Heath Takes President Post At Wtb

John “Jack” Heath III has been appointed president and chief operating officer of Washington Trust Bank.

He also joined the bank’s board of directors.

Heath has been with the Spokane bank since 1979, most recently as senior vice president for retail banking. He has also been North Idaho market manager and a commercial lending officer.

As chief operating officer, he will oversee day-to-day activities at Washington Trust., the largest independently owned bank in either Washington or Idaho.

The bank, a subsidiary of W.T.B. Financial Corp., has assets of $1.4 billion and operates 28 branches in the two states.

A newly opened branch in Boise gives the bank a foothold in that market, and another is planned for Seattle.

Heath is a graduate of the University of Idaho. He earned his master’s degree in business administration at Gonzaga University.

Peter Stanton has been president of Washington Trust and will continue as chairman of the board and chief executive officer.

“As the fourth-generation Stanton to serve as president, my decision to select a new president was made with great care,” he said in a statement. “I have faith and trust in Jack.”

Stanton will redirect his focus to strategic planning and setting long-term goals for Washington Trust, which in two years will celebrate its centennial.