EXHIBIT 23.1

                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



The Board of Directors
Provident Bankshares Corporation


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 19, 2000 relating to the
financial statements which appear in Provident Bankshares Corporation's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Registration Statement.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


Baltimore, Maryland
February 15, 2000