Washington Trust Marks 225 Years of Community Banking
Unveils Anniversary Logo, Community Checking Campaign,
and Special Events
and Special Events
Washington Trust, founded in Rhode Island and recognized as the nation’s oldest community bank, is proud to announce the celebration of its 225th birthday in 2025. August 22, 2025 will mark more than two centuries of service, trust, and commitment to its communities throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
“As we mark this milestone, we recognize the privilege of celebrating 225 years of serving our customers and communities,” said Edward O. “Ned” Handy III, Chairman & CEO at Washington Trust. “We’re focused on earning our customers’ trust every day and nurturing those relationships to help them manage their financial lives, provide for their families, start businesses, and plan for the future. It’s truly an honor to carry forward the Bank’s legacy.”
To celebrate, Washington Trust is unveiling a series of initiatives to honor this historic milestone:
Birthday Logo: A Fresh Look for a Historic Year
To commemorate 225 years of continuous service, Washington Trust has unveiled a special birthday logo that will be used throughout the year as part of the celebration.
225 Community Checking Campaign: Giving Back to Our Communities
The Bank also announced the launch of a special “225 Community Checking” campaign which runs now through August 2025. During this period, anyone who opens a new checking account can direct a $25 donation—courtesy of Washington Trust—to one of 12 partner nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. In addition, new account holders can also receive a $200 bonus for themselves*.
Positioning the offer as “Good for You and Good for Your Community,” the initiative underscores Washington Trust’s longstanding commitment to supporting the community, while also offering new customers the opportunity to experience the convenience, security, and personalized banking service that Washington Trust is known for.
Nonprofit beneficiaries include: Amos House (RI), Financial Literacy Youth Initiative (RI), Rhode Island Community Food Bank (RI), Rhode Island Free Clinic (RI), South County Habitat for Humanity (RI), Tides Family Services (RI), WARM Center (RI), Connecticut Foodshare (CT), Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities (CT), Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center (CT), Greater Boston Food Bank (MA), and NeighborWorks Housing Solutions (MA).
Customer Appreciation and Special Events
Throughout the Bank's birthday month of August, there will be a series of special celebrations, pop up events, and customer appreciation events at branches across its footprint. These events are designed to thank customers for their loyalty and partnership over the years, and to celebrate the shared success of the communities Washington Trust has served for generations.
Washington Trust was founded on August 22, 1800 in Westerly, RI, and for more than two centuries has consistently delivered personalized banking, lending and wealth management solutions, evolving to meet the needs of its diverse customer base and continuing to embody the values and spirit of true community banking. The bank has grown from its original location in downtown Westerly, R.I., to 28 retail banking branches in Rhode Island and Mystic, Connecticut, as well as mortgage lending and wealth management offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
For more information about Washington Trust’s 225-year history please visit washtrust.com/history.
