SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Supplement dated October 9, 1996)



                         Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.


                  Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan


                                 405,000 Shares

                                  COMMON STOCK
                                PAR VALUE $.0625



         The following  information  supplements and  supersedes,  and should be
read in conjunction  with, the Prospectus  Supplement  dated October 9, 1996 and
the Prospectus  dated February 11, 1994 with respect to the Amended and Restated
Dividend  Reinvestment  and Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") of Washington Trust
Bancorp,  Inc.  (the  "Corporation").  The Plan  provides  the holders of Common
Stock, par value $.0625 per share ("Common  Stock"),  of the Corporation and the
employees of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, a simple and convenient
method, as described in the Prospectus, of investing cash dividends and optional
cash payments in additional shares of Common Stock.

         The Plan was  amended,  effective  October 16,  1997,  to increase  the
maximum  quarterly  amount  of  optional  cash  payments  which  can be  made by
participants  in the  Plan,  in order to  purchase  additional  shares of Common
Stock, from $1,000 per quarter to $10,000 per quarter.

         This Prospectus  Supplement reflects that the number of shares issuable
pursuant  to  the  Plan  has  been  increased  to  405,000  as  a  result  of  a
three-for-two  stock split declared by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
which will become  effective on November 19, 1997.  This  Prospectus  Supplement
will also be deemed to cover such  additional  shares of Common  Stock as may be
issued  under  the  Plan  in  the  event  of  a  stock  dividend,  stock  split,
reorganization, recapitalization or other similar change in the Common Stock.

         THESE   SECURITIES  HAVE  NOT  BEEN  APPROVED  OR  DISAPPROVED  BY  THE
SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE  COMMISSION  PASSED  UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


Dated:  October 22, 1997