-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IIU+KGxWn30NlFDI6DhQJIgYv0lakmc76K+/UpmD0BaBHREus60yinytQxDNNadY
 TNq6PH/4QDUPOnJNIIEKIg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914260-10-000017.txt : 20100211
<SEC-HEADER>0000914260-10-000017.hdr.sgml : 20100211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100211091858
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914260-10-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100211

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANCORP RHODE ISLAND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001109525
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				050509802
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TURKS HEAD PLACE
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02903
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4014565015

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TURKS HEAD PLACE
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02903

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHACE MALCOLM G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133224
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			RI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16101
		FILM NUMBER:		10589787

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PROVIDENCE WASHINGTON PLZ
		STREET 2:		4TH FL
		CITY:			PROVIDENCE
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02903
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001109525</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANCORP RHODE ISLAND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BARI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHACE MALCOLM G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE PROVIDENCE WASHINGTON PLZ</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02903</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3254</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.9221</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>548255</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6746</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.0781</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>555001</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person beneficially owns 555,001 shares of the issuer's common stock of which (i) 42,949 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person is trustee and beneficiary, (ii) 355,354 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person's spouse is trustee and the reporting person is beneficiary, (iii) 102,198 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person is co-trustee and beneficiary, (iv) 50,000 shares are held by a trust of which a member of the reporting person's immediate family is trustee and the reporting person is beneficiary and (v) 4,500 shares are held by the reporting person's spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret D. Farrell (Attorney-in-fact for Malcolm G. Chace)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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