Contact: Elizabeth B. Eckel

EVP, Chief Marketing & Corporate Communications Officer

Telephone: (401) 348-1309

E-mail: ebeckel@washtrust.com

Date: April 22, 2024

WESTERLY, R.I., April 22, 2024 (PR NEWSWIRE)…Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: WASH), parent company of The Washington Trust Company, today announced first quarter 2024 net income of $10.9 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.9 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023.

“Washington Trust's first quarter performance reflects the importance of our diversified business model, as we were able to generate solid noninterest income while faced with continued margin pressure associated with higher funding costs,” stated Edward O. Handy III, Washington Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We remain focused on managing the balance sheet, maintaining credit quality, and prudently overseeing expenses to ensure we are adequately positioned to meet the challenges ahead.”

Selected financial highlights for the first quarter of 2024 include:

•Returns on average equity and average assets for the first quarter were 9.33% and 0.61%, respectively, compared to 11.77% and 0.71%, respectively for the preceding quarter.

•The net interest margin was 1.84% in the first quarter, compared to 1.88% in the preceding quarter.

•In the first quarter, a provision for credit losses of $700 thousand was recognized, down by $500 thousand from the provision recognized in the preceding quarter.

•Wealth management revenues amounted to $9.3 million in the first quarter, up by $457 thousand, or 5%, from the preceding quarter.

•Mortgage banking revenues totaled $2.5 million for the first quarter, up by $952 thousand, or 61%, from the preceding quarter.

•Total loans amounted to $5.7 billion, up by $38 million, or 1%, from the end of the preceding quarter.

•In-market deposits (total deposits less wholesale brokered deposits) amounted to $4.7 billion, down by $20 million, or 0.4%, from December 31, 2023.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $31.7 million for the first quarter of 2024, down by $989 thousand, or 3%, from the fourth quarter of 2023. The net interest margin was 1.84% for the first quarter, a decrease of 4 basis points from the preceding quarter. These declines reflected the continuation of higher funding costs, which outpaced increases in asset yields. Linked quarter changes included:

•Average interest-earning assets increased by $23 million, due to an increase of $46 million in average loans, partially offset by a decline in the average balance of investment securities. The yield on interest-earning assets for the first quarter was 4.93%, up by 12 basis points from the preceding quarter.

•Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $100 million as average wholesale funding balances increased by $122 million while average in-market deposits decreased by $21 million. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the first quarter of 2024 was 3.63%, up by 14 basis points from the preceding quarter.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income totaled $17.2 million for the first quarter of 2024, up by $3.9 million, or 29%, from the fourth quarter of 2023. Included in other noninterest income in the first quarter of 2024 was $2.1 million associated with a litigation settlement. Excluding this item, noninterest income was up by $1.8 million, or 13%, from the preceding quarter. Linked quarter changes included:

•Wealth management revenues amounted to $9.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, up by $457 thousand, or 5%, on a linked quarter basis. This correlated with an increase in the average balance of wealth management assets under administration ("AUA"), which was up by approximately $427 million, or 7%, from the preceding quarter.

The end of period AUA balance at March 31, 2024 amounted to $6.9 billion, up by $270 million, or 4%, from December 31, 2023. This increase reflected net investment appreciation of $364 million, partially offset by net client asset outflows of $94 million.

•Mortgage banking revenues totaled $2.5 million for the first quarter of 2024, up by $952 thousand, or 61%, from the preceding quarter, reflecting higher realized gains on loan sales, as well as a positive change in the fair value of mortgage loans held for sale and forward loan commitments. Realized gains increased by $453 thousand, or 40%, from the preceding quarter, due to a higher sales yield, as well as a higher volume of loans sold. Loans sold amounted to $72.6 million in the first quarter of 2024, up by $5.2 million, or 8%, from the preceding quarter. In the first quarter of 2024, 76% of residential real estate loan originations were originated for sale, compared to 66% in the preceding quarter.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense totaled $34.4 million for the first quarter of 2024, up by $1.8 million, or 5%, from the fourth quarter of 2023. Linked quarter changes included:

•Salaries and employee benefits expense amounted to $21.8 million, up by $3.3 million, or 18%. In the preceding quarter, performance-based compensation accruals were reduced by $3.4 million. Excluding this item, salaries and employee benefits expense was essentially flat on a linked quarter basis.

•Other noninterest expenses totaled $2.3 million, down by $1.3 million, or 35%, from the preceding quarter, largely due

to a $1.0 million contribution made by Washington Trust to its charitable foundation in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Income Tax

In the first quarter of 2024, income tax expense totaled $2.8 million, reflecting an effective tax rate of 20.6%. In the preceding quarter, an income tax benefit of $774 thousand was recognized, reflecting an effective rate of negative 6.4%. In the fourth quarter of 2023, income tax expense was reduced by a net $3.3 million adjustment to net deferred tax assets that was largely associated with an enacted change in state tax law. Excluding this adjustment, the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2023 would have been 20.4%. Based on current federal and applicable state income tax statutes, the Corporation currently expects its full-year 2024 effective tax rate to be approximately 21.0%.

Investment Securities

The securities portfolio totaled $970 million at March 31, 2024, down by $30 million, or 3%, from December 31, 2023, reflecting a decrease of $15 million in the fair value of available for sale debt securities due to changes in market interest rates, as well as routine pay-downs and maturities. The securities portfolio represented 13% of total assets at March 31, 2024, compared to 14% of total assets at December 31, 2023.

Loans

Total loans amounted to $5.7 billion at March 31, 2024, up by $38 million, or 1%, from the end of the preceding quarter. These changes included:

•Commercial loans increased by $60 million, or 2%, from December 31, 2023, reflecting advances and originations of $108 million, partially offset by principal payments of $48 million.

•Residential real estate loans decreased by $19 million, or 0.7%, from December 31, 2023. In the first quarter of 2024, residential real estate loans originated for portfolio amounted to $24 million, down by $15 million, or 39%, from the preceding quarter.

•The consumer loan portfolio decreased by $4 million, or 1%, from December 31, 2023, largely reflecting a decrease in home equity lines.

Deposits and Borrowings

Total deposits amounted to $5.3 billion at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Uninsured deposits, after exclusions (as detailed in the financial tables below) amounted to $965 million, or 18% of total deposits, at March 31, 2024.

In-market deposits, which exclude wholesale brokered deposits, amounted to $4.7 billion at March 31, 2024, down by $20 million, or 0.4%, from December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, in-market deposits were approximately 61% retail and 39% commercial. The average size of our in-market deposit accounts was approximately $36 thousand at March 31, 2024.

Wholesale brokered deposits amounted to $674 million and were up by $20 million, or 3%, from December 31, 2023.

FHLB advances totaled $1.2 billion at March 31, 2024, up by $50 million, or 4%, from December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, contingent liquidity amounted to $1.8 billion and consisted of noninterest-bearing cash, unencumbered securities, and unused collateralized borrowing capacity.

Asset Quality

Nonaccrual loans were $30.7 million, or 0.54% of total loans, at March 31, 2024, compared to $44.6 million, or 0.79% of total loans, at December 31, 2023. The decrease in nonaccrual loans was largely due to one commercial real estate loan that returned to accruing status in the quarter. The composition of nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2024 was 63% commercial and 37% residential and consumer.

Past due loans were $10.0 million, or 0.18% of total loans, at March 31, 2024, compared to $11.3 million, or 0.20% of total loans, at December 31, 2023. The composition of past due loans at March 31, 2024 was largely concentrated in the residential and consumer loan portfolios.

The allowance for credit losses ("ACL") on loans amounted to $41.9 million, or 0.74% of total loans, at March 31, 2024, compared to $41.1 million, or 0.73% of total loans, at December 31, 2023. The ACL on unfunded commitments, included in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, was $1.7 million at March 31, 2024, compared to $1.9 million at December 31, 2023.

The provision for credit losses totaled $700 thousand in the first quarter of 2024, down by $500 thousand from the preceding quarter. The provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2024 was composed of a provision for credit losses on loans of $900 thousand and a negative provision (or a benefit) for credit losses on unfunded commitments of $200 thousand. Net charge-offs amounted to $52 thousand in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $406 thousand in the preceding quarter.

Capital and Dividends

Total shareholders' equity was $466.9 million at March 31, 2024, down by $5.8 million, or 1%, from December 31, 2023. Net income of $10.9 million was offset by $9.7 million in dividend declarations and a decline of $7.8 million in the accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") component of shareholders' equity. The decline in AOCI largely reflected a decrease in the fair value of available for sale debt securities due to changes in market interest rates.

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of 56 cents per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The dividend was paid on April 12, 2024 to shareholders of record on April 1, 2024.

Capital levels at March 31, 2024 exceeded the regulatory minimum levels to be considered well capitalized, with a total risk-based capital ratio of 11.62% at March 31, 2024, compared to 11.58% at December 31, 2023. Book value per share was $27.41 at March 31, 2024, compared to $27.75 at December 31, 2023.

Conference Call

Washington Trust will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter results, business highlights, and outlook on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Individuals may dial in to the call at 1-833-470-1428 and enter Access Code 041815. An audio replay of the call will be available, shortly after the conclusion of the call, by dialing 1-866-813-9403 and entering the Replay Access Code 539231. The audio replay will be available through May 6, 2024. Also, a webcast of the call will be posted in the Investor Relations section of Washington Trust's website, https://ir.washtrust.com, and will be available through June 30, 2024.

Background

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. is the parent of The Washington Trust Company. Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island and one of the Northeast's premier financial services companies. Washington Trust offers a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking, and wealth management and trust services through its offices located in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Corporation’s common stock trades on NASDAQ under the symbol WASH. Investor information is available on the Corporation’s website at https://ir.washtrust.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are “forward-looking statements.” We may also make forward-looking statements in other documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in our annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by our officers, directors, or employees. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “assume,” “outlook,” “will,” “should,” and other expressions that predict or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters. You should not rely on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Some of the factors that might cause these differences include the following:

•changes in general business and economic conditions on a national basis and in the local markets in which we operate;

•changes in customer behavior due to political, business, and economic conditions, including inflation and concerns about liquidity;

•interest rate changes or volatility, as well as changes in the balance and mix of loans and deposits;

•changes in loan demand and collectability;

•the possibility that future credit losses are higher than currently expected due to changes in economic assumptions or adverse economic developments;

•ongoing volatility in national and international financial markets;

•reductions in the market value or outflows of wealth management AUA;

•decreases in the value of securities and other assets;

•increases in defaults and charge-off rates;

•changes in the size and nature of our competition;

•changes in legislation or regulation and accounting principles, policies, and guidelines;

•operational risks including, but not limited to, changes in information technology, cybersecurity incidents, fraud, natural disasters, war, terrorism, civil unrest, and future pandemics;

•regulatory, litigation, and reputational risks; and

•changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements.

In addition, the factors described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted to the SEC, may result in these differences. You should carefully review all of these factors, and you should be aware that there may be other factors that could cause these differences. These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans, and estimates at the date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes.

Supplemental Information - Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. Washington Trust's management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP information, which consists of measurements and ratios based on tangible equity and tangible assets, is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company's financial condition and therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures, which may be presented by other companies. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names.

(1)See the section labeled “Supplemental Information - Calculation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this document.

(2)Estimated for March 31, 2024 and actuals for prior periods.

(3)Period-end balances of net loans and mortgage loans held for sale as a percentage of total deposits.

(4)Annualized based on the actual number of days in the period.

(5)Fully taxable equivalent (FTE) net interest income as a percentage of average-earnings assets.

(6)Total noninterest expense as percentage of total revenues (net interest income and noninterest income).

(1)Includes gains on loan sales, commission income on loans originated for others, servicing right gains, and gains (losses) on forward loan commitments.

(2)Represents fair value changes on mortgage loans held for sale and forward loan commitments.

(3)Represents loan servicing fee income, net of servicing right amortization and valuation adjustments.

(4)Includes the full commitment amount of homeowner construction loans.

(5)Includes brokered loans (loans originated for others).

(1)Commercial real estate loans consist of commercial mortgages and construction and development loans. Commercial mortgages are loans secured by income producing property.

(2)Residential real estate loans consist of mortgage and homeowner construction loans secured by one- to four-family residential properties.

(1)Approximately 66% of the total commercial real estate office balance of $285 million is secured by income producing properties located in suburban areas. Additionally, approximately 33% of the total commercial real estate office balance is expected to mature in two years.

(2)The balance of commercial real estate office consists of 47 loans.

(3)Does not include $28.2 million of unfunded commitments.

(4)Total commitment (outstanding loan balance plus unfunded commitments) divided by number of loans.

(1)    Determined in accordance with regulatory reporting requirements, which includes affiliate deposits and fully-collateralized preferred deposits.

(2)    Uninsured deposit balances of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries that are eliminated in consolidation.

(3)    Uninsured deposits of states and political subdivisions, which are secured or collateralized as required by state law.

(1)    Included in provision for credit losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(2)     Included in other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table presents average balance and interest rate information. Tax-exempt income is converted to an FTE basis using the statutory federal income tax rate adjusted for applicable state income taxes net of the related federal tax benefit. Unrealized gains (losses) on available for sale securities and changes in fair value on mortgage loans held for sale are excluded from the average balance and yield calculations. Nonaccrual loans, as well as interest recognized on these loans, are included in amounts presented for loans.

Interest income amounts presented in the preceding table include the following adjustments for taxable equivalency: