MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORP, S-4, EX-23.A, 2000-09-21

MERCANTILE BANKSHARES CORP
S-4, EX-23.A, 2000-09-21
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS

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                                                                   Exhibit 23(A)

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

September 20, 2000

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation on Form S-4 of our report dated
January 20, 2000, relating to the consolidated financial statements of
Mercantile Bankshares Corporation and Affiliates as of December 31, 1999 and
1998, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999,
which report is incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1999 of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation. We also
consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts."




                           PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP