<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, 1998  AND  IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          16,467
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                 8,421
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    302,926
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          53,005
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            53,771
<LOANS>                                        450,909
<ALLOWANCE>                                      9,309
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 877,031
<DEPOSITS>                                     547,778
<SHORT-TERM>                                    19,727
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            240,192
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           418
<OTHER-SE>                                      68,916
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 877,031
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 10,072
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                5,080
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   169
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                15,321
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               4,717
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               8,021
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                            7,300
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      450
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  41
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  6,190
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,324
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       3,324
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,393
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .35
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.81
<LOANS-NON>                                          0
<LOANS-PAST>                                         0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,835
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       55
<RECOVERIES>                                        79
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                9,309
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0