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, 1999, 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.


                              Chairman of the Board
/s/JOE L. ALLBRITTON          Chief Executive Officer   1/19/00
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Joe L. Allbritton (signature)                           Date

/s/ROBERT L. ALLBRITTON       Director                  1/19/00
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Robert L. Allbritton (signature)                        Date


/s/TIMOTHY C. COUGHLIN        Director                  1/19/00
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Timothy C. Coughlin (signature)                         Date


/s/JOHN M. FAHEY, JR.         Director                  1/19/00
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John M. Fahey, Jr. (signature)                          Date


/S/LAWRENCE I. HEBERT         Director                  1/19/00
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Lawrence I. Hebert (signature)                          Date


/s/STEVEN B. PFEIFFER         Director                  1/19/00
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Steven B. Pfeiffer (signature)                          Date


/s/JOHN E.V. ROSE             Director                  1/24/00
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John E. V. Rose (signature)                             Date


/s/ROBERT L. SLOAN            Director                  1/19/00
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Robert L. Sloan (signature)                             Date


/s/JACK VALENTI               Director                  1/19/00
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Jack Valenti (signature)                                Date


/s/WILLIAM L. WALTON          Director                  1/19/00
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William L. Walton (signature)                           Date


/s/EDDIE N. WILLIAMS          Director                  1/19/00
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Eddie N. Williams (signature)                           Date