<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 JUN 30, 1998 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                          29,654
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           1,635
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                11,279
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    384,045
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          95,371
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            96,607
<LOANS>                                        589,060
<ALLOWANCE>                                      7,534
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,170,739
<DEPOSITS>                                     889,577
<SHORT-TERM>                                   144,330
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              3,950
<LONG-TERM>                                     25,480
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         9,640
<OTHER-SE>                                      97,762
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,170,739
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 25,767
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               13,801
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   941
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                45,509
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              14,140
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              18,395
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           22,114
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                      542
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 409
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 16,355
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 11,070
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      11,070
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,735
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.80
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.42
<LOANS-NON>                                      1,088
<LOANS-PAST>                                     1,916
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    16
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                  7,510
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 7,016
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                      114
<RECOVERIES>                                        90
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                7,564
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             2,121
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          5,413