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Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. Annual Shareholders Meeting To Be Held On April 27, 2010

The meeting will be held for the purpose of considering and acting upon the following:

1. The election of five directors, nominated by the Board of Directors, for three year terms, each to serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

2. The ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as the Corporation's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2010; and

3. Such other business as may properly come before the meeting, or any adjournment thereof.

The record date for the Annual Meeting is February 26, 2010. Proxy statements, 2009 Annual Reports to Shareholders, Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2009, voting materials and meeting information were mailed on March 12, 2010, to shareholders of record.

About Washington Trust:

The Washington Trust Company is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a $2.9 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 commercial banking, small business banking, personal banking, and wealth management and trust services through its offices located in Rhode Island, southeastern Connecticut and eastern Massachusetts. The Corporation's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Select Stock Market under the symbol WASH. Web site address: www.washtrust.com.

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.
Elizabeth B. Eckel, 401-348-1309
Senior Vice President, Marketing
ebeckel@washtrust.com