SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	6 Months Ended
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations Sandy Spring Bancorp (the “Company”), a Maryland corporation, is the bank holding company for Sandy Spring Bank (the “Bank”), which conducts a full-service commercial banking, mortgage banking and trust business. Services to individuals and businesses include accepting deposits, extending real estate, consumer and commercial loans and lines of credit, general insurance, personal trust, and investment and wealth management services. The Company operates in the Maryland counties of Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's, and in Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. The Company offers investment and wealth management services through the Bank’s subsidiary, West Financial Services. Insurance products are available to clients through Sandy Spring Insurance, and Neff & Associates, which are agencies of Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and prevailing practices within the financial services industry for interim financial information and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required for complete financial statements and prevailing practices within the banking industry. The following summary of significant accounting policies of the Company is presented to assist the reader in understanding the financial and other data presented in this report. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future periods or for the year ending December 31, 2015. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (comprising only normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods have been included. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts, as necessary, to conform to the current period presentation. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of the issuance of its financial statements. These statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 6, 2015. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s accounting policies as disclosed in the 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sandy Spring Bank and its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation and West Financial Services, Inc. Consolidation has resulted in the elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, and affect the reported amounts of revenues earned and expenses incurred during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates that could change significantly relate to the provision for loan and lease losses and the related allowance, determination of impaired loans and the related measurement of impairment, potential impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, valuation of investment securities and the determination of whether impaired securities are other-than-temporarily impaired, valuation of other real estate owned, prepayment rates, valuation of share-based compensation, the assessment that a liability should be recognized with respect to any matters under litigation, the calculation of current and deferred income taxes and the actuarial projections related to pension expense and the related liability.
Cash Flows	Cash Flows For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits with banks (items with stated original maturity of three months or less).
Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Pending Accounting Pronouncements The FASB issued a standard in May 2014 that provides accounting guidance for all revenue arising from contracts with customers and affects all entities that enter into contracts to provide goods or services to customers. The guidance also provides for a model for the measurement and recognition of gains and losses on the sale of certain nonfinancial assets, such as property and equipment, including real estate. This standard may affect an entity’s financial statements, business processes and internal control over financial reporting. The guidance is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2017. The guidance must be adopted using either a full retrospective approach for all periods presented in the period of adoption or a modified retrospective approach. The Company is assessing this guidance to determine its impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.