Webster Bank Closing 16 Connecticut Branches

WATERBURY, CT — Webster Bank recently announced it will close 27 branches, including 16 in Connecticut, the Hartford Courant reported. The Waterbury-based bank said more customers are choosing mobile and online services, especially since the coronavirus pandemic struck in March.

The closings are expected to happen in the spring, but no dates have been announced. It's unclear how many employees will be affected, according to the Courant.

The move means 17 percent of the bank's branches across southern New England will close, according to the Hartford Business Journal.

“Consistent with industry trends, Webster Bank has increased its focus on digital banking channels while balancing physical locations, driven by increased usage of online and mobile banking,” Webster Bank spokesperson Kelly Raskauskas said in a statement to Patch. “As we further adapt to this continued evolution of customer preferences, Webster will consolidate 27 banking centers in the spring of 2021, and these locations will be integrated into nearby banking centers. We will continue to have a strong presence with 129 banking centers across our four-state footprint. We are communicating with Webster customers and information regarding specific banking centers will be available shortly.

“Our banking centers remain an important component in serving consumers and businesses, and our commitment to the communities we serve remains strong. As always, we are dedicated to meeting our customers’ financial needs and service expectations.”

Webster Bank announced the following locations in Connecticut will be shuttered:

• 75 Park Road, West Hartford
• 1491 Silver Lane, East Hartford
• 3180 Berlin Tpke., Newington
• 359 Queen St., Southington
• 150 Main St., Bristol
• 975 South Main St., Cheshire
• 192 Westport Ave., Norwalk
• 760 Washington Blvd., Stamford
• 5 Helen St., Hamden
• 60 Oxford Road, Oxford
• 696 Amity Road, Bethany
• 544 Straits Tpke., Watertown
• 169 Danbury Road, New Milford
• 1 Royce Circle, Mansfield

Two Waterbury branches at Brass Mill Center and 326 Highland Ave. will also be consolidated into Webster's headquarters.

Five of the locations closing — West Hartford, East Hartford, Bristol, Southington and Newington — have been around for 20 years or longer, the Hartford Business Journal reported. A company official said the bank had been working on the closure plan since January 2020 in response to low interest rates and a challenging business environment.