James (Jim) D. Branson

Jim Branson is Chief Operating Officer of Washington Trust Bank, the largest privately held community bank in the Northwest, with $11 billion in assets. In this role, he is responsible for delivering solutions that optimize cross-functional, day-to-day operations for all lines of business. Jim oversees Retail Banking, Consumer Lending, Home Lending, Small Business Banking, Marketing, Human Resources, and all bank operations including Customer Experience, Information Technology, Compliance, Enterprise Strategic Planning, and Strategic Services.

 

Born and raised in Spokane, Jim has been with Washington Trust since 2006; he previously served as Chief Banking Officer leading strategic growth initiatives that ensured the prosperity of the Bank. Throughout his tenure, he has played a pivotal role in driving operational efficiency, fostering collaboration, and building compelling sales programs. In addition, Jim has led important enterprise projects in areas ranging from technology to compliance and branch evolution.

 

Prior to joining Washington Trust, he held leadership roles at Wells Fargo and Washington Mutual, which was acquired by JPMorgan Chase in 2008. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University. In 2023, he attended the Wharton School of Business, Leadership Lab and earned a certificate for executive leadership.