<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO OF WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC. AS
OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          18,653
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 7,292
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    238,891
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          49,711
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            50,392
<LOANS>                                        451,602
<ALLOWANCE>                                      8,823
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 806,448
<DEPOSITS>                                     532,173
<SHORT-TERM>                                    10,555
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            198,131
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           275
<OTHER-SE>                                      65,314
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 806,448
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 28,940
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               13,700
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   259
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                42,899
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              13,160
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              21,796
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           21,103
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,000
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 683
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 17,738
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,060
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      10,060
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,776
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.49
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.12
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,495
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      960
<RECOVERIES>                                       288
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                8,823
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0