<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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                          57,182
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    969,485
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          31,878
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            31,346
<LOANS>                                      1,793,249
<ALLOWANCE>                                     25,335
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,945,641
<DEPOSITS>                                   1,904,915
<SHORT-TERM>                                   552,271
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             26,262
<LONG-TERM>                                    263,444
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         8,818
<OTHER-SE>                                     189,931
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               2,945,641
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 36,272
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               17,311
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                53,583
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              17,559
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              29,266
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           24,317
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      834
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  71
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 13,624
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,930
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       9,930
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,515
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .73
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.61
<LOANS-NON>                                      6,865
<LOANS-PAST>                                    17,850
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                24,828
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      939
<RECOVERIES>                                       612
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               25,335
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            25,335
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0