<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SANDY SPRING
BANCORP'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1998,
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          33,172
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                             577
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                13,057
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    343,255
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          99,881
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           101,418
<LOANS>                                        582,119
<ALLOWANCE>                                      7,230
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,138,444
<DEPOSITS>                                     867,329
<SHORT-TERM>                                   134,066
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              5,046
<LONG-TERM>                                     25,486
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,676
<OTHER-SE>                                      96,841
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,138,444
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 12,851
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                6,778
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   382
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                20,011
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                               7,001
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               9,107
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           10,904
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      267
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 248
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                  7,895
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,610
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       5,610
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,860
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.40
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.40
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.42
<LOANS-NON>                                        446
<LOANS-PAST>                                     2,064
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    16
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  7,639
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 7,016
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       64
<RECOVERIES>                                        11
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                7,230
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,134
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          5,096