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) June 18, 2003
                                                          -------------



                              FIRST MARINER BANCORP
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in Charter)




                                                       
      Maryland                       000-21815                  52-1834860
(State or other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identification
   of incorporation)                                               No.)





                     3301 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices/Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (410) 342-2600
                                                           --------------


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                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

Item 5.  Other Event.

     On June 18, 2003,  First  Mariner  Bancorp (the  "Registrant")  completed a
$14.5  million  private  placement  of Trust  Preferred  Securities  through its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Mariner Capital Trust III.

     Further  information  regarding  the private  placement is set forth in the
press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated into this Form
8-K by reference.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits.

                  99.1     Press  release  dated  June 20, 2003  announcing  the
                           private placement.






                                   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.

                              FIRST MARINER BANCORP



Date: June 20, 2003      By:      /s/ Joseph A. Cicero
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Joseph A. Cicero
                                  President and Chief Operating Officer





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit
Number   Description of Exhibit
------   ----------------------

99.1     Press release dated June 20, 2003 announcing the private placement.