<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
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                          57,247
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    895,338
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          32,347
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            31,430
<LOANS>                                      1,571,957
<ALLOWANCE>                                     21,733
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,702,881
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,747,723
<SHORT-TERM>                                   455,929
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             32,935
<LONG-TERM>                                    284,508
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         8,655
<OTHER-SE>                                     173,131
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,702,881
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 61,803
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               34,018
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                95,821
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              30,510
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              51,441
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           44,380
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,775
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               5,005
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 26,307
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,303
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      17,303
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    10,910
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.25
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.59
<LOANS-NON>                                     12,977
<LOANS-PAST>                                     6,398
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                21,462
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    6,280
<RECOVERIES>                                       776
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               21,733
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            21,733
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0