FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Elizabeth Eckel, SVP Marketing, 401-348-1309
DATE: October 18, 2004

Washington Trust Provides SBA Loan for New Restaurant in Westerly

Westerly, Rhode Island... The Washington Trust Companyhas provided financing to Guy T. Gengarella, owner of Guytanno's Café, a new restaurant scheduled to open later this month at 62 Franklin Street in Westerly. The loan was made in conjunction with the Small Business Administration (SBA).

"We pleased to finance another new restaurant in Westerly," said John C. Warren, Chairman and CEO of The Washington Trust Company. "Mr. Gengarella has extensive culinary experience and a terrific following of customers and we wish him the best of luck."

Guy T. Gengarella holds a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University and has worked in the culinary industry for more than twenty years. He served as the Sous Chef and Saute Chef at the Harbor View Restaurant, where he received excellent reviews from PM Magazine and Connecticut Magazine. He also served as Sous Chef at the Mystic Hilton, where he won Four Star awards in the New York Times and the Best food award in the best hotel/motel in Southeastern CT. Mr. Gengarella most recently held the Executive chef position at 84 High Street Café and Catering in Westerly.

"This is a dream come true," Mr. Gengarella stated. "My wife, Denise, and I have been planning our own restaurant for years and Washington Trust has helped make it happen for us."

The Washington Trust Company is the largest independent bank headquartered in Rhode Island. A state-chartered bank, Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including trust and investment management, through its 16 branch offices located in Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. Founded in 1800, the Bank is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., whose common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market® under the symbol WASH. Web site address: www.washtrust.com.