CONTACT: Charlene P. Davenport, Marketing, 401-348-1363
DATE: October 30, 2006
Washington Trust To Hold Free 'Community Shred Day
October 30, 2006 (Westerly, RI) . . . In an effort to help the public prevent identity theft, The Washington Trust Company will hold a free Community Shred Day™ on Saturday, November 11, 2006, 8 - 11 a.m. in the Bank's Franklin Street Branch parking lot. A Shred-it® truck will be set up in the parking lot where community members will be able to hand over their documents and watch as they are shredded.
Identity theft is the fastest growing form of consumer fraud in America, according to the Federal Trade Commission's Annual Report on Consumer Fraud & Identity Theft. "Shredding is a safe and secure way to destroy old documents such as credit card statements, tax records and confidential personal and small business records," said John C. Warren, Chairman and CEO of Washington Trust. "We are happy to provide this service to consumers to help fight identity theft."
The public is invited and each person can bring up to two hand-carried boxes. Most types of paper will be accepted and there is no need to remove paper clips or staples. Shred-it® is unable to accept ring binders, hanging folders with metal strips, x-rays, plastic, film negatives, wire binders, and anything with a heavy quantity of metal.
The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a $1.4 billion corporation headquartered in Westerly, Rhode Island. Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest community bank in the nation and is the largest independent bank headquartered in Rhode Island. A state-chartered bank, Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including personal banking, business banking, and wealth management and trust services, through its offices located in Rhode Island, southeastern Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Corporation's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol WASH. Web site address: www.washtrust.com.
