On January 24, 2024, the Board of Directors (Board) of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (Corporation) elected Debra M. Paul to serve as a director of the Corporation effective as of March 1, 2024, filling a vacancy created by an expansion of the Board. Ms. Paul was also appointed to the Board of Directors of the Corporation?s subsidiary bank The Washington Trust Company, of Westerly. Ms. Paul has not been appointed to serve on a Board committee at this time; however, the Board plans to appoint her to the Audit Committee of the Board following the Corporation?s Annual Meeting of Shareholders in April 2024.

The Board has determined that Ms. Paul is independent under Nasdaq listing rules and other applicable standards and that she qualifies as an ?audit committee financial expert? as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Ms. Paul was elected to the class of directors serving until the Corporation?s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until her successor is duly elected and qualified. Ms. Paul has extensive experience in the healthcare industry and has held executive positions including Chief Financial Officer & Strategic Consultant at Elwyn; President & CEO of Fellowship Health Resources, Inc.; and Chief Financial Officer & SVP of Woman & Infants Hospital.