BankNewport Assistant Vice President Awarded Designation

Ricardo P. Romero

NEWPORT, R.I. (January 23, 2008) – BankNewport President and CEO, Thomas W. Kelly together with the Bankers Administration Institute (BAI) are pleased to announce that Assistant Vice President, Ricardo P. Romero has achieved the designation of Certified Bank Auditor® (CBA). The CBA is a nationally recognized professional designation throughout the financial services industry and is the only certification program that thoroughly tests candidates in four distinct bank-specific areas: Accounting, Auditing Principles and Bank Laws/Regulations, Auditing Practices and General Business. Romero joined BankNewport in 1999 and is currently assistant vice president, audit department where he is responsible for the completion of various Bank-wide internal audits in support of the annual audit program in conformance with the Bank’s policies and procedures. Romero is a member of the Ocean State Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Rick is a resident of Middletown, Rhode Island. BankNewport, founded in 1819 and currently holding $1 billion in assets, is an FDIC-insured savings bank. Along with its other OceanPoint Financial Partners - OceanPoint Insurance Agency, Inc., Smith Mack & Associates, Meredith & Clarke, and Narragansett Underwriting Group – BankNewport is proud to serve the financial needs of customers from banking and insurance offices located throughout southeastern New England.