Shore United Bank opens first Prince George's branches in expansion push

Shore United Bank is planting its first flag in Prince George’s County with a primary branch planned for Clinton and a micro-branch in Bowie, a move county officials say could improve access to capital for small businesses, entrepreneurs and commercial development.

The Easton-based lender, a subsidiary of Shore Bancshares, Inc., is adding the county to a footprint that already includes 40 full-service branches across Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation said the bank will open its first two Prince George’s branches later in 2026, giving the county a new banking option at a time when many lenders are reducing their physical presence.

Shore United CEO James Burke said the county’s high concentration of businesses and potential retail customers drew the bank to the market. He also said the bank will expand more methodically, signaling a phased rollout rather than an immediate, broad branch buildout.

That approach stands out in a region where branch networks have been shrinking. Center Maryland reported that Greater Baltimore banks cut 24 branches over 15 months, falling from 565 branches in June 2022 to 541 by Sept. 30, 2023. Shore United’s changes in the Baltimore area are part of that wider repositioning, even as the lender pushes into Prince George’s County for the first time.

For Prince George’s County, the new locations could matter well beyond deposits and ATM access. A full-service branch in Clinton would give nearby residents and businesses a local place to handle lending, cash management and day-to-day banking, while the micro-branch in Bowie could extend in-person service into a fast-growing part of the county. The county’s economic development arm said the expansion should strengthen financing options for small firms and support commercial investment.

Shore Bancshares reported its 2025 fourth-quarter and annual results on Jan. 28, 2026, and scheduled its annual meeting for May 20, 2026, as the company continues to balance branch consolidation in some markets with expansion in others. For Prince George’s County, the move signals that Shore United sees room to grow where other banks have been pulling back.