<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          60,792
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    944,124
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      2,600,222
<ALLOWANCE>                                     35,197
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,700,450
<DEPOSITS>                                   2,655,912
<SHORT-TERM>                                   373,283
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             37,977
<LONG-TERM>                                    374,105
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        11,568
<OTHER-SE>                                     247,605
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,700,450
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                149,331
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               57,738
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               207,069
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              76,286
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             115,468
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           91,601
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    7,217
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 568
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 59,401
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 25,551
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      25,551
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,949
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.33
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.52
<LOANS-NON>                                      7,631
<LOANS-PAST>                                    23,118
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                30,361
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,836
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,455
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               35,197
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            35,197
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0