Exhibit (10) Q
		       MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORPORATION
				OPTION AGREEMENT

		This Option Agreement is entered into this      day of
     , 1995, by and between Mercantile Bankshares Corporation ("MBC"), a
Maryland corporation, and         ("Grantee").

				  ARTICLE 1

				 DEFINITIONS

	For the purposes of this Agreement, the definitions set forth in
Sections 1.1 through 1.27 shall be applicable.
	Section 1.1  Affiliate.  "Affiliate" shall mean:  (i) any corporation
in which MBC owns, directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Sec. 424(f) of
the Code, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of such corporation on a Grant Date; and (ii) any
parent corporation of MBC, within the meaning of Sec. 424(e) of the Code.
		Section 1.2  Agreement.  "Agreement" shall mean this Option
Agreement and shall include the applicable provisions of the Plan which is
hereby incorporated into and made a part of the Agreement.
		Section 1.3  Anniversary Date.  "Anniversary Date" shall mean
the first four (4) anniversaries of the Grant Date.
		Section 1.4  Anniversary Date Option Amount.  "Anniversary Date
Option Amount" shall mean twenty-five percent (25%) of the Option Amount.
		Section 1.5  Base Year.  "Base Year" shall mean the 1994
calendar year.
		Section 1.6  Board.  "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors
of MBC.
		Section 1.7  Calculation Year.  "Calculation Year" shall mean
the calendar year ending immediately prior to the calendar year in which an
Anniversary Date falls.
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		Section 1.8  Code.  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and any regulations issued thereunder.
		Section 1.9  Committee.  "Committee" shall mean the Committee
appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Plan.
		Section 1.10  Disability.  "Disability" shall mean Grantee's
inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity, by reason of any
medically determined physical or mental impairment that may be expected to
result in death or that has lasted or may be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, as determined by the
Committee based on proof of the existence of such disability in such form
and manner and at such times as the Committee may require.
		Section 1.11  Earnings.  "Earnings" shall mean the earnings per
share of Stock for a calendar year (including the Base Year), as reported
in the Annual Report to Shareholders for such calendar year and as may be
adjusted by the Committee in its discretion.
		Section 1.12  Earnings AGR.  "Earnings AGR" shall mean the
annual rate of growth in Earnings, expressed as a percentage (rounded up to
the nearest whole percent), determined in accordance with the following
formula:
			(A-B) (100)
			-----------
			     B
where "A" equals Earnings for the Calculation Year, and "B" equals Earnings
for the calendar year immediately preceding the Calculation Year.
	Section 1.13  Earnings CGR.  "Earnings CGR" shall mean the
compounded growth rate of Earnings and shall be determined by calculating
the rate of interest at which Earnings for the Base Year would have to be
invested to yield the Earnings for
				       2


the Calculation Year in question, assuming such interest compounded
annually during the period commencing with the first day of the calendar
year immediately succeeding the Base Year and ending on the last day of
such Calculation Year.
		Section 1.14  Exercise Date.  "Exercise Date" shall mean
the date on which the Committee receives the written notice required under
Section 3.4 of this Agreement that Grantee has exercised the Option.
		Section 1.15  Fair Market Value.  "Fair Market Value" of a
share of Stock on the Grant Date or Exercise Date, as the case may be,
shall mean the last reported sale price per share of Stock, regular way,
or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the
closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in
the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to
securities listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange
or included for quotation on the NASDAQ-National Market, or if the Stock is
not so listed or admitted to trading or included for quotation, the last
quoted price, or if the Stock is not so quoted, the average of the high bid
and low asked prices, regular way, in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotations System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal
other automated quotations system that may then be in use or, if the Stock
is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices, regular way, as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the Stock as selected in good faith by the Committee or
by such other source or sources as shall be selected in good faith by the
Committee; provided, however, that the determination of Fair Market Value
shall be made by the Committee in good faith in accordance with the Code.
If, as the case may be, the Grant Date or the Exercise Date is not a
trading day, the determination shall be
				       3


made as of the next preceding trading day.  As used herein, the term
"trading day" shall mean a day on which public trading of securities occurs
and is reported in the principal consolidated reporting system referred to
above, or if the Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on a national
securities exchange or included for quotation on the NASDAQ-National
Market, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York are closed.
	Section 1.16  Grant Date.  "Grant Date" shall mean March 14,
1995.
	Section 1.17  Incentive Stock Option.  "Incentive Stock Option"
shall mean an option as defined in Sec. 422(b) of the Code.
	Section 1.18  Net Operating Income.  "Net Operating Income" shall
mean the dollar amount of net after tax operating income for a calendar
year for           , as reported to the Board and as may be adjusted by the
Committee in its discretion.
	Section 1.19  Net Operating Income AGR.  "Net Operating Income
AGR" shall mean the annual rate of growth in Net Operating Income,
expressed as a percentage (rounded up to the nearest whole percent),
determined in accordance with the following formula:
			(A-B) (100)
			-----------
			     B
where "A" equals Net Operating Income for the Calculation Year, and "B"
equals Net Operating Income for the calendar year immediately preceding the
Calculation Year.
	Section 1.20  Net Operating Income CGR.  "Net Operating Income
CGR" shall mean the compounded growth rate of Net Operating Income,
determined by calculating the rate of interest at which Base Year Net
Operating Income would have to be invested
				       4


to yield the Net Operating Income for the Calculation Year in question,
assuming such interest compounded annually during the period commencing
with the first day of the calendar year immediately succeeding the Base
Year and ending on the last day of such Calculation Year.
	Section 1.21  Normal Retirement Date.  "Normal Retirement Date"
shall mean the first day of the month coincident with or next following the
date on which Grantee attains age sixty-five (65).
	Section 1.22  Option.  "Option" shall mean an option to acquire
Stock and, as is hereby designated by the Committee in accordance with and
to the fullest extent permitted by the Code and other applicable law, shall
mean an Incentive Stock Option.
	Section 1.23  Option Amount.  "Option  Amount" shall mean        shares
of Stock.
	Section 1.24  Option Price.  "Option Price" shall mean the price
per share of Stock at which the Option may be exercised.
	Section 1.25  Plan.  "Plan" shall mean the Mercantile Bankshares
Corporation Omnibus Stock Plan.
	Section 1.26  Retirement.  "Retirement" shall mean early or
normal retirement in accordance with the terms of The Cash Balance Plan for
Employees of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation and Participating
Affiliates, as it may exist from time to time, or any successor plan.
	Section 1.27  Stock.  "Stock" shall mean shares of MBC's
authorized but unissued common stock, par value of Two Dollars ($2.00) per
share.
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				  ARTICLE 2

			       GRANT OF OPTION

	Section 2.1  Grant of Option.  On the Grant Date, MBC, pursuant
to the Plan, granted to Grantee an Option to purchase shares of Stock, not
to exceed the Option Amount, at an Option Price of Twenty-one Dollars and
Eighty-seven and one-half Cents ($21.875) per share.
	Section 2.2  Term of Option.  The Option granted pursuant to
Section 2.1 shall expire on March 13, 2005, unless all or a portion of the
Option terminates earlier pursuant to other provisions of this Agreement.

				  ARTICLE 3

			   RESTRICTIONS ON EXERCISE

	Section 3.1  Termination of Option or Portion of Option.  The
Option shall become exercisable, if at all, only on an Anniversary Date.
The extent to which the Option shall become exercisable on any Anniversary
Date shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.2 and 3.3
of the Agreement; provided that, except as otherwise provided under Section
4.4 of the Agreement, in no case shall the Option become exercisable on any
one (1) Anniversary Date for more than the Anniversary Date Option Amount.
 To the extent that, by application of the provisions of Sections 3.2 or
3.3 of the Agreement, no portion of the Option becomes exercisable on an
Anniversary Date, or the Option becomes exercisable for less than the
Anniversary Date Option Amount on such Anniversary Date, the Option shall
terminate with respect to that number of shares of Stock that is equal to
the difference between the Anniversary Date Option Amount and the number of
shares of Stock as to which the Option becomes exercisable on such
Anniversary Date.
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	Section 3.2  Attainment of Earnings CGR.  No portion of the
Option shall become exercisable on an Anniversary Date unless the Earnings
CGR for the Calculation Year applicable to that Anniversary Date equals or
exceeds five percent (5%).  If such Earnings CGR equals or exceeds five
percent (5%), the portion of the Anniversary Date Option Amount that shall
become exercisable on such Anniversary Date shall be determined pursuant to
the provisions of Section 3.3 of the Agreement.
	Section 3.3  Determination of Exercisable Portion of Anniversary
Date Option Amount.
	(a)     Amounts Dependent on Earnings.  Subject to the provisions
of the first sentence of Section 3.2 of the Agreement, if the Earnings AGR
for the Calculation Year applicable to an Anniversary Date equals or
exceeds six percent (6%), Grantee may, on and after such Anniversary Date,
exercise the Option with respect to that percentage of the Anniversary Date
Option Amount that corresponds to the Earnings AGR in the following chart.

						    Anniversary Date Option
		  Earnings AGR                    Amount That May Be Exercised

			6%                                      10%
			7%                                      20%
			8%                                      30%
			9%                                      40%
			10%                                     50%

	(b)     Amounts Dependent on Net Operating Income.  Subject to the
provisions of the first sentence of Section 3.2 of the Agreement, if, and
only if, the Net Operating Income CGR for the Calculation Year applicable
to an Anniversary Date equals or exceeds five percent (5%) and if the Net
Operating Income AGR for such Calculation Year equals or exceeds six
percent (6%), Grantee may, on and after such Anniversary
				       7


Date, exercise the Option with respect to that percentage of the
Anniversary Date Option Amount that corresponds to the Net Operating Income
AGR in the following chart.

						    Anniversary Date Option
	      Net Operating Income AGR            Amount That May Be Exercised

			6%                                      10%
			7%                                      20%
			8%                                      30%
			9%                                      40%
			10%                                     50%

	Section 3.4  Manner of Exercise.  The Option may be exercised, in
whole or in part, by delivering written notice to the Committee in such
form as the Committee may require from time to time.  Such notice shall
specify the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option as to which the
Option is being exercised, and shall be accompanied by full payment of the
Option Price of the shares of Stock as to which the Option is being
exercised.  Payment of the Option Price may be made either in cash or
shares of Stock (including shares of Stock acquired upon the exercise of an
option) having a total Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date equal to the
Option Price multiplied by the number of shares of Stock as to which the
Option is being exercised.  The Option may be exercised only in multiples
of whole shares and no partial shares shall be issued.  If, as of the
fourth Anniversary Date, the total number of shares as to which the Option
is exercisable includes a partial share, the Option for such partial share,
whether or not previously designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock
Option, shall be deemed to be a non-Incentive Stock Option.  On the first
date, on or after the fourth Anniversary Date, that the Fair Market Value
of a share of Stock equals or exceeds the Option Price, Grantee shall be
deemed to have simultaneously exercised the Option for such partial share
and to have sold same to MBC for such Fair Market
				       8


Value.  MBC shall remit to Grantee, in payment of the purchase price of
such partial share, the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of such
partial share over the Option Price.
	Section 3.5  Issuance of Shares and Payment of Cash upon
Exercise.  Upon exercise of the Option, in whole or in part, in accordance
with the terms of the Agreement, and upon payment of the Option Price for
the shares of Stock as to which the Option is exercised, MBC shall issue to
Grantee the number of shares of Stock so paid for, in the form of fully
paid and non-assessable Stock.
	Section 3.6  Loan or Guaranty.  Solely at the discretion of the
Committee, and upon Grantee's written request, MBC may, but shall not be
required to, assist Grantee in the exercise of the Option by making a loan
to Grantee or by guaranteeing a third-party loan to Grantee.  Such a loan
or guaranty shall be conditioned upon prior receipt by the Committee of
satisfactory assurances of Grantee's net worth and repayment ability.
Subject to Regulations G and U of the Federal Reserve Board, any such loan
or guaranty may be in an amount up to one hundred percent (100%) of the
Option Price of the shares of Stock as to which the Option is being
exercised.  All loans shall bear interest at a rate determined by the
Committee based upon loans of similar maturity, but in no event shall the
interest rate be less than the rate necessary to avoid the imputation of
interest or original issue discount under the provisions of the Code.  All
other terms of any loan or guaranty (including terms of repayment) shall be
established by the Committee, subject to Regulations G and U of the Federal
Reserve Board and all other applicable federal and state laws and
regulations.
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				  ARTICLE 4

			    TERMINATION OF OPTION

	Section 4.1  Termination of Employment For Reason Other Than
Death, Disability, or Retirement.  The Option granted to Grantee shall
terminate with respect to any shares of Stock as to which the Option has
not been exercised as of the date Grantee is no longer employed by either
MBC or an Affiliate for any reason other than Grantee's death, Disability
or Retirement, whether or not the Option was exercisable on such date.
	Section 4.2  Upon Grantee's Death.  In the event that upon
Grantee's date of death any portion of the Option is exercisable, then
Grantee's executor, personal representative or the person to whom the
Option shall have been transferred by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, as the case may be, may exercise all or any part of the
portion of the Option exercisable as of the date of death, provided such
exercise occurs within twelve (12) months after the date Grantee dies, but
not later than the end of the stated term of the Option.  Upon Grantee's
death, the portion of the Option, if any, that has not become exercisable
as of the date of Grantee's death shall terminate on the date of Grantee's
death.
	Section 4.3  Termination of Employment By Reason of Disability.
In the event that Grantee ceases to be an employee of MBC or an Affiliate
by reason of Disability, the portion of the Option, if any, that has become
exercisable as of the date of Disability may be exercised in whole or in
part at any time on or after the date of Disability, but not later than the
end of the stated term of the Option or as otherwise provided by the
provisions of Section 4.2 of the Agreement.  Upon Grantee's termination of
employment by reason of Disability, the portion of the Option, if any, that
has not become
				       10
				

exercisable as of the date of Disability shall terminate on the date of
Disability.
	Section 4.4  Termination of Employment By Reason of Retirement.
		(a)     Early Retirement.
			(i)     Exercisable Portion of Option.  In the event
that Grantee ceases to be an employee of MBC or an Affiliate by reason of
Retirement at any time prior to Grantee's Normal Retirement Date, the
portion of the Option, if any, that has become exercisable as of the date
of Retirement may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or after
the date of Retirement, but not later than the end of the stated term of
the Option or as otherwise provided by the provisions of Section 4.2 of the
Agreement.
			(ii)    Non-exercisable Portion of Option.  In the
event that Grantee ceases to be an employee of MBC or an Affiliate by
reason of Retirement at any time prior to Grantee's Normal Retirement Date,
the portion of the Option, if any, that has not become exercisable as of
the date of Retirement shall terminate on the date of Retirement.
		(b)     Normal Retirement Date.
			(i)     Exercisable Portion of Option.  In the event
that Grantee ceases to be an employee of MBC or an Affiliate by reason of
Retirement, the portion of the Option, if any, that has become exercisable
as of the date of Retirement may be exercised in whole or in part at any
time on or after the date of Retirement, but not later than the end of the
stated term of the Option or as otherwise provided by the provisions of
Section 4.2 of the Agreement.
			(ii)    Non-exercisable Portion of Option.  In the
event that upon the occurrence of Grantee's Normal Retirement Date all or a
portion of the Option has not become exercisable solely because one (1) or
more of the first four (4) Anniversary
				       11
				

Dates have not occurred (hereinafter referred to as the "Remaining
Portion"), then such Remaining Portion shall become exercisable, if at all,
on the Anniversary Date coincident with or immediately following Grantee's
Normal Retirement Date.  In all cases, the Remaining Portion shall not
include any portion of the Option that has terminated pursuant to the
provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 of the Agreement.
The extent to which the Remaining Portion shall become exercisable shall be
determined pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the
Agreement; provided, however, that the term "Remaining Portion" shall be
substituted for the term "Anniversary Date Option Amount" in all places
noted therein.  The amount, if any, of the Remaining Portion of the Option
that becomes exercisable on such Anniversary Date may be exercised in whole
or in part at any time on or after such Anniversary Date, but not later
than the end of the stated term of the Option or as otherwise provided by
the provisions of Section 4.2 of the Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything
in the Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 4.4(b)(ii)
of the Agreement shall apply as of the occurrence of Grantee's Normal
Retirement Date, regardless of whether Grantee continues to be an employee
of MBC or an Affiliate after such date.

				  ARTICLE 5

				MISCELLANEOUS

	Section 5.1  Non-Guarantee of Employment.  Nothing in the Plan or
the Agreement shall be construed as a contract of employment between MBC
(or an Affiliate) and Grantee, or as a contractual right of Grantee to
continue in the employ of MBC or an Affiliate, or as a limitation of the
right of MBC or an Affiliate to discharge Grantee at any time.
	Section 5.2  No Rights of Stockholder.  Grantee shall not have
any of the rights
				       12


of a stockholder with respect to the shares of Stock that may be issued
upon the exercise of the Option until such shares of Stock have been issued
to him upon the due exercise of the Option.
	Section 5.3  Notice of Disqualifying Disposition.  If Grantee
makes a disposition (as that term is defined in Sec. 424(c) of the Code) of any
shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock
Option within two (2) years of the Grant Date or within one (1) year after
the shares of Stock are transferred to Grantee, Grantee shall notify the
Committee of such disposition in writing.
	Section 5.4  Withholding Taxes.  MBC or any Affiliate shall have
the right to deduct from any compensation or any other payment of any kind
(including withholding the issuance of shares of Stock) due Grantee the
amount of any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld
as the result of the exercise of the Option or the disposition (as that
term is defined in Sec. 424(c) of the Code) of shares of Stock acquired
pursuant to the exercise of the Option.  In lieu of such deduction, MBC may
require Grantee to make a cash payment to MBC or an Affiliate equal to the
amount required to be withheld.  If Grantee does not make such payment when
requested, MBC may refuse to issue any Stock certificate under the Plan
until arrangements satisfactory to the Committee for such payment have been
made.
	Section 5.5  Limitation on Exercise.  Notwithstanding anything in
the Plan or Agreement to the contrary, the Committee may restrict the right
to exercise the Option to the extent that such exercise would trigger an
"excess parachute payment" (as that term is defined in Sec. 280G(b) of the
Code) unless Grantee shall have the right to receive such an excess
parachute payment under an agreement with MBC or an Affiliate.
	Section 5.6  Nontransferability of Option.  The Option shall be
nontransferable
				       13


otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  During the
lifetime of Grantee, the Option may be exercised only by Grantee or, during
the period Grantee is under a legal disability, by Grantee's guardian or
legal representative.
	Section 5.7  Agreement Subject to Charter and By-Laws.  This
Agreement is subject to the Charter and By-Laws of MBC, and any applicable
federal or state laws, rules or regulations.
	Section 5.8  Gender.  As used herein the masculine shall include
the feminine as the circumstances may require.
	Section 5.9  Headings.  The headings in the Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation
of the Agreement.
	Section 5.10  Notices.  All notices and other communications made
or given pursuant to the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
sufficiently made or given if hand delivered or mailed by certified mail,
addressed to Grantee at the address contained in the records of MBC or an
Affiliate, or to MBC for the attention of its Secretary at its principal
office.

				  ARTICLE 6

			      SCOPE OF AGREEMENT

	Section 6.1  Entire Agreement; Modification.  The Agreement
contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter contained herein and may not be modified, except as provided
in the Plan or in a written document signed by each of the parties hereto.
				       14


	Section 6.2  Counterparts.  The Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed the Agreement as of
the date first above written.

ATTEST:                         MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORPORATION

				By:





WITNESS:                                GRANTEE




											
							

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