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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 16, 2002
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, 5, 6, 8 AND 9. NOT APPLICABLE.
ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
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(a) On January 16, 2002, the Registrant's Board of Directors, at the
recommendation of its Audit Committee, dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as
the Registrant's certifying accountants. The dismissal of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP will be effective upon the completion of its independent audit of the
Registrant's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2001.
The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on the financial statements
of the Registrant for either of the last two fiscal years did not contain an
adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as
to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.
During the Registrant's two most recent fiscal years through the date
of termination of the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Registrant
was not in disagreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing
scope or procedure, which disagreement, if not resolved to the satisfaction of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, would have caused PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to make
reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its
report.
The required letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with respect to
the above statements is filed hereto as Exhibit 16 and incorporated herein by
reference.
(b) Not applicable.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
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(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired. Not applicable
(b) Pro forma financial information. Not applicable
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit 16 Letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated
January 23, 2002
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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
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Peter M. Martin
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
Date: January 23, 2002
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
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16 Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP dated January 23, 2002.
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