Exhibit 3.i

Filing Fee:  $50             Corp. I.D. #16323



                State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
                        Office of the Secretary of State
                              100 North Main Street
                       Providence, Rhode Island 02903-1335

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the corporation must be in good standing prior to filing

                         ORIGINAL ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                     TO THE
                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF

                         WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.

       Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-1.1-56 of the General Laws, 1956,
as  amended,  the  undersigned  corporation  adopts the  following  Articles  of
Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation:

       FIRST:  The name of the corporation is Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.

       SECOND:  The  shareholders  of the  corporation on April 29, 1997, in the
       manner prescribed by Chapter 7-1.1 of the General Laws, 1956, as amended,
       adopted the following amendment(s) to the Articles of Incorporation:

       FOURTH.  Capital Stock.  The aggregate number of shares which the
       Corporation shall have authority to issue is 30,000,000, par value $.0625
       per share, all of which shares are to be a class designated as "Common
       Stock".

       THIRD:  The number of shares of the corporation outstanding at the time
       of such adoption was 4,372,302; and the number of shares entitled to vote
       thereon was 4,372,302.

       FOURTH:  The designation and number of outstanding shares of each class
       entitled to vote thereon as a class were as follows:
       (If inapplicable, insert "none")

             Class                          Number of Shares

             None





       FIFTH:  The number of shares voted for such amendment was 3,383,485.53;
       and the number of shares voted against such amendment was 198,050.74.

       SIXTH:  The number of shares of each class entitled to vote thereon as
       a class voted for and against such amendment, respectively, was:
       (If inapplicable, insert "none")

                                          Number of Shares Voted
             Class                        For            Against

             None


       SEVENTH:  The manner, if not set forth in such amendment, in which any
       exchange, reclassification, or cancellation of issued shares provided for
       in the amendment shall be effected, is as follows:  (If no change, so
       state)   No Change


       EIGHTH:  The manner in which such amendment effects a change in the
       amount of stated capital, and the amount of stated capital as changed by
       such amendment, are as follows:  (If no change, so state)  No Change


Dated: May 14, 1997

                               WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.



                               By:  John C. Warren
                                  -----------------
                                    Its President



                              and   Harvey C. Perry II
                                  ---------------------
                                      Its Secretary





STATE OF RHODE ISLAND       )
                 ) Sc.
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON     )

       At  Westerly  in said  county on this 14th day of May,  1997,  personally
appeared before me John C. Warren,  who, being by me first duly sworn,  declared
that he is the President of Washington  Trust Bancorp,  Inc., that he signed the
foregoing  document as President  of the  corporation,  and that the  statements
therein contained are true.



                                      Tawny M. Beckman
                                     ------------------
                                        Notary Public
                                my commission expires 7/14/97
(NOTARIAL SEAL)





STATE OF RHODE ISLAND       )
                 ) Sc.
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON     )

       At  Westerly  in said  county  on this 6th day of May,  1997,  personally
appeared  before me Harvey C.  Perry,  II,  who,  being by me first duly  sworn,
declared that he is the Secretary of Washington  Trust  Bancorp,  Inc.,  that he
signed the  foregoing  document as  Secretary of the  corporation,  and that the
statements therein contained are true.



                                     Tawny M. Beckman
                                    ------------------
                                       Notary Public
                               my commission expires 7/14/97
NOTARIAL SEAL)