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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WmqqriBstC0qrZFSnoU8J8FwFwPoPvE+RQ/A/EUfO/um5pBw8SJaj42OFYBUMRp4
 9rNTGTtSRXBAwB46DD2Q8g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000737468-03-000017.txt : 20030605
<SEC-HEADER>0000737468-03-000017.hdr.sgml : 20030605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030605100611
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000737468-03-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030605

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHANAHAN PATRICK J JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212022

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13091
		FILM NUMBER:		03733379

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP INC
		STREET 2:		23 BROAD STREET
		CITY:			WESTERLY
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02891

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000737468
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				050404671
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			RI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		23 BROAD ST
		CITY:			WESTERLY
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02891
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4013481200
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001212022d20030605f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-03</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000737468</issuerCik><issuerName>WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>WASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001212022</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>SHANAHAN PATRICK J JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><trans
actionDate><value>2003-06-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>23.05</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>65321</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><trans
actionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>707</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>22.85</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>64614</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equit
ySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>800</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>23</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>63814</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><val
ue></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>700</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>22.81</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>63114</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value
>200</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>23.25</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>62914</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">In addition to common stock holdings, the reporting person has the right to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $20.23 with an expiration date of 4/23/2012.  The reporting person also has the right to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $20.62 with an expiration date of 4/29/2013.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>David V. Devault,EVP,Treas &amp; CFO-POA</signatureName><signatureDate>20
03-06-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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