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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,
 WTYl6V52DYA9hjnbVEOAjhPt+oywgAsNTjDMikIg1UFhQaBRI2VIgLvO3vwSWeh5
 xAE/fYqtBz/gL1srTrC3pA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000737468-03-000073.txt : 20031204
<SEC-HEADER>0000737468-03-000073.hdr.sgml : 20031204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031204095536
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000737468-03-000073
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WARREN JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212028

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13091
		FILM NUMBER:		031036570

	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>c0001212028d20031204f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000737468</issuerCik><issuerName>WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>WASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001212028</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WARREN JOHN C</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>171-B OCEAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>NARRAGANSETT</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02882</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner
><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>29056.1356</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivati
veTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.7778</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1996-05-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-05-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>16362</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16362</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>11.5555</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-05-12</value>
</exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-05-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>11691</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11691</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>15.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-05-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>22953</value></underlyingSecuri
tyShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22953</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>17.5</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-05-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-05-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>12856</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12856</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOr
IndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.8</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-04-23</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>28000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>28000</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
>18.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-12-15</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-12-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>18750</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18750</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</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-12</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlying
SecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>28125</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>28125</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>20.03</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-04-22</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>26960</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26960</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactio
nAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1033.0188</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1033.0188</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The phantom stock 
units were accrued under The Washington Trust Company's deferred compensation plan and are to be settled in cash and/or common stock upon the reporting person's elections at the time of payment.  The conversion of the derivative security is 1 for 1.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>David V. Devault EVP, Treas, CFO-POA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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