Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
SMITH JAMES COPENHAVER
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP [WBS]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chairman & Chief Executive Off
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
WEBSTER PLAZA
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
10/28/2005
(Street)

WATERBURY, CT 06702
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   5,000 D $ 45.45 184,577 D  
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   3,800 D $ 45.5 180,777 D  
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   1,800 D $ 45.53 178,977 D  
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   200 D $ 45.51 178,777 D  
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   700 D $ 45.52 178,077 D  
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   100 D $ 45.55 177,977 D  
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   400 D $ 45.46 177,577 D  
Common Stock 10/28/2005   S   3,000 D $ 45.35 174,577 D  
Common Stock               62,493 I 401(k) plan
Common Stock               21,449 I ESOP
Common Stock               50,010 I Directly by spouse
Common Stock               5,698 I Directly by spouse - IRA
Common Stock               9,546 I Custody for children
Common Stock               1,081 I ESPP

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 22.81             10/23/2003 10/23/2010 Common Stock 247,925   247,925 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 24.625             12/07/2002 12/07/2009 Common Stock 44,700   44,700 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 29.84             12/17/2004 12/17/2011 Common Stock 61,975   61,975 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 34.6             12/16/2003 12/16/2012 Common Stock 62,525   62,525 (1) D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 45.55             12/15/2004 12/15/2013 Common Stock 65,728   65,728 (1) D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 49.62             12/20/2005 12/20/2014 Common Stock 60,707   60,707 (1) D  
Stock Option $ 14             01/22/1999 01/22/2006 Common Stock 4,600   4,600 D  
Stock Option $ 14.0625             12/19/1998 12/19/2005 Common Stock 31,200   31,200 D  
Stock Option $ 19.0938             12/23/1998 12/23/2006 Common Stock 36,900   36,900 D  
Stock Option $ 31.75             12/15/2000 12/15/2007 Common Stock 44,000   44,000 D  
Stock Option $ 33.75             04/30/1998 04/30/2008 Common Stock 200,000   200,000 D  
Stock Option $ 33.875             06/30/1998 06/30/2008 Common Stock 200,000   200,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
SMITH JAMES COPENHAVER
WEBSTER PLAZA
WATERBURY, CT 06702
  X     Chairman & Chief Executive Off  

Signatures

 Renee P. Seefried by Power of Atty.   10/31/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) 4 yr. incremental vesting - 25% vests each year for 4 years

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