UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                     FORM 15

   CERTIFICATION AND NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 12(G)
      OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR SUSPENSION OF DUTY TO FILE
   REPORTS UNDER SECTIONS 13 AND 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                          Commission File No. 000-22836

                        SOUTHERN FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

         37 EAST MAIN STREET, WARRENTON, VIRGINIA 20186, (540) 349-3900
   (Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)

                          COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01
            (Title of each class of securities covered by this Form)

                                      NONE
       (Titles of all other classes of securities for which a duty to file
                 reports under section 13(a) or 15(d) remains)

      Please place an X in the box(es) to designate the appropriate rule
provision(s) relied upon to terminate or suspend the duty to file reports:

            Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(i)  [X]            Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(i)    [ ]
            Rule 12g-4(a)(1)(ii) [ ]            Rule 12h-3(b)(1)(ii)   [ ]
            Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(i)  [ ]            Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(i)    [ ]
            Rule 12g-4(a)(2)(ii) [ ]            Rule 12h-3(b)(2)(ii)   [ ]
                                                Rule 15d-6             [ ]

      Approximate number of holders of record as of the certification or notice
date: One

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Provident Bankshares Corporation has caused this certification/notice to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized person.

DATE: May 3, 2004                  BY: /s/ Gary N. Geisel
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Gary N. Geisel
                                       Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                       Officer Provident Bankshares Corporation
                                       as Successor by merger