<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, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         16,106
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                              0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                4,505
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                    0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                   305,973
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         58,890
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           60,026
<LOANS>                                       448,056
<ALLOWANCE>                                    10,074
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                877,667
<DEPOSITS>                                    567,599
<SHORT-TERM>                                    1,544
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                           237,039
<LONG-TERM>                                         0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                          628
<OTHER-SE>                                     70,857
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                877,667
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                30,019
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              16,375
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                  445
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               46,839
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             14,089
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             24,475
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          22,364
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   1,350
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                624
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                20,014
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                10,380
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     10,380
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    7,474
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .72
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                   4.12
<LOANS-NON>                                         0
<LOANS-PAST>                                        0
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                     0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                8,835
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     427
<RECOVERIES>                                      111
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              10,074
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                0
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                             0