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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                 FORM 10-K/A
(Mark One)
[X] Annual report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
    of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 or

[ ] Transition report pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
    Act of 1934

                        Commission file number: 000-13091

                         -------------------------------
                          WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                         -------------------------------

             RHODE ISLAND                                        05-0404671
   (State or other jurisdiction of                            (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

            23 BROAD STREET
         WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND                                     02891
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)

                                  401-348-1200
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

                                      NONE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                    COMMON STOCK, $.0625 PAR VALUE PER SHARE
                                (Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. [X] Yes [ ] No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,  to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.  [X]

The  aggregate  market  value of  voting  stock  held by  non-affiliates  of the
registrant was $200,976,024 at February 27, 1998 which includes $18,949,253 held
by The Washington Trust Company under trust agreements and other instruments.

The  number  of  shares  of common  stock of the  registrant  outstanding  as of
February 27, 1998 was 6,659,086.

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement dated March 18, 1998 for the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 28, 1998 are  incorporated by reference
into Part III of this Form 10-K.

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ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)   1. The financial statements of the Registrant required in response to this
         Item are listed in response to Part II, Item 8  of  Form 10-K  for  the
         fiscal  year  ended  December 31, 1997  filed  with  the  Commission on
         March 18, 1998.

      2. Financial  Statement  Schedules.  All  schedules  normally  required by
         Article 9 of Regulation S-K and all other schedules to the consolidated
         financial  statements of the Registrant  have been omitted  because the
         required  information  is either not required,  not  applicable,  or is
         included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

(b)   The following  reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of
      the year ended December 31, 1997:

      On  October  16,  1997,  a Form  8-K was  filed  which  reported  that the
      Registrant's  Board of Directors  approved a 3-for-2 stock split on shares
      of common stock.  The stock split,  in the form of a stock  dividend,  was
      paid on  November  19,  1997 to  shareholders  of record as of November 5,
      1997.

      On  December  22,  1997,  a Form 8-K was  filed  which  reported  that the
      Registrant's  Board of Directors  approved a program to  repurchase  up to
      150,000  shares  of  its  common  stock,  or  approximately  2.3%  of  its
      outstanding shares, in the open market or in private  transactions,  based
      upon market conditions.

(C)   Exhibit Index.

      Exhibit Number
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                3.a        Restated  Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant
                           - Filed as Exhibit 3.(i) to the  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended
                           December 31, 1994. (1)

                3.b        Amendment  to Restated  Articles of  Incorporation  -
                           Filed as Exhibit  3.i to the  Registrant's  Quarterly
                           Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarterly  period  ended
                           June 30, 1997. (1)

                3.c        Amended  and  Restated  By-Laws of  the Corporation -
                           Filed  as  Exhibit 3.c  to  the  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended
                           December 31, 1997. (1)

                  4        Rights  Agreement  between  the  Registrant  and  The
                           Washington  Trust Company dated as of August 15, 1996
                           (including Form of Right Certificate attached thereto
                           as   Exhibit   A)  -  Filed  as   Exhibit  1  to  the
                           Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File
                           No.  000-13091)  filed with the  Commission on August
                           16, 1996. (1)

               10.a        Supplemental  Pension Benefit and Profit Sharing Plan
                           - Filed as Exhibit  10.1 to the  Registrant's  Annual
                           Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended
                           December 31, 1994. (1) (2)

               10.b        Short  Term  Incentive  Plan  Description -  Filed as
                           Exhibit 10.b  to  the  Registrant's  Annual Report on
                           Form 10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended December 31,
                           1997. (1) (2)

               10.c        Plan  for  Deferral  of  Directors'  Fees - Filed  as
                           Exhibit  10.3 to  the Registrant's  Annual  Report on
                           Form  10-K for  the  fiscal  year ended  December 31,
                           1994. (1) (2)

               10.d        Amended and  Restated  1988 Stock Option Plan - Filed
                           as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's  Annual Report on
                           Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year  ended  December  31,
                           1994. (1) (2)

               10.e        Vote of the Board of  Directors  of  the  Corporation
                           which constitutes  the  1996 Directors' Stock  Plan -
                           Filed   as   Exhibit  99.2   to   the    Registrant's
                           Registration   Statement  on   Form S-8   ( File  No.
                           333-13167) filed  with  the  Commission on October 1,
                           1996. (1) (2)

               10.f        The  Registrant's  1997 Equity Incentive Plan - Filed
                           as Exhibit 10.a to the Registrant's  Quarterly Report
                           on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period ended June 30,
                           1997. (1) (2)

               10.g        Change in Control  Agreements with Executive Officers
                           - Filed as Exhibit 10.b to the Registrant's Quarterly
                           Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarterly  period  ended
                           June 30, 1997. (1) (2)

               21          Subsidiaries  of the  Registrant  - Filed as  Exhibit
                           21 to  the  Registrant's  Annual Report on  Form 10-K
                           for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. (1)

               23          Consent of Independent Auditors - Filed as Exhibit 23
                           to  the  Registrant's  Annual  Report  on   Form 10-K
                           for  the  fiscal  year ended December 31, 1997. (1)
                           
               27          Financial  Data Schedule  as  of  December 31, 1997 -
                           Filed as Exhibit 27 to the Registrant's Annual Report
                           on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended December 31,
                           1997. (1)

               27.1        Restated Financial Data Schedules as  of December 31,
                           1995, March 31, 1996, June 30, 1996 and September 30,
                           1996 - Filed herewith.

               27.2        Restated Financial Data Schedules as  of December 31,
                           1996, March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30,
                           1997 - Filed herewith.
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           (1)     Not  filed   herewith.   In   accordance   with  Rule  12b-32
                   promulgated  pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
                   as amended,  reference  is made to the  documents  previously
                   filed  with  the  Commission,   which  are   incorporated  by
                   reference herein.

           (2)     Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

(d)   Financial Statement Schedules.
      None.



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                            WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
                                           --------------------------------
                                                     (Registrant)

     Date:  March 27, 1998       By         David V. Devault
     ---------------------------            ------------------------------------
                                            David V. Devault
                                            Vice President, Treasurer and
                                            Chief Financial Officer
                                            (principal financial and
                                            principal accounting officer)