<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
         THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
         CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO OF WASHINGTON TRUST
         BANCORP, INC. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS  ENTIRETY
         BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          18,475
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                10,300
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    315,265
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          95,647
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            96,548
<LOANS>                                        449,502
<ALLOWANCE>                                     10,416
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 935,069
<DEPOSITS>                                     575,323
<SHORT-TERM>                                    15,033
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            271,647
<LONG-TERM>                                          0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           626
<OTHER-SE>                                      72,440
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 935,069
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 39,848
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               22,388
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   517
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                62,753
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              18,531
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              32,606
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           30,147
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    1,800
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 505
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 26,820
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,996
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      13,996
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,048
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.01
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .97
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.78
<LOANS-NON>                                      5,613
<LOANS-PAST>                                       150
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                    187
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 8,835
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      618
<RECOVERIES>                                       399
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               10,416
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            10,416
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          4,755