Webster Financial Corp. in Waterbury posted a second-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates, as the top New England lender set aside less money for bad loans, Reuters reports.
The parent of Webster Bank posted a net income of $17.6 million, or 16 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $31.6 million, or 65 cents a share, a year ago.
Analysts on average were expecting a profit of 7 cents a share, excluding items, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Provision for loan losses fell to $32 million from $85 million, while net interest income increased 11 percent to $132.3 million.
“Asset quality continued to improve in the second quarter, reflected by a lower level of non- performing loans, reduced charge-offs and a further decline in delinquency levels,” Chief Financial Officer Jerry Plush said.
Webster Financial has $17.7 billion in assets.
At 11 a.m., Webster shares were down 53 cents, or 2.8 percent, at $18.29 on the New York Stock Exchange.
