Eligibility Requirements:
  • Business must operate in either CT, MA, NY or RI. Eligible counties in NY and MA are listed in the application below (see question 6).
  • Business must have less than 100 employees and no more than $1M in annual revenue.
  • Business owner must be available to attend an awards ceremony the first week of June (date TBD) in either CT or NY (Southington, Stamford, White Plains) at Webster offices.
The Small Details...
  • Contest runs from March 25, 2026 through April 17, 2026.
  • Winners will be announced during the week of May 3-9 in honor of National Small Business Week!
  • Awards Ceremony to be held the first week of June (location and date to be determined).
If you have any questions or need additional information prior to submitting your application, please send an email to Inclusive-Vendor@WebsterBank.com. Thank you.

* denotes an answer is required

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* 1. What is your name?

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* 2. What is your email address?

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* 3. What is the name of your business?

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* 4. What is your business' Tax ID or Employer Identification Number (EIN)?

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* 5. What is your business address?

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* 6. Does your business operate in one of the counties listed below?

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* 7. What is your business' annual revenue?

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* 8. How many employees does your business have?

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* 9. How would you use this money to help grow your business?

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* 10. How does your business create economic vitality in your community?

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* 11. What are the main challenges to your business currently?

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* 12. Please upload a copy of your business' W-9.

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* 13. Please upload a copy of the one page that shows the revenue on your tax return; no need to upload the full tax return. Please redact any personal information.

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* 14. How did you hear about this contest?

OFFICIAL RULES – 2026 NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK CONTEST

Sponsor:
Webster Bank, N.A. (“Webster” or “Sponsor”).

1. Contest Overview
This is a skill‑based contest. Winners will be selected based on the quality and substance of their written responses using a scoring rubric developed by the Sponsor’s judging panel. No random drawing will be used.

By participating, Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and to the decisions of Webster, which will be final and binding in all respects.

2. Eligibility
Eligible Entrants must:
• Operate a business in CT, MA, NY, or RI (eligible counties listed in Question 6).
• Have fewer than 100 employees and no more than $1M in annual revenue.
• Have an owner available to attend an awards ceremony in early June at a Webster Bank location (CT or NY).
• Submit all required responses and documentation.

3. Entry Period
The Contest runs from March 25, 2026 through April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.

4. No Purchase Necessary
NO PURCHASE, DEPOSIT, LOAN OR OTHER BANKING TRANSACTION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE, DEPOSIT, LOAN OR OTHER BANKING TRANSACTION WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

5. Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by Webster.
Judges will review responses to Questions 9, 10, and 11 based on factors such as:
• Clarity and completeness of responses
• Proposed use of funds
• Demonstrated business need and challenges
• Contribution to community economic vitality

A detailed scoring rubric with point values will be developed prior to judging.

6. Winner Selection & Notification
Judging will occur from April 18 through May 2, 2026.
Winners will be announced during National Small Business Week (May 3–9, 2026).
Winners will be notified via the email provided.
In the event of a tie, the business with the highest “community economic impact” score will be selected.

7. Prizes
One, first-place prize = $10,000. Two, second-place prizes = $5,000/each. Five third-place prizes = $1,000/each.

8. Tax Requirements
Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes. Webster will issue IRS Form 1099‑MISC for any prize valued at $600 or more.
9. Privacy & Data Use
Information collected, including EINs and financial documents, will be used solely for eligibility verification, judging, and prize administration, consistent with Webster’s privacy policy.

10. Miscellaneous
Webster reserves the right to invalidate any and all entries of an Entrant which Webster, in its sole discretion, determines to be in violation of these Official Rules or any and all entries of an Entrant who Webster determines has engaged in any act or activity which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper play of this Contest.

Entrants agree that:
Webster and its designees shall have the right and permission to use, if a winner, in all media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide in perpetuity, without notice or review or approval, Entrant’s name and city/state of residence for advertising, trade and/or other purpose without further compensation (unless prohibited by law); and Webster and Webster’s directors, officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries, and affiliates shall have no liability and will be held harmless by Entrants for any claim, liability, loss, injury or damage to Entrants or any other person or entity, including without limitation personal injury, death, or damage to personal or real property, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use, misuse, or redemption of any prize, or participation in this Contest.
Webster reserves the right to make Official Rule changes at any time without notice and reserves the right to change the dates, times, or time periods described in these Official Rules without notice, unless prohibited by law.

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* 15. Required Entrant Acknowledgment

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