Webster Bank looks to sell Conn.’s largest agency

Connecticut’s Webster Financial Corp., parent of Webster Bank that owns the state’s largest insurance agency, could be out of the insurance agency business soon.

Following a strategic review begun last September, the bank has decided to focus on its core business of retail and commercial banking in New England and explore the sale of its sizable insurance agency, Webster Insurance.

“We are exploring strategic alternatives that will likely result the sale of Webster Insurance and ideally will include a partnership to continue to sell insurance products,” the bank revealed in a July 24 report to investors.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2006, Webster Insurance’s revenue was $38.8 million, a decrease of $5.2 million or 11.8 percent, compared to 2005, primarily due to reduced retention and a decline in contingent revenue.

A regional insurance agency, Webster Insurance sells property/casualty, benefits and other insurance products in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It is the largest insurance agency based on revenues in Connecticut.

Headquartered in Meriden, it also has offices in East Haven, Vernon, Waterford and Westport as well as an office in Harrison, New York.

The bank built its insurance operations in part by acquiring several established and well-known agencies during the early 2000s. The acquisitions included Mathog and Moniello, Wolff-Zackin and Musante-Reihl.