<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the Form
10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000818969
<NAME> PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
<S>                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                  SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                             47,549
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                                  0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                        0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                        0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       871,062
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                             32,148
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                               31,372
<LOANS>                                         1,708,127
<ALLOWANCE>                                        23,370
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  2,773,345
<DEPOSITS>                                      1,709,123
<SHORT-TERM>                                      571,761
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                                27,286
<LONG-TERM>                                       276,738
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                             0
<COMMON>                                            8,687
<OTHER-SE>                                        179,750
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                  2,773,345
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                    96,784
<INTEREST-INVEST>                                  50,142
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                        0
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                  146,926
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                                 47,153
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 79,287
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                              67,639
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                       7,613
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                  5,047
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                    38,219
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    26,854
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                         26,854
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                       16,815
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        1.92
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        1.92
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                       3.57
<LOANS-NON>                                        12,315
<LOANS-PAST>                                        8,393
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                        0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                         0
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                   21,462
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                       7,038
<RECOVERIES>                                        1,333
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                  20,370
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                               20,370
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                     0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                                 0
        










</TABLE>