<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FULTON
FINANCIAL CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE
RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
AND OTHER FINANCIAL DATA INCLUDED WITHIN MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED 
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         208,289
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           2,634
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    724,194
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         343,054
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           343,871
<LOANS>                                      3,961,644
<ALLOWANCE>                                     57,557
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,377,654
<DEPOSITS>                                   4,418,543
<SHORT-TERM>                                   248,301
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             93,274
<LONG-TERM>                                     53,045
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       126,497
<OTHER-SE>                                     437,994
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               5,377,654
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                324,815
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               60,129
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,304
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               387,248
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             153,329
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             168,153
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          219,095
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    8,417
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               6,355
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                149,538
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                109,853
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      76,405
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    76,405
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.21
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.69
<LOANS-NON>                                     20,819
<LOANS-PAST>                                    10,529
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                53,893
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    9,242
<RECOVERIES>                                     4,163
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               57,557
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            30,373
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         27,216