Webster Bank '23

represented by: Marissa Weidner
Chief Corporate responsibility Officer and President
WEbster bank chartiable foundation

Award Profile

Courageous Thinking and Action
Webster Bank is a values-based, leading commercial bank with $75 billion in assets focused on delivering financial solutions to businesses, individuals and families. With over 200 banking centers, Webster serves the Northeast from the New York City metropolitan area to Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Building on an established record of citizenship, sustainability and responsibility, Webster launched a $6.5 billion, three-year Community Investment Strategy in 2022. Developed with input from more than 100 community organizations from New York to Boston, our strategy addresses affordable housing and community development lending, support for minority- and women-owned small business, and philanthropy, including support for nonprofit partners such as Junior Achievement.

Vision and Innovation
Our long-standing dedication to corporate responsibility remains an integral part of the way we do business, creating opportunity and economic vitality for all Webster stakeholders. Following our successful merger of equals with Sterling Bancorp in 2022, we have created a unique bank with greater scale and capabilities. Our culture is anchored by core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, Agility, Respect and Excellence, and these values are reflected in our sustained dedication to serving our colleagues, clients and communities. Nearly all of our more than 4,000 colleagues have participated in culture activation sessions, helping embody our values into our products, processes, and behaviors. We have made significant strides in fostering a healthy, inclusive, and rewarding work environment, and we strive to embrace and incorporate the diverse ideas, talents and contributions of all our colleagues into the way we do business every day.

Webster’s Office of Corporate Responsibility (OCR) manages all community-facing activities across the company, including our multi-year Community Investment Strategy. OCR also leads Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and Fair and Responsible Banking; Community Investment, Engagement and Philanthropy; Government Relations and Public Affairs; Supplier Diversity; and all environmental, social and governance efforts. Bringing all these together in one business unit allows us to plan more strategically, support Webster’s goals more effectively and use our resources more efficiently.

Inspiring Leadership
At Webster, our colleagues are deeply committed to serving the communities where we live and work. We have a long history of supporting JA and its efforts to deliver K-12 programs that foster work readiness, financial literacy skills and entrepreneurship. Over the years, our Webster colleagues have taught the JA curriculum to thousands of students. Senior Webster officers support Junior Achievement boards throughout our footprint, and here in Rhode Island, we have representation on both the JA Board of Directors and the Executive Council. Our colleagues have opportunities to make an impact as they share their time and skills in our communities. Webster provides all colleagues with 16 hours of paid time to volunteer at the organizations of their choice.

Whether it’s picking up a paint brush at a local school, packing food boxes with the local food bank or teaching JA curriculum in local schools, Webster colleagues are empowered to make a difference in their communities.

Community Mindedness
Webster’s investment in the work of our JA partners has increased year over year. From sponsoring local events like Achieve-A-Bowl/Play4JA, to bringing our colleagues back to the classroom to teach the “JA Our Nation” program at local elementary schools, Webster continues to demonstrate our commitment to Junior Achievement and to the communities and residents we serve.

That commitment remained steady during the pandemic, as we proudly supported JA’s work to reach youth in new and engaging ways during a challenging time. Sharing funding and expertise, we worked with our JA partners to provide help by creating opportunities such as a virtual career panel for high school students, which included Webster colleagues in the areas of strategy, human resources, and risk management. The group discussed life after high school and career readiness tips; the panel was recorded and made available to partner high schools.

JA Mission Moment
Webster’s partnership with Junior Achievement continues to impress me with the high level of professionalism, the caliber of the volunteers and the opportunities the organization provides to empower youth and help them succeed in the world.

For me, JA is both a personal and professional connection. Through my JA board service, I have had a chance to see firsthand the impact these programs can make. This experience has inspired me to share what I have learned with both my children, helping them understand how to manage their money and save for the future. I’m proud of Webster’s strong partnership with JA, an organization with a proven record of positive outcomes, providing youth with the knowledge and skills to make financially sound decisions for themselves and their families in the years to come.