EXHIBIT 99.1


CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002




      In  connection   with  the  Quarterly   Report  of  Provident   Bankshares
Corporation (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2003 as
filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on the date  hereof  (the
"Report"),  I, Gary N. Geisel, Chief Executive Officer of the Company,  certify,
to the best of my knowledge and belief,  pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

        1.   The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
             15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

        2.   The  information  contained  in  the Report fairly presents, in all
             material   respects,   the  financial   condition  and  results  of
             operations  of the Company as of and for the period  covered by the
             Report.




                               /s/ Gary N. Geisel
                               Gary N. Geisel
                               Chief Executive Officer
                               May 14, 2003



       A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906
        HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION AND WILL BE
       RETAINED BY PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION AND FURNISHED TO THE
         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF UPON REQUEST.