Ned Handy '26

Chief Executive Officer
the Washington Trust company

Award Profile

Courageous Thinking & Action
Courageous leadership often means stepping forward when community needs are most urgent. Ned did just that when the Rhode Island Community Food Bank approached Washington Trust to serve as a sponsor partner for its Day of Giving fundraiser in November 2025—a time when public food assistance programs were facing cuts. Ned said yes without hesitation and the Bank quickly committed to a $10,000 match. This early, visible show of support helped galvanize additional corporate participation, ultimately driving total donations to more than $300,000. Washington Trust’s leadership provided critical funding to the Food Bank’s statewide network of agencies that serve more than 84,000 Rhode Islanders each month. Ned’s leadership demonstrated a willingness to stand with a trusted community partner, using the Bank’s resources and voice to encourage collective action and strengthen community resilience.
Vision & Innovation

Washington Trust was founded in 1800 as a financial resource for its Westerly
neighbors—a mission rooted in the belief that strong local institutions are essential to thriving communities. For more than two decades the Bank’s its purpose has remained constant: to help individuals, families, and businesses succeed and to strengthen the communities they call home. That vision still guides the Bank today.

Under Ned’s leadership, Washington Trust has focused on thoughtful growth rather than scale for its own sake. The Bank’s products, services, and resources include
affordable banking accounts, financial education, responsible lending, and other efforts to promote individuals’ and communities’ long-term well-being. Ned has also championed the creation and expansion of the Bank’s innovative community lending programs—including I Luv RI™, Buyer’s Advantage™, and Home Opportunity™—that help remove barriers to homeownership with flexible mortgage options, down
payment and closing cost assistance, and waived lender fees.

Inspiring Leadership
Under Ned’s leadership, Washington Trust has fostered a culture that encourages
employees to take active roles as community leaders—using their time, skills, and
financial expertise to strengthen the organizations and neighborhoods the Bank serves. That commitment is visible in the way employees are supported and encouraged to volunteer with local nonprofits and contribute to community initiatives across the Bank’s footprint. Washington Trust employees regularly lead financial literacy efforts designed to help students and families build confidence around budgeting, saving, and long-term financial planning. Ned leads by example, inspiring employees to view helping others not as an extra responsibility, but as an integral part of what it means to work for a community bank: “It’s what bankers should do and it’s who Washington Trust is.”  Ned credits the local business community for increasing his own engagement and gives back by inspiring others to volunteer.

Community Mindedness
Community engagement has been woven throughout Ned’s career. Early on, when he accepted a banking role that required relocating, he joined more than a dozen local boards to build a deeper understanding of the communities and people he would be serving.

Ned’s approach to service is hands on. He was part of the Washington Trust team that built a new house with Habitat for Humanity, rolling up his sleeves and putting his early experience in construction and home renovation to use. He co-chaired the capital campaign for Amos House’s community center, contributing his expertise and leadership, helping to navigate complex financing and guide the project from concept through completion. More recently, Ned, his wife Polly, and their family have provided longtime support to the San Miguel School, mentoring and/or sponsoring nearly a dozen students—maintaining relationships with them well into their adult lives.

JA Mission Moment
“Returning to the classroom as part of Junior Achievement of Rhode Island’s JA Leaders Day was especially meaningful for me. I’ve supported JA for many years, and spending the morning with fourth graders at George J. West Elementary School in Providence was a powerful reminder of how early financial education can shape future opportunities for students and families alike.

I joined Jonathan Ter Meer, Washington Trust Wealth Management Vice President and Wealth Advisor and a JA board member, in the classroom and together we taught the
JA More Than Money curriculum. I enjoyed helping the students connect banking to real life, and hearing them proudly share how they have earned money through chores or babysitting. We challenged them to imagine a business of their own and assign themselves roles based on their interests.

One of the highlights was watching a student who loves to draw realize they could be the graphic designer for a jewelry business. The students were curious, thoughtful, and fully engaged. Seeing real world concepts come alive at such a young age reminded me why this work matters, and why it’s always a pleasure to return to the classroom.”