Santander Clears US Regulatory Hurdles for Webster Acquisition

Banco Santander, S.A. (Santander) has received approval from the United States Federal Reserve for its acquisition of Webster Financial Corporation (Webster), the parent company of Webster Bank, N.A.

The approval comes after previous authorizations from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the European Central Bank. The transaction is expected to close on August 20, 2026.

Santander's Executive Chair Ana Botín believes that the acquisition will create a stronger bank with the scale necessary to offer better services to clients and communities. Webster's Chairman and CEO John Ciulla agrees, noting that Santander's greater scale and financial strength will help strengthen relationships with local communities.

The integration of Webster into Santander is expected to generate an increase in earnings per share of around 7% or 8%, as well as a return on invested capital close to 15%, all by 2028. Upon completion, most of Webster's businesses will integrate into Santander Bank, N.A.