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Exhibit 99.1




                           CONTACT:
                           Media -Lillian Kilroy  (410) 277-2833
                           Investment Community -Dennis Starliper (410) 277-2889


            PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF
                        SOUTHERN FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.


BALTIMORE: (April 30, 2004) - Provident Bankshares Corporation (NASDAQ:PBKS),
the parent company of Provident Bank, the second largest independent commercial
bank headquartered in Maryland, has completed its acquisition of Southern
Financial Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ: SFFB), the parent company of Southern
Financial Bank.

       Southern Financial Bank, based in Warrenton, Virginia, adds roughly $1.5
billion in total assets to Provident's $5.3 billion and is key to the
corporation's strategy to strengthen its market position in Northern Virginia.
The acquisition of Southern Financial also extends Provident's presence into
Central and Eastern Virginia with 33 offices that stretch from Northern Virginia
to the Norfolk/Tidewater area.

       Under the terms of the transaction, shareholders of Southern Financial
will receive 1.0875 shares of Provident common stock and $11.125 in cash for
each Southern Financial share held. Provident will issue approximately 8.2
million shares and pay $84.0 million in cash in the transaction. In the first
full year of operation, Provident expects the Southern Financial transaction to
be accretive to earnings and neutral to tangible capital.

       Provident Bankshares Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gary N. Geisel commented on the transaction, "We are pleased to welcome Southern
Financial customers to Provident Bank. This merger will provide them with an
expanded menu of both consumer and commercial banking products. At the same
time, Southern Financial's employees will continue to make key contributions in
maintaining and establishing new banking relationships that will boost
Provident's presence in this growing region. Together, we will create a company
that is equally committed to its customers, employees and community."

       The Southern Financial branches will officially change their name to
"Provident Bank" in early June as the consolidation of operations progresses. As
part of the comprehensive transition efforts, Southern Financial customers will
receive welcome packets from Provident with customized information on their
accounts. Provident has also set up a Customer Information HotLine for customers
with any questions about the transition. The number is 1-888-793-5626. E-mails
can be sent to merger@provbank.com.
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       Provident Bankshares Corporation is the holding company for Provident
Bank, the second largest independent commercial bank headquartered in Maryland.


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With $5.3 billion in assets, Provident serves individuals and businesses in the
dynamic Baltimore-Washington corridor through a network of 118 banking offices
in Maryland, Virginia and southern York County, PA. Provident Bank also offers
related financial services through wholly owned subsidiaries. Securities
brokerage, investment management and related insurance services are available
through Provident Investment Center and leases through Court Square Leasing and
Provident Lease Corp. Visit Provident on the web at www.provbank.com.
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Press Release, as well as other written communications made from time to
time by Provident Bankshares Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") and
oral communications made from time to time by authorized officers of the
Company, may contain statements relating to the future results of the Company
(including certain projections and business trends) that are considered
"forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (the PSLRA). Such forward-looking statements may be
identified by the use of such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate,"
"should," "planned," "estimated," "intend" and "potential." The Company's
ability to predict results or the actual effects of its plans and strategies,
including its future earnings and its recent merger with Southern Financial
Bancorp, Inc., is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results may differ
from anticipated results. For these statements, the Company claims the
protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the
PSLRA.

The Company cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those currently anticipated in any
forward-looking statement. Such factors include, but are not limited to:
prevailing economic and geopolitical conditions; changes in interest rates, loan
demand, real estate values and competition, which can materially affect, among
other things, consumer banking revenues, revenues from sales on non-deposit
investment products, origination levels in the Company's lending businesses and
the level of defaults, losses and prepayments on loans made by the Company,
whether held in portfolio or sold in the secondary markets; changes in
accounting principles, policies, and guidelines; changes in any applicable law,
rule, regulation or practice with respect to tax or legal issues; risks and
uncertainties related to acquisitions and related integration and restructuring
activities; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and
technological factors affecting the Company's operations, pricing, products and
services. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this report,
and, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, the Company
assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the
reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the
forward-looking statements.