Baltimore, December 15, 2005 — Provident Bank announces the promotion of Chad Sharp to Vice President within its Consumer Banking Division. He will work out of the Bank’s Southside Shopper’s Food Warehouse Branch office located at 857 E. Fort Avenue in Baltimore.

Sharp, who joined Provident in January 2000, was previously the Branch Manager of the Pasadena Branch. Prior to accepting that position, he was Branch Manager of the Old Mill (Millersville) Branch and was previously the assistant manager of the Pasadena office. Before joining Provident, he was a Senior Loan Officer with Accubanc Mortgage in Columbia, MD.

Sharp attended York College in York, PA. He currently makes his home in Baltimore.

Provident Bankshares Corporation is the holding company for Provident Bank, the second largest independent commercial bank headquartered in Maryland. With $6.4 billion in assets, Provident serves individuals and businesses in the key urban areas of Baltimore, Washington and Richmond through a network of 152 offices in Maryland, Virginia, and southern York County, PA. Provident Bank also offers related financial services through wholly owned subsidiaries. Securities brokerage, investment management and related insurance services are available through Provident Investment Center and leases through Court Square Leasing and Provident Lease Corp. Visit Provident on the web at www.provbank.com.