<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN FORM 10-K AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000818969
<NAME> PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          90,840
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                               0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  1,671,507
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                               0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                                 0
<LOANS>                                      3,184,119
<ALLOWANCE>                                     39,780
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,094,477
<DEPOSITS>                                   3,808,528
<SHORT-TERM>                                   301,323
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             43,747
<LONG-TERM>                                    627,118
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           39,162
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        26,226
<OTHER-SE>                                     248,373
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               5,094,477
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                261,837
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               88,094
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                 2,446
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               352,377
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             151,071
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             204,261
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          148,116
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   11,570
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 312
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 71,509
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 65,349
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      65,349
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    44,150
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.73
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.67
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    3.13
<LOANS-NON>                                     28,908
<LOANS-PAST>                                    29,181
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                42,739
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   14,557
<RECOVERIES>                                     1,528
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                               39,780
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            39,780
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                              0