FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Elizabeth Eckel, SVP Marketing, 401-348-1309
DATE: October 4, 2005

Washington Trust Hires New V.P., Commercial Real Estate and V.P., Team Leader

Westerly, Rhode Island... Washington Trust recently hired Michael P. Thurz, of Glastonbury, Conn., as assistant vice president, commercial real estate and John M. Regan, of Cumberland, R.I., as vice president, commercial lending officer

Thurz, vice president, commercial real estate, brings over 13 years of banking experience with him and is responsible for developing the Bank's commercial real estate portfolio throughout the state of Connecticut. He handles the financing of office, industrial and retail properties as well as commercial and residential construction loans.

Thurz graduated from St. Anselm College and is currently enrolled in the MBA program at the University of Hartford. He volunteers as a coach for Hartwell Soccer and is the assistant chief of the Glastonbury Volunteer Fire Department.

Regan, vice president, team leader, is responsible for leading and managing commercial lending activities in the Providence and Northern Rhode Island area and is specifically responsible for the profitable and sound growth of the commercial loan portfolio and the development and maintenance of effective credit practices. He brings more than 20 years of bank lending experience with him.

Regan received a bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Rhode Island. He volunteers as a board member and treasurer for Caritas Inc. in Pawtucket, R.I. and as a religion Instructor for St. Joan of Arcin Cumberland.

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.