<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Form
10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000818969
<NAME> PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<CASH>                                          50,124
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    356,695
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         424,738
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           434,869
<LOANS>                                      1,526,281
<ALLOWANCE>                                     21,100
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,499,016
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,537,610
<SHORT-TERM>                                   501,785
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             25,563
<LONG-TERM>                                    262,917
<COMMON>                                         8,112
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     163,029
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,499,016
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 86,013
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               45,843
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               131,856
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              41,171
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              70,875
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           60,981
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      545
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                             (2,757)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 38,107
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 19,572
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      19,572
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,925
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.58
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       4
<LOANS-NON>                                     12,318
<LOANS-PAST>                                       709
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                20,893
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    1,124
<RECOVERIES>                                       786
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               21,100
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            21,100
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0