-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GCX7Rf4vFBKJyg3jnl8TO67rcWc833mHD+welTEDksNeJdLtJexViiF8/qB40jB4
 y6tHTFcSSQ8Wi95Agm+AFA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000737468-03-000057.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0000737468-03-000057.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103165440
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000737468-03-000057
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

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:		03973517

	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>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001212022d20031103f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-03</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>10 CELESTIA COURT</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>NORTH KINGSTOWN</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02852</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonD
erivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-03</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>27.9</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60914</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.23</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-04-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>20.62</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-04-29</value></exerciseDat
e><expirationDate><value>2013-04-29</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>David V. Devault,EVP,Treas &amp; CFO-POA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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