8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  September 28, 2011

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	000-19065	52-1532952
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland  20832

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (301) 774-6400

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Gary Nakamoto was elected a director of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) at the regular meeting of the board of directors on September 28, 2011.  Mr. Nakamoto was appointed to the Compensation and Audit Committees.

Mr. Nakamoto, age 47, is the is the former Chairman of Base Technologies, a professional services firm (acquired by CA Technologies earlier this year) that specialized in information technology, outsourcing, and consulting located in McLean, Virginia.  He has recently formed The Nakamoto Group, LLC, a business consulting firm.

The Company issued a news release announcing the appointment of Mr. Nakamoto on September 29, 2011.  A  copy of the news release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrant's Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

(a)           On September 28, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company amended and restated its existing Code of Business Conduct. The new Code of Business Conduct, among other things: (i) revises the means of reporting concerns or possible violations and emphasizes non-retaliation; (ii) incorporates the Company’s existing whistleblower policy and social media policy; (iii) expands the policy on acceptance of corporate gifts to include gifts to family members and to separately address meals and entertainment; (iv) expands the fraud policy to include intentional misrepresentation and to require ethical sales practices; and (v) expands the harassment policy to generally prohibit all forms of harassment, not just sexual harassment. The Code of Business Conduct is available on the Company’s corporate website at www.sandyspringbank.com under Investor Relations.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibits

Number Description

99.1  Press Release dated September 29, 2011

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC. (Registrant)
Date: September 29, 2011	By:/s/ Ronald E. Kuykendall
	Ronald E. Kuykendall General Counsel and Secretary

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EX-99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                           

SANDY SPRING BANCORP ELECTS GARY NAKAMOTO

TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OLNEY, MARYLAND, September 29, 2011 — Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: SASR) the parent company of Sandy Spring Bank, today announced the election of Gary Nakamoto, to its board of directors on September 28, 2011.  Nakamoto, 47, is the former Chairman of Base Technologies, a professional services firm (acquired by CA Technologies earlier this year) that specialized in information technology, outsourcing, and consulting. He is currently the principal of The Nakamoto Group, LLC, a business consulting firm located in McLean, Virginia.

Under Nakamoto’s leadership, Base Technologies was named one of the 2011 Best Places to Work in Virginia, received numerous industry awards for customer service and was designated a Top 100 IT federal government contractor.  An influential businessman, Nakamoto was named a 2010 finalist for Executive of the Year in the Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards, and was among the 2010 Fifty Powerful Men in Business by the Minority Enterprise Executive Council. Nakamoto is currently a member of the AAA Mid-Atlantic Washington Area Regional Board, a trustee for the Northern Virginia Technology Council TechPAC, and he is a former chairman of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.

“As we continue to develop our presence in the Northern Virginia market, Gary’s knowledge of the government contracting industry and connections in the local business community make him a valuable addition to our board,” said Daniel J. Schrider, President and CEO of Bancorp.  “His personal philosophy of giving back to the community aligns with our corporate values and makes him an excellent match for Sandy Spring. We could not be more pleased to have someone of his caliber join our organization.”

Nakamoto resides in Great Falls, Virginia with his family and is deeply committed to the community as shown by his service to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. At present he is president of the board of trustees for Joe Gibbs’ Youth for Tomorrow Foundation, a director for the American Red Cross National Capital Region, and a member of the board of trustees for Inova Health Systems Foundation.  He also received the 2009 Valor Humanitarian Award from the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.

About Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. /Sandy Spring Bank

With $3.6 billion in assets, Sandy Spring Bancorp is the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank and its principal subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation and West Financial Services, Inc.  Sandy Spring Bancorp is the largest publicly traded banking company headquartered and operating in Maryland. Sandy Spring is a community banking organization that focuses its lending and other services on businesses and consumers in the local market area. Independent and community-oriented, Sandy Spring Bank was founded in 1868 and offers a broad range of commercial banking, retail banking and trust services through 43 community offices in Anne Arundel, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, and Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties in Virginia. Through its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Bank also offers a comprehensive menu of leasing, insurance, and investment management services. Visit www.sandyspringbank.com for more information about Sandy Spring Bank.

For additional information or questions, please contact:

Daniel J. Schrider, President & Chief Executive Officer, or

Philip J. Mantua, Executive V.P. & Chief Financial Officer

Sandy Spring Bancorp

17801 Georgia Avenue

Olney, Maryland 20832

1-800-399-5919

E-mail:  DSchrider@sandyspringbank.com PMantua@sandyspringbank.com

Web site:  www.sandyspringbank.com