Exhibit 99.1

                           SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

                               _________________
                                        

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Hunter R. Hollar
President and Chief Executive Officer
or
James H. Langmead
Vice President and Treasurer
(301) 774-6400

                SANDY SPRING BANCORP ACQUIRES BANK OF ANNAPOLIS

     August 30, 1996, Olney, Maryland . . . . Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.
(NASDAQ National Market--SASR) today announced the completion of the acquisition
of Annapolis Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ--ANNB), and the merger of Annapolis
Bancshares into Sandy Spring Bancorp.  Under the terms of the agreement that
governs the merger, each outstanding share of Annapolis Bancshares common stock
has been converted into 0.62585 shares of Sandy Spring Bancorp common stock.
Sandy Spring Bancorp common stock has a recent market price of $35.50 per share.
In addition, Bank of Annapolis, the wholly owned bank subsidiary of Annapolis
Bancshares, has been merged into Sandy Spring National Bank of Maryland. After
these mergers, Sandy Spring Bancorp's consolidated assets total approximately
$915 million, based upon recent financial statements.

     Hunter R. Hollar, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sandy Spring
Bancorp, stated, "We are pleased to enter Annapolis through merger with a strong
and profitable community institution. We intend to keep the hometown approach of
Bank of Annapolis under the banner of Sandy Spring National Bank as we grow in
the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County communities."

     Sandy Spring Bancorp expects the merger will result in a positive impact on
consolidated net income and have a minimal effect on its earnings per share in
the first year after the acquisition.

     Sandy Spring Bancorp is the bank holding company for Sandy Spring National
Bank of Maryland, which has 17 banking offices in Montgomery and Howard Counties
in Maryland. With consummation of this merger, the single Bank of Annapolis
office with become the 18th community banking office of Sandy Spring National
Bank of Maryland.

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