Item 8.01. Other Events.

On November 17, 2008, Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc. issued a press release announcing that it has elected to participate in the U.S. Treasury Department's Capital Purchase Program, a voluntary program available to healthy financial institutions that is designed to increase the flow of financing to businesses and consumers nationwide. While the extent of the Company's participation has yet to be determined, it is qualified to receive up to $30 million in additional capital. The program's deadline for participation was Friday, November 14. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

This information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.