<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, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
     REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          12,925
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                13,203
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    237,366
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          51,807
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            52,586
<LOANS>                                        455,910
<ALLOWANCE>                                      8,835
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 814,393
<DEPOSITS>                                     530,926
<SHORT-TERM>                                    20,337
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            195,926
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           413
<OTHER-SE>                                      66,791
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 814,393
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 39,090
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               18,313
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   376
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                57,779
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,838
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              29,477
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           28,302
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,400
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 733
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 24,385
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,729
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      12,729
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,087
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.33
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.07
<LOANS-NON>                                      7,335
<LOANS-PAST>                                       644
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                    800
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,495
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,462
<RECOVERIES>                                       402
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                8,835
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             8,835
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          2,998