<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FULTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF
SEPTEMBER 30,1996 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE
THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA
INCLUDED WITHIN MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AS OF AND FOR THE THREE AND NINE
MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY 
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         190,897
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           2,056
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    321,046
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         415,349
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           413,133
<LOANS>                                      2,708,702
<ALLOWANCE>                                     40,519
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,744,663
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,053,651
<SHORT-TERM>                                   230,173
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             40,935
<LONG-TERM>                                     21,074
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        82,465
<OTHER-SE>                                     292,035
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               3,744,663
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                166,716
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               32,156
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   278
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               199,150
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              77,132
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              84,291
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          114,859
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,794
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               2,136
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 81,767
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 53,900
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      38,345
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    38,345
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.16
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.74
<LOANS-NON>                                     11,565
<LOANS-PAST>                                     8,059
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                38,272
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    2,957
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,410
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               40,519
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            40,519
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0