Algere to lead Washington Trust’s new institutional banking team

Westerly, RI Washington Trust is expanding and enhancing its focus on commercial banking with the addition of a dedicated institutional banking team to serve the unique needs of independent schools, private colleges and universities, healthcare and human service providers, and cultural institutions throughout the Northeast region.

The team is led by Gerald Algere, senior vice president and managing director, institutional banking, who has 35 years of experience building and managing multibillion-dollar client banking teams at prominent financial institutions in the greater Boston area. Algere’s proven ability to develop strong client relationships and deliver innovative financing solutions for educational, healthcare and nonprofit institutions positions Washington Trust to accelerate its growth in the institutional banking market.

Joining Algere are three professionals with experience in the commercial banking industry: Omar Hazoury, senior vice president, institutional banking; Marissa Lozano, vice president, institutional banking; and Danuta Surowiec, institutional banking officer.

Together, this team brings a combination of experience and expertise that will enhance Washington Trust’s ability to deliver comprehensive, client-focused finance solutions for institutional organizations. 

Their addition follows the recent appointment of Jim Brown as senior executive vice president and chief commercial banking officer. Brown, a respected industry leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, joined the company in 2025 to lead the commercial banking team and help drive Washington Trust’s growth.

“Jerry’s team, and the great work they’ve done for decades, positions Washington Trust as a leader, with best-in-class service, within the nonprofit landscape,” said Brown. “Highly regarded across the financial advisors and clients who seek expertise and responsiveness, we could not have found a better group to complement the whole of Washington Trust and its commitment to clients, shareholders and our communities.”

“The addition of this team underscores our strategy to be a trusted partner and offer comprehensive services that help organizations and individuals achieve their financial goals,” said Washington Trust chairman and CEO Ned Handy. “We’re strengthening our ability to deliver integrated solutions across all lines of business and a seamless banking experience for our customers—whether they need personal banking, business services, or large-scale institutional financing.”

The institutional banking team, serving clients throughout the northeast, will be based in Wellesley, Mass.

Founded in 1800, Washington Trust has grown from its initial bank branch in Westerly to a regional financial services corporation offering personal, commercial and mortgage banking as well as wealth management services in Rhode Island, personal and commercial banking and wealth management in Connecticut, and commercial and mortgage banking as well as wealth management services in Massachusetts. Washington Trust currently has two offices in Rhode Island (Providence and Westerly), two offices in Connecticut (New Haven and Glastonbury) and four offices in Massachusetts (Braintree, Burlington, Sharon, and Wellesley).