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NASDAQ: WASH

Contact: Elizabeth B. Eckel

Senior Vice President, Marketing

Telephone: (401) 348-1309

E-mail: ebeckel@washtrust.com

Date: December 21, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. Announces New Stock Repurchase Plan

Westerly, Rhode Island, December 21, 2006 - Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NasdaqGM: WASH) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new common stock repurchase plan to replace its existing stock repurchase plan. The new plan authorizes the repurchase of up to 400,000 shares, or approximately 3%, of the Corporation’s common stock in open market transactions. This authority may be exercised from time to time and in such amounts as market conditions warrant, and subject to regulatory considerations. The existing plan had approximately 112,000 shares remaining to be repurchased.

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. is the parent of The Washington Trust Company, a Rhode Island state-chartered bank founded in 1800. Washington Trust offers personal banking, business banking and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and southeastern Connecticut. Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol WASH. Investor information is available on the Corporation’s web site: www.washtrust.com.

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This press release contains certain statements that may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, effectiveness of investment programs, evaluations of future interest rate trends and liquidity, expectations as to growth in assets, deposits and results of operations, success of acquisitions, future operations, market position, financial position, and prospects, plans, goals and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, changes in general national or regional economic conditions, changes in interest rates, reductions in the market value of wealth management and trust assets under administration, reductions in loan demand, reductions in deposit levels necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and investments, changes in loan default and charge-off rates, changes in the size and nature of the Corporation’s competition, changes in legislation or regulation and accounting principles, policies and guidelines, and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or update the reasons actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those provided in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law.