Webster Bank Expands Finance Lab Initiative in Connecticut and Massachusetts

Webster Bank today announced its next Finance Lab collaborations with three partners that will provide financial empowerment programs to hundreds of students in low- to moderate-income (LMI) areas. The Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury Inc. and the YWCA Hartford Region, both in Connecticut, and Taunton Area School to Career (TASC) in Massachusetts have each been granted $100,000 from Webster Bank.

The Finance Labs are part of Webster’s $6.5B Community Investment Strategy and are designed to help nonprofit partners in LMI communities create opportunities for youth to gain skills needed for economic empowerment and financial success. The initiative launched in June 2022, and has committed $600,000 to date, with partnerships extended to six nonprofit organizations.

“It’s exciting to see the expansion of our Finance Labs initiative, furthering our goal to broaden financial empowerment opportunities for youth,” said Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer Marissa Weidner. She added, “We’re incredibly proud to be able to partner with three local organizations that are aligned with our shared values of integrity, collaboration, accountability, agility, respect and excellence.”

“Our innovative partnership to establish a Webster Finance Lab will provide our children a community-guided and life-altering opportunity to learn that future financial success starts today,” said Victor Lopez Jr., Executive Director of The Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury Inc. He added, “We thank Webster Bank for their continued commitment to placing the community first and leading efforts to genuinely be responsive to their needs.” The Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury is working with Webster to reach its goal of delivering programming to support its clients with financial education on topics including financing small businesses, how to manage a bank account, and how to increase credit scores.

“We are grateful to be selected as Webster Bank’s Finance Lab Partner,” said Adrienne Cochrane, CEO of YWCA Hartford Region. She added, “The Webster Bank/YWCA Hartford Region partnership allows us to expand our financial empowerment programs to help address economic inequities experienced by women and girls in our community.

This Finance Lab will emphasize the importance of financial management, as well as saving and investing money.” The YWCA Hartford Region, will create its program to specifically support its goal to empower women on their path to achieve job and career goals. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all its community members.

“We, at Associates for Human Services’ Taunton Area School To Career (TASC), want to extend our deepest appreciation to Webster Bank for providing us with this invaluable grant award. This support will empower TASC to expand and strengthen our services by lifting the lives of our youth,” said Zulmira Allcock, President and CEO of TASC, adding, “Together, we create a brighter future, which enables us to make a positive and lasting impact in our community, one young life at a time.” Taunton Area School To Career (TASC) is a subsidiary of Associates for Human Services, Inc. and runs their Business and Education Partnership, connecting Taunton-area employers and local school systems. Each year, TASC’s programs serve 350-550 youth focusing on the emerging workforce.

Learn more about Webster Bank’s Finance Labs and the impact of our work and about our Office of Corporate Responsibility.