[KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP LETTERHEAD]





July 30, 2008



Mr. Gregory Dundas
Senior Counsel
United States Securities
and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20549

Re:      Provident Bankshares Corporation
         Registration Statement on Form S-3
         File No. 333-151172

Dear Mr. Dundas:

         We submit this correspondence on behalf of Provident Bankshares
Corporation (the "Corporation") and with respect to the above-referenced
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement").  Pursuant to
our conversations regarding comment number 4 contained in the staff's comment
letter issued on June 3, 2008 relating to the Registration Statement, attached
is correspondence from Wellington Management Company, LLP which supplements the
Corporation's previous response to such comment.

                                   **********

         Please date stamp the enclosed copy of this letter and return it to the
undersigned in the enclosed business reply envelope. If you have any questions
about our responses or require any additional information, please do not
hesitate to call the undersigned at 202-508-5852.


                                             Very truly yours,

                                             KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP

                                             /s/ Edward G. Olifer
                                             --------------------
                                             Edward G. Olifer