EXHIBIT 32(b)
18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certification

I hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, that the accompanying Form 10-Q of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.
("Bancorp") for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005, fully complies with
the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and that the information contained in this Form
10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and
results of operations of Bancorp.


By: /S/ PHILIP J. MANTUA
    -----------------------------------------
    Philip J. Mantua
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    Date: May 6, 2005