<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-02-19</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000818969</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>(PBKS)</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224739</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STARLIPER DENNIS A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>114 EAST LEXINGTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>CFO and EVP</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2420.0000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>23288.9495</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By 401(k)</value>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>23.51</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-02-19</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>15000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2004-02-19</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-02-19</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>15000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>15000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>7.40</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>1994-02-16</value>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2004-02-16</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>8069</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>8069</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>27.76</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>1998-02-13</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2008-02-13</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>6079</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>6079</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>18.19</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2003-09-21</value>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2009-10-20</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>6615</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>6615</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>18.51</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2000-12-20</value>
				<footnoteId id="F4"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2010-12-20</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>12600</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>12600</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>24.68</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2003-01-16</value>
				<footnoteId id="F5"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2012-01-16</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>20000</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>20000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Non-Qualified Stock Options granted pursuant to the Provident Bankshares Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan vest in three equal annual installments commencing on February 19, 2004.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Non-Qualified Stock Options granted pursuant to the Provident Bankshares Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan are fully vested and exercisable as of February 13, 1998.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">Non-Qualified Stock Options granted pursuant to the Provident Bankshares Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan are fully vested and exercisable as of September 21, 2003.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F4">Non-Qualified Stock Options granted pursuant to the Provident Bankshares Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan vest as follows: 14,000 are fully vested and 7,000 vest on December 20, 2003.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F5">Non-Qualified Stock Options granted pursuant to the Provident Bankshares Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan vest in three equal annual installments commencing on January 16, 2003.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: /s/ Robert L. Davis, Power of Attorney</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-08</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

