<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>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                          1
<CASH>                                              74,365
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                   0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                         0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                         0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                      1,198,511
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                                   0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                     0
<LOANS>                                          3,100,211
<ALLOWANCE>                                         42,739
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   4,675,897
<DEPOSITS>                                       3,419,557
<SHORT-TERM>                                       145,363
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                 40,423
<LONG-TERM>                                        735,239
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               39,238
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                            24,811
<OTHER-SE>                                         271,266
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                   4,675,897
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    234,926
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                   80,184
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                     2,997
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                   318,107
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                 130,315
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 187,509
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              130,598
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       12,027
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                   6,749
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                     66,919
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     58,401
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                          58,401
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        39,030
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.54
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                        3.12
<LOANS-NON>                                         11,517
<LOANS-PAST>                                        27,993
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                         0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                          0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                    36,861
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                        7,738
<RECOVERIES>                                         1,589
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                   42,739
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                                42,739
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                  0