EXHIBIT 23

                        INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT




The Board of Directors
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.:


We consent to incorporation  by reference in the  registration  statements (Nos.
333-72277,  333-48315, 333-13167 and 33-23048) on Forms S-8, in the registration
statements  (Nos.  333-13821,  33-28065 and  333-42502)  on Forms S-3 and in the
registration  statement (No. 333-76258) on Form S-4 of Washington Trust Bancorp,
Inc.  and  subsidiary  of our report  dated  January 15,  2002,  relating to the
consolidated balance sheets of Washington Trust Bancorp,  Inc. and subsidiary as
of  December  31,  2001 and 2000,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of
income,  changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in
the  three-year  period ended  December 31,  2001,  which report  appears in the
December 31, 2001 annual report on Form 10-K of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.

KPMG LLP

Providence, Rhode Island
March 18, 2002