EXHIBIT 23


                                Stegman & Company
                          Certified Public Accountants

                                    Suite 200
                               405 East Joppa Road

                             Towson, Maryland 21286
                                 (410) 823-8000

                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Board of Directors
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.

     We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference in the  prospectuses
included  in  Registration   Statements  No.   33-29316,   33-48453   (including
Registration  Statement on Form S-8 and Post  Effective  Amendment No. 2 to Form
S-8  with  respect  to   Registration   Statements  No.  33-29316  and  33-48453
),33-35319,  33-56692,  333-11049, each on Form S-8, and Registration Statements
No. 33-57182 and 333-39139 on Form S-3, and in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Sandy Spring  Bancorp,  Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1997, of our report
dated January 30, 1998,  relating to the  consolidated  financial  statements of
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiaries.

                                                           /s/ Stegman & Company
                                                               Stegman & Company

Towson, Maryland
March 23, 1998