<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the 
Form 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial 
statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000818969
<NAME>                        Provident Bankshares Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                              68,580
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                        983,241
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0
<LOANS>                                          2,701,068
<ALLOWANCE>                                         36,861
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   3,926,739
<DEPOSITS>                                       2,754,515
<SHORT-TERM>                                       347,291
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                 85,674
<LONG-TERM>                                        469,077
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                            23,513
<OTHER-SE>                                         246,669
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   3,926,739
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    203,899
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                   75,213
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                         0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                   279,112
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                 106,004
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 156,718
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              122,394
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                        9,953
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   2,337
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                     76,191
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     38,587
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                          38,587
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        24,959
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.06
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        3.49
<LOANS-NON>                                          9,854
<LOANS-PAST>                                        25,276
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                    30,361
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        5,213
<RECOVERIES>                                         1,760
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                   36,861
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                36,861
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  0