<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO OF WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC. AS 
OF MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                  MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                          16,072
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 9,050
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    252,090
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          27,574
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            27,503
<LOANS>                                        425,194
<ALLOWANCE>                                      8,585
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 769,213
<DEPOSITS>                                     489,094
<SHORT-TERM>                                    19,309
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            200,489
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           273
<OTHER-SE>                                      60,048
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 769,213
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                  9,274
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                4,140
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    61
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                13,475
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               4,136
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,781
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            6,694
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      300
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 254
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  5,491
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,235
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,235
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,151
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .47
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    8.06
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,495
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      316
<RECOVERIES>                                       106
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                8,585
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0