<ARTICLE>                         9
<LEGEND>
  THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO OF WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP,
INC. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                      17,418,414
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             1,548,136
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                198,317,453
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                      27,925,855
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                        28,114,427
<LOANS>                                    418,993,414
<ALLOWANCE>                                  8,495,138
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             694,945,758
<DEPOSITS>                                 476,561,281
<SHORT-TERM>                                14,000,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          6,464,533
<LONG-TERM>                                138,493,288
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       272,664
<OTHER-SE>                                  59,153,992
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>             694,945,758
<INTEREST-LOAN>                             36,106,347
<INTEREST-INVEST>                            9,490,910
<INTEREST-OTHER>                               208,707
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                            45,805,964
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                          16,275,109
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          19,666,541
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                       26,139,423
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                1,200,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             367,518
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                             20,535,872
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             12,723,338
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                  12,723,338
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 8,425,338
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.88
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.87
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.57
<LOANS-NON>                                  7,542,400
<LOANS-PAST>                                 1,446,967
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                              5,200,000<F1>
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                             7,784,516
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                1,273,148
<RECOVERIES>                                   783,770
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                            8,495,138
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                         8,495,138
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                      2,461,559
<FN>
<F1>
See discussion of potential problem loans required by Guide 3,
section III.C.2 under the caption Guide 3 Statistical Disclosures
in the Corporation's Form 10-K.
</FN>