UNITED STATES

                       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)
                                 April 17, 2003

                         WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
                         ------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


           Rhode Island                    0-13091              05-0404671
 --------------------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------
   (State or Other Jurisdiction          (Commission          (IRS Employer
         of Incorporation)               File Number)      Identification No.)


                  23 Broad Street, Westerly, Rhode Island 02891
          ------------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


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

            Former name or address, if changed from last report: N/A

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)      Exhibit

Exhibit No.     Exhibit
99.1            Press Release dated April 17, 2003

Item 9.  Regulation  FD  Disclosure  (Information  Furnished  in this  Item 9 is
Furnished under Item 12)

In accordance with Securities and Exchange  Commission Release No. 33-8126,  the
following information, which is intended to be furnished under Item 12, "Results
of Operations and Financial Condition", is instead being furnished under Item 9,
"Regulation FD  Disclosure."  This  information  shall not be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended,  or the Exchange Act,  except as shall be expressly set
forth by specific reference in such a filing.

On April 17, 2003,  Washington  Trust  Bancorp,  Inc.  issued a press release in
which it disclosed  unaudited  financial  information  related to first  quarter
consolidated   earnings.   A  copy  of  the  press  release   relating  to  such
announcement,  dated April 17, 2003,  is attached  hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is
incorporated herein by reference.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.     Exhibit
99.1            Press Release dated April 17, 2003


                                   SIGNATURES


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




                                            WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.


Date:  April 17, 2003                       By: John C. Warren
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            John C. Warren
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 99.1
------------

[GRAPHIC OF REGISTRANT'S LOGO OMITTED]
WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC.
        NASDAQ: WASH
                                     Contact:   Elizabeth B. Eckel
                                                Senior Vice President, Marketing
                                     Telephone:  (401) 348-1309
                                     E-mail:  ebeckel@washtrust.com
                                     Date: April 17, 2003
                                     For Immediate Release

                    Washington Trust Earnings Increase 26.9%

Westerly, Rhode  Island...Washington  Trust Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: WASH), parent
company of The Washington  Trust Company,  today reported first quarter 2003 net
income of $4.7 million, an increase of 26.9 percent from the $3.7 million of net
income  reported for the first quarter of 2002. This increase was due in part to
the  acquisition of First Financial Corp. that occurred in the second quarter of
2002. Earnings per diluted share were $.36 for the quarter ended March 31, 2003,
up 16.1 percent from the $.31 per diluted  share for the quarter ended March 31,
2002.

The return on average  assets and return on average  equity for the three months
ended  March 31,  2003 were  1.07% and  14.56%,  compared  to 1.11% and  14.98%,
respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2002.

John C.  Warren,  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Washington  Trust
Bancorp,  Inc., stated, "We are very pleased with our first quarter performance,
as it reflects our ability to  successfully  manage our core business lines in a
challenging  economy." Warren also commented on the Bank's new 7,300 square foot
Warwick  branch,  scheduled  to open at the end of  this  month,  stating,  "The
Warwick area offers  tremendous  market  opportunities  for us in the commercial
lending, trust and investment management and retail banking areas."

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2003 increased by 27.1 percent from
the first  quarter of 2002 and  amounted to $11.9  million.  The increase in net
interest income was largely due to the April 2002 acquisition of First Financial
Corp. For the quarter,  average  earning assets  increased  $388.1  million,  or
30.5%,  compared  to the same period last year,  of which  approximately  $178.5
million  related to  acquisition  of First  Financial  Corp. The increase in net
interest  income due to earning asset growth was partially  offset by a decrease
of 10 basis  points in the net interest  margin from the first  quarter of 2002.
The net interest margin has been affected by the  significant  decline in market
interest rates and reflects a decline in yields on loans and  securities  offset
somewhat by lower funding costs of interest-bearing  deposits and FHLB advances.

Noninterest  income,  excluding net realized gains on  securities,  totaled $5.8
million for the quarter  ended March 31,  2003,  up 17.5  percent  from the $4.9
million reported for the first quarter of 2002. The growth in noninterest income
was  attributable  to  increases  in gains on loan sales and service  charges on
deposits.  For the first quarter of 2003,  gains on loan sales  amounted to $1.2
million,  an  increase of $722  thousand  from the first  quarter of 2002.  As a
result of the decline in interest rates,  the Corporation has experienced  heavy
residential mortgage activity,  predominantly  refinancing,  which increased the
amount of loans sold into the secondary  market.  The  Corporation  expects this
activity to remain strong through the second quarter of 2003, however this level
of activity may not be  sustainable  in future  periods.  In addition to selling
residential mortgage loans, the Corporation began selling the guaranteed portion
of SBA loan originations in 2002.  Included in gains on loan sales for the first
quarter of 2003 are approximately  $100 thousand in gains on sales of SBA loans.
For the three months ended March 31, 2003,  service charges on deposit  accounts
amounted to $1.1  million,  up $273 thousand  from the  corresponding  period in
2002.  Growth in deposits and changes in the fee  structure  of various  deposit
products  were  contributing  factors in this  increase.  Revenue from trust and
investment  management  services  continues  to  be  the  largest  component  of
noninterest income. Trust and investment  management income totaled $2.5 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2003 down slightly from the amount reported
for the corresponding period in 2002,  reflecting the financial market declines.
Trust and investment assets under  administration  amounted to $1.479 billion at
March 31, 2003, compared to $1.524 billion at December 31, 2002.

The  Corporation  recognized net realized gains on securities  amounting to $230
thousand and $291 thousand in the first quarter of 2003 and 2002,  respectively.
The gains resulted primarily from the sale of certain U.S. government agency and
mortgage-backed  securities  to take  advantage of market  opportunities  and to
reposition the securities portfolio.

For the first quarter of 2003,  noninterest  expenses totaled $11.0 million,  up
$1.8 million from the amount of noninterest  expenses reported for first quarter
of 2002.  This increase was primarily due to normal growth and higher  operating
costs  resulting  from the  April  2002  acquisition  of First  Financial  Corp.
Salaries  and  benefits,  the largest  component of total  noninterest  expense,
amounted to $6.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003,  compared to
the $5.6 million reported for the first three months of 2002.

                                  --M O R E--

Total assets amounted to $1.816 billion at March 31, 2003, up $70.0 million from
the December 31, 2002 balance of $1.746  billion.  In the first quarter of 2003,
total loans  increased $16.0 million to $811.1 million at March 31, 2003, led by
a $9.0 million increase in the commercial and commercial real estate  portfolio.
As of March 31, 2003,  residential real estate loans totaled $285.7 million,  up
$4.8 million from the balance at December 31, 2002.

Residential  real estate loans were  impacted by the  refinancing  of fixed rate
residential  loans being sold into the secondary market. In the first quarter of
2003, the Corporation purchased a total of $7.7 million of residential mortgages
from other financial institutions. Total securities were $842.3 million at March
31, 2003, up $46.5  million from the December 31, 2002 balance.  The increase in
securities was primarily due to purchases of mortgage-backed securities and U.S.
government agency securities. Purchases of securities were funded primarily with
Federal Home Loan Bank advances. In the first quarter of 2003, Federal Home Loan
Bank advances increased $64.3 million to $544.4 million at March 31, 2003. Total
deposits at March 31, 2003 amounted to $1.121 billion,  up from the December 31,
2002 balance of $1.110  billion.  Demand  deposits  rose $12.1  million,  or 7.7
percent,  in the first quarter of 2003 and totaled  $169.6  million at March 31,
2003.  Time deposits  increased $2.6 million from December 31, 2002 and amounted
to $484.2 million at March 31, 2003. Savings deposits amounted to $467.0 million
at March 31, 2003, down slightly from the $471.3 million at December 31, 2002.

Asset quality  continues to be strong, as measured by the level of nonperforming
assets.  Nonaccrual  loans as a percentage of total loans at March 31, 2003 were
..50%,  compared to .53% at December 31, 2002.  Similarly,  nonperforming  assets
(nonaccrual  loans and property  acquired  through  foreclosure) as a percent of
total assets at March 31, 2003 amounted to .22%, as compared to .24% at December
31, 2002. The Corporation's allowance for loan losses amounted to $15,495,000 at
March 31, 2003, compared to $15,487,000 at December 31, 2002.

Total shareholders' equity amounted to $131.0 million at March 31, 2003, up from
$128.7  million at December 31, 2002.  Book value per share as of March 31, 2003
and December 31, 2002 amounted to $10.02 and $9.87, respectively.

Washington Trust Bancorp,  Inc.  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer,  John C.
Warren,  and David V. Devault,  Executive Vice President,  Treasurer,  and Chief
Financial Officer will host a conference call today, Thursday, April 17, at 4:00
p.m.  (Eastern  Standard  Time)  to  discuss  the  Corporation's  first  quarter
earnings. Access to the call is available in a listen-only mode via the investor
relations   "news   room"   section   of   Washington   Trust's   web   site  at
www.washtrust.com.  In addition, a webcast replay of the call will be posted via
the investor  relations  "news room" section of  Washington  Trust's web site at
www.washtrust.com, shortly after conclusion of the call.

Washington Trust Bancorp,  Inc.'s Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at
11:00 a.m.  (Eastern  Standard Time),  Thursday,  April 29, 2003 at the Westerly
Public Library, Westerly, RI.

Washington Trust Bancorp,  Inc. is the parent of The Washington Trust Company, a
Rhode Island  state-chartered bank founded in 1800. The Bank offers a full range
of financial services,  including trust and investment  management,  through its
offices in Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut.  Washington Trust Bancorp,
Inc.'s common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock  Market(R) under the symbol WASH.
Investor   information   is   available   on   the   Corporation's   web   site:
www.washtrust.com.

                                      # # #
This report contains certain statements that may be considered  "forward-looking
statements"  within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
Corporation's   actual  results,   performance  or  achievements   could  differ
materially from those projected in the  forward-looking  statements as a result,
among  other  factors,  of changes  in general  national  or  regional  economic
conditions,  changes in interest rates,  reductions in the market value of trust
and   investment   assets  under   management,   reductions  in  deposit  levels
necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and investments,  changes in the
size and nature of the  Corporation's  competition,  changes in loan default and
charge-off   rates  and  changes  in  the   assumptions   used  in  making  such
forward-looking statements.


Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
FINANCIAL SUMMARY

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                                                  THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                 MAR. 31,             MAR. 31,              DEC. 31,
                                                                   2003                 2002                  2002
                                                               ----------           ----------            ----------
                                                                                                 
OPERATING RESULTS
-----------------
Net interest income                                               $11,929               $9,384               $11,339
Provision for loan losses                                             100                  100                   100
Net realized gains on securities                                      230                  291                    58
Other noninterest income                                            5,803                4,937                 6,158
Noninterest expenses                                               10,978                9,164                11,023
Income tax expense                                                  2,134                1,604                 1,954
Net income                                                          4,750                3,744                 4,478


PER SHARE
---------
Basic earnings                                                      $0.36                $0.31                 $0.34
Diluted earnings                                                    $0.36                $0.31                 $0.34
Dividends declared                                                  $0.15                $0.14                 $0.14


SHARES OUTSTANDING
------------------
Weighted average:      Basic                                     13,059.3             12,004.9              13,038.0
                       Diluted                                   13,230.2             12,174.6              13,225.8


AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET
---------------------
Assets                                                         $1,778,338           $1,351,387            $1,709,378

Federal funds sold and other short-term investments                14,946               15,005                15,336
Taxable debt securities                                           764,975              590,107               733,668
Nontaxable debt securities                                         17,462               19,999                18,812
Corporate stocks and Federal Home Loan Bank stock                  48,025               41,981                44,315

Loans:                 Commercial                                 389,545              260,320               380,085
                       Residential                                292,276              234,395               264,888
                       Consumer                                   133,050              110,413               130,625
                                                               ----------           ----------            ----------
                       Total loans                                814,871              605,128               775,598

Earning assets                                                  1,660,279            1,272,220             1,587,729

Deposits:              Demand                                     155,944              121,530               162,490
                       Savings                                    459,777              313,578               465,080
                       Time                                       481,766              381,311               485,542
                                                               ----------           ----------            ----------
                       Total deposits                           1,097,487              816,419             1,113,112

Federal Home Loan Bank advances                                   532,698              422,769               449,317
Shareholders' equity                                              130,506               99,952               127,607


KEY RATIOS
----------
Return on average assets                                            1.07%                1.11%                 1.05%
Return on average equity                                           14.56%               14.98%                14.04%
Interest rate spread (taxable equivalent basis)                     2.68%                2.63%                 2.54%
Net interest margin (taxable equivalent basis)                      2.97%                3.07%                 2.90%


ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
-------------------------
Balance at beginning of period                                    $15,487              $13,593               $15,660
Provision charged to earnings                                         100                  100                   100
Net (charge-offs) recoveries                                          (92)                 (28)                 (273)
                                                               ----------           ----------            ----------
Balance at end of period                                          $15,495              $13,665               $15,487
                                                               ==========           ==========            ==========


Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
FINANCIAL SUMMARY

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                                 MAR. 31,             MAR. 31,              DEC. 31,
                                                                   2003                 2002                  2002
                                                               ----------           ----------            ----------
                                                                                                 
PERIOD END BALANCE SHEET
------------------------
Assets                                                         $1,815,627           $1,362,650            $1,745,661
Total securities                                                  842,307              655,595               795,833

Loans:                 Commercial                                 391,158              259,367               382,169
                       Residential                                285,689              225,931               280,886
                       Consumer                                   134,285              111,510               132,071
                                                               ----------           ----------            ----------
                       Total loans                                811,132              596,808               795,126

Deposits:              Demand                                     169,636              119,904               157,539
                       Savings                                    467,027              322,729               471,354
                       Time                                       484,183              390,353               481,600
                                                               ----------           ----------            ----------
                       Total deposits                           1,120,846              832,986             1,110,493

Federal Home Loan Bank advances                                   544,387              414,067               480,080
Shareholders' equity                                              131,010               99,163               128,721


SHARE INFORMATION
-----------------
Shares outstanding at end of period                              13,071.0             11,998.9              13,042.4
Book value per share                                               $10.02                $8.26                 $9.87
Market value per share                                             $20.21               $19.42                $19.53


CREDIT QUALITY
--------------
Nonaccrual loans                                                   $4,034               $3,191                $4,177
Other real estate owned, net                                            4                   30                    86
Nonperforming assets to total assets                                0.22%                0.24%                 0.24%
Nonaccrual loans to total loans                                     0.50%                0.53%                 0.53%
Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans                     384.11%              428.24%               370.78%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans                            1.91%                2.29%                 1.95%


Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)


                                                                                   (Unaudited)
                                                                                     March 31,          December 31,
                                                                                       2003                 2002
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    
Assets:

Cash and due from banks                                                                $39,084               $39,298
Federal funds sold and other short-term investments                                     10,550                11,750
Mortgage loans held for sale                                                            11,583                 4,566
Securities:
    Available for sale, at fair value                                                  578,260               553,556
    Held to maturity, at cost; fair value $271,849
      in 2003 and $250,446 in 2002                                                     264,047               242,277
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total securities                                                                   842,307               795,833

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost                                                   28,600                24,582

Loans                                                                                  811,132               795,126
Less allowance for loan losses                                                          15,495                15,487
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net loans                                                                          795,637               779,639

Premises and equipment, net                                                             25,485                24,415
Accrued interest receivable                                                              8,459                 7,773
Goodwill and other intangibles                                                          25,083                25,260
Other assets                                                                            28,839                32,545
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total assets                                                                    $1,815,627            $1,745,661
====================================================================================================================

Liabilities:

Deposits:
    Demand                                                                            $169,636              $157,539
    Savings                                                                            467,027               471,354
    Time                                                                               484,183               481,600
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total deposits                                                                   1,120,846             1,110,493

Dividends payable                                                                        1,962                 1,825
Federal Home Loan Bank advances                                                        544,387               480,080
Other borrowings                                                                         1,926                 9,183
Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                                  15,496                15,359
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total liabilities                                                                 1,684,617             1,616,940

Shareholders' Equity:

Common stock of $0.625 par value; authorized 30 million shares;
    issued 13,086,795 shares in 2003 and 2002                                              818                   818
Paid-in capital                                                                         28,411                28,767
Retained earnings                                                                       93,505                90,717
Unamortized employee restricted stock                                                      (20)                  (24)
Accumulated other comprehensive income                                                   8,602                 9,294
Treasury stock, at cost; 15,788 shares in 2003 and 44,361 in 2002                         (306)                 (851)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total shareholders' equity                                                         131,010               128,721
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                      $1,815,627            $1,745,661
====================================================================================================================


Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                                                                  (Unaudited)
Three months ended March 31,                                                              2003                  2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    
Interest income:
    Interest and fees on loans                                                         $12,646               $10,981
    Interest on securities                                                               8,555                 8,188
    Dividends on corporate stock and Federal Home Loan Bank stock                          487                   483
    Interest on federal funds sold and other short-term investments                         37                    62
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total interest income                                                               21,725                19,714
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interest expense:
    Savings deposits                                                                       950                   971
    Time deposits                                                                        3,934                 4,123
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances                                                      4,893                 5,219
    Other                                                                                   19                    17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total interest expense                                                               9,796                10,330
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest income                                                                     11,929                 9,384
Provision for loan losses                                                                  100                   100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest income after provision for loan losses                                     11,829                 9,284
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noninterest income:
    Trust and investment management                                                      2,533                 2,565
    Service charges on deposit accounts                                                  1,100                   827
    Merchant processing fees                                                               457                   446
    Net gains on loan sales                                                              1,238                   516
    Income from bank-owned life insurance                                                  284                   288
    Net realized gains on securities                                                       230                   291
    Other income                                                                           191                   295
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total noninterest income                                                             6,033                 5,228
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noninterest expense:
    Salaries and employee benefits                                                       6,534                 5,575
    Net occupancy                                                                          762                   625
    Equipment                                                                              837                   785
    Merchant processing costs                                                              362                   357
    Legal, audit and professional fees                                                     305                   173
    Advertising and promotion                                                              270                   240
    Outsourced services                                                                    371                   261
    Amortization of intangibles                                                            180                    32
    Other                                                                                1,357                 1,116
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total noninterest expense                                                           10,978                 9,164
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes                                                               6,884                 5,348
Income tax expense                                                                       2,134                 1,604
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income                                                                              $4,750                $3,744
====================================================================================================================

Weighted average shares outstanding - basic                                           13,059.3              12,004.9
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted                                         13,230.2              12,174.6
Per share information:
    Basic earnings per share                                                             $0.36                 $0.31
    Diluted earnings per share                                                           $0.36                 $0.31
    Cash dividends declared per share                                                    $0.15                 $0.14