<PAGE>
 

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    BARBARA B. ALLBRITTON      Director         March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     -----------------
Barbara B. Allbritton (Signature)   (Capacity)            (Date)      

                                    1 of 20


<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    ROBERT L. ALLBRITTON      Director           March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     -----------------
Robert L. Allbritton  (Signature)  (Capacity)               (Date)

                                   2 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    FRED L. BOLLERER          Director           March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     ------------------
Fred L. Bollerer (Signature)       (Capacity)              (Date)

                                   3 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    CALVIN CAFRITZ            Director           March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     ------------------
Calvin Cafritz  (Signature)        (Capacity)             (Date)

                                   4 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





 /s/    CHARLES A. CAMALIER, III    Director         March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     ------------------
Charles A. Camalier, III(Signature)(Capacity)             (Date)

                                   5 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    RONALD E. CUNEO           Director     March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                 ----------------
Ronald E. Cuneo   (Signature)      (Capacity)        (Date)   

                                   6 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    FLOYD E. DAVIS, III       Director         March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Floyd E. Davis, III  (Signature)   (Capacity)           (Date)   

                                   7 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





 /s/    JACQUELINE C. DUCHANGE      Director        March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Jacqueline C. Duchange(Signature)  (Capacity)           (Date)    

                                   8 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    MICHELA A. ENGLISH       Director          March 22, 1996
-------------------------------                      --------------
Michela A. English (Signature)    (Capacity)             (Date)   

                                   9 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/JAMES E. FITZGERALD, M.D.          Director       March 23, 1996
-------------------------------                      --------------
James E. Fitzgerald, M.D.(Signature) (Capacity)          (Date)   

                                   10 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





 /s/    DAVID J. GLADSTONE          Director        March 22, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
David J. Gladstone (Signature)     (Capacity)           (Date)   

                                   11 of 20



<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





   /s/    LAWRENCE I. HEBERT        Director        March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Lawrence I. Hebert (Signature)     (Capacity)           (Date)   

                                   12 of 20




<PAGE>
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    MICHAEL J. JACKSON           Director        March 22, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Michael J. Jackson   (Signature)   (Capacity)           (Date)   

                                   13 of 20



<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    LEO J. O'DONOVAN, S.J.       Director        March 25, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J.(Signature)  (Capacity)           (Date)    

                                   14 of 20



<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    STEVEN B. PFEIFFER           Director        March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Steven B. Pfeiffer    (Signature)  (Capacity)           (Date)   

                                   15 of 20



<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    JOHN A. SARGENT             Director         March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
John A. Sargent (Signature)       (Capacity)            (Date)    

                                   16 of 20



<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    ROBERT L. SLOAN             Director         March 22, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Robert L. Sloan  (Signature)      (Capacity)            (Date)

                                   17 of 20



<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    JAMES W. SYMINGTON          Director         March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
James W. Symington  (Signature)   (Capacity)           (Date)

                                   18 of 20



<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    JACK VALENTI                Director         March 20, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Jack Valenti   (Signature)        (Capacity)            (Date) 

                                   19 of 20



<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Know all men by these presents that each person whose signature  appears
below constitutes   and   appoints   Mary  B.   Lemont   his  true  and   lawful
attorney-in-fact  and with  full  power of  substitution,  for him and 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, 1995,  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 her  substitute  or  substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.





/s/    EDDIE N. WILLIAMS           Director         March 21, 1996
-------------------------------                     --------------
Eddie N. Williams (Signature)     (Capacity)            (Date) 

                                   20 of 20