Company: WBS-PG
Filing Date: 2025-03-03
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000801337-25-000004
Chunk: 286

Company: WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP
Filing Date: 2025-03-03
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 7
Chunk 286
---
On the asset side, risk is impacted the most by residential mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities, which can typically prepay at any time without penalty and may have embedded caps and floors. In the loan portfolio, floors are a benefit to interest income in low interest rate environments. Floating-rate loans at floors pay a higher interest rate than a loan at a fully indexed rate without a floor, as with a floor, there is a limit on how low the interest rate can fall. As market rates rise, however, the interest rate paid on these loans does not rise until the fully indexed rate rises through the contractual floor.

On the liability side, there is a large concentration of customers with indeterminate maturity deposits who have options to add or withdraw funds from their accounts at any time. Implicit floors on deposits, based on historical data, are modeled. The Bank also has the option to change the interest rate paid on these deposits at any time.

Four main tools are used for managing interest rate risk:

•the size, duration, and credit risk of the investment portfolio;

•the size and duration of the wholesale funding portfolio;

•interest rate contracts; and 

•the pricing and structure of loans and deposits.

The ALCO meets frequently to make decisions on the investment and funding portfolios based on the economic outlook, its interest rate expectations, the risk position, and other factors. The ALCO delegates pricing and product design responsibilities to individuals and sub-committees, but continuously monitors and influences their actions on a regular basis.

Various interest rate contracts, including futures, options, swaps, caps, and floors, can be used to manage interest rate risk. These contracts involve, to varying degrees, levels of credit and interest rate risk. The notional amount of the derivative instrument, or the amount from which interest and other payments are derived, is not exchanged, and therefore, should not be used as a measure of credit risk.

In addition, certain derivative instruments are used by the Bank to manage the risk of loss associated with its mortgage banking activities. Generally, prior to closing and funds disbursement, an interest-rate lock commitment is extended to the borrower. During this time, the Bank is subject to the risk that market interest rates may change, which could impact pricing on loan sales. In an effort to mitigate this risk, the Bank establishes forward delivery sales commitments, thereby setting the sales price. 

The Company will also hold futures, options, and forward foreign currency exchange contracts to minimize the price volatility of certain financial assets and financial liabilities. Changes in the market value of these derivative