---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000801337-26-000025"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WBS"
cik: "0000801337"
company_name: "WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP"
filed_at: "2026-08-05T13:00:15+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-08-05T13:01:20.284963+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Federal Reserve approves Santander's acquisition of Webster; closing expected Aug 20, 2026

## Summary
- Fed approval received Aug 4, 2026; follows OCC approval (June 12) and ECB authorization (July 21).
- Transaction expected to close Aug 20, 2026; most Webster businesses to become part of Santander Bank, N.A.
- Santander expects U.S. business to achieve ~18% RoTE by 2028, with 7-8% EPS accretion and ~15% return on invested capital.
- John Ciulla (Webster CEO) and Ana Botín (Santander Chair) commented positively on the combination.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000801337-26-000025
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WBS
- cik: 0000801337
- company_name: WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP
- filed_at: 2026-08-05T13:00:15+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/801337/000080133726000025/0000801337-26-000025-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/801337/000080133726000025/wbs-20260804.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000801337-26-000025
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000801337-26-000025.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000801337-26-000025.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.