Washington Trust Bancorp - 10-Q quarterly report FY

(Mark One)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

The number of shares of common stock of the registrant outstanding as of October  31, 2006 was 13,464,109.

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (the “Bancorp”) is a publicly-owned registered bank holding company and financial holding company. The Bancorp owns all of the outstanding common stock of The Washington Trust Company (the “Bank”), a Rhode Island chartered commercial bank founded in 1800. Through its subsidiaries, the Bancorp offers a complete product line of financial services to individuals and businesses including commercial, residential and consumer lending, retail and commercial deposit products, and wealth management and trust services through its branch offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and southeastern Connecticut, ATMs, and its Internet web site (www.washtrust.com).

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Bancorp and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Corporation” or “Washington Trust”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year classification. Such reclassifications have no effect on previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity.

The accounting and reporting policies of the Corporation conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to general practices of the banking industry. In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to change are the determination of the allowance for loan losses and the review of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) and disclosures necessary to present fairly the Corporation’s financial position as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively, and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Corporation presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Washington Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections”. SFAS No 154 replaces Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes”, and FASB Statement No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements”, and changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. This Statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principles. It also applies to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not include specific transition provisions. APB Opinion 20 previously required that most voluntary changes in accounting principle be recognized by including in net income of the period of the change the cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. SFAS No. 154 defines retrospective application as the application of a different accounting principle to prior accounting periods as if that principle had always been used or as the adjustment of previously issued financial statements to reflect a change in the reporting entity. This Statement also redefines restatement as the revising of previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction of an error. This Statement requires that retrospective application of a change in accounting principle be limited to the direct effects of the change. This Statement carries forward without change the guidance contained in APB Opinion 20 for reporting the correction of an error in previously issued financial statements and a change in accounting estimate. This Statement also carries forward the guidance in APB Opinion 20 requiring justification of a change in accounting principle on the basis of preferability. This Statement was effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The adoption of SFAS No. 154 did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments - an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140.” This Statement eliminates the exemption from applying SFAS No. 133 to interests in securitized financial assets so that similar instruments are accounted for similarly regardless of the form of the instruments. This Statement also allows a preparer to elect fair value measurement at acquisition, at issuance, or when a previously recognized financial instrument is subject to a remeasurement event, on an instrument-by-instrument basis, in cases in which a derivative would otherwise have to be bifurcated. SFAS No. 155 is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. Provisions of this Statement may be applied to instruments that an entity holds at the date of adoption on an instrument-by-instrument basis. Prior periods should not be restated. The Corporation believes the adoption of SFAS No. 155 will not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140.” This Statement requires that all separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities be initially measured at fair value. SFAS No. 156 permits, but does not require, the subsequent measurement of servicing assets and servicing liabilities at fair value. An entity that used derivative instruments to mitigate the risks inherent in servicing assets and servicing liabilities is required to account for those derivative instruments at fair value. SFAS No. 156 is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Corporation believes the adoption of SFAS No. 156 will not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" ("FIN 48"). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." FIN 48 also prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In addition, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The provisions of FIN 48 are to be applied to all tax positions upon initial adoption of this standard. Only tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date may be recognized or continue to be recognized upon adoption of FIN 48. The Corporation has not yet determined the potential financial impact of adopting FIN 48.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures of fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies to the accounting principles that currently use fair value measurement, and does not require any new fair value measurements. The expanded disclosures focus on the inputs used to measure fair value as well as the effect of the fair value measurements on earnings. This Statement is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within that fiscal year. The Corporation believes the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Post Retirement Plans (an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132R)”. This Statement requires that the funded status of an employer’s postretirement benefit plan be recognized in its statement of financial position. This Statement also requires that changes in the funded status of a defined benefit plan, including actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits, must be recognized in comprehensive income in the year in which the

The Securities and Exchange Commission released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”), in September 2006. SAB 108 provides guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year financial statement misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current period misstatement. In addition, upon adoption, SAB 108 permits the Corporation to adjust the cumulative effect of immaterial errors relating to prior years in the carrying amount of assets and liabilities as of the beginning of the current fiscal year, with an offsetting adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. SAB 108 also requires the adjustment of any prior quarterly financial statement within the fiscal year of adoption for the effects of such errors on the quarters when the information is next presented. The Corporation will adopt SAB 108 in the first quarter of 2007, and does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on its results of operations and financial condition.

Washington Trust has three share-based compensation plans, which are described below. Effective January 1, 2006, the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123R, “Share-Based Payment”, were adopted on a modified prospective basis. Prior to this date, the provisions of APB No. 25 and related interpretations were applied for option grant accounting.

In the Corporation’s consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, the following pro forma net income and earnings per share information was disclosed in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and SFAS No. 148:

The Bancorp’s 2003 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2003 Plan”), which is shareholder approved, permits the granting of share options and other equity incentives to officers, employees, directors, and other key persons. Up to 600,000 shares of the Bancorp’s common stock may be used from authorized but unissued shares, treasury stock, shares reacquired by the Corporation, or shares available from expired or terminated awards. No more than 200,000 shares may be issued in the form of awards other than share options or stock appreciation rights. Share options are designated as either non-qualified or incentive share options. Incentive share option awards may be granted at any time until February 20, 2013.

The Bancorp’s 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “1997 Plan”), which is shareholder approved, permits the granting of share options and other equity incentives to key employees, directors, advisors, and consultants. Up to 1,012,500 shares of the Bancorp’s common stock may be used from authorized but unissued shares, treasury stock, shares reacquired by the Corporation, or shares available from expired or terminated awards. Share options are

The Amended and Restated 1988 Stock Option Plan (the “1988 Plan”), which was shareholder approved, provided for the granting of share options to directors, officers and key employees. The 1988 Plan permitted share options to be granted at any time until December 31, 1997. The 1988 Plan provided for shares of the Bancorp’s common stock to be used from authorized but unissued shares, treasury stock, or shares available from expired awards. Share options were designated as either non-qualified or incentive share options.

The 1988 Plan, the 1997 Plan and the 2003 Plan (collectively, “the Plans”) permit options to be granted with stock appreciation rights ("SARs"), however, no share options have been granted with SARs. Pursuant to the Plans, the exercise price of each share option may not be less than fair market value of the Bancorp’s common stock on the date of the grant. In general, the share option price is payable in cash, by the delivery of shares of common stock already owned by the grantee, or a combination thereof. Nonvested share units and shares are valued at the fair market value of the Bancorp’s common stock as of the award date. No option, share unit or share awards made prior to January 1, 2003 had requisite vesting periods remaining as of January 1, 2006. Share options awarded during 2003, 2004 and 2005 were granted with a variety of vesting terms including immediate vesting, graded vesting over three-year periods and cliff vesting over three-year periods. Nonvested share units or shares awarded during 2004, 2005 and 2006 were granted with vesting terms ranging from one to five years. Share option and share awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the Plans).

Amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements for share options, nonvested share units and nonvested share awards are as follows:

A summary of share option activity under the Plans as of September 30, 2006, and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, is presented below:

The total intrinsic value of share options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $824 thousand.

As of September 30, 2006, there was $1.0 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements (including share option and nonvested share awards) granted under the Plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years.

Securities available for sale are summarized as follows:

Securities available for sale and held to maturity with a fair value of $608.4 million and $564.3 million were pledged in compliance with state regulations concerning trust powers and to secure Treasury Tax and Loan deposits, borrowings, and certain public deposits at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. In addition, securities available for sale and held to maturity with a fair value of $10.5 million and $13.8 million were collateralized for the discount window at the Federal Reserve Bank at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. There were no borrowings with the Federal Reserve Bank at either date. Securities available for sale with a fair value of $2.2 million were designated in a rabbi trust for a nonqualified retirement plan at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005.

At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the available for sale and held to maturity securities portfolio included $2.4 million and $3.4 million of net pretax unrealized losses, respectively. Included in these net amounts were gross unrealized losses amounting to $10.6 million and $13.5 million at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

The following tables summarize, for all securities in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively, the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time those securities have been continuously in an unrealized loss position.

For those debt securities whose amortized cost exceeds fair value, the primary cause is related to interest rates. The majority of debt securities reported in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2006 were purchased during 2005, 2004 and 2003, during which time interest rates were at or near historical lows. The relative increase in short and medium term interest rates resulted in a decline in market value for these debt securities. The Corporation believes that the nature and duration of impairment on its debt security holdings are primarily a function of future interest rate movements and changes in investment spreads, and does not consider full repayment of principal on the reported debt obligations to be at risk. The debt securities in an unrealized loss position at September 30, 2006 consisted of 152 debt security holdings. The largest loss percentage of any single holding was 5.06% of its amortized cost.

The following is a summary of loans:

The following is an analysis of the allowance for loan losses:

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 are as follows:

The acquisition of Weston Financial Group, Inc. (“Weston Financial”) provides for the payment of contingent purchase price amounts based on operating results in each of the years in the three-year earn-out period ending December 31, 2008.  During the third quarter of 2006 the Corporation recognized a liability of $4.595 million, with a corresponding addition to goodwill, representing the 2006 portion of the earn-out period.

Amortization of intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, totaled $1.2 million. Estimated annual amortization expense of current intangible assets with finite useful lives, absent any impairment or change in estimated useful lives, is summarized below.

The components of intangible assets at September 30, 2006 are as follows:

The Corporation is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage the Corporation’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and commitments to originate and commitments to sell fixed rate mortgage loans. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The contract or notional amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Corporation has in particular classes of financial instruments. The Corporation uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. The contractual and notional amounts of financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk are as follows:

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there are no violations of any conditions established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since some of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Each borrower’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower.

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. Under the standby letters of credit, the Corporation is required to make payments to the beneficiary of the letters of credit upon request by the beneficiary contingent upon the customer’s failure to perform under the terms of the underlying contract with the beneficiary. Standby letters of credit extend up to five years. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments, not reduced by amounts that may be recovered, totaled $9.9 million and $11.0 million, respectively. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, there was no liability to beneficiaries resulting from standby letters of credit.

At September 30, 2006, a substantial portion of the standby letters of credit were supported by pledged collateral. The collateral obtained is determined based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer. Should the Corporation be required to make payments to the beneficiary, repayment from the customer to the Corporation is required.

Commitments to originate and commitments to sell fixed rate mortgage loans are derivative financial instruments. Accordingly, the fair value of these commitments is recognized in other assets on the balance sheet and changes in fair value of such commitments are recorded in current earnings in the income statement. The carrying value of such commitments as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and the respective changes in fair values for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 were insignificant.

Advances payable to the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) are summarized as follows:

In addition to outstanding advances, the Corporation also has access to an unused line of credit amounting to $8.0 million at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005. Under agreement with the FHLB, the Corporation is required to maintain qualified collateral, free and clear of liens, pledges, or encumbrances that, based on certain percentages of book and market values, has a value equal to the aggregate amount of the line of credit and outstanding advances (“FHLB borrowings”). The FHLB maintains a security interest in various assets of the Corporation including, but not limited to, residential mortgages loans, U.S. government or agency securities, U.S. government-sponsored agency securities, and amounts maintained on deposit at the FHLB. The Corporation maintained qualified collateral in excess of the amount required to collateralize the line of credit and outstanding advances at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005. Included in the collateral were securities available for sale and held to maturity with a fair value of $501.8 million and $498.0 million that were specifically pledged to secure FHLB borrowings at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. Unless there is an event of default under the agreement with the FHLB, the Corporation may use, encumber or dispose of any portion of the collateral in excess of the amount required to secure FHLB borrowings, except for that collateral that has been specifically pledged.

In connection with the Weston Financial acquisition, trust preferred securities totaling $22 million were issued in the third quarter of 2005 by WT Capital Trust I (“Trust I”) and WT Capital Trust II (“Trust II”), capital trusts created by the Bancorp. In accordance with FASB Interpretation 46-R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities - Revised”, Trust I and Trust II are not consolidated into the Corporation’s financial statements; however, the Corporation reflects the amounts of junior subordinated debentures payable to Trust I and Trust II as debt in its financial statements. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, junior subordinated debentures payable amounted to $22.7 million.

The following is a summary of other borrowings:

There were no securities sold under repurchase agreements outstanding at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005. Securities sold under repurchase agreements generally mature within 90 days. The securities underlying the agreements are held in safekeeping by the counterparty in the name of the Corporation and are repurchased when the agreement matures. Accordingly, these underlying securities are included in securities available for sale and the obligations to repurchase such securities are reflected as a liability.

The Corporation’s noncontributory tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan covers substantially all employees. Benefits are based on an employee’s years of service and highest 3-year compensation. The plan is funded on a current basis, in compliance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Corporation also has non-qualified retirement plans to provide supplemental retirement benefits to certain employees, as defined in the plans.

The actuarial assumptions used for the non-qualified retirement plans are the same as those used for the Corporation’s tax-qualified pension plan. The non-qualified retirement plans provide for the designation of assets in rabbi trusts. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, securities available for sale and other assets designated for this purpose with a carrying value of $2.6 million and $2.8 million, respectively, were included in the Corporation’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The measurement date and weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

For the nine months ended of September 30, 2006, $1.3 million of contributions have been made to the qualified pension plan and $252 thousand in benefit payments have been made to the non-qualified retirement plans. The Corporation presently anticipates contributing an additional $83 thousand in benefit payments to the non-qualified retirement plans in 2006.

The Corporation is involved in various claims and legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of business. Management is of the opinion, based on its review with counsel of the development of such matters to date, that the ultimate disposition of such matters will not materially affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Corporation.

The following table presents the Corporation’s and the Bank’s actual capital amounts and ratios at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, as well as the corresponding minimum regulatory amounts and ratios: