<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FULTON
FINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 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, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         224,741
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           3,054
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,070,912
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         220,681
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           223,326
<LOANS>                                      3,971,881
<ALLOWANCE>                                     58,730
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,632,809
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,505,837
<SHORT-TERM>                                   226,972
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            113,525
<LONG-TERM>                                    187,705
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       157,638
<OTHER-SE>                                     441,132
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               5,632,809
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                254,026
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               49,612
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,669
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               305,307
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             120,630
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             132,539
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          172,768
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    4,299
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                              10,066
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                118,870
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 95,271
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      65,102
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    65,102
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.03
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.64
<LOANS-NON>                                     21,958
<LOANS-PAST>                                     7,986
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                57,557
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    5,479
<RECOVERIES>                                     2,353
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               58,730
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            58,730
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0