WESTERLY, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2005--The Washington Trust Company, a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq National Market; symbol: WASH), today announced that the Bank has received the Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs(AEWVP) from The Points of Light Foundation. The award was presented today at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. in recognition of the Bank's outstanding commitment to engage employees in community service. David Lauren, senior vice president of advertising, marketing and corporate communications, Polo Ralph Lauren, was the keynote speaker for the event.

The Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs is an international award that honors businesses of all sizes and from all industries that have made a commitment to effectively engage employees in volunteering. The Points of Light Foundation, the nation's leading volunteer resource, views companies as one of the primary sources of volunteers and provides a full range of services to help businesses develop and sustain workplace volunteer programs.

"Washington Trust is extremely honored to be the recipient of the Points of Light Foundation's prestigious Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs," said John C. Warren, chairman and CEO of Washington Trust. He added, "Being recognized by Points of Light for our work in the community is the most important award we could receive. The employees at Washington Trust take great pride in serving the communities in which they live and work." He continued, "Our employees show great enthusiasm and commitment towards volunteering in the community and I know they are grateful, as well, for the opportunity to experience the rewards of helping those in need."

"Washington Trust has shown leadership and commitment to workplace volunteering that uphold our standards for an effective and sustainable program," said Robert K. Goodwin, president and chief executive officer of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. "We are proud to recognize Washington Trust as one of the recipients of the 2005 Awards for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Program winners for their exemplary program." Goodwin added, "Washington Trust is a role model for other members of the business community to make volunteering an integral part of their workplace culture."

Washington Trust, the oldest community bank in the nation, has a long-standing commitment to service as noted in the Bank's 205-year old charter that states the bank shall provide "those little assistances from time to time, that only banks give." The Bank's commitment to community service is also evident through its employee-selected core values -- quality, integrity and community, as well as through the Bank's mission statement, which calls for the Bank to provide "public service leadership in our communities."

Washington Trust supports its local community both financially and through volunteer efforts of its employees. Approximately 75 percent of Washington Trust's employees perform community service through the Bank's Reach for the Stars volunteer program. Bank officers serve as community leaders and board members for various non-profit organizations. Employees volunteer for projects such as the Habitat for Humanity's home build, the American Bankers Association's "Teach Children to Save Day," the Audubon Society's "Coastal Cleanup" and more. Each year, the Bank also conducts a community-wide peanut butter drive and in 2005 donated 8 1/2 tons of peanut butter to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Through the Bank's Dare to Care Day program every Bank officer participates in a day of service for one of several volunteer projects held during business hours. The Bank has various means of rewarding employees for their volunteerism and community service.

Washington Trust was selected by a panel of distinguished judges from major business and nonprofit groups, who based their decisions on how well Washington Trust's overall workplace-based volunteer program reflects the Principles of Excellence for Workplace Volunteering, a plan to ACT:

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