American Banker names Washington Trust to Best Banks to Work For 2026 list

WESTERLY, R.I., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- American Banker magazine has named Washington Trust to its 2026 list of the Best Banks to Work For – an exclusive group of only 100 banks in the United States that excel at creating positive and supportive workplaces for employees.  Washington Trust has earned a place on the national list seven times in the past eight years.

"This recognition speaks to the strength of the culture we've worked hard to build and sustain across our organization," said Washington Trust Chairman and CEO Ned Handy. "We're honored to be included among the nation's best banks to work for and are proud of the workplace experience we provide our employees." 

The Best Banks to Work For list identifies and honors banks that excel at creating positive and supportive workplaces for employees. Selection is based on a review of each bank's policies and benefits, and an employee survey of workplace environment, morale, opportunities for professional growth, and overall culture.

"The banks recognized as Best Banks to Work For are institutions employees want to join and stay," said Chana Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of American Banker. "They understand how to give workers reasons to find purpose in their jobs."

American Banker partnered with Best Companies Group to develop the 2026 Best Banks to Work For list, using a two-step process. The first consisted of evaluating each participating bank's workplace policies, practices, and demographics, and assigning a 25% weighted score. The second consisted of employee surveys aimed at assessing the experiences and attitudes of individual employees with respect to their workplace, and assigning a 75% weighted score. The combined scores determined the final ranking.

Best Companies Group managed the registration and survey process and also analyzed the data to determine the final ranking. 

The full list of the 2026 Best Banks to Work For is available at www.bestbankstoworkfor.com.

ABOUT THE WASHINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is recognized as the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island and one of New England's premier financial services companies. In 2025, Washington Trust reached a milestone of 225 years in operation, marking its commitment to helping the people, businesses, and organizations of New England improve their financial lives. The Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and a full suite of convenient digital tools. Washington Trust is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. Washington Trust is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a publicly-owned holding company which trades onNASDAQ: WASH. For more information, visit the Bank's website at www.washtrust.com or the Corporation's website at ir.washtrust.com.

About American Banker
American Banker empowers banking professionals with unique analysis and insight into the
ideas transforming their business and industry. Across its journalism, events, research and benchmarking, it helps drive the way forward through the complexity of business innovation, retail and commercial disruption, technology, regulation and reform. With a banking community 850k strong, American Banker's content connects leaders online, in person and in print every day.

About Best Companies Group
Since 2004, Best Companies Group has specialized in identifying and recognizing great employers to work for. We are an independent research firm that ranks companies based on our established research methodology. Our surveys provide actionable, hard-to-obtain data that companies use to improve employee recruitment and retention.

SOURCE The Washington Trust Company