Conservative Md. bank giving off buying signals.(Carrollton Bancorp.)

Carrollton Bancorp is on the prowl for its first acquisition in its 95-year history.

Although the banking industry has been engrossed in a merger-and-acquisition frenzy for five years, Carrollton is likely taking a baby step toward a purchase with a plan to double its authorized common stock to 10 million shares.

And now Dallas R. Arthur, the typically reticent president and CEO of the small Baltimore bank, is even talking openly about at least one of his targets.

In a recent interview, Arthur said the banking company would be interested in picking up $153 million-asset Patapsco Valley Bankshares, although $300 million-asset Carrollton has no …