On August 22, 2025, Washington Trust, America’s oldest community bank, will celebrate its 225th year of being a local Rhode Island business. For more than two centuries, generations of people and businesses have turned to the trusted advisors at Washington Trust who help them achieve their financial goals through savings, lending, homebuying, and wealth building programs. As it has for more than two centuries, Washington Trust remains focused on playing a vital role in enhancing its neighbors’ quality of life and making a meaningful difference in the places we live and work. The Bank’s team couldn’t be more excited to continue its legacy of commitment to community and the personally attentive financial services it’s known for to help customers throughout all stages of their lives.
Rolando A. Lora, Executive Vice President, Chief Retail Lending Officer, and Director of Community Lending, oversees the Bank’s mortgage banking and consumer lending activities throughout the region. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry with expertise in professional mortgage and consumer origination, operations, and leadership development. He is a board member for the Rhode Island Mortgage Bankers Association.
Washington Trust’s mortgage lenders throughout the State of Rhode Island assist borrowers with all their homebuying needs and has dedicated community lending officers who provide potential homebuyers with the financial education, tools, and resources needed to guide them on their path to home ownership. The Bank works directly with local community groups, including One Neighborhood Builders, Neighborworks Blackstone River Valley, West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation, and others, to collaborate on affordable housing solutions. Washington Trust’s unique RI Community Lending Program offers a variety of financing options, including matching funds/grants, closing cost credits and grants, waived lender fees, and low or discounted rates on fixed rate mortgages. Eligible borrowers may qualify for the Program by income and/or property location.
“As the nation’s oldest community bank, we’ve helped generations of Rhode Islanders achieve home ownership,” stated Lora. “We remain deeply committed to building home ownership equity throughout the State. We worked closely with our community housing partners to develop our RI Community Lending Program, which offers unique, flexible, and affordable opportunities, as well as one-on-one coaching and education, to help potential homebuyers achieve their dream of home ownership.”
NMLS #414726