<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FULTON
FINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND THE
RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997
AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA INCLUDED WITHIN MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AS OF AND FOR THE THREE AND SIX
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                         234,958
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           1,455
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    537,253
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         428,123
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           427,379
<LOANS>                                      3,593,196
<ALLOWANCE>                                     54,843
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,927,776
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,071,375
<SHORT-TERM>                                   200,173
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             83,664
<LONG-TERM>                                     64,324
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       119,668
<OTHER-SE>                                     388,572
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               4,927,776
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                151,647
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               27,067
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   907
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               179,621
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              69,709
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              76,592
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          103,029
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    3,459
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               2,776
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 68,693
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 53,918
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      37,172
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    37,172
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.62
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.73
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,635
<LOANS-PAST>                                    11,063
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                52,528
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    3,795
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,652
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               54,844
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            54,844
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0