Exhibit 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Know all men by these  presents  that each person whose  signature  appears
below  constitutes and appoints Joseph M. Cahill his true and lawful attorney in
fact and with full  power of  substitution,  for him and in his name,  place and
stead, in any and all  capacities,  to sign the Form 10-K for the Riggs National
Corporation  for the fiscal year ending  December 31, 1998, and to file the same
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  granting unto said  attorney-in-fact  and
agent full power and  authority  to do and perform  each and every act and thing
required  and  necessary to be done in and about the  premises,  or fully to all
intent and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying  and
confirming  all that said  attorney-in-fact  and  agent,  or his  substitute  or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

/s/ JOE L. ALLBRITTON              Chairman of                 January 25, 1999
--------------------------          the Board                ------------------
Joe L. Allbritton (Signature)       (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ ROBERT L. ALLBRITTON             Director                  January 20, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
Robert L. Allbritton (Signature)    (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ TIMOTHY C. COUGHLIN              Director                  January 20, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
Timothy C. Coughlin (Signature)     (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ JOHN M. FAHEY, JR.               Director                  January 20, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
John M. Fahey, Jr.(Signature)       (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ LAWRENCE I. HEBERT               Director                  January 20, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
Lawrence I. Hebert (Signature)      (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ STEVEN B. PFEIFFER               Director                  January 20, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
Steven B. Pfeiffer (Signature)      (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ JOHN E.V. ROSE                   Director                  January 20, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
John E.V. Rose (Signature)          (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ ROBERT L. SLOAN              Vice Chairman of              January 20, 1999
--------------------------          the Board                ------------------
Robert L. Sloan (Signature)         (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ JACK VALENTI                     Director                  January 25, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
Jack Valenti (Signature)            (Capacity)                     (Date)

/s/ EDDIE N. WILLIAMS                Director                  January 20, 1999
--------------------------                                   ------------------
Eddie N. Willliams (Signature)      (Capacity)                     (Date)