<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FULTON
FINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND
THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 1997 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, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         216,929
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           2,443
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    695,754
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         382,506
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           382,919
<LOANS>                                      3,869,059
<ALLOWANCE>                                     56,913
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,302,181
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,364,147
<SHORT-TERM>                                   206,225
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                            126,045
<LONG-TERM>                                     60,001
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       126,433
<OTHER-SE>                                     419,330
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               5,302,181
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                240,026
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               44,297
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 1,668
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               285,991
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             112,556
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             123,575
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          162,416
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    5,734
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               5,736
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                110,574
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 82,908
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      57,364
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    57,364
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.91
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.68
<LOANS-NON>                                     17,084
<LOANS-PAST>                                     9,851
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                53,893
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    6,063
<RECOVERIES>                                     3,219
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               56,913
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            56,913
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0