SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                        Washington, D. C. 20549

                                FORM 8-K

                             CURRENT REPORT

                 Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                    Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 19, 1996
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                     WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
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         (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



       RHODE ISLAND                 0-13091              05-0404671
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(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission      (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)    File Number)    identification No.)



23 BROAD STREET, WESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND                     02891
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(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (401) 348-1200
                                                      ----------------


                                  N/A
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Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since
 last report









                           Page 1 of 2 Pages
WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
FORM 8-K


Item 5.  Other Events
         ------------
         On September 19, 1996, the Registrant's board of directors
         voted to approve a 3-for-2 stock split on shares of common
         stock.  The stock split, in the form of a stock dividend,
         will be paid on October 15, 1996 to shareholders of record as
         of October 1, 1996.  The split will be effected by
         distributing one additional share for every two shares
         currently held.  The par value of the common stock will
         remain unchanged at $.0625 per share.  Cash payments will be
         made in lieu of issuing fractional shares.  The cash payment
         for fractional shares will be based on the average of the
         closing bid and asked prices of the common stock as reported
         by NASDAQ on the record date, October 1, 1996.
 
 

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Other Exhibits
         ---------------------------------------
         None

                              SIGNATURES
                              ----------

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                      WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
                                      ------------------------------
                                            (Registrant)



September 20, 1996                 By:     David V. Devault
                                           --------------------------
                                           David V. Devault
                                           Vice President and
                                           Chief Financial Officer
                                           (principal financial officer)
 







 
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