OLNEY, Maryland, January 5, 2009     Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq:SASR) the parent company of Sandy Spring Bank, announced that Daniel J. Schrider became President and Chief Executive Officer of both Bancorp and Bank on January 1, 2009 according to a planned succession following the retirement of Hunter R. Hollar. With the appointment to CEO, Schrider was also elected to the board of directors, and Hollar remains as non-executive Chairman of the Board.

"The transition has gone very smoothly," commented Chairman Hollar, "and throughout these last nine months my esteem for Dan as a leader has grown beyond my original expectations. I could not be more confident of our company's future."

With the recent announcements of Provident Bank and Chevy Chase Bank signing merger agreements with out-of-state banks, Sandy Spring Bank remains as not only the oldest banking institution in the State of Maryland but soon will be the largest as well.

"Sandy Spring Bank is a unique organization," said Schrider. "It was founded in 1868 by 26 local farmers, nearly all of whom were Quakers, who had a deeply-held belief system. Their aim at the time was to provide an institution that would benefit the community as a whole. The Bank was the first of its kind in Montgomery County. The prudence and sheer determination of our early directors laid a foundation that has seen our company through 140 years. Today our corporate values reflect this foundation: relationships, teamwork, integrity, community, and a drive for performance."

To read this release in its entirety, please visit our Investor Relations site: http://www.snl.com/irweblinkx/file.aspx?IID=100651&FID=7169759