Webster Financial to Be Acquired by Banco Santander

Webster Financial ( (WBS) ) has provided an update.

On February 3, 2026, Webster Financial Corporation entered into a transaction agreement under which Banco Santander will acquire Webster through a two-step structure: Webster will first merge into a Virginia-incorporated wholly owned Webster subsidiary, and immediately afterward Banco Santander will acquire all shares of that subsidiary via a statutory share exchange. At the merger effective time, Webster common shares will convert one-for-one into shares of the subsidiary, and Webster’s Series F and Series G preferred shares will convert into equivalent preferred shares of the subsidiary; at the subsequent exchange effective time, each subsidiary common share will be exchanged for 2.0548 Banco Santander ordinary shares (or ADSs) plus $48.75 in cash, and a comprehensive equity-award conversion and vesting framework will transition Webster’s stock-based compensation into Banco Santander-linked awards. The deal, unanimously approved by the boards of Webster, Banco Santander and the subsidiary, is subject to a wide array of shareholder, regulatory, listing and legal conditions, includes customary covenants such as non-solicitation by Webster and best-efforts commitments to obtain approvals, and provides for a $489 million termination fee payable by Webster under specified change-of-control or competing-bid scenarios, underscoring both the strategic significance of the acquisition and the protections negotiated for Banco Santander and other stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (WBS) stock is a Hold with a $75.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Webster Financial stock, see the WBS Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on WBS Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, WBS is a Outperform.

The score is driven primarily by solid underlying profitability and balance-sheet strength, supported by constructive technicals and an attractive valuation. Guidance and credit commentary were generally positive but tempered by deposit competition, expense pressure, and concentrated problem-loan pockets, while the announced acquisition adds a meaningful positive catalyst.

To see Spark’s full report on WBS stock, click here.

More about Webster Financial

Webster Financial Corporation is a Delaware-incorporated financial services company operating through a bank subsidiary structure, offering common and preferred equity to investors and subject to U.S. banking regulation, positioning it within the regulated banking and financial services industry.

Average Trading Volume: 2,002,797

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: $11.65B

See more data about WBS stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.