Washington Trust Is Rhode Island's Top SBA Lender In Dollar Volume

October 10, 2007 (Westerly, RI). . . The Washington Trust Company has earned designation as the top Small Business Leader lender, in Rhode Island, in dollar volume for the 2007 fiscal year, according to reports released by the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as of September 30, 2007. Washington Trust approved 80 loans totaling $10,868,700 during the 2007 fiscal year.

“Small business is the engine of our local economy,” said John C. Warren, chairman and CEO of Washington Trust. “We are committed to providing local businesses with the resources they need to succeed.”

“I congratulate Washington Trust for their continuing commitment to the small business community,” said Mark S. Hayward, director of the SBA Rhode Island District Office. “Washington Trust has provided more than $10.8 million in capital to help small businesses start grow and succeed. This access to capital has contributed tremendously to the growth of the Rhode Island economy.”

The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a $2.4 billion corporation headquartered in Westerly, Rhode Island. Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the largest independent bank and the oldest community bank in the nation, headquartered in Rhode Island. A state-chartered bank, Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including business banking, personal 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.