New SVP, Senior Lending Officer to Lead Business Banking Division

Webster Five Cents Savings Bank has hired Christopher Watson, Senior Vice President, Senior Lending Officer to lead the Business Banking Division. Russ Dye, current SVP, Senior Lending Officer, will be retiring on March 30, 2018. Watson will work alongside Dye for the next five months and will assume full responsibility for managing the WebFive for Business team upon Dye’s retirement. He will join the senior management team and direct the business lending, cash management and credit departments in order to continually increase earning assets in the commercial lending division of the bank.

“I am delighted at the opportunity to be joining one of the largest and most skilled business banking teams in the area,” stated Watson.

Watson began his career at Mechanics Bank and spent more than 20 years growing with the organization as it was acquired by Bank Boston, Fleet Bank and finally Bank of America. Most recently, Watson served as the Division Manager of the Commercial and Industrial Lending team at UniBank. Chris earned his BA in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and has volunteered with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce for the past seven years.

Dye noted: “I am confident that Chris will be an excellent leader of the WebFive for Business team and a valuable asset to the Webster Five Senior Management team. I look forward to working closely with him over the next few months, which will ensure a seamless transition.”