Webster opens 13th R.I. branch

CRANSTON – Webster Bank, a subsidiary of Webster Financial Corp. (NYSE: WBS), officially opened its 13th Rhode Island branch yesterday, part of a plan to significantly increase the bank’s presence and visibility here.
The latest addition to the Waterbury, Conn.’s network was opened at 1155 Pontiac Ave., making it the second Webster branch to operate in Cranston. Webster had also opened an East Greenwich branch recently. Plans call for a new “flagship” branch in downtown Providence to replace an existing one in the Textron Building.
As part of the Cranston opening, Webster installed Sharon Trask as branch manager. Before joining Webster, she worked 19 years with Citizens Bank, most recently as branch manager at the Rolfe Street Citizens Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University and lives in Coventry.
The expansion is part of Webster’s plans to stretch its footprint toward Boston and fulfill its stated vision of becoming “New England’s bank.”
Webster ranks ninth among banks operating in Rhode Island in terms of deposits, with a 1.2 percent market share as of June 30, 2008, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Webster Financial Corp. (NYSE: WBS) – a $17.1 billion company based in Waterbury, Conn. – is the holding company for Webster Bank N.A., a financial services company with more than 180 branches including 13 branches in Rhode Island. Additional information is available at www.WebsterOnline.com.