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                                 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): August 6, 2001


                        PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


    MARYLAND                           0-16421                  52-1518642
(State or other                      (Commission              (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                      File Number)           Identification No.)
 incorporation)


              114 EAST LEXINGTON STREET, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21202
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (410) 277-7000


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




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ITEMS 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 AND 9.  NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 5.     OTHER EVENTS.

      On August 6, 2001, Provident Bankshares Corporation issued a press release
announcing  the  release of its  second  quarter  earnings.  A copy of the press
release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.







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                                  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 hereunto duly authorized.


                               PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION


                               By:   /s/ Peter M. Martin
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     Peter M. Martin
                                     Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                     Officer

Date: August 8, 2001




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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX




    EXHIBIT                        DESCRIPTION
    -------                        -----------

     99.1               Press release dated August 6, 2001.







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