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                                                                    Exhibit 10 Y

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, effective on the 19th day of March,
2002, by and between MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORPORATION ("Mercshares") and
MERCANTILE-SAFE DEPOSIT AND TRUST COMPANY ("Merc-Safe"), both corporations of
the State of Maryland Two Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Employer," and JOHN L. UNGER, hereinafter referred
to as "Executive."

     WHEREAS, Employer is engaged in the banking, trust and investment
management business, and Executive has special skills and talents in that
business; and

     WHEREAS, Employer has employed Executive on the terms provided herein, and
Executive, in turn, has accepted full-time employment with Employer according to
such terms.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter
contained, the parties do hereby agree as follows:

     1. Office of Executive. Executive will serve as General Counsel of
        -------------------
Mercshares and Merc-Safe. This office may be changed during the term of this
Agreement by mutual consent of the parties.

     2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin on March 19, 2002, and
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shall terminate on March 19, 2005; provided that the termination date shall be
extended (but not beyond Executive's retirement date) for one additional year on
March 19, 2005 and on March 19 of each succeeding year, unless either Employer
or Executive on or before the immediately preceding January 31 declines such an
extension by written notice to the other party.

     3. Compensation. Executive shall be paid a base annual salary as determined
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by the Board of Directors of Merc-Safe from time to time, at a rate of not less
than $260,000 per calendar year, subject to withholding for appropriate items.
Executive has been designated as a Class II participant in the Employer's Annual
Incentive Compensation Plan ("AICP"). For 2002, Executive shall be eligible for
a bonus calculated under the AICP (and payable on or before March 1, 2003) as a
Class II participant, pro-rated for the portion of 2002 in which he shall be
employed by the Employer. For succeeding years, Executive shall be eligible for
annual bonuses as a designated Class II AICP participant. Such bonuses shall be
determined by Employer's Compensation Committee under the AICP in good faith. If
the AICP is revoked or amended for other than good faith economic reasons so as
to decrease or eliminate a bonus to which Executive would otherwise have been
entitled as a designated participant under the immediately pre-existing terms of
the AICP, he shall be paid any such diminution in bonus as additional

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compensation on or before March 1 next following the close of each year for
which such a bonus would otherwise have been payable under the terms of the AICP
for such year.

     4. Other Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in, and to
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receive benefits under, any long-term incentive plan, deferred compensation
plan, qualified retirement plan, profit sharing plan, savings plan, group life,
disability, sickness, accident and health programs, or any other benefit plan or
arrangement made available by Employer to its executive officers generally,
subject to and on a basis consistent with the terms, conditions and overall
administration of each such plan or arrangement. Any awards of stock incentives
will be in the discretion of the Employer. In addition, Executive shall be
entitled to certain benefits under an Executive Severance Agreement among
Executive, Mercantile Bankshares Corporation and Merc-Safe dated March 19, 2002
(as such agreement may be amended from time to time).

     5. Expenses. Employer shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable expenses
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incurred by Executive in connection with the business of the Employer, including
expenses for entertainment, travel and similar items. Executive shall submit to
Employer substantiation for reimbursable expenses. Employer shall reimburse
Executive for reasonable moving expenses incurred in moving Executive's
immediate family to the Baltimore area.

     6. Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to a minimum of four weeks
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vacation each year.


     7. Scope of Employment. Executive shall perform the duties of General
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Counsel of Mercshares and Merc-Safe. Executive agrees to serve with undivided
loyalty to Employer and to devote all of his working time and efforts in
performance of such duties, except for attention to personal investments,
participation in family business enterprises, outside directorships, and public
service commitments, provided that none of the foregoing shall unreasonably
interfere with his principal employment. Employer shall provide Executive with
suitable office, secretarial and other support assistance appropriate to his
position.

     8. Early Termination. This Agreement shall terminate prior to its specified
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expiration, as may be extended from time to time, on the occurrence of the death
of Executive, or termination by the Employer for good cause. For purposes of
this Agreement, good cause shall be limited to proven or admitted fraud or
material illegal acts by Executive or a breach of any of Executive's covenants
of undivided loyalty to and the performance of duties for Employer, as set out
in Section 7 of this Agreement. In addition, if Executive is unable to perform
his duties of office by reason of illness or incapacity for a period of more
than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, Employer shall be entitled to
remove Executive from some or any of his offices; provided that Employer shall
restore Executive to any such office if he shall become able to perform the
duties of any such office at any time within the three hundred sixty-five (365)
days next following his removal from any such office. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 3 of this Agreement, in the event of Executive's long-term
disability as defined under Employer's Disability Insurance Plan, Executive
shall be compensated as provided under such Plan and shall not receive his base
salary or earn any bonus under this Agreement for the period of time that such
disability shall continue.

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         In the event that this Agreement is terminated for good cause as herein
provided, all obligations hereunder of Employer to Executive (other than for
reimbursement of expenses incurred by Executive prior to termination and any
employee benefits that are not extinguished by termination for cause) shall also
simultaneously terminate forthwith.

         In the event that Employer terminates Executive's employment without
good cause during the original or any extended term of this Agreement, all
benefits (including salary) to Executive provided for in this Agreement shall
continue until the expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement. To the
extent that it shall not be practicable or legally feasible to continue any such
benefit in the form provided for in this Agreement, Employer may provide an
equivalent benefit in some other form or may pay or provide to Executive the
economic value of such benefit.

     9.  Non-Competition. Executive agrees that upon termination of his
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employment with Employer, he shall not engage in competitive activities in the
State of Maryland or in contiguous states, or the District of Columbia, or in
any other state in which any offices are maintained by Mercshares, Merc-Safe or
affiliated entities, as an employee of, consultant to, or in any other
comparable capacity with, any other banking institution, bank holding company,
financial holding company, or entity engaged in furnishing investment advice or
investment management services, for a period of two years following such
termination. Executive agrees that Employer shall be entitled to injunctive
relief, in lieu of or in addition to damages, for a violation by Executive of
the provisions of this Section 9.

     10. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
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benefit of all successors of Employer, whether by merger, consolidation,
reorganization, share exchange, transfer of assets or otherwise. This Agreement
shall not be otherwise assignable by Employer except with the prior written
consent of Executive. Executive shall not assign his rights or duties under this
Agreement, except (a) as provided in Section 1 of this Agreement, and (b) as
provided under any employee or executive benefit plan with Employer relating to
Executive.

     11. Notices. All notices called for under this Agreement shall be in
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writing addressed to Employer at Two Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland 21201,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, and to Executive at Two Hopkins Plaza,
Baltimore, Maryland 21201, or to such other address as either party may
designate to the other in writing from time to time. Any such notice shall be
effective when received or two (2) business days after mailing, postage prepaid,
by first class, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

     12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement
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between the parties, and all prior representations, agreements and
understandings between the parties as to its subject matter are of no further
force or validity.

     13. Amendments. Any amendments to this Agreement must be in writing signed
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by both parties hereto.

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     14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
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accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland,

without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

     15. Headings. The headings used in this Agreement are solely for
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convenience and are not to be used in the construction or

interpretation hereof.

     16. Severability. In the event that one or more of the provisions of this
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Agreement are found to be unenforceable or illegal,

the remaining provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Executive Employment
Agreement, as of the day and year first above written.

WITNESS:

/s/ Alan D. Yarbro              /s/ John L. Unger                         (SEAL)
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ALAN D. YARBRO                  JOHN L. UNGER


ATTEST:                         MERCANTILE BANKSHARES
                                     CORPORATION

/s/ Alan D. Yarbro              By: /s/ Edward J. Kelly, III              (SEAL)
----------------------------        --------------------------------------
ALAN D. YARBRO                      EDWARD J. KELLY, III
Secretary                           President and Chief Executive Officer

ATTEST:                         MERCANTILE-SAFE DEPOSIT
                                     AND TRUST COMPANY

/s/ Alan D. Yarbro              By: /s/ Edward J. Kelly, III              (SEAL)
----------------------------        --------------------------------------
ALAN D. YARBRO                       EDWARD J. KELLY, III
Secretary                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

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