c)      The  description of Webster  common stock,  par value
                           $0.01  per  share  ("Common  Stock"),   contained  in
                           Webster's  registration  statement  on Form 8-A filed
                           with the SEC on  December  2,  1986,  as  amended  by
                           Webster's  current reports on Form 8-K filed February
                           12 and November 25, 1996 and October 30, 1998.

                  In  addition,  all  documents  and  reports  filed by  Webster
subsequent to the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),  14, and 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") prior to
the filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates that all securities
offered have been sold or which  deregisters  all securities  remaining  unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this  registration  statement
and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents or reports.  Any
statement  contained in a document  incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded  for purposes of
this registration  statement to the extent that a statement  contained herein or
in any  other  subsequently  filed  document  which  also is or is  deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded  shall not be deemed,  except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

ITEM 4.           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

                  Not applicable.

                                       2
<PAGE>

ITEM 5.           INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 6.           INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

                  Reference is made to the  provisions of Article 6 of Webster's
second restated certificate of incorporation and the provisions of Article IX of
Webster's Bylaws, as amended.

                  Webster is a Delaware  corporation  subject to the  applicable
indemnification  provisions  of the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State  of
Delaware  (the  "Delaware   Corporation  Law").  Section  145  of  the  Delaware
Corporation Law provides for the indemnification,  under certain  circumstances,
of persons who are or were directors,  officers, employees or agents of Webster,
or are or were serving at the request of Webster in such a capacity with another
business organization or entity, against expenses,  judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement in actions,  suits or proceedings,  whether civil,  criminal,
administrative,  or  investigative,  brought or threatened  against or involving
such persons because of such person's service in any such capacity.  In the case
of actions  brought by or in the right of  Webster,  Section  145  provides  for
indemnification only of expenses,  and only upon a determination by the Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought  that, in view of
all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled
to indemnity for such expenses.

                  Article  6  of  Webster's   second  restated   certificate  of
incorporation  provides that no director will be personally liable to Webster or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director
other than liability

          o       for any breach of such  director's  duty of loyalty to Webster
                  or its  shareholders,  for acts or omissions not in good faith
                  or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
                  of law,

          o       for  any  payment  of  a  dividend  or  approval  of  a  stock
                  repurchase  that is illegal  under Section 174 of the Delaware
                  Corporation Law, or

          o       for  any  transaction  from  which  the  director  derived  an
                  improper personal benefit.

                  The  foregoing  indemnity and  insurance  provisions  have the
effect of reducing  directors' and officers'  exposure to personal liability for
actions taken in connection with their respective positions.

                  Webster's  Bylaws  provide for  indemnification  of directors,
officers,  trustees,  employees and agents of Webster,  and for those serving in
such roles with other business organizations or entities, in the event that such
person  was or is made a party to (or is  threatened  to be made a party to) any
civil, criminal,  administrative,  arbitration or investigative action, suit, or
proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of Webster) by reason of the
fact that such person is or was  serving in such a capacity  for or on behalf of
Webster.  Webster will  indemnify any such person  against  expenses  (including
attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably  believed
to be in or not opposed to the best  interests of Webster,  and, with respect to
any  criminal  action or  proceeding,  had no  reasonable  cause to believe  his
conduct  was  unlawful.  Similarly,  Webster  will  indemnify  such  persons for
expenses reasonably incurred and settlements reasonably paid in actions,  suits,
or  proceedings  brought by or in the right of Webster,  if such person acted in
good  faith and in a manner  such  person  reasonably  believed  to be in or not
opposed  to  the  best  interests  of  Webster;   provided,   however,  that  no
indemnification will be made against expenses in respect of any claim,


                                       3
<PAGE>

issue,  or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable to Webster or
against amounts paid in settlement unless and only to the extent that there is a
determination  made by the  appropriate  party set forth in the Bylaws  that the
person  to be  indemnified  is,  in view of all the  circumstances  of the case,
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses or amounts paid in
settlement.  In addition,  Webster may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf
of any person who is or was a director,  officer, trustee, employee, or agent of
Webster or is acting in such  capacity  for  another  business  organization  or
entity at Webster's request,  against any liability asserted against such person
and incurred in such capacity,  or arising out of such person's  status as such,
whether or not  Webster  would have the power or  obligation  to  indemnify  him
against such liability under the provisions of Article IX of Webster's Bylaws.

                  Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons
of Webster pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,  Webster has been
advised that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification  is against  public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable.  In
the event that a claim for indemnification  against such liabilities (other than
the  payment by Webster of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer or
controlling person of Webster in the successful  defense of any action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities  being  registered,  Webster will,  unless in the
opinion of its counsel  the matter has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against  public policy as expressed in the  Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 7.           EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

                  Not applicable.

ITEM 8.           EXHIBITS.

   Exhibit
     No.                                           Exhibit
     ---                                           -------

     4.1        Specimen common stock certificate  (Incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit  4.1 to  Webster's  registration  statement  on Form S-3
                (File No. 333-81563) filed with the SEC on June 25, 1999.)

     4.2        Rights Agreement,  dated as of February 5, 1996, between Webster
                and Chemical Mellon Shareholder Services,  L.L.C.  (Incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 1 to  Webster's  Current  Report on Form
                8-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 1996.)

     4.3        Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, entered into as of November
                4, 1996,  by and  between  Webster and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder
                Services, L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference to Webster's Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 25, 1996.)

     4.4        Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement,  entered into as of October
                30, 1998,  between  Webster and American  Stock Transfer & Trust
                Company  (Incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 1 to Webster's
                Current  Report on Form 8-K filed  with the SEC on  October  30,
                1998.)


                                       4
<PAGE>
     5          Opinion of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.  as to the  validity  of the
                securities registered hereunder,  including the consent of Hogan
                & Hartson, L.L.P.

     23.1       Consent of KPMG LLP

     23.2       Consent  of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.  (included  in the  opinion
                filed as exhibit 5 hereto)

     24         Power of Attorney  (included on the signature page in Part II of
                this Registration Statement)

     99.1       Section   145  of  the   Delaware   General   Corporation   Law.
                (Incorporated   by   reference  to  Exhibit  99.1  of  Webster's
                post-effective  amendment No. 1 to the registration statement on
                Form S-3 (File No. 333-65428) filed with the SEC on December 10,
                1999.)

     99.2       Webster Financial Corporation 1992 Stock Option Plan, as amended


ITEM 9.           UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1)    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
                  being made, a  post-effective  amendment to this  registration
                  statement:

                         (i) To  include  any  prospectus  required  by  Section
                  10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                         (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events
                  arising after the effective date of the registration statement
                  (or the most recent  post-effective  amendment thereof) which,
                  individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent  a  fundamental
                  change  in the  information  set  forth  in  the  registration
                  statement;

                         (iii) To include any material  information with respect
                  to the plan of  distribution  not previously  disclosed in the
                  registration   statement  or  any  material   change  to  such
                  information in the registration statement.

                  provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
             not  apply  if  the  information  required  to  be  included  in  a
             post-effective  amendment  by  those  paragraphs  is  contained  in
             periodic  reports  filed  with  or  furnished  to  the  SEC  by the
             Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange
             Act  that  are   incorporated  by  reference  in  the  registration
             statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
             the Securities  Act, each such  post-effective  amendment  shall be
             deemed  to  be  a  new  registration   statement  relating  to  the
             securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities at
             that  time  shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
             thereof.
                                       5
<PAGE>

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
             amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which  remain
             unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b)  The  undersigned   Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any  liability  under  the  Securities  Act,  each  filing  of  the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where  applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual  report   pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the  Exchange  Act)  that  is
incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as  indemnification  for liability  arising under the Securities Act
may  be  permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons  of  the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification is against
public  policy  as  expressed  in  the   Securities   Act  and  is,   therefore,
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the payment by the  Registrant or expenses  incurred or
paid by a director,  officer or controlling  person in successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by  controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
such  indemnification  by it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in  the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       6
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the city of Waterbury, state of Connecticut on October 23, 2000.

                                                  WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION


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

         Each person whose  signature  appears  below  appoints  James C. Smith,
Harriet  Munrett Wolfe or Peter J. Swiatek,  jointly and severally,  each in his
own  capacity,  as  true  and  lawful  attorneys-in-fact,  with  full  power  of
substitution  in such person's name,  place and stead, in any and all capacities
to sign any amendments to this  Registration  Statement on Form S-8, and to file
the  same,  with  all  exhibits  thereto,  and  other  documents  in  connection
therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying and
confirming all that said  attorney-in-fact,  or their substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities indicated on the 23rd day of October, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 SIGNATURE                                                   TITLE
                 ---------                                                   -----

<S>                                                             <C>
         /s/ James C. Smith                                     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
---------------------------------------------                    Principal Executive Officer

         /s/ Peter J. Swiatek                                             Controller
---------------------------------------------
             Peter J. Swiatek

         /s/ Richard H. Alden                                             Director
---------------------------------------------
             Richard H. Alden

         /s/ Achille A. Apicella                                          Director
---------------------------------------------
             Achille A. Apicella

         /s/ Joel S. Becker                                               Director
---------------------------------------------
             Joel S. Becker

         /s/ O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.                                     Director
---------------------------------------------
             O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.

         /s/ George T. Carpenter                                          Director
---------------------------------------------
             George T. Carpenter

         /s/ John J. Crawford                                             Director
---------------------------------------------
             John J. Crawford
</TABLE>

                                       7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                       <C>

         /s/  Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.                                       Director
---------------------------------------------
              Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.

         /s/  Robert A. Finkenzeller                                      Director
---------------------------------------------
              Robert A. Finkenzeller

         /s/  Edgar C. Gerwig                                             Director
---------------------------------------------
              Edgar C. Gerwig

         /s/  P. Anthony Giorgio                                          Director
---------------------------------------------
              P. Anthony Giorgio

         /s/  C. Michael Jacobi                                           Director
---------------------------------------------
              C. Michael Jacobi

         /s/  John F. McCarthy                                            Director
---------------------------------------------
              John F. McCarthy

         /s/  Michael G. Morris                                           Director
---------------------------------------------
              Michael G. Morris

         /s/  Sister Marguerite Waite                                     Director
---------------------------------------------
              Sister Marguerite Waite

</TABLE>


                                       8
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

   Exhibit
     No.                           Exhibit
     ---                           -------


     4.1        Specimen common stock certificate  (Incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit  4.1 to  Webster's  registration  statement  on Form S-3
                (File No. 333-81563) filed with the SEC on June 25, 1999.)

     4.2        Rights Agreement,  dated as of February 5, 1996, between Webster
                and Chemical Mellon Shareholder Services,  L.L.C.  (Incorporated
                by reference to Exhibit 1 to  Webster's  Current  Report on Form
                8-K filed with the SEC on February 12, 1996.)

     4.3        Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, entered into as of November
                4, 1996,  by and  between  Webster and  ChaseMellon  Shareholder
                Services, L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference to Webster's Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 25, 1996.)

     4.4        Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreement,  entered into as of October
                30, 1998,  between  Webster and American  Stock Transfer & Trust
                Company  (Incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit 1 to Webster's
                Current  Report on Form 8-K filed  with the SEC on  October  30,
                1998.)

     5          Opinion of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.  as to the  validity  of the
                securities registered hereunder,  including the consent of Hogan
                & Hartson, L.L.P.

     23.1       Consent of KPMG LLP

     23.2       Consent  of Hogan & Hartson,  L.L.P.  (included  in the  opinion
                filed as exhibit 5 hereto)

     24         Power of Attorney  (included on the signature page in Part II of
                this Registration Statement)

     99.1       Section   145  of  the   Delaware   General   Corporation   Law.
                (Incorporated   by   reference  to  Exhibit  99.1  of  Webster's
                post-effective  amendment no. 1 to the registration statement on
                Form S-3 (File No. 333-65428) filed with the SEC on December 10,
                1999.)

     99.2       Webster Financial Corporation 1992 Stock Option Plan, as amended



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