Webster Financial Corporation, the holding company for Webster Bank, N.A. and its HSA Bank division, announced Kristy Berner has been appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Webster Financial Corporation and Webster Bank. She will lead all of Webster’s corporate legal services.

Berner has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary at M&T Bank Corporation. Prior to joining M&T, she was the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at both People’s United Bank and First Niagara Bank, as well as the Deputy General Counsel at KeyBank. Berner began her legal career at Hodgson Russ LLP, where her practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, securities and corporate matters.

“Kristy is an experienced professional in financial services,” said John Ciulla, President and CEO of Webster Financial Corporation and CEO of Webster Bank. “As a member of the executive management team, we look forward to her leadership and guidance as part of our growth strategy.”

Berner served as a member of the Quinnipiac University Center for Women in Business Advisory Board and as a prior Chair and Vice-Chair of the American Bankers Association General Counsel Group. She is a long-standing member of the Society for Corporate Governance as well as a variety of other legal and bank trade group associations.

Berner earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology, an MBA and her law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.