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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, 2003, 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/ Robert L. Allbritton     |  |             |  | Chief Executive Officer    |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Robert L. Allbritton         |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|                             |  |             |  | Vice Chairman of the Board |  |                 
|/s/ Joe L. Allbritton        |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Joe L. Allbritton            |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|/s/ J. Carter Beese, Jr.     |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|J. Carter Beese, Jr.         |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|/s/ Charles A. Camalier, III |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Charles A. Camalier, III.    |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|                             |  |             |  | President                  |  |                 
|/s/ Timothy C. Coughlin      |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Timothy C. Coughlin          |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|/s Lawrence I. Hebert        |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Lawrence I. Hebert           |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|/s/ Steven B. Pfeiffer       |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Steven B. Pfeiffer           |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|                             |  |             |  | Vice Chairman of the Board |  |                 
|/s/ Robert L. Sloan          |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Robert L. Sloan              |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|/s/ Jack J. Valenti          |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Jack J. Valenti              |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|/s/ William B. Walton        |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|William B.Walton             |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)          
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|/s/ Eddie N. Williams        |  |             |  | Director                   |  | January 21, 2004
|                             |  |             |  |                            |  |                 
|Eddie N. Williams            |  | (Signature) |  |                            |  | (Date)